Movies, concerts draw many to Redwood City

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 23, 2007 | by Neil Gonzales

REDWOOD CITY -- Call it a "walk-in movie" -- stroll into the new Courthouse Square downtown at dusk and you can catch a flick under the evening stars.

A number of families did for the first time this past week, watching 2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," starring Johnny Depp, on an inflatable big screen in front of the portico of thehistoric Courthouse building.

"I think this is pretty cool to get the city together and watch a movie," said Lisette Palafox, 11, of Redwood City, who found first- row seating on a blanket she shared with her brother, cousin and two friends.

All summer, residents and visitors alike can drop by at the square for Wednesday night movies, Friday night concerts and other special, free events.

The various activities provide a very different scene from that of previous years, when downtown featured construction work, and before that, not much at all.

The square is part of the ongoing downtown revitalization that debuted a year ago, and the summerlong festivities there are a way for the city to build up steady streams of crowds that so far seem elusive for the new-look business district.

The city also is striving to be the entertainment capital of the Peninsula.

"We're trying to promote it that way, and I think it's working," said city Parks Superintendent Chris Beth.

It certainly looked that way on a cool, but clear, Wednesday night with an estimated 250 people coming out to enjoy the movie at the square. The movie experience came complete with popcorn and Willy Wonka chocolate bars on sale for a buck each.

"It's awesome," Marisol Palafox, Lisette's aunt, said of the outdoor cinema. "It's right downtown, and it's good for the family. That's what we needed for downtown."

Palafox, 30, who was born and still lives in the city, remembers downtown as once being lackluster at best.

"Before, it was dead," she said. "It was scary. Now, I can walk down here."

The Deemer family of Redwood City feels the same way.

"When we first came down here, it was scary. There were a lot of buildings boarded up," said Will Deemer, who brought his wife, Susan, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jordan, to the movie at the square. "But we saw (downtown's) potential. It now has a lot of character."

Other movies scheduled at the square include "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "E.T." and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

On Fridays, people can listen and dance to live music of bands ranging from the funk-filled, horn-laden The Bingtones to the Latin rock group La Ventana. The concerts are expected to bring about 1,000 people per show, Beth said.

Other events planned for the square are art displays, Shakespearean theater and dance performances and lessons.

According to Beth, the summer programs at the square and related staffing cost about $41,600 in redevelopment funds.

Work on the public plaza cost about

$6.4 million, paid by redevelopment and other city funds. It accompanied the $6 million project that restored the facade of the Courthouse building to its 1910 appearance.

Just across from the plaza is the centerpiece of downtown's revitalization -- the On Broadway cinema-retail complex featuring the 20-screen Century Theatres, which opened last July.

The estimated cost for downtown's rejuvenation so far has been $124 million -- $75 million in private money and $49 million in public funds, according to the city.

That effort to draw crowds downtown has gotten off to a slow start, partly because of parking hassles and the continued operation of the Century Park 12 movie house off Highway 101.

City leaders say they're continuing to work on smoothing out the parking issues and to negotiate with the Century Park's property owner to close that site.

"No one said (the revitalization) is going to turn things around overnight," said city spokesman Malcolm Smith. "But I think it's clear to everyone that we're headed in the right direction."

For more information, visit the Web site http:// www.redwoodcity.org/events.

Staff writer Neil Gonzales covers Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton and East Palo Alto. He can be reached at (650) 306-2427 or by e-mail at ngonzales@sanmateocountytimes.com.