PORT TOWNSEND — The sofas, the chandeliers, the popcorn with seasonings: All will again accompany the movies when the Starlight Room reopens Oct. 29.
The Rose Theatre’s upstairs annex, on the third floor above 235 Taylor St., has been dark since March 2020. So owner Rocky Friedman’s voice lilted with anticipation when he was asked about the Starlight’s new incarnation.
There will be room for 40 patrons on their own couches, loveseats and plush chairs — just six fewer spots than before, and “already socially distanced,” he said.
Tickets will go on sale at rosetheatre.com this Friday, Oct. 22 for the opening feature: “The French Dispatch,” directed by Wes Anderson. The film’s cast features Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Henry Winkler and Elizabeth Moss.
The Silverwater restaurant downstairs will no longer provide food and drink, Friedman noted. Amid an intense labor shortage, owners Alison Hero and David Hero don’t have enough staff to send up to the Starlight. So the Rose Theatre’s concession, with popcorn, treats, beer, wine, cider and soft drinks, will expand to fill the gap.
Since its opening in July, the Rose is showing its movies Wednesdays through Sundays only; the Starlight will do the same, Friedman added. Attendance was light at the Rose until a certain movie was released.
“Thank goodness for James Bond,” Friedman said, adding the latest 007 picture, “No Time to Die,” has “finally brought a significant number of people out.”
The very same week of the Starlight Room’s reopening, as it happens, will bring the re-emergence of the Mountain View Pool at 1919 Blaine St.
Closed for much of the past 18 months due to staffing and equipment troubles, the municipal swimming pool is now operated by the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, which will let people into the water Oct. 25.
The city of Port Townsend entered into a contract back in August to have the Y run the pool for up to two years.
To start, the pool will be open for lap swimming and independent water fitness from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Information about checking in at the pool’s front desk, fees and future offerings is found at https://www.olympicpeninsulaymca.org/locations/branch/mountain-view-pool/.
“Our goal is to start swimming lessons as soon as possible,” YMCA CEO Wendy Bart said Friday.
Water safety, lifeguard certification and aquatic fitness classes and a swim league are also on the horizon, she added.
Bart was reluctant to say when such programs will return, but estimated swim lessons could start as early as December. Youth lessons will come first, but adults will have a chance to take classes as well, she said.
“It’s never too late,” Bart added.
“We will gradually start expanding the hours, so we will be doing a comprehensive suite of aquatics programs.”
The Mountain View Pool has a new aquatics manager, Rowen Matkins of Quilcene, who can be reached at rowen@olympicpeninsulaymca.org.
To contact the pool’s office, phone 360-385-7665 or email mvpool@olympicpeninsulaymca.org.
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Jefferson County senior reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladaily news.com.
