Sanitized for your protection

Yesterday I made my first trip to Jordan's furniture. This is not your typical furniture retailer. In fact, the buying and selling of furniture had nothing to do with our visit to their Natick location. (The uninitiated may wish to take the tour.)

You see, the Jordans believe that "there is no business that's not show business." Thus we were there to see the new 3D IMAX movie Aliens of the Deep and to take in the "Bourbon Street Experience" complete with animatronic characters (think Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza, or Disney's Country Bear Jamboree) and Mardi Gras beads. It did not disappoint. Evan has posted a few pics on his blog. We were even able to partake in a virtual reality video game for $3. (It was money well spent.)

It occurred to me while looking up at a robot reading the Boston Herald on a "Bourbon Street balcony" that the choice of theme is interesting. Did they pick New Orleans because people here wouldn't know what the real French Quarter is like? Why not a New England theme? Or were they going for the "party atmosphere" of carnival-time? (Without any actual partying of course - this is a family venue.) I was reminded of my reaction to the opening of a fake Key West at one of the theme parks in Orlando. Gag me. Hence the title of this post.

Next up: I hear for $10 or $15 you can ride the flying trapeze at their Reading store.

The movie, by the way, was excellent. Crazy expeditions to the bottom of the sea where the strange ecology of chemosynthesis rules. I must concur with Evan, though . . . "Holy Pancakes Batman!" was certainly NOT what that chick really said when some weird creature came into view. I think, "Look Jim, what the fuck was that?!" is more likely.

P.S. Yes, Ivana. There really is an undersea alien city far beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa.