movies

Contest celebrates the 30th anniversary of ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ with trips to Seattle and New York

It is the 30th anniversary of the June 1993 theatrical release of the hit movie Sleepless in Seattle.

And the Empire State Building and the Space Needle, and their respective cities, are celebrating the movie and their roles in it with the simultaneous lighting of both landmarks; special screenings of the film; activations at both attractions; and a sweepstakes that will grant two lucky winners a weeklong trip to both Seattle and New York City.

Sleepless in Seattle Anniversary Events

Here are some of the anniversary events on tap:

  • June 30: “It’s a Sign” – On June 30 at sunset, both the Empire State Building and the Space Needle will light up together. The Space Needle in red and the Empire State Building in lavender + red with a heart spinning in the tower’s mast to resemble the original movie artwork and the “sign” that led the movie’s Annie Reed character back to the top of the Empire State Building. 
  • Special Anniversary Screenings – On July 1 at 9:30 p.m., Seattle Center will screen Sleepless in Seattle at the Mural Amphitheater. Visitors to the Empire State Building Observatory will be able to purchase tickets to view Sleepless in Seattle from a private area on the 80th Floor on July 9 at 9 p.m. (More information here).
  • Recreate the Magic: From June 29 through July 3, visitors to both the Empire State Building Observatory and the Space Needle can recreate the iconic movie poster from Sleepless in Seattle as they pose for their authentic shot. From June 30 through July 2 there will also be themed cocktails on the menu at the Space Needle Bar.
  • And of course: the Sleepless in Seattle Sweepstakes:  Enter the Sleepless in Seattle sweepstakes now through midnight July 21 at sleepless30.com. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on August 7 and will receive a six-night trip for two to both Seattle and New York City, with flights provied by Alaska Airlines.
  • In Seattle, the experience will include a three-night stay at The Pan Pacific Hotel in Downtown Seattle and a VIP tour of Space Needle with dinner for two at the upscale Loupe Lounge on the world’s first and only revolving glass floor. Bonus prizes include CityPass tickets and a $500 gift card towards experiencing the movie’s iconic locations, including the world-famous Pike Place Market, Alki Beach and Gas Works Park.  
  • In New York City the experience will include a three-night stay at the five-star Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue; two weekly unlimited Metro cards and CityPass tickets, an all-access tour of the Empire State Building followed by a special prix fixe dinner with wine pairing at STATE Grill & Bar, the Empire State Building’s signature restaurant. 
  • Whether or not you’re a Sleepless in Seattle fan, this would be a great adventure. So enter here.
     

Sleepless in Seattle Souvenirs

Even after 30 years, there are plenty of places in Seattle to get Sleepless in Seattle souvenirs.

Our favorite is at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), where thousands of Sleepless in Seattle nightshirts are sold in the gift shops each year.

Free foam glider & free outdoor movies at Lincoln Airport (LNK)

This red Arrow Sport, one of only one of six known to still be in existence, was built by the Arrow Aircraft Company, of Havelock, Nebraska and now hangs in the terminal at Lincoln Airport (LNK) in Nebraska.

If you stop by the airport’s customer service desk, they will give you a free red foam glider plane in honor of the Arrow Sport.

LNK is also celebrating Halloween with free movies and a costume contest.

On Thursday, October 14, and Friday, October 15, LNK will be featuring the movie Hocus Pocus at its outdoor movie event. There will also be a Halloween costume contest.

Something happening at your airport? Let us know.

Airport amenity of the week…

Here at StuckatTheAirport.com we’re big fans of the Hollywood Theatre at PDX.

The theater is a free 17-seat microcinema at Portland International Airport that offers a quarterly-changing program of locally made short films on a looping reel.

One of the current short films is all about an Oregon Christmas tree farm that harvest trees by helicopter.

This week, the Hollywood Theatre PDX tried something new: it invited a local musician to come by and play a live score to several silent films, including Buster Keaton’s “The General”.

This may be the first time silent films have been scored in an airport. And that’s pretty darn cool.

So we’re declaring this the “Airport Amenity of the Week.”

Spot a great amenity at an airport? Send a note to nominate it as Airport Amenity of the Week.

Got popcorn? Here are the films you can see at SFO Airport

Here’s hoping you favorite actor or film won an Oscar at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

And here’s to being able to see films not just on airplanes, but in airports.

Portland International and Minneapolis-St. Paul International have post-security spaces where passengers can watch short films and at San Francisco International Airport there’s a pre-security Video Arts screening room in the International Terminal departures lobby.

Presented by the SFO Museum, SFO’s screening room features a rotating exhibition of several short films, with a new film introduced weekly.

In case you aren’t passing through SFO soon, here are the short films being shown now.

In a Heartbeat (excerpt below) just rotated out of the line-up.

 

Going to the movies at the airport

movies

Courtesy National Archives UK, via Flickr Commons

Wouldn’t it be great if you could watch a movie – even just a short movie or maybe a few cartoons – while you’re hanging around the airport waiting for a flight?

You’ll soon be able to at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The airport is providing space for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival to hold a preview night at the airport on April 1 and to show their previews during the length of the festival, which runs through April 19.

After that, airport officials say they will close the room until sometime in August, when it will reopen as a permanent space where travelers can relax and watch locally made/produced films that showcase Twin Cities talent.

No word on whether or not popcorn will be included….