Silverbird Showtime Cinema.

By Talatu Kwasu

31 January 2014

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Being in Port Harcourt can be more than a little tough; the traffic is mostly slow and the humidity is mostly high. And the people? Mostly nice, (had you for a second there, didn’t I?). Taking time to cool off is thus important and one of common sites for this is the Silverbird Showtime Cinema. The name may register a usual (commonplace) spot, but it doesn’t just house a cinema.

Located in the Old GRA, around Diobu, the building itself is an attraction on its own, anybody coming on the Aba Road into the old town will notice it. The main attraction is the cinema, of course, from which the building derives its name, but that is not even the most visited place in the building. The Showtime Cinema has a bar/lounge which is well patronized by the city folk for its sheer class and privacy. It also boasts a lifestyle store – movies, gadgets, toys – and a Swatch shop, recently also a bookstore, so if you’re looking for a book to keep you company while you’re in town, you can get one here. If you are visiting with your family, there is a mini-restaurant and some arcade games to keep you occupied before the time of your movie.

From one fun-seeker to another, the building is best visited in the afternoon; less traffic on the streets, less people in the building. The number increases exponentially every minute until maybe 10pm. Weekends are however also a really good time to visit the building, as the full services of each outlet are offered and with people in the theatres, a more enjoyable cinema experience.

Wednesdays, or 500 buck days (as uni students call it), are the best days to go there if you’re on a slim budget but still want to have a hell of a good time, free popcorn to go with all that too. And if you’re lucky, they may be organizing one of their famed MC and DJ competitions, no loss if you gain a movie, a drink, a book and a good show.

Getting to and from the Cinema is no problem. If you’re driving, there is a big parking space and you pay no charge. Almost every taxi driver in Port Harcourt knows the place, so if you don’t have a car, it’s no problem. Also, stand-by taxis are available in the parking lot of the Cinema to get you back to your apartment/place of stay, but do well to strike a good bargain.

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