Day Trip to Rhode Island and Oppenheimer on 70mm IMAX
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Day Trip to Rhode Island and Oppenheimer on 70mm IMAX
Only 30 movie cinemas in the world are equipped to show director Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster in the premier IMAX format.
Hey, everyone!
I’m writing to you this morning from Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge at Boston South Station. Soon, I will board the Acela train to Providence, Rhode Island — a journey of approximately 45 minutes. This is just a day trip, so I’ll be returning to Boston tonight, but I am excited to spend the day in Rhode Island’s capital city. Amtrak makes interstate travel so convenient and accessible in the Northeast!
Next week, I’ll be sharing a complete review of the Acela train service, peering inside both the business and first class cabins. There is no economy class on Acela, which offers a higher level of service compared to the Northeast Regional train that also operates along this route.
I am traveling south today to see the movie Oppenheimer, a film that some early reviewers have called “another magnum opus from Christopher Nolan.” Today, it opens in theaters nationwide, but I am catching a train to visit one of just 30 theaters in the world (19 in the U.S.) equipped to present the film as Nolan intended it — on the 70mm IMAX format.
How special is a 70mm IMAX film? Well, it’s rare. The last feature film to be released on the 70mm IMAX format was Nolan’s Dunkirk, six years ago in 2017. To explain just how visually stunning this medium is, think about the TV in your home — it might have an impressive picture with 4K resolution, but 70mm IMAX is roughly equivalent to 18K resolution, as one of my cinephile friends recently shared with me.
As a longtime World War II history buff, I figured it was worth the trip to see Oppenheimer on the truly big screen — plus it’s an excuse to spend the day in Providence, one of my favorite New England destinations.
If you haven’t considered Providence as a travel destination, check out my Providence, Rhode Island Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide.
This is a shorter newsletter than is typical, but next week’s will feature lots of new content — and I’ll be taking a fun trip that will involve a familiar mode of transit served up in a unique way.
By the way, if you haven’t already, consider reading the article sent to paid subscribers earlier this week — The Things We Collect While Traveling. By upgrading to a paid newsletter subscription, you’ll support my work to produce accessible travel content, and receive access to new articles only for premium members.
In the meantime, check out these new and recent articles shared below.
Thank you, as always, for your continued readership!
— John
Accessible Travel Articles Worth Reading
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Tour the Royal Palace of Madrid with a Wheelchair
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Luxembourg City Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide
Learn about the European city and country that’s so small, many don’t even know it exists — Luxembourg City’s medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is unmatched in beauty.
From the Archives (In Case You Missed It)
These popular articles appeared in a previous newsletter — if you haven’t taken a look yet, give them a read!
Vice President Kamala Harris Promises Action on Accessible Airplane Bathrooms — The Vice President and Secretary Pete have both promised a solution to inaccessible airplane lavatories, but the Administration's plan may already be outdated. Read about the solution they’ve proposed, and what more needs to be done.
Opinion: Quarantined for Life? Disabled People in Rural Areas Lack Accessible Transportation — This issue has been on my mind since I became disabled a decade ago — there are no easy solutions, but progress is possible with concerted effort from all stakeholders.
Hidden City Ticketing Could Save You Hundreds on Airfare, But One Airline Recently Banned a Teenager for It — A teenager was caught “skip lagging,” and the airline would have none of it. He wasn’t doing anything illegal — just something hordes of savvy travelers do every day.
Pictures & Measurements of an ADA Hotel Room at ARIA Las Vegas — ARIA is one of my favorite places to stay in Las Vegas — the rooms are very accessible (especially the bathrooms!), it’s in a fantastic location, and boasts an amazing line-up of restaurants. Join me for a tour of this luxury resort.
What I’m reading this weekend: I recently watched (and loved!) the movie A Little White Lie starring Michael Shannon and Kate Hudson, so I’ve just ordered the book on which it was based, Shriver: A Novel, by Chris Belden.