Inman Park's Sauced Restaurant Preps for Plaza Theatre Night

It hasn’t been easy for Ria Pell to keep her small Inman Park restaurant named going in these difficult economic times.

Still, she’s putting her own concerns on the back burner next Tuesday night to help out the 72-year-old Plaza Theatre at Ponce de Leon and North Highland avenues.

Sauced, which opened in late 2009, is usually closed on Tuesdays in the summer, but will open for this special dining event, with 20 percent of proceeds going directly to the Plaza. All funds generated will go toward restoration, furnishings, equipment, operations and community initiatives for the Plaza.

Even though it’s now being run as a nonprofit organization (by the Plaza Foundation), the Plaza is barely hanging on these days. Cuts have been made on everything from janitorial services to advertising. A recent monthly electric bill was $2,500 and a water bill this summer was $1,800, said Gayle Rej, who bought the 72-year-old theater with husband Jonathan in 2006. These are tough bills to pay, considering it costs less than $10 to see a movie in one of the old theater’s two auditoriums.

Without a variety of special and creative events, the Plaza would probably not be in business. Gayle Rej said about 120 people typically attend each weekly showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (midnight on Fridays), which includes games and a performance by the Lips Down on Dixie troupe. There’s also “Splatter Cinema” (celebrating gory movies) in partnership with Gorehouse Productions (second Tuesday of every month), and the “Silver Screen Spook Show” six times a year (one day show and one night show on the last Saturday of every other month).

In addition, the Plaza is regularly used by film students to screen their original works. The theater also is booked for special events such as weddings and private screenings.

The Rejes are grateful to neighbors such as Pell who care about the future of Atlanta’s oldest movie house.

"When you think about it, we’re an art venue and Ria is another artist," Gayle Rej said. "Ria’s art is her cooking. For her to share her art to support our art — well, I just think this is an amazing gift."

Pell conducted a similar “dine out” fundraiser recently for that yielded about $700 for the offbeat theater company. She hopes to surpass that amount for the Plaza benefit.

The Rejes, who live near Brownwood Park in East Atlanta, are vegans, so Pell wanted Tuesday night’s menu to “be in their vein,” she said. She has planned a four-course prix fixe Mediterranean menu for $35 per person, or $45 per person with wine.

• There will be maple saffron yogurt with fresh fruit.
• Next, appetizer choices include canteloupe avocado soup and a salad of watermelon, heirloom tomatoes and feta cheese.
• There are three entrée choices: falafel cashew tatziki; tempeh eggplant and Yukon Gold potato Moussaka; and “zatar neatballs” with Medjool dates, mint pesto and couscous.
• For dessert: agave pistachio baklava; North Georgia apple crumb with cornmeal biscuit top; or sugar-coated radical chocolate truffles.

Two seating times are in the offing, at 7pm and 9pm, with more space available at this time for the later seating. Reservations are required, but if the place fills up, Pell encourages others just to pop by for a cocktail and contribute a few dollars (or more) to the Plaza Theatre fund.

“To me, having people come and enjoy good food is an easy way to support a good cause,” said Pell, who also owns Ria’s Bluebird, a Grant Park café that’s famous in particular for its pancakes.

The Rejes are grateful that some Plaza fans have already stepped up to help them out. For example, folks have donated electrical and construction work. What else can people do?

“Just come see movies,” Jonathan Rej said. “Come see movies at the Plaza and come see them once a week. We need more people coming in the doors. That’s the easiest thing to do.”

Added Pell: I think the Plaza and places like the Starlight Drive-In and Bluebird (her longtime restaurant on Memorial) are touchstones for Atlanta. I hate to see it when cultural institutions fall by the wayside. I can support in the way that I know how, which is great food and the opportunity for people to have a good time.”

If you go: “Plaza Night at Sauced,” with seatings at 7pm and 9pm on Tuesday, Aug. 30; 753 Edgewood Ave., in Inman Park. You are advised to make reservations as soon as possible by calling 404-688-6554. www.saucedatlanta.com  

For more about The Plaza Theatre, including how to become a member: www.plazaatlanta.com