1. Heights Theatre
City: Columbia Heights, MN
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (763) 788-9079
Address: 3951 Central Ave. NE
Description: Once a dilapidated theater, the Heights was transformed into one of the most beautiful theaters in the Twin Cities when the inside and outside were painted, comfortable new seats installed, and a vintage theater organ put in place. The organ allows silent film classics to be scored for the audience’s pleasure.Besides occasional silent film revivals, the Heights books second-run and classic films as well as special events such as Tromafest, a festival dedicated to the kitschy horror of Troma Studios For adventurous film lovers, the Heights is one of the most interesting movie theaters in the Twin Cities.
2. El Bustan
City: Columbia Heights, MN
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (763) 502-8888
Address: 4757 Central Ave. NE
Description: This Columbia Heights restaurant features halal foods (in accordance with Islamic dietary laws), no alcohol, and hookah, a traditional water pipe. The menu is an extensive survey of Middle Eastern standards and includes delicious hummus, kebabs, and shrimp sayyadiya. The latter dish is a spicy combination of shrimp in tomato sauce served over a bed of rice. El Bustan is open daily.