Going to the movies may not seem the most productive use of your vacation time, but you haven't been to Portland's famed movie brewpubs. If you've ever sat in a theater back home and thought, "Wouldn't this be so much better if there were comfy couches, an awesome meal and an array of house-brewed beer on tap?" then your dreams have come true, friend. Better yet, it'll cost you only $3 to see a fresh-off-first-run movie.

The originator and best purveyor of this concept is local zen hospitality guru McMenamins, a company run by two brothers who specialize in preserving local landmarks and turning them into artful entertainment centers. Some of their most interesting theaters are the Kennedy School, the Mission and the Bagdad.

• 1. The Kennedy School
  5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR 97211; 503-249-3983 45.564507-122.629642 mcmenamins.com
• 2. The Mission
  1624 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97209; 503-223-4527 45.526419-122.688167 mcmenamins.com
• 3. The Bagdad
  3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214; 503-236-9234 45.511956-122.625672 mcmenamins.com