BALLY Brixi-105 Satchel

Let me start by saying this Bally Brixi-105 Satchel is hideous. I chose to put it on the blog for a couple of reasons. First, it’s summer, and sometimes it’s nice to carry a fabric bag rather than leather. Leather gets hot, especially if you’re sitting outside in the sun. And if you have anything in your purse like lip gloss or lip balm, it’ll melt, thereby getting all over the inside of your leather bag. Not good. Plus, fabric can complement certain summer ensembles better than leather can. Sometimes. Not always. And while this Bally Brixi is ugly, and looks like it should be part of my grandma’s luggage set, it’s roomy. Which brings me to today’s rant: movie theater prices. I’ve talked about this before, with a nice, spacious Marc Jacobs handbag, but I’m bringing it up again because I had another theater experience last night. A friend and I decided on a whim to go see Toy Story 3. We went to the last showing of the night, which was great because there were NO little kids there. Also, the movie is awesome! Usually, by the time you get to a third installment of any franchise (Star Wars and Star Trek excluded, except for the three new Star Wars movies, which all suck), the story is thin, and it’s an obvious grab for more box office money, and it’s just awful. Not so with Toy Story. The third one is just as good as the first and second. Not only that, but they pretty much wrapped up the story so they can’t jump the shark and make a fourth one. Well, they could, I suppose, if they wanted to screw it all up. But I don’t think they will. So if you haven’t seen it, you need to. Anyway, we get to the theater, and since we’d already been out doing other stuff, I hadn’t packed any snacks or drinks in my bag the way I usually do when I’m going to the movies. Oh yes I do. What? You think it’s wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong. Paying freaking $4.25 for a freaking 20 ounce bottle of freaking water, that’s what’s wrong! I mean, really?! That same bottle costs $1.99 at any convenience store. Even with marking it up a little to make a profit, did it really cost the theater more than two bucks to get it there to sell to moviegoers? I don’t think so. Every time I hear news about how movie studios are upset about people not going to the movies, and how they’re losing money, it pisses me right the eff off. Try charging reasonable prices for the concessions, and maybe people will go to the theater instead of either waiting for movies to come out on DVD, or downloading pirated copies. Not that I ever do that. I’m just sayin’. Ahem. So yeah, that’s the last time I go to the movies unprepared. So even though this Bally Brixi is fugly, it would make the perfect theater companion.

They chose some really drab fabric for this bag. I think if you set it down in sand or near any foliage, you might never find it again. I hate the Bs woven into the fabric. That’s one reason I’m not that crazy about Coach handbags. It’s one thing for a bag to have a little logo tag on the front, or dangling from a zipper pull. And logoed lining inside is perfectly fine. But to have the company’s logo or symbol plastered all over the bag is like a desperate plea for attention. It seems to me that if I’m going to carry a Coach bag, or wear any item of clothing that emblazons its name over my ass (I’m looking at you, Juicy), I should be compensated for the free advertising the company gets whenever I’m out in public. No? Then I’m not paying all that money for your crap. But I digress. The Brixi is lined with twill, and has a zip closure. It comes with a dust bag. You can get it for $595 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

This is much better. The Haiku by Sharon Eisenhauer City Satchel Branch is made from washable—yes, washable!—faux leather pebbled suede, so you get the soft feel without the high maintenance. And get this. The lining is made from moisture-resistant nylon lining! So there’s no worry of ruining it with moisture from the bottles of water or soda you carry into the movie theater. There are five pockets, four of which zip, and one that closes with hook and loop. A spring clip keeps your keys handy and secure, and an adjustable strap extends from 28 inches to 54, allowing you to carry it across your body, if you prefer that to shoulder carrying. At 14.5 inches wide, there’s plenty of room for a small bag of popcorn and some Twizzlers. Mmm…Twizzlers. In addition to this brown bag with blue strap combo, the Haiku comes in an olive green option. Make it yours for just $74 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

I’m not as crazy about this one as I am the Haiku, but it’ll get the job done for less. The Dakine Ava is made from sturdy cotton canvas, and is lined with cotton, so even if it gets a little wet, it’ll air dry just fine. Another option of the Ava has a polyester exterior with nylon lining, with a black-on-black cheetah pattern. I’m partial to paisley, though, so I chose this one. Inside, you’ll find one zippered pocket, and three slip pockets, perfect for holding bottled water, or other beverages and snacks. The top zips closed, so no one will see what you’re carrying into the movie, either. The dual handles are made of vinyl. It’s also 14.5 inches wide, so there’s plenty of room for your snacks, as well as your usual handbag items. There are also a couple of multi-colored striped cotton options. Get a couple of them since the Ava is just $41 at Zappos.com.