A nostalgic escape: Every Saturday morning, this Oakland cinema opens its doors to a group of us “grown-up kids” craving that sweet throwback with a modern twist.

Cereal Cinema

The New Parkway Theater

474 24th St, Oakland

Every Saturday

If you were a kid in the 80s or 90s, you remember the magic of waking up early on a Saturday morning. PJ-clad, you’d shuffle down the stairs, cereal bowl in hand with the sweet, sugary smell of Froot Loops ( I’ve since been informed by my own child that Froot Loops taste like lemon dust and death…agree to disagree) or Lucky Charms filling the air. Cartoon time. No matter that the plots were predictable, or if it was a rerun that you could recite to perfection; what mattered was the pure joy of no school, no chores, and a blanket fort of precarious placement.

Well, the good folks at The New Parkway Theater have turned that nostalgia into a living, breathing experience, and let me tell you, it’s like stepping into a milk-and-sugar-coated time machine. Every Saturday morning, this Oakland cinema opens its doors to a group of us “grown-up kids” craving that sweet throwback, with a modern twist.

A Cereal Lover’s Dream: The All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Bar

First off, let’s talk about the cereal bar. Forget the cheap boxed stuff choking in plastic bags. This isn’t some sad, generic option. Oh no. The New Parkway has a selection of cereals that will make your inner child jump for joy—Corn Pops, Cap’n Crunch, Cocoa Pebbles, and yes, the almighty Cinnamon Toast Crunch. A smiling employee replaced that box at least once. You can go the extra mile and add a few toppings—think marshmallows, chocolate chips, or a healthy scoop of fruit, but what I appreciate are the limitless refills. Live your best cereal binge life. Add a side of oat milk, or the classic cow’s milk, and you’re in business.

The atmosphere in the theater is cozy, casual, and welcoming—dim lights, retro posters, and the kind of chill energy that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s living room. Everyone is tucked into the couches or bean bags, cereal bowls perched precariously on their laps as cartoons flash on the big screen. You can hear the clink of spoons against bowls, the hum of conversation about He-Man vs. Thundercats—it’s a love letter to an era that we can’t seem to quit loving.

Classic Cartoons: The Best of Saturday Mornings

The selection of cartoons is where the magic happens. The New Parkway knows how to curate a setlist. One week it’s The Smurfs, next week it’s Tiny Toons, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles thrown in the mix for good measure. There’s something comforting in seeing The Jetsons or Scooby-Doo on the big screen, even if the animation is about as fluid as a brick. But that’s part of the charm, right? The nostalgia, the weirdly stilted animation, the bad voice acting—it’s all there, and it warms the cockles of my overworked heart. Add in that I got to introduce my kid to these gems (sadly not Gem and the Holograms because that would have completed me), and its a pretty ideal Saturday morning. 

Vintage Video Games: The Arcade on the Balcony

As if things couldn’t get any better, the upstairs balcony is a smorgasbord of old school video games like Kirby set up for all to play. So if you want to extend your fun, head on upstairs. If the video games don’t do it for you then one of the many boardgames on hand might strike your fancy. 

Final Thoughts: A Slice of Childhood in the Heart of Oakland

There’s a reason we keep coming back to The New Parkway Theater’s Saturday Morning Cartoons event—it’s a feeling you can’t replicate. It’s that perfect blend of nostalgia, comfort, and whimsy, served up with a side of cereal and vintage games. Whether you’re looking to relive those long-gone Saturday mornings or just in need of a quirky escape from reality, this event has you covered.

So, grab your best childhood cereal (or let them choose for you), kick back, and let the cartoons roll. Because in the world of The New Parkway, it’s always Saturday morning, and the magic never ends

To learn more about Saturday Morning Cartoons or what’s new at the New Parkway Theater visit www.thenewparkway.com

The article originally appeared on Midbrow.org