Field Trip to the Metreon

A week before its gala grand opening in San Francisco, The Screen Savers staff got an advance tour of Sony's new techno-Nirvana, Metreon. It was a bona fide field trip, and we've got the pictures to prove it!

Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks-- the official coffee of the Metreon. I'll take a double, double decaf grande nonfat mocha latté. Julie and Alex take theirs black. :-) It's the perfect way to start the day.

Roger sets up the TechTV digital camera outside the Metreon. Testing, testing, one two three. Hey, is this on?

Once inside the facilities, our guide tells us all about Metreon cash-- a point and dollar card you can purchase to use at all the attractions. Leo manages to get $17 worth of Metreon dinero for free. Look closely, it's all on that little card.

Kate tries virtual bowling down the futuristic streets of San Francisco in the Airtight Garage. Strike!

All aboard! Now this is a real pod. You climb in and it's interactive city, baby. Rumor has it that it's like virtual bumper cars with the other pods in the room. While you don't move anywhere, the simulation factors are supposed to be quite real-- so real, we're told, that some of the Metreon crew has left the game feeling a little queasy.

It's up to the top floor to explore the In The Night Kitchen-- a special eating area designed for kids: lower counters for them to order on their own. Pizza and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are on the menu-- I wonder if they cut the crust off for you?

The Wild Things ceiling. There's a lot to take in upon entering the world of the children's book series. You feel magically transported into another realm.

Oh look! There's a Wild Thing!

San Francisco is the view from the terrace at the top level of the building. Right below us is Yerba Buena Gardens, and that funky building is The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Time to hit the movie theater. Austin Powers and Felicity Shagwell, er, I mean, Leo Laporte and Kate Botello hang out in the 16-theater lobby. Yeah baby, yeah!

We sneak a peek into the IMAX control booth. Wow. The tape is being threaded while we're up there. These films are monstrous. I'm talking at least three times the size of normal 35 millimeter film stock.

Movie time. Everest, here we come. The IMAX screen is about eight stories tall (80 feet high by 100 feet wide). Seeing those rock climbers hike Everest was a humbling experience, to say the least.

Is it time to go already? Not before we grab a complimentary bagel and, you guessed it, Starbucks coffee. Just what we need to kick off our real work day as we head back to the TechTV offices. Did I mention that our offices are a mere four blocks away? Virtual bowling over lunch, anyone?

Stacee,
YHR
Keeping you dialed in to the day-to-day life of The Screen Savers

Got a question? Send it to stacee@techtv.com.

Back to The Dish Home

Posted June 9, 1999
Modified June 15, 1999