Hopefully Gort will keep his visor closed while you enjoy a Rocket Donut.

In January, upon returning to western Washington after spending 16 months in Idaho, I compiled a long list of things I had to accomplish to reimmerse myself in all things Whatcom County.

Going back to Rocket Donuts was near the top of the list. And Saturday, coupled with the latest Rocket Donuts Sci-Fi Matinee at the Pickford Film Center, I got a double dip of the unique and campy experience in downtown Bellingham.

I’ve always been a big fan of the B-movies of 1940s and 1950s, and enjoying a donut and coffee at the colorful West Holly Street store – decked out with movie posters and a replica of the Gort robot from “The Day the Earth Stood Still” — is a true pleasure. But what was even better was watching the eclectic crowd, from families to seniors, enjoy the time around me. At one point, a father and daughter sat down at the table next to mine with one of the store’s oversized donuts. So big, in fact, the dad had to keep leaning back in his chair to take a photo of the mammoth treat, much to the amusement of his daughter.

The same vibe carried over when I headed over to the new Pickford Film Center on Bay Street to watch “The Beginning of the End,” the latest in the theater’s monthly series of classic sci-fi movies. I had seen the 1957 film before, but I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of group would show up to watch an entomologist played by Peter Graves save the world from giant irradiated grasshoppers (“You can’t drop an atom bomb on Chicago!”), but I was pleasantly surprised to see several families with young kids in the enthusiastic audience. And it was kind of refreshing to watch a movie without profanity and gore. For $2, this was a great deal in a terrific venue.

Next in the series is “Fahrenheit 451” on March 17, followed by “Monster from the Ocean Floor” (April 21) and “Earth vs. the Spider” (May 19). To learn more about the series, go here.

About the Author: Tony Briggmin

Tony Briggmin is the Tourism Bureau's Marketing Coordinator. The Youngstown, Ohio native moved to Whatcom County in 1997 and spent 13 years with The Bellingham Herald. After a brief stint in Idaho, he returned to his Blaine home in 2012 and is now living his dream exploring and appreciating everything Whatcom County. His perfect Whatcom County day? Any day that begins and ends on the shores of Birch Bay State Park.