The world's last Blockbuster video store in Oregon is inviting film fans to spend the night for a film-themed sleepover. Courtesy Airbnb
The world's last Blockbuster video store in Oregon is inviting film fans to spend the night for a film-themed sleepover. Courtesy Airbnb
The world's last Blockbuster video store in Oregon is inviting film fans to spend the night for a film-themed sleepover. Courtesy Airbnb
The world's last Blockbuster video store in Oregon is inviting film fans to spend the night for a film-themed sleepover. Courtesy Airbnb

The world's last Blockbuster video store is hosting film-themed sleepovers on Airbnb


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Kids today might not remember the thrill of Blockbuster video stores, but for those of us who grew up in the Nineties, it was a Friday night ritual.

The joy of being handed that little blue membership card and taken to the video store to spend at least half an hour perusing the possibility filled aisles and picking out a film that could make or break your weekend was real.

Such trips were usually accompanied by purchases of the store's giant bags of popcorn and candy, as well as an obligatory parental panic a few days later when the grown-ups realised they were about to be hit with late return fines.

A retro night of film nostalgia is on the cards for guests booking the $4 overnight stays. Courtesy Airbnb
A retro night of film nostalgia is on the cards for guests booking the $4 overnight stays. Courtesy Airbnb

For anyone craving more of this film rental nostalgia, Airbnb has some good news.

The last remaining Blockbuster video store in the world has been listed on the accommodation rental site and is giving film fanatics the chance to stay overnight at a movie-marathon sleepover.

Unfortunately for most of us, bookings are only open to residents in the same country as the Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon.

Movie-night marathons for $4

Sandi Harding, the US store's manager, says she's opening the Blockbuster up for three end-of-summer sleepovers that will take place between Friday and Sunday, September 18 and 20. Each stay can host up to four people who will be invited to make the Blockbuster video store their home for the evening.

A pull-out sofa bed, beanbags and a large screen television have been installed in the Blockbuster video store for Airbnb guests. Courtesy Airbnb
A pull-out sofa bed, beanbags and a large screen television have been installed in the Blockbuster video store for Airbnb guests. Courtesy Airbnb

Overnight bookings cost $4 (Dh15), which is just one cent more than a regular film rental, plus taxes and fees. Bookings open on Monday, August 17 and will be reserved on a first come, first served basis.

For the lucky guests, who must be Deschutes County residents, a night of endless cinematic possibilities awaits with Harding and her staff making sure the shelves are stocked with films guaranteed to keep everyone entertained.

Inside the store, a living room space has been set up with a huge couch that transforms into a sofa bed as well as a television screen, comfy bean bags and rows upon rows of everyone's favourite films. There will also be complimentary snacks and sodas, as well as use of the staff bathroom and break room to make stays more comfortable.

The video store will be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned in accordance with Airbnb’s cleaning protocols and social distancing policies will be in place. Bookings that are for more than one person can only be from members of the same household.

Free movie night recommendations

Anyone looking to create their own nostalgic movie marathon can call the store for film recommendations and retro Blockbuster merchandise. Unsplash
Anyone looking to create their own nostalgic movie marathon can call the store for film recommendations and retro Blockbuster merchandise. Unsplash

For anyone sad about missing out on an epic night of film nostalgia simply because they don't live in the region, Harding and her team are offering free tailored movie recommendations.

Anyone from anywhere in the world can call the store directly on +1 541 385 9111 and tell staff what genre of movie they enjoy. Real-life film experts will then dish out movie recommendations to suit and there's plenty of blue and yellow Blockbuster merchandise on sale for anyone who wants to recreate their own retro night at the movies.

Match info

Athletic Bilbao 0

Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate 

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bundesliga fixtures

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 

RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 

Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

While you're here
Martin Sabbagh profile

Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East

In the role: Since January 2015

Lives: In the UAE

Background: M&A, investment banking

Studied: Corporate finance

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aaron%20Horvath%20and%20Michael%20Jelenic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Pratt%2C%20Anya%20Taylor-Joy%2C%20Charlie%20Day%2C%20Jack%20Black%2C%20Seth%20Rogen%20and%20Keegan-Michael%20Key%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Padmaavat

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5

The biog

Age: 32

Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.

Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas

Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska

How will Gen Alpha invest?

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.

“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.

Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.

He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.

Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”

'The Batman'

Stars:Robert Pattinson

Director:Matt Reeves

Rating: 5/5

How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.