I've gathered some info for you on several interesting movie theaters
in the NYC area (but not in Manhattan). Probably no one of these has
all the things you hope for (in this life, few things do), but each
has some strong points that should make it worth a visit.
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"The Pavilion Movie Theatre
188 Prospect Park W
Brooklyn (New York), New York 11215
(718) 369-0838...
The Pavilion is a large, renovated local movie theatre right across
from the South entrance of Prospect Park. Though it shows mostly
mainstream movies and blockbusters it's a fun neighborhood place to
see just that. The Pavilion is also home of The Living Room Cafe on
the second floor of the theatre. You can sit down for dinner or
dessert($5.00 minimum per person), or you can take something out at
the counter and bring it in to the theater with you (no minimum
there). It's a real treat to be able to indulge in a colossal hot
fudge sundae while you're watching an action flick. The upper floor of
The Living Room, where they have more seating, also invites you to
take games like Scrabble off of the bookshelf and bring over to your
table. You don't have to see a movie to eat at The Living Room. They
are open every day for lunch and dinner, and brunch on Sundays."
IgoUgo: New York > Brooklyn
http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalEntryActivity.asp?JournalID=656&EntryID=1436&n=The+Pavilion
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"BAM Rose Cinemas
30 Lafayette Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217...
BAM is the best place to see a movie in New York, not just Brooklyn.
They always have a good lineup of new movies and classics. The
theaters are spacious and beautiful...
They usually have a good lineup of indie movies. While there are lots
of good indie theaters in NYC, this is one of the few that's spacious,
with stadium seating and big screens.
Which brings me to the third point: it's beautiful! It's wonderfully
maintained, with a lot of its original fixtures, high ceilings and
shiny floors. This is not your ratty Manhattan theater... Also,
there's a swanky cafe/bar on the premises for a before or after-movie
drink."
Judy's Book: BAM
http://newyork.judysbook.com/media-arts-and-entertainment/movie-theaters/63273/BAM.htm
This is by far the best movie theatre in Brooklyn. The movie selection
is comparable to that of The Angelika, The Landmark Sunshine and
Lincoln Plaza Theatres in Manhattan. The seating is comfortable and
the four screen auditoriums are rarely overcrowded. If you have some
time before a show, I suggest the 3 course $21 prix fixe Dinner and a
Movie menu at the BAM Cafe upstairs (available with a ticket stub for
that day). The food is really quite good and the atmosphere is very
pleasant."
Judy's Book: BAM Rose Cinemas
http://newyork.judysbook.com/uncategorized/82454/Bam_Rose_Cinemas.htm
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"Island 16 Cinema
(631) 758-4300
(631) 758-9100
185 Morris Ave
Holtsville, NY 11742"
Google Local: Island 16 Cinema
://www.google.com/local?num=100&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&c2coff=1&safe=off&q=island-16&near=Holtsville,+NY&sa=X&oi=locald&radius=0.0&latlng=40815278,-73045556,7432710248342450132
"Island 16: Cinema de Lux, located off exit 62 of the Long Island
Expressway in Holtsville, is being heralded by its owners at National
Amusements as the first theater of its kind. In addition to 16
screens, the cinema offers a bar and lounge, fast food and a coffee
bar, among other distinguishing characteristics...
People who come to the theater can eat dinner, have dessert, see a
movie and have a drink, all in one spot. Chatters Bar and Lounge has a
full-service bar, a menu serving American fare, indoor and outdoor
patio dining and plasma screen televisions with direct satellite
connections. For a quick bite, there's Nathan's, Sbarro's Pizza,
Pretzel Depot and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, in addition to a coffee bar
and regular concession snacks.
The lobby is also equipped with multiple plasma screens that
continuously show coming attractions and short films to entertain
guests while they wait for their movie to begin. A guest services desk
provides patrons with concierge-style services.
The 16 auditoriums feature wall-to-wall screens and a total of 3,250
rocking recliner seats with cup-holders and lift-up armrests arranged
stadium-style. The halls also offer handicap seating in the middle of
the theater and four to eight companion seats for each.
Four of these auditoriums are called 'director's halls,' a new concept
introduced by Island 16. These halls offer 24-inch UltraLeather seats,
wall-to-wall murals of beach landscapes and reserved seating."
North Shore Sun Online: On with the show
http://www.timesreview.com/sun10-25-02/stories/weekend1.htm
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"National Amusements City Center 15: Cinema de Lux
237 Martine Avenue
White Plains NY 10601...
This time, we went north to White Plains (New York) to try the cinema
at the new City Center. Yummy. It was posh (in a 'still in a mall'
way), clean, with an incredibly friendly staff who seemed thrilled to
be working together. There was the usual assortment of overpriced food
plus an assortment of sandwiches and pizza (overpriced), plus a bar &
grill (!) which really wasn't overpriced at all and smelled
tantalisingly tasty. The individual screen's theatre had ample
handicapped seating - I counted eight seats with room for chairs.
All this with ticket prices that manage to stay under $10, current and
recent movie trailers showing on multiple screens in a lobby with cafe
seating as well as couches and a magazine-reading nook with actual
trendy magazines. And did I mention the grand piano in the lobby? That
you can sit at and play while waiting for your show? Now, that's just
odd. I love it.
As the name of the theatre says, it has fifteen screens. The theatres
are modest but not tiny, the seats high-backed, plush, and comfy. It
was reported to me that the bathrooms were elegant."
Outside Food: National Amusements City Center 15
http://outsidefood.com/archives/2004_01.html
"City Center 15: Cinema de Lux, will be a 15 screen state-of-the art
movie theatre complete with: Exclusive Director?s Halls with Ultra
Leather seats and reserved seating, Guest Services extraordinaire with
posh-posh concierge-style, complimentary service for patrons of the
celluloid arts. Guests of the White Plains Performing Arts Theatre as
well as moviegoers can inbibe, chatter, and flatter at a Chatters
Restaurant and Lounge, order beans from heaven coffee at a coffee bar
while enjoying the sounds of a Baby Grand Piano playing the the lobby.
Plus for the traditional movie snacker they may take advantage of Ben
and Jerry's, Nathan's Famous and Sbarro's Pizza."
White Plains CitizeNet Reporter: National Amusements Cinema 15
http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article1882.html
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"Loews Jersey Gardens Theatres
651 Kapowski Road
Elizabeth, NJ 07201...
Located on Kapowski Road just south of North Avenue. A very striking
front facade almost in a Spanish style. The main structure over the
front entrance rises above the two story building with the Loews
emblem in two places. It features a 1920's style marquee over the main
entrance with no attraction panels. There are Corinthian style columns
along the front entrance.
This Loews house features stadium seating, indoor box office, large
concessions areas featuring expanded menus, assistive listening
devices, a game room, cafe/restaurant, and Dolby Digital sound."
Cinema Treasures: Loews Jersey Gardens Theatres
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/10358
"Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation has enhanced its Reserved
Seating program that enables consumers to buy tickets and reserve
their seats through a dedicated Reserve Seating hotline. Loews is now
offering its 'Guest Express' service exclusively with Reserved
Seating. Not only are Reserved Seating patrons guaranteed one of the
best seats in the house without having to arrive at the theatre early,
they will now be able to order their favorite food or beverage items
from the comfort of their seats. Loews 'Guest Express' staff will
provide patrons with a menu upon being seated and will serve patrons
in their seats. Reserved Seating patrons are provided with shared
table tops so they do not have to hold their meals and snacks in their
laps. No lines, no waiting, no hassles and no having to carry large
buckets of popcorn and soda's back to their seats.
This new pilot program is available exclusively in Manhattan at Loews
34th Street theatre, Elizabeth, New Jersey at Loews Jersey Gardens
theatre and Cherry Hill, NJ at Loews Cherry Hill theatre. Loews offers
a limited number of reserve seats in select auditoriums. In addition
to offering this service, Loews is providing 'First Class' seats at
the 34th Street and Jersey Gardens theatres."
Loews Cineplex Entertainment Introduces 'Guest Express'
http://orlandofloridaguide.com/entertainment/movies/index.html
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"MEGA MOVIES, located at the Brunswick Square Mall on Route 18 in East
Brunswick [New Jersey] provides a movie entertainment experience like
no other!...
- High-back MEGA luxurious LOVE SEATS with headrests
- 13 Screens
- Stadium seating with extra leg room
- Digital surround sound
- Wall-to-wall MEGA movie screens
- Cupholder armrests, that swiveling food trays attach to.
(All MEGA food can be comfortably eaten at your seat)
Our MEGA food court and custom designed concession stand provide the
widest choice of food and snacks available at any theatre in New
Jersey, all of which can be enjoyed during your movie or in our MEGA
café."
Mega Movies: Looking for a new and exciting movie-going experience?
http://www.gomegamovies.com/
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"Ritz Sixteen
900 Berlin-Haddonfield Road
Voorhees, NJ 08043...
Definitely not an art-film house like its smaller Philadelphia
brethren, Ritz 16 (formerly Ritz 12) plays a lot of big-budget flicks
on its big big screens. Nothing wrong with that - why shouldn't you be
able to enjoy a biscotti at a Jackie Chan movie? Sip a double latte in
the front row of the next Star Wars sequel and tell me that doesn't
make perfect sense."
AOL City Guide Philadelphia: Ritz Sixteen
http://cityguide.aol.com/philadelphia/movies/venue.adp?sbid=110509756
"If you wander into the expansive lobby of the Ritz 16 in Voorhees,
you?ll find that movie magic now extends to the offerings behind the
concession stands. Of course, there?s still the obvious - popcorn and
soft pretzels, Coca Cola in icy cups and Raisinettes in yellow boxes -
but those traditional share space with gourmet chocolates, frothy
cappuccino and an assortment of pastries.
Yes, here at the Ritz, the snacking is just like the atmosphere.
Decidedly grown up. Even the candy - bars of Lindt Swiss chocolate,
filled with pistachio or hazelnut, scoops of trail mix and carob
covered raisins - have an adult spin. On weekends, the Ritz even
offers luncheon food - tuna wraps and turkey Waldorf sandwiches on
focaccia bread."
Reel Life with Jane: Cinema Snacking
http://www.reellifewithjane.com/foodmarydixon.html
"The Ritz 16 theater in Voorhees, New Jersey, one of the most
up-to-date venues for less commercial films in the United States,
recently completed construction to up its total number of screens from
12 to 16. And, as with all new theaters, it offers a form of stadium
seating and full digital surround sound in each of its auditoriums."
ReelViews: The 1990s in Review
http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/90s/intro.html
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This last one doesn't exist yet, but it sounds like a lollapalooza:
"Fort Lauderdale-based Muvico Theaters and The Mills Corp. said Muvico
will build a 26-screen, 6,500-seat, 160,000-square-foot megaplex at
Meadowlands Xanadu, a 4.8 million-square-foot entertainment, shopping
and office complex in northern New Jersey.
Megaplex plans include a premier level with nine balcony auditoriums
and a full-service restaurant and bar, plus a 15,000-square-foot
rooftop terrace and movie screen. The terrace is to feature a 60-foot
outdoor screen for movie viewing, with a helipad and private access to
the premier level for VIPs.
Muvico President Hamid Hashemi said the amenity will be patterned
after the company's Muvico premier level bistro, bar and theaters in
its Boca Raton Muvico Palace 20.
Hashemi said Muvico Xanadu 26 will be about four miles from Manhattan
and equidistant from the Lincoln Tunnel and the George Washington
Bridge.
Among other things, the new megaplex is to feature a themed lobby,
wall-to-wall screens, Dolby digital surround sound, stadium seating
and enough row spacing to walk between aisles."
BizJournals: Muvico plans to open at Xanadu
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2004/10/04/daily21.html
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My preliminary research on this project consisted of several hours
combing through the listings and descriptions at Cinema Treasures, a
remarkable database of theater-related info:
Cinema Treasures
http://www.cinematreasure.com
I also sent out emails to several movie-loving friends who live in New
York. The venues most often mentioned by my correspondents were the
two "Cinema de Lux" theaters (mentioned above).
I hope this helps you to broaden your cinematic choices! If anything
is unclear or incomplete, or if a link doesn't work for you, please
request clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before
you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
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