Let's all go to the movies

This last weekend, my BF and I spent a casual afternoon at the movies. I know you can go to the movies in any U.S. town and at the NYC price of $12 per ticket; you might want to wait until you get back home and enjoy your local cinema. However like everything else in the Big Apple, going to the movies can be an experience.

The Ziegfeld Theatre
Originally build 1927 as a vaudeville show house, the Ziegfeld has been a part of American entertainment culture from the beginning. From 1955-1963 NBC used it as a television studio broadcasting the Perry Como Show and the Emmy Awards. It had a short 3 year run as a Broadway theatre but the building was razed in 1966 to make way for a skyscraper.

The current establishment was rebuilt just down the block from the original location in 1969. The Ziegfeld is unlike any other movie house in the city because of the grandeur of the décor that harkens back to the glamour days of the silver screen with read carpet and gold trim. The photos in the lobby and stairwell document the history of the Ziegfeld Theatre and feature the famous actors and celebrities that have appeared or performed there.

Now, before you start thinking it is all about nostalgia let me assure you that the theatre is awesome. It is the largest single-screen movie house in the city with a 52 foot screen and 1,131 seats. It is the spot for movie premieres and is, in my opinion, the best place to see big films like Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean or Iron Man.
141 West 54th Street

212-765-7600
Info about the Zeigfeld


IMAX
If you like big screens, then you may want to catch an IMAX flick. Short for Image Maximum, IMAX is able to display images in a greater size and resolution than conventional film systems. A standard IMAX screen is 72.6 feet wide by 52.8 feet high. There are several IMAX theatres in the greater metropolitan area including:

AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX 1998 Broadway (between 67th & 68th Streets)
(212)50L-OEWS 638
http://www.amctheatres.com/

The American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
(212) 769-5650
http://www.amnh.org/

American Theater
1450 East Ave, Bronx
(718) 863-4900

http://www.bowtiecinemas.com/american-theater.html

And if you are up for a little drive you could visit the biggest "IMAX Dome" in the world at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.

http://www.lsc.org/


Movies in Bryant Park
This is one of my favorite summertime activities. Each year Bryant Park, along with some big corporate sponsors host movie nights in the park. You can bring a blanket and picnic, meet friends and enjoy a classic film and the warm summer night. This year 'wichcraft sandwiches are taking onsite orders which will then be delivered directly to your blanket. The lawn opens at 5:00pm for blankets (no plastic tarps allowed) and picnicking. The films begin at dusk (typically between 8pm and 9pm).

The park is located between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php

Independent/Classic/Art Films
If you are interested in films that are outside the mainstream, then New York is your kind of town. Small or obscure films that might not get screen-time anywhere else can usually find an audience here. There are several theatres that are dedicated to foreign, independent and/or art films. You can also find documentaries, classics and little known gems.

Film Forum

Film Forum is a not-for-profit cinema founded in 1970 with a "$2000 investment, a tiny 16mm Bell & Howell projector and a rented loft space on West 88th Street." It is currently housed in a hip 3-screen venue on West Houston. All of the screens are rather small and the seats are not the most comfortable, but the fare is worth the discomfort.
209 West Houston Street (west of 6th Avenue)

212-727-8110

http://www.filmforum.org/

IFC
Housed in the recently renovated Waverly Theater, IFC offers new independent, foreign, cult classics and documentary features. The theatres are state-of-the-art including High-Def digital and 35mm projection and cooshy seats. They also screen short films before every feature. While there you should spend some time perusing the Posteritati Gallery and the vintage movie posters from all over the world.
323 Sixth Avenue (at West 3rd Street)
212.924.7771
http://www.ifccenter.com/

Angelika Film Center

A few blocks East of Film Forum is another popular art film house, the Angelika Film Center. It has 6 screening rooms and like its sister cinema each screen is rather small. You also have the added bonus of the vibrating seats as the nearby subway trains roll past.

18 West Houston Street (at Mercer)

212-995-2000

http://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/

BAM Rose Cinema
BAM presents first-run independent, classic American and foreign films and documentaries. They have many programs that also include Q&As with filmmakers, actors and screen writers. Through their BAMcinématek series, they also host retrospectives, festivals, premieres and rare screenings with special guest appearances.
30 Lafayette Avenue between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, Brooklyn.
(718) 636-4157
http://www.bam.org/events/film.aspx?sDate=5/13/2008&sRange=Week&sEvent=Film

Other popular movie houses
There are movie houses in most neighborhoods throughout the 5 boroughs. Here are some of my favorites.

The AMC Empire 25 and the Regal E-Walk 13 are located on 42nd Street directly across from one another. So let's say that your show is sold out, well just walk across the street and see what's showing there.

AMC Empire 25
234 West 42nd Street
(212) 398-3939

Regal E-Walk 13
247 W. 42nd Street
(800) 326-3264

AMC Loews 34th Street 14

312 W. 34th Street

(212) 244-8850

Regal Union Square Stadium 14

850 Broadway

(212) 253-6266

Here are some resources for finding show times and theatres near you:

NYC.com Guide to New York Movie Theaters
A great list of theatres in NYC.
www.nyc.com/movies

Wild about movies
This site offers discounts on movie tickets and concessions
www.wildaboutmovies.com/amc_loews_discount_movie_tickets/index.html

Fandango
Provides show times, theatre information and sells tickets for AMC theatres.
1-800-fandango
http://www.fandango.com/

Moviefone
Provides show times, theatre information and sells tickets for AMC theatres.
http://movies.aol.com/

Insider Tips:

• When going to Bryant Park, arrive early; the best spots get taken quickly.


• Order/pick up tickets early for Film Forum and the Angelica especially on weekends.


• Check for discount coupons and special events before hand you could save a bundle.