Guidebook for Portland
Entertainment & Activities
This scrappy movie house, a three-screener in the West Village, has the most inspired film programming in the city. Where else can you watch British New Wave titles or a 26-day retrospective on classic double features on the big screen? The reliably terrific vintage films are plucked by Bruce Goldstein, who’s been doing it for 30 years.
The popcorn is kettle-cooked in peanut oil that you can top off with sea salt or lemon.
81 personas locales recomiendan
Film Forum
209 W Houston StThis scrappy movie house, a three-screener in the West Village, has the most inspired film programming in the city. Where else can you watch British New Wave titles or a 26-day retrospective on classic double features on the big screen? The reliably terrific vintage films are plucked by Bruce Goldstein, who’s been doing it for 30 years.
The popcorn is kettle-cooked in peanut oil that you can top off with sea salt or lemon.
The Metrograph aims for a slightly younger, hipper crowd. Its ambitious slate includes a series on Éric Rohmer and adaptations of Patricia Highsmith novels. The beautiful screening rooms have red velvet seats. There’s also a bar, a restaurant, and a film-themed bookstore that stocks Cahiers du Cinéma.
Build in extra travel time–there’s no marquee out front and I’ve heard people complain that Metrograph is hard to find.
131 personas locales recomiendan
Metrograph
7 Ludlow StThe Metrograph aims for a slightly younger, hipper crowd. Its ambitious slate includes a series on Éric Rohmer and adaptations of Patricia Highsmith novels. The beautiful screening rooms have red velvet seats. There’s also a bar, a restaurant, and a film-themed bookstore that stocks Cahiers du Cinéma.
Build in extra travel time–there’s no marquee out front and I’ve heard people complain that Metrograph is hard to find.
This staple cinema near Washington Square Park does a great job of varying its slate with a range of projects audiences want to see. It’s also home to America's largest documentary festivals and series, including Queer/Art/Film, which was started in 2009 by the filmmakers Adam Baran and Ira Sachs. I’ve done a number of podcasts in the Green Room.
IFC was renovated several years ago, but it’s a bit cramped inside and popular titles often sell out.
140 personas locales recomiendan
IFC Center
323 6th AveThis staple cinema near Washington Square Park does a great job of varying its slate with a range of projects audiences want to see. It’s also home to America's largest documentary festivals and series, including Queer/Art/Film, which was started in 2009 by the filmmakers Adam Baran and Ira Sachs. I’ve done a number of podcasts in the Green Room.
IFC was renovated several years ago, but it’s a bit cramped inside and popular titles often sell out.
A Brooklyn movie hub with seven screens showing a medley of new releases, cult classics, and genre films. Another draw: Alamo’s liquor license and ultramodern kitchen, which make the Food & Film series possible. You can watch Casablanca while feasting on Moroccan dishes, for example.
Be warned: the Alamo suffers absolutely no cell phone usage during movie time. Friends have told me that if you transgress once those lights go down, you’ll be escorted out of the theater.
17 personas locales recomiendan
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
2548 Central Park AveA Brooklyn movie hub with seven screens showing a medley of new releases, cult classics, and genre films. Another draw: Alamo’s liquor license and ultramodern kitchen, which make the Food & Film series possible. You can watch Casablanca while feasting on Moroccan dishes, for example.
Be warned: the Alamo suffers absolutely no cell phone usage during movie time. Friends have told me that if you transgress once those lights go down, you’ll be escorted out of the theater.
This bohemian hangout is Williamsburg’s original dine-in boutique theater. Nitehawk screens hot indie flicks and first-run features. It has two bars, one downstairs and one upstairs, so you don’t have to sit there scratching your beard if you need to wait for the next show. Keep an eye out for post-screening Q&As with filmmakers like Kevin Smith.
Try their burger with chipotle aioli and the kale salad with seasonal toppings.
941 personas locales recomiendan
Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan AveThis bohemian hangout is Williamsburg’s original dine-in boutique theater. Nitehawk screens hot indie flicks and first-run features. It has two bars, one downstairs and one upstairs, so you don’t have to sit there scratching your beard if you need to wait for the next show. Keep an eye out for post-screening Q&As with filmmakers like Kevin Smith.
Try their burger with chipotle aioli and the kale salad with seasonal toppings.
This video store turned bar and micro cinema has a projector in the back, where they screen mostly one-off affairs like Ghostland and The Eyes of My Mother. Videology’s long-running weekly movie/TV trivia nights and other events are attended by film school grads and casual filmgoers alike. You can still rent DVDs here, too.
Instead of traditional row seating, there are booths and polished wooden tables, custom-built by a local furniture maker.
70 personas locales recomiendan
Videology
This video store turned bar and micro cinema has a projector in the back, where they screen mostly one-off affairs like Ghostland and The Eyes of My Mother. Videology’s long-running weekly movie/TV trivia nights and other events are attended by film school grads and casual filmgoers alike. You can still rent DVDs here, too.
Instead of traditional row seating, there are booths and polished wooden tables, custom-built by a local furniture maker.
This little-known gem is a storefront cinema showing old and new docs with socially relevant themes. I've personally programmed films at Maysles, which also partners with the Studio Museum in Harlem on nonfiction films. The cinema has strong ties to the local community, which is reflected in its educational series and youth film clubs.
Maysles has a suggested donation ticket system.
25 personas locales recomiendan
Maysles Documentary Center
343 Malcolm X BlvdThis little-known gem is a storefront cinema showing old and new docs with socially relevant themes. I've personally programmed films at Maysles, which also partners with the Studio Museum in Harlem on nonfiction films. The cinema has strong ties to the local community, which is reflected in its educational series and youth film clubs.
Maysles has a suggested donation ticket system.
The premier destination for emerging and international cinema—despite competition—Walter Reade is an inviting 268-seat movie house. I saw a screening of Margaret that had a Q&A with Kenneth Lonergan and the entire cast. This is also the linchpin of the New York Film Festival and the New Directors/New Films series.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Film at Lincoln Center
70 Lincoln Center PlazaThe premier destination for emerging and international cinema—despite competition—Walter Reade is an inviting 268-seat movie house. I saw a screening of Margaret that had a Q&A with Kenneth Lonergan and the entire cast. This is also the linchpin of the New York Film Festival and the New Directors/New Films series.