I wasn't aware that there was a cafe at the Apollo! It is located above the main theatre…read more We did have to go through a metal detector. I think we went up two flights of stairs. Everyone from security and staff were friendly and professional! When you enter the room, it is first come, first served. You choose from tables for four or high tables that sit two. They will inform you that if you are a party of two and sitting at a table for 4, two more people may sit next to you. You order and pay for your food and drinks with the QR code and it is delivered in minutes. Great live music! Great staff! Great vibes! I Plan on returning !

So the queen of soul died. So I went to the Apollo and paid my RESPECTs to Aretha Franklin…read more The Apollo always has a celebration of live when a legend passes on. They play music and fans stop by and leave photos , flowers, trinkets. Fans just feel the love and comfort from like minded peeps. I've seen concerts here too. Really the inside is pretty fab. Beautiful. Enjoy the photos of the world BEST ENTERTAINERS that have performed here!!. Such history!! They have theater tours and you can take lots of pics and hear the stories!! Make sure you see The Tree of Hope!!

The opening day of every season is the craziest day of that summer. People wait in line for 5pm for…read morethe "gates to be opened" and run, trampling each other to claim a spot. A dangerous situation. Looks hilarious when filmed from the bird's eye view. If you want a good seat, come at 5, right when people are allowed on the lawn. Grab a blanket and occupy an area. Then you have three hours till sunset to chill or walk around. No one touches others' blankets, so don't worry about leaving your stuff unattended (obviously take all your valuables with you). The movies typically last till 10ish. A refreshing outdoor experience to get yourself out of the office and enjoy some "fresh air" in the center of the city. A lot of people bring enticing spreads and even alcohol to spend the whole lazy evening picnicing in anticipation of the movie.

You know that scene in The Hunger Games where the tributes are counting down the clock and all of…read morethem are waiting with bated breath to leap down and race to the Cornucopia to grab life saving supplies?... That's basically what happened last night in Bryant Park for the outdoor screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Granted, I was one of "those" people in front who sprinted like a mad woman to nab a highly coveted blanket spot in the middle of the field next to that brown leaf but this was just pure, epic ridiculousness. I honestly wish I could have stood in the middle of the park and done a panorama video as the people came rushing towards me. It would have made a great opening scene in an apocalyptic film. (FYI the staff takes takes this event very seriously so don't annoy them by stepping over the tiny rope boundary between cement and field. The way they were acting, you think you'd set off a mine if you set foot on the grass before we were given clearance. Sounds familiar, no?) Once the mad dash has happened, you can sprawl out and enjoy chatting with friends and checking out the hot guys... specifically those dressed up like Indiana Jones. After perusing the field, you could tell which people were the regulars. Obviously we were amateurs because we did not even think to bring any of the stuff that our fellow neighbors for the evening had brought. We were surrounded by wicker picnic baskets, bottles of wine, champagne, champagne and wine glasses, decks of cards, pizza boxes, cheese and fruit platters, and anything else picnic worthy. Hell, someone was even smoking pot towards the end of the film. This isn't San Francisco people! Now get this, people are lining up around the field around 4 pm. They don't let you swarm it till 5 pm... and the movie doesn't start till sundown which is 8:30 pm roughly. Plus there's like 10 minutes of previews and a cartoon (weeeee!!!) before the film actually starts so you're looking at a 8:45 start time. Doing the math, I was there for over six hours! Holy moly. No wonder I was tired at the end. I think my favorites of the evening (besides the movie viewing itself) was the mini-dance party we had before the start of the film featuring the old school HBO introduction from the 80s. I wonder if my brother was even conceived yet when this was created but everyone just stood up and started dancing like crazy to this awful 80s tune. Oh how silly we all act together. My other favorite of the evening was the cartoon played after the previews (because in the old days a cartoon was always played before the feature). They played "One Froggy Evening" which if you know Chuck Jones cartoons is the famous dancing frog cartoon. I LOVEEEE this frog!! I was singing and dancing to "Hello ma baby!" with the rest of the crowd and then laughing hysterically at the poor, greedy man who got screwed over. Michigan J. Frog for the win! My only qualm about the evening was the organization of it (or lack there of I should say). If you need to use the restroom, do yourself a HUGE favor and do NOT bring your purse or bag out with you. Otherwise, you will have pulled a "me" and will have to stand in the ridiculously long line to get back in. Had I been warned by any of the event staff, I would have entrusted my purse with my friends and gone out sans bag. Ahhhh!! Other than that, what an exceptional Monday night. Yes, I only got five hours of sleep and yes, I dashed off like Batman into the darkness once the movie ended to catch the train but it was totally worth it. If you live in NYC or visit during the summer, do yourself a favor. Grab some of your friends, a few blankets, an adequately stocked picnic basket and make it over to Bryant Park to make a marvelous memory.

Tribeca Film Festival used to be a spirited time of independent films for low cost that revitalized…read moredowntown Manhattan. As it has become more commercial and expensive in the past few years, Acefest has emerged to take its place. Using Tribeca Cinemas on Varick as a main stage, the film festival offers the best of what you don't see in cinema today. Well organized. Reasonably priced. Easy to find locations. Good clean fun. (Okay, sometimes it's dirty, but the good kind).

I celebrated my 30th Birthday here and it was quite possibly one of the best birthdays I've ever…read morehad. From start to finish, Will was reasonable, easy to communicate with, and very welcoming. His cinema is a true hidden gem and a wonderful testament to his love of movies. My friends and I had an absolute blast - I can't wait to come back here again and check out a movie or two.

Threw my birthday party here in march. Old Hollywood theme! The owner was so nice and is so…read morepassionate about his business, which is refreshing to see in nyc. Would definitely come again! Thank you for the wonderful experience.

The 2026 New York Asian Film Festival is running from July 10 to July 26, 2026 across five New York…read morevenues, including Film at Lincoln Center, SVA Theatre, IFC Center, Anthology Film Archives, and the Korean Cultural Center New York. On Friday, July 24 at 4 PM, BTS: The Return, Bao Nguyen's documentary about the band recording their comeback album was going to be shown at the SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street in Chelsea. Bao Nguyen introduced the film and did a brief Q&A afterward. The screening was free and I just had to RSVP to the event. I arrived about 3:45pm and after a brief security check, I was in SVA Theatre. There were some snacks and merchandise for purchase in the lobby. Restrooms were by the entrance. I went into the theater on the same floor and chose a seat. The seats were comfy and the sound quality was very good. I enjoyed watching the documentary at the SVA Theatre. I am very supportive and happy that the New York Asian Film Foundation exists to ensure that new Asian cinema is seen, shared, and celebrated--expanding cultural understanding, amplifying new voices, and positioning Asian cinema as an essential force in global film culture. This is so important.

I came to this theater over the weekend to see Home Alone for its 35th Anniversary, presented by…read moreD23 (Disney). It was a lot of fun! This was my first time attending an event like this and my first time at this venue, so I didn't know what to expect. I brought my partner and a friend, and they both had a great time. There was a one-hour interactive game with the audience, which was really engaging. It was fun for the children. They also allowed the audience to come and go in the beginning of the event, so people could grab food or drinks around the neighborhood. The whole event was approximately 3hrs includes the movie showing. It was fun watching on a big screen. One downside of the venue is that there was no concession stand. I assume that's because it's not a typical theater. The venue is owned by SVA (School of Visual Arts), so you can't expect too much in that regard. I was surprised by how old the place looks. It definitely has a vintage feel to it. The venue was decently clean and that's all that really matters to me.

The Director who runs this study, Anthony Lover, is a genius…read more He welcomes everyone from budding screen writers to movie buffs. And his films are both heartfelt and powerful. The swank screening room is a plus. "My Brother" is working its way toward distribution after an overwhelmingly popular showing at the American Black Film Festival this year. Set in Brooklyn, two brothers, one developmentally disabled, and their life together is very moving. It's a shame you need to track down independent directors and private screenings to avoid the usual negativism, sex and violence, but perhaps that just makes these sorts of films that much more special.

This planetarium is so hidden even the security guard and students didn't know about it, which is…read morewhy the map issued for the community events became very helpful in navigating the halls to find it! I attended a "Music of the Spheres" Public Community Program here where we navigated the planetary, solar, and stellar universe through data imaging in domed surrounded ceiling projections paired with live navigation and some explanations over music and lots of tilting back in chairs with desks. The goal of the program is to help increase awareness and funding for this space and the program events for the community, and it was a success, at least for those who were able to find it on the campus map! Hopefully if more people are aware and engage, all the facilities can be updated for more accessibility and awareness for the greater community as well!

I adore an independent DIY theater. It always reminds me of my life in Berlin where film is a way…read moreof life. This place is tiny, I recommend coming in early for a good spot. They also let you bring in food. My biggest tip would be to sit in the outer part of the row. The seats gave me flashbacks of being on an airplane. It was a tight squeeze getting out. Literally nobody was moving and then there was this random ballon and some guy's feet. I ended up tripping on someone's foot. And plummeting to my almost death. Embarrassing. During the middle of the film and with a small crowd, the racquet could not me missed. So I'm saving you from any future embarrassment ahead of time. The movie I picked was "B Movie: Lust and Sound in West Berlin 1979-1989" documentary. I have been trying to see this film for over two years. It captures the essence of life in Berlin in the eighties. It was truly a magical and creative space where musicians and artists would come from all over to experience. You will spot famous young baby versions of Tilda Swinton, Nick Cave, Blixa Bargeld, Keith Haring and many more. I love the music during that time in Germany so live footage of Malaria, Abwärts and Einstürzende Neubaten was incredible. I will definitely be returning with Vannesa's dumplings in hand and my seat in the outer row. Thanks Spectacle for still caring about film and sharing it with us. This is the kind of place that makes NY a unique and wonderful place to live in.

What a gem! I can't believe they're still here and screenings are still so cheap! Go give them your…read moremoney! It's gotta be the cheapest date in town. You can bring your own refreshments. It's pretty cold in the winter tho, they are clearly saving money on their heat. It's very, very, very barebones inside. I still love it.