Suns Cinema Moving Forward

Former cell phone store slated to become Suns Cinema

The Suns Cinema project seems to be moving forward in Mount Pleasant. Plans for a small, alternative/independent/classics film venue have been coming together over the past few months. The organizers chose 3107 Mount Pleasant St NW as the space for the theater. Suns completed a successful $16,000 Kickstarter campaign in March.

Recent DCRA permits indicate a current load of just 15 people, but that jumps to 41 if required alterations are made. I'm guessing that number will rise as the build-out continues.

Suns is also seeking an alcohol licence in order to operate a bar inside the theater. The ABRA alcohol licence request (page 12) lists an occupancy load of 99 people, including 42 in seats, and 10 in a summer garden. I'm assuming the summer garden seating means the small patio facing Mount Pleasant Street NW. Requested hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday 8am – 12am & Friday + Saturday 8am – 2am.

If all goes well, we'll have a great new addition to Mount Pleasant sooner than later!

Centrolina to Downtown; Theatre Planned for Mount P

Signage has gone up announcing the pending arrival of Centolina to City Center. The Italian restaurant and market will serve handmade pastas and have a complete coffee service, among many other offerings. Cenrtrolina will be run by Amy Brandwein, formerly of Alba Osteria and Casa Nonna. 

The location will be 974 Palmer Alley NW, directly across from RareSweets. Palmer Alley is the City Center created pedestrian-only area that will eventually be filled with restaurants and retail shops. When fully leased, approximately 60 businesses will fill 300,000 square feet of retail space across the three City Center buildings. 

*     *     *

Will Mount Pleasant get a tiny, independent movie theater? Maybe. Two neighborhood residents, including the owner of Eastern Confederate salon, want to open a movie theatre on Mount Pleasant Street. We're talking small scale here, less than 50 seats. And think classic, cult, and local films, not first run blockbusters. Sounds like a great idea to me! If successful, Suns Cinema would be located at 3107 Mount Pleasant St NW, two doors from the mysteriously open, but sometimes closed LIA Cafe.

Check out this Washington Post article for more details. 

Out of the Basement: Film Screening and After Party

I've seen each of these DC made, DC inspired short films and they are excellent! Out of the Basement and Into the Lime Light follow two DC boxers as they train and emerge from the local scene in search of success in the greater boxing world. Proceeds from the screening will benefit the programs at the Lime Light Boxing and Fitness, the Columbia Heights gym each boxer trained at. The screening will be at Gala Theater, 3333 14th St NW, tomorrow (Nov 20) at 7:30 PM. $10.

From the organizers:

"Join us for a screening of Out of the Basement and Into the Lime Lite, documentary shorts about two DC fighters from a Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit Lime Lite, a very amazing gym and youth program in the heart of Columbia Heights. Afterwards there will be an after party with Anthology of Booty DJs and food generously donated by the Coupe. 

Into the Lime Lite follows two-time USA Boxing Champion Malik Jackson as he prepares for a tough match in the Belfast Beltway Classic. Out of the Basement follows Greg Newby, as he embarks on a pro-boxing career after a fall from grace. Both train at Lime Lite, a Columbia Heights boxing gym. The films feature music from local musicians including Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Death Fix), The Evens, and Buildings. 

All proceeds will benefit Lime Lite Boxing & Fitness. Lime Lite Boxing & Fitness is dedicated to helping DC's youth mature in a structured environment to keep them safe and physically and mentally fit. 

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. | Films will screen at 8 p.m. | All ages."

"Out of the Basement" Movie Screening in Mount Pleasant

For all the music, theater, and visual arts coming out of the District, I always feel like I need to balance my interests with more film. Yes, there is good, independent film making being done in DC. And this project is helping that image.

Two years ago, I saw short film about a local boxer from Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness titled Into the Lime Lite. It was great. Great story, great music, great production quality, and the best part was that it was about DC, told by DC filmmakers.

The same filmmakers are back, having produced another awesome film with close ties to the original. I was lucky enough to see this a few weeks ago and I'm going to see it again! It's playing twice this week; once TONIGHT in Petworth and this Saturday in Mount Pleasant. 

PETWORTH LIBRARY / 4200 Kansas Avenue NW

Monday, July 7, 2014

6:00pm – 8:00pm

MOUNT PLEASANT LIBRARY / 3160 16th St NW

Saturday, July 12, 2014

11:00am – 12:30pm

More from the organizers:

Out of the Basement is a documentary short by DC-based filmmakers Natalie Avery and Kyle Centers about up and coming Columbia Heights boxer, Greg Newby.

The film follows Newby as he embarks on a pro-boxing career out of Lime Lite Boxing and Fitness, a tiny basement gym in the heart of the Columbia Heights neighborhood. The film delves into DC’s boxing subculture and explores how one family searches for meaning and economic stability in a rapidly changing city. Watch a trailer here.

Funded in part by the DC Arts and Humanities Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, the film was made possible by the Documentary Center at George Washington University where Avery and Centers first worked together as students in the Documentary Filmmaking Institute.

Adams Morgan Outdoor Movie Nights

Get ready for more outdoor movies, this time close to home! The Adams Morgan Partnership BID & Marie Reed School PTA have organized a three-movie set for May and June. The movies will begin 30 minutes after sunset (~8:30PM) on May 20, June 10, and June 24.

The location is the soccer field at Marie Reed. IT'S GORGEOUS. And I'm betting it will be an awesome venue for the movies. Marie Reed School is located at 2201 18th St NW. Here's the line up:

May 20: Up     ***      June 10: All the President's Men     ***     June 24: Rushmore

DC Shorts Film Festival

Still from Expiration

I had known about the 48 Hour Film Fest, living it vicariously through a friend-filmmaker; but had never heard about the DC Short Film Festival until a few weeks ago. It takes place this September and happens right off of the 42 bus line. The films will be shown at E Street (naturally) as well as the theater at the Navy Memorial. Short means films up to 24 minutes. That's sort of par for the course for me. Short and sweet (or sad, funny, dramatic?) There are a lot of 5 minute films.  And some 1 minute films, too. 

Anyway, there are 97 total. Looks like you can catch all the films if you're a dedicated self scheduler and have some time on your hands. The website provides a one sentence write up for each flick, so it's hard to judge the potential content. But, based on a VERY brief flip through the pages, here are a few I wouldn't mind catching.

Just About Famous (Documentary)

Delve into the minds and hearts of the people who make a living impersonating celebrities.

God of Love (Comedy)

A lounge singer finds his prayers are answered when he receives a mysterious package of love-inducing darts.

Telemafia (Comedy)

What happens when a telemarketer picks the wrong consumer to call?

Katrina's Son (Drama)

After losing his grandmother during Hurricane Katrina, a young boy searches for the mother who abandoned him.

Rita (Drama)

A 10-year old blind girl’s claustrophobic world is suddenly breached by a mysterious presence.

The Muskrat Boy of Griffith Park (Drama)

While taking her picnic lunch, a lonely woman is confronted by a strange and scruffy boy.

A Dream in Hanoi (Drama)

Thanh is alone and sad after his bike is stolen. In a most unexpected way, ballet becomes his inspiration and salvation.

Pretty cool.  Might try to get in a session or two.  The dates are September 9-16.

"Movies in the Park" Returns to Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant Main Street is graciously bringing back Movies in the Park this summer. Held in Lamont Park, of course. Who needs Screen on the Green; we have our very own, minus the green. The theme this year is "Road Trip," and you'll see why, looking at the selection. The first film is this Saturday!

Movies start at dusk, so there's no exact start time; they'll begin just as the sun is setting. However, come early because MPMS will have organized music, Mt P trivia and other activities on hand before each movie. I always like to say early is on time, so be like me. Actually, I'm a well known procrastinator. So, don't be like me. Anyway, just come early. Here's the schedule.

July 24 :: Little Miss Sunshine (rain date July 25)

A family piles into their VW van and heads West to a beauty pageant-- adventure ensues.

August 7 :: Ride The Divide (rain date August 8)
An account of the world’s toughest mountain bike race: a trek over 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide. This will double as a fundraiser for Neighbors Consejo with a suggested donation of $5-10.

August 28 :: The Brave Little Toaster (rain date August 29)
Five appliances -- a toaster, desk lamp, radio, electric blanket and vacuum cleaner-- set out on the road in search of their owner. Kid-friendly activities before the film.

September 11 :: Salt of the Earth (rain date September 12)
A blacklisted 1954 film about labor rights and immigration based on an actual strike at the Empire Zinc Mine in New Mexico. Co-hosted by the Latino Association of Mount Pleasant.

"Make No Little Plans" Film Showing on the Mall Tomorrow

Cool film screening on the National Mall tomorrow tonight, June 9. The PBS documentary by Archimedia Workshop, Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham & the American City is making its DC debut out in the open air. The planner Burnham is mostly known for submitting an ambitious plan directing the growth of Chicago; and locally for designing the beaux-arts styled Union Station.

Tomorrow's showing is an event of sorts with guests and speakers from all over the place including the White House, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Capital Planning Commission, and even the Philippine Ambassador to the United States.

The film will begin at 9:00pm after an introduction and speakers at 8:30. This is near where Screen on the Green operates, 4th Street NW at Madison.

Environmental Film Fest is Underway

The 18th DC Environmental Film Festival is underway in venues all over Washington DC. This year's festival has a particular focus on the relationship between our food and the environment. Since the festival has already begun, here are my picks for the remaining films.

Sweet Crude. This is a documentary. Nigeria's underground oil reserves influence all sorts of sociological conditions including poverty and wealth, political turmoil, environmental considerations and international relations. This will be shown in the space formerly known as Visions! Friday March 19th at 6:30pm. AED Globe Theater. 1927 Florida Ave NW.

Nora!. Owner and originator of DC's own Restaurant Nora is the focus of this food centered flick. Nora Pouillon opened the namesake establishment in the 70s, but in 1999 became the first in the U.S. to be certified organic. She is considered a pioneer of sorts in the local food movement. Pouillon will be present at this screening and will discuss the film afterward. Tuesday March 23rd at 7:00pm. International Student House. 1825 R Street NW.

Megamall. Uses actual archival film footage and other documents to tell the story, of, well, a suburban mega mall in upstate New York. We've all been to one of these places at least once. They seem to be going the way of the dinosaur nowadays; replaced with "lifestyle" centers or outdoor town-center type developments. Thursday March 25th at 6:30pm. National Building Museum. 401 F Street NW.

Auto*Mat. The film tries to answer two simple questions "Do we rule the city, or does the city reign over us? Are we becoming automats?" I'll leave it at that. Thursday March 25th at 7:00pm. The Embassy of the Czech Republic . 3900 Spring of Freedom St NW (off of Tilden near Van Ness).

River of Hope: Welcome to our City, Mr. President. The National Geographic Society had a hand in this documentary. Filmed from the perspective of the youth which it chronicles, River of Hope tells the story of DC residents who work to better the condition of the Anacostia River while participating in last year's Inauguration. The timing presents an opportunity for the youth to recruit the President to get on board fixing this local river in a federal city. Saturday March 27th at 2:30pm. Carnegie Institution. 1530 P Street NW.

Parker Posey Movie Marathon at Asylum

Asylum Rock and Roll Lounge is putting on another cool movie night. The organizers of the Wes Anderson and John Hughes movie marathons are turning their attention to a single actor this time. No, not my all time favorite John Cusack. It's Parker Posey! My second favorite. Well, maybe third favorite after Joan Cusack.

Posey appears in so many films, I lost count trying to recall by memory. But Asylum is showing the best three: Best in Show, Party Girl and the pièce de résistance, The House of Yes. They'll be shown next Wednesday.

There could be an argument made for a few others to be included, particularly subUrbia and Drunks. But those were worthy movies that happen to include Posey. The three being shown are clearly the best of the films she's starred in. You will enjoy them all! And so will I. If you have been to these movie nights before, you know that the seats fill up fast and that you should not be jerky to the people sitting next to you at the bar (yes, I'm talking to you loud, random visitors from a state that shall remain nameless). The movies will be shown at the upstairs bar on three TVs and the one big pull down screen over the stairs.

The details:
Wednesday February 17
7:00PM Best in Show
8:45PM Party Girl
10:30PM The House of Yes (below)
Asylum 2471 18th Street NW

Filming it Up: Goethe-Institut

Here's a chance chance to see some movies you can't catch at the multiplex, but can walk to from the 42 bus route.

Goethe Institut: Film-Neu 2010 Festival
January 22-28
E Street Cinema, E St NW b/t 10th and 11h

This festival is nearly 20 years old. It features films from German, Switzerland and Austria. There are 10 movies total. Here is the entire schedule. And following, my two picks. Descriptions provided by the fest.

Let's Make MONEY
This visual tone poem follows director Erwin Wagenhofer's 2005 documentary, We Feed the World, which traced the global path of food from raw material to table. In this film, Wagenhofer shows what can be done when a passionate social activist uses a vivid visual style to convey ideas that can change the world. (Austria, 2008, color, 107 min.)
Saturday, January 23, 4:30pm

Sunday, January 24, 9:15pm

Pope Joan (Die Päpstin)
Fascinating and moving story of Joan of Ingelheim, who rises through the ranks of the Roman clergy disguised as a man and is elected pope in the year 843. Based on Donna Woolfolk Cross's bestseller. Discussion and book signing with author Donna Cross following. (Germany/Italy/Spain, 2009, color, 140 min.)
Wednesday, January 27, 6:45pm

Ticket Prices per film
Festival Opening Session (Jan 22, tonight!): $25
General Admission: $10
Students and Friends of the Goethe-Institut: $8
Seniors: $7.50

Midnight Movies at E Street

The mostly art-house theater E Street Cinema is once again offering a midnight movie series. The first film in this series was Shuan of the Dead, which showed last weekend. So, if you missed that... well, it's available on DVD, pretty much anywhere where DVDs are sold. The rest of the series continues this weekend. E Street Cinema is on the corner of 11th and E NW, a block form the 42 bus. Here's the line up.

October 30 & 31 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Perhaps THE cult movie of all cult movies. This is a film adaptation of a British stage show from the early 1970s. American performances usually include audience participation. These showings at E Street will feature a live cast who'll perform scenes during the movie.

November 6 & 7 Jaws
Freaking terrifying movie about a giant shark that scarred me as a young child. Way more engaging that "Saw" crap which is supposed to represent the horror genre nowadays.

November 13 & 14 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
2nd screening

November 20 & 21 Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ultimate 80s, living in excess, no-consequences, high school movie. John Hughes' Ferris is living the dream with a pretty sweet life when he decides to skip a day of school during which his life only gets better. Cubs games, sneaking into parades, driving Ferraris, Abe Froman; you name it, he somehow gets it done all in a day. Classic flick.

November 27 & 28 The Room
I've never seen or heard of this movie, but it's apparently a cult classic for all the wrong reasons. This recently made (2003) movie suffers from the "so bad it's good" affliction. Bad acting, plot holes and spotty dialogue have made this a mini-Rocky Horror regarding audience participation and attendance. Ha, I like bad movies like this. Might have to sit in on this one.

December 4 & 5 Labyrinth
An 80s movie that probably wasn't meant to affect me as much as it did. The puppet imagery in this movie reminds us all that all puppets are evil. No exceptions. Evil. At least evil looking. David Bowie signed on for this, so you know it has to be pretty weird right off the bat. Jim Henson + David Bowie + George Lucas = use your imagination = this movie.

December 4 & 5 The Room
2nd screening

Union Station 9 Closed

The Union Station Theaters are closed. As of October 12. The move had been planned for quite a while but I was still surprised to finally see the yellow tape and semi-destruction going on behind the glass doors. The theatres were sold to Phoenix in 2005 when the original owners (AMC + Lowes) merged and were forced to sell off some theatres for approval.

Looks like the biggest loss will be for the National Community Church. The NCC (which runs Ebenezers Coffee) had used the church for Sunday service for 13 years. The closing also means that Northwest is now the only quadrant with a first run, commercial movie theatre.

I tried watching a movie there several times with the last being the LOTR: Return of the King, on it's its first week of release. During the move, at a pivotal moment, the lights went up and the movie went off. There was a fire alarm going sounding. We all exited, orderly-like, and learned the culprit halfway down the hallway; an overworked popcorn maker had overheated and smoked the place out. Fine, it happens. Half hour later, we're back in the theatre, but that break sort of killed the flow. And also made seeing that movie a near-four hour experience. That was the last time I saw a movie at Union Station. Not soon after, the massive Regal Gallery Place theatres opened and was much closer for people living in Mount Pleasant.

Mount Pleasant Movie in the Park and Sidewalk Sale

Mount Pleasant Movies in the Park returns this Saturday. Mount Pleasant Main Street will screen the recent indie flick King Corn. It's a documentary about two fellows who literally grow a plot of corn and track the plant's journey through food-dom right up until human consumption.

Can a film about one of the most ubiquitous American plant foods be interesting? Most of my friends say so. And I'm inclined to agree. The film touches on other issues like the federal farm bill, genetically modified foods, nutrition and agribusiness. As they say, you'll never think of corn the same again.

But that's not all! Also happening before the movie starts: live music in the park and an urban gardening demo by the Neighborhood Farm Initiative. Businesses along Mount Pleasant Street will also hold sidewalk sales throughout the day on Saturday.

Where: Lamont Park (Lamont and Mount Pleasant Sts NW)
When: This Saturday September 26th. 6:00pm.
Who: Presented by Mount Pleasant Main Street

Revitalization, More Movies + the Radio

***From Mount Pleasant Main Street:

Movies in the Park Series Begins
The first of 2009's Movies in the Park will be the cycling-themed movie "Breaking Away." Mount Pleasant Main Street will host the event on Saturday August 22nd in Lamont Park (Lamont and Mt Pleasant Sts NW). The event starts at 7:00PM with a "Yoga for Cyclists" session by Past Tense, free bike clinic & repair, restaurant specials, and live music. The series will feature a movie each fourth Saturday in August and September.



***From Hear Mount Pleasant:

Small Area Revitalization from the Office of Planning
Did you go to the meeting on June 14th held at Bell High School? Did you go to the ANC meeting on August 4th to talk about the future of Mount Pleasant? It is so important that you make your voice heard in this Office of Planning Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.

The Office of Planning has released an online survey. Take a couple of minutes to check it out.

Mount Pleasant on the Radio
Did you hear the story last week about Mount Pleasant on WAMU's local news segment during Morning Edition? A reporter used Mount Pleasant to illustrate a recent DC Fire Department report that names 34 neighborhoods as "areas of concern." Read the written version. Listen here (WMA player).

John Hughes Film Series at Asylum

After the success of the Wes Anderson movie series, Asylum has decided to keep the summer of free movies going. This time, the movies of the late, great John Hughes will be the subject. He had quite a few hits, but Asylum will be showing those falling into the high school angst/coming of age genre. If you were born in the late 70s or early 80s, you should know these films very well.

Ed McNally's recent editorial on Hughes really made me laugh. And he mentioned a great quote from Hughes, via Ferris Beuller: "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Is that not the truth? Abe Froman, the Sausage King of Chicago couldn't have said it any better.

And who can top James Spader in a white linen suit, cold chillin, fake-smoking a cigarette in the stairwell of his high school. CLASSIC. The movies will be shown during the last week of August. Asylum is located at 2471 18t Street NW. The schedule:

Sunday, August 23
Free Double Feature Matinee 4:00PM
Sixteen Candles (John Cusack!)
The Breakfast Club (Molly Ringwald)

Tuesday, August 25
Free Double Feature 8:00PM
Weird Science (Kelly LeBrock)
Pretty in Pink (James Spader; clip below)

Thursday, August 27
Free 8:00PM
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (guy who married Sarah Jessica Parker)

Do You Zissou

After Rushmore, I figured Wes Anderson couldn't direct a better film. As far as I know, I'm right. The Royal Tenenbaums was fantastic, but couldn't best Max. I have yet to see The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou or The Darjeeling Limited. I didn't want to be disappointed.

Tonight may change that. Asylum Rock and Roll Lounge will show Life Aquatic, the fourth of five Anderson films, free at the upstairs bar. Last week there were some technical issues (the movie began more than 30 minutes late), but I've been assured that all has been corrected. Rumor is there will even be free popcorn tonight as well. It was PACKED last week. I had to knock an elderly lady out of her bar seat in order to get some food. No, I'm kidding. It was an AU summer student.

The movie begins at 8:00 (for real this time). There may even be a drinking game, for those so inclined. And that's water. A water drinking game. This is a family blog.

In Like Flint: Screening at the National Building Museum

As part of their "Bachelor's, Secretaries, and Spies" film series, the National Building Museum will be showing the classic, spy-spoof film, In Like Flint. The showing will be held this Wednesday, February 20. In this James Coburn flick from the late 1960s, Flint tries to stop a rogue group --bent on, what else, world domination-- from brainwashing the women of the world and replacing the President of the United States with one of their own. The movie plays like a pre-Austin Powers and spoofs many features of the James Bond series.

The "Bachelors, Secretaries, and Spies" series was put on by the National Building Museum to examine the portrayal of modernism in mid-century American film. In Like Flint is the last in the series. The other two films were The Best of Everything and The Moon is Blue. The event starts at 6:30pm and will feature an introduction by Ann Hornaday from the Washington Post with other guests. Unlike going out to see most movies, you're encouraged to bring your own seating, blanket and food to this film. Cost: $10.00

Movie Night in Lamont Park, Tonight!

Tonight at 6:30 there will be an outside screening, in Lamont Park, of the 2005 movie Independent America: The Two Lane Search for Mom & Pop. This under the radar documentary chronicles a husband and wife team who drive across the U.S. in search of the small, independent businesses and anti-corporate culture. Along the way these former journalists try to abide by rules like not traveling on interstate highways (just the local roads) and only patronizing non-chain establishments. Most of the press on this has been pretty good and the filmmakers have their own blog as well. The movie night is sponsored by Hear Mt Pleasant, Mt Pleasant Main Street, the Latino Economic Development Corporation, and Local First DC. See an extended trailer below.