Downtown continues movin' on up

For those who like the Bethesda Row Cinema but demand still more, Landmark Theatres proudly presents the E Street Cinema, located at 11th and E in downtown Washington, D.C.

The new theatre showcases eight screens, some with stadium seating, some cozy as a black box theatre. Opening weekend filled it with hoards of people, those nicely dressed with suit jackets at one end of the spectrum and those in tailored jeans at the other. Fortunately, the lobby—decorated with beige art-nouveau abstract designs, 3D pictures in box frames and French film posters—is extremely spacious.

Unfortunately, the parking garage is anything but. While parking is available (hold on to your ticket stub, and make sure to get the parking pass validated, or you'll be hit with a $15 charge), the garage itself has horribly narrow corridors that make driving difficult and parking worse. Take advantage of the theatre's metro-accessibility from the Gallery Place-Chinatown and Metro Center stops. The walk is not too far, and the area is pretty safe and well-populated.

Even though the surrounding neighborhood closes around 6:00 p.m., parking on the street is nearly impossible, and there are people everywhere. The only places open in the evening are a new H&M at 1025 F St. (until 8:00 p.m.), the Hard Rock Cafe at 999 E St. (until midnight) and a few, mostly upscale restaurants.

The E Street Cinema is also fairly haughty. Popcorn ranges from $4 to $5.50, and sodas cost between $3 and $4. Classier fare, such as espresso drinks, is available at equally exorbitant prices. Movie tickets are $9.25; there are no student discounts and no
matinee prices.

The films, at least, are worth the price. Foreign and independent films are generally expensive in this city, and there are no ads and only a few previews before the shows. Many films are exclusive in the area to the E Street Cinema (the Bethesda Row and E
Street programs only slightly overlap).

The Landmark E Street Cinema is located at 555 11th Street NW in Washington, DC. For showtimes and more information, visit LandmarkTheatres.com or call (202) 452 - 7672.