Third Places #3: Movie Magic

It’s Saturday night. You’re looking for something, anything, to do. Maybe you’re in the mood for the newest A24 movie, a few casual rounds of bowling, or just a place to spend time with friends that isn’t your home. That shouldn’t be a difficult ask. But, in New Haven, it often feels as such.
It’s not that there is nothing to do. There are bars and restaurants, some nice trails, the occasional event, even a skating rink if you’re willing to plan for it. But that’s part of the problem—most of what exists is either expensive, alcohol-centered, or requires a level of effort, turning spontaneity into a chore. Take something as simple as going to the movies. The nearest theater from downtown is about a 15-minute drive.That’s manageable…if you have a car. Otherwise, it’s a two and a half hour walk or an hour-long bus ride you have to plan your entire evening around.
In 2023, Bow Tie Criterion, New Haven’s only remaining cinema, closed down due to pandemic-related revenue declines and changing consumer interest. Now the only public film screenings in the city are based out of the Yale Film Archive. But where can we go to see the recent Oscar-nominated film? Or dare I say, the newest Marvel film? The transportative nature of cinematic magic perfectly encapsulates the effervescent energy I crave from every third place. Planning, anticipating, and finally gathering in one space where individuals from all across the city can share a special collective memory and experience. The excitement and togetherness you feel after the film ends and you can finally debrief with your friends. You never think about the desire for that energy, until you are deprived of it.
New Haven doesn’t necessarily lack activity per say, it lacks accessibility to said activity. We need more places that define the city’s soul. The casual, low-pressure, yet transcendental third places where you can show up spontaneously. We are desperately in need of those magical third places.

Third Places is a recurring column documenting, analyzing, and understanding third places in New Haven. It aims to question how these spaces are essential to the health of our souls.