October 25, 2007
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My popcorn was fresh and my convertible was fly. Under twinkling stars fog gently rolled in and I got all snuggly on red leather waiting for the movie to start. Ahhhhh! This old fashioned Drive-In experience could only be happening in.... Manhattan's Lower East Side. You read right. The jam-packed city finally made room for a genuine Drive-In Theater. Well, sort of. There is one screen, one car and technically the whole thing's indoors. It is arty, it is kooky and I love it!
Readers of my Bravo! Design Blog know how much I adore rooting out mind-blowing designs and awesome ideas. This one is Genius. You just gotta see the little Drive-In hiding in plain sight on Norfolk Street.
I got a big kick out of watching people walk by the giant windows of this gallery space and then do double takes when the saw the red taillights. The crazy glowing orbs are on a 1960's-era Ford Falcon.
Roomy and comfy, it is the perfect car for this! It is surrounded by real trees, artificial stars and a vintage popcorn popper that still works.
Comments
Angelina Re wrote:
Bryan,
I am so tempted to start with a song line, but I'll spare you and your readers. Hallelujah!
I absolutely adore the fifties! Not that I was even born in that era, but wish I had been. "Grease" was the first movie I ever saw at the theatres, and it only perpetuated my obession with the bobby sock generation.
I decided to go on a fab fifties scavenger hunt, along with a few of my pals. We began raiding vintage shops seeking the perfect garb for our visit to the local drive-in. Mission accomplished! We then loaded up the car, dressed in all our finery and tried our best to reenact the past. We had a riot!
Sadly, our lone drive-in has since closed to make way for condos, but the memories remain. I think what Hal Smith has done is magical. Because it steps outside of the ordinary and creates a lovely aura amid the hustle and bustle of the city. And yes, art and captalism needn't be strange bedfellows. A true artist understands that there is nothing romantic about starvation.
I enjoyed this blog, Bryan and want to leave you with this: "Stranded at the drive-in, branded a fool. What will they say, Monday at school". A John Travolta ditty from "Grease"...sorry, I just couldn't resist.
Angelina xo
posted on October 29, 2007 at 5:19 PM