Grand Lake Theatre
Sony Metreon
Sequoia, Mill Valley
San Francisco has had and continues to enjoy a long love affair with the movies. It may not be "The Industry" around here, as it is in LA, but we have dozens of film festivals, most notably the San Francisco International Film Festival (www.sfiff.org ) , which takes place every May, and the Mill Valley Film Festival ( www.mvff.com) , every October; this year it's running from Oct. 5th thru the 15th. San Francisco has also been featured in many movies and TV series, most currently Don Johnson's "Nash Bridges". And of course, there are many movie theatres in the Bay Area. Most appealing are the nostalgic classic grande dame old theatres with their glorious, imaginative, lavish décor, awash in faux finishes, draped in worn red velvet and crystal chandeliers, and sometimes featuring exotic Egyptian motifs and ceilings twinkling with stars. One can also fully appreciate the wonders of technology especially at the Sony IMAX theatre at the Metreon. Seeing "Everest" there is like being there, but without the freezing cold, danger and altitude sickness!

A good idea is to check local newspapers for current movies and call ahead to confirm playing times. The San Francisco Examiner's Sunday newspaper has the "Datebook", also known as "The Pink Pages", that is great to save each week for an easy reference guide to all the movies in the Bay Area. A fun evening can be had by first buying the tickets, so as to avoid lines later, and then to have dinner at a nearby restaurant and perhaps browse through a bookstore.

The following is a selection of some of the theatres, to be found around the in San Francisco and the Bay Area:

BEST CLASSIC GRANDE DAME THEATRES
Castro Theatre, Castro St. at Market, San Francisco, 415-621-6120
Grand Lake Theatre, Grand Ave. at Lakeshore, Oakland, 510-452-3556, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, 510-465-6400
Special runs of classic movies, as well as world-class ballet, musical concerts and other events can be seen at the Paramount Theatre, which is a truly magnificent example of Art Deco architecture and is a registered landmark. It was featured in the Francis Ford Coppola movie "Tucker".

BEST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED THEATRE
The Metreon, otherwise known as Sony Theatres Metreon, including the Sony IMAX, Fourth St. and Mission, 415-369-6200

BEST THEATRES FOR FOREIGN/ARTSY FILMS
Landmark's Act 1 & 2, Center Street at Shattuck, Berkeley, 510-843-FILM
Landmark's Opera Plaza, Van Ness Ave. at Golden Gate, San Francisco, 415-352-0810
Roxie Cinema, 3117 16th St. at Valencia, San Francisco, 415-863-1087
The Red Vic, 1727 Haight St., San Francisco, 415-668-3994

BEST FILM FESTIVAL THEATRES (most are regular theatres the rest of the year, too)
AMC Kabuki 8, 1881 Post St., San Francisco, 415-922-4262
AMC 1000 Van Ness, San Francisco, 415-922-4262
Castro Theatre, Castro St. at Market, San Francisco, 415-621-6120
Pacific Film Archive,2575 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, 510-642-1412
Pacific's Sequoia Twin, 25 Throckmorton St., Mill Valley, 415-388-4862
Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael, 415-453-1222

BEST THEATRE TO BRING YOUR KIDS
Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland, 510-814-2400
(Call ahead to find out the special schedule for parents with children. Casual food such as pizzas and salads served up in a living room kind of atmosphere.)

BEST THEATRES FOR NOSTALGIC MOVIES
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, 510-465-6400
Parkway Theater, 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 510-814-2400 (Note: Casual living room atmoshphere, with food and drinks available to enjoy while watching the film.)
UC Theatre, 2036 University Ave., Berkeley, 510-843-3456

BEST THEATRES NEXT TO GREAT RESTAURANTS, BOOKSTORES, & NIGHTCLUBS, FOR A * MULTI-CULTURAL* KIND OF AN EVENING
Grand Lake Theatre, Grand Ave. at Lakeshore, Oakland, 510-465-6400
Jack London Cinema, 100 Washington St., Jack London Square, Oakland, 510-433-1320
Landmark's Opera Plaza, Van Ness Ave., at Golden Gate, San Francisco, 415-352-0810
Landmark's Shattuck, 2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, 510-843-FILM
Pacific's Sequoia Twin, 25 Throckmorton St., Mill Valley, 415-388-4862
United Artists Berkeley, 2274 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, 510-466-5070
United Artists Emeryville, 6330 Christie Ave., Emeryville, 510-420-0107

LOCAL FILM FESTIVALS...

San Francisco International Film Festival April 18 to May 2 www.sffs.org

Mill Valley Film Festival www.mvff.com

Oakland International Film Festival Mar. 25 - April 6 www.oaklandinternationalfilmfestival.com

Tiburon International Film Festival Mar. 22-28 www.tiburonfilmfestival.com

Fairfax Documentary Film Festival Mar. 22-23 (415)-460-9760

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival July-August www.sfjff.org

and there are more... to come!

IF YOU ARE AN INSPIRING FILM-MAKER, CHECK IT OUT...

Film Arts Foundation 346 Ninth St. San Francisco 415-552-8760 www.filmarts.org

Bay Area Video Coaltion 2727 Mariposa Street, San Francisco 415-861-3282 www.bavc.org
Check it out!

CinemaLit Film Series
at the Mechanics Institute Library

A fun venue for viewing a series of classic genre films is at the Mechanics Institute Library in San Francisco at 57 Post Street. A salon discussion follows each film with a noted guest film writer, and hosted by Terrance Gelenter, a nationally syndicated film critic. You can get more info at www.milibrary.org
Mr. Gelenter also hosts literary group tours to Paris for those interested in following the footsteps of such luminous ex-pats as Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Stein. The next one is being organized for spring of 2001.
Call 415-436-9370 for more information.
home Got questions? Ask wendy@best-of-sanfrancisco.com!