E Street Cinema

This theater plays artsy types of art house movies films that are trying to pass themselves off as you know art, as opposed to the more clearly marketed types of movies. The theater is a breeze to get to via metro, but by car you might have trouble parking so bring your date early. It’s a subterranean theater which adds to the mystique and its women’s bathroom is large enough to get a good game of marbles going which is a big plus for your date because she likes bathrooms where there’s not a big line. The movies are good for talking about on the ride home too. You can use the conversation as kind of a mental pedestal to raise yourself above the other riders on the metro. Like that guy asleep over there or these loud teenage girls. They can’t talk about The Decay of the Sand Woman and its similarities to the works of Borges and its relevance to the mounting crisis in Iran. But you and I have a special bond, we like the same things, we return night after night to our secret subterranean cave to watch the movies that are too good for the average person to care about. I especially like the over sized movie posters that decorate the the theater as you ride the escalator down you can say, “I like ____ do you remember when_____” “I’ve never seen ______” “Really? It’s amazing, I have ______on DVD, maybe we can watch it later?” But before she can answer you’re at the bottom of the escalator and she’s telling you she has to go the restroom (She likes it because it's big). Does it mean she doesn’t want to see the DVD with you? Was it too early to ask her over to your place? These worries and many more can be yours at the E Street cinema. more

One of the few theatres in the area that shows non-blockbuster films. They show a good mix of documentaries, foreign, and smaller films. Typically the movies do not stay long at the theatre as they rotate their screenings frequently. If you join their email listing, they often have drawings for free screenings of films on week day evenings. The theatre is a couple of blocks from the Metro Station stop. It is definitely worth a visit if you are movie lover. more

I live outside DC, but I went to E Street Cinema to see a Spanish-language movie playing in very few theaters in the area. I really enjoyed the theater. The concession stand had original fare--including veggie dogs!--a pleasant departure from the usual popcorn and candy. It was easily metro-accessible, the theater was clean, seats were comfy and prices were average. Plus, of course, they were playing a movie I couldn't find anywhere else! I would definitely visit again. more

E St. Cinema has the comforts of a commercial multi-plex and the indie-mainstream films of ... an indie-mainstream movie theater. Parking can be a pain, but call and ask about their convenient, sometimes free (with validation) garage parking. Good popcorn, comfy seats, and a decent variety of films that get sold out early. Don't line up too soon, don't line up too late. more