Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Williamsburg Cinema Projects Spring Opening
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 24, 2008
Modified Sep 24, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 24, 2008
Modified Sep 24, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A rendering of the lobby of Cassandra Cinema.
Except for the avant-garde Ocularis screenings in the old Galapagos, North Brooklyn has been a dead zone for movie theaters for years. Why, just the other day the Greenpointers blogger could be heard begging the world to open up a movie theater near her: "I know it will take you years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I promise you I will go every Sunday for whatever movie you're screening." Well, here's proof that all it takes is a little weblog whining to get your way: The Observer says a long-talked-about Williamsburg movie theater is inching toward reality.
And it may even open as soon as next spring! It was originally going to be called the Brooklyn Kinetiscope and open last spring, but now it's called Cassandra Cinemas (after executive director Cassandra Lozano). Located at 136 Metropolitan Avenue, the three screen theater will emphasize indie and art house titles, and also host a cabaret and cafe. And perhaps best of all, developers are building three stories of low-income housing for artists and musicians above the cinema! Ha ha, kidding—it'll be three floors of condo units.
The good news is that program director Jamie Hook seems like a real film snob, telling the Observer he sees the venture as "a mom-and-pop theater for the 21st century. The Third Reich mentality of the hipsterdom of Williamsburg would chew alive and rip apart anything it didn't approve of. So, a crass, commercial venture that shat itself out on the streets of Williamsburg, I think would very quickly be wiped under the surface and boycotted and rejected." Which means we'll still have to go crawling to Manhattan for Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
Tagged
brooklyn
cassandra cinema
greenpoint
movie
new
opening
theater
williamsburg
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
Spoiler alert: It's still 26.2 miles.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:36 p.m. ET
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .