Love – and the smell of popcorn – was back in the air on Saturday in Times Square, as the couple enjoyed their first “movie night” in over a year.
“It was good to go on an actual date,” said Esther Branch, 27, of Brooklyn, The Post reported that she was 25 years old with her boyfriend, Raila Foster.
“It had been going on for a long time,” Bryan said after waiting on 42nd Street outside AMC Empire 25, where she and her seven-year-old beloved were excited to see the film, “Boogie.” “
“Looks like life is starting again,” she said.
“Getting dressed, going out. Not just staying at home in my PJs. It seems like life is starting to get back to normal.”
Movie theaters reopened across the city on Friday – 25 percent capacity or a maximum of 50 people per screening – a year after the government, Andrew Cuomo, ordered all non-essential businesses to close due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
But the process has been slow. Attendance was sparse at AMC on Saturday, the only movie theater in Times Square to reopen for the weekend, and the only series open for the most part throughout Manhattan.
Still, many lovebirds – along with families and teenagers – jumped at the chance to watch the film on the big screen.
NYU students Jason Wang, 18, and Diana Wu, 19, literally leaped, jumping into each other’s arms as they passed through AMC’s doors.
“It lasted too long,” Wang said with a laugh.
“We have been on dates during the epidemic, but they were picnic dates. It is not the same as a movie date. I’m a film major and watching a film on the big screen – it’s just more romantic. “
Movie ticket prices at the theater were higher than usual. Children’s tickets sold for $ 13.99 and adults for $ 16.99.
Still, private theater rentals cost $ 299, when crews of up to 20 people can rent a place to watch a movie together.
“Too many sellouts.” All our private theater rentals were sold today, ”said an AMC employee.
Movie-goers must wear a face mask, and seating will be given seats keeping in mind social-distancing.
Some independently owned theaters remain closed; Operators say they were not given enough time for preparation and the 25 percent capacity limit means they still cannot work.
Cuomo announced on Wednesday that entertainment centers such as Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall and Broadway theaters will again reach 200 people with a capacity of 33 percent with more than 100 people.
Leave a Reply