102nd Floor: Spire of the Empire State Building

Located on the 102nd floor, the highest observation deck at the Empire State Building in New York City is within the tower's iconic spire. This small space offers 360 degree views of Manhattan and allows you to see New York just as King Kong would have back in 1933. 

Monarch Documentary: Spring Film Festival Run

A month has passed since "Your Cinema Needs You", my feature-length documentary about Canada's oldest surviving movie theatre, ended its 11-screening sold-out premiere run at Medicine Hat's historic Monarch Theatre. 

Since then, I've been relatively quiet about what's been happening behind the scenes, but with submissions stretching back to January, I'm happy to report that the spring film festival run officially kicked off this week with the first international previews of the documentary taking place in Portugal and Sweden. It seems the feedback was accurate. You don't have to know anything about the Monarch Theatre to recognize countless other cinemas in it, even if they happen to be on the other side of an ocean. 

As an added knock-on effect I've already received several requests from other independent cinemas & film societies across Canada interested in screening the film. It's all promising. Word is spreading and much of it outside of my involvement. 

Because this has been popping up in my inbox a lot too, once we actually get some lasting spring weather in Medicine Hat I think we'll look at potentially running a few more shows at the Monarch Theatre again (if it works within the film festival schedules / rules). That just seems like the place to celebrate this and further support the cinema. Long story short, this is going pretty well so far.

Larry Edmunds Bookshop in Hollywood, California

With its roots stretching back to 1938, the Larry Edmunds Bookshop in Hollywood, California is a historical repository of photos, scripts, posters, and books spanning all things entertainment. This store is unique not only because it's Hollywood Boulevard's last surviving bookshop, but because it's one of those authentic spaces that has welcomed artists, authors, and fans alike with direct links to the film industry. Larry Edmunds Bookshop is as classic as the content that fills the shop's shelves. What else can I say? I do love an old bookstore.  

 

Dolby Family Terrace at the Academy Museum

A few visuals from atop the sphere on the Dolby Family Terrace at the Academy Museum.

 

TWA Hotel at JFK International in New York City

Located inside what was the terminal for the now defunct Trans World Airlines, the TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport in New York City is something really special. The terminal is a 1962 masterpiece by Eero Saarinen & Associates that was transformed into a hotel in 2019. The result is a celebration of mid-century architecture, the golden age of air travel, and a time when the experience of flying was notably more exclusive.