On Monday, October 24th, acclaimed cinema-eatery Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will welcome film lovers to the movies in a big way at the company’s newest location in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City.
Occupying over 49,000 square feet at 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington,VA 22202, the 9-screen, 915-seat theater joins Alamo Drafthouse Bryant Street in D.C. proper and the Alamo Drafthouse One Loudoun and Alamo Drafthouse Woodbridge locations in Northern Virginia as the fourth Alamo Drafthouse theater to open in the greater Washington,D.C. area. Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City features the company’s next-generation Premium Large Format standard, The Big Show. The 100% recliner, 237-seat auditorium features a state-of-the-art 4K Laser projection system, optimized for the enormous 66’ wide x 28’ tall screen, and transformative Dolby Atmos audio technology capable of producing 76,000 watts of amplification distributed through 52 speakers for a truly immersive, three-dimensional audio experience.
Tickets are on sale now at drafthouse.com, and guests will soon enjoy Alamo Drafthouse’s curated, ad-free pre-show entertainment, signature mix of first-run films and curated specialty programming, an extensive made-from-scratch food and beverage menu, and luxury recliner seating throughout every auditorium. Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City is conveniently located near the Crystal City metro station, and free validated garage parking is available. During the “soft opening” period running through October 30th, guests will receive a 25% discount on select food and non-alcoholic beverages while staff trains and gets up to speed.
Aviation Theme
Each Alamo Drafthouse location has a unique interior theme, and the D.C. team was inspired by the theater’s proximity to the historic Washington National Airport when designing Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City. From aviation design elements throughout the lobby and hallways, to a horde of snakes attacking a plane at the entrance to The Big Show, the theme continues throughout the building and completely takes flight in the theater’s specialty bar, Departures.
Departures Bar
The design of Departures draws inspiration from both the cinema’s proximity to the airport as well as the Art Deco style of the building’s exterior, a style which enjoyed its peak during the Golden Age of Flight in the 1920’s. The terrazzo flooring spilling from the open lobby into the 25 person oval-shaped bar evokes the feeling of a vintage lounge found within an airport gate. The blue and white palette of the space was inspired by the branding of the old airlines like Pan-Am and bold graphic wallpapers along with columns wrapped in polished metals aim to transport guests back to the heyday of air travel. Flight inspired movie posters and props can be found throughout and pay homage to the iconic moments of airplanes in the movies. The round booths adjacent to the bar feel like those once boasted by commercial flights only seen nowadays in classic movies and each booth feature mementos from famous films taking place in each of their domestic destination themes. Crystal City has been a long time home of aviation companies and air travel innovation and an elevated outdoor patio provides views up and down Crystal Drive with the sights and sounds of nearby airplanes departing in the distance.
Located on the second floor and featuring an outdoor patio, Departures will offer a curated mix of local and national craft beer, wine, and a special drink menu of signature aviation-themed cocktails. It’s the perfect spot for guests to enjoy a pre and/or post-show drink, catch live music, play weekly trivia, and more.
Programming
Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City opens just in time to enjoy some Halloween frights and delights on the big screen including HALLOWEEN ENDS, the final chapter in the Michael Myers saga, before Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER kicks off the Fall movie season in November. Movie lovers can also look forward to being introduced to Alamo Drafthouse’s famous Signature Programming: Movie Party screenings celebrate film favorites with fun, interactive props, themed drinks, and more, Brunch Screenings feature a special menu that pairs perfectly with everyone’s favorite late morning weekend ritual, Terror Tuesday uncovers an eclectic mix of horror and strange discoveries from the genre fringes, and EPIC Sunday showcases sweeping classics and visually spectacular recent favorites in the Premium Large Format “The Big Show” auditorium.
“After more than five plus years of looking for the right location and another five plus years of development, we are happy be opening the doors to our part of the transformation of Crystal City and National Landing as a whole,” said Anthony Coco and Joseph Edwards, co-owners of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Crystal City. “The theater’s theme, lobby bar Departures, and The Big Show spaces have come together to create something special and unique to this location. Add on the Alamo Drafthouse’s top-of-the-line audio/visual presentation, unique programming, and unparalleled food and beverage service, and the Crystal City theater will provide an unrivaled out-of-home experience that we can’t wait to deliver to our guests.”
Alamo Drafthouse provides a unique combination of theater and restaurant, showing first-run movies, independent films and special events with an extensive menu made from scratch. Guests order all food and drinks from servers who quietly attend to them throughout the movie from inside the theater. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the pre-show entertainment. Instead of a barrage of advertising, Alamo Drafthouse shows a curated collection of rare and humorous clips themed to each feature.
Additionally, Alamo Drafthouse protects the theatrical experience with a zero tolerance policy for people who disrupt the film with talking or texting. Alamo Drafthouse’s “Don’t Talk” PSAs have frequently received national attention, and have featured former Texas Governor Ann Richards, Jeff Goldblum and a velociraptor,Georgiefrom IT, THE ROOM director and star TommyWiseau, and one very angryvoicemail.
Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlamoDC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alamodc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alamodrafthousedc
Website: https://drafthouse.com/dc-metro-area
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