The New Parkway Theatre in Oakland, California was super inspiring and perfect for thinking about our pop-up. It felt achievable, like a playfully unconventional living room where you feel instantly comfortable, with lots of nooks for close friends to sit together. The projector was housed in a wooden and perspex box and there was an eclectic mix of sofas and all kinds of seating, some with tables (perfect for my tea!), which was a proper English breakfast with a dash of milk. Two screens, too.
The staff were incredibly friendly and shared some of their workplaces unique offerings, like getting food delivered straight to your seat. Bonus: huskies in the foyer!
A unique offerening at Parkway was their Karma Cinema program: “every Wednesday, patrons pay whatever they want for their movie tickets, and at the end of the month, 20% of Karma Cinema ticket sales are donated to the New Parkway’s community partner, a non-profit group that serves Oakland residents.”
I also digged their focus on community, with speed meeting nights and free use of the space for filmmakers on Sundays.
“We strive to promote community within the theater and beyond by connecting strangers who might not otherwise meet, and by encouraging greater learning and understanding through our diverse offerings.”
I’d love to go back on Saturday, when they offer cereal to accompany the cartoons!
Check out more on The Parkway here: https://www.thenewparkway.com/
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