New York City Moment I Miss

Friday Nights at the Movies

I will share with you one of the best parts of working in New York City that I miss, more than anything.

Every Friday before leaving work, I would go on-line and order a movie ticket for the latest Bollywood release, showing at the AMC movie theater on 42nd Street, near 8th Avenue. I’d walk out of the back end of the office building, and in two minutes, I’d be in Times Square at 46th Street.

This would be at the height of the crowds, released in freedom from their toil of the workday. Many more tourists would fill Times Square. They would take pictures of each other, or with persons dressed up as cartoon characters or the Statue of Liberty.

It was not a quick walk to the movie theater. There were so many people that I’d be lucky if I made it to the movie theater in under 20 minutes. When I reached 42nd Street, I’d walk on the street, next to the curb, as there were too many people on the sidewalk. This was safest to do near Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum, where the crowd was the greatest. There were more tourists posing in front of the museum or waiting to get fast food from the McDonald’s nearby.

I loved reaching the movie theater to pick up my ticket. The lobby was a great people-watching spot. There were always couples who would be in the middle of deciding what to see, and sometimes they would base the decision on what movie was starting next. Sometimes I’d be in the middle of retrieving a ticket and I’d be asked what I was going to see. Whenever I said that name of the Bollywood movie I’d be asked, “What’s that?” or, “Really?” as if it was a surprise that a Caucasian middle-aged woman would want to see an Asian film.

The blockbuster films were shown on the lower levels of the movie theater, but to reach any of the auditoriums, it was necessary to take an escalator to the first level. The escalator ride provided enough time to think about the conclusion of the workweek and the anticipation of what that evening’s movie would bring. In the middle of the escalator ride, I would think about getting a giant bucket of popcorn and a soda to go with it.

Even the act of pouring the soda was a pleasure. The concession vendor provided the cup, but it was up to the customer to dispense the soda from one of several machines in the lobby. I loved to add lime flavor to the soda.

The only drawback to getting the soda was in drinking a generous portion. The urge to visit the restroom at the end of the movie would be overwhelming. I’d want to remain in my seat to watch the credits roll at the end of the movie but often left before I could do so. One time my father admitted to me that he used to get the large soda at the movies and had this issue too. I remember this as one of those genetic, quirky behaviors that get passed between generations, or a silly choice on both our parts — take your pick.

I can’t recall the names of all of the Bollywood films I’ve seen, but I will tell you the one which I will never forget. It was “Bajrangi Bhaijaan,” starring Salman Khan. It was thrilling to see one of the opening dance scenes, filled with color and light. Yet it was the story of the film that was most captivating. It is the story of a young girl who is separated from her family, and what happens during the course of the separation.

I won’t provide any more details regarding the film, because it’s magical, and something to sit, watch and live through. During the evening I saw it, there were moments you couldn’t hear a pin drop, but you could feel the people around you holding their breath. There were also other moments that brought tears. At one point I turned to the person sitting next to me, and she was crying as much as I was. She smiled and nodded through her tears.

In all, that describes one of the New York City moments I miss. It’s not only the activity; it’s the vibrancy and connection with others during a shared experience. I saw and experienced so many of these great moments on Friday nights in the city. I look forward to the day it’s possible to return to creating more of these memories.