Baby-Friendly Movie Theaters
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Baby-Friendly Movie Theaters
Feb 2009
Hello - I know of several movie theaters in San Francisco that
has ''mommy showings'', or baby-friendly movie showings where the
lights are dim but not dark, the volume is turned down, and I
won't get glares if my baby starts crying... anybody know of
something like this in the East Bay area, preferably around
Alameda/Oakland? Thank you!
I'm sure you'll get a million recommendations for the Parkway in
Oakland and its sister theatre, the Cerrito in El Cerrito. Both
have ''Baby Brigade'' nights when you can bring the wee ones. We
did it a couple times when our kids were little and it was fun.
More info at http://www.picturepubpizza.com/
JP
Check out the Baby Brigade at the Cerrito Speakeasy in El Cerrito.
http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html
Betsy
Pizza, beer and babies! how can you go wrong ;)
http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html
anon
Baby Bridage! The only one I know of is at the Speakeasy El Cerrito
- the Parkway in Oakland discontinued theirs. It is every Tues, but
unforunately the showings are in the evening, when I am normally
trying to get my little one asleep, so I have never been able to go.
http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html
New East Bay Mom
Try the El Cerrito Parkway:
http://www.parkway-speakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html
Every Monday night. It's not in Oakland but it totally fits your
bill. They even serve food/drinks there, so it's a great night out
for new moms/dads.
Judiah
''Baby Brigade'' at the Cerrito Speakeasy Theater in El Cerrito (San
Pablo Ave, just north of the El Cerrito BART station)
Babies under 1 year old. First two shows on Tuesday evenings. Not
exactly Alameda, but it is East Bay. The Parkway in Oakland used to
do this, too, but not any more. They serve (sell) food, beer and
wine, as well as great popcorn.
web site is http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/
R.K.
The Parkway in El Cerrito has Tuesday night 'baby brigades' where
babies under one year can come for the first show. (They no longer
have baby brigades at their oakland location.) The info is here:
http://www.parkway-speakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html You
can even have dinner, beer and wine while you watch!!
Andi
All your details here:
http://www.parkway-speakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html
Ellen
Check out the Cerrito Theater in El Cerrito.
http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/index.php?v=baby_brigade.html
Lovin' the Speakeasy!
You should try the Parkway in Oakland and/or the Speakeasy in El
Cerrito.....they both do baby brigades for kids one year and
younger. They also serve pizza, beer, popcorn, etc......enjoy.....
anon
I saw you received a number of responses recommending the Cerrito
Theater in El Cerrito. It's a good option. I used to go to the Baby
Brigade at the Parkway in Oakland until they discontinued the showing
last June.
Here are a couple of others -- one in Alameda. You should check with
the theaters to make sure they still do it as I know some are not
every week (monthly instead) or have other special event nights that
usurp baby night. Hope it helps! I know it's nice to get out to the
show once in a while!
In El Cerrito, El Cerrito Speakeasy
Tuesday nights for babies under one year (and their parents!) along
with a pizza and beer.
http://www.cerritospeakeasy.com/calendar/index.html
In Alameda, the Central Cinema also has a baby night for those under
a year. We found out about it just after both babies were too old to
go - darn! http://www.centralcinema.net/babyNight.htm
In San Francisco, realtor Jill Russo sponsors a monthly Mommy Movie
on the second Thursday of each and every month. And itb1006>Comedies good for children ages 9 and 12 and mes FREE!
http://jillrusso.com/movie/index.php
You can also check out Baby Pictures for theaters that participate in
monthly baby shows.
http://www.nationalamusements.com/programs/baby_pictures.asp?page=1
*This info (aside from my personal note about the Cerrito/Parkway at
the top) was taken from Rookie Moms:
http://www.rookiemoms.com/watch-new-movies/
Movie goer
I was hoping that someone would have mentioned the Concord
Drive-In, which is only open during the warmer weather. We
discovered it when my daughter was 1.5 yrs old. We would put her
in her pj's, drive to the drive-in, and she would fall asleep as
soon as the movie started. It reopened last summer, so it will
hopefully still be there this summer. It's fun to go with older
kids, too!
Let's support the Drive-In
Feb 2009
My ''moms group'' is looking for a movie theatre where we can go
with our 3-month infants to watch a movie during the day. We
know about the theatre in Oakland with Monday night programs,
but we're looking for something in the morning or afternoon.
Any ideas? Thanks!!!
Anonymous Mom
I don't know of any other theatres in the East Bay but the Metreon Loews Theatre in
S.F. has ''Reel Moms'' on Tuesdays at 11 am. The cost is $7.50 and they show new
release movies. Just saw Troy and Shrek 2. Next Tues (6/1), they are showing
Raising Helen. You can park at the Metreon parking lot or take BART and get off at
the Powell exit. One nice touch is that they have valet stroller parking right before
you enter the actual theatre where the movie is playing.
Miriam
One tuesday, after I had taken my daughter to preschool for the day, I went to the
Metreon at Yerba Buena in SF to enjoy three hours of Brad Pitt in Troy. I was
perplexed to see a PLETHORA of Mamas with strollers waiting in line with me. ''What
movie are you seeing?'' I asked the mom in front of me. ''Troy'' she replied.
ARGHHHH! Turns out the movie I chose to see, the 11:00 AM on Tuesday, is always
a Mama/Daddy with Babies ONLY movie. Check out what they have playing weekly
at the Metreon in SF. Wish I had known about it when my daughter was an infant. I
still need to see Troy!
heidi
The Parkway on Park Ave in Oakland has Baby Brigade on
Monday nights. It's very popular. The website is
picturepubpizza.com.
Sierra
Don't forget the Parkway Theater in Oakland, 1834 Park
Boulevard, 510-814-2400. One mile west off the Park Boulevard
exit of the 580 freeway.
http://www.picturepubpizza.com/baby.htm
Baby Night/Cry Room at The Parkway, Mondays, 6:30 PM Show
Downstairs and 7:00PM Show Upstairs. Parents are encouraged to
bring their new babies (under one year) to the Monday 6:30PM
show. Babies get in free, all others pay the usual admission fee
of $5.00. The cozy atmosphere of the Parkway will suit your
little family well. Stretch out on a couch, set your beer on the
table, and cuddle junior in your lap. When the baby wakes up,
put her up on your shoulder and stroll a little in the back of
the theater. No need to miss out on the movie- everyone else
will understand- they have one too!!
Tim
If you haven't already heard, the GREATEST theater in the
world, The Parkway on Park Street in Oakland, has a Monday
Night ''Baby Brigade''. Monday evening the first two shows are
for parents and their ''Babies in Arms''. That means carry your
babe in, order food (they have an extensive pub-style menu)
drinks (beer, wine and soda), settle on a couch and enjoy a
movie with a background of baby babble and tears. Nobody will
ever tell you to ''shhh'' in this crowd.
We went EVERY week when our baby was young enough. It was such
a great break that when we didn't have any interest in the
movie we still went, and ordered a whole pitcher of beer.
The Metreon is fine, but if you want a really great movie
outing with your infant, support this Mom and Pop movie house
and come on to the East Bay.
I should note that the upstairs gets BLAZING hot in the summer,
and the couches are a bit old -- we used to bring a sheet to
throw over to keep baby relatively yuck-free.
ENJOY!
A
Two Recommendations:
I. As a mom and film nut I highly recommend The SOLANO
DRIVE-IN!!! in Concord. ( phone # 925-825-1951, website
http://www.cinearts.com/theater/index.html?theaterID=100
)People bring children of all ages and it's truly all-good-
there's even a playground there if you want to get out of your
car, but I've found our daughter usually falls asleep on the
way there or on the way back. One of the wonderful things
about drive-ins is that is truly a Live-and-Let-Live situation-
no one complains if a kid cries or if someone else wants to
smoke a cigarette or whatever: the car is each person's
bubble of freedom. It's also a double-feature admission.
This week the following are playing: Shrek-2, Harry Potter &
the Prisoner of Azkaban, Day after tommorrow, Scooby Doo.
2. Someone has probably already mentioned this, but there
is the Baby Brigade Monday nights at the Parkway Theatre
in Oakland, http://www.picturepubpizza.com/ . Baby Brigade
is intended for children under 12months.
Film Nut
I am sure you will get a million of responses but Park theater
in Oakland is the place to go with infants. THey have monday
nights especially for parents with infants. We have been there
many times and really enjoyed it. THey have couches up front ad
regular chairs also. The best part is the ticket is only $5 and
they also serve pizza and beer.
We can go to the movies too!
When I wanted to go to a movie w/ my infant (who was older than
1, and couldn't go to the Parkway anymore--not that they were
showing the movie I wanted to see), I called the movie theaters
showing the movie I wanted to see and asked them if they had a
policy about infants. To my surprise, MOST said no, they had no
problem, and yes, you can bring your baby, but be polite: take
the kid out if she's crying and disrupting others (which also
means get there early and choose a seat that will allow you to
leave easily). I'd also suggest going at a time that the infant
is likely to sleep, and bring whatever comfort things baby needs
to sleep. And keep in mind: some babies get a little anxious
when activity in the movie or the music reflects trouble. Mine
started getting upset whenever something ''scary'' was happening
on the movie, regardless of whether she was watching it. So be
nice to your baby too! Plus, be careful about the noise for
little ears, and potential boredom (mine never liked being
confined to one place for too long).
janet
Oct 2003
I passed the Metreon in San Francisco the other day and noticed
that they have something called ''Mom's Reel'' where Mom and
infant can see a movie on a specific morning each week...has
anyone heard about this? I can't find any other information
online about it. Do theatres in the East Bay offer this too?
Sounds like a great idea for Mom's who love movies!
--Haven't seen a movie in months
Hi there,
I think this is what you are looking for:
http://reelmoms.urbanbaby.com/california.html
anon
I'm sure you're going to get a ton of posts about the Parkway,
but I'll respond anyway because it saved this movie-loving mom!
The Parkway has a movie night on monday nights for parents and
friends of babies one year old and under. They have couches,
tables, and lounge chairs instead of normal theater seating and
offer food (pizza, pasta, salads), beer, wine, etc. which they
serve you at your table in the theater. The movies are either
still in theaters or just out and they usually feature a couple
of movies for a week or so. Best part (besides being able to
take the baby) is that it only costs $5 (or two for one on
wednesdays--but no baby). I never thought the movie was too
loud for my baby and did not find it annoying or even notice
when other babies were crying. My favorite was seeing the dads
in the back of the theater bouncing their babies. I would
definitely recommend trying it out. I think its comfortable and
has a great atmosphere.
The Parkway theater is located on the southern side of lake
merrit in Oakland at 1834 Park Blvd near 18th. They have a
website www.picturepubpizza.com.
Have fun!
Karen
I am sure many people will respond to this but the Parkway
theatre in Oakland has movies on Monday nights for parents and
their infants (up to one year). 6:30 and 7:00 pm showings. go
to www.picturepubpizza.com and go to now playing. You can also
sign up on the site to get weekly updates on their shows. On
saturday matinees are all ages. We went to the movies almost
every monday for a year- the only movies I saw in the theatre
during that period and I am ever so grateful to the folks over
there for providing this important service. If you get there
early you can usually procure a couch- bring a sheet though as
somtimes they seem a little grimy for a little one. The crying
really isn't as bad as you think it might be and I never had a
problem hearing or following the movies (I even saw Rabbit
Proof Fence there!) They also have a bar and food so get a pint
and a pizza and go-go-go!
Juliette
I'm sure you'll get a dozen submissions for the Parkway Theatre
in Oakland on Park Ave near the lake at the far end (I can't
remember the address but they have a website-
www.picturepubpizza.com. Every Monday night they have Baby
Brigade night with two different movie options. They call
themselves a speakeasy theatre and so have couches in the front
for early birds and have real food like pizza and sandwiches to
buy. And it's only $5. The only catch is that your little one
can't be walking yet - they say under 1 year old. (makes sense)
S.W.
Hey, you're in luck! The Parkway Theater, on Park Blvd in Oakland,
offers movie nights specifically for parents with babies under 12 months.
It's nice because they serve food too (pizza etc.), and have comfy chairs
and couches to sit on (if you get there early), so makes a nice night out.
Check out http://picturepubpizza.com/baby.htm
Karen
I happened to see an article on this exact topic in the latest
issue of Fit Pregnancy. They didn't list the Bay Area as one of
the current cities featuring this great idea but I'm happy to
hear at least the Metreon has it. They listed a website
www.enjoytheshow.com as a resource for current listings.
Michelle
(Moderator) Thanks to everyone else who recommended Parkway.
this page was last updated: Dec 9, 2010
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