Kings Theatre

Brooklyn, NY

October 18, 2015

Hubs and I put Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on the top of our must-see list for Open House New York Weekend, i.e., two days in October when many venues often closed to the public open their doors for free.) It was the first time we knew of that the theatre was open to the public without purchasing a show ticket. I’d read about the astronomical cost of the restoration ($95 million) and seen pictures of the elaborate details in the NY Post. I'd been kind of obsessed with the theatre for months and had to see it for myself.

When Kings Theatre, one of the five Lowes’ “Wonder Theaters" in NYC, originally opened in 1929, it was one of the largest in the country. And given that it was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera house, probably one of the most elaborate too. It began as a performance hall, then for financial reasons, quickly became a movie theatre until it shuttered in the 1970s. Two years ago, the city began restoring it back to its heyday glory.

It’s beautiful. It's also a lot. A whole lot. Even for me, which says a lot. But you should see it for yourself. The theatre is open again for tours on January 5th and 26th. Let me know if you’re going. You might see me there.

For more information: Kings Theatre.