Growing up in Brooklyn, I always figured I had a good grasp of my home city. I attended high school in Manhattan and had friends in all five boroughs, so I put the subway to good use. Whether it was hanging out on fire escapes or drunken journeys through Alphabet City, I lived the typical NYC teenager life. I figured I had seen all this city has to offer.
Rooftop Films proved me wrong this summer. Honestly, I cannot imagine sitting in a cold theater with sticky floors anymore. Because there is something liberating about viewing films and hearing live music outside on a warm summer night. Add an incredible view of New York skylines and a perfect level of city ambiance, and you have a truly unique experience.
The whole idea behind this festival was a new experience for me. I got a completely different view of my neighborhood Park Slope and the Lower East Side especially. The festival also made me realize what a radical and awesome direction our city is headed, in terms of land development and renovation. I went to middle school right across the avenue of our Park Slope venue, and the view from the roof displayed a completely new Brooklyn to me.
As a seasoned New Yorker, I can attest that Rooftop Films offers great exposure to the greatest city in the world. Attending one of these shows is a must for tourists and natives alike.