West End Cinema Closes This Weekend

Spring is finally here; but sadly, it's also time for a recent DC fixture to close its doors. The West End Cinema ends its programming on Sunday, March 29th after a wonderful four+ year run along 23rd Street, NW in the West End. Owner Josh Levin and his team provided fans (and lovers) of independent film an oasis to quench their thirst for titles that would otherwise struggle to see the light of day DC. Unfortunately, oases don't come cheap; and rising occupancy costs, increased competition & difficulty in securing mainstream films/Oscar contenders made survival next to impossible.

I haven't felt this sad since the Visions Cinema Bistro Bar on Florida Ave., NW closed back in 2004; and Visions wasn't anywhere close to West End Cinema in terms of cleanliness, professionalism and variety (although they had a very cool balcony.) There's still time to catch one last movie (or two, or three) at WEC. Click here for a full schedule. Tomorrow is the last night for Oscar winner Birdman; but Whiplash plays through Sunday, as does Jaws and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Thanks for the memories: The West End won't be the same without you.