Summer is in full swing, and for the past couple of years, that meant movies with a waterfront view at Skyline Drive-In.
It appears that Greenpoint has seen the last of this fun excursion.
Greenpointers readers noticed that despite the beautiful weather, Skyline seemed oddly quiet about reopening for the season. The website and general inquiry email address didn’t provide much guidance, telling fans that they were now open….for private events.
Now, the final nail in the coffin—the Skyline Instagram account has changed its name and is operating as an account for Area 53 Paintball (616 Scholes St.), a family entertainment complex in East Williamsburg. Curiously, Area 53 already has its own Instagram account (because it’s already been in operation for years), so it’s not exactly clear what this duplicate account is for.
An inside source told Greenpointers that exorbitant fines from the city have caused financial problems for the business. While no one has officially confirmed the closure, it doesn’t seem like the Skyline team plans to reopen as their previous incarnation.
This is a welcome development. Both Williamsburg and Greenpoint are very popular with visitors, and we should encourage these visits to happen with public transport, not with private vehicles.
It also seems very strange that a stretch of the waterfront in our extremely pedestrian neighborhood would be allocated to a drive-in theater. Surely, there are plenty of communities elsewhere in the state that are easily accessed by car and where the waterfront premium is not as hefty.
100% agreed
You realize you could walk into the theater and lay out on the recliners they provided?
Cars made up less than half of the viewers
Good scoop, like in the old superman tv with Lois and Jimmy in the 1950s series.
No great loss. I’ve lived here for decades and have never been, and also don’t own nor know any other locals who even own a car. It also seemed to cater to suburbanites who wanted to visit the city from the comfort of their private automobile. These archaic institutions are best left in the past.
So are they going to just have more shitty dj concerts all summer long, dragging in EDM tourists? That shit sucks!
This place is a scourge on the community. These concerts are insane. Whoever granted these permits should be fired and banned from the neighborhood for life
This is such a bummer. None of my friends or I have a car but we walked or biked in all the time. Feels like there could’ve been a way to preserve this without catering to the car crowd. Films bring the community together much more than paintball. Jesus christ.
Disappointing for sure. Had a blast at the drive-in last summer. Nice way to spend a summer night. Walked in and sat on a lawn-chair. Between this and the Terminal Market move it’s just a total bummer. Also, I highly doubt the drive-in actually brought significant car traffic to the neighborhood like some have suggested. As mentioned, chairs were available for people who didn’t drive. While it will surely be missed by those who knew about it, I’m not sure the Skyline drive-in was alluring the masses to trek to Greenpoint on a weeknight, for in most cases a non-new release movie.
karma plays the long game.
I drive but definitely walked in and took a lawn chair. I had great plans to bring friends and attend again. I really hope they remain open as they were. I really don’t know why some are complaining about it being a drive in, seems like they never went. Cars exist, get over it, drive ins were nostalgic.
Damn big disappointment, this was the best place to be in the summer, you could walk right in, sit on a beautiful lawn chair have great concessions and watch a fun movie with the glittering skyline behind it. Truly a wholesome fun unique experience for the neighborhood. Fingers crossed it’s replaces with something not centered around alcohol that brings the community together.
I’m very sad – my husband and I loved bringing our daughter here, we are 3rd generation Brooklynites and do not tolerate the horrific nyc public transportation system. We also have an 8 yr old so taking her to watch a movie from the drivers seat which she LOVED, while we ordered take out delivered by Grub Hub from a great local restaurant that we otherwise wouldn’t get a chance to go to for a date night was perfect! In terms of Sky Line being an unwelcome “tourist” destination I have news for you people…….. you are ALL tourists that didn’t go to high school here, are the reason it’s increasingly unaffordable for us to continue living here so we can be close to our families and probably will move on to somewhere else in the next few years LOL
AMEN
Loved the drive in — with and without a car. Was great for family nights with my kids. Will definitely be missed.
Those in the comments that hate the drive-in should think why it’s closing… you think they would just leave a giant piece of land in BROOKLYN empty? Look around you…. espeically if you live in greenpoint….hate the music and festivities? Well I hope you like another LONG and LOUD contrustion project…. as that is the future… what would you choose now?
The drive in movie theater was a blessing to our family since our autistic child enjoyed the movies, but didn’t like the crowds of movie theaters. We were able to sit safely and comfortably in our car, as a family, enjoying a wonderful movie. There are very few options for special needs children to enjoy a movie with minimal crowds and lower volumes. This was a perfect solution since we were able to control both without interrupting anyone else’s good time.
I’m a tourist staying in Long Island City this weekend and was looking for something to do nearby the first night that would allow me to rest from the trip but still enjoy myself. Thought it might alarm be a chance to meet some locals and learn about the area.
Sad to hear that won’t be possible.