Picture it. The movie just ended and all you can think is “What did that mean??” You want to discuss the film with several people, not just the person you came with. And even though people are milling about in the lobby, you’re not sure if they’re just saying goodbye or want to stick around and discuss what we all just experienced in the theater.
It’s another one of those times where you wish you could read people’s minds or there was a sign over everyone’s head. Because you need to have that conversation, and you need to have it now.
What if you could all go upstairs? What if there was a room where people went to have conversations. And what if that room also sold food and drinks, offered communal seating so that awkward “hello” is a bit less anxiety-provoking, and maybe, just maybe, had an adjacent art gallery, because, well, that would be perfect.
“Often, after a film, people want to talk about it,” says Denise Treco, the director of marketing and communications at Jacob Burns Film Center. “So, we wanted to give them a space upstairs where they could chat with the people they saw the movie with, or even someone else who saw the same movie. It felt like a natural enhancement of the experience we offer. So, a few weeks ago, we opened Take 3 Wine Bar & Café on our third floor. We created a space that welcomes everyone with a variety of options on our menu.”
Take 3 also offers wine, beer, coffee, chocolate milk and other non-alcoholic drinks, along with salads, pastries, charcuterie, mac n’ cheese, pretzels and baked goods, primarily sourced from local businesses.
The space, which is open Thursday through Saturday, was designed by Pound Ridge resident Laureen Barber, a co-owner and the designer of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and Pleasantville-based architect James Coleman.
“Laureen meticulously chose every piece of furniture and lighting,” says Treco. “She was very precise about the kind of experience she wanted people to have, and she really transformed that space. It feels very fresh, very alive, and it’s very welcoming. Now, people who come to see a movie can grab a glass of wine or a kombucha before or after a film to catch up or discuss what they just experienced.”
And then there’s the Jane Peck Gallery, which flows seamlessly into Take 3. The new exhibit, Bill Gold: 70 Years of Iconic Movie Poster Designs, features artwork from the graphic designer’s private collection.
“Gold spent many years at Warner Brothers working with major directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Clint Eastwood, and this exhibit features a collection of his final posters, one-of-a-kind artwork and alternate poster designs for 17 different films,” Treco explains. “For example, there’s a beautiful original illustration for ‘My Fair Lady’ with a copy of the final poster next to it. There are also behind the scenes stories about how the various posters came about.”
“The exhibit is curated by Gold’s widow and collaborator, Susan, and Susan Kineke, our creative director, and it’s totally unique to Jacob Burns,” Treco continues. “You won’t find this anywhere else. It’s really an unprecedented glimpse into Bill’s work, and it’s a great conversation starter.”
This article was published in the May/June 2024 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
The editorial staff at Connect To magazine.
