Host a Movie Night Featuring Some of Director Peter Farrelly’s Films

Now that things are starting to get back to normal in the New York area, optimism for entertainment is ripe.  People are approaching the long summer months with far more joy than they did in both 2019 and 2020.  The time has thus arrived for some good old-fashioned fun.

For those who are still reluctant to leave their homes though, they could host a movie night.  As director Peter Farrelly gets ready to start on his new movie, ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship Loyalty and War,’ it’s time to take a look at his previous box office hits.

One of the more popular movies from director Peter Farrelly was produced in 2018.  Garnering a box office domestic gross of $85 million, ‘The Green Book’ was classed as 8.2 (out of 10) from IMDB and a 78% positive feedback from RT Tomatometer.  Featuring Maharshala Ali, Linda Cardellini and Viggo Mortensen, it was recently featured on ‘The 7 Best New Movies to Watch HBO Max in May 2021.’

Another classic from director Peter Farrelly that will certainly be a crowd pleaser is the 1994 movie ‘Dumb and Dumber.’  The movie – which has become somewhat of a household name over the last two+ decades – is often referred to in conversations and has even been the subject of a new book ‘Dumb and Dumber: How Cuomo and de Blasio Ruined New York.’

Whatever movies you choose to show from director Peter Farrelly’s selection, you probably won’t be disappointed.  Just use the opportunity to start hanging out with friends again.

Lights Shining Bright

Let There Be Neon – a store opened back on 451 West Broadway in 1990 owned by Jeff Friedman – makes quite a few things shine bright. Originally opened by Rudy Stern, a painter, docu-filmmaker and artist in 1972, two years later it was recognized as “the first ever gallery dedicated to neon,” and was the first to install a neon environment for a disco. Its history tells much more of a tale, but today it offers works of art via animation, graphic design, pieces for residential areas, film, TV and other media and more.

What is the beauty and excitement behind this?  Friedman believes that:

“Neon is red when it’s lit, the pure color of neon. But we also use argon, which is blue, and by combining the different gases with different glass colors or phosphorus inside the tube, that’s how we get all the different colors.”

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, “Let There Be Neon” was still shining bright, at least in all its neon glory, was store after store was shuttered following stay at home orders.

Now that things are somewhat getting back to normal, the SoHo region is boasting its offerings.  From galleries to architecture, boutique and unique stores, this move is being bolstered by a rezoning proposal put forward by Bill de Blasio, NYC Mayor.  If accepted, this would add a substantial amount of apartments to the area – 3,200 – 800 of which would be priced lower than the market rate.

While this would indeed help tackle the homeless crisis, the question has to be asked as to what it would do the city’s culture?  Plus there is the environmental concern.  Nonetheless, Will Thomas who sits on the Open New York board believes it would actually create an “historic opportunity, claiming:

“This would really change the unspoken rules around development in New York City. Breaking down the exclusionary barriers of SoHo is a matter of racial justice, is a matter of housing justice, and especially right now during a pandemic, affordable housing is more needed than ever.”

Whatever transpires and however it impacts the environment and the region’s culture,  ‘Let There Be Neon’ shined bright it will continue to illuminate its environs.