Dinner & a Movie
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

On Friday, the Arts and Letters section of The New York Sun takes a look at the Lee Marvin and Sam Fuller series happening at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, respectively. If you’re interested in knowing what other movies are being shown at these two institutions, read on — and if you plan on being hungry on the Upper West Side or in Astoria, the Sun has a few recommendations for you as well.
DINNER
Considering that temperatures will be in the 70s this weekend, it might behoove even the most devoted moviegoer to spend a little time outdoors, and Astoria’s Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden is the perfect venue to do just that. Run by the Bohemian Citizens’ Benevolent Society, the Hall has both indoor and outdoor seating. For those wanting to enjoy the breeze, the Hall sets up an outdoor grill, featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, and — of course, for the Eastern Europe-philes — pirogies and bratwursts. Beers on tap include Pilsner Urquell and other Czech varieties, ranging from $6 and up (29-19 24th Ave. at 29th Street, Astoria, Queens, 718-274-4925).
Michael Psilakis’s Kefi appears to be just what the Upper West Side has been waiting for. No menu item tops $16, glasses of wine cost $6, no reservations and no credit cards are accepted, and the cozy basement restaurant is an open secret: On any given night, Kefi (whose name translates to “exuberance”) packs in more customers by far than Onera (whose name means “dreams”) ever did in the same space, and has to turn away even more. By far the best offerings are among the dozen small plates, treats of which a meal can and should be made. Tender, coarsely ground meatballs ($5.95), compounded of pork for lightness and lamb for flavor, swim in a hearty tomato sauce whose herby, oniony richness no normal eater could bear to leave unsopped after the meatballs are eaten. Classic fare — spanakopita, taramasalata — receives a fine treatment: The spinach pie ($4.50) is open-topped to display fresh, whole spinach leaves doused in nutmeg-warmed cream, and a shareable spread of spreads includes zesty takes on tzatziki and smoky eggplant purée, as well. (222 W. 79th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, 212-873-0200) — Paul Adams (reviewed March 21)
MOVIES
Hal Hartley’s “Fay Grim” (2007) is a sequel to his acclaimed film “Henry Fool” (1997), about a socially inept garbageman (Simon) who befriends a down-and-out novelist (Henry) and begins a career ascent to try to write the Great American Poem. When Henry’s criminal past catches up to him, Simon helps him flee the country. In “Fay Grim,” the movie takes a look at the fugitive 10 years later. Fay is Henry’s wife, who lives in Woodside, Queens, and after living without her disappeared husband for seven years, she is asked by the CIA to reclaim his property in Paris. Her brother is Simon, who is now serving 10 years in prison for aiding in Henry’s disappearance. Fay soon becomes involved in a world of international espionage as the government attempts to find her husband. The Museum of the Moving Image presents a premiere of the film, which stars Parker Posey as Fay, and a postscreening discussion with Mr. Hartley is featured. (Friday, 7:30 p.m., MMI, 3601 35th Ave. at 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, 718-784-4520, $12)
It’s not quite a movie, but in preparation for the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s screening of Luchino Visconti’s film “White Nights” (1957) next Wednesday, FSLC has mounted an exhibit of movie posters and illustrations by a classic Hollywood artist, Silvano “Nano” Campeggi, in its Furman Gallery. Mr. Campeggi’s posters feature lush, colorful depictions of stars from the golden era of Hollywood, including James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Vivien Leigh as the character Scarlett O’Hara. The program director of FSLC, Richard Peña, writes of Mr. Campeggi’s work, “The art of the movie poster is just beginning to be seriously studied and appreciated, so it’s a great pleasure to begin this long overdue celebration at the very top, with the wonderful film posters of Silvano Campeggi.” (Through Wednesday, June 13, Sunday–Saturday, 2–8 p.m., FSLC, Furman Gallery, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 60th Street and Broadway, 212-875-5601, free).