Photo: iStockphoto

The new issue of Portfolio includes a piece on the future of movie theaters by Nancy Hass. Buried in the piece is the exciting news that Alamo Drafthouse, the Texas-based mini-chain of upscale art-house cinemas, is planning to open a theater in New York by the end of 2008.

The chain, whose theaters include café tables and full dinner menus and prohibit all children under 6, would be a nice addition to the horrible moviegoing environment that is New York City, as would other "premier" theaters discussed in the piece, some of which have babysitting for patrons' children. Having just spent 40 bucks on a babysitter to go see a 10 p.m. showing of The Bourne Ultimatum in which the seats in front of us were occupied by a 10-year-old, a 6-year-old, and — no lie — an actual infant in a car seat, we would welcome such innovations.

Shari Redstone's Big-Screen Test [Portfolio]
Earlier: Movie-Theater Chain Introduces Wireless Complain-o-Matic