Museum of the Moving Image

After a long renovation, the Museum of the Moving Image, in Astoria, reopened on Saturday. Much remains the same, including Behind the Screen, the museum's permanent collection dedicated to everything that goes into tv- and movie-making, from makeup and sound editing to costumes and marketing memorabilia. 

A new floor doubles the exhibition space, while the revamped theater will show classics and contemporary films. We're thrilled to be able to again wander around the museum before a movie, reminiscing about once owning some of the action figures now on display, and we're especially happy that the video games are back. Nothing kills the time before the curtain faster than a few rounds of Ms. Pac-Man or Donkey Kong.  (OK, watching that 1894 movie of boxing cats kills time pretty well, too.)