April 22 is the day when you can start buying wine and beer in the lobby of the Northwest Film Forum on Capitol Hill.

Per a press release:
"The Film Forum plans to offer a house red and white wine, with a higher-end selection of red, and three choices of beer."

Why is this important? Have you ever heard of Jürgen Habermas? He wrote about what he called the "public sphere"—a place where citizens would gather, independent of church and government, to discuss politics, social structure, etc. It was—and I’m simplifying, sorry Habermas—an essential component of civilization and the lifeblood of any sort of participatory government.

It’s also essential to arts appreciation. Sometimes the best part of a play is intermission, don’t you think? Not just for the peanut M&Ms and the much-needed bathroom breaks but also because you grab a drink and stand in the lobby discussing what you saw with your fellow theater-goers. It often greatly enriches the experience.

But movie theaters seldom have a communal space that encourages conversation and lingering. This, despite the fact that everybody—everybody!—likes to talk about movies. Word from the NWFF is that the lobby will be enhanced over time with more seating and such to encourage loitering before and after showtimes.

I love it. Jürgen Habermas loves it. The guy who wrote Bowling Alone loves it. And you will likely love it too, next time you come blinking out of some inscrutable German film and there’s a chardonnay waiting for you in the lobby.