All About the AFI By Jen Chaney washingtonpost.com Staff Writer Tuesday, April 8, 2003

The glowing marquee at Silver Spring's American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

For one, it finally signals the start of a major, long-standing effort to revitalize downtown Silver Spring. It also demonstrates a commitment to reinvigorate the Washington area's older movie houses, a trend that will continue with the imminent reopening of the Avalon on Connecticut Avenue. And, perhaps most importantly, it will bring great movies -- both the old and the obscure -- to state-of-the-art big screens.

If you weren't invited to the private grand opening on April 4 but want to know what the Silver is all about, allow us to be your guide. Scroll down and find links to Post content that provides the 411 on the AFI.

AFI Links

The Entertainment Guide provides the basics on the AFI, including information about upcoming movies and ticket prices.

Here's a timeline and map for the downtown Silver Spring area surrounding the Silver.

Style's Roxanne Roberts gives the rundown on the red carpet extravaganza that was the AFI's grand opening.

Benjamin Forgey takes an in-depth look at the architecture of the AFI.

This Metro story discusses the Silver's arrival, as well as other Silver Spring redevelopment.

Here's a brief rundown of some of the Silver Theatre's opening events, courtesy of the Post's Montgomery Extra.

Montgomery Extra also provides this look at Silver Spring restaurants.

And here's the always trusty Entertainment Guide movies page, which provides valuable links to showtimes, reviews and other features.