Starting on March 1, the senior editorial staff  from the Quad began contributing weekly posts outlining the activities, places and trips all Boston-area college students should have on their bucket list.  A total of 10 posts makes up what these graduating seniors believe to be the most compelling, noteworthy “must-do’s” for all underclassmen to accomplish before graduation.  Here is the list in its entirety:

Cheat Sheet:

1. Party Favors, a hidden gem 2. Splurge on a great meal 3. Explore local culture in Jamaica Plain 4. Beer me, Boston. 5. Boston’s Alternative Movie Theaters 6. The Skywalk Observatory 7. Urban Biking Adventures 8. Explore music venues for every genre 9. Getting out of Boston 10. South Boston Street Festival

Photo credits:

1. Kara Korab 2. SweetonVeg 3. Mr. Ducke 4. compujeramey 5. D’Arcy Norman 6. whisperwolf 7. joeldinda 8. bradsearles 9. Rice Bear 10. animalvegetable

All photos, except Kara Korab, courtesy Flickr/Creative Commons.

It’s late on a Friday night, and you’ve got a craving for popcorn. You gather up your friends and head to the local multiplex. But just around the corner are other movie theaters, ones you’ve probably never noticed before, stuffed full of the greatest cult, foreign and independent movies on the East Coast.

So, movie buff, if there’s one thing you must do before you walk down the red carpet out of Boston University, it must be to check out a true Boston movie house.

Yes, there is a world beyond our beloved Regal Theater at Fenway, and I assure you it’s worth the trip. These theaters offer up something unique. The concession stands pour real butter on your popcorn. The midnight movie is probably a title you have never heard of (ever heard of Blacula, the 70s blacksploitation horror film? Didn’t think so), but will soon come to love. These independent theaters don’t sell you the latest blockbusters; they are selling a true movie-going experience, one unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Take the Brattle Theatre, a single room moviehouse in Harvard Square on the Red Line. The theater there, tucked into a basement, has been operating non-stop since 1953, bringing the biggest cult classics to Boston for adoring fans and new converts to enjoy. From a week-long series on the Muppets to reviving the classics like Rear Window and Casablanca, the Brattle is an ideal place to turn to get your retro fix. And with student prices just $7.75, it’s cheaper than the major theaters too.

The Coolidge Corner Theatre, a staple of Brookline since the 1920s,  is another prime location for a great movie night. The non-profit Coolidge, the last Art Deco theater left in Boston, has four different screens, but the main screen on the first floor will make your jaw drop (the cinema’s spectacular ceiling was recently restored). Still, the Coolidge is so much more than just a pretty face. Located on the C branch of the Green Line, the Coolidge offers a wide variety of new independent releases and special programming. The theater even hosts occasional stage acts, including plays and even burlesque dancers. Student tickets are available all day on Thursdays, but be sure to keep checking in to see if your favorite movie is schedule to play. The Coolidge plans what movies they’ll screen one week at a time.

If you’re looking for something a little more mainstream, you couldn’t do much better than the Kendall Square Cinema, a member of the Landmark chain of theaters. The Kendall specializes in foreign language and documentary films, and with nine different screens, they can fit a lot in. The Kendall features the best of both worlds: the indie sensibilities combined with the furnishings of the latest greatest multiplexes. While the Kendall may be a short walk away from the nearest Red Line MBTA stop, the walk is certainly worth it.

So, whether you’re a movie maniac or a casual theater-goer, you can’t miss these cinema shrines. Go for a movie, and be prepared to fall in love; you may never want to set foot in a big-chain multiplex ever again.

“The Academy seems to have achieved one of their goals, which was to get more commercially successful films into contention and, they hope, to increase interest and ratings.  Based on best picture noms for Avatar, UP and The Blind Side, they have three of the top grossers of 2009.  This may provide a larger slice of the movie-going audience something to root for and a reason to tune in. Overall, this is quite a good, quality list and showcases a balance of genres and formats from intimate personal stories to huge action/ special effect blockbusters, as well as an animated feature.  There is something for everyone here.

The best director nominations also have built-in drama.  Ex husband and wife, James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow are both nominated.  Although the budgets of their two films, Avatar and The Hurt Locker are over $200 million apart, they both garnered nine nominations.  When you add to the mix the fact that Kathryn Bigelow is a woman director working in a genre (war film /action) that used to be considered a ‘man’s game,’ you have the ingredients for a very interesting evening.  A win by Bigelow is certainly a  real possibility.  I would be surprised if someone either than Cameron or Bigelow wins, even though the other nominees are worthy and deserving contenders.”

Contact Paul Schenider, 617-353-5031, paulsch@bu.edu.

The life and work of legendary film director Robert Altman will be celebrated at a symposium tonight at 5:30 PM, marking the publication of a new Altman biography and the 40th anniversary of his seminal film, “M*A*S*H.”  Favorite Altman actors Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, and Michael Murphy will be joined in a panel discussion by his widow, Kathryn Altman, Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr, and BU Prof essor Mitchell Zuckoff, author of “Robert Altman: The Oral Biography” (Knopf) followed by a screening of “M*A*S*H.” Open to the public ($10 for adults, $5 for children), the evening is sponsored by the BU College of Communication in concert with the BU Alumni Association’s Winterfest Weekend and co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences Core Humanities.  It is taking place at the Tsai Performance Center (685 Commonwealth Avenue).

“‘Invictus’ did not get a picture nomination but Clint Eastwood did – so that is a minor surprise. On the other hand, ‘Precious’ was nominated but the director, Lee Daniels, was not. So, it seems the movie directed itself. This happens occasionally at the Oscars as well and always has people shaking their heads.”

Contact Paul Schneider, 617-353-5031, paulsch@bu.edu

With the Ron Howard film “Frost/Nixon” opening nationwide, BU journalism professor Bob Zelnick reflects on his role as a producer hired by British talk-show host David Frost for those historic interviews with the disgraced former president.

“Before each one of them, I would marshal all the material we had, digest it, and try and anticipate the way Nixon would respond. After briefing David, I would sit in the chair and pretend to be Nixon, and he would ask me exactly the questions we had in mind for the next day.

“Nixon was a tough adversary. The interviews show how tough a core Nixon had, and how strategic his every move was. Nixon thought one step, two steps, three steps ahead. He had an objective firmly in mind. He was his own best lawyer.”

Zelnick, a former long-time ABC News correspondent, is played in the movie by actor Oliver Platt.

The Boston University Women’s Studies Program and the Humanities Foundation will welcome Hilary Brougher, award-winning director of the 2006 film festival favorite Stephanie Daley, for a lecture and discussion of her work on Wednesday, November 19 from 4-6 pm. The groups will also host a screening of the film on Monday, November 17 from 3-5 pm.

Stephanie Daley Event Flier.