That’s a wrap: Final outdoor movie screenings of the summer
Here are some of the last outdoor movie screenings perfect for those fleeting summer nights.
As we round into the dog days of summer, things (and by things, we mean ourselves) tend to get a little lazy. All those wild nights and day activities that have been keeping the masses entertained all summer have started to take a toll and it's time for a little recovery in the form of cinematic leisure. Here are some of the last outdoor movie screenings perfect for those fleeting summer nights.
Get your blanket, lawn chairs and snacks ready — it's about to get Hollywood.
Imagine the breeze in your hair, sand in your toes, and favorite movie on the screen. Sounds good, right? On Mondays in Atlantic City, N.J., Gardner's Basin welcomes families for an outdoor movie night on the beach. The final three films you can catch are on Monday, Aug. 11 for "Captain Phillips," Monday, Aug. 18 for "Man of Steel," and Monday, Aug. 25 for "Hunger Games: Catching Fire." All movies begin at 7:45 p.m.
The Scribe Video Center offers open-air presentations of independent films, encouraging different Philadelphia neighborhoods to come together and converse — and of course, to be entertained. Each day's viewings will take place in a different neighborhood at 7:45 p.m. A series of short films about Philadelphia's block captains and more will be held at North Philly's Philadelphia Urban Creators on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The next day, Thursday, Aug. 14, catch another series of shorts about a West Philly dance studio and the Moorish Science Temple's impact in Philly at Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia. On Saturday, Aug. 16, Spring Garden is highlighted with a short documentary on public school funding and other flicks at Roberto Clemente Recreation Center. And the series rounds out on Thursday, Aug. 21 in South Philly at Mifflin Square Park with a youth-produced music video and narratives from Cambodian-Americans affected by deportation policies.
Continuing with its outdoor movie screening series, the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing holds its free film nights starting at dusk (say, 8 p.m.) along the waterfront. The next three to look forward to are Thursday, Aug. 14's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," a special sing-along (Let it go!) viewing of "Frozen" on Thursday, Aug. 21, and "The LEGO Movie" the following week, Thursday, Aug. 28.
The Schuylkill Banks are putting their summer screenings to bed, wrapping up at Grays Ferry Crescent (at Wharton Street on the Schuylkill River) on Thursday, Aug. 14 with "The Karate Kid" at 8 p.m. and "Pitch Perfect" at the viewing spot by the Walnut Street Bridge at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21. Come early to participate in a raffle for gift cards and to score some limited free food and drink.
Awesome Fest in West Philly's Clark Park rounds out with "Skanks," a documentary about following the cast and crew of an original drag musical in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 9 p.m.
Rock out on Friday, Aug. 15 at The Oval as they host an air guitar competition prior to a screening of "Wayne's World." The thrashing competition begins at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 9 p.m. at the pop-up park on the Parkway. Come hungry as food trucks Chef Johnny Bravo's Surf n' Turf, Cow and the Curd, Whirly Pig, Street Food Philly, Milk + Sugar will be on-site.
The classic 1958 horror flick "The Blob" hits the great outdoors in Downingtown, Pa.'s Kerr Park on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m.
Starting at 8:30 p.m. at Mt. Airy's Trolley Car Diner is the final outdoor bash of the season. "Men in Black" is the film of choice on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Since weather's been known to get in the way of quite a bit these days, the Trocadero Theatre in Chinatown holds weekly indoor movie nights. Every Monday, the venue screens classic films for over 21 crowds. Monday, Aug. 11 is the screening of the Prince-starring cult classic "Purple Rain," Monday, Aug. 18 is disco-dancing "Saturday Night Fever," and Monday, Aug. 25's got the Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-winning hit "Pulp Fiction." Doors for all Movie Monday nights are 6:30 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m.
For even more indoor action, Phoenixville, Pa.'s Colonial Theatre is hosting a nine-hour horror marathon featuring rarely seen Italian horror films on Saturday, Aug. 30. If you can handle the gore, the zombies and the strange, the Italian All-Night Slaughterfest starts at 7 p.m.