Awesome Day Ten: A Homemade Outdoor Movie Theater

I love watching movies.  And I love going to the movies.  But movie theaters in LA (and around the country, probably) have gotten ridiculously expensive.  Like fifteen-dollars-for-a-weekday, God-help-you-if-you-want-popcorn, don't-even-consider-the-IMAX kind of expensive.  There is rarely a time when I feel like the purchase is justified--and honestly, it just makes me feel like a curmudgeon, repeating the phrase: "Remember when movies used to cost $5.25?"

That leaves me with basically one alternative for movie watching--sitting at home, on the couch, desperately waiting for Netflix to arrive so I can watch something on the not-nearly-as-magical 32" television screen.  While I do enjoy a movie night at home, sometimes I miss the big screen, the popcorn, the audience, the ambiance.

We live in a rad neighborhood, in a pretty cool location.  High up on a hill, we overlook Sunset, and all the traffic and nightlife that comes with it.  Our "front yard" is really a public sidewalk, but no one ever walks on it, since it's so high above the main drag.  It's kind of perfect, especially when you decide to take the movie situation into your own hands.

Enlisting the help of our neighbors--who, oddly enough, also had the idea of a homemade outdoor movie theater this week and had all of the equipment already--we set up an Awesome space.  Complete with projector, a screen made from a white sheet, clothespins, and a creative use of chain-link fencing, surround sound speakers set up on recycled Trader Joe's bags, and ample outdoor seating, it was all you could want in a movie theater experience.  Stove-top popcorn (not that microwave junk), a table full of candy, and growlers of microbrewed beer (perk of working at a brewery) topped it all off--not to mention, at our movie theater, pizza delivery is possible, and encouraged.  There was even a cigar-smoker present, which was totally cool, because we were outside.  Add a group of Awesome friends, and it really was a memorable Awesome night.

It was like a drive-in, without the driving.

We kept it Awesomely nostalgic (remember the times when you could actually afford to see a movie?) with a double feature of The Sandlot and Top Gun, but the night was such a success that we're considering a once-a-month reprise with differently themed movie nights.  Ideas are welcome.

Best of all:  I can rest assured that my movie theater days are not over; they are only just beginning, and even the puppies can come along too.