under the stars

I can't believe it's been 10 years since they first started showing classic movies outside in Barracks Square on Sunday nights.  I still remember the first film in 2002.  Actually I don't remember the film... I do however remember that my friends and I  - who never did things by half - concocted a rather elaborate picnic spread which drew quite a lot of attention.  There were platters of shrimp.  I'm not kidding.  A decade later I'm quite content with my little bag of popcorn and I've abandoned the picnic blanket for a more comfortable folding chair but I still love these outdoor films.

Early on (maybe 2004?) they were showing Casablanca.  None of my usual movie buddies were available so my friend Luke suggested I call his friend Denis who I'd met at a few parties. It was, as the famous Casablanca ending says "the beginning of a beautiful friendship."  If you've been following this blog you'll know he is frequently my partner in crime for things like perennial hunting, apple-picking  and music. So when we heard they were showing Casablanca last Sunday, we had to go!

There's still a lot of great films ahead this summer! 

July 22 Notorious (1946)
July 29 Planet of the Apes (1968)
August 5  The Three Musketeers (1948)
August 12 Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
August 19 The Quiet Man (1952)
August 26 Raider of the Lost Ark (1981)

"Family Filmfest"
September 1  The Muppet Movie (1979) /  Star Wars (1977)
September 2  Charlotte's Web (1973) /  E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)