credit: www.union.umd.edu
it’s gone. (it’s gone.)
oh, i. (oh, i.)
i better learn how to face it.
it’s gone…¹
What went wrong is that HBO has cut Screen on the Green.
*attempts to still his broken heart*
Who am I kidding? I’d need a ShamWow to dry my tears.
The Screen on the Green series was one of my reasons for being here, in DC. I’m so serious. Every time someone asks me to name my favorite things about the city, I never name more than a few places/events before I get to Screen on the Green.²
Summer nights? Free movies? Outdoors? Smuggled alcohol?
It gets no better.
But it’s gone. And since I don’t believe in the devil, paying him/her to replace it is going to be quite the task. There are now five Monday nights late this summer that I’ll have to find a new something.
You may not have noticed, but to honor the passing of this once, dear festival, I have written all of today’s post in black text.
So I need everybody to get high on consolation. Tell me what’s right for me. What do I do in DC to make up for this? Are there any summer festivals you love here? And if you’re not from DC, I’m desperate. Is there anything in your town/city? I will buy a ticket and visit it. Got a spare couch? I’m at a loss.
I think I’ve got the strength to carry on. I just need a drink and a quick decision; something to help this not linger.
Now what will it be…? *rubs chin*
________
¹Some of Philadephia’s finest soul, co-opted, throughout.
²See, “the transplant episode.”
I think there’s a movie festival in Bethesda in the summer…
Bethesda’s a little far, but I’d be willing to go for the right movie.
It isn’t free, but maybe it will open up some time to get to Wolf Trap. I love it there.
They used to do movies on the quad in downtown Silver Spring, as well. Then again, you have to go to SS…
Heard about the series in Silver Spring. They do a lot there. Isn’t the AFI festival there, too? Silver Docs, or something?
Oh, you DC people with your free events and free museums. Always showing off. Can’t you pay admission like the rest of us? *grumble grumble*
I would totally pay admission to keep Screen on the Green going. It’s worth it.
Aw, f.B.! I feel your pain. Free movies in front of the White House enjoyed with smuggled alcohol? I can’t imagine a better way to spend a sultry summer night and I’ve only just learned of it through you. While it doesn’t hold a candle to that, Toronto has its own free movie nights at Yonge and Dundas square. It’s…you know what, it pales in comparison so I shouldn’t have even mentioned it. Sorry!
Pales? I’ll have to try it before I dismiss it.
two movies festivals in arlington!
rosslyn (80s movies, I will so be there):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/misc-events/i-love-the-80s-rosslyn-outdoor-film-festival,1156665.html
crystal city (hero movies, less excited):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/misc-events/crystal-screen-summer-film-series,1138643.html
you ask, how do i know this? because i cried when i found out no screen on the green. that is how.
I like 80s and heroes movies! And the tears: they leave tracks. Just ask Smokey Robinson. He wrote that song about how he felt when his local free summer movie festival disappeared.
I wish I had something to suggest, but I’m at a loss as well. The worst part? I didn’t even get a chance to go last summer! And now I’ll never have another shot…*tear*
Maybe I could just call HBO. I mean, it’s destined to fail. But it’s worth a try. Maybe if I promise to help set up the screen for free…
i’ve never gone to that particular event but now that it’s gone i’m all kinds of miffed I can’t go!
Never? Really? So you never did “the dance?”
There’s a summer outdoor movie series in Crystal City- I did some PR events there last year and it was pretty cool:
http://www.crystalcity.org/events
I used to live in Crystal City. Though the best part of SoG was being able to walk from my house. I’ll have to get over this quickly.
I was crying over Screen on the Green too! But Jazz in the Park at the National Gallery Sculpture Garden (with pitchers of Sangria) will help ease the pain.
Sangria by the pitcher? I like jazz and sculptures.
Oh goodness. We have free outdoor movies here (well, maybe they’re actually PWYC, so yeah, free.) We even had them in my backwater of a hometown. But if it makes you feel any better, the movies tend to be awful.
The solution is obvious. Start your own free movie series! I’ll start drafting a list of potential names.
Being part of the solution. I’ll start drafting a list, too. Now all we need is a venue…
I also saw this sadness of cancellation, and I bought a special picnic blanket on sale in the off season purposely for it!
They do outdoor movies with FOOD stands at the Strathmore in Bethesda. A bit of a hike but I had loads of fun watching a Monty Python movie there, plus they don’t let people put up chairs in the front, not that many people go (maybe 1000?), the screen is IMAX giant, and they set it up on a amphitheatre nature slope type thingy so it’s easy to see.
I also remember seeing something about movies shown outdoors on 17th St in Dupont, maybe on the kickball field? But I can’t remember the specifics.
Food stands? Ok. Ok. That might work.
Maybe they’ll have another abandoned lot series across from the New York Ave metro like they did with Bond films last summer (I refuse to use the created term for that area of the city). Nothing says summer fun like highway noise and passing trains! Though the proximity to Wendy’s and the free popcorn were definite pluses.
Metro stop movies sounds eh. Plus, where? With all the new construction…
Your use of Hall and Oates is impressive, impeccable and perfectly placed.
Sorry about your movie fun. This economy blows.
Thank you, kindly. And it does blow, hard.
Someone needs to step up and offer to sponsor the damn thing!
People, start brainstorming possible companies. And…GO!
I like your proactivity. I’m thinking… Cinemax doesn’t do anything you can show during daytime hours. Maybe Starz?
Sorry to hear that; wish I could tell you there’s something like that up here that you could partake of, but if there is I’m not aware of it.
It’s ok. There seem to be a lot of suggestions for things to try around the area. I guess it’s just like dating. This summer, I will be dating movie festivals until I find one that’s right for me.
I would not suggest letting the carbon and monoxide choke your thoughts away. Now, pretty bodies… that’s a whole ‘nother thing.
Awesome. I just knew you would get it. I just knew.
I have a big screen, kittens, and a bottle of Firefly…
Best I can do.
You can do anything. You just have to believe. All you have to do is empty a bottle of Firefly and imagine.
You can come to Sioux Falls in July for Screen on the Green and look at Naked David while the movie is playing…
Naked David? Can I search for that from a work computer?
I keep seeing this but I cannot believe that Screen on the Green is over. It’s just not possible! I’m an HBO subscriber, don’t I have a voice in this?
Are you hinting at a strongly-worded letter? Because I can get behind that.
[...] news spread that the sponsors of the annual summer tradition backed out there was a large outcry over the thought a weekday night on The Mall watching a movie. I was one of them- I never [...]