Free Movies, Outside

If you like movies shown outside in front of hordes of other people, Washington DC has plenty to offer this summer. I've heard of no less than three separate film festivals, all easily accessible by Metro.

For location, you can't beat the Screen on the Green, the series which takes place on the Nation Mall just west of the Washington Monument. Although that series has already begun, there's plenty of good stuff left:

July 19 - All the President's Men (1976)
July 26 - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)
August 2 - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
August 9 - The Thin Man (1934)
August 16 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Slightly harder to get to (just a short bus ride from the Vienna Metro station) is the family-oriented Cox Movies Under the Moon, which might interest urbanites young at heart. The organizers gush over their planning:

"... nine evenings of free family fun including dinner from area restaurants & fresh popcorn. The films will be projected using state-of-the-art digital projection on a giant 40-foot by 20-foot screen with a Dolby surround sound system similar to those in movie theaters. The event is free, and proceeds from on-site food sales goes to INOVA Fairfax Hospital for Children and Special Love/Camp Fantastic. Restaurants open at 6:30pm, movie starts at 8:30pm. Free admission and ample Free parking.George Mason University's Robinson Football Field,Fairfax,. 301.816.6953.

Here's the schedule:
July 16 - Spy Kids 3D: Game Over 3D (Free 3-D glasses for first 7,500 attendees) PG-13
July 17 - Seabiscuit PG-13
July 18 - Jurassic Park PG-13
July 19 - Casablanca Unrated
July 20 - MIB PG
July 21 - Wizard of Oz G
July 22 - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King PG-13
July 23 - Ghostbusters PG
July 24 - Spiderman PG-13

And directions:

DIRECTIONS TO FAIRFAX CAMPUS FROM VIENNA METRO STATION
Take the CUE Bus (any of the routes stop at GMU). The CUE Bus is $.25 with a valid GMU identification card and $.50 per person otherwise. If traveling by car, exit the Vienna Metro on Nutley Avenue South (243). Follow Nutley to Route 29 and turn right. At Route 50 (Arlington Blvd.), turn right. Stay on Route 50 to Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) and turn left. Follow Route 123 through the City of Fairfax to University Drive, then turn left. Take your first right at Occoquan RIver Lane. Turn right at the stop sign onto Patriot Circle. At the pond, bear left to stay on Patriot Circle. Take your first left on Mason Pond Drive to the Parking Deck, the last building on your right. An information kiosk is located outside the third level of the deck to help navigate the campus.

Then there's the Comcast Outdoor Film Festival held "just steps" from the Grovsenor-Strathmore Metro Station. The food starts at 6:30, the movies at 8:30 PM. Here's their schedule:

August 15 - South of Music
August 16 - Lord of the Rings
August 17 - E.T.
August 18 - Jurassic Park
August 19 - Willy Wonka
August 20 - Vertigo
August 21 - Spiderman
August 22 - My Big Fat Greek Wedding
August 23 - Titanic
August 24 - Harry Potter II: The Chamber of Secrets

And directions: The Comcast Outdoor Film Festival for NIH Charities is looking forward to its third year on the great lawn between Strathmore Hall and the American Speech Healing-Language Association in North Bethesda, MD. The address is 10701 Rockville Pike, 1/2 mile north of the Beltway (Exit 34) and 1/2 mile south of White Flint.

It is easy to take Metro! The Grovsenor-Strathmore Metro is a few short steps from the event.