Outings

BK’s free summer flix, inside & out

bkbridge moviesBelieve it or not, the affordable big-screen movie isn’t dead. And by affordable, we mean FREE. This summer, Brooklyn’s home to at least a half dozen spots where you can take in a good-old cinematic experience without cracking the wallet. Check out these venues where you can get sticky seats, rowdy crowds… and a movie, no snack-smuggling or cash transaction required.

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Movies with a View
Sponsored by the Syfy channel, this is the outdoor film fest’s 11th year. If you’re a crazy enough cinephile to show up hours beforehand to snag the good spots, DJ’s from Brooklyn Radio will entertain you until the sun goes down and the movie, preceded by a short film chosen by BAM cinematek, begins. The last few summers’ line-ups have been themed, but this summer’s decidedly skitzo offerings, from Annie Hall to Monsters Vs. Aliens 3D, promise something for everyone. Thursdays, Jul. 8 to Sep. 2. Movies start at sundown.

Main St. & Plymouth St., DUMBO. F Train to York St. or A, C to High St-Brooklyn Bridge.

Summer Screen at McCarren Park
If the promise of cold beer and free movies isn’t enough to lure you out to brave the neighborhood crowd’s onslaught, this year’s theme of adolescent idols should do the trick. Shamelessly drool over Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in Point Blank or recoil in horror at David Bowie’s spandex pants in Labyrinth—the choice is yours. Wednesdays, Jul. 7 to Aug. 11. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Bedford Ave & N 12th St., Williamsburg. L Train to Bedford Ave or G to Nassau Ave.

Movies Under the Stars at Habana Outpost
This seasonal restaurant’s outdoor seating area, complete with picnic tables and umbrellas, normally is for sipping mojitos and munching on Cuban delicacies. But when it’s transformed into a movie theater once a week, it draws a slightly different crowd. The mojitos are still around, though, and they’ll make campy films like Krush Groove, the Run DMC musical, all the more fun. Sundays through Oct. 24.

Fulton St. & S. Portland Ave., Fort Greene. C Train to Lafayette Ave or G to Fulton St.

Celebrate Brooklyn!
Cult and comedy classics get an aural makeover at these screenings, which are part of the larger Celebrate Brooklyn! music fest. Composer and Brooklyn native Carl Davis performs the original scores to three Chaplin comedies (Jul 22), and organ maestro Marco Benevento showcases a new score that he wrote for Roger Corman’s classic adaptation of Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher. Various dates throughout July and August.

Prospect Park West & 9th St., Park Slope. F Train to Seventh Ave.

Old Stone House
This replica of a 1600s Dutch farmhouse is regularly a museum, but each July offers a short film series in conjunction with local production company FilmWorks Brooklyn. The selections always feature classic Hollywood flicks, with the 1950’s musical Kiss Me Kate and the Harold Lloyd comedy Girl Shy rounding out this summer’s picks. Wednesdays in July.

3rd St. & Fifth Ave., Park Slope. F, R Trains to Fourth Ave-9th St.

Narrows Botanical Garden Free Outdoor Movie Series
A more tranquil alternative to the organized insanity of larger outdoor movie screenings (several hundred show up here vs. several thousand at other spots), moviegoers can take in waterside views while watching a variety of films like the classic Joan Crawford melodrama Mildred Pierce and the PIXAR animated feature Finding Nemo. Various Thursdays throughout July and August.

Shore Rd. & 71st St., Bay Ridge. R Train to Bay Ridge Ave.

Red Hook Summer Movies
The promise of classy food and waterfront movies should be enough to lure you into braving the B61 to get to Valentino Pier for this off-the-beaten-park series. Movies such as The Goonies and Pirates of the Caribbean are accompanied by various treats, ranging from lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster Pound to drink specials at nearby Fort Defiance, thanks to sponsorships from local businesses who helped make the film series happen. Plus, there’s gourmet (but affordable!) popcorn for a buck, provided each night by local wine bar Home/Made. Tuesdays, Jul. 13 to Sep. 14. Movies start at 8:30pm.

Coffey St & Ferris St., Red Hook. A, C, F to Jay St-Borough Hall; 2, 3, 4, 5, R to Borough Hall, then B61 to Coffey St.

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