Fun summer times in D.C.: Summer free movies not to miss

There is more to D.C. than free museums. There are free galleries, free parks, free… - D.C. is among few cities in U.S.A. that offers so many diverse free events to the public of all ages, nationalities and sexes.

Free Movie Nights at Crystal City

Twenty-one weeks of free movies in the Crystal City has arrived. This time around – it’s all about Superheroes: from Superman, Spiderman to Hulk and Batman. Action and humor packed, a bit on a naïve side of the old movies in these series, you don’t have to worry about planning a fun Friday night. Not only it comes at no expense, except for what you bring in your basket to the lawn, this event is free for everyone; you might want to check if dogs are allowed though.

Every Monday night from May 4, 2009 through September 21, 2009, Crystal City will host all the locals and their friends and families on a lawn, offering more than just a movie experience - each night it will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

After a very successful summer screening of all James Bond movies last summer, it was so popular that they extended last year’s screenings to include all of Austin Powers’ films, as well as the latest Agent 007’s “Casino Royale” – and all for free, plus a bonus of free blankets and popcorn from sponsors!

Where:
18th and Bell Street; Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel.
When:
Movies begin at sundown, so, think around 8 - 8:30 p.m.
Kids:
Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.
Parking:
Click here for a parking map. Here is a parking map on Google Maps.
Festival Rules:
Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.

Movie Schedule:
May 20, 2009 - Spider-Man 3 - at CCSP
May 25, 2009 - The Hulk
May 27, 2009 - The Hulk - at CCSP
June 1, 2009 - Hulk 2: The Incredible Hulk
June 3, 2009 - Hulk 2: The Incredible Hulk - at CCSP
June 8, 2009 - Superman: The Superman Movie
June 10, 2009 - Superman: The Superman Movie - at CCSP
June 15, 2009 - Superman 2
June 17, 2009 - Superman 2 - at CCSP
June 22, 2009 - Superman 3: Superman vs. Superman
June 24, 2009 - Superman 3: Superman vs. Superman - at CCSP
June 29, 2009 - Superman 4: The Quest for Peace
June 31, 2009 - Superman 4: The Quest for Peace - at CCSP
July 6, 2009 - Superman 5: Superman Returns
July 8, 2009 - Superman 5: Superman Returns - at CCSP
July 13, 2009 - X-Men
July 15, 2009 - X-Men - at CCSP
July 20, 2009 - X2
July 22, 2009 - X2 - at CCSP
July 27, 2009 - X-Men: The Last Stand
July 29, 2009 - X-Men: The Last Stand - at CCSP
August 3, 2009 - Fantastic Four
August 5, 2009 - Fantastic Four - at CCSP
August 10, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
August 12, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - at CCSP
August 17, 2009 - Batman
August 19, 2009 - Batman - at CCSP
August 24, 2009 - Batman Returns
August 26, 2009 - Batman Returns - at CCSP
August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP
Free Movie Nights at Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival
Why not have two free movie nights in D.C.? And this is exactly what is happening this summer in and around the city. From Crystal City to Rosslyn, the districts’ administration and volunteers decided to make this spring, summer and early fall just a bit more fun.

The 2009 Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival “I love the 80s” relives the 1980s, or the times we were young and restless, with 19 movies that celebrate the decade. A variety of 80s cinema includes adventure, romance, comedy, sci-fi and even fantasy – genres for pretty much all audiences. And while some of us would lean towards chick-flick films that used to make us dream of big romantic love, like Dirty Dancing and 16 Candles, the others would be as fun for women as for men – what man didn’t want to be a pilot after Top Gun, or wished they broke the rules at school just like The Breakfast Club? All and more you will experience with a bunch of familiar and strange people you share the city with.

The festival is set at beautiful Gateway Park at Lee Highway near Key Bridge at dusk beginning May 1, 2009 through September 4, 2009. All for free, but bring your blankets, and/or low chairs to picnic in the park before or during the show. And if you show up early, you will be able to take part in the pre-show 80s-themed games and prizes.

Where:
Gateway Park, just two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro and parking is available across the street from Gateway Park at the Atlantic Parking Garage for $3.00 at 1901 and 1911 N. Ft. Myer Drive after 6:00 p.m. Enter the garage on N. Moore Street.
When:
Every Friday at dusk. Only extreme severe weather might hinder movie goers from seeing a movie under sky. And even in a situation like that, films will be still playing on screens for all of us to see – only it will be at former Newseum space, 1101 Wilson Blvd.

“I love the 80s" Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival schedule:
May 22 - 16 Candles (1984)
May 29 - The Blues Brothers (1980)
June 5 - Weird Science (1985)
June 12 - The Breakfast Club (1985)
June 19 - Labyrinth (1986)
June 26 - Footloose (1984)
July 3 - Top Gun (1986)
July 10 - The Karate Kid (1984)
July 17 - Back to the Future (1985)
July 24 -Short Circuit (1986)
July 31 - E.T. (1982)
Aug. 7 - Pretty in Pink (1986)
Aug. 14 - Beetlejuice (1988)
Aug. 21 - Ghostbusters (1984)
Aug. 28 - Meatballs (1979)
Sept. 4 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Some other free movie nights for D.C., Virginia and Maryland residents:

NoMa Summer Screen
Wednesdays, June 10 - July 29, 2009
Location: L Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, NE, Washington, DC
Movie Schedule: a wide array of documentaries, and non-documentaries are being offered by NoMa this summer.

June 10 - No Direction Home by Martin Scorsese. A chronicle of Bob Dylan's strange evolution between 1961 and 1966.
June 17 - Buena Vista Social Club. Rediscovery of a legendary, members-only club in 1940's Havana, Cuba.
June 24 – Ray. The extraordinary life story of Ray Charles.
July 1 - Lady Sings the Blues. Loosely based on her 1956 autobiography, the story of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, as portrayed by Diana Ross.
July 8 - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart. Documentary about the making and the conflicts of Wilco's fourth studio Album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
July 15 - Standing in the Shadows of Motown. History of the Funk Brothers, a group of Detroit musicians who backed up dozens of Motown artists.
July 22 – Scratch. Documentary about hip-hop DJing, the birth of turntablism, the legends and the culture.
July 29 - DIG!. Story of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a band with critical acclaim but no commercial success, as told by arch-nemesis and biggest fan, The Dandy Warhols.

Bethesda Outdoor Movies-Stars on the Avenue
July 28 - August 1, 2009
Location: Woodmont Triangle, Bethesda, Maryland
Movie Schedule: TBA.
For information, please call (301) 215-6660 or visit http://www.bethesda.org.

Alexandria Comcast Outdoor Film Festival
2009 Dates TBA
Location: Ben Brenman Park, 5000 Duke St., Alexandria, Virginia
Move Schedule: TBA.

Strathmore Comcast Outdoor Film Festival
August 14-21, 2009
Location: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland
Movie Schedule:
August 14 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
August 15 - The Dark Knight
August 16 - Kung Fu Panda
August 17 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
August 18 - Singing in the Rain
August 19 - Twilight
August 20 - Slumdog Millionaire
August 21 - Enchanted

Outdoor Movies on Rockville Town Square
2009 Dates TBA
Location: Rockville Town Square, Rockville, Maryland
Movie Schedule: TBA

Columbia's Lakefront Summer Festival Movies
June 19 - September 19, 2009
Location: Columbia Town Center, 10320 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, Maryland
Movie Schedule: Lakefront’s film festival offers films by a “category” - for family and everyone’s viewings.

Family movies:
June 22 - Kung Fu Panda
June 29 - Journey to the Center of the Earth
July 13 - Inkheart
July 20 - Babe - The Gallant Pig
July 27 - Curious George
August 3 - The Tale of Despereaux
August 10 - Coraline
August 17 - The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian
August 24 - Hotel for Dogs
For everyone:
June 19 - Transformers
June 26 - Mamma Mia
July 3 - Ghost Town
July 10 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
July 17 - Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home
July 24 - Get Smart
July 31 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
August 7 - The Dark Knight
August 14 - Iron Man
August 21 - Pirates of the Caribbean - Curse of the Black Pearl
August 28- Bedtime Stories
Saturday’s movies:
August 29 - Enchanted
Sept 4 - Ratatouille
Sept 5 - Monsters, Inc.
Sept 6 - Wall-E
Sept 11 - Madagascar
Sept 12 - Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa
Sept 18 - 17 Again
Sept 19 - Monsters vs. Aliens
Village at Shirlington Movies Under the Stars
Wednesdays, 2009 Dates to be Announced
Location: Village at Shirlington, 2700 S Quincy St., Arlington, Virginia
Movie Schedule:
July 9 - Shrek 3
July 16 - 27 Dresses
July 23 - Spiderman 3
July 30 - Bourne Ultimatum

Screen on the Green 2009
One of the most beloved free outdoor movies on the National Mall has been canceled due to HBO’s inability to sponsor it this summer. However, it’s not final yet as of whether it won’t be ‘saved’ by another sponsor. Washingtonians are in grief, but hopeful.

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