Thursday, June 19, 2008

Good Things Thursday, Week 7



Have you ever been to a drive-in movie? There is really nothing like it. It is such a slice of America. Nostalgia being served with a side of buttered popcorn. So why not add drive-in movie to your summer fun list?

If you are lucky, there is a drive-in movie theater not too far from your home. The most comprehensive listing I was able to find is here. Might I suggest you make plans now to carpool with a group of friends and enjoy a slice of summer, vintage style?

The mood: Be sure to ask your friends if they will attend in pajamas and no makeup. (Tip - hair in curlers might be asking a bit too much.) The co-ed pj party atmosphere really adds a sense of illicit fun to the whole experience. If you invite your friends via email, be sure to add a link to this video.

The snacks: We have been to the drive-in when the family in the car next to us brought a tiny grill and cooked burgers. The burgers smelled great, and turned their family night into a party. You might want to consider that, but we were happy with our cooler full of drinks and egg salad sandwiches. You'll want to stock up on each family member's favorite snacks, paper plates, napkins, and baby wipes. Remember that you always need more chips than you think, and that cold pickles are always a hit.

The set up: You can always watch the movie from your car seat, but we have more fun sitting in front of our car. Part of the fun of a drive-in is that you don't have to be so quiet and considerate of your neighbors. Put your chairs in a semi-circle and switch seats every so often. If you choose to do the drive-in this way, don't forget to bring lawn chairs, a boombox with plenty of brand new batteries, and a few blankets in case it gets chilly.

In case you don't have a drive-in near you (or even if you do) check your local paper for movies in the park. Those can be just as much fun. Next week, a list of perfect summer movies and tips for hosting a drive-in right in your own backyard.

Happy summer!




The wonderful picture above, along with many more vintage images can be found here.

6 comments:

dulcy said...

Relyn......your blog is just tooooo fabulous!!!

xoxo
dulcy

The Feathered Nest said...

Relyn, you are such a sweetie!!! I'm so glad it arrived safely and that you like it!! Enjoy it sweet friend and I'm so glad something I made is in your home!!! xxoo, Dawn

tangobaby said...

You have to be one of the cutest people on the planet.

Sadly, most of the drive-in movies in the Bay Area are gone (I'm sure the land alone was worth too much money) but I do have some vague memories of going when I was a little kid. SF does have some outdoor venues, one is a free movie in a park once a month, and the other is a restaurant where they project a movie on the wall in the garden.

My only consolation is that I have a fabulous Art Deco movie palace I can go to, and relive some past lives in movieland.

Please enjoy an egg salad sandwich for me at your next movie outing. It sounds like a perfect summer treat.

ps. I love your new signature. So clever!

Phyllis Hunt McGowan said...

What a great idea for a summer event- if you can find one near you, that is. It's a shame. I've never been to one but heard so much about drive-ins that I feel I've missed out.
This looks like so much fun. I'll check out that list too.

Ragamuffin Gal said...

Dear Relyn,
This takes me back to a fun memory~ my friends and I use to sneak into the Drive In. Not that we needed to (it only took $2 to get in) but just for the excitement of it. 1 or 2 of us would get into the trunk and hide until we drove in and discreetly let them out. I guess I was a little more of a "YaYa Sister" than I like to admit. Thanks for taking me back.... LoVe YoU!

Jaime said...

This brings back some good memories.
The very first time I went to a drive- in, we watched E.T. in our pj's.

Can't remember if I stayed awake through the whole thing, but it was so much fun.

I wish we had one near here.

Oldies, but Goodies