apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This is my dream too. Instead of just giving the neighbors a heads up, I'd like to invite them too. Maybe someday. . .

My college roommates and I used to have backyard movie parties. We'd hang a sheet on the back of the garage (we lived in the first floor of a typical Chicago two-flat) and project super8 movies. Sometimes we'd get the movies from the library, sometimes we had screenings of art-school projects. It was always fun!

I've been to a party like this once and the dude is still my hero.
He projected onto his neighboors (huge) garage.
There was archery, grilled food, and a bluegrass band.

Seriously, this is the main reason i want a garage... so i can do this.
And yeah, invite the neighboors!

i did a state fair theme birthday party for my daughter recently...no movies, but our refreshments and decor would also go along with this idea nicely. maybe we can do a big movie night for birthday number 2 - that's a fabulous idea!

the decor:
http://adoptionphotoblog.com/2008/05/26/first-birthday-party-theme-and-details-county-fair/

eating cake:
http://adoptionphotoblog.com/2008/05/28/first-birthday-party-the-cake/

This sounds like great fun, especially for older kids. Our neighborhood sometimes hosts movie nights during the summer at a big park just a block from where I live. It's great fun even with hundreds of people, but it would be even better to have something in our backyard.

Some friend in our last city used to do this every summer. All the neighbor kids would ride their bikes, trikes, little coupes and jeeps to the "drive in" and park on the lawn in front of the "screen" (the side of the house). They had to stop and get a "ticket" and the hosts even had a stand set up with sodas, popcorn, and candy. Grown ups cuddled with their kiddos or socialized in the front yard and the kids enjoyed a "finding nemo" or other such film. It was a blast for everyone! We'd like to do this in our own neighborhood someday!

This is my dream come true! We remodeled/relandscaped with this in mind as the end goal.

From simple to extravagant instructions/ideas etc. check out: http://backyardtheater.com/

Couple of other ideas:

1) I noticed locally that the parks and rec announced their summer line up of movies (G/PG rated) in the parks for the summer. Even more fun, they included a couple of showings at the local pool.

2) I work for a rather large company that has a Help Desk. Employees can check out resources - such as a laptop projector. For a small crowd (i.e. family) - because sound will be limited, you can have a pretty decent picture project when using your computer to play the dvd.

3) I don't know how much they cost, but I have seen pictures of blow-up movie screens which would provide a better picture than a sheet. Very similar in concept to the blow-up bounce houses you rent for kids parties.

I love-love-LOVE the outdoor movie concept!