Music and Movies Under The Stars...

Summer provides Washington area residents all sorts of inexpensive outdoor entertainment. Last Friday I visited WolfTrap Theater in Vienna, Virginia for the first time. The theater reminds me a lot of Ravinia, an outdoor theater in Illinois that I love. I went with some friends to see the National Symphony Orchestra play Rogers and Hammerstein's best loved music while a large screen showed clips from Oklahoma, The King and I, and The Sound of Music to name a few. While we were probably the only concert-goers in our mid-twenties, we had a wonderful time. We got lawn seats for $10 (it was a special promotion, tickets are usually more), and brought a picnic and some wine. I drove (so no wine for me, obviously) but you can also get there via Wolftrap Shuttle from the metro.

Closer to home, the National Mall has special movie screenings during the summer. "Screen on the Green" is free and a lot more fun than sitting in a movie theater or your couch to watch a movie! Last night they played "The Apartment" a 1960s flick about a low level professional who lends his apartment to all of the executives to bring their mistresses. Next Monday I believe "Superman" is playing. You can't bring alcohol to the Mall, but a picnic and a nice blanket are all you need to enjoy this fun free entertainment.