BUP Brings Back the '80s with Outdoor Movie Night

As the sun set over Norfolk Avenue at the intersection of Auburn Avenue, hundreds of people began taking seats at Woodmont Triangle.

Tuesday night was the beginning of the 7^th annual Bethesda Outdoor Movies event, a five-day tribute to watching great movies in the company of friends, family and neighbors.

Launching Tuesday and wrapping up Saturday, the Bethesda Urban Partnership is showing a variety of films including Rocky, Bye Bye Birdie and The Social Network. Tuesday's movie of choice was an '80s throwback, The Breakfast Club.

Around 8 p.m. rows of black chairs sat vacant facing a 33 by 23 foot inflatable screen.

Michael McDonough, owner of It’s 2 Cool, an entertainment company, traveled with his crew from Massachusetts to provide the equipment for the event.

It takes an hour and a half to two hours for his crew to set up the inflatable screen, PA system and speakers.

“I always loved the drive-in. I love movies,” McDonough said, “we do it in wide screen the way it’s meant to be seen.”

By 8:15 p.m. the movie viewers began moving onto Woodmont Triangle. A few early comers straggled in and then patrons arrived in full force, some carrying blankets and lawn chairs.

“We get at least 200 to 300 people during the week and about 500 on the weekends,” said Stephanie Coppula, director of marketing for Bethesda Urban Partnership.

Classic jazz music played in the background causing couples to sway and tap their toes as muted trombones and tightened snare drums pulsed through the speakers.

BUP closed down part of Norfolk Avenue for the event, and police officers sat in lawn chairs to make sure cars kept their distance.

Lynda Bannach was one of the first patrons to arrive at the event. She carried a pink lawn chair, but decided to sit in one provided by BUP. Though she is from Virginia, she works in Bethesda and decided to come see what the Bethesda Outdoor Movies event was all about.

“Nobody even knew this existed,” Bannach said of her co-workers.

Jolie Rosenstein and her friend Jordan Learner, both 8, said they liked coming to the movie because, “You don’t have to go to bed at the right time.”

Learner’s sister Allie, 12 and her friends Grace and Liam O’Leary, 12 and 9, were excited to be at the movie Tuesday.

“I like coming because it’s a big movie our parents would probably not put on,” Allie Learner said.

Soon after, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” began playing as the screen lit up. The singer’s “Hey, hey, hey, hey,” transported everyone to '80s retro mode. The chatter stopped and watchers nestled in for a night at the movies under the stars.

To learn more, check out our complete including movies under the stars on Bethesda Row during August.