“DowntownDC Summer Flicks” Kicks Off Tonight

From the DowntownDC BID:

“The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) and Shaolin Jazz will host their fourth annual DowntownDC Summer Flicks – CAN I KICK IT? movie series on the recently reopened National Building Museum’s West Lawn. The outdoor, cinematic experience starts Tuesday, May 25, 2021, and will be accompanied by a social distancing lawn design.

The free movie series will run for 10 consecutive Tuesday nights from May 25 through July 27. Movies will begin at sunset and attendees are encouraged to arrive at 7:30 pm for best seating.

“We are excited to bring DowntownDC Summer Flicks back to our community for a fourth season after a year of navigating challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said BID President & CEO Neil Albert. “We are grateful for the support of the National Building Museum in allowing us to transform their lawn into a safe, socially-distanced movie theater for all to enjoy throughout the summer.”

The National Building Museum’s West Lawn will feature an attractive art installation designed with typical pandemic-era social distancing guidance in mind. The installation entitled Equilateral Network: An Artistic Social Distancing Lawn Design will be created by Lisa Marie Thalhammer, best known for her LOVE mural in Blagden Alley.

“The National Building Museum is beyond excited to offer our West Lawn for the BID’s Summer Flicks series, a beloved warm-weather tradition for the neighborhood,” said Aileen Fuchs, the Museum’s Executive Director. “And the compelling and beautiful lawn design will provide residents and visitors reason to visit not just once a week, but every day of the week. As the city reopens over the coming months, we are glad to serve as a communal space.”

“Inspired by Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s original city plan for Washington DC, I arranged a series of equilateral triangles with intention to help balance and harmonize the energy of our nation’s capital,” said Thalhammer. “The triangles piece together creating comfortably spaced areas to sit and paths to walk. This balanced, steady and strong geometry is highlighted in a proud pink amongst a healing color spectrum. It is designed to inspire feelings of calm, unity, peace, equity and joy.”

This year’s theme is The Future and weekly screenings will travel through time and space for a lineup that includes:

May 25 – Star Trek

June 1 – Ready Player One

June 8 – Aliens

June 15 – Tenet

June 22 – Starship Troopers

June 29 – Solo

July 6 – Minority Report

July 13 – Tron: Legacy

July 20 – I-Robot
July 27 – Mad Max: Fury Road

Each film will be scored with an original music soundtrack of hip-hop, soul, and more mixed by weekly guest DJs, including Shaolin Jazz’s own DJ 2-Tone Jones.

“We can’t wait to finally bring our CAN I KICK IT? movie experience back in-person, and to once again work with the DowntownDC BID to present another cool theme for this year’s Summer Flicks Series, said DJ 2-Tone Jones, co-creator of SHAOLIN JAZZ.”

The DowntownDC BID is partnering with local restaurants like HipCityVeg in Chinatown and Carving Room Kitchen & Bar on Massachusetts Avenue NW to offer moviegoers special discounts for weekly showings.

Fun swinging tables will be provided by the BID at each screening for viewers to enjoy while dining and watching movies. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets; chairs not permitted on the lawn.

The DowntownDC Summer Flicks – CAN I KICK IT? movie series is intended for all ages. Pets and alcohol are not allowed. Masks are required.”