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May 12, 2009
Goodbye Screen on the Green
Today We Love DC reported that HBO has backed out of its sponsorship of Screen on the Green and it won’t be taking place on the mall this summer. This is very, very sad.
It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that Screen on the Green is the reason I moved back to Washington in 2005. I came to DC for a job interview and realized that I really wanted to stay. When I got home to Buffalo, I had an invitation from Christina to see “The Way We Were” on the mall. I (optimistically) replied “maybe,” but didn’t manage to move down until a week later—in time to see “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” It was wonderful. After two years in Arkansas, I loved the fact that thousands of strangers would voluntarily sit together to watch a movie they could just as easily watch at home.
Since then I’ve gone every year to at least a couple of movies. I’ve celebrated my birthday there (Rebecca brought me cake from Cake Love.) I’ve consumed a not insignificant amount of wine. I bought a camping chair for back support. I like to think that I’ve perfected the HBO dance.
Screen on the Green was really a symbol of everything I love about Washington: crowds of strangers, a beautiful place to sit, and a healthy dose of good friends.
I’m still optimistic that the folks at HBO will reverse their decision. If only they knew how much people loved it, they’d come to their senses and put the show back on.
Alas, they probably won’t. I guess I’ll have to find something else to do with my August.
Posted by Drew at May 12, 2009 10:07 PM