Today is the official start of summer and what better way to celebrate than getting excited for outdoor movie season. Williamsburg’s SummerScreen just released some colorful and spacey iterations of movie posters to go along with this year’s series, which kicks off July 5. Seven local artists created the posters for each film that will show in McCarren Park: Mean Girls, Office Space, Donnie Darko, Selena, I Know What You Did Last Summer and an audience choice. So fetch.
mccarren park
This Summer, Go to the Park and Toss the Ol’ Typewriter Around

(Photo courtesy of the Typewriter Project)
Back in 2014 I was exploring Governor’s Island when I came across a strange little wooden cabin on an isolated stretch near the water. Curious, I stepped inside to find a brown typewriter with a long ribbon of paper sticking out. I had no idea what this random typewriter was doing there on its lonesome, but its surprising absurdity– a noisy retro throwback next to my sleek iPhone–was both refreshing and irresistible. Soon I was clacking away, devising a whimsical stream of my thoughts (and, of course, getting frustrated that I couldn’t erase my typos).
Watch This Giant Donald Trump Piñata Get Bashed to Bits
A flock of Trump groupies gathered on the eastern side of McCarren Park yesterday, but there was nary a “Thank You Lord Jesus” sign to be found. Instead they were wielding sticks and lining up to bash their patron saint. Well, in reality we can’t be sure where anybody helping to destroy a pair of Donald Trump piñatas–created by the people at Ratter— leans politically.
SummerScreen: Dirty Dancing
We Tested NYC Dirt and Tasted (Yes, Tasted) London Smog

(Photo: Jaime Cone)
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Comedian Sue Smith Wants Your Vag to Save the World
If you haven’t heard of comedian Sue Smith yet, you likely will soon, because Time Out New York named her one of the 10 funniest women in NYC in 2014 and she’s coming out with an EP, Slutty Pretzel, on May 7 on The Experiment Comedy Network. Or maybe you met her in McCarren Park one recent Saturday when — as a member of UCB1, the Upright Citizens Brigade “news” team — she asked you to stick something up your vagina to save the world. We called her up to learn more.
Amorous Bank Robbers, Choose Your Own Adventure, And Nerds Galore
It’s Reel Psyched, our roundup of movies we’re really excited to see.
The Dog
A documentary about the real guy behind Al Pacino’s character in Dog Day Afternoon, John Wojtowicz, who tried to rob a Brooklyn bank to finance his partner’s male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. This was totally wacky stuff back in 1972, and became a nationwide phenomenon as Wojtowicz’s 14-hour standoff with police was broadcast live on TV. We all know the Pacino film, but this doc attempts to capture what really went down, thanks to the directors’ dedication– they spent ten years compiling archival footage and interviewing the people involved, including Wojtowicz. Friday August 8th through Thursday August 13th at IFC Center, 323 Sixth Avenue; tickets, $14
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Soaking Up Rays (and Frozen Margs) With Bridey Elliott of Fort Tilden
Fort Tilden, screening tomorrow at Northside Festival, depicts a pair of naive, privileged, and self-obsessed friends journeying to the Rockaways. It’s a sunny, snarky quest to some very funny places.
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SummerScreen at McCarren Park
Chain your fixie to the fence for this wildly popular outdoor film fest featuring food vendors, live music curated by Todd P, and movies at sundown.
This year’s lineup:
July 9
Back to the Future
July 16
Zoolander
July 23
Cry-Baby
July 30
Heathers
August 6
The Big Lebowski
August 13
Audience picks
SummerScreen at McCarren Park
Chain your fixie to the fence for this wildly popular outdoor film fest featuring food vendors, live music curated by Todd P, and movies at sundown.
This year’s lineup:
July 9
Back to the Future
July 16
Zoolander
July 23
Cry-Baby
July 30
Heathers
August 6
The Big Lebowski
August 13
Audience picks