Amy Poehler's favorite movies screening at McKittrick Hotel

If you ever want to see me have a klaustrophobia-induced panic attack, throw me at an outdoor movie screening with thousands of other people in the middle of summer where exits and lavatories seem like mirages and movement without stepping on some idiot’s tattooed foot is nearly impossible. Don’t get me wrong; I love movies. Hell, I have degrees in Film History and Film Theory and Criticism. But outdoor screening programs are the least enjoyable environs for cinematic bliss. Mercifully, it appears that one of my comedic idols, Amy Poehler, has curated an 11 movie summer film series on top of the McKittrick Hotel (530 W 27th St., Manhattan) in an intimate, 30-person capacity private garden space called The Farm. Full schedule below. $20 gets you a ticket, popcorn, a “specialty cocktail,” and a pretty killer view of Manhattan.

The pros of this series are pretty obvious; the more people you bring with you, the more the experience will feel like it was catered to you personally. Go alone, and you’re still not in an uncomfortable, over-packed outdoor pigpen of humanity. However, the main con for me is that I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to pony up the insane monies required for renting a dual 35mm projector set-up; my guess is that all the movies will be shown on video which would sort of be a drag. That said, if I had to recommend a single movie from that list that you should definitely try and see it’s Vittorio De Sica‘s “The Bicycle Thief“. This Italian neo-realist film from 1948 is about a man in post-WWII Rome searching for his stolen bicycle, an item which his whole livelihood depends on. It’s one of the best movies I have ever seen and you’ll love it too.

And don’t forget to catch Amy and a stellar ensemble cast when Netflix unleashes the Wet Hot American Summer mini series on July 31st!

Dates and full movie list below..

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July 14 – 20: The Jerk (dir. Carl Reiner, 1979)
July 21 – 27: Rushmore (dir. Wes Anderson, 1998)
July 28 – August 3: Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (dir. Mel Stuart, 1971)
August 4 – 10: The Bicycle Thief (dir. Vittorio De Sica, 1948)
August 11 – 17: Bonjour Tristesse (dir. Otto Preminger, 1958)
August 18 – 24: To Kill a Mockinbird (dir. Robert Mulligan, 1982)
August 25 – 31: Sixteen Candles (dir. John Hughes, 1984)
September 1 – 7: West Side Story (dir. Robert Wise& Jerome Robbins, 1961)
September 8 – 14: The Apartment (dir. Billy Wilder, 1960)
September 15 – 21: Hannah and Her Sisters (dir. Woody Allen, 1986)
September 22 – 28: Rosemary’s Baby (dir. Roman Polanski, 1968)