On August 4 we kicked off this year’s Summer Music & Movies. Delicious smells filled the air from nearby food trucks, easily tempting many visitors who came to take in the night. With amazing tunes from The Cloak Ox followed by the film High Noon directed by Fred Zinnemann, it was the perfect way to start the week. I took advantage of the brief time in between the band and before the film to ask attendees about their favorite summer pastimes and how they had been enjoying the evening.
Name: Heather Johnson-Reid. My dog is Pickle.
Occupation: I’m a lawyer by trade, but home raising kids for now.
Describe the evening in three words: Magical, Musical, Summer.
Did you get a chance to try any food truck items? Yes! We had Andrew Zimmern’s gumbo and potato bites, and a red velvet cupcake. The gumbo and cupcake were delicious.
What is one food that reminds you of summer? Lobster and most seafood, probably because I spent my childhood summers on Cape Cod.
Why did you decide to come to Summer Music & Movies? It always has a great vibe, we wanted to see Cloak Ox, and it’s a walk away so we can bring Pickle. I guess that’s three reasons 🙂
Name: Tom Hoarty
Occupation: Lab Technician
Describe the evening in three words: Quiet Summer Night.
What is one food that reminds you of summer? Watermelon, because it tastes like summer.
Why did you decide to come to Summer Music & Movies? It’s a relaxing, enjoyable time and a great opportunity to not think about work.
Name: Loretta Herning & Jordan Ermer
Occupation: Herning—activities coordinator and advocate for clients with mental illness; Ermer—middle school educator, tandem skydive instructor
Describe the evening in three words: Calm, Refreshing, and Comfortable.
What is your favorite thing about Minnesota summers? Biking and running Lake of the Isles after work!
What is one food that reminds you of summer? Chicken wings, because they are the BEST on the grill!
Why did you decide to come to Summer Music & Movies? We live in Lowry Hill and needed an outing in our busy week!
Name: Franny Carroll
Occupation: Art student at Parsons The New School for Design
Describe the evening in three words: Former Substitute Teachers
What is your favorite thing about Minnesota summers? Reading on my porch with a big glass of lemonade and seeing friendly neighbors.
What is one food that reminds you of summer? Definitely corn on the cob. There’s nothing better than Minnesota corn that’s in season.
Why did you decide to come to Summer Music & Movies? I live in the neighborhood and it’s the perfect summer event to enjoy with friends on a Monday night. And High Noon is a classic!
Name: Jamie Bonczyk
Occupation: Director of Health and Nutrition, PICA Head Start
Describe the evening in three words: Connected, Community, and Fun.
What is your favorite thing about Minnesota summers? Taking my 16-month-old daughter outside. We go to the park, the pool, the zoo, camping, hiking, on a walk around the neighborhood. She loves being able to experience everything through her senses. She likes to touch and smell things and puts more things in her mouth than I would like her to.
What is one food that reminds you of summer? Anything made on the grill. We try to cook and eat outside as much as possible in the summer.
Why did you decide to come to Summer Music & Movies? Experience is the architect of the brain, and my husband and I want to ensure our daughter has as many consistent, positive experiences as possible. The Summer Movies & Music series allows her to see lots of people coming together in one place for the common goal of enjoying the Minnesota summer.
Name: Michele Braley & Nils Dybvig
Occupation: Social workers
Describe the evening in three words: Braley— Sunshine, Sandwiches, and My Sweetheart; Dybvig— Awesome Date Night.
What is your favorite thing about Minnesota summers? Braley—They are jam-packed with great activities. We biked to the University of Minnesota for a Fringe Fest show before continuing on to Movies & Music. What a city!
Did you get a chance to try any food truck items? Dybvig— No. What would you have tried? I was tempted by the cupcakes.
What is one food that reminds you of summer? Braley— Is white wine a food? Sharing a glass with friends on the porch is pure summer.
Dybvig— Gazpacho. I love it when fresh, local tomatoes and cucumbers are available.
Why did you decide to come to Summer Music & Movies? Braley—What’s not to love about music and a movie at a lovely Minneapolis park? The only thing that makes it better is the bike ride home. Biking through the quiet streets of downtown at 11 pm to my home in Seward is a perfect end to the evening.
Dybvig— To get outside, enjoy the summer, soak up some culture, and spend time with my sweetie. All for free, what’s not to love?