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Time again for a really BIG show

By Billie Dunn

COXSACKIE — The Town of Coxsackie is hosting a movie night on Sunday, and you’re invited.

Back by popular demand, the second Big Outdoor Movie Night will take place at Riverside Park at dusk on Sunday. Last year more than 200 people attended the free showing of the animated “Happy Feet.”

Sunday moviegoers will be treated to free popcorn and “Bee Movie” — a DreamWorks animation film created by Jerry Seinfeld, who also provides the voice of the main character.

The 2007 film is rated PG, and is 90 minutes long.

In the film Barry (Seinfeld), a recent college graduate, wants more out of life than what’s in store for him — a job at Honex making honey. When Barry gets the opportunity to venture out of his hive, he encounters a world beyond his wildest dreams. Barry meets a florist, Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), and a friendship develops, but when Barry discovers that humans purchase honey right off of grocery store shelves he realizes his true calling, and sets out to bring justice to the bee community.

The movie will be projected onto a two-story inflatable screen by Fresh Air Flicks, a company that provides outdoor movies throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and eastern Pennsylvania. Fresh Air Flicks also takes part in a weekly outdoor summer movie series underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.

“This is a great, family-fun event,” said Town Supervisor Alex Betke. “We had a great turnout last year, and we’re hoping to have even more people come out this year.”

Big Outdoor Movie Night is an effort by the Town to create more family-friendly activities in Coxsackie. Betke got the idea at an Association of Towns meeting last year.

“We gave it a whirl, and we were able to do it,” he said.

Betke recommends that moviegoers bring chairs, blankets, and even picnic dinners to Riverside Park, which he describes as “underutilized.”

The movie will follow the regularly-scheduled Coxsackie Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Coxsackie Council on the Arts.

Sunday’s band, the Red Haired Strangers, is an Albany-based group whose influences include hints of country and delta blues. The Red Haired Strangers have been playing together for 15 years, and have expanded to not only include the harmonica and guitar, but also the fiddle, drums, dobro, and pedal steel guitar.

They will be at the waterfront in Coxsackie from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday.

“This is a really neat experience, and we’re lucky enough to have it entirely funded by a grant,” said Betke, who credits Assemblyman Tim Gordon for his efforts. Betke also credits additional sponsors EmUrgent Care and the National Bank of Coxsackie, as well as the YMCA for their volunteer efforts.

A third Big Outdoor Movie Night is tentatively scheduled for the end of this month.

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