When: Fridays from June 2 to 23. Activities begin at 5 p.m., and films start after sunset, around 9 p.m.
The reel deal: Rosslyn has been hosting outdoor movies in Gateway Park since the late 2000s, and the series still draws large crowds. It’s smart to arrive early to stake out a space — and, conveniently, the park opens at 5 p.m. with food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and pre-movie activities, such as live music or face painting. Films were selected in a March Madness-style bracket — one musical, one comedy, one animated film and one adventure film — though “Jurassic Park,” the winner in the last category, had to be replaced by “Jumanji” for rights reasons.
Where to meet beforehand: The best outdoor drinking space happens to be between the Metro and Gateway Park: Continental Beer Garden, a converted parking lot that sports bocce courts, picnic tables and extended all-weather couches, as well as a bar serving sangria, craft beer, sparkling rose and slushees made with hard seltzer. Happy hour, which runs until 7 p.m., means $2 off beer and wine. The festively decorated and Instagramable Peruvian restaurant Inca Social sports a neon sign reading “It’s a vibe” among the greenery on its patio, and from 3 to 7 p.m., that vibe is fueled by $5 wine and beer, $6 cocktails, and $6 food specials, including chicharrón and skewered shrimp or beef heart. Happy hour at Sfoglina is the fanciest option in town, with $7 Italian wines by the glass and $12 focaccia topped with nduja and giardiniera.
Where to pick up a picnic: Rosslyn is fast-casual central, home to Nando’s, Sweetgreen, &Pizza, Chopt, District Taco, Chipotle and SeoulSpice, to name a few. Local options include the fiery hot chicken sandwiches from Hot Lola’s and a variety of blue corn tacos at Taco Rock, where you can sip a happy hour margarita or michelada while waiting for takeout. A few blocks up Wilson Boulevard from the Metro, Safeway has a deli and hot food as well as groceries, and Foxtrot offers upscale snacks and prepared meals and salads.
Where to go afterward: Continental Pool Lounge, which is marking 20 years in business this year, is a retro-inspired spot for competitive couples, with colorful pool tables, shuffleboard, darts, table tennis, video games and board games, and cocktails served at glittering bars. Barley Mac, north of the Metro, features a large whiskey selection, classic cocktails and $15 beer buckets, and a choice of patio or indoor seating.