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Story Archives: 'Downtown Cinema' offers reason to visit downtown Monroe


'Downtown Cinema' offers reason to visit downtown Monroe
posted Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 @ 10:50 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Hundreds of people have converged on Monroe's downtown over the past several months to enjoy free concerts and movies hosted by Portico Church.

"Downtown Cinema" events started in June after several members of the church wanted to do something to support Monroe's downtown area.

Erin Stokes, a member of Portico Church, helps conduct the free event each month. She said that last month, more than 250 people turned out to watch Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark and listen to live music by Kyle Craft.

The church has designated the last Saturday of every month as "Downtown Cinema" night. A big screen is erected at the corner of Jackson and DeSiard streets and people bring their lawn chairs and blankets to view the movie. The group purchases the rights to show each month's featured movie.

Featured artists begin their performance around 7:30 p.m. and play until dark, Stokes said. The movie begins at dark.

During each showing, the group offers free water and popcorn to participants while Maggie Moos sells ice cream and Coda Restaurant offers a "two for one" burger special, Stokes said.

People who turn out to watch the free concert and movie come from all walks of life, Stokes said.

"We have teenagers, college kids and older people who bring their children to these events," she said. "There are so many kids that come to this."

"We've been impressed with the response," Stokes explained. "It is a very eclectic crowd … last time we had a couple who celebrated their 40th anniversary with us. They heard about the event and wanted to do something different, so they drove all the way from Arkansas.

"We have been so grateful of the response. We don't get anything out of this other than being able to support downtown Monroe."

The goal of "Downtown Cinema" is to attract more people to see what downtown Monroe has to offer, she said.

"We feel passionately about bringing up downtown Monroe and supporting it as much as possible," Stokes said. "For years people have said there is nothing to do in Monroe and West Monroe, but now we have something that is free, unique and family friendly, so we encourage people to come out and support our downtown."

The next movie to be shown at "Downtown Cinema" will be The Sandlot on Sept. 26. The group has plans to conduct another event on Halloween and in December during the Christmas holidays.

Two films will be shown on Halloween, and church members plan to incorporate Monroe's and West Monroe's downtown areas for the "Christmas on the River" event.

Following "Downtown Cinema's" Christmas event, Stokes expects the group won't start back up until the spring.

"We keep getting asked to do more and more of these, and we will do as many as we can," she said.

For more information about upcoming shows, visit the group's web site at www.thedowntowncinema.com.
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