Advance Notice. Cinespia.

This Saturday, May 15, marks the beginning of the Cinespia summer screening series at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The Wizard of Oz kicks off the 2010 season, a perfect film to bring a picnic to. May 22 brings The Thing, and North by Northwest is on the May 29, which may be worth waiting for.

I love that L.A. has this ongoing series, it really starts to feel like summer is here when the cemetery screenings start. But honestly I'd rather be at the ArcLight for a few dollars more. But if a combination of background chatter/drunken laughter, June bugs, and secondhand smoke is your thing ... just kidding (sort of)!

Gates open at 7:00 p.m. and the film starts rolling at 8:30. Arrive around 5:00 if you want a decent spot. I've been twice, and the second time played board games and ate my Whole Foods take-away in the sitting line outside and it made the wait bearable.

Location: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Entry fee - $10, cash, at the gate.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: cinespia.org