Movies at Camp North End are the cherry on top of a perfect summer – they’re free, evoke feelings of nostalgia and, sometimes, come with a side of rock ‘n’ roll. That was the case when I went, anyway.
On June 30, 2022, with a beach chair in tow, I picked up some food from Camp North End’s Keswick food stalls then settled in front of an outdoor projector screen at the Ford Building (1774 Statesville Avenue in Charlotte, NC) for Crossroads Cinema’s second film of a twelve-film summer series – Purple Rain.
Providing the perfect date night or evening under the stars with family and friends, Crossroads Cinema is a collaboration between Camp North End and Aurora Star Lit Cinema to bring 80s and 90s movie along with game classics to the community.
On that tepid summer night, me and a hundred moviegoers-turned-friends enjoyed watching Prince Rogers Nelson, famously known as Prince, portray his iconic character, The Kid, in the hit 1984 music classic that has aged well for 38 years. The film – which won an Academy Award in 1985 for Best Original Song Score – will never disappoint.
The quasi auto-biographical film depicts the life of a Minnesotan musician (just like Prince was himself) who tries to make a name for himself despite grappling with career, familial and romantic conflict. It’s one of those movies where the onscreen situations and emotions of the characters transfer almost seamlessly to viewers. It’s a good thing there were a few comedians in the crowd with me that evening – to lighten the mood, soften tense moments, and to remind us that, though it be art, it’s also just a movie.
From the music (hello, “I Would Die 4 U” and “When Doves Cry”) to the costumes and the crowd (many of which were donning Purple Rain and Prince t-shirts), my evening at Crossroads Cinema was a highlight of the season.
If you’re looking for your own cinematic escape, you can catch the Crossroads Cinema lineup for yourself – rain or shine. In addition to the fun retro games, attendees can also enjoy food and drinks for purchase from Camp North End vendors such as Wentworth and Fenn and Black Moth Bars.
To see the complete movie schedule, visit the Crossroads Cinema page or find the schedule here:
6/23 – Back to the Future
6/30 – Purple Rain
7/7 – Top Gun
7/14 – Dirty Dancing
7/21 – The Big Lebowski
7/28 – The Breakfast Club
8/4 – Jurassic Park
8/11 – Clueless
8/18 – Do The Right Thing
8/25 – The Goonies
9/1 – Hook
9/8 – E.T
Enjoy!
