Dad's Eye View

One of the problems with Minnesota summers is that they’re so short, but so magical, that you feel the need to be outside every minute that you can. That’s not a terrible problem, but it can mean forgoing some pleasures normally associated with the indoors, like movies.

But there’s a great solution: outdoor movies! Whether you’re looking for a family classic like “The Wizard of Oz,” a recent movie like “Yogi Bear,” or a great superhero story like “Superman,” the parks and libraries around the Twin Cities have you covered.

In St. Paul, the action is at the Central Library, where eight superhero movies will be shown on Friday nights in the courtyard beginning June 10. Included are the first two Christopher Reeves “Superman” movies, the 1989 “Batman”, and cult classic “Flash Gordon.”

The Minneapolis parks are showing movies six nights a week, starting June 13 and running through September 3. The movies are shown at parks all over the city, and the calendar is packed with shows like “Shrek 2″, “Back to the Future,” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” They’re even playing the Twins’ series-winning games for 1987 and 1991, certainly a treat for any junior sports fans in your family.

Osseo fires up the movie projector starting June 14, and running every Tuesday until August 30 at Boerboom Veterans Park. Many of the movies are preceded by cartoon shorts (really, shouldn’t every movie experience include some Woody Woodpecker or Steamboat Willie?), or a musical concert.

Rosemount is playing a movie a month in Central Park: How to Train Your Dragon on June 25, Despicable Me (my personal favorite kids’ movie of the last couple years) on July 16, and Tangled on August 20.

Looking a little further out into the summer, Eden Prairie is showing movies at Staring Lake Ampitheater in August: “Megamind,” “Grease,” and “The Bucket List” are on the schedule. Staring Lake is one of the best metro parks, with bike trails, grilling, and lots of outdoor fun; I can’t think of a better way to end a day at the park than on a blanket on the lawn watching a movie under the stars.

(I would be remiss to fail to mention that Duluth has one of the best movies-in-the-park series around: on Friday nights from July 15 to September 9 (with no movie on September 2) in Leif Erikson Park; if you’re having an Up North adventure and find yourself in Duluth on a Friday night, this would be a great way to enjoy a summer evening on the shores of Gitche Gumee!)