Onscreen, Maverick schooled his proteges in the finer points of fighter-jet flying. Overhead, in real life, jumbo jets winged across the night sky.
This instance of life imitating art came courtesy of Rooftop Cinema Club, Downtown LA's outdoor movie experience. A combination multiplex, living room and picnic, it offers a fresh alternative both for catching the latest blockbuster like "Top Gun: Maverick" and the traditional dinner-and-a-movie date.
Like any multiplex, you can buy your tickets online ahead of time. The theater also boasts a snack bar serving buttered popcorn and candy favorites. However, that's where the similarities end, and the novelty begins.
Located at 9th and Olive, the theater is perched on the fourth floor of the Level Hotel, near its pool, basketball courts and grill area. Tucked behind a scrim of faux foliage, a spread of patio furniture faces a wall that doubles as a theater screen.
Befitting an outdoor venue, seating comes in the form of single-seat sling chairs or a love seat for two. Underfoot is a soft carpet of fake grass. SoCal weather may lull you into temperature complacency, but it can get breezy, so bring your own blanket, sweatshirt or other clothing layer.
A bar behind the seating area pours wine, draft beer and canned cocktails. Tables welcome early arrivals, many of whom play board games before the movie. Getting there early is advisable, as your online ticket doesn't include selecting a specific seat.
A balcony wraps around to the corner of the building, allowing you to take in the glowing cityscape, as well as the traffic flowing above and below. In addition to jumbo jets overhead, helicopters crisscross Downtown.
To ensure the sounds of the city do not overlap with the soundtrack of the cinema, every guest is loaned a pair of wireless headphones. They're comfy, but if you're a talker, they make it hard to trade comments with your date during the movie.
With the movie half of the equation solved, it's time to consider dinner. There's no shortage of destination eateries Downtown, but instead, consider stopping along the way at Mercado on Cahuenga.
Their weekend happy hour conveniently aligns with Rooftop Cinema's screening times. A draft beer is $5 and their signature Mercado Margarita is just $8. And you don't have to sit at the bar to get those prices. You can even stay true to your outdoor date theme and grab a table on the sidewalk.
But this isn't just a cheap drink place. Mercado elevates traditional Mexican dishes into high cuisine. In fact, their Los Angeles location was included in the 2021 Michelin Guide. My go-to is the Dos Gringas tacos. Generous servings of their slow-cooked natural pork al pastor sit on two fresh flour tortillas and are accented with Oaxaca cheese, onions, cilantro, avocado salsa and their unique Yxta salsa brava.
Another favorite dish is the Carnitas Nachos. As the name implies, it boasts their slow-cooked carnitas, paired with mushroom choriqueso, black beans, guacamole, tomatoes and onions. If, like me, you're new to choriqueso, it is this: melted cotija, parmesan, Oaxaca cheese, mushroom-chorizo and poblanos. Trust me, it's as gooey and good as it sounds.
Fall is right around the corner, which means we might see some cooler temperatures. Take a cue from the changing seasons to change up your dinner-and-a-movie game.
Head downtown and take it outside.
Eric Harnish lives in Castaic, which happens to host boat-in movies at the lake.

Rooftop Cinema Club
rooftopcinemaclub.com
Mercado
cocinasycalaveras.com/mercado