OLD TOWN — Booze and movies mix in a new monthly film series at the ArcLight Cinemas at the NewCity shopping center.
"Lights, Camera, Cocktails" kicks off Wednesday with Harrison Ginsberg mixing Jameson Caskmates cocktails to go with "Sin City," the arty 2005 film noir written and directed by Frank Miller, with a helping hand from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, based on Miller's graphic novel of the same title.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to launch this all-new program in Chicago," said Steven Ramskill, director of food and beverage at ArcLight Cinemas, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave. "The bartenders participating in this series are some of the best in the nation and are key innovators in the food and beverage space that will help make sure our audiences are having a unique experience."
"Filmmaking and mixology both utilize a combination of style, technique and creativity, and 'Lights, Camera, Cocktails' is an opportunity to showcase both in one great evening,” said Ginsberg, a bartender at the Dead Rabbit in New York City who previously plied his trade at the Dawson. "I'm thrilled to be returning to Chicago and honored to kick-off this series with 'Sin City' and drinks that are inspired by our graphic-novel-themed drink menu at the Dead Rabbit."
The locally based Dogma Group is curating the series and the bartenders.
Tickets are $35 — for those 21 and older, of course — and include three drinks, popcorn and admission to the screening. An initial drink is served at 6:30 p.m., another with popcorn for the start of the movie promptly at 7, then another afterward in what's termed a "wrap party" in the ArcLight Cafe.
Subsequent screenings this year include "An American Werewolf in London" Oct. 18 with Mony Bunni of Disco mixing drinks from Lot 40 and Plymouth Gin, "Kill Bill Vol. 1" Nov. 15 with the Whistler's Julieta Campos mixing Absolut drinks and the 2006 James Bond movie "Casino Royale" Dec. 6 with Apogee & Leviathan's Ben Schiller mixing Absolut Elyx cocktails.
