I have been eyeing a projector for a while, as I’ve been spending more and more time outside and in my yard. I decided that this was the ideal time to just go for it – not only can I watch TV/movies myself, but it’s the perfect way to have a socially distanced, outdoor movie night with one or two friends.
I’ve hit the point in quarantine where any slight deviation from my normal routine seems new and exciting. So the thought of watching a movie, outside, with people who don’t live with me… basically mind-blowing! I guess one of the upsides of this pandemic is that I am really, really appreciative of the small things. I still have not gone anywhere, and really have only seen one or two people who aren’t part of my immediate family, so basically any type of social interaction is a big deal. I appreciate it so much!
I also just think there’s something so fun about watching a movie outdooors – it’s like my own personal drive-in, which is so nostalgic for me. I did lots and lots of research on projectors, and ended up with this one. I had read lots of cautionary tales about Disney+, Netflix, etc. not letting you stream from your phone to the projector, so I wanted one that I could easily plug a Roku or Firestick into. Battery life was also a concern for me – we had picked Hamilton as our movie of choice (of course), and I wanted to make sure we’d be able to watch all three hours of it without the battery dying. I couldn’t believe how clear the picture was – I was so impressed! I also got this screen – you can totally use a white sheet, too, but this screen was super easy to hang on the hooks that it came with me, and it didn’t wrinkle at all.
And it’s not a movie night without snacks! To make sure there would be no shared food, everyone had their own little individual popcorn bucket, and their own super cute ice cream bowl (my sister specifically requested these particular bowls, ha!). I wanted to make sure everyone could fully enjoy the movie night experience without breaking any social distancing rules.
Honestly, this felt like the perfect way to spend a summer night right now. I’m so thankful to have the backyard to be able to do this, and to have friends who understand the need for extra precautions. Even if you’re not as high-risk as I am, this is a great summer pandemic activity!
This is my dream! I "borrowed" a projector from work and it's been nice to use indoors but I live in an apartment building and luckily have access to our roof but no convenient outlets. I will live vicariously through you.
I could not get over the fact that I was watching a movie outside in my own backyard – it did feel like a dream! I wasn't sure about the outlet situation either (or that my puppy wouldn't get tangled in the cord and pull the projector off the table…), so I got one with a long enough battery life to make it through a full movie, which has been so nice.
Digital Projectors projector