Bike in to see Valley Girl outdoors

1980s Nicolas Cage movie to be featured at ‘anti-TIFF’ screening under the stars

Downtown condo dwellers and residents are this year invited to an “anti-TIFF” event, the Minto Westside Bike-In: Nicolas Un-Caged.

“We wanted to do an under-thestars movie night and tie it back to TIFF,” says Minto’s marketing director, Diane Wallace.

“We’re the anti-TIFF,” Wallace jokes. “If you can’t get tickets to TIFF, then you can come and watch our movie.” New condo buyer Samantha Dookhoo and her friends will be there Thursday, night for the outdoor film screening, replete with projection booth and an inflatable 25-foot screen at Minto Westside Market, Front and Bathurst Sts.

“It’s sort of quirky. It’s like a drive-in movie, but because everybody in Toronto takes bikes or they walk, you bike into it.” Dookhoo says.

The event, with a Nicolas Cage theme, begins with a 7:30 p.m. panel discussion led by Toronto author Lindsay Gibb.

At 8 p.m., the 1983 Cage film, Valley Girl, begins on the big screen. Gibb is set to publish a book in October celebrating the actor and titled National Treasure: Nicolas Cage.

Participants will be treated to free popcorn, cotton candy and bottled water and possibly a seat at a picnic table.

A DJ will be on hand to spin some very 1980s tunes from the Valley Girl soundtrack. A life-sized cutout of Nicolas Cage will be on the red carpet, for photo opps.

The organizers are encouraging the community to “bike-in” to the venue. “It’s a fun twist on a drive-in,” Wallace says. “It’s really about coming back to what resonates in this area, that people are riding bikes, they’re not necessarily owning or driving cars.”

The event will be live-tweeted, with the hashtags #WestsideTO and #NicolasUncaged, unique to the event. It’s open to the public and there’s no admission charge.