Building Connections Under the Stars
At the start of any new year, there’s a familiar question that comes up.
What could this neighborhood be if we tried something new?
Movies by the Tower in Maple Leaf began with one neighbor asking that exact question.
The idea came from Billy, who wanted to host an outdoor movie night with the folks at Scarecrow Video. He didn’t wait for a committee or a plan. He took the initiative and ran the first one himself. When he reached out to see if the Maple Leaf Community Council might want to sponsor the event, we were delighted to say yes.
That summer, we had failed to bring back the Summer Social. The neighborhood was missing something. Movies by the Tower filled that gap in the simplest way possible.
One night. A couple hundred people. A small popcorn maker, an inflatable projector, a few porta-potties, and neighbors gathered at the top of the park by the tower as the sun set on a warm August evening. It was informal, imperfect, and exactly what people needed.
Partnering with the Maple Leaf Community Council, Billy helped turn Movies by the Tower into one of our premier summer events alongside the Summer Social. What started as a single evening grew into a series. One movie night became three. Over the past three years, the event has continued to evolve as neighbors and volunteers added ideas and energy.
A beer garden was introduced, along with partnerships with local breweries and restaurants like Project 9 and Growler Guys. The original popcorn stand grew into one food vendor, and then into three rotating vendors offering everything from ice cream to empanadas to wood-fired pizza. Trivia, musical numbers, and even “trailers” spotlighting local businesses became part of the experience.
Attendance grew too. Those first few hundred neighbors turned into more than 4,000 attendees across the season.
Along the way, there were surprises. A massive turnout for Barbie that got rained out just as the movie was starting. New creative experiments, like hosting a silent film scored and performed live with classical instruments. Each year brought something different, shaped by the people who showed up and helped make it happen.
Through it all, Scarecrow Video has been an incredible partner, and dozens of volunteers have stepped up week after week to support planning, setup, food coordination, and day-of logistics.
Movies by the Tower exist because one neighbor had an idea and wanted to see it happen. They’ve continued because the Maple Leaf Community Council made room for that idea to grow, and because neighbors keep showing up to support it.
As we look ahead, we’re looking for more volunteers who want to help organize Movies by the Tower and help this event continue to evolve. We’re also committed to continuing our partnership with Scarecrow Video and supporting the work they do for Seattle’s film community.
If you’re excited by the idea of helping create new moments of connection in Maple Leaf, this is a great place to start.