Hi Maryland birders:

As most of you know, the movie, The Big Year, based on the Mark 
Obmascik book of the same title, will be opening nationwide on 
Friday, 14 October. The story line is based on three avid birders in 
a competition to set a new "North American" Big Year record of the 
most species seen in one year. The movie stars Steve Martin, Owen 
Wilson, and Jack Black and a host of well-known supporting cast 
members. The character played by Jack Black is based on our friend 
and former Maryland resident, Greg Miller. The book chronicled the 
1998 competition; however, the movie is set in the present. I 
understand the replica of Attu (in the Aleutian Islands) that was 
constructed in the Canadian Yukon, will blow the minds of those that 
have been there.

Here's more info on the movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/

Here's an interview with Greg Miller:
http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2011/09/09/the-big-year-interview-with-greg-miller/

Here is Greg's web site with more info:
http://www.gregmillerbirding.com/


For about a month, I have been trying to arrange some sort of 
"premier" event for the Maryland birding community; however, any kind 
of "official event" turned out to be an insurmountable challenge. It 
seems like the National Audubon Society is trying to organize some 
local functions, too, but it's unclear what the status is of that 
initiative. So, instead of a an organized event, I am proposing an 
informal Maryland birders "night at the movies."

Plan. Here's the basic plan ... the final movie theater locations and 
showing time schedules for this movie will not be set until 30 Sept 
(at least for the United Artist theater chain). However, I've picked 
a tentative place, date, and time and suggest that any Maryland 
birders that wish to join in can just purchase tickets, either 
on-line or in person, and come to this designated showing. It should 
be a good opportunity to see friends, meet others, and socialize. 
People may want to consider coming early to have dinner locally or 
hitting a nearby watering hole after the movie. I'll suggest some 
food/drink venues later.

Special Guest: I've talked to Greg Miller and he is tentatively 
planning to come and join us! We'll confirm this later.

Venue. The following venue details will not be official or be 
confirmed until the theater schedule details are determined on 30 
Sept, but here's what I have selected:


1. Date: Saturday evening, 15 October 2011 (the day AFTER the movie 
opens nationwide). I figured Saturday would be a better day for folks 
than Friday.

2. Time: I'll pick a showing of the movie on that date of around 6 pm 
(plus or minus). This will allow more driving time to/from further 
distances than will a later showing. Again, we won't know the show 
time until the final schedule is established on 30 Sept.

3. Location: I've tentatively picked United Artists Snowden Square 
14, Columbia, MD. I figured that Columbia is about in the center of 
the state. This theater is a large modern standalone multiplex with 
lots of free parking and no associated mall that attracts teenagers 
and other urchins! The address of the theater, very close to I-95 and 
MD-32, is:

     UA Snowden Square Stadium 14
     9141 Commerce Center Dr
     Columbia, MD 21046
     (410) 872-0670 for showtimes

Here is link to a map and for directions:
http://www.yelp.com/map/united-artist-snowden-square-14-columbia

Tickets. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance since the theater 
will also be open to the general public. As advance ticket sales 
increase, the theater may move this showing into a larger auditorium 
(their largest holds about 460 people!) Tickets can be purchased 
either in person at their box office or via various on-line ticketing 
web sites, such as Fandango.com.


If Columbia, MD is too far for some Maryland birders, you might want 
to get a group together and go to a closer local theater.

So, that's all I know for now. Around 30 Sept, I will verify that the 
Snowden Square theater will be showing the movie and confirm the show 
time via a post to this listserver.

Hope to see you there ...

Phil


Usual disclaimers ...


==================================
Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
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