Dinner and a movie

Film nights at the bar make for eat-in theater

By ISABELLE DAVIS, MAUREEN HAUTANIEMI + CHRISTINE LIU

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While it's not the worst idea to pop in a DVD and inhale munchies at home, it's not the most creative or social, either. Cue the miraculous combination of going out to eat under the premise of chillaxed arthouse enculturation.Whether it's a way to bring in bodies on a slow night, or merely to infuse good spirits at the start of the week, film screenings in restaurants and bars smacks of nothing but a most marvelous idea—in turn, transforming that date with your screen into, well, a more presentable date with an even bigger screen.

Totally less pathetic. Totally.

RIVER GODS

One of the things I miss about grade school (apart from drinks made of sugar, water and purple) is the rare occurrence of the projector movie. High school and college was filled with them, but in my double-Dutch days, it was a novel and special occasion, even if it was Oliver Stone's JFK.

The middle-schooler in me comes alive at River Gods, when independently owned Hollywood Express cosponsors FilmBeat. And it isn't like when clubs play Battle Royale in the background as people bump 'n grind, either—this is a bona fide viewing session: good seats, respectful quiet and, of course, a beverage of your choice (I have since upgraded to gin and tonics since my Kool-Aid days) as you watch the flick (like July's feature, The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965).

Stick around post-credits for the free raffle; my roommate snagged a copy of Sixteen Candles. For. The. Win. [ID]

[125 River St., Cambridge. 617.576.1881. First Tuesday of the month/10pm/21+. rivergodsonline.com]

SAGE

Wedged in the midst of the South End's restaurant row, Sage distinguishes its façade with a summer series that purveys neat-o Italian goodies almost every friggin' day. A free antipasto bar overfloweth on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Wednesdays are "Gelato Night," but Mondays take the understated cake of screening Italian cinema. Yep, film geeks, here's your share of Fellini and busty, brilliant Sophia Loren.

With classics screened continuously throughout the night on a flat-screen plasma, subtitled in English with the Italian dialogue softly audible, the bar's open for any spectator. Upon moments of stool-perching, viewers are presented with complimentary tubs of highly addictive popcorn—a haute, buttery turn with white truffle oil that will ruin standard cinema snacks forevermore.

The summer still holds in store: Le Notti Bianchi, La Dolce Vita, The Bicycle Thief, Wife for a Night and Marriage Italian Style. Weekly prosecco break? Call us sold. [CL]

[1395 Washington St., South End, Boston. 617.248.8814. Every Monday/7pm/all ages. sageboston.com]

THE SQUEALING PIG

Really? Who watches a movie at a bar? Apparently plenty of people do at The Squealing Pig. I've always been a fan, and on this particular adventure, I was not disappointed. Terrance, the bartender, suggests a crisp beer, Lagunita Pils ($4.50), which has an interesting hint of peach. He explains to me that every Sunday they screen activist documentaries, and on "Spin-Kick Mondays," kung fu flicks.

Tonight's choice is House of Flying Daggers. Terrance relates that the films started out as his own personal entertainment on slow nights, as they could screen movies and music of his choice. "Then it got kind of popular," he says. "It's really kind of like hanging out at someone's house."

I look over at the projection screen in the darkened bar, and there are plenty of people here for a Monday in Mission Hill. Judging by the relaxed crowd, Terrance is definitely on to something. [MH]

[134 Smith St., Mission Hill, Boston. 617.566.6651. Every Sunday and Monday/10pm/21+]