With the demise of the drive-thru and the largely inhospitable weather in New England, the outdoor movie theater has been all but forgotten. Too many film buffs are denied the simple pleasure of munching popcorn while the moonlight casts shadows over the screen. If you're one of the poor sods who's never experienced the romance and magic of al fresco cinema, fear not! Boston's own Asian Community Development Organization (ACDC) is teaming up with Chinatown residents to offer Films at the Gate, a series to raise awareness and foot traffic in the downtown area. Every evening from September 13 to 17, the vacant lot on the corner of Hudson and Beach will be transformed into a makeshift movie theatre, featuring such classic films as "Enter the Dragon" and "Once Upon a Time in China".

Although movies and Chinatown may seem like an odd combination in this era of the megaplex, the neighborhood has a rich tradition of theatres, all of which closed in the late 80s, when VCRs moved past the early adopters. Back in those days, theatergoers could take in a kung-fu flick at the Pagoda, the Star, or the China Cinema, bringing their own dinner and snacking on fortune cookies. Even behemoth Lowes on the Common can't beat BYO chow foon and sushi, which is why the board of ACDC is pairing with local restaurants to get patrons to grab takeout before the shows.

The new series kicks off at 7pm each night, with an hour of shorts and documentaries followed by the feature presentation at 8. Bostonist particularly recommends the Friday night screening of "God of Cookery", a brilliant early offering from Stephen Chow (of Kung Fu Hustle fame). A stellar selection of films plus the promise of dinner under the stars... anyone who goes to Lowes is a fool.

photo courtesy of Flickr user Derequito