A Dominican ex-pat’s cafe in Westville drew a crowd of movie-lovers looking to revisit an American ex-pat’s cafe in Casablanca.
The scene Wednesday was Manjares, the neighborhood hotspot across from Edgewood Park. A coffee shop that has increasingly morphed into a popular spot for nighttime events, Manjares tried out the idea of a monthly movie night for the neighborhood, suggested and organized by Westville-based journalist Jake Halpern (at right in photo).
The first test was the 1942 classic Casablanca, with Humphrey Bogart outfoxing the Nazis in the role of New York-born owner of Rick’s Cafe Americain.
Paul Bass Photos
A baker’s dozen of neighbors came early for dinner and conversation or to enjoy homemade treats …
… like Dominican Republic-born owner Ana De Los Angeles’ to-die-for sangria, infused for days in advance with fresh strawberry, mango and orange slices.
Other neighbors arrived for a 9 p.m. screening of the film which was, as always, a hit, a reminder of brilliant cinematic storytelling. Look for more movie nights in months to come.