ArcLight Cinemas just made going to the movies a lot more fun with the introduction of its “Lights, Camera, Cocktails” series.
Select top mixologists were asked to choose their favorite film and develop a three-drink cocktail menu based on the movie of their choice for the series, which was curated by The Dogma Group.
Mony Bunni, a Chicago mixologist who got her start in the field by serving at Sable Kitchen and Bar in River North and later moved on to become a bar manager at Queen Mary Tavern, was approached by The Dogma Group for the project while in London—which played a part in her film selection.
“I really liked ‘An American Werewolf in London’ because I’m not a person that typically likes horror movies, but I tend to really love ’70s and ’80s horror movies because I can watch them and not be terrified,” she said. “Once I saw all the makeup and production that went into it—we take CGI for granted now—and the way it was styled and filmed with a good amount of comedy to make a person that doesn’t like horror enjoy it, I loved it.”
The film’s horror theme—and British location—are some of the aspects that Bunni drew inspiration from. The “Slaughtered Lamb” cocktail incorporates both.
“I’ve always been into savory cocktails and I love bloody marys, so that’s where I got the idea for the Slaughtered Lamb,” Bunni said. “It’s a michelada bloody mary mix with Plymouth gin, lime juice and a nut brown ale. It’s a British ale with a good amount of sweetness and nuttiness that mixes well with the spicy flavor.”
More Top Picks Best 4k Av Receivers
For information on the rest of the top-secret surprise cocktails, you’ll have to purchase a ticket to the screening Oct. 18 at arclightcinemas.com ($35). The event check-in and pre-screening cocktail service begins at 6:30 p.m., and the film begins at 7 p.m. A “wrap party” will follow the screening with a closing cocktail.
When asked what she is most looking forward to with the series, Bunni expressed excitement about the way people’s views of craft cocktails are changing.
“Chicago is a city with an incredible culinary scene, and now cocktails are becoming just as important,” she said. “You can find awesome, well-thought out cocktails in places you don’t normally expect them, like grocery stores and even at the movies.”
The Lights, Camera, Cocktails series will also feature a showing of “Kill Bill Vol. 1” Wednesday, Nov. 15 and “Casino Royale” Dec. 6. The events are 21+.
@AudreyGorden | [email protected]