Movies @ the La Crosse Public Library

Public library’s basement becomes a theater. (La Crosse Tribune, 11/27/2011)

Excerpt: The scent of popcorn beckons to the basement of La Crosse Public Library. The screen is large, the sound system impressive in the auditorium as “Jurassic Park” begins.

It’s a familiar film, yet the crowds still get involved enough to laugh and gasp.

“Pterodactyl” hot wings, donated by The Waterfront restaurant, arrive before the second film, providing a tasty snack before “Jurassic” round two.

The library’s second Saturday film marathon likely will extend to near midnight. Staff, however, didn’t make the same mistake as the first time in July, when they failed to note the running times of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and didn’t emerge from the basement until 3 a.m.

“It was brutal,” said David Goldfein, the library’s technology manager.