Summer Nights and Silver Screens in the Estates

Gathering Grounds Espresso Bar invites guests to join them under the stars for fun-filled evenings of family, friends, and film. The movies they show are family favorites and perfect for all ages. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and their favorite people.

Owners of the Gathering Grounds, Danica Strand and her fiancé Jeremy Hutchinson, opened the shop in March 2025, after purchasing it at the beginning of the year.

The previous owner of the coffee shop hosted movie nights when it was Hummingbird Café, and Strand attended them. Strand runs movie nights herself, and the community asked if she could host them as a gathering place. Strand and Hutchinson have a blow-up screen and projector, and they have invested in high-quality speakers to enhance the movie sound.

Movies featured so far this summer at Gathering Grounds’ movie nights include 'Lilo and Stitch' on July 25, 'The Little Rascals' on August 1, and 'Lego Batman' on August 8. The admission is free, the “doors” open at 6 pm, and the movies start at 7 pm.

Strand said that on the first Friday movie night, she had about 50 people in attendance, and she will continue to host them through August and into September with Disney favorites like 'The Incredibles,' 'Inside Out,' and more. She also plans to host movie nights in October when it’s cooler and cozier, and feature Halloween-themed family movies such as Hocus Pocus.

Gathering Grounds offers free popcorn for movie night guests. The shop is open during movie nights, and the whole menu is available for purchase. They offer a variety of lemonades, hot cocoa, and chocolate milk for those who prefer a caffeine-free evening. Strand adds that movie night is in a great location because you can get a drink at her shop and get food nearby in the same parking lot.

“Our motto is ‘Coffee and community come together,’” said Strand. She also had a local artist paint a mural on the wall of her shop. The artist, America Haines, painted California Poppies that are vibrant and bright. Strand plans to host a Sip and Paint art class soon and has a local photographer on board to take photos for special events, such as prom night.

SDCE homeowner, Terry Terrell, took her son, Jackson, to the movie night on Friday, July 25. Terrell found out about movie nights on Gathering Grounds’ Instagram page, and they went with a friend’s family, who have kids ranging from one to seven years old. “Jackson thought Stitch was so funny,” said Terrell. They stayed until 8:30 pm, which Terrell admitted was cutting it close to bedtime for Jackson, who was exhausted after a day of summer school. She appreciates that the movie night location is not only safe and clean but also conveniently close to her home.

“Cake pops by Haylee were also a hit because they were in theme with the movie!” Terrell added that the peach lemonade was delish, and a bonus was that they put a few fruit rings on the straw, which Jackson loved. She said that the essence of the event was very family-friendly and felt like it was a great moment to have people who live in the SDCE get together with kids. “We will definitely go again.”

Mark your calendar for the remaining Friday movie nights this summer:

• August 22 - The Emperor's New Groove
• August 29 - The Incredibles
• September 19 - Cars
• September 26 - Monsters, Inc.

Whether it's your first movie night or fifteenth, one thing is certain. The laid-back tradition is here to stay, continuing to light up the nights with laughter, popcorn, and movie magic.

Photos by Tiffany Pressler.