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My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

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Summer Movies and The A/V Cart

June 24, 2015 By Marta Darby

When I was in school (back in the day), one of the highlights of our young school lives was the arrival of the A/V Cart. 

If you’re not old enough to remember this from your own school days, A/V is shorthand for Audio/Visual (you’re welcome) and the cart would usually hold a movie projector and possibly a record player. Eventually the A/V cart held a TV. I know. Mind blown.

Something wonderful was sure to happen when the A/V Cart arrived.

Also, there was always one impossibly nerdy kid who got to be the A/V Cart Monitor and wheel the wonderful promise of fun into the classroom. He was usually the smartest kid, who usually happened to also be the teacher’s pet.

For the record, that was never me, but that’s not important right now.

So, let’s talk Summer. And movie nights. Specifically Darby Summer Outdoor Movies which, in case you cared, is also an Instagram Hashtag – #DarbyOutdoorMovies. So there’s that.

But back to the A/V Cart. Last summer, Lucy’s boyfriend Marc – who was instrumental in the building of my awesome farm table – built us our very own A/V Cart. Because we’re not nerdy enough without having our own A/V Cart. Right?

He painted it black and put wheels on it, because A/V carts should just roll in, blend in and do their job without calling attention to themselves. I’m in love with it.

Isn’t it a beautiful thing? The Optoma projector usually sits on top of that big black receiver thing. The 2nd shelf is for the dvd player and the speakers travel in the cart as well. 

In fact, now that we have the A/V Cart, setting up for an outdoor movie is relatively painless, which is awesome because there are nights where we decide to do the movie thing about an hour before the sun goes down and we send out a text…

“Hey guys! Movie tonight? Be here at 8:30.”

And we usually manage to get a pretty full house. Outdoor Movie Nights are very much a part of our own personal summer celebrations.

Most movie nights we have concessions – that’s movie talk for “snacks.” Candy and sodas and water bottles and chocolate bars and the brown paper bags hold popcorn. We usually include some fresh strawberries because they’re super abundant around here in the summer.

We bought 3 dozen plastic stacking adirondack chairs from Lowe’s to use as theater seating and we roll out a carpet under them which dissuades crawly things from biting bare feet. See how thoughtful we are?

Some Darby Movie Nights (#DarbyOutdoorMovies.) Also, if you don’t already, you should totally follow me on Instagram. I’m @martadarby) we manage to come up with a theme and serve food accordingly. 

Hot dogs for a screening of ’42’ – The Jackie Robinson Story

Sometimes we are really super organized and can get everyone here in costume. Yes. You read that right. Like we did for our Hercules Sing-Along. 

I know. We would totally be winning the Gold in the Nerd Olympics here. It was a fabulous BYOT* night.

*Bring Your Own Toga

Other nights it’s just us and our hard-working A/V Cart and that’s okay, too.

I’m so glad Summer is finally here. The weather has warmed up to where we can comfortably do our movie nights. (#DarbySummerMovies) In fact, this coming weekend we’re having a Summer Celebration kickoff which will include the movie, ‘Chef,’ which we seriously love, and a food truck type menu, which I’m super excited about. (I’ll write about that next week in delicious detail.)

For now, I wanted to share about how awesome our summers are and how much #DarbySummerMovies (our own hashtag, people!) and how much we’ve come to count on our trusty A/V Cart. 

We recently had the following conversation (about A/V Carts) around the dinner table:

Me: “There was always that one impossibly nerdy kid who got to be the A/V Cart Monitor. He was usually the smartest kid, who usually happened to also be the teacher’s pet.”

Eric: “Yeah. That would be me.”

Guess who’s still in charge of the A/V Cart? 

Hello, Darby Summer Movies. 

You might also like:

Hello, Outdoor Movie Nights Outdoor Movie Theatre directional signs for locations such as 221 B Baker Street, the Shire, Camelot, Narnia and AsgardNerd Home Improvement Summer Manifesto Making My Summer Bright with Pier 1

Filed Under: Celebrate, Cuban-American Life, Lifestyle, Summer Nights Tagged With: Summer, summer nights

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I love all things Cuban. I'm passionate about sharing stories, my family, food & recipes. I'm Marta. 💋🎉 @martadarby

My Big Fat Cuban Family Blog
I made some amazing espresso ice cream with the he I made some amazing espresso ice cream with the help of @cafelallave // smooth, creamy, and.it tastes like your first cafecito of the day. // Best thing you’ll taste all day. ☕️💚🗝️Buen Provecho! 🤩Please visit my blog for the whole delicious recipe. (Link in profile☝🏼)You’re welcome! 😉🇨🇺https://bit.ly/45QhRPN#espressoicecream #cafelallave #mybigfatcubanfamily
It goes without saying, because CUBAN.
🇨🇺🍮😉❤️#BeLikeMarta 🖖🏼😎#flanislife #itsacubanthing🇨🇺
Cafe La llave Espresso ice Cream Check my site for Cafe La llave Espresso ice Cream
Check my site for full recipe 🍨
(Link in profile ☝🏼)https://bit.ly/45QhRPN
My grandson Max will be 2 next week. I figured it My grandson Max will be 2 next week. I figured it was time. 🇨🇺☕️
Don’t judge me. It’s a Cuban thing. 😉(For those of you freaking out right now, it’s only milk. I know. Shut up.🥛😆)Full disclosure: my mom would give all of us kids espresso from time to time. The most explanation I ever got from her was, “Asi se usaba en Cuba.” 🤷🏼‍♀️Oh the Cubanity. 🙌🏼🇨🇺#cafelallave #cubancoffee
This chapel, called “La Ermita,” is dedicated This chapel, called “La Ermita,” is dedicated to La Virgen de La Caridad Del Cobre, and is located in Miami.
Part of the @peroletmetellyou Miami Tour, 😉
I was there to show my respects, but as I sat there praying, I was not prepared for the intense burden I felt over the suffering of our people.Today, September 8th, is her feast day.
Today, like every day, we pray for a free Cuba. 🇨🇺We familiarly and with great love call her Cachita. ❤️Please read my story on how she is honored in Cuban homes everywhere. 🙏🏼https://bit.ly/15bs9I4(☝🏼link in profile)Photo 📸: @peroletmetellyou“Nuestro día ya viene llegando.” ~ @willychirino#itsacubanthing🇨🇺 #cachita #laermitadelacaridad
Today’s PSA, some words to live by: “Toma choc Today’s PSA, some words to live by:
“Toma chocolate.
Paga lo que debes.”And this is where I randomly start to cha-cha around my kitchen.🎶💃🏻🕺🏼
Who is with me?!Oh, the Cubanity. 🇨🇺😉#itsacubanthing #elbodeguero
The world looks brighter and much more fun after I The world looks brighter and much more fun after I’ve had my cafecito. ☕️ @cafelallave 💚🗝️🇨🇺🎨 by @ericdarby88#cafelallave #cafecubano
National Cuban Sandwich Day - from the archives - National Cuban Sandwich Day - from the archives - How to Make the Perfect Cuban Sandwich. 🇨🇺🥖This is a day I’m happy to celebrate. 🙌🏼🥳❤️https://bit.ly/1J31P2yStory and recipe link in profile☝🏼
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#mybigfatcubanfamily
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Am amazing afternoon with our friends. Thanks to Am amazing afternoon with our friends. Thanks to  @spaghettinisb #spaghettiniathome #spaghettinisb @melissasproduce
To celebrate the beginning of summer I’m giving To celebrate the beginning of summer I’m giving away a beautiful basket of delicious Cuban coffee goodness courtesy of my friends at @cafelallave .
☕️💚🗝️⭐️Please click on the link in my profile☝🏼https://bit.ly/3NP9DRpLeave a comment on that post to enter,  and answer all my curious Cuban Coffee questions.🎉It’s time to wake up and smell the Cuban coffee, people! 😉Oh, the Cubanity!🇨🇺#cafelallave☕️ #cubancoffee #giveaway #coffeebasket
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This photo was taken on the roof of our Miami home, from where he convinced us we could see Havana. 🇨🇺 👀Please visit my blog for the entire story. (Link in profile☝🏼)Happy Father’s Day to all.
I miss mine every day. 🥰https://bit.ly/44749Xn#mybigfatcubanfamily #happyfathersday
I made a delicious, mouth-wateringly tempting Coff I made a delicious, mouth-wateringly tempting Coffee Coffee Cake. I KNOW! 😱
I used my fave @cafelallave to make this miracle happen and the outcome was amazing.Click the link in my profile for the recipe and a cute little anecdote where I may or may not have given the toddler a higher than usual dose of caffeine. 🤫
It was sooo Cuban.
😂🇨🇺☕️💚🗝️
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#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎#cafelallave #coffeecakerecipe
#Cubancake
#mybigfatcubanfamily
My grandboy, Max loves his @cafelallave espresso. My grandboy, Max loves his @cafelallave espresso. 😉🇨🇺☕️Oh, the Cubanity! 😱#callmewella #cafelallave #cafécubano #espresso
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Salud! ☕️💚🗝️Thank you, @cafelallave for helping me embrace my Cubanity daily. 🇨🇺❤️#cafelallave #cubancoffee #cafecubano #mybigfatcubanfamily  #ohthecubanity🇨🇺 #belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
This is happening in my kitchen right now and you’re all invited to join! ☕️🧁🇨🇺❤️@cafelallave espresso cupcakes with espresso buttercream frosting. 😱 Ahora si! 💃🏻🕺🏼🗝️💚☕️
#espresso #espressocupcakes #bakingwithespresso #cafelallave #mybigfatcubanfamilyRecipe link in profile☝🏼
https://bit.ly/3AIbWhL
This song. ❤️ I want it to be the theme song i This song. ❤️
I want it to be the theme song if anyone ever makes a telenovela about my life. 😂💃🏻🎶❤️
Alternatively, I’d like this written on my tombstone because I totally lead a charmed life:
🎶Lo que esta pa’ ti, nadie te lo quita🎶Please appreciate that he gives a shoutout to Betty (@portosbakery) & to @leonorgavina / @cafelallave.
That whole front row was the entire @cubanheritagela group.🥳🇨🇺❤️
One of the things I love most about @willychirino is how generous he is in sharing his incredible gift with all of us, his Cuban cubiches. 🎶💃🏻🇨🇺❤️I suggest you save this forever and share it. It’s the most encouraging song ever. 🥳Watch. And love. ❤️Also, the voices you hear loudest are me and my daughter, @kikitiando because CUBAN.🇨🇺#willychirino #cubanheritagela #mybigfatcubanfamily #portosbakery #cafelallave #themusicofmypeople🇨🇺
My daughter @kikitiano and I, along with practical My daughter @kikitiano and I, along with practically all of us who are a part of @cubanheritagela went to see our beloved @willychirino tonight. ❤️My heart is so full and I have so much I want to share, and the concert was phenomenal. Willy is in GREAT voice. 🎤It was pretty much the most epic Cuban sing-along (with the most epic Cuban sing-alongers) you’d ever want to be part of. 💃🏻❤️🎶He sang every song we wanted him to sing and it was absolutely satisfying.So he starts one of my favorite songs talking about how how he’s a guajiro. 🌴
It is the happiest, most danceable and sing-alongiest song ever. 💃🏻But then, he started a slideshow behind the music.
And there was Pinar del Río and the amazing “Mogotes” in the Valle de Viñales.
The very recognizable spot where my father’s ashes are scattered.
😭🌴💔So now I’m wrecked and weeping and singing along, but this song is now about MY Papi, another guajiro from another time. 🌴💔(If you want to read the entire beautiful story written by my daughter, Amy, please follow the link below or you can find it also in my profile. ☝🏼https://bit.ly/3mxvPETThank you, @willychirino por la noche perfecta y por tan bien representar a nuestro pueblo. Y mil gracias por la música. Me tocaste el corazón como siempre lo has hecho.
Te mando un fuerte abrazo. ❤️❤️❤️Also, thank you for the shout  out!! I’m going to be impossible to live with. 🤭~@martadarby
@MyBigFatCubanFamily#cubanmusic #willychirino #mybigfatcubanfamily
LA, You’re just too lucky! 🍀 Look who’s com LA, You’re just too lucky! 🍀
Look who’s coming your way on Saturday, April 15th: our beloved Willy Chirino!! 🤩❤️
He will be performing at the gorgeous Alex Theatre in Glendale, and it’s going to be a night to remember.
🔥❤️
There are still tickets available but they’re going fast, so be sure you lock it down.
I’ll be in the front row shaking my colita. Come say hello.
🖖🏼😎🎶Vamos a pasar La Noche Perfecta!!
🙌🏼🎶Also, please go visit the @cubanheritageLA account for a chance to win tickets to this fabulous concert!
🎟️ 🏆https://alextheatre.org/event/willy-chirino
#willychirino #willychirinoin concert #alextheatre #cubanmusic #unartistafamoso
Representing. 🇨🇺☘️😉 Happy St. Patrick Representing. 🇨🇺☘️😉
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, mi gente. 🎉
-Marta O’Cuban 🖖🏼😎#mybigfatcubanfamily #stpatricksday #ocuban
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
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Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

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