Tonight: Hidden Figures @ Schmidt’s Commons

Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer star in the Best Picture-nominated film.

This sounds like a nice, nice-weather, family-friendly event. BYO blanket or lawn chair to a free, outdoor screening of the 2016 Best Picture-nominated film. And if you want a beer, there are a couple places nearby that’ll sell you one. (But I’m not seeing any fine print that says you can’t bring your own refreshments.)

Hidden Figures tells the true story of the African American women mathematicians who worked for NASA during some of the most crucial years of the space program. The film was a commercial and critical success last year, with Octavia Spencer earning an Oscar nom and a Golden Globe win for her portrayal of “human computer” Dorothy Vaughan. Hidden Figures also stars Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae (!), Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons and Mahershala Ali.

Side note: Over the years, I’ve often passed by The Trapezoid Formerly Known As The Piazza and shaken my head at the public square being filled only by the sounds of Comcast Sportsnet — commercials and all — blaring to nobody. It’s not just uninviting, it’s a waste of space. So it’s always a welcome thing when the place puts its big screen and sound system to good use like this.

Hidden Figures, Thursday, May 18, 7-9 p.m., free, Schmidt’s Commons,
1001 N. Second St. More info here.