As a kid growing up in Arizona, there wasn’t much for me to do outdoors, unless I wanted to fry like bacon in the 100-plus degree weather. So, Mom and I used to routinely go to the movies to escape the blistering heat. After checking out the listings at the box office and buying our tickets, we would grab a soda and nachos and sit in the dark theater, eagerly anticipating an entertaining escape from reality.

Granted, the movies Mom would take me to were always horror movies, but I still enjoyed the experience, when I wasn’t covering my face in fear.

Even though I was scarred for life, I have maintained my love of the whole movie experience, as well as a debatably healthy obsession with procuring a soda and nachos every time I go. So I decided to investigate some of the places around town that provide guests with their own take on my childhood trauma. Check them out!

Calling itself “San Diego’s Premier Outdoor Theater,” Cinema Under the Stars is showcasing a season full of movie classics through Oct. 31. Some of my favorites this season include Raiders of the Lost Ark from July 2-5 and Blade Runner from Aug. 8-9 (funny how they both star Harrison Ford).

The theater is open Thursday – Sunday, and doors open at 6 p.m. Showtime begins at 8:30 p.m., but beginning Sept. 10, showtime is an hour earlier, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13.50 per person, cash or check only.

Annual memberships are also available for $75. Benefits include tickets for $12.50 per person and the ability to reserve seats for yourself and a guest up to a week in advance. This may come in handy, since the theater only seats up to 60 people. For a full schedule of movies and more information, visit www.topspresents.com or call 619-295-4221.

Cinema Under the Stars is located at 4040 Goldfinch Street.

I mentioned this venue last month in regard to cool pools to check out this summer, but Dive-In Theatre at the Pearl Hotel is another cool outdoor movie experience.

A weekly series every Wednesday night starting at 8 p.m., movies of all genres are projected on a 10'-by-13' screen above the pool. Admission is free. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis, but cabanas can be reserved in advance for parties of six-eight by calling 619-226-6100. Food is served until 10 p.m., and the bar closes at midnight. The pool is also open for free to hotel guests and others with a drink purchase. Check out www.thepearlsd.com/divein for all the details, or call 619-226-6100. The Pearl Hotel is located on 1410 Rosecrans Street.

For a more educational movie experience, visit the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s Fridays at the Fleet for movies at their discounted rate shown on their IMAX Dome Theater. Every Friday night starting at 6 p.m., you can watch one of the films for $8.50 and catch additional films for only $5 each. Classic IMAX films from the vaults are paired with current releases, like Under the Sea, where “audiences will be transported to the crystal blue domains of diverse underwater dwellers, including the Leafy Sea Dragon and the Flamboyant Cuttlefish,” and Forces of Nature, which showcases the awesome spectacle of natural disasters.

The film schedule rotates and is updated prior to the beginning of each month, so visit www.rhfleet.org/site/imax/fleet-fridays.cfm or call 619-238-1233 for the latest selections.

On July 10, at 8 p.m., physics educator and Popular Science Magazine contributor Adam Weiner presents “The Physics of Hollywood Movies,” a presentation humorously analyzing scenes from favorite sci-fi, superhero and action movies to illustrate the good and bad physics of Hollywood. Tickets are $8.50 or free with the price of admission to the museum.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is located at 1875 El Prado.

An annual festival celebrating all things Lebowski and originating in Louisville, Ky., in 2002, Lebowski Fest comes to San Diego for the first time on July 26 and 27. Just to give you an idea of what’s in store, at the Louisville fest, “fans’ line memorization and creative attire rival those of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

On July 26, the House of Blues hosts the Lebowski Fest Movie Party, featuring Har Mar Superstar and other special guests, as well as a screening of the fest’s namesake, The Big Lebowski. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 and only for ages 21+.

On July 27, Kearny Mesa Bowl hosts the Lebowski Fest Bowling Party, featuring bowling (duh), costume, trivia, and other contests. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 the day of the event, plus the cost of a shoe rental. Keep in mind the bowling is general admission and not guaranteed.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.lebowskifest.com. Make sure to buy tickets through the San Diego Fest link. The House of Blues is located at 1055 5th Avenue, and Kearny Mesa Bowl is located at 7585 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

One of my favorite events of the year, the San Diego Museum of Art’s Screen on the Green returns this summer, but for a limited engagement. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, people of all ages flock to Balboa Park to watch films projected on a large screen by the Casa del Prado, just east of the Lily Pond. A blanket, good friends, and some food and wine are all you need for admission. As I mentioned earlier, Screen on the Green is back for a limited engagement because there are only two scheduled films: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen on July 30 and Shadow Magic on Aug. 6. Films begin at 8 p.m.

Because prime real estate in the seating area (aka the lawn) goes fast, be sure to get there early to stake out a spot.

For full details, visit www.sdmart.org/

calendar-screen-on-the-green.html.

Known for their nightly events, like Booty Basement and Transport, the second and fourth Sunday of each month starting at 4 p.m. is also home to Citizen Video Movie Matinees. A Mad Max tribute was shown on June 14 and coming up on June 28, a screening of the Road Warrior is scheduled.

Check out www.whistlestopbar.com for more information, or call 619-284-6784.

The Whistle Stop Bar is located on 2236 Fern St.