A lawn chair isn’t exactly like the passenger seat of a 1957 Thunderbird, but the atmosphere was still something like a drive-in Saturday in downtown Natchez.

The Natchez Downtown Development Association hosted an outdoor movie night on Commerce Street, projecting “Casablanca” in grand fashion. Movie-goers either brought their own lawn chairs or rented one for $1. NDDA sold handheld fans to keep folks cool and raise some funds.

And the 30-foot tall images of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman certainly made downtown Natchez a place of intrigue Saturday.

Intrigue is exactly what NDDA is after, and it looks like they are well on their way to getting it.

It’s time to attract more people to our gorgeous downtown. It’s time to make them interested.

NDDA has sponsored several recent events that prove the organization is working to move downtown forward. First Fridays each month have spotlighted downtown businesses with special offers and increased interest. Saturday sidewalk sales attract the savvy shopper. And discounts at downtown shops on Sunday afternoons have been targeted just at local residents.

Our downtown is our heart, and it’s time we promoted it not only among our tourists, but among our locals.

NDDA is doing the work, are you enjoying the popcorn?