With "Sex and the City" hitting theaters May 30, a few things come to mind: the Big Apple, the show's four stars, Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik shoes, trendy Soho boutiques, Manhattan dining and, of course, the Cosmopolitan.

"Sex and the City" helped put the Cosmopolitan on the Midwest menu and at the forefront of our minds, and we have no doubt the film will involve another toast or two with the fabulous female foursome that made sipping them so trendy.

This isn't the first time that Hollywood has brought the cocktail culture to the forefront. Forget Tom Cruise in "Cocktail" — here are five of our favorite silver-screen cocktails and places in our downtown city where you can sit back and order one up.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

"Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!"

— The Dude (Jeff Bridges)

Sipped on screen: White Russians ... nine of them during the almost two-hour film

Synopsis: One of the best, weirdest comedies ever made. The storyline's a little complicated but basically there's a cowboy narrator called the Stranger who spits out lines like, "Darkness warshed over the Dude ... darker'n a black steer's tookus on a moonless prairie night. There was no bottom." The darkness is due to the fact that "Dude" Lebowski, a slacker who loves bowling almost as much as he loves White Russians, is mistaken for another Lebowski who happens to be a wealthy millionaire. He embarks on a mission to be compensated for a soiled rug due to the mistaken identity. Hilarity, mayhem and bowling ensues.

Trivia: The word "dude" is repeated 160 times. And Dude says "man" 147 times in the movie, nearly 1.5 times a minute.

Place to grab a White Russian in our city: We're going to pick a bar that can actually make them for you and that we could picture The Dude rolling into ... Southern Belle: 134 N. Patterson Blvd. www.southernbelletavern.com. (937) 461-4536. Located near the ballpark, the Southern Belle has plenty to entertain you — pool tables, a killer jukebox, a couple of video games and a bowling game that's worth a trip alone if you haven't played it before. The Belle is a neighborhood bar where you can channel your inner-dude with a White Russian. Don't believe us? Head out there and see for yourself.

Recipe: 2 parts vodka, 1 part coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa) and 1 part cream. Serve with ice in a rocks glass.

Casablanca (1942)

"Here's looking at you, kid."

— Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart)

Sipped on screen: Humphrey Bogart speaks those memorable words in Casablanca to Ingrid Bergman as he fixes her a Champagne Cocktail made of dry Champagne, Brandy, a sugar cube and bitters.

Synopsis: Also spoken is one of the most famous toasts ever: "Here's looking at you, kid." Oh, and then who could forget, "of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." Set in

Casablanca during the beginning of World War II, an exiled American who runs the hottest spot in town runs into a former lover.

Trivia: Rick's Cafe was one of the few original sets built for the film; the rest were all recycled from other Warner Bros. productions due to wartime restrictions on building supplies. Whatever the case, it all came together, and "Casablanca" nabbed three Oscars for Best Picture, directing and writing adapted for a screenplay. It was nominated for five.

Place to grab a glass of bubbly in our city: The Wine Gallery and Cafe has a beverage list offering up several types of beverages, a few that showcase bubbles. If you're feeling really adventurous, try one of their cocktails made with sparkling wine, or just go straight for the bubbly — it's a classic after all. 424 E. Third St. (937) 224-WINE (9463).

Recipe: Champagne bottle (open with caution), Champagne flute. Pour.

Dr. No (1962)

"A medium dry martini, lemon peel, shaken, not stirred."

— James Bond (Sean Connery)

Sipped on screen: Mostly martini's with very, very specific mixing directions.

Synopsis: Everyone's favorite British agent (and our personal favorite Bond) heads to Jamaica to investigate the murder of a fellow agent. It is there he meets the evil genius Dr. No who has plans for world domination. After a martini 007 saves the day.

Trivia: James Bond drinks two medium dry Vodka Martinis shaken with a lemon peel in the 1962 film "Dr. No" and jump starts the sale of vodka in America while exploding the Vodka Martini worldwide.

Place to grab a martini in our city: Café Boulevard: 329 E. Fifth St. www.cafeboulevard.com. (937) 824-2722. Go for a classic gin martini or order from their robust martini list.

Recipe: For as simple a recipe as this is, there are endless ways to make it depending on how dry you want it ... just look at how picky Bond was. Here's one we think works, but, be warned, these are strong and best consumed in very, very small quantites. 12/3 oz. gin, 1/3 part dry vermouth, lemon peel or olive — whatever floats your boat.

Some Like It Hot (1959)

"It's not how long it takes, it's who's taking you."

— Sugar Kane Kowalczyk

(Marilyn Monroe)

Sipped on screen: Sugar makes Manhattans on a late night train ride. It shows her pouring whiskey and sweet vermouth in a hot water bottle (make-shift shaker) then later chipping at an ice block.

Synopsis: After two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) witness a mob hit they disguise themselves as women and join an all female band. One of the best comedy films of all time and if you don't take our word for it, then at least take the American Film Institute's.

Trivia: Marilyn Monroe wanted the film to be shot in color, but director Billy Wilder convinced her to let it be shot in black and white when costume tests revealed that the makeup that Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon wore gave their faces a green tinge.

Place to grab a Manhattan in our city: The Stars Lounge in the Crowne Plaza: 33 E. Fifth St. (937) 224-0800. Featuring the best view of the city that any bar in town offers, a stop here will make for an elegant, classy evening out.

Recipe: 41/2 parts blended whiskey 11/2 parts sweet vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Pour over ice into a rocks glass and garnish with a couple of Maraschino cherries.

Strange Brew (1983)

"We hope you enjoyed the beer, oh, like I mean the movie, eh."

— Doug McKenzie (Dave Thomas)

Sipped on screen: Beer, eh

Synopsis: OK, we never claimed all of these movies were classy or good for that matter, but this Canadian love letter to beer starring Bob and Doug Mackenzie (Rick Morainis and Dave Thomas) is a classic in its own way. The McKenzie brothers get jobs at the Elsinore Brewery only to find out something fishy is going on. Oktoberfest, a beer drinking dog named Hosehead and a plan to take over the world with beer factoring heavily into the storyline. Now do you see why we love this film?

Trivia: The basic plot and the name Elsinore is lifted from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (Elsinore the castle in "Hamlet").

Place to grab a beer in our city: Well, there are more bars downtown that serve beer than we have room to print, but one place you might not think of is the Neon Movies. Offering many varieties of beer, as well as other cocktails, this is a great place to grab some suds and watch a movie that is sure to have more substance than the one we're writing about. Neon Movies, 130 E. Fifth St., Dayton. (937) 222-8452 or www.neonmovies.com.

Recipe: Hops, water, yeast but we would recommend just buying a six-pack at the store.

Source used for film trivia: IMDB.com