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Archives for June 2011

Bill Cunningham & Winter in Wartime – This Week at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone.

Well…none of our films performed wonderfully last weekend (though THE BEAVER did well enough to stick around for a couple screenings a day for one more week).  I AM and POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD have left.

Today (6/3), we open two new films – BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK and WINTER IN WARTIME.

If you’re a regular reader of The New York Times, I’m certain you’re already familiar with Bill Cunningham.  If not, I’m certain you’ll still be charmed by the story of this wonderful photographer.  Synopsis for BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK: “‘We all get dressed for Bill,’ says Vogue editrix Anna Wintour. The “Bill” in question is 80+ New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham. For decades, this Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirees for the Times Style section in his columns “On the Street” and “Evening Hours.” Documenting uptown fixtures (Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor, David Rockefeller-who all appear in the film out of their love for Bill), downtown eccentrics and everyone in between, Cunningham’s enormous body of work is more reliable than any catwalk as an expression of time, place and individual flair. In turn, Bill Cunningham New York is a delicate, funny and often poignant portrait of a dedicated artist whose only wealth is his own humanity and unassuming grace.” (taken from Zeitgeist Films) Visit the OFFICIAL SITE.

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If you’ve been to THE NEON in the past few months, I’m certain you’ve seen the trailer for our next new film, the official selection from the Netherlands for this year’s “Best Foreign Film” Oscar.  Synopsis for WINTER IN WARTIME: “Near the end of World War II, 14-year-old Michiel becomes involved with the Resistance after coming to the aid of a wounded British soldier. With the conflict coming to an end, Michiel comes of age and learns of the stark difference between adventure fantasy and the ugly realities of war.” (taken from Sony Pictures Classics)  If you haven’t seen the trailer, be certain to take a look.  I don’t think this synopsis does the film justice.  Visit the OFFICIAL SITE.

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A panel is in place for our screening of a powerful and moving documentary called WE WERE HERE.  “WE WERE HERE is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco.  It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.  Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself.  It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.”  WE WERE HERE will screen on June 16 at 7PM.  Tickets are $8 each and are currently available at THE NEON box office.  This screening is sponsored by The Greater Dayton LGBT Center.  Be sure to take a look at the trailer, and get your tickets early.  After the film, we will have a discussion with representatives from AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Miami Valley Poz 4 Poz, an early HIV/AIDS community educator, and more.  Additionally, we will have the opportunity to see a series of incredible photographs in THE NEON’s lobby.  Here’s the story: Approximately half way through WE WERE HERE, there are several beautiful and chilling photos of a man with AIDS.  These photos were the final project of the late John Davis of Belmont, Ohio.  His sister contacted me a couple weeks ago and offered us the opportunity to display the entire series.  THE NEON will hang all 17 photographs in our lobby before the screening.

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One last reminder regarding our price increase…If you’ve been to THE NEON lately, you’ve more than likely seen our note at the front counter about pricing.  Here’s what it states: “Effective June 3, 2011.  At THE NEON, we strive to have the best films, the best customer service and the best prices.  While we don’t intend on changing these goals, we must unfortunately raise our admission prices.  On June 3, all General Admission, Matinee and Senior Citizen tickets will increase by 50 cents.  Our ticket prices have not increased since August of 2008…and our new ticket prices will still be at least $2 less expensive than all the first-run multiplexes in the region.  Thanks for your understanding.”  We hope this won’t deter you from coming to THE NEON…as we have dozens of great films coming our way in the weeks and months ahead.

Hope to see you soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for June 3 – June 9:

WINTER IN WARTIME (R) 1 Hr 43 Min

Friday – Thursday:  3:00, 7:15

THE BEAVER (PG-13) 1 Hr 31 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 5:10, 9:30

Monday – Thursday:  5:10, 9:30

BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK (NR) 1 Hr 24 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:10, 3:15, 5:15, 7:30, 9:30

Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:15, 7:30, 9:30

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.  Some of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear.

June 10 INCENDIES

June 10  MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

June 17  POTICHE

June 24 TREE OF LIFE

July 1 DOUBLE HOUR

July 8 BUCK

July 15 PAGE ONE

July 15  BEGINNERS

Aug 5   SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN

Aug 26 ANOTHER EARTH

Sondheim at the Movies with Jill Paice

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Jill Paice

The New York Philharmonic’s star-studded concert production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s breakthrough Tony Award-winning 1970 musical “Company” begins limited showings in movie theaters across the country Wednesday, June 15 featuring Muse Machine alumna Jill Paice of Beavercreek as Susan.

Sondheim and Furth’s dated yet comical, thought-provoking and vignette-driven account of seemingly content bachelor Bobby (Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris) and his close knit circle of “good and crazy” married friends was filmed live April 7-9 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall under the direction of Lonny Price. Along with Paice and Harris, the impressive, promising cast consists of Tony winner Patti LuPone as the boozy Joanne, Emmy winner Stephen Colbert as Harry, Emmy and Tony nominee Martha Plimpton as Sarah, Emmy winner Jon Cryer as David, Tony nominee Jennifer Laura Thompson as Jenny, Tony winner Katie Finnernan as Amy, Tony nominee Craig Bierko as Peter, Emmy nominee Christina Hendricks as April, Tony winner Anika Noni Rose as Marta, Jim Walton as Larry, Aaron Lazar as Paul and Chryssie Whitehead as Kathy.

Sondheim’s fantastic score, one of his crowning achievements, includes “Another Hundred People,” “Barcelona,” “Being Alive,” “Company,” “Getting Married Today,” “The Little Things You Do Together,” “Side by Side by Side,” “Someone Is Waiting,” “Sorry-Grateful,” “You Could Drive A Person Crazy” and the signature standout “The Ladies Who Lunch,” which should be an amazing highlight as sung by LuPone. The concert notably features Jonathan Tunick’s splendid original orchestrations.

Neil Patrick Harris, Craig Bierko and Jill Paice

In addition, Paice will soon star in the off-Broadway world premiere of “Death Takes a Holiday,” a musical adaptation of the Alberto Casella play of the same name from Tony-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (“Annie,” “The Producers,” “Hairspray”) and Tony-winning and Oscar-nominated composer Maury Yeston (“Nine,” “Titanic”). Directed by Tony winner Doug Hughes (“Doubt”), “Death Takes a Holiday,” memorably remade in 1998 as “Meet Joe Black,” begins previews at New York’s Laura Pels Theatre Friday, June 10 in advance of an opening Thursday, July 21. Paice’s New York credits include the Broadway productions of “The Woman in White,” “Curtains” and “The 39 Steps.”

At present, “Company” is scheduled to be screened locally Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 19 at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Rave Motion Pictures The Greene 14, 4489 Glengarry Dr., Beavercreek. You can catch a sneak peek of the cast when they reunite to perform Sunday, June 12 at the 65th annual Tony Awards, which will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. hosted by Harris.

For additional information, visit www.companyonscreen.com

Night of the Living Dead …. in Dayton?

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Yes you read right! Tomorrow at midnight The Oregon District will be swarming with zombies. Don’t be frightened it’s for a good cause. The Dayton Zombie Walk Zombies should gather at the parking lot by Omega Music on East Fifth Street.

DMM's Shana Douglas, Zombie-Style

If you need help with your makeup, a pre-party at Vex on at 4th and St. Clair hosted by Foy’s will be held for dead things to prepare themselves to crawl The Oregon. For Zombies who want to dance the night away there is also a  after party. See flyer. Makeup artists and other experts will be onsite from 7:30 to 10:30. If your skilled enough to do your own makeup, stop by Foy’s for the best supplies.  It’s where I go .. to get my Zombie Face on.  Yes, that’s me.

Zombies apparently are also philanthropists, well tomorrow they are. A canned and nonperishable food drive for the Dayton Food Bank will also be part of the night’s festivities so if you’re walking you can also bring your donations to the post-walk party at Vex. If you’re a Zombie, you have no use for canned goods anyway so you might as well hand them over. Stick to flesh, there are people in need.

In 2009, the Zombie Walk in Dayton was rather a small affair with only about 30 Zombies gathering. Since, the event has grown dramatically and 500 are expected to walk here in Dayton. How cool is Dayton? Young Professional friendly and Zombie friendly. It doesn’t get much better than that.

So, come out and be free with your undead self. If you’re relatively scared of dead things, consider yourself warned because if you’re partying in The Oregon tomorrow night you’ll have company. More information can be found http://www.daytonzombiewalk.com

Oh, and hey..bring you’re little dead things. The Zombie walk is stroller friendly. 🙂


You had me at “hello” (and lost me at “goodbye”)

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You can’t escape karma. It’s true. I’m guilty of trying.

We’re all busy people; we all have volunteer organizations, meetings and committees to attend on top of work requirements. But when I first starting planning for this little adventure, I conveniently planned all my “extra-curriculars” outside of this week.

Until karma slapped me with an 8 AM meeting, the need to drop off some files at a satellite location, and a couple additional errands. So much for just going to work and home.

But you know what – that’s life. And this week is my life on the bus.

So, I woke up earlier than I like to catch the pre-7 AM bus from my home in the ‘burbs to get downtown.  Got off at my transfer site right on time, and after a short wait, jumped on the second bus to arrive at my meeting by 7:40. Good start! Unfortunately, due to an “alternating route,” I couldn’t use the same stop when heading back into the city, but I had prepared for that (thanks to the nice dude on the bus who gave me the warning) and I packed the flip-flops just in case a little walking was required.

Things got a little more tricky once I got back downtown. I took a quick jaunt over to Kettering Tower from the Wright Plaza hub to deliver some files. A slight change in the schedule makes a major difference; now my timing was off. I made it back to the hub and realized that I had just missed the bus that would take me to work. Thought process: I can sit for 25 minutes and wait or I can walk the mile to the office. Thank God for the flip-flops. I was hoping to see a yellow bike, but alas – no relief. So, I walked until I made it back to the office. Just then I started to realize that, although comfy, flip-flops are not the walking shoes of choice.

Waiting for the bus, your mind can wander. After this stop I had Feist's "One, Two, Three, Four..." on my mind for a while.

Overall, I was really pleased with my morning. Safe, reliable transportation. Friendly people. Good times. However, at lunch I had to run an errand which was about 3/4 mile from work – not so far that the bus is needed, but I really didn’t want to walk it.  My boss (thanks, boss!) kindly offered to “carpool” to help me out, but I’m trying to stick with the spirit of the adventure and see if I can make it happen. Not in a walking mood (although Kristen is inspiring me*), I grabbed the bus right outside my office for the short trip. Errand done, I had time to kill and lunch to eat. So – I headed into Yummy Burger. And what did I have?

Thai food, of course (and it was yummy). Here, friends, is a benefit of going car-less. If I had run my errand with my car, I most likely would have gone to a more familiar (and further away) place for lunch. But being that convenience was key, I tried something new and it paid off. Plus – I killed just the right amount of time to grab my bus back to the office for a less than 60 minute lunch hour. Sweet!

All is sunshine and roses. Good travel day, good work day. Time to pack up a bit after 5 PM. I shut down and head out to the ever-so-convenient bus stop right outside work, and I notice that I’m walking out 1 minute after the bus is supposed to be there. Please, God, let it be 2 minutes late. It wasn’t.

I know, I know – you warned me that I need to be early for the bus. But here’s the catch. In the morning – that’s okay – I’m only cheating myself out of sleep. But at lunch or in the evening, there’s not as much flexibility. Because for every extra minute I get to the bus stop early, that’s a minute I’m taking away from something else.

Patience is a virtue, but it’s not one of mine. I sit at my bus stop and review all my little maps to determine if there’s a different bus or different route near by I could still catch. I call the RTA line, but no one answers after 5:30 PM. Finally, the next bus came (after I’ve walked a good long way to find a bus stop with a bench).  This bus takes me to my transfer stop, but the schedule is off now and I just missed my bus home and have to wait another 45 minutes. AUGH!

After all my crazy planning, THESE are my shoe options for Day 1?!?

Luckily, there’s a bar with a fine patio down from the stop. But my once-smart idea to pack some flip-flops proves not good enough and I’m wishing I had some better walking shoes. So, after a drink and flipping through a

couple local newspapers, I make my way out and wait the final 15 minutes for the bus. Which takes me 4 blocks from my house – a convenience I was really excited about early in the day, but had lost its luster after the end of the day. I make it into the house 1 hour and 50 minutes after walking out of work (usually a 15 minute drive).

So – what did I learn after one day? If you can work within the time schedules – the people are nice, the routes are convenient, and the bus can work out pretty well. But as soon you miss that one bus, plans go out the window and it’s tough to get back on track. I’ll also claim some “user error” on this one. But that’s why it’s a week adventure and I’m not giving up after a day.

Up next, my bike is coming with me on the bus. I am *hoping* that this results in the best of both worlds – convenient rides for the distances and quick trips for the errands. Famous last words…

* Reference to the lovely Kristen Wicker and her piece on walking as a primary means of Dayton travel. Check it out!

That Crêpe Place opens at The Greene

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“Fresh, Authentic, Hand-held
Savory and Sweet Crepes
made Right in Front of Your Eyes!”

Celebrating it’s soft opening today, That Crêpe Place is “an original concept and the first of many, I hope,” laughs owner Rodney Long as I spoke with him by phone this morning.  Long, originally from Philly owned a BBQ restaurant and spent 15 years in marketing for Proctor & Gamble before taking the leap into crepes.

Long describes crepes as the perfect ubiquitous food, similar to a wrap, it’s versatile and can be filled with savory or sweet and perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.  Their menu leads you through savory choices like the Pesto Shrimp crepe with a pesto aioli and the Mediterranean featuring Chicken Breast, Feta Cheese, Sweet Grilled Piquillo Peppers, Fresh Baby Spinach, with Balsamic Glaze; Sweet Crepes like the  Tahitian – a Vanilla Buttered Crepe sprinkled with Cinnamon and Powdered Sugar, and Sweet & Fruity options  like the Funky Monkey with Bananas, Chocolate Chips, with Creamy Peanut Butter or the Strawberry Cheesecake  made with Fresh Strawberries topped with Homemade Vanilla Cream Sauce.  Also on the menu are a couple of salad options and kids sandwiches.

Long suggested that a grand opening will be planned in a few weeks, once they’ve worked all the kinks out. He  thinks  his crepes are perfect for the casual outdoor shopping environment at The Greene, and thinks guests will enjoy watching a ladle full of batter poured on a crêpe griddle, spun into a circle, flipped and filled with your fresh ingredients will make his concept a big hit.  He says that “crepes are a perfect portable feast and can’t wait for everyone to try them.”  Be sure and check out the reward club, as each purchase will help earn you free food.

That Crêpe Place will share a patio with Cold Stone Creamery and is located at 4474 Glengarry Drive in Beavercreek, diagonally across from the movie theater.

Once Upon a Time – Where the Unrealistic Expectations Began.

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Over the years I’ve held onto some pretty intense grandiose expectations of love and relationships. The hopeless romantic in me has sent me on voyage of unmet fantasies. Now, with most things I would tend to feel that I am unique and that others aren’t as delusional as me but fortunately I have friends who are just as misguided about love as I am.  How can this be? When did it all begin? I didn’t grow up with June and Ward Cleaver that’s for sure so my parents or upbringing had nothing to do with it. I’m sure my mother will read this and be ecstatic that I’m not blaming them for this too. No it wasn’t my family or watching my parents marriage so what really lead to my thinking that “Happily Ever After” involved a night shining armor and lifetime of singing birds, candy and roses?  

I wondered about this for a few days as I found myself once again with a head riddled with wild fantasies.  Then started to think about the movies I’ve loved throughout the years, the books that have had me enthralled for weeks, the shows on TV that turn me into a wishy washy mess. The sugar coating from otherwise sources of entertainment that really have just filled my head with a bunch of bullshit that doesn’t apply to the reality I am living in. The Real World.

With that said, I thought it would be interesting to examine some of the rubbish I grew up on, read and even watch today.

Fairy Tale Princesses – What a Crock.

I admit it, I dressed up and pranced around like a magical fairy tale princess when I was kid. Who didn’t?  With movies like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White heck even Aladdin it was very easy at a young age to let my imagination run wild, problem is I still tend to do it. Let’s look at Sleeping Beauty for example.  Asleep for 100 hundreds years waiting on a kiss to bring her back to life?  So, there is a man out there that has the capability of wakening her from a curse and with one kiss she finds herself awake from death and living happily ever after?  Hmm. This to me would mean that no matter what has happened in the past, out there is a man who is so remarkable he has the ability to lift a gal out of years of endless bullshit from one guy after the other, or sadness, or just plain boredom in my case. Who knows, but I just don’t think it happens that way. Which is probably why I started watching Horror movies at such a young age, perhaps at a young age I knew Disney was nothing but BS.

Molly Ringwald – Hope For Awkward Girls.

I loved every single one of her movies.  Why?  Because for some reason they made me think that awkward and somewhat socially inept gals could find themselves in the arms of a hunk.  With the exception of the rather creepy Andrew McCarthy,  Molly kind of managed to land the awesome guy all the time. I have to tell you, I spent four years in high school, a red head even at times and never once seemed to pull off being somewhat geeky, awkward and also attractive.  The weird girl in high school doesn’t have allure and never once did I actually end up with some boy I had a crush on. Great movies and I still to this day love them but they kind of gave me false hope.  I think my parents even forgot my 16th Birthday and frankly I would have rather ended up with Bryce (John Cusak) anyway. High school was far from any John Hughes movie frankly.

Nicholas Sparks

I won’t lie. I own and have watched The Notebook over a hundred times I’m sure. I’ve read it and several of his books. He’s become my nemesis of sorts because I think he, more than anyone contributes to my twisted contorted views of love and romance. I can’t help but get sucked into to any story that involves people growing old together though. I cry like a baby and then I walk away wanting that very thing, which really I do. Don’t get me wrong it’s a goal of mine to be that old couple you see holding hands in the park. I still believe that true love lasts forever, I just wish he wasn’t so damn good at painting that picture because sometimes it doesn’t exactly happen that way. It doesn’t help that close friends have often compared me to Rachel McAdams in that movie, either. Though I’ve yet to stumble across a guy who finds my irrational temper tantrums cute enough to fall in love with me, not one that looks like Ryan Gosling anyway. Side note, his beard in that movie is marvelous.

Even Vampires Find Love

Am I wrong for being a little bitter that even a corpse and an allbeit nerd find their way to love?  The Twilight Series, maybe you’ve heard of it?  Another awkwardly clumsy dork “Bella” ends of up with this GQ looking vampire and they live happily ever after. If you haven’t read the books, please do though.  They’re great. Thing about it however is that love sometimes doesn’t conquer all. I know couples that can’t even get passed the guy not putting the toilet seat down yet these two manage to stick together  one obstacle  after another. I also know couples that have been through hell and back and are still together, but the numbers are diminishing.  Life is hard and it’s difficult to find a person that will still hold your hand through all of life’s trials and tribulations, really difficult.

The Truth

I think life is more like romantic comedies where the weirdest situations sometimes land you in love. I am a bookworm which means I will more than likely not stop reading this nonsense, a girl has to have some guilty pleasures. The “love” in my life has lessoned my belief in finding “the one” though. Nowadays I’m just hoping one out of five guys I meet is half way decent. I have crushes but I try not be unrealistic about them, I mean whatever happens happens. I don’t think I am going to end up with some guy who I’ve been pining over for months anymore then the possibility of meeting someone while spilling coffee on myself at Starbucks. However, I’m more inclined to think that some random moment of awkwardness will lead me to this guy I’m supposed to end up holding hands in the park with, because if he likes me after that we’re meant to be.  My point here is that sometimes the things we see on tv, movies or read in books can leave us hoping for unrealistic things or worse, doubt our current situation and wanting more. I remember after reading Twilight  and thinking that my boyfriend at the time wasn’t being romantic enough, that he should be more like that pasty Cullen kid. Sad right?  But we do it..well, ladies do anyways.

I’ve probably lessoned my chances of love after this rant.

I wonder what guys read or watch that gives them false expectations, I bet Weird Science would be on the list. I guess I’ll have to wait on my rival columnist Jason Webber from The Dayton City Paper to see what he thinks about all this.

Till next week, thanks for reading.

Giuliano – A New Era of Anticoli’s Dining

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The Anticoli family has a long tradition of restaurants in the Dayton region.  Their first restaurant, Rendezvous, opened  downtown on Fifth Street in 1931. In 1951 they moved out to Saleem Avenue with Anticoli’s and in 2000 moved what became Caffé Anticoli  to Main Street in the Clayton area.  Son Michael went north and opened La Piazza in 1992 in Troy.

In 2011 the family moved south, and renovated a space in downtown Miamisburg.  The new restaurant starts a new era for the Anticoli’s, with Giuliano, named after the family’s ancestral hometown located near Rome, Italy.  The restaurant had a soft opening in April and this week has been set to celebrate the official Grand Opening.  A ribbon cutting is set for June 1st at 4pm and guests that visit during this week will receive a VIP card, good for 20% off every Sunday through Thursday until October 1st, 2011.

Giuliano will be open seven days a week, serving dinner Monday through Saturday and opening at noon on Sunday’s, when kids 10 and under will eat free, while mom and dad can enjoy 20% of wines by the glass.  Monday night will feature a pasta buffet, and Wednesday will be 35 cent wing night. Happy hour specials on food and drinks will run 4-6pm.
You may dine in the bar area, dining room or even book a private room for your party.  Entrees range from $12.95 to $22.95, pizza’s are $12.95 to $15.95.

Giuliano’s, An Anticoli Tavern
67 South Main Street
Miamisburg, OH 45342
937.859.3000

SICSA’s 13th Annual Walk for Strays Needs You!

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Join  fellow animal lovers for the 13th annual charity walk beneffiting SICSA’s homeless dogs and cats on Saturday, June 4th.  The Walk follows a 1.2 mile path around the green fields and fishing pond of Kettering’s Delco Park.   Following the Walk there are many activities to participate in and enjoy including:

  • “Dressing to the K-9’s” Fashion Show – Get those creative juices flowing and design an outfit for your furry friend to compete in one of these categories: “That Special Occassion”, “Owner/Pet Look-a-Like, “Inspired by Fiction” and “Designer’s Choice”.
  • Paw Print Painting – $25 purchases a masterpiece created by your four-legged Artist.
  • Exhibitor Showcase
  • $10 Microchipping
  • Photo Booth – A photo to capture your Walk memories for only $10.
  • Raffle
  • Food

Help raise more money with your own fundraising page on their site.  Solicit pledges and raise additional funds by asking friends, family, and co-workers to sponsor you (and your pet).

Raise $150 and receive a voucher good for a wash at the SICSA Dog Wash and a photo of you and your pet at the Walk. -or- Raise $500 and receive the items above plus 2 Tickets to the Red Dog Auction.

New for 2011!!!  $25 Registration -All walkers registered by May 27th are guaranteed the 13th Annual Walk for Strays T-shirt!  Registration after May 27th and on the day of the event will receive the goodie bag and T-shirt while supplies last.
$10 Registration – Youth (12& Under) registered by May 27th receive the Walk for Strays T-shirt.

Registration Begins at 9 AM/Walk begins at 10 AM

Hoofing It: One Girl’s Guide to Walking the Streets of Dayton

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Things I remember seeing during my 20-minute commute: Tree limbs swirling in a rain-swollen Great Miami River. Aged buildings with elaborate cornices rubbing shoulders with their modern-day glass and steel counterparts. Phil staggering down the sidewalk asking for spare change to buy a muffin.

Things I remember hearing during my 20-minute commute: The splash and giggle of kids jumping into a puddle. A glee club of birds overhead. The distressed screech of an ambulance .

I live in a historic neighborhood downtown, and since I live, work, hang out and work out downtown, I can walk pretty much anywhere I need to go.

Key words: Pretty much.

Places I drive: Kroger. DeWeese Park. Village Thrift Store. Taqueria Mixteca. Cookouts at friends’ back yards. And, I admit it, sometimes places as close as Drake’s Downtown Gym and the Dublin Pub.

One of my favorite shots taken during a walk home, shot from the Main Street Bridge looking east toward the Dayton Art Institute and Masonic Temple.

I’m about to find out exactly what “pretty much” means as I join Megan Cooper in an experiment in using alternative transportation to get from here to there. We’re both ditching our gas-powered rides for at least one week starting June 1. Megan will be trekking across town primarily via bicycle and the bus. Be sure to read her columns leading up to and during this adventure, in which she gives a frank and funny account of going car-less.

I will continue to get around primarily on foot, but I’m also going to figure out how to ride the RTA and rediscover my inner cyclist. The last time I rode the bus, I ended up at Children’s Medical Center while trying to get to Five Oaks, which is closer to Grandview Hospital. The last time I rode my bike any significant distance, my now- 19-year-old son was in a kid seat on the back.

But, like Megan, I’m determined to give this a whirl. Unlike Megan, my research and preparation for this adventure is a total zilch. Well, I did grab a fresh journal in which to chronicle the sights and sounds of this voyage. When I finish writing this, I’m going to try to figure out how to work a pedometer a friend gave me two years ago. I made a solemn vow to look at RTA’s web site tomorrow night. And cross-my-heart-hope-to-die, I plan to check my bike’s tires really soon.

I’m rolling ad hoc because I figure I can hoof it most places. I mean, perhaps my favorite thing about living downtown is the ability to walk so many cool places. I like having to step around Canadian Geese and their goslings on the gravel pathway atop the levee. I feel lucky I can stop at the RiverScape Metro Park concession and grab a cone of soft serve to enjoy on my way home. I even like the pitter-patter on my umbrella on rainy days and getting away with wearing rubber boots to the office.

Daffodils in full bloom at RiverScape MetroPark, taken during a recent springtime walk home.

Really, though, I am in denial.

I may live in a handy little city where I can walk from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes, but getting around is about to get a lot more complicated without a car. While visiting my sister in Piqua on Memorial Day, I realized I’d have no way to get up there to play cowboy and Play-Doh with my nephews without a car. Mulching some new plants tonight, I realized I’d have to travel toughman style if I needed to grab another bag of this heavy, goopy stuff and lug it on a bus.

View during my 20-minute commute on a recent May morning.

I also realize I am lucky to have a car, even an 11-year-old contraption missing the passenger-side window and in bad need of a new catalytic converter I lovingly call The Rattletrap. I feel like Barbara Ehrenreich as she recounted her experiences working as a maid and other minimum-wage occupations in Nickel and Dimed, a book I found so horribly patronizing I couldn’t finish the first chapter. I hope to be able to give you, dear reader, an authentic and entertaining account of this adventure with respect to those who have no choice but public transportation to reach such destinations as their workplace, school and kids’ day care. I hope to be able to examine the impacts of our auto-adoring culture on our health and environment with a fresh perspective. I hope to better understand the myriad ways transportation affects our daily lives.

And I hope you will help us: Do you get where you need to go without a car? If so, tell us your stories and (please!) give us some tips. Do you rev an engine to make it where you need to be? If so, tell us how you think your life would change if driving were no longer an option. Please share in the comments below.

And we’re off: One foot in front of the other!