Archives for December 2011

WEEKEND This Weekend at THE NEON

December 13, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

Even though we’re going to hold both of our current attractions – THE DESCENDANTS and MELANCHOLIA – we are going to open a new film on Friday. WEEKEND – which was the sold-out, closing film of this year’s Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival – has been winning awards around the world. In addition, it’s one of my favorite films of the year. Eric Hynes of the The Village Voice wrote, “Naturalistic without being ineloquent, heartfelt yet unsentimental, WEEKEND is the rarest of birds: a movie romance that rings true.” David Edelstein of New York Magazine wrote, “I hate to damage so fragile a work with overpraise, but, gay or straight, if you don’t see yourself in this movie, you need to get a life.” This film has not screened much in Ohio…we’re hoping you’ll help support one of the small, true indie gems of the year.

Synopsis for WEEKEND: “After meeting one lonely Friday night at a bar, Russell and Glen find themselves caught up in an lost weekend full of sex, drugs, and intimate conversation. Although they have conflicting ideas of what it is they want from life and certainly how to get it, they form a startling emotional connection that will resonate throughout their lives.” (Sundance Selects)

Click this link to visit the film’s official website.

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I’m delighted to announce that MY WEEK WITH MARILYN has now been set to open on December 23. It seems like the date might really stick this time (but I’ll keep you posted regardless). Just remember that we’re open 365 days a year…so we hope to be part of your plans during the holidays.

This Saturday marks the last of The Holiday Family Movie Series…sponsored by The Downtown Dayton Partnership, DP&L and THE NEON. The film begins at noon and is free for children 12 and under; other tickets are only $2 each. This Saturday’s movie is A CHRISTMAS STORY. Last week’s screening was a huge success…so come early for a good seat (doors open at 11:30). (presented via digital video projection)

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Have you tried one of our new wines? In addition to the Woodbridge Merlot and Chardonnay, we are trying Carernet Sauvignon and Moscato. If you want to make certain that we keep these two wines in the mix, please order a glass during your next visit.

When shopping for the holidays, don’t forget that NEON Gift Certificates are a perfect gift for film lovers…and for people who still need to be introduced to us. For every $50 worth of gift certificates you purchase, we’ll give you a hearty-sized bag of Candy Cane Granola…making your gift all the sweeter.

NYC was a blast. Thanks to all of you who sent well-wishes!

See you soon at THE NEON,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. December 16 – Thur. December 22:

THE DESCENDANTS (R) 1 Hrs 55 Min

Friday,Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20

MELANCHOLIA (R) 2 Hr 16 Min

Friday: 1:00, 4:00, 9:30

Saturday: 4:00, 9:30

Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 9:30

Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15

WEEKEND (NR) 1 Hr 37 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 7:15

Mon-Thur: 8:00

A CHRISTMAS STORY (PG) 1 Hr 40 Min

Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

Dec. 23 MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

TBD THE ARTIST

Jan. 13 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Jan. 20 SHAME

Jan. 20 CARNAGE

Jan. 27 A DANGEROUS METHOD

WEEKEND – One week only! Starts Friday!

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN…Opening Next week!

Aging Beer Like Fine Wine

December 13, 2011 By Max Spang 3 Comments

Have you ever had a Bud or a Miller that was just a little bit too old? Perhaps someone left it in the garage during a party in the Spring, and you forgot all about it until well after Summer was over. You thought “Oh, what the heck” and cracked it open to see how it tastes.

Uh oh.

If you’ve done something like this, then you are probably scarred for life. The thought of aging beer may sound like a one-way ticket to Skunksville. However, you may be surprised to know beers, like wine, can actually mature for months, years, and even decades. You might even find the occasional bottle that has a “Best After” date rather than a “Best Before” date. The idea of sitting on perfectly good beer for months or years may sound crazy to you at first, but your patience will be rewarded in the long run.

Here are some things to think about regarding aging beers.

The Environment

The most important factor in aging your beer, also called “cellaring”, is the environment in which it will be aged. Throwing it in the garage or attic might be slightly more convenient in terms of space, but that kind of unstable environment is no good for storing beer.

Caves make great environments for beer. You know, for those of you who have an extra cave laying around

The optimum environment for beer is a cool and dark area with minimal temperature fluctuations. Light and high temperatures will do terrible things to beer over time. The optimum temperature range for most beer aging is 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit (10-13 degrees Celsius). You want the bottles to remain relatively dry but have enough moisture in the air to prevent corked beers from drying out. You also want to store your beer upright as opposed to horizontally like wine, even with corked beer. More information on why you store beer upright can be found here.

Unless you have a cave system underneath your house, this environment isn’t necessarily readily available in most homes and apartments. Fortunately, there are other options available. A wine chiller with the racks taken out can make a great spot to age beer. An extra refrigerator with a thermostat may also suffice, but keep in mind that refrigerators are very dry and may cause corked beers to dry out over time. If you have a basement, underneath your stairs or in a in a dark corner may be adequate places to age your beers. If you don’t have a basement, a small closet may be a suitable option. However, the general consensus is that if you are not in optimum cellaring conditions, you should only age beers for 2-3 years max.

Organization

Organization may not be a big concern when you first start aging beers, but after having a large random collection of unidentifiable bottles laying around you’ll learn the importance of organization. How to you go about organizing beer? That is entirely up to you. You may want to organize by brewery, style, age, or other ways.

Make sure your beers are easily-identifiable.

No matter which way you organize, you want to be able to easily identify what the beer is, who makes it, and how old it is.

If you have the space and can afford it, shelving units are some of the best and easiest ways to organize your beer. Just set up a few shelves, and stack the beers with the labels face-out.

You may also want to put dates on the beers that don’t have the “Bottled On” date printed on the label. I personally write the dates on strips of paper, then stick them on the neck of the bottles with clear Scotch tape. Dating bottles is important because it’s easy to lose track of the age of beers as your collection grows.

The Beer

Now that you know a little bit about storage, you can start thinking about the important stuff; the beer. There are a lot of types of beer that are great candidates for aging, and many that are not recommended to be aged. There are a few general rules of thumb regarding what types of beers should be aged:

High Alcohol Beers

Alcohol is one heck of a preservative. High alcohol beers are usually prime candidates for aging because they will remain preserved while the flavors mature over time. Generally speaking, beers over 8-9% Alcohol By Volume (ABV) can be aged for up to a few years. Beers that are much higher, closer to 15% and up, can be aged for many, many years. Not all high ABV beers are good candidates for cellaring, but this is generally a good starting point.

Bottle Conditioned/Refermented Beers

Sometimes, brewers will leave a small amount of yeast when they bottle their brews, which carbonate the beers naturally. These beers are known as “Bottle Conditioned” or “Bottle Refermented” beers. You can tell if a beer is bottle conditioned by holding it up to light and seeing the little slurry of yeast at the bottom of the bottle. Don’t be alarmed if you see this, yeast are perfectly fine to drink – though, you may want to leave the last ounce or so in the bottle as you pour so you do not affect the flavor of your beer. Bottle conditioned beers have live yeast in them, which would love nothing more than you hang out and create subtle flavor changes to your beer over time. Not all bottle conditioned beers can be aged, but it is something to look for on your beer aging quest.

Lambics/Sours

Lambics, and some other sour beers, contain a cocktail of natural yeasts and bacteria. Lambics go through what is called open fermentation or spontaneous fermentation, meaning only natural yeasts and bacteria from the surrounding area are used to ferment the beer. Lambics are considered one of the best beers to age, and many Lambic enthusiasts may argue that they will only get better with time. Generally low in alcohol, these sour beers rely on the living organisms that are contained in the bottle to keep them preserved. Their aging potential is extraordinary – I have read about lambics being aged for over 40 years and still tasting amazing! Other sour beers, such as American Wild Ales, contain many of the same bacteria and natural yeast as Lambics, and will continue to mature as the years go by.

Recommendations of Beers to Age

Not sure where to start? Here’s a few recommendations of beers to grab and age.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. Buy a sixer - drink some now, some later.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
An American Barley Wine, Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot is released once a year in January. The bottle has the year printed right on the cap, which is handy for organization. They sell this beer in six-packs, which gives you the opportunity to easy get a collection started. The beer is very hop-forward when it is fresh, and will mellow out and become much smoother over the years. This is perhaps one of the easiest beers to grab to start your cellar.

Stone Vertical Epic Beers
These beers from Stone are all designed to be aged and enjoyed “Sometime beyond 12.12.12”. The first release of this beer was 02.02.02, and there have been releases every year since (03.03.03, 04.04.04, and so on). Stone has recently released the 11.11.11 batch, which contains a Flanders yeast, chillies, and cinnamon. Grab two bottles of any that you find – one to drink now, and one to drink after 12.12.12. They are generally Belgian-influenced, and each of them has their own style-defying “twists”.

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale
Probably one of the most commonly aged beers, this English Barley Wine comes in at a heft 11.5% ABV. It’s a big, chewy, and sweet beer that will change slowly over time. Vintage bottles of this ale are fairly easy to find (I recently grabbed a 1999 off the shelf!). This is one of those beers that can pretty much be aged for decades, and it’s not uncommon to hear about people sampling vintages of this beer from the 1980s. Barrel-aged versions of this beer are also available.

St. Bernardus Abt 12. A great Quad from Belgium that is perfect for aging.

St. Bernardus Abt 12
The label on this bottle-conditioned Belgian Quad claims that the beer can be aged for up to 15 years. Known as one of the best and most widely available Trappist Quads, the beer has notes of dark fruits, caramel, and spice notes from the Belgian yeast strain. It is available all year round at finer bottle shops.

Some other styles that are usually good candidates for aging: Geueze, Imperial Stout, Barley Wine, American Wild Ale, Old Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Quad, Braggot, Flanders Red Ale, Wheatwine, etc.

Note: There are a few styles of beer that you do not want to age. These include Pale Ales, IPAs*, and other hop-forward styles, as well as low ABV beers such as Berliner Weiss, Wits, Wheat Beers, etc.

*Some beers labeled as IPAs can potentially be aged, I.E. Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA, Founders Devil Dancer, Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree, etc.

Cheers.

For more information, beer reviews, home-brewing banter, and more, check out Snobby Beer.

Meet Jean Howat Berry – Building Culture Through Community at Cityfolk

December 12, 2011 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Pandora, one of artists in residence during the 2011 Culture Builds Community program, works with students (Photo by Rodney Veal)

Jean Howat Berry is the new education and outreach manager at Cityfolk.

Cityfolk is the Dayton-based “only full-time, professional presenter of traditional and ethnic performing arts” in Ohio, according to the Cityfolk website.

Berry’s main responsibility is overseeing the Culture Builds Community program, which is in its sixth year.

“The main thrust of the job is this huge project that happens in the spring,” said Berry.

The CBC project, which culminates in April, focuses on engaging participating elementary students in research and practice of specific cultural activities. The project incorporates local ethnic centers and national and local artists of music and dance.

This year’s Culture Builds Community project is called Sole Rhythms and five neighborhood schools are participating. The schools are Ruskin, Edison, Cleveland, Kiser and Fairview elementary schools.

Each school has its own team that focuses on an assigned specific cultural tradition.

Berry said this year’s theme is percussion music and dance. The traditions of focus include Turkish dance, Mexican folk dance, traditional American spirituals and the roots of jazz, the African American fraternity step dance tradition and old time clogging of Appalachia mixed with Irish step dance.

“The whole idea, and what City Folk strives to do with this, is build community,” she said. “There’s so many different facets to Dayton, because we are so immigrant friendly and because we have tremendous gifted artists that work here, we’re able to pull all those folks together to build a team that can go out and connect with those many communities. Because we’re all really one big community.”

Within the context of the schools, CBC helps kids learn new skills, new information about culture and practice physical activity, since this year’s project is a danced based program.

“Kids have the opportunity to use all facets of themselves within the project,” Berry said.

She said from the kids perspective, the project is completely voluntary. CBC provides a few teasers informing the students about their school’s cultural focus. They will then take 15 students 5th through 8th grade and another 10 participants at 16 and older.

Big Mijo teaches students the basics of krump dancing during the 2011 Culture Builds Community program (Photo by Rodney Veal)

According to Berry, last year’s project only encompassed three schools and took ten students from each. So this year’s project is taking on two-to-three times as many participants.

She wants participants to be educated in their specific cultures, but more so she wants them to learn the importance of commitment.

“We want it to be at will, we want a particular age group, but we mostly want commitment, and that’s something this project really seeks to develop in the young people,” Berry said.

Berry said her previous job working at East End Community Services, which sponsors Ruskin Elementary afterschool programming, prepared her well for her new position. Her theatre background will also be helpful in her new role. She said she’s played the role of the artist educating kids in the classroom, just as the artists she’s assigning to the five groups will do.

Berry said CBC has a fairly broad funding base for this project that includes Sinclair Community College, Dayton Power and Light, Target and Arts Midwest.

“It’s a really exciting program,” Berry said. “I just think that it has the capacity by what it’s goals are to continue to grow and to be a real force for bringing folks together in Dayton and that’s what we really want to reach out and do.”

For more information visit Culture Builds Community online at http://www.cityfolk.org/cbc.htm.

Music Video Monday: December 12, 2011

December 12, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

This week’s video is a new band that features some familiar faces. The New Old-Fashioned is the combined forces of David Payne, Kent Montgomery, Tom Blackbern and Jon Chasteen. The band has roots in Xenia and performed its debut show at the Xenia Area Community Theater (X*ACT) a few weeks ago, which is where today’s video is from. Put this band on your list of folks to watch in 2012, and let’s hear it for the combined forces of local music and community theater. I know I’d love to see more of that kind of collaboration in the new year. Enjoy!

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A Vibrant Dayton Music Scene

December 12, 2011 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Motel Beds - Tango Boys

I am often asked by music fans outside of this area if there is still much music to love from this city. So, rather than denounce the question, I demonstrate the great music that we have here. One reason that Dayton continues to have a thriving music scene is illustrated in the fact that in one weekend we have three great independent shows to attend.

One of the shows from this past weekend, featured the vinyl release of Tango Boys by The Motel Beds at The Canal Street Tavern this past Friday. The ‘Beds played a blistering set with the Buffalo Killers (Cincinnati) and Chocolate Horse (Cincinnati). It was a powerful show. The crowd was so moved by the energy of the performance that they chanted the name of one band member, Deryl. To which, the lead voice of Motel Beds replied, “well, that has never happened before!” This demonstrated the connection between band and audience. No prefabricated sets, no blinding lights, just lovers of music coming together and creating community. The ‘Beds were energized by the release of their great new record, Tango Boys and an appreciative crowd. The Motel Beds played a strong set that focused on their new record but had a few standouts from this prolific band’s earlier work. The ecstatic jumping and swaying of the band was captivating and contagious for the crowd.

Vanity Theft - Get What You Came For

And in the same night that Motel Beds were playing, you have Vanity Theft, Okay Lindon, and Good Sir Con Artist at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District. “Bob’s” has become another important venue in providing independent bands a place to play in Dayton. If there is stronger frontwoman in a rock band than Alicia Grodecki, I might have to disagree. She reaches out to everyone in the venue. The band is fantastic! They connect with their crowd on a level that is tactile, you feel it in your bones. The crunch of Brittany Hill’s deft guitar playing resonates with you long after the song has ended. Attending a Vanity Theft show is like being invited into a secret club where the music and the feeling that it creates makes you feel unique and interconnected at the same time. The show was opened by Okay Lindon who from the beginning with energy and conviction. Okay Lindon is a band that has simply not gotten its due. The band played several songs from their Rotating Dates and Everything in Moderation CDs. The twin guitar attack of O-Lindon is more than ably backed up by a strong bass and amazing drummer. They ended their set with a muscular version of Fastball’s “The Way.” That song has rarely sounded as urgent.

Bonneville - Amy's House

If that was not enough, you then have Bonneville releasing their new CD, Amy’s House with a show at Canal Street this past Saturday. Although the set focused on the new music, the band demonstrated their versatility, tight harmonies, and deft playing. It is incredible to think that this band is as young as they are and play so damn well. Again, the crowd feels a bond with the players and in those musical moments, we connect with one another in the sincere joy of music. You can hear the new album at http://www.bonnevilleband.com/

So, the question is not whether or not music that matters is being created in Dayton. Oh no. What we have here is an embarrassment of musical riches. Dayton has a vibrant music scene indeed! And we have not even begun to talk about The Rebel Set, Guided By Voices, and Me & Mountains who are all working on new music for your listening pleasure in 2012! Or the vast list of terrific bands that you can go see on almost any given weekend. What are you waiting for?

Dayton Ballet presents The Nutcracker

December 8, 2011 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

Kettering Health Network and Vectren present Dayton Ballet’s 18^th annual holiday production, The Nutcracker, December 9-11 and 16-18, 2011. Dayton Ballet has sculpted this classic winter gem to sparkle with Dayton shine, replacing traditional characters with historical Dayton figures, including Virginia Weiffenbach Kettering and Dayton Ballet founders, Josephine and Hermene Schwarz. Dayton Ballet’s professional and pre-professional companies will appear in nine magical performances over two weekends at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.ticketcenterstage.com or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630.

Over 100 children from the Dayton Ballet School and 13 other area dance schools will take the stage in the Miami Valley’s only professional production of The Nutcracker, showcasing the critically acclaimed and nationally recognized Dayton Ballet Company, plus the Dayton Ballet II Senior and Junior Companies and students from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Ohio University dance departments.

Performances of Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker will play Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2:30 p.m.

Celebrity Mother Ginger’s!

Mother Ginger is one of the most colorful and spirited characters in Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker. This year, several local celebrities have volunteered to appear on stage as Mother Ginger.

Ryan Phillips , On-Air Personality and Promotions Director, from 94.5 Lite FM appears Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 PM.
Kim Faris, On Air Personality at 94.5 Lite FM, is a frequentMotherGinger guest, appearing for the fourth year in a row on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2:30 PM.
Neal Gittleman, Music Director for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will make his debut appearance on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 PM.
Rachel Murray, news anchor from WHIO AM/FM and weekend announcer, a.k.a.RoxyReynolds, from K99 will debut on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1:00 PM.

Dave Alexander from the Mix FM 107.7 morning show makes his second appearance on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Mike Hartsock, from WHIO TV, News Center 7 Sports, will once again appear on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2:30 p.m.

Don’t miss your chance to see Daytoncelebrities as Mother Ginger in Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

Have Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy!

Enjoy an English Tea inspired luncheon at the SchusterCenteron Saturday, Dec. 10 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Your ticket for the Sugar Plum Tea will include: desserts from the “Land of Sweets,” Sugar Plum Fairy crafts, listening to The Nutcracker story read by a special guest, pictures with a ballet dancer in costume and the opportunity to participate in a silent auction. You can purchase tickets to the Sugar Plum Tea from Ticket Center Stage. Discounted tickets to The Nutcracker may be purchased in conjunction with tickets to the Tea.

Enter The Nutcracker Coloring Contest!

Enter to win four tickets to Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker, four tickets to Behind the Magic Backstage Tour and autographed keepsakes from the Sugar Plum Fairy. In order to win, children must send Dayton Ballet their coloring page, which can be downloaded at the Dayton Ballet website. Children may also send original artwork inspired by The Nutcracker. Only one entry per child will be considered; children must be between the ages of four and ten and every entry must include the child’s name, age, address, city, state, zip code, parent or guardian’s name, phone number and email on the back of the coloring page. The deadline for all entries is Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. Entries must be mailed or delivered in person to Dayton Ballet 140 N. Main St. Dayton, OH, 45402.

“Behind the Magic” Backstage Tour

The Nutcracker at theSchusterCenter offers excitement and beauty as well as a fun learning experience. Following the Saturday matinee performances, Dayton Ballet will offer “Behind the Magic” BackstageTours (approximately 4:30 p.m.). For $10 patrons can take a backstage tour of theSchusterCenter, meet Dayton Ballet dancers and enjoy refreshments. Simply tell the ticket agent at Ticket Center Stage that you would like the Backstage Tour when you purchase your ticket.

Shop at Dayton Ballet.

If you and those on your holiday shopping list love all things ballet, visit the Ballet Boutique for all of your holiday shopping needs. You can purchase nutcrackers of all shapes and sizes, ballet trinkets and Dayton Ballet apparel to sport around town.

Get a Deal on Nutcracker Tickets.

Visit the Entertainment Book Online and check the Dayton Ballet website at, www.daytonballet.org, for a list of discount opportunities.

For tickets to Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker, the “Behind the Magic” Backstage Tour or the Sugar Plum Tea, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630 or visit online at www.ticketcenterstage.com. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday Noon-4 p.m. and two hours prior to each performance.

Dayton Ballet’s season sponsor is Kettering Health Network. The Nutcracker is presented by producing sponsors Kettering Health Network and Vectren. Performance sponsor is: The Soin Family; Dayton Ballet Media Sponsors include: WHIO TV, 94.5 Lite FM and Dayton Daily News. Additional funding is provided by Culture Works, Ohio Arts Council, Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and Downtown Dayton Partnership.

We have tickets to give away!

CONGRATULATIONS Bethany Locklear – she won tickets for the 12/10 show! BUT WAIT… we have FOUR MORE PAIRS of tickets to give away for the remaining shows from 12/16-12/19 ! We’ll give away one pair for every ten “likes” we get on this article (we have 14 at the time of this update) – so be sure to hit the “like” button when you fill out the form. We’ll announce the remaining winners on Tuesday 12/13 at 2pm – GOOD LUCK!

Contest Closed

Congratulations to our winners!

Janie Hummel
Andrea Hubler
Amy Price
Pam Elswick

Christopher’s New Additions…Uncorked!

December 7, 2011 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

Christopher's, a little something for everyone

Christopher’s Restaurant is one of the better known independent restaurants in Dayton. Excellent vegetarian and vegan fare, unique and innovative dishes, and some of the best French fries in town. Each Thursday they do a theme, and they have daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials that last through the month. These are all things that many of you may be familiar with, especially if you follow them on Facebook, where they frequently list all of their specials.

Something interesting they did not list anywhere, and I had the pleasure of discovering; they now serve wine and beer. According to my server, these new additions just started on Monday. Their selections may not be overflowing, but they are definitely interesting. They have a selection of four red (Noble Vines 667 Pinot Noir, Noble Vines 181 Merlot, Menage a Trois Red Blend, and The Show Cabernet Suvignon) and four whites (Beringer White Zinfandel, Blüfeld Riesling, Fog Head Sauvignon Blanc, and Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay). All of the wines were offered by the glass of by the bottle. While looking around the web, all of these wines had very good reviews. The Show, which was sampled, was big and bold as advertised, with a creamy vanilla and oak finish after a tart cherry bite.

Their beer selection is just as varied. If you are looking forward to having a Bud Light or Miller Lite there, you will be disappointed. You are going to have to settle for Yuengling. They even have the Yuengling Black and Tan. There are a few selections from Samuel Smith (a lager, an ale, and a raspberry ale), always a purveyor of high quality organic beer. Rogue Brewery also makes an appearance with their Dead Guy Ale and American Amber Ale, as does Victory Brewing Company’s Golden Monkey and Hop Devil IPA, and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. They are even kind enough to list the ABV next to the beer, so when the Victory Golden Monkey’s 9.5% ABV comes knocking, you won’t be too surprised. There is a nice selection of beers for all palates at the table.

Christopher’s list of beers and wines is a reflection of their menu in general. They offer a little something for everyone, and of a better quality than most places. It will be interesting to see the evolution of their new menu, if they will start paring it with the specials or other dishes they serve, will any of it end up IN the dishes they serve, and how it could expand as people start to get accustomed to it and make requests. Next time you go in, make sure you take a look, or more importantly a sip, off of their newest menu.

MELANCHOLIA Opens Friday at THE NEON!

December 7, 2011 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

I’m sad to report it, but THE SKIN I LIVE IN did not perform well enough to stick around for a 2nd week. If you still need to see the latest from master filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON.

On Friday, we will begin the latest film from Lars von Trier (director of BREAKING THE WAVES, DANCER IN THE DARK and DOGVILLE). MELANCHOLIA has received a 100% rating from numerous sources including Entertainment Weekly, Variety, The Los Angeles Times, and the cast includes Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, and Charlotte Rampling. (Dunst won “Best Actress” for this part at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.)

Synopsis for MELANCHOLIA: “In this beautiful movie about the end of the world, Justine and Michael are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister Claire, and brother-in-law John. Despite Claire’s best efforts, the wedding is a fiasco, with family tensions mounting and relationships fraying. Meanwhile, a planet called Melancholia is heading directly towards Earth.” (Magnolia Pictures) Click the link to visit the film’s official website.

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I’m certain that some of you will be happy to know that we’re trying out a couple new wines. In addition to the Woodbridge Merlot and Chardonnay, we are trying Carernet Sauvignon and Moscato. If you want to make certain that we keep these two wines in the mix, please order a glass during your next visit.

Current opening dates are moving all around. We don’t know when MY WEEK WITH MARILYN will be available in our market, and we’re disappointed that THE ARTIST has been bumped to sometime in January (which is going to be a very busy time for specialty cinemas). I’ll keep you up-to-date as best I can…that said, this e-mail is the best place for the latest details.

This Saturday marks the 2nd film in The Holiday Family Movie Series…sponsored by The Downtown Dayton Partnership, DP&L and THE NEON. Movies begin at noon and are free for children 12 and under; other tickets are only $2 each. This Saturday will be – THE POLAR EXPRESS. And next week, on December 17, we will play A CHRISTMAS STORY. All of these movies will be presented via digital video projection.

Last week, I mentioned a list of some of our friends and partners in the area, and I’d like to continue that list by thanking 2 additional businesses for their continued help and willingness to spread the word about what’s happening at THE NEON. Omega Music and MJ’s Cafe & Dance Bar always allow me to hang up posters. Without grassroots marketing, positive word-of-mouth and community support, we’d be long gone by now. Thank you!

I’m heading to NYC for a long weekend on Thursday morning. I’m terribly excited to go, and I hope you’ll keep the staff plenty busy while I’m gone.

See you soon,

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. December 9 – Thur. December 15:

THE DESCENDANTS (R) 1 Hrs 55 Min

Friday,Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:45

MELANCHOLIA (R) 2 Hr 16 Min

Friday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45

Saturday: 4:00, 7:00, 9:45

Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45

Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

THE POLAR EXPRESS (PG) 1 Hr 40 Min

Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:

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

In some cases, titles may disappear.

??? MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

TBD WEEKEND

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

TBD THE ARTIST

Jan. 13 TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Jan. 20 SHAME

Jan. 20 CARNAGE

Jan. 27 A DANGEROUS METHOD

Caroling – at The Greene?

December 7, 2011 By Ria Delight Megnin Leave a Comment

“Hark how the bells – ”

“How about this note? ‘Haaaaark…'”

“Hark how the – “

“Wait, that was too high for you last time, right? Let’s, um, ‘HAAARK how the BELLS…'”

“Hark how the bells, sweet silver – “

“OK, good, let’s go. Everybody? One, and a two, and a — ”

We slaughtered the rest of the song, off-key and unsure on the timing of trickier bits. Fortunately, the ever-changing flow of admiring shoppers had hit a lull, and only one mitten-clad couple walked a little faster to escape. We had a good comeback with “Jingle Bells,” though, and then “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” our specialty.

I’ve had the honor of singing carols over the past two weeks at The Greene, the giant outdoor mall off 675 in Beavercreek. It’s a visceral joy to me, caroling, the kind of delight that rises when tickling children or falling down a snow-covered slope in a tangle of teenage friends. I love it when voices weave together to make magic of the night air, traditional songs stirring the part of our hearts that longs for tribe and ritual.

And this year, I get to do it as part of a great cause. The Beavercreek Community Theatre invited volunteers to join its Chorus and provide caroling services for three hours a day on five dates throughout the holiday season. The Theatre, in return, will receive a “generous donation” from The Greene.

It’s an amount far less, I’m sure, than it would cost to pay more professional performers to wander the grassy central square, spreading holiday cheer. Even at $5 an hour and only four carolers at a time, that’d be about $6,000 for a month of serenading shoppers, not to mention the costs of managing all the paperwork or providing liability insurance for people singing in the cold for hours on end.

So I figure, if we’re sometimes a little off-key, it’s OK. You get what you pay for. And we’re not really doing it for The Greene, or for the money.

You can get this hat for $2.99 at partycheap.com. Weird after-effects glow optional.

We’re doing it for the fun. Caroling is a LOT of fun. Getting outside with new and old friends. Laughing over songs we’ve loved since kidhood. Wearing Santa hats and elf ears and plush reindeer antlers tangled with twinkle lights.

And we’re doing it for the shoppers. Especially those achingly cute toddlers who come stumbling up in full snow gear, wide-eyed, and yelp and clap and try to sing along to “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” (We once sang “Rudolph” three times in 20 minutes, just because we kept getting fresh batches of adorable knee-highs coming by, staring at us in awe (or possibly confusion).) And the teenagers! “Too cool” at first, they stand giggling a few yards away until we lure them in, calling out banter and challenges until we convince them that yes, we really do want them to carol with us, and yes, all the cool kids really do join in.

We don’t take donations while caroling, and I doubt the other groups volunteering this year do, either. But we do welcome attendance at plays and direct donations to the Theatre. And even better? We definitely accept walk-on volunteers to join the caroling fun. Our final sessions are 5 to 8 pm Wed., Dec. 14 and 1 to 4 pm Wed., Dec. 21. You might find other groups there at other times, willing to welcome you into their circle of wassail.

Just bundle up warm, follow the lights to the giant tree at the center of the mall, and listen for the sound of (not-so-bad-for-amateurs) joyous singing. The Caribou Coffee hot cocoa’s on us.

“Here we come a-wassailing – “

(“Is that the note?” “Yes! Shh!”)

” – along the Mall so Greene…”

Boulevard Haus Dining Benefits Ronald McDonald House

December 7, 2011 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Boulevard Haus, located at 329 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District, is getting into the holiday spirit and invites you to join them to celebrate the German Way. House specialties include sauerbraten, gulasch, galettes, beef rouladen, sausages and other traditional German fare, complimented by a selection of German beers and wines.

When you dine at Boulevard Haus through December 16th, 10% of your food bill will be donated to the Ronald Mc Donald House in honor of St. Nicholas.
Owner Eva Christian explained that St. Nicholas is celebrated in Germany on December 6th, the anniversary of his death. St. Nicholas dedicated his life to serve God and used his entire inheritance to assist the needy, sick and suffering, in particularly children.

RMHC of the Miami Valley Region, Inc. provides a temporary home-away-from-home for families of critically ill, hospitalized children and supports efforts that improve children’s health within our region.

Boulevard Haus Hours:
Lunch Wed through Fri 11:30 am to 2 pm
Dinner Mon through Sat starting at 5pm

A private party room can accommodate groups of up to 35. Party Trays are also available to cater your offsite events. Call 824-2722 for more information.

Rivertown Lambic – Snobby Beer Video Reviews

December 6, 2011 By Max Spang 2 Comments

This is the Snobby Beer Review of the Lambic made by Rivertown Brewing Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio. The beer style is a lambic, which goes through what is called spontaneous fermentation where natural yeasts and bacteria are used to ferment the beer. Lambics are known for their “wild” flavors, which may include sourness and what is affectionately referred to as “funk”.

It’s a very interesting style, and it was brewed right here in Ohio! This beer is the 2010 vintage. It can still be found at finer bottle shops in the Dayton, Cincinnati, and other areas where Rivertown is distributed.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afijtisA5Q4′]

Questions? Suggestions? Let me know what you think! Grab a beer and leave a comment.

Holiday Best Bets (Dec 7 – 11)

December 6, 2011 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Have you found your holiday spirit yet? Perhaps a Candlelight Christmas Tour of the Oregon District will do it, or a stop at Trolley Stop’s monthly Beer Tasting on Wed night or UD Department of Music Christmas Concert may be just the thing it takes to put you in the mood for ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery at DVAC.

You can start your Thursday out with Morning Meditation or a Breakfast Briefing: Street Smart Secrets for Change Management. Then move on to An Evening of Song and Celebration: Herald Angel Night at Calvary Cemetary or you can attend WSU’s 29th Madrigal Dinner or check out some Dayton Originals at Pecha Kucha Night Volume 9. A Taste of Wine has declared it THREE WINE THURSDAY while Therapy Cafe says it Karaoke Night.
On Friday enjoy Bach’s Lunch: Holiday Favorites from Carillon Brass then you can shop the Christmas Downtow n Annual Holiday Bazaar and stop by the Opening Reception for A Modern Focus: Photography by Major Larry Faulkner. For a little refreshment Miami Valley Wine & Spirits has a Super Beer Tasting or maybe All You Can Eat Fish $7.25 will get you ready for Star-Late Skates or an evening with Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Maybe you’d rather laugh your night away with Bob & Tom favorite Donnie Baker & The Pork Pistols & Friends then head over to Blind Bob’s for Vanity Theft, Good Sir Con Artist, and Okay Lindon.

On Saturday you can have Breakfast with Woodland Santa, shop The Tike’s Shop, then run across the street for Pizza with Santa before your see the Family Movie Series: The Polar Express. After that you’ll be ready for the Sugar Plum Tea and the Behind the Magic Backstage Tour at the Schuster. Then drop of the kids and get ready for the Santa Pub Crawl in the Oregon District or do your own tour of Woodland Lights and then stop by the Beer Tasting at Heather’s in Springboro. For a non-traditional holiday outing you can enjoy Tidings of Pasties & Joy Burlesque Show w/Viva Valezz or head out to hear the Springfield Symphony Orchestra: The Music of Billy Joel.

Start your Sunday with a Santa Claus Brunch at Yankee Trace or explore the European Christmas Brunch at L’Auberge. then make your way to the Community Christmas Concert or enjoy the inspiring acrobats at Traces playing at the Victoria. Or relax with a little football and HOLIDAY BEER TASTING or maybe you’d rather have an endless spaghetti Sunday. It’s not the holiday without Handel’s Messiah or The Great Cane Hunt and Dayton has them both!

This column was created by Jane Krebs, and while she’s taking a break, we’re doing our best to keep bringing you the best that Dayton has to offer. and now in honor of Jane’s love of jokes:

Why does Santa have a garden?

So he can hoe, hoe, hoe!

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, we encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!

Buses, Deliveries, Radio Shows, Civil Rights, and History: How One Man from Xenia Spent His Time in the Sixties

December 5, 2011 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Roy S. Hieatt

“I lived through it,” Roy S. Hieatt, my father, tells me. The year was 1959, and he was on a racially segregated bus from Biloxi, Mississippi to Corbin, Kentucky, his birthplace. A year later in Greensboro, North Carolina, four black students, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and two others from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College sat in the whites only section of an F. W. Woolworth’s diner. Their seemingly small initial protest against the hypocrisy of “separate but equal” was a brushfire that ignited a civil rights movement across the nation. Although Roy was on a bus headed further north, the social and cultural flames would make their way to his eventual new home in Xenia, Ohio.

It’s common to think of “the 60s” as a time of hippies, peace, love, Woodstock, and the “summer of love,” but the early years of the decade leading up to those momentous history-makers were turbulent, violent, and uncertain. For my dad, who was on a leave from the Air Force taking that bus north, the question of what to do with his life was met with the rapid changes that flooded every part of America. Indeed, even in a small town like Xenia, Ohio and its neighboring areas, the culture caught fire as much as it did in larger cities and the South.

Years later, on the way home from the state of Washington after his service in the Air Force was finished, Roy made a stop by accident in Xenia “the summer of 1962,” on the way back home to Lebanon, Ohio, “for some reason which I don’t remember,” and suddenly his life was changed. He got a job he wasn’t looking for that same day at the Western Union office. He only “had been in the town once before, when Lebanon played the OSSO home in a football game.” By 1963, the signs of the upcoming hippie years had arrived when two Swedish college girls stopped in the Western Union office to pick up telegrams on their way to enroll at Antioch College. Roy remembered them, when he saw the two some time later again at the office, this time donning the early counter-culture fashions of the peace and love movement.

While still on the first day of the job at Western Union, Roy “met a fellow who owned the Xenia City Delivery company,” and who had stopped by the office to pick up a telegram. He was looking to retire and Roy soon bought the company. “As the business grew, we were delivering everything from telegrams to flowers, to drug prescriptions, to furniture, to appliances, groceries, and the most unique was going to the liquor store for old ladies who didn’t want to go there themselves.” Eventually he made one of his rarest of deliveries in Yellow Springs, witnessing a historic event unfold in its early moments.

March 14, 1964, Jim Fearn, a black student from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, sat in Lewis Gegner’s barber shop chair and wouldn’t move. Gegner asked him to leave, the barber stubbornly refusing to cut the hair of Fearn. The sit-ins were now here in Ohio, and Roy was making a delivery that day. Noticing the commotion from his position “a block north of the group,” Roy picked up a public phone to call the news director at WHBM, the Xenia radio station. By the time the news and police arrived, “200 people took the street . . . in front of Gegner’s shop,” the Yellow Springs News reports. Police officers from three counties were on the scene to gas and hose the crowd. It made the national news and many cite the event as a strong moment on the Civil Rights Movement timeline.

But another rare delivery was in the works. Roy delivered the internal mail for Ohio Bell, the former telephone company. “Between their buildings,” he tells me. It was during one of these trips that he met Carlotta, my future mother. A woman, who Roy says, “was one class act.”

After that, Roy moved on to other work. When he tells me about his twenties during the sixties, trying out all sorts of occupations, I recall I did the exact same thing in my twenties during the noughties. The fact that we both worked at a dry cleaners for a time makes me smile.

1963 to 1964 was a particularly interesting time for Roy. He found himself in a two-year stint at WHBM, the radio station he had called about the barber shop sit-in. For “three months every Sunday morning,” Roy would don the gear of the radio personality and put on “Historical Highlights with Hieatt,” a half-hour show for locals that “featured stories of Ohio’s history.” During the rest of his time at the station, “the weekends from sign on till noon, I played music, did the news, ran the board for the other Sunday morning shows, the church shows. When not on the air, I did the news beat, like checking the police blotter from the previous night.”

Downstairs in the station building was a bar Roy found himself in for two weeks, and not to drink, but to bartend. I ask him how that went. He laughs, and tells me not very well, that he “didn’t know what he was doing.” He was back to driving again before long, shuttling people around the city in a taxi. Roy wasn’t through with cars and newsmakers by 1965 though.

“Desperate Departure” was the headline in the Xenia Daily Gazette. Don Morrow, a friend of Roy’s, had a tiny Austin Sprite sports car. The two of them had a bit of fun when they called the paper and reported that my 260-lb dad was stuck inside the car and finally figured the only way out was by crawling. The paper ran the story and caught the moment of escape on camera.

Roy may not give himself much credit for his adventures in Xenia, Ohio in the sixties, maybe even feeling like the crawling out of a car stunt was not far from the truth, but for a man that took himself from the backwoods of Kentucky to a family that would later sprout in Beavercreek, Ohio, in a time of uncertainty and social upheaval, one where his daughter would follow in her father’s love of history to graduate from college with a degree in it, I have to sit back to ponder all the accidental connections that led to my birth. If Roy hadn’t made that stop in Xenia, I surely wouldn’t be here, and he wouldn’t have been part of a historic moment, and all the moments of change he experienced in the town of Xenia, Ohio of that famous decade.

In my conversation with Roy, we got to talking about the Civil Rights Movement and race relations, and he suddenly blurts out with passion: “People are people! I don’t care if you’re black, white, purple, indigo. There are good people and bad people in every group.”

I’m left thinking on his words for several weeks, and then I stumble on a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., given in a speech in 1966 at the Illinois Wesleyan University: “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, ‘Wait on Time.'”

And with that, I thank my dad, who I’m secure in saying is one of the good people, for his lack of “silence and indifference” in telling me his story.

T. E. Hieatt is a resident of Dayton, Ohio, a history graduate from Sinclair Community College, pursuing a bachelor’s in history at Wright State University. Her father, Roy, has also lived and worked in the city. When she’s not studying, she loves conquering limitations by kicking at the walls between her writing, music, art, and entrepreneurship.

Lash Envy Part 1

December 2, 2011 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Someone once said that a woman’s best accessory is a well dressed man on her arm. Obviously it was a man who said this because women know the best accessory is great eyelashes! Nearly every woman I have ever asked what they won’t leave the house without responds with, mascara. If eyes are the windows to the soul then we are experts on putting the best drapery’s on them. Lashes and making them look good is a million dollar industry. From mascara to false eyelashes women are willing to go the distance to make our eyes look glamorous. So what is the big difference between all the options and what will work best for you?

The first and cheapest option is mascara. If you go into your local drugstore you will find about 50 different mascaras that promise you they can change your world. In a nutshell maybe three can make a difference and the other 47 will be as disappointing as a bad date. Here’s the scoop. Drugstore brands are often made in the same labs as high end cosmetics. For example Loreal is Lancome. Are the products the same? Yes and no. There are products that are very close to department store brand and some that are a poor man’s version. Don’t despair there are mascaras out there for everyone in every price range. So where to start? Look at your lashes are they thin, curly, long, short or maybe you are lucky enough to have full lashes. Determining your lash type will make a world of difference in what you should be buying. Once you have figured that out look for a formula designed for your lashes. Here are a few that I suggest:

Rimmel London Lycra Lash Extender-This mascara gets every tiny lash then lengthens it, plumps it and darkens it until both eyes are equal.

Loreal Paris Voluminous Original – L’Oreal certainly did an [apt] job when naming this mascara ‘voluminous.’ The thick brush applicator does a great job of separating the lashes and giving great definition

Almay One Coat Nourishing Mascara– Great for sparse lashes and lengthing plus it’s great for sensitive eyes!

Prescriptives False Lashes– Great for length, curl and bottom lashes

Dior Blackout– My personal favorite- Provides length, volume and lots of drama!!

Lancome Hypnose– A cult favorite lengthen’s, thickens and provides a very natural dramatic lash.

So you have the mascara now how do you apply it correctly? There aren’t really any secrets. You start at the bottom of your lashes and wiggle the brush to coat them. My advice don’t overcoat or you will look like a spider. As for bottom lashes gently tap the mascara brush to coat them and be careful not to get it clumpy. Women often ask me if they should coat the bottom lashes. While I prefer it, it really comes down to personal preference. As long as you are not over coating the lashes it can really enhance and frame the eye to give you a complete look.

Its Friday night and your lashes just are not enough for your hot date what to do?? False lashes of coarse! I find that women are very intimidated by false lashes. I have heard it all from throwing them across the room to poking themselves in the eye. Ladies they are not that scary I promise! The first thing you need to do is buy the correct kind to start with. I highly recommend the Ardell brand in the “babies” style. These are a great first timer lash set and they look great on everyone. You will also need glue. I suggest the DUO brand in the dark. Now how to apply them:

Where to start? Applying false lashes will be the last step of your eyes. So, make sure to prime your eyes with an eye shadow primer(Clinique touch base), apply your eye shadow and eyeliner & you’ll be ready to apply your false lashes!

Why apply them last? You apply false lashes last because you want your lashes to be very black and clean of any eye shadow or other products. If you apply them first, you may have lashes that are full of eye shadow. If you’d like, you can apply a thin coat of mascara beforehand. But it’s not necessary. I like having a thin coat of mascara on my lashes before I apply false lashes.

Step 1: Take your false lashes out of the box. Using your tweezers (or fingers), gently peel the lashes off of the tray. You don’t want to apply too much pressure, or else you may bend or damage the band.

Step 2: Using your pointer finger and thumb, you want to hold both ends of the eyelashes at the bottom band. Lightly move both of your hands up and down a centimeter or so. Doing this will stretch the band so it isn’t as stiff. This will help the lashes sit better on the contour of your eyelid.

Step 3: Now we are going to test the lashes to see if they are the correct length for your eye shape. If you have smaller eyes, you may need to cut a little bit. Pick up the according eyelash to your eye. The shortest part of the lashes should be matched up near your tear-duct. The longest part should be at end. The way you will set them on your eyelid is with the curl facing up. Set the lashes down in the middle of your lash line. Look to see where your natural lashes start (inner corner) and pull the false lashes to the same spot. Look to see if the band extends farther out (outer corner) than your natural lash line. If it extends out longer, grab the end with your thumb & pointer finger and lift them off.

Step 4: With your scissors, cut off any excess lashes. (Set it on your lash line again to see if you cut enough)

Step 5: Squeeze a little dab of lash adhesive on a clean surface. Don’t apply it from the tube directly to the lashes. A lot of product comes out at once and you don’t want to damage the lashes.

Step 6: Using any tool you’d like for precise application of the glue, (many like to use a toothpick or the opposite side of the tweezers)pick up the glue up. Don’t worry it’s too much. You don’t want it to be too little, otherwise your lashes might not stick well.

Step 7: Pick your lashes up with your fingers or your tweezers and drag the glue across the band of the lashes. Apply a little more to each end of the lashes, as they are the spots that tend to wear off.

Step 8: Pick the lashes up with a tweezer, holding them in the middle – close to the band but not touching the glue.

Step 9: It’s difficult to apply lashes while looking straight forward into a mirror. The easiest way is by sitting down or standing up and tilting your head back a little – so when you look forward, your eyes are slightly squinted. This way, you’ll be getting a better view of your lashline. Like you did in Step 3, set the lashes down on your eyelid as close as possible to the base of your natural lashes, but not touching them. They should be on your eyelid, not your lashes. Make sure they are lined up with the start of your natural lashes before you press them down on your skin.

Step 10: Once the lashes are lined up with your lashes, grab the beginning of the lashes with your tweezers and press it down on your lid. Again, make sure they are lined up with the start of your natural lashes. You don’t want them to be any closer to your tear-duct, or it may cause your eyes to water or a pinching sensation. There should be a small space. Grab the outer end and press it down on your skin. Work quickly before the glue sets.

Step 11: Go along the whole band, pressing it down onto your skin with the tweezers.

Step 12: To make sure it’s very secure, use a brush (smudge brush, eyeliner/brow brush, etc) or sponge applicator and go across the band again pressing it down on your skin.

Step 13: Wait patiently for 1-2 minutes while the adhesive dries completely.

Step 14: For this step, you can use eye liner (liquid/pencil or gel) or a dark eye shadow (brown, black, etc). If you’re using an eye shadow, take a small smudge brush and smudge the shadow on your lid, close to your lash line – blending it into the band of the false lashes. This will blend in the band better as well as cover up any adhesive you may have gotten on your eyelid. If you’re using a liquid liner, line your eyes as you normally would – against the band of the lashes.

Step 15: Apply a coat of mascara to your lashes, starting at the base of your natural lashes all the way up to the end of the false lashes. This will blend your natural lashes in better with the false lashes as well as make the lashes look darker.

So now you have the tools to make your lashes glam for a day at the office to a night on the town. In part two of this article I will be discussing lashes more in depth from extensions to lash dip what you need to know and if it is a good match for you.

Give without being taken (part two)

December 2, 2011 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

In part one of this series, I explored a couple religious views on how and why to give to people in need this season. Continuing to examine my own conscience, I’m a little less heavenly now and floating closer to home.

It’s a serious problem – and it’s not just our problem. Art imitates life, and the recent production of Les Miserables that impressed local audiences offered us one perspective on the situation:

At the end of the day you’re another day older
And that’s all you can say for the life of the poor
It’s a struggle, it’s a war
And there’s nothing that anyone’s giving
One more day standing about, what is it for?
One day less to be living.

Lest you think this story encourages us to only empathize with the situation of the poor (Occupy Saint-Michel, anyone?), Victor Hugo demonstrates how people take advantage of generosity. Two of the most celebrated characters in the show are the Thénardiers – an innkeeper and his wife who (in addition to flat out thievery) lie about their situation to get more money out of people. So – it’s a problem as old as time. The poor legitimately need support, but there are people who play on those sympathies and manipulate us to get something for nothing. And those people give those in need a bad rep. Seems like Hugo’s world is somewhat similar to our own serious problems.

But back to the streets of Dayton. When the panhandling law in town was passed, local business owner Karl Williamson was a big proponent of change. You may have seen one of his two videos on the DaytonInformer site talking about panhandling. Karl owns and operates Urban Krag – a downtown climbing gym inside an old church building (seriously cool). Karl has the perspective of a downtowner who lives, works, and plays Dayton. It’s been a little while since the law went into effect, so I went back to Karl to get his thoughts on how to approach panhandling and what he’s seeing on the streets.

Megan Cooper – Do you feel like panhandling has gone down since the new law went into effect?

Karl Williamson – I feel it has, especially at the major intersections as well as on and off ramps downtown. Shortly after the law was put in place (the panhandlers) did move into the neighborhoods and business districts a bit more, but even that has died off or at least I’m not seeing it.

MC – As a business owner, how does panhandling negatively affect your business?

KW – Around a year ago, I had a family in from Indiana. They… had food delivered and spent the day here; they spent quite a bit of money here, including big tips for employees working that day. The father talked of making it a monthly family outing. On their way out the door they were confronted by a panhandler. The father was so afraid for his children that he stepped in between the children and the panhandler. I haven’t seen that family back here since. It not only affects my business, but downtown as a whole.

MC – Do you ever personally give to people on the streets who ask?

KW – I did when I first moved down here, but not anymore. Now it depends on what they are asking for or the reason behind why they want money. If it’s for food, I offer to buy them food; if they decline then I know they are trying to pull a con. I’ve bought food for panhandlers twice since i have lived down town (15 years). If they are asking for a ride, if its within reason, I might give them a ride, but I never give them money.

MC – So this makes me wonder – is it our responsibility to have to determine who legitimately needs help and who’s pulling a con?

KW – Responsibility? That I’m not sure of, people do what they want to do; I simply don’t like being taken by someone pulling on my heart strings. How do you know you’re helping them? Maybe it’s a drug addict needing money for a fix. It’s a good idea to take a look at the person before reaching into your pocket. Usually folks that ask for money while using an iPhone and wearing $200.00 sneakers are pulling a con. It’s also not a bad idea to be aware of your environment – what’s going on around you. The instant you reach into your pocket, you’re unconsciously showing them where you are keeping your money, it may be a set up for a mugging. Bottom line: use common sense.

MC – What do you believe can be done to raise the level of living in our community without supporting panhandling?

KW – I would love to see the “kindness meters” installed downtown. People keep forgetting about the money in this dilemma. People are willing to give and they want to help – the kindness meters simply intercept that money from the panhandlers (which is always questionable) and give it to outreach programs. The only real way you’re going to know if you have really helped someone is to give to the outreach programs. Dayton has a big heart, and I’m really tired of seeing liars and cheats take the money away from folks that really need it.

Karl’s last statement is my exact dilemma – how are we as people to determine who really needs it? Although it takes some of the personal interaction away (and I’m not saying if that’s a good or a bad thing) – giving to the outreach programs does seem like a solution. Of course, there’s always questions about how much of your money goes to administrative costs – but on the flip side, these larger programs have more buying power. So your $5 may cover one meal for a person you meet on the street, but that small amount of money can make a bigger difference at a local agency. For example, it costs St. Vincent de Paul only $10 to provide 3 meals.

In pursuit of a deeper perspective, I wanted to talk to someone who works with those in need on a daily basis. I talked to Terry Williamson (no relation to Karl) from St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and asked her about this challenge. Personally, she gives change to the person on the street who asks with the belief that it’s not her responsibility to determine how that money is used. Rather than question how the money is used she says, “to me that’s losing faith in your fellow human being… and if you don’t have faith in your fellow man, that’s sad.”

But she can’t make that call for anyone else, and she understands that it may not be feasible to give money every time you’re asked. When approached, Williamson also communicates to those in need that there is a shelter (SVdP never turns people away although there is a limited number of beds) where hot meals and a warm environment is available. When I asked her what those of us who may be more cynical can do when we are approached for money, she recommended carrying bus tokens to offer to those in need. A bus token meets a very specific need and can’t easily be used for other purposes.

Williamson says, “Many of us don’t have to think about where that next meal comes from.” She reminded me, “The need gets greater as it gets cold out…The people that we see come from all walks of life and are each individual people with their own individual stories. It’s not just a ‘herd’ of people or a ‘class’ of people; it is all people.” Speaking of the people they serve – over 50 children go to the shelter for a warm place to sleep, staying overnight in a large dorm room with 70 women.

Speaking to Williamson reinforced the idea that regardless of those who panhandle for profit, there is still a great need in the community. And as the weather turns colder and with the end of year appeals, it is important to find a way to offer something. Maybe that’s with manpower; Williamson said of SVdP, “We use about 800 volunteers a month doing a number of different things – preparing meals, serving meals, washing sheets and towels, handing out baskets.” Maybe it’s by giving financially to an organization you can trust (you can check out many charities through online resources like CharityNavigator or BBB). Or maybe it’s by brightening someone’s day with a smile and saying hello to the person on the street you usually walk by. It’s an individual decision, and one that I’m still struggling with finding the right thing for me.

But I will share – as I was putting this article together (it’s been a long time coming) – I thought about the people I ran into. And just this week, a man stopped me outside the coffee shop with a story of how he needs some cash to get on the bus. I lied. I said I didn’t have any cash. But since I was about 30 minutes early for my meeting, I offered to walk with him over to the bus station to buy a token. He was really grateful and said yes! Honestly, I was surprised; the cynic in me was expecting him to say no (with the thought that it wasn’t really a bus ride he needed). But we began to walk. And we talked. He told me he came from the SVdP shelter, but the one downtown is only for women and children, so he had to make his way out to Gettysburg Avenue. And we talked about the shops downtown. And we talked about the weather. And when we got to the bus station, I bought him a few tokens (and kept some for myself – to use or give away). I know it’s ridiculous, but on this sunny day I enjoyed walking with a total stranger and doing something nice and easy. It won’t always happen. I know myself well enough to know that it won’t happen when I’m cold or when it’s raining or when I’m late to a meeting. But I’m glad it happened when it did, and I hope I do it again.

So – my challenge for you, dear reader (if you’ve been able to put up with this long self-examination), is to do something just outside your comfort zone. Do it the way it feels right for you. Maybe that’s to offer change in your pocket or maybe that’s to volunteer for a few hours. Maybe it’s to work for systemic change to make Dayton a place where basic needs are met in ways that stop panhandling. But whatever it is, try something new this season and see how you feel.

A Simply De’Lish Experience

December 2, 2011 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Some would consider honesty within a business’s practice an important component, and as a customer, you want what you were promised, right? So what if I told you that this downtown Dayton café and bar fulfills the promise it holds within its title? That this restaurant literally holds true to its name? Well, let me enlighten you. De’Lish is both the description of this venue, as well as the cuisine they serve as part of their entire dining experience. And “experience” may not even do justice to what really happens behind those lovely curtained front doors of De’Lish on the corner of Main and First. After having their doors open FOR A WHOLE YEAR, they are ready to throw a royal celebration! Details to come…

On a recent chilly Friday, I had the opportunity of sitting down (in front of their gorgeous bar) with Jasmine Brown, one of the co-owners of De’Lish along with Tawana Knight. “My fiancé and I had always wanted a lounge and bar,” described Jasmine, and when they came across the space downtown, they fell in love with it immediately. Jasmine explained that running your own restaurant is like everyone warns: “it is a very demanding business, but it’s worth it for the look on people’s face when they taste the food. And then you see your first repeat customers and eventually, you see regulars, and you just know you’re doing something good.” They started business last December, and this Saturday, December 3, marks their one year anniversary! Congratulations are in order.

This venue is known for their dining experience, in every sense of the word. While enjoying their wide selection of cuisine, De’Lish also provides the entertainment. They host poetry readings twice a month, from local poets. Local comedians even had a chance at the stage just a few Sundays ago for their second comedic night. They have even hosted a night full of Reggae musicians, where groups from Columbus traveled over to Dayton to share an evening with the guests at De’Lish. When discussing this, I could really feel Jasmine’s emphasis on supporting local people. Even all the art within the room was unveiled specifically for De’Lish by a local artist named Amanda Sue Allen. As much as possible, the wonderful staff at De’Lish tries to incorporate people within the surrounding community into their events. They feature a variety of local talents, as well as serving up their own variety within an average week. Below is a map to the endless celebration taking place within this relaxed, yet elegant setting:

Monday: Monday Night FootballTuesday: A very laid back evening
Wednesday: “Wind down” with 50 cent wings and wine specials
Thursday: Another relaxed evening
Friday-Saturday: When the party is happening!! Live entertainment begins at 9 PM
Sunday: Delicious brunch, where the chefs feature different food than usually on the menu
Bonus: Complementary Valet ParkingWednesday-Sunday

De’Lish is known for its dining atmosphere. It is fine dining, but by no means has that stuffy feeling some restaurants carry. The setting is close enough that you can get to know your neighbor and interact with those around you if you so choose, but is also private enough that it’s the perfect date night. Jasmine commented about how she has had the privilege to observe complete strangers build relationships over dinner or coordinate business transactions from the table across the way. It truly is a community, where every member is welcome and invited in with welcoming smiles. Numerous customers have commented on De’Lish’s “ambiance” and the live entertainment allows the guests to see a show while they enjoy their meal. So it’s pretty obvious that these folks like to have a good time, right? And now you must be wondering what’s “under the table” for their anniversary this Saturday.

A celebration for their guests. That’s what Jasmine and her lovely crew at De’Lish have decided to cater to for this celebration of the anniversary of their opening, one year ago on December 3^rd. The main purpose of this celebration is “to give back to the customers”. So what’s on tap? A radio station will be broadcasting at De’Lish from 5 PM to 7 PM. Hor’deurves will be passed throughout the celebration and a medley of local bands will also be performing, each having an hour set. “We have some really great bands coming in,” gleamed Jasmine, who should definitely be excited for the anniversary of a truly beautiful lounge and bar. Interviewing her, I could really see her passion for the success of this restaurant and for the relationships she holds with her customers. The guests represent all parts of Dayton—all ages, all demographics. “There is such a wide spectrum of guests from day to day, and I have been told by many of them, ‘I just feel so comfortable here.’” I definitely could feel that same level of comfort as I sat with Jasmine in the elegant lighting of De’Lish, conversation flowing as if we were old friends. I asked what knowledge this one year has bestowed upon her, and she responded, “I have learned to be patient, to wait for things. Also, I cannot please everyone.” These words of wisdom most definitely apply to our everyday lives, too.

On to the eats? Now that we have been welcomed into such a dazzling venue, feel at home with the friendly faces around us, and a show is available for our entertainment, it’s time to discuss the real reason you came to De’Lish. It is a restaurant—so what about their menu? When I asked Jasmine her favorite item, she genuinely had a hard time picking just one, because she “absolutely love[s] so much on the menu.” She finally narrowed it down to three, still teetering among their delicious Lamb Chops, the best Turkey Burger, and the great seafood De’Lish offers (they have served Sea Bass three different ways, all of which have wowed taste buds of countless guests over this past year). And their roasted hummus, made in house and served with crispy pita bread is a must-try. Honestly, with De’Lish’s “pretty awesome team,” including celebrity Chef Mark Brown and “Chef of the Year” sous chef Anthony Head, it’s not surprising their wide selection is nothing but spectacular.

So why De’Lish? Think back to when TV dinners started taking the nation by storm. Dinner + a show = a pretty good time. The major negative thing about these TV dinners were that they took away important bonding time for American families during dinner. De’Lish offers even better entertainment than any television show would be able to cook up and thrives on the bonding and interaction between its guests over a most delicious meal. A sense of belonging ensues from such a dining experience, and the fact that there’s great cuisine is the kicker. Such a variety is embodied within the menu; no one will be disappointed. All in all—it’s great food, a chance to get involved in the Dayton community, and entertainment all comfortably placed within this bar and lounge on First and Main. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience waiting for you, especially ushering in De’Lish’s new year this Saturday, starting at 5 PM.

All that’s left to do is get your party hat on!

Address: 139 N. Main Street Downtown Dayton, Dayton, OH 45402

Hours: Tues: 11AM – 7PM

Wed-Thu: 11AM – 10PM

Fri: 11AM – 2AM

Sat: 5PM – 2 AM

Sun: 11AM – 4PM

Reservations and Catering: (937) 461- CAFE (2233)