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Archives for February 2012

Food Adventure’s Small Bites for 2/16/2012

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Banana Rum Crunch Crepe

Welcome to FOOD ADVENTURES‘ bi-weekly feature called

“Small Bites,” which is simply a quick take on some of our favorite local food items.

Here are our “Small Bites” for 2/16/2012:

 

THE BANANA RUM CRUNCH CREPE at BOULEVARD HAUS:

We appreciates fantastic food from German heritage.  Boulevard Haus in Dayton’s Oregon District is a favorite stop.  This German restaurant, with a contemporary twist, has developed one of the greatest desserts that we have ever eaten.    It is called the Banana Rum Crunch Crepe.  This monstrous crepe is $6.95 and can be shared among your entire table.  It is loaded with bananas, white chocolate, rum sauce, and is topped with pecan brittle and whipped cream.  This dessert is a MUST, and sticks out among the other amazing menu items at Boulevard Haus.  The crepe tastes so good that it is like an Oktoberfest in your mouth!

 

THE PEEL AND EAT SHRIMP at DUNAWAY’s BEEF and ALE:

Perfect Peel and Eat

Nothing beats a great appetizer to get your taste buds tingling.  Food Adventures has found one such joy at Dunaway’s Beef and Ale in Troy, Ohio.  Their Peel and Eat Shrimp are fresh, crisp, and spiced just perfectly.  This addicting menu item goes perfectly with a pint of beer, and Dunaway’s has a great selection of drafts.  These shrimp are definitely one of the best cold appetizers around.  The Cajun spice dust on the shells helps create the perfect flavor that will have you craving more.  The shrimp are large and can be ordered by themselves, or part of a full dinner deal.  Check the specials, and you may get to have this treasure at a reduced price.

 

THE BIG RAGU SUGGESTS:

99 Cent Hand Rolls at Saya

THE 99 CENT HAND ROLLS at SAYA:

In Fairborn, one of the best kept secrets is a restaurant called Saya.  Located on Kauffman Road, they have some of the freshest tasting sushi around.  Their most superb deal is the 99 cent hand roll.   Let’s face it, sushi can be expensive, so take advantage of this item’s bang, for less than a buck.  The Big Ragu prefers the spicy tuna hand roll.  Put Saya on your Food Adventure Hit List, and you wont be disappointed in their selection.

 

 

THE SUPER DUPER CHEESESTEAK CHALLENGE at THE SUBMARINE HOUSE:

16 Inches of Heaven

Let the Big Ragu suggest a tasty, food challenge for those with big appetites.  The Submarine House has held a yearly event called the Super Duper Cheese Steak Challenge.   Actually, it is going on right now until March 18, 2012.  If you can eat a 16 inch Super Duper Cheesesteak in 16 minutes,  it is FREE !  The “Super Duper” version of the cheesesteak means 3 times the meat and cheese as their normal 16 inch sub.  The cheesesteak must be topped with the “works,” which means mushroom, onion, hot peppers, mayo, lettuce and tomato.  If your time is good enough, you can move on to the finals at a later date!  The Big Ragu ate his sandwich in 6 minutes, but was nowhere near the champion’s time of 2 minutes.  The cheesesteak is fantastic and the event benefits Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.

 

Have you had one of our favorite SMALL BITES ?  Please feel free to comment below and let us know what you think !

Check out Food Adventures on FACEBOOK and “LIKE” us to become an Official Fan …

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/Small bites 021712/]

 

Pop-Up Project Seeking Business Owners to Open Downtown

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Guests at Beaute Box, one of the businesses that opened downtown as part of the first phase of the Pop-Up Project.

Guests at Beaute Box, one of the businesses that opened downtown as part of the first phase of the Pop-Up Project.

Activated Spaces, an initiative to fill downtown storefronts, is accepting applications for temporary retail and service businesses to open downtown as part of the second phase of its Pop-up Project. The project matches business owners and entrepreneurs who want to try out a business concept with downtown property owners who have first-floor storefront space available for occupancy.

Interested retailers should fill out an application, which can be downloaded at www.activatedspaces.org, and email it to Sherri Wierzba at [email protected]. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 9. Tenants will be selected March 30, and retailers must be ready to open by May 1.

Lease lengths will range from three to six months. The spaces will have varying lease rates, but will be leased below market value. Activated Spaces volunteers will connect retailers with commercial property owners, help make the space move-in ready, and promote the business during such events as First Friday and Urban Nights. Selected businesses will negotiate leasing terms directly with the selected property owner, but flexibility for the tenant is a priority.

Activated Spaces volunteers hope to build on the success of the Pop-Up Project’s pilot phase, when three businesses filled 2,300 square feet of space. Two of those businesses ― Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St. ― are looking to convert their temporary leases into traditional long-term ones. Another business, Basho Screen Printing and Apparel, opened a second area location at 521-523 E. Fifth St. after being drawn to the space when it was occupied by Comfort & Joy, which offered holiday gifts, during the Pop-Up Project’s pilot.

Commercial property owners interested in offering space to interested retailers should contact Sherri Wierzba or Erin Gillespie at 937-224-1518. Participating property owners will be listed on the Activated Spaces website. Once a match is made, a limited amount of money is available to be distributed in $250 increments at the discretion of the Activated Spaces team for such purposes as offsetting utility costs, making cosmetic improvements to the space or other necessities for making the space operational.

The grand opening celebration of Pop-Up Shop Peace on Fifth.

The grand opening celebration of Pop-Up Shop Peace on Fifth.

Activated Spaces, a volunteer-led initiative spearheaded by young professional organizations Generation Dayton and updayton, has three main goals:

• reactivate and beautify vacant storefronts with creative displays

• encourage entrepreneurs, artists and community groups to occupy space for short- and long- term uses

• showcase downtown properties and increase interest and investment in available space

Activated Spaces is part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown. Those interested in volunteering with Activated Spaces should e-mail [email protected].

For more information, contact Sherri Wierzba or Erin Gillespie at 937-224-1518.

Audiences Are Loving ALBERT NOBBS!

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Hello Everyone,

We’re holding steady this week with THE ARTIST and ALBERT NOBBS. Despite mixed response from the critics, audiences are loving ALBERT. That said, one of our current titles will more than likely leave next week…as we hope/plan to open PINA on Feb. 24. PINA is stunning and lovely – one of my absolute favorite films of the past few years. I hope you’ll make plans to come and see it. (PINA will be presented at THE NEON via traditional 35mm, 2D projection.)

THE ARTIST – official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK7pfLlsUQM’]

ALBERT NOBBS – official site.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ini59bYhaUY’]

PINA – official site.

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

On Saturday, February 25 at noon, The Junior Leaguers Club, Inc. will host a benefit screening of THUNDER SOUL. “THUNDER SOUL follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old “Prof,” their beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.” (taken from press notes) Adult tickets (which include a glass of wine as well as soda & popcorn) are $30 each. Student tickets (which include soda and popcorn) are $15 each. For more information, please call (937)219-7501. Proceeds from this event will go to The Junior Leaguers Scholarship Fund. To check out more about THUNDER SOUL, visit the official site.

In regards to the Oscars, we’re getting set for our annual party on Sunday, February 26! Once again, our friends at ThinkTV will help us to get a strong signal for the broadcast, and our friends at Square One Salon & Spa will give us a nice gift basket for our grand prize. In addition, we’ll be giving out dvds, screenplays and soundtracks throughout the evening for randomly drawn correct guesses. You must be present to win any prizes, and seating will begin at approximately 7pm – admission is FREE! Ballots are already available in our lobby.

Green Earth Outdoors has rented our space for a special screening of GREEN FIRE on Thursday, March 1 at 7:30. “GREEN FIRE explores the life and legacy of famed conservationist Aldo Leopold and the many ways his land ethic philosophy lives on in the work of people and organizations all over the country today. The film shares highlights from Leopold’s life and extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. It also illustrates Leopold’s continuing influence, exploring current projects that connect people and land at the local level. Green Fire proceeds will support Five Rivers MetroParks ‘Leaf’ a Legacy Reforestation program that aids in the protection of native trees and local forest ecosystems damaged by non-native invasive species.” (description taken from press release) Tickets are $5 each and are currently available on the official site or by calling (502)558-8970. Tickets will also be available soon at THE NEON box office.

For all of you who used to like getting coffee and a biscotti at THE NEON, I’m pleased to announce that we now have biscotti again. This time, we’re going with a local baker – Thistle Confections by Hilary…and they’re absolutely delicious!

For remaining showtimes for this week, visit our official site.

Thanks for your continued support.

We hope to see you soon,

Jonathan

 

SHOWTIMES for Fri. February 17 – Thur. February 23:

ALBERT NOBBS (R) 1 Hrs 53 Min

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

Monday – Thursday: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20

 

THE ARTIST (PG-13) 1 Hr 40 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:30

Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

COMING SOON:

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

In some rare cases, titles may disappear.

Feb. 24 PINA

TBD THE HEDGEHOG

TBD SHAME

TBD PARIAH

March 9 A SEPARATION

March 23 IN DARKNESS

March ? WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

April ? FOOTNOTE

El Meson unveils a new “$3 Appy Our”

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Starting today, Feb 15th and running weekdays from 4:30-6pm, El Meson will be tempting us with some $3 cocktails and some really affordable appetizers.  Featuring a rotating menu of empanadas, chinckent Tinga, Flauta, tacos and chees puffs you’ll be able to enjoy Tapa and small plates for a small piece of your wallet.  This treats all run  $3 – 5.

Here’s the weekly line up:

Mojito Monday

Taco & Tequila Tuesday

Sangria & Small Plate Wednesday

Tapa Thursday

Weekly Featured Cocktail Friday

 

You can find the family owned El Meson at 903 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton.  The area is currently experiencing some road construction, so be aware of orange cones and detours that may appear from time to time! And while you’re there, check out the salsa dancing or sign up for a cooking class!

 

Craft Beer Goes Gluten Free – Dogfish Head Tweason’ale Review

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Dogfish Head Tweason'ale

Tweason’ale from Dogfish Head is a gluten free, sorghum based beer brewed with strawberries and honey. This is the first 4 pack in the Dogfish Head lineup in 5 years. Dogfish Head certainly isn’t the first brewery to make gluten free beer, but this is arguably the biggest release of a beer of this type.

From the Dogfish Head website:

The No. 1 thing Dogfish lovers ask for at our pub, in our brewery and on our website is a gluten-free beer. But not just any gluten-free beer — they want gluten-free with gusto.

 

“It seems as if lots of folks who have gluten-tolerance issues are pining for an interesting beer,” says Dogfish founder and president Sam Calagione. “While there are a few well-made examples that mirror traditional beer styles, there arent any off-centered offerings.”

 

Enter Tweason’ale.

 

For our first new 12-ounce 4-packs in nearly half a decade, we replaced the classic barley foundation of beer with a mild sorghum base. The hints of molasses and pit-fruit are balanced by vibrant strawberry notes and a unique complexity that comes with the addition of a malty buckwheat honey.

 

We believe health-conscious beer drinkers and the millions of Americans who suffer from Celiac disease can cut back on gluten while relishing the distinction and drinkability of this very special brew.

 

Tweasonale is a seasonal for between the seasons. It will first hit shelves in late January 2012 and will be released four times a year through our national network of distributors.

 

This beer was pretty labor-intensive to make, but it was a beautiful process. We invited our artist friends Jamie and Kevin to come document our brew with their ultra-cool Cinemagraph process. Check out the process here.

 

Original Release Date:

 

07/2011

 

Food Pairing Recommendations:

 

Fatty fish, dried fruit, salted nuts

 

Wine Comparable:

 

Rose

 

Here is my review for this beer.

 

APPEARANCE

 

Beautiful stuff – it’s a crystal clear honey-blonde color. The head was small and didn’t stick around for very long, but there was some nice visible carbonation in the glass sort of like champagne. In fact, this beer looks a lot like champagne due to its clarity. I must say it makes me thirsty just looking at it!

 

 

SMELL

 

The strawberry comes through and creates a nice, refreshing aroma. It’s on the border between smelling like fresh fruit and artificial fruit, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in this case. It’s followed by an unusual earthy aroma, and perhaps grassy notes and baker’s yeast. The honey is subtle, but present. Overall, this a nice smelling fruit beer.

 

TASTE

Dogfish Head Tweason'ale Label

 

This beer has some interesting flavors! The strawberry comes out, bringing some nice sweetness and slight tartness. There’s sort of a spicey character, not quite like Belgian yeast notes (clove, banana, etc) but more like fresh or candied ginger. There’s some slight earthiness in there, but not as much as the nose. A yeast flavor comes through as it warms. It almost reminds me of sparkling grape juice in terms of flavor.

 

MOUTHFEEL

 

 

This is a really light beverage. There isn’t much body to it, which makes it extremely easy drinking. It’s nice and effervescent, and it doesn’t really feel like beer. It feels more like champagne or even soda due to the dryness and the high carbonation.

 

OVERALL

 

Not a bad brew in the least bit! I grabbed a whole 4 pack, and I’m glad that I did. It’s got some really nice flavors and is super easy to drink, so this is a beverage for both people who like beer as well as people who don’t. It’s nice to see a fairly large craft brewery like Dogfish Head produce a gluten-free beer that people with or without gluten allergies can appreciate. The lack of body makes the brew a little under-satisfying, but the complex flavors make up for it.

 

Cheers.

 

SCORE: ★★★ 3/5

This review can also be found at Snobby Beer.

 

 

 

10? with De’Lish Cafe’s Chef Anthony Head

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Born and raised in Dayton and a graduate of Colonel White High School for the Arts and Ball State University School of Business respectively, Chef Anthony T. Head’s culinary journey began as a child with the adult responsibilities of buying groceries and preparing meals for his family.

His first cooking job outside of culinary school was an internship opening up The Wine Loft franchise out at the Greene. He was the first cook hired and helped set up the kitchen and  trained under the late Richard Pignetti of Houston. He says, “Chef “Pig” really set the tone for my career with his terse language and instruction.”

He worked as a volunteer at an HIV/AIDS testing clinic in West Dayton, the Mt. Olive One Stop. Among his responsibilities, he worked with the kitchen staff where he strived to provide well balanced meals, not through instruction, but through grocery shopping (selection). Chef Head says, “people always brag about ‘where’ they went to school or worked, but rarely about what they’ve ‘learned.’ The most important lesson I learned in culinary school was HOW to shop. Anybody can cook, but most people don’t know where to go to get certain ingredients or how to prep them for cooking.”

After his service term ended with Americorps, he was the first cook hired to help Jenn DiSanto open Fresco. The job at Fresco was an  internship required as part of his culinary education at Sinclair.  As a member of Sinclair’s State Hot Foods competition team, Chef Head added a 3rd place finish and ACF bronze medal to a growing list of awards and credentials from Sinclair’s American Culinary Federation certified program and was named 2011 ACF Jr. Culinarian of the Year for the Miami Valley.

He was then hired to assist Kim Collette open Olive. He says his  contribution to Olive was limited to some recipe development and helping staff her crew with some of his best friends before taking a consulting gig at De’Lish Cafe with Chef Mark Brown (who is now at Taste in Trotwood). He’d worked with Mark, catering several events throughout the city after he volunteered to work with him at the African American Wellness Walk (held at Island Park each spring)a couple of years ago. That lead to a temporary job  help train the prep crew at De’Lish and before long, Chef Brown  ended up staying on to become their Executive Chef and naming Anthony his Sous Chef.  Chef Brown groomed  Anthony and groomed him to take over at De’Lish Cafe, which he did in  in early December 2011.

 

Honey glazed Salmon

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?
Love, and I know it sounds cliché or even corny, but it’s what makes the difference in my kitchen. From the music that plays in our kitchen to how a cook feels on a given day, to who we’re cooking it for-it (or lack thereof) comes out in the food!

What ingredient do you dread? All food is good (on some level). It’s what people do to it that makes it bad. That said, most things canned leave no room for improvement.

What’s your favorite dish to make? Any kind of risotto.  It’s such an intimate dish that requires your full attention. Like many of the analogies in our kitchen, the process of making risotto is like date night. Since this a family show, I’ll give you the PG version:  you have to be thoughtful enough to have all the ingredients in place and once you get started you can’t stop until well, it’s finished 😉

What’s your favorite pig out food? Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Chip Brownies (slightly undercooked) and Hagen Daz Ice Vanilla Ice Cream (that’s why it’s on my menu at De’Lish!)

Chef Head with the De'Lish crew

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?
When I get a chance, I love to run over to Flying Pizza to grab a slice or powwow over brunch at Olive, an Urban Dive.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?
People are pretentious, not food. Cook what you have, the way you like, for people you like.  That’s how it’s been done Best throughout the course of history.

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?
That’s easy, my late biological and foster parents. They loved me in spite of myself and constantly bolstered my confidence in every endeavor I ever undertook. They stoked my passion and made me realize  that I could do anything I put my mind to, if I cared enough to do it!

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Wow, too many to name them call, but a few come immediately to mind: Julia Childs for making French cuisine accessible and learning with such a genuine interest and passion for so many years on public television. Thomas Keller for his penchant for culinary and experiential perfection and successfully leveraging a network of artisian suppliers and Ming Tsai for being a locally grown
talent (I always root for our hometown heroes!)

Korean fried chicken with Asian cabbage slaw atop ginger-curried rice

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?
I’m a young Executive Chef what is this “day off” you speak of?  Now, in my “time away from the kitchen” I’m usually slaving away in my home kitchen for my own family, reading something or working on my electric bicycle that I ride to work most days.

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:
In the kitchen, aren’t they usually all the same kind of story? Well, I was selected as the 2011 Jr. Culinarian of the Year by our local chapter of the American Culinary Federation. Well, we chef-folk, usually so humble in nature, and me, ripe out of culinary school, I often reminded my staff that I’m only “chef of the year for X amount more days.” Well, on the last day of the year, we’re hosting our New Years Eve event and I took it upon myself to personally cater to our VIP Section.  One of our VIPs made mention that “he didn’t like shrimp” but loved seafood. So when an appetizer plate came up with shrimp on it I simply removed it.  Several minutes later he mentioned that he was “having a reaction” and I asked to what? Well, turns out he didn’t like shrimp because he was allergic to it! While there was no shrimp on his plate, we did have other shellfish in one of the other apps. I ran down the street to a drug store and got some Benadryl which halted any further symptoms, but laughed about it the rest of the night to think, on the last day of my “chef of the year” year, I almost killed one of the most important friends of our business. Fantastic!

 

 

Coming Up in Cincinnati Theatre: Feb. 14-19

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Welcome to the first weekly column for Coming Up in Cincinnati Theatre. My name is Rob Bucher and I’ve been covering Greater Cincinnati’s thriving theater scene for over a decade… and now DMM has invited me to share performance information to Dayton theater fans here on On Stage Dayton. You can plan a short road trip south to enjoy some of the Queen City’s exciting offerings on stage. The “BTC listing” links below will take you to individual show listings on my blog, Behind the Curtain Cincinnati. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the theater.

…BLINK AND THEY’RE GONE

WRAPPED IN CLOVER

Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative

The Story: A staged reading of a new work by local playwright Tammy Brady. Experience the ultimate Christmas gift of true love between a young married pair. The couple lived in dysfunctional families in their past, which spawns discord in their present until an affair brightens their future.
Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative | BTC listing

GEE’S BEND

Middletown Lyric Theatre

The Story:  Beginning in 1939, the play follows Alice, her daughters Sadie and Nella, and Sadie’s husband, Macon, through segregation, family strife, and the Civil Rights movement. Throughout their lives, the women’s extraordinary quilts provide a respite from the turmoil around them.
Dates: Feb. 16-18, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Middletown Lyric Theatre | BTC listing

TRANSMIGRATION: A Festival of Student-Created New Works

UC CCM Drama

The Story: A festival of new works created by the acting students in CCM Drama. Performed simultaneously in different locations throughout CCM Village, TRANSMIGRATION will allow the audience to sample four different 30-minute new works of their choosing in one spectacular evening.
Dates: Feb. 16-18, 2012
Tickets and More Information:  CCM blog | BTC listing
Please note that tickets are free and reservations are required.

…NEW THIS WEEK

ADAPTATION and NEXT

Oxford Area Community Theater (OxACT)

The Story: An evening of two one-act plays. ADAPTATION is a contest in which players advance through the seven ages of man. The play creates a picture of man from birth until death, with all its madness, familiarity, and nonsense. NEXT is set in an Army Induction Center, where an overweight, overage and overwrought draftee has reluctantly reported for his physical after being mistakenly called by the draft. A battleof-wits is waged between Marion Cheever, determined to avoid military service, and the career officer, just as determined to sign him up.
Dates: Feb. 16-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information:  OxACT | BTC listing

COME BACK TO THE 5 AND DIME JIMMY DEAN JIMMY DEAN

Village Players

The Story: In a small town store in West Texas, the Disciples of James Dean gather for their 20th reunion. Now middle aged women, they were teenagers when Dean filmed Giant two decades ago. One of them has a child whom she says was conceived by Dean on the set. The ladies’ reminiscences mingle with flash backs to their youth
The Dates: Feb. 17-25, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Village Players | BTC listing

THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION

Northern Kentucky University

The Story: Philo Farnsworth, a boy genius from Rigby, Idaho who, at age 22, invented television only to become involved in an all-or-nothing legal battle with David Sarnoff, the young president of RCA and America‘s first communications mogul. In this classic tale of little guy versus the corporate machine, Farnsworth not only fights for his rights but for his slice of the American Dream.
The Dates: Feb. 16-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Northern Kentucky University | BTC listing

THE ODD COUPLE (Female Version)

Fairfield Footlighters

The Story: Neat-nick and soon-to-be-divorced Florence Unger moves in with her housekeeping-challenged friend Olive Madison in Neil Simon’s feminine take on his classic play.
The Dates: Feb. 17-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Fairfield Footlighters | BTC listing

RENT

Footlighters, Inc.

The Story: Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-prize winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini’s opera “La Bohème.” RENT follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village.
The Dates: Feb. 16-March 3, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Footlighters | BTC listing

Sara Clark as Marianne Dashwood, Giles Davies as Colonel Brandon, Kelly Mengelkoch as Elinor Dashwood & Brent Vimtrup as Edward Ferrars. Photo by Jeanna Vella.

Jane Austen’s SENSE & SENSIBILITY

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

The Story: When a lack of luck makes for difficult marriage prospects, the Dashwood sisters set sail on the volatile seas of courtship. The sisters soon discover that neither reserved Elinor’s common sense nor impulsive Marianne’s passion offer the key to happiness. Scandalous secrets, burning betrayals, and suave (and some not-so-suave) suitors line the path to true love in this fresh adaptation.
The Dates: Feb. 17-March 18, 2012
Tickets and More Information:  Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | BTC listing

…CONTINUING

The cast of Falcon Theatre's THE 39 STEPS. Donnie McGovern, Dan Doerger, Mike Hall & Elizabeth Molloy.

THE 39 STEPS

Falcon Theatre

The Story: What do you get when you combine the genius of Alfred Hitchcock,the zany humor or Monty Python and the boundless energy of four incredibly versatile actors?  You get one hysterical parody of all the great Hitchcock film thrillers.
The Dates: through Feb. 25, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Falcon Theatre | BTC listing

A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE

La Comedia Dinner Theatre

The Story: Experience the look, the sound, the magic and the music that made Patsy Cline the first lady of Country. Follow her climb to stardom from her hometown in Virginia to The Grand Ole Opry, Las Vegas and Carnegie Hall. This musical tribute includes “Crazy,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “A Closer Walk With Thee” and other favorites.
The Dates: Through Feb. 26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: La Comedia | BTC listing

COLLAPSE

Know Theatre of Cincinnati

The Story: In 2007, the Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, killing 13 people and injuring another 145. Hannah’s husband David was driving one of the cars that went off the bridge. He is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but refuses to attend a support group. Hannah’s life is falling apart. She can’t get pregnant, she’s one step away from losing her job, and she thinks her husband, who hasn’t been to work for months, may be an alcoholic. COLLAPSE is an uncomfortably funny exploration of the crumbling structures that undergird our bridges, our economy, and our most intimate relationships.
The Dates: Through March 3, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Know Theatre | BTC listing

Buz Davis as Gus, Rachael Christianson as Valentine, Micheal Bath as Lubbock, Adam Marzheuser as Alex & Reggie Willis as Mr. Barcroft in The Clifton Players' DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES.

DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES

The Clifton Players

The Story: A comedy set in a single branch of the United States Postal Service along “Tornado Alley” in Oklahoma. These characters are the sorters, handlers of each letter, parcel, and package on route to its destination. It is an endless task. It takes guts, determination and SELF DELUSION. The moment leaves you wondering who could go “postal” first.
The Dates: Through Feb. 26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Clifton Performance Theatre | BTC listing

THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB

Sunset Players

The Story: Five Southern women, whose friendships began 33 years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge their relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives.
The Dates: Through Feb. 25, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Sunset Players | BTC listing

Bruce Cromer as Pete & R. Ward Duffy as Leon in PIP's SPEAKING IN TONGUES. Photo by Sandy Underwood.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

The Story: Love, sex and deceit create the emotional labyrinth in this stylish, noir thriller. This theatrical jigsaw puzzle of parallel stories explores the betrayals of two married couples and the unexpected links among five isolated strangers
The Dates: Through March 4, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park | BTC listing

…ENDING THIS WEEK

Kevin Breslin as Edward & Robert Breslin as Mickey in BPI's BLOOD BROTHERS. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

BLOOD BROTHERS

Beechmont Players Inc

The Story: A single mother in financial desperation gives away one of her new-born sons and attempts to keep them from discovering one another’s true identity. The pressures of superstition, economics and class trap the brothers and seal their fate.
The Dates: Through Saturday
Tickets and More Information:  Beechmont Players | BTC listing

Mike Dennis & Jeff Groh in the Covedale Center's THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL. Photo by Holly Yurchison

THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL

Covedale Center for the Performing Arts

The Story: A young lieutenant has relieved his captain of command in the midst of a typhoon on the grounds that the captain, Queeg, is a psychopath in crisis and would have sent the ship and its crew to their destruction. Naval tradition is against the lieutenant, but what secrets do the testimony reveal?
The Dates: Through Sunday
Tickets and More Information: Cincinnati Landmark Produtions | BTC listing

Disney’s MY SON PINOCCHIO JR.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

The Story: The classic tale of an aging toymaker and his puppet, Pinocchio, takes on timely issues in Disney’s MY SON PINOCCHIO JR. Grammy Award-winner and master melodist Stephen Schwartz adds a compelling score of original songs to the beloved classics “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “I’ve Got No Strings.”
The Dates: Saturday
Tickets and More Information: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC listing

THE WHIPPING MAN

Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati

Ken Early & Jarred Baugh in ETC's THE WHIPPING MAN. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

The Story: It’s Passover, 1865. The Civil War has just ended and the annual celebration of freedom from bondage is being observed in Jewish homes across the country. Caleb DeLeon, a Jewish Confederate soldier, returns wounded from the battlefield to find his family home in ruins, abandoned by everyone except Simon and John, two former slaves, who were raised as Jews in the DeLeon home. As the three men wait for the family’s return, they wrestle with their shared past as master and slave, uncovering a tangle of long-buried family secrets as well as new ones.
The Dates: Through Saturday.
Tickets and More Information:  Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati | BTC listing | Rob’s review |

…COMING SOON

A COUPLE OF BLAGUARDS

Irish American Theater Company

The Dates: Feb. 24-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Irish Heritage Center | BTC listing

DOG SEES GOD

Xavier University Players

The Dates: Feb. 23-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Xavier University | BTC listing

FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF

Miami University

The Dates: Feb. 22-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Miami University | BTC listing

GOOD BOYS AND TRUE

Mad Athony Theatre Company

The Dates: Feb. 22-26, 2012
Tickets and More Information: Mad Anthony Theatre Company | BTC listing

INTO THE WOODS

UC CCM Musical Theatre

The Dates: Feb. 23-March 4, 2012
Tickets and More Information:  UC CCM | BTC listing

ST. NICHOLAS

New Edgecliff Theatre

The Dates: Feb. 23-March 10, 2012
Tickets and More Information:  New Edgecliff Theatre | BTC listing

Victoria Announces 2012-13 Slate

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The Victoria Theatre Association unveiled one of its strongest Broadway Series lineups Monday, February 13 in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center.

"Next to Normal" - May 7-19, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

Sponsored by Premier Health Partners, the primarily family-friendly, unabashedly commercial 2012-13 Broadway Series, containing four local premieres, is an attractive mix of classic and contemporary titles. The standouts: “Mary Poppins,” Disney’s delightful 2006 Tony Award-nominated spectacle (yes, Mary will fly inside the Schuster’s Mead Theatre) particularly adhering to the book by P.L. Travers and incorporating charming new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe alongside Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman’s timeless originals; “Next to Normal,” Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s acclaimed 2009 Tony-nominated and 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical about a grieving dysfunctional family which will be produced by the Human Race Theatre Company; and “Dreamgirls,” a dazzling revival of Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger’s 1981 Motown-inspired hit notably inserting “Listen” from the Academy Award-winning 2006 film adaptation. The remaining productions are “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” (an adaptation of the 1954 holiday film of the same name which arrived on Broadway in 2008 following multiple regional engagements including Springboro’s La Comedia Dinner Theatre), Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire’s humorous 2008 adaptation of “Shrek The Musical” (based on the 2001 Dreamworks film of the same name), and Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa’s 2010 adaptation of “The Addams Family,” a visually appealing creepfest which has received significant rewrites since closing on Broadway six weeks ago.

"American Idiot" - March 12-14, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

Included among the special Star Attractions is the regional premiere of Green Day’s “American Idiot,” an electrifying post-9/11 tale of three disillusioned friends (based on the band’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning album) which should have won the 2010 Tony for Best Musical. The local premiere of the 1980s-infused “Rock of Ages,” a 2009 Tony nominee for Best Musical which will hit the big screen this summer starring Tom Cruise, is also worthwhile. The Victoria warns that “American Idiot,” “Rock of Ages” and “Next to Normal” contain strong language and adult themes and may not be suitable for all audiences, particularly children under the age of 13.

The season announcement event, emceed by Kim Faris of 94.5 LITE FM and attended by over 500 arts patrons, also included lineups for the Projects Unlimited Variety Series and the PNC Family Series. Next season will also feature the debut of a promising, lecture-driven series entitled National Geographic Live!, a collaboration with Five Rivers Metro Parks spotlighting first-hand accounts of exploration. The lineups for National Geographic Live!, Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series and Physicians for Kids Discovery Series will be announced at a later date.

“Dreamgirls” - June 4-9, 2013 – Schuster Center

Season tickets for the six-show Broadway Series are priced at $235, the three-show Projects Unlimited Variety Series are $90 and the four-show PNC Family Series are $40. Single tickets will be available at a later date. For more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

 

 

 

 

Premier Health Partners Broadway Series

“Irvin Berlin’s White Christmas”
November 27-December 2, 2012 – Schuster Center

“Shrek The  Musical”

"Shrek The Musical" - January 15-27, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

“The Addams Family”
March 5-10, 2013 –  Schuster Center

“Mary Poppins”
April 16-21, 2013 – Schuster Center

“Next to Normal”
May 7-19, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

“Dreamgirls”
June 4-9, 2013 – Schuster Center

Star Attractions

An Evening with Branford Marsalis
September 23, 2012 – Schuster Center

“Menopause The Musical”
October 12-14, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

"An Evening with Branford Marsalis" - September 23, 2012 – Schuster Center

“American Idiot”
March 12-14, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

“Rock of Ages”
May 21-22, 2013 – Schuster Center


Projects Unlimited Variety Series

Over the Rhine
October 26, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

The Intergalactic Nemesis: Target Earth
February 1, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

PSY
April 12, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

PNC Family Series

“Fred Garbo’s Inflatable Theater Company”
November 3-4, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

“Frindle”
December 1-2, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

“The Number 14”
February 16-17, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

“Circus Incognitus”
March 9-10, 2013 – Victoria Theatre

A Quick Taste of Dayton Does Dayton

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Canal Street Tavern is well known in the Dayton music scene for its great sound, up-close atmosphere, and excellent shows. Nearly every night, one can find all kinds of local acts putting on a show on the Tavern’s stage. Outside of regular shows, Canal Street also enjoys putting on different kinds of specialty shows, such as the well-known Dayton Band Playoffs. One of these shows took to the stage this past weekend, stretching over two evenings: Dayton Does Dayton.

Wheels performing at Dayton Does Dayton (photo by Jay Madewell)

Only in its second year, Dayton Does Dayton invites a number of local bands from many different genres to take to the stage and, alongside their own songs, cover tracks from other local bands. None of the bands that play the show are “cover bands” per se, they’re just there to put their own spin on other local acts that they enjoy, that have influenced them, or any other reason at all.

The sheer number of bands interested in the show this year caused the event to be spread out across a full weekend…or rather, the important part of the weekend (Friday and Saturday). The great thing is that this much time allows more bands to come out and play. The difficult thing is that it causes busy people (such as myself) to only be able to catch a part of the entire show. As excited as I was for the show, it landed on a terrible weekend for me, so I was only able to see the first few bands on Saturday night. So, rather than a whole review, here is just a taste of what you may have missed this past weekend.

I arrived much too early for the show on Saturday night, so I was one of the first ones in the door. This gave me a chance to chat quickly with one of the staff at Canal Street, who told me that nearly 280 people came in for the show the night before. Considering the size of the venue, this is a rather fantastic number, and soon enough, people began flooding through the door and filling the floor.  By the time the first band went on, Canal Street was nearly standing room only.

The first to play this evening, out of Yellow Springs, was the band Wheels. A five-piece mostly-acoustic act, Wheels decided to focus on covering one specific band this evening alongside their own songs. Their band of choice, also out of Yellow Springs, was Sport Fishing USA, whose tracks they stripped down to fit the style they were playing: acoustic guitars, light percussion, mandolin, and upright bass. The instruments, though, played as more of background noise to the vocals, the focus of the band. The four-part harmonies were the star of the show, filling out the sound left behind by the sparse instrumentation.

Good English performing at Dayton Does Dayton (photo by Jay Madewell)

The second band of the evening, straight out of Dayton itself, was Charge Scenic. This band’s sound was a complete turn-around from Wheels’ acoustic style: alternative rock with some electronic and synth elements. That, though, can only describe their original songs. The covers that Charge Scenic chose ran through a number of other genres, touching on pop rock and a bit of funk. They chose to cover a number of different bands: Guided by Voices, Zapp and Roger, and The Pure Plastic Tree.  Throughout their set, Charge Scenic seemed to have a strong focus on the rhythm section, with the bass holding much of the band together, and the drummer getting a few solos between songs.

Up next, and unfortunately the last band I got to see, was Good English. This all-female, mostly-siblings band out of Oakwood has a chord- and riff-driven rock sound, with a feel similar to Foo Fighters.  Good English chose to cover tracks close to their own sound by two bands: The Breeders and Southeast Engine. Almost every member of the band played multiple instruments, which each song prompting a stage switch. All around, these girls pulled together a number of basic melodies into some supremely catchy tracks.

The rest of the evening, and the night before, had sets from both well-known and less-well-known acts, including Gathering Mercury, Red Hot Rebellion, Dark Backward, and My Latex Brain. This is one of those times where I’m kicking myself for missing out on so many acts, but sometimes there’s not much that can be done! To those that went out to the show for one or both nights, I’m sure you could fill in some blanks for us! Feel free to leave opinions of the show and/or bands in the comments section.  To those that didn’t make it out, hopefully this shows you what you missed and you’ll be able to catch Dayton Does Dayton the next time it comes to town!

Foot Stomping Joy: The Music Of Genticorum

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French Canadians have a long history of being misunderstood. Only seven million or so people out of Canada’s 34 million total speak French as their primary language, and most of them live in a single province, Quebec. They live on an island of francais in an ocean of English.

But there’s more than just the language barrier.

Misunderstandings over politics, religion, social identity and cultural traditions have colored, and occasionally seriously strained, Anglo-French relations in Canada for centuries. Happily, these things often tend to even out over time—perhaps as some sort of sly, karmic payback, Quebec is now home to some of the hippest, happiest music on the planet.

Genticorum, a traditional music “power trio” based in Montreal, Quebec, plays a kind of music that’s as misunderstood as any style in North America. Like their confreres in La Bottine Souriante, Les Chauffeurs á Pied, Le Vent du Nord and other traditionally minded Quebec bands, Genticorum is deeply rooted in the history and culture of French Canada, playing music that is similar to—but also very unlike—the music of Canada’s other traditional music hotbeds, Cape Breton and the Ottawa Valley.

Genticorum was formed in 2000, the three musicians in the band—Pascal Gemme (fiddle, foot percussion, vocals), Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand (wooden flute, electric bass, fiddle, vocals) and Yann Falquet (guitar, Jew’s harp, vocals)—having become friends after playing together at various traditional music festivals.

“We all discovered the traditional music of Quebec before we met,” says Grosbois-Garand. “We all studied instruments that we don’t play in the band. I studied bass and I play the flute. Yann studied electric guitar and he plays acoustic guitar. Pascal studied guitar and he plays fiddle.”

The traditional music of Quebec is a unique and totally captivating blend of musical ideas from near and far. “It comes from Irish and Scottish and music from France,” says Grobois-Garand by way of explanation. “There is a big so-called Celtic flair to it because there are a lot of Irish and Scottish reels that have become Québécois reels. Sometimes the reels will change a bit, or the way of playing them. That mixed with the French song tradition and marching band music from the United States and German polkas and waltzes.

“All that mixed together over a few centuries into what we refer to as Québécois traditional music. Most of the bands, including us, will focus more on the party aspect of it. But we try also to play some laments and some waltzes because it’s not just fast reels and call-and-response drinking songs. There’s much more than that, so we try to give the diversity of the tradition.”

The traditional music of Quebec contains several musical elements that set it apart not just from the Celtic music mainstream but also the regional Canadian styles of Cape Breton and the Ottawa Valley. The most obvious to casual listeners is probably the sound of the singing. The vocals are in French and are characterized by lush multi-part harmonies, call-and-response (chanson à répondre) choruses and a sonic richness not found in most traditional styles. Some of Genticorum’s vocal harmonies have an ancient sound that’s at times reminiscent of medieval madrigals. The band is also adept at a form of “mouth music” called turlutteries (conceptually similar to jazz scat singing or lilting in Irish music).

Driving, intricate “foot percussion”—provided by Pascal Gemme in the case of Genticorum—is one of the coolest parts of traditional Québécois music. Not only does this provide the band with a percussionist at no extra cost, a real boon for a small group like Genticorum, it adds an exciting touch to performances that audiences love, as well as a distinctive rhythmic signature that is quintessentially Québécois.


Band press kits

Maybe someday in the future, a musicologist or anthropologist will explain the astonishing, at times nearly unbelievable, facility that Canadian fiddlers appear to have for dancing while they fiddle, from Natalie MacMaster’s step-dancing to the ensemble work of the Step Crew to the seated tap dancing done by Gemme. If it were just one or two fiddlers who did this, it could be written off to individual obsession and long winters, but it seems like every fiddler who comes out of Canada possesses this wonderfully strange talent. Curious, eh?

Genticorum has released four critically acclaimed albums since 2002. The band’s debut, Le Galarneau, received widespread acclaim in the international music press. Sing Out noted accurately that “For a three piece, Genticorum makes a very full and glorious noise, both instrumentally and vocally” before predicting, “This is a band that’s going to go places.” The follow-up, Malins Plaisirs, earned a Canadian Folk Music Award, Ensemble of the Year, for the trio and was nominated for both Juno (Canada’s Grammy) and Felix (a regional prize in Quebec).

While their CD La Bibournoise, released in 2008, received international recognition,  Genticorum’s most recent album, Nagez Rameurs, was released in 2011 and was promptly hailed as “one of the year’s most unusual and beautiful collections of folk music” (New York Post). Graced by a particularly compelling collection of traditional and original songs and tunes and guest appearances by such musicians as Grey Larsen and Olivier Demers (Le Vent du Nord), Nagez Rameurs won Genticorum its second Ensemble of the Year award at the 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

At last count, Genticorum has performed in almost 20 countries. The band has found enthusiastic audiences wherever it has played, from Scotland and Ireland to New Zealand and Australia. “We are within a certain tradition and play with a certain aesthetic, without really radical changes,” says Yann Falquet of the band’s wide-ranging appeal. “And people are able to enjoy it for what it is, whether they are Scottish folkies or Malaysian teenagers.” And pretty much everybody in between.

Cityfolk presents Genticorum, Sat. Feb 25 at Stivers Centennial Hall at 8 PM. Info and tickets are available at cityfolk.org or 937-496-3863.

(submitted by Jon Hartley Fox for Cityfolk)

 

Could the City of Dayton Become the Gem City for the Fashion Industry?

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Tameka Jones-Young

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at Dayton Fashion Week and the dates have been set for the Kids Casting Call (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 10 at De’Lish Cafe located at 139 N. Main St.) and the casting call to become a host covering the DFW for Inside Couture Television (10a.m. to 1 p.m. April 7 at SunWatch Indian Village, 2301 West River Road) which airs in Miami Florida.

New York Fashion week kicked off this week and a Dayton native will be gracing the runway of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York!  Tameka Jones-Young will rip the runway for Indonesian designer Farah Angsana. “Walking in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week has been a dream since I began my modeling career. I feel so fortunate to finally have the opportunity. I am beyond excited!” said the mother of 2 and graduate of Chaminade-Julienne. After taking part in a national search, Tameka is also the new face of Shinto Clinical – a new skincare line by fashion mogul and reality TV star Kimora Lee Simmons (ex-wife of music mogul Russell Simmons). You can watch Tameka live on the runway at FarahAngsana.com and on Style.com on Wednesday February 15 at 5pm. New York Fashion Week runs February 9-16 at Lincoln Center’s Darosch Park and features the Fall 2012 collections of some of the world’s top designers.

So what exactly is Fashion Week and why should the people of Dayton care that we are finally having one? In short, Fashion Week is an opportunity for designers to showcase their latest designs. We all know about the multi-million dollar showcases in New York, Milan, and Paris—they have the A List Celebrities sitting in the front rows of their shows and buyers from some of the top department stores and fashion lines in the world eagerly awaiting the next big fashion trends to hit the shelves and racks of their stores. But did you know that the City of Dayton has the potential to become prime real estate for the Fashion Industry. Yes, you read that right! The City of Dayton is sitting right in the middle of 2 of the most respected fashion brands in the country—Macy’s which is headquartered in Cincinnati and The Limited Brands which include Express and Victoria’s Secret (to name a few) is headquartered in Columbus. These companies spend millions of dollars every year to manufacture their clothing all over the world so why has the city of Dayton been overlooked as one of those locations to manufacture their clothing? As we all know when the auto industry collapsed a few years ago it left a huge gap in our local economy, unemployment skyrocketed, and it also left a lot of abandoned factories just sitting around waiting for someone to take notice of all of the gems around us. I’m not sure how much thought or energy has gone into trying to get the attention of Macy’s and the Limited Brands  from our city leaders or if they’ve ever considered the notion but it’s definitely something that Dayton Fashion Week team thought was worth mentioning–afterall it was Dayton’s close vicinity to Detroit, our railway system, and the easy accessibility to Interstate 75 and 70  that made us prime real estate for the auto industry.  Why not the fashion industry?

Time to Put on the Ol’ Ruby Slippers – DPO Presents Wizard of Oz with Orchestra

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FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS – leave a comment below the article.  We’ll announce FOUR winners on Wednesday 2/15 for the 2/17 show.  GOOD LUCK!

It has been called a “timeless” motion picture. Because it is.

Produced in 1939 and televised at least once annually since 1956, the movie claims a truly rabid, multi-generational audience. Why? Because, as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith once observed, we’re all kids at heart. And we all love music…and fantasy.

On Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18 at 8pm in the Schuster Center, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director Neal Gittleman will conduct the entire score to the MGM film The Wizard of Oz as it projects on a large screen above the orchestra, providing orchestral accompaniment to the film with the soundtrack stripped of all orchestral music; only the actors’ dialogue and vocals remain.

Many of us know the words to the movie’s songs by heart, the result of anywhere from one to 55 years’ worth of exposure. E.Y. Harburg’s lyrics set to Harold Arlen’s music with Herbert Stothart’s Academy Award winning (for Best Original Score) incidental music and instrumental underscore (some of it based on the songs, some borrowed from classical composers), are as familiar to us as our own family (hence, the derivation of the term).

With its use of Technicolor film, extraordinary characters, fantasy storytelling, and special effects, The Wizard of Oz won two Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture of the Year (Frankly, my dear, it lost to Gone with the Wind). And, believe it or not, it was a box office failure at first, failing to earn back the studio’s investment. In time, the trend reversed, and later re-releases compensated MGM for its initial poor showing.

It has become one of the most famous films ever made. The Library of Congress named it the most-watched motion picture in history. Viewer/critic polls often rank it as one of the Top 10 Best Movies of All-Time. And, of course, it is the source of many memorable quotes: I’ll get you, my pretty…and your little dog, too!; Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore; and There’s no place like home, to name a few..

This Kettering Health Network SuperPops Series concert reprises (always loved the sound of that word: re-pree-ses), or brings back, the event, originally performed before a sold-out Mead Theater in the Schuster Center in November, 2006. It was The Bomb. I know. I was fortunate to be there with my extended family, and we – along with the overwhelming majority of other attendees – sang our little hearts out. Most of us were even on key!

There’s an old axiom familiar to we Writers Guild members: “If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage,” meaning “you can’t damned well make a movie without a screenplay!” Strangely, it sometimes works the other way around: “It may be on the page, but that’s no guarantee it’s gonna’ make it to the film.” In short, the film winds up markedly different than the source text, in this case L. Frank Baum’s book.

Here’s what’s different. And, since we all know the movie so well, I’ll just cover what was in the book that got changed.

In the book, Oz was a real place. Glinda the Good Witch of the North had no name; she was actually two people, Glinda the Good Witch of the South and the Queen of the Field Mice. There were places called the China Country and people called the Hammerheads. The Wicked Witch of the West was only mentioned several times before she appeared one chapter towards the end. Dorothy rescued her friends, not the other way around. And she wore silver shoes, not ruby slippers.

Other than that….

Director Victor Fleming filmed the Oz sequences in three-strip Technicolor; the opening/ closing credits, the Kansas sequences, and Aunty Em’s appearance in the Wicked Witch’s crystal ball in black and white and colored them using sepia tone.

The Beverly Hillbillies pater familias Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Man and joined the cast in recording the film’s songs in a studio before principal photography began. Then, problem of problems, Ebsen got sick…from the aluminum powder makeup of all things, and MGM dropped him from the cast and replaced him with Jack Haley.

But Ebsen’s singing voice stayed in the soundtrack.

The beauty of having watched a film like The Wizard of Oz sooooo many times as quite a few of us have is that, when we hear a song from the film, we can just about place it in its proper sequence in the story. Read the list of songs in sequence as they are heard in the film, and see if you remember where (i.e., which scene) each song was sung:

Over the Rainbow; Come Out, Come Out…; It Really Was No Miracle; We Thank You Very Sweetly; Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead; As Mayor of the Munchkin City;  As Coroner, I Must Aver; Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead (Reprise; don’t you just love that word?); The Lullaby League; The Lollipop Guild; We Welcome You to Munchkinland;  Follow the Yellow Brick Road/You’re Off to See the Wizard; If I Only Had a Brain; We’re Off to See the Wizard; If I Only Had a Heart; We’re Off to See the Wizard (Reprise); If I Only Had the Nerve; We’re Off to See the Wizard (Reprise); Optimistic Voices (background chorus);The Merry Old Land of Oz; If I Were King of the Forest.

A word about classical music in the film: an arranged version of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain is heard during the scene in which the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion rescue Dorothy from the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle.

So, grab all your Janet Weiss and Brad Majors costume paraphernalia…no, no, that’s the other long-running film.

So, even though we‘re not in Kansas anymore, we can all get to downtown Dayton for Wizard of Oz with Orchestra.

And we won’t need to wear ruby slippers to get back home.

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Say what – Scrapbooking is cool, again?

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When I was growing up, scrapbooking was what mothers and grandmothers did to preserve the memories in a family.  It was a crafty way to enhance a photo, or relive a moment in their loved ones life.  I remember having scrapbooking parties at my friend’s house – decked out with the latest in polka-dot stationary, crazy corner hole punches, and cheesy stickers.

Since those days, the scrapbook era has long faded.  That is until a few months ago when a new social networking site popped up and spurred the interest of scrapbookers and vision board makers across the globe.  Pinterest has become Scrapbooking 2.0 – and it’s reign has just begun.

What is this site all about anyways? Pinterest offers users the joy of “pinning” photos found on the web or other users boards to a plethora of personal boards (board = online scrapbook category).  These boards can contain anything from recipe ideas, clothing ideas, DIY projects, places you want to travel to, and more.

The social aspect comes in as you pin items and other people can comment on your photos or “repin” your photo to their boards.  You can even follow other users to get instantly inspired each time you log on.

To get started, you will have to get an invite to join.  Here are some tips on how to get an invite quicker, in case you don’t want to wait the several days it usually takes to get one.  Once you get an invite, decide what boards you want to start collecting, and start pinning!

 

You can find items to pin by looking through the Pinterest web site, or by surfing the web.  They offer a browser toolbar “Pin it” button that makes it quick and easy to add something to a board.  There is even an iPhone app that allows you to take photos and pin them to your boards.

I will forewarn all you eager to get started with using Pinterest.  It is a bit of a time sucker and is very easy to get addicted to.  But that’s not always a terrible thing, right? 🙂

Don’t be a Double Dipper

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Ah, the infamous Buffet Line.  We’ve all been there, especially at many business events and Lunch N Learns.  But is there such a thing as Buffet Etiquette?  Of course there is.  “Manners” may not be the first word that jumps into your head, but it does exist and helps us look good while refraining from doing the don’ts in and after the buffet line.

A lot of the business luncheons and events that I have attended use buffets.  There are also some people who have objections or phobias about eating at a buffet, but they can’t refuse when the boss is buying.  So, the next time you have to attend one of these business luncheons and/or events, here are some basic Buffet Etiquette Rules to follow:

  • Be Patient.  There is always going to be that one person in front of you that takes their own sweet time loading their plate as if they were molding Devil’s Tower in Close Encounters.  Just take some deep breaths and know that you are getting your food quicker than if you were ordering it.
  • Don’t complain.  Complaining about the food, the movement of the line, or that they are not refilling the chafing dishes quickly enough, can come off as rude to the people standing next to you.  Complaining won’t move that line any quicker.  In fact, it may slow it down.   Don’t engage in Buffet Rage!
  • Use the serving spoons.  Please…….use the serving spoon.  And when you use the serving spoon, put the spoon or tongs on the plate below the chafing dish.  Don’t mix the serving utensil in with other food.   Some people may not like green beans mixed in with their mashed potatoes.  My grandfather always said, “Well, it all goes to the same place, doesn’t it?” but I don’t think a lot of people think that way.  Sorry, Grandpa.
  • Don’t eat in the buffet line.  This really needs no explanation.  There are so many things wrong with eating in a buffet line that there isn’t enough room on the page.
  • Don’t overload.  We’ve all seen this.  And it’s just so darn attractive, isn’t it?  Seeing a pile of food fall to the floor, awaiting the next person to come along and step in it is a real treat.  See Devil’s Tower.
  • To-go container.  Asking for a to-go container is a definite don’t!  I have seen people do so, taking two and three meals home with them.  Really?!!  A Buffet is NOT an all-you-can-eat bar.
  • Please & Thank You.  Three words with fourteen letters that carry a great deal of weight.  Please and Thank you are never used too much.
  • Tip 10%.  If you are in a restaurant where there is an opportunity to tip and it is a buffet, 10% is appropriate.
  • When to start eating. Wait until at least four people around you have been seated before eating.  In some cases, tables will be released to the buffet line.  In this case, most of the people at your table will be sitting down at the same time.  Try to be respectful and wait for about four other guests to sit down before you start to dine.  You don’t want to be the first one to the table and dig in as the others sit down.  You definitely stand out in the crowd when you wait for others to be seated around you.  Believe me, they notice!
  • Don’t Double Dip.  If you are at a casual function and there is a vegetable tray or chips with dip, please put the dip on your plate with a spoon and then dip.

Buffets are part of business dining today but just remember these tips and you’ll always Outclass the Competition.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J3w4cS2MvM’]

 

10 Things Said That Will End a 1st Date Quickly.

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Coming off of a bit of a dating spree and couldn’t help myself from sharing a few things I’ve learned. The first date is at times an awkward even painful experience. Why make it worse than it has to be? There are a few things that ultimately you shouldn’t discuss when meeting a dating prospect for the first time, things you shouldn’t utter..things that may result in  your date walking out on you. I should mention that I did walk out on one and though for the first time, it was both insanely rude of me as well as refreshingly liberating. Let me explain further. You may want to jot these down.

10 Things Not To Say on a First Date

1. “My ex was nuts. There were jealousy issues in the relationship” – Why are you talking about your past relationship on a first date? How is this relevant to the newness of meeting each other? All this says to me is that you’re either not over it and if you’re out with me, you should probably be over it. In general, the issues in your passed love affairs shouldn’t be a topic you’re dying to explore with a new person on a first date. Save it for your therapist, order a cocktail and engage in real conversation instead.

2. “I’m unemployed. I’m trying to find myself” – What?! Get a job! Look, I’m all for trying to figure out your path in life and not being sure where your happiness in life truly lies, but in the meantime shouldn’t you be paying your bills? Get a job, I have nothing more to say about this one.

3. “I’m not looking for anything serious” – Can I  order my dinner before you jump to conclusions about what I am looking for? For pete’s sake I know I am in my 30s but just because I’ve agreed to hang out with you doesn’t mean I’m ready to jump into a relationship. Get over yourself.

4. “BTDubs” – How about STFU? Seriously, you’re offline and in the real world. Please don’t speak in acronyms and think it’s cute. You’re not Lauren Conrad and this isn’t The Hills. It makes you sound like a complete ass.

5. “My Ex and I used to come here” – Again with the ex? Why don’t you call her and ask her to join us too? Seriously, whether you’re a guy or a gal leave the ex factor out of the conversation. It really is a big turn just as much as your Facebook photo that has him or her cropped out of it. If you’re not over it you have no business dating. Take sometime to yourself to figure things out.

6. “I’m a Serial Monogamist” – Great. So how many unsuccessful relationships have you been in? How many times have you jumped from one to another? I’m so honored you’re out with me right now.  Am I next? Shut up. There’s no need to divulge your dating patterns at this point. The fact that you’re able to commit is great,  but none of them going anywhere only makes me wonder, “what’s wrong with this guy?”

7. “I need an adventurous girl” – I rock climb, hike and indulge in spicy food on occasion, is that what you mean? REALLY. Can we get through a date before you’re making “bedroom demands” or telling me your fantasies? This same guy likes to prematurely sext and send inappropriate photos of himself. Major red flag.

8. “Did that tattoo hurt?” – No, I orgasmed. Of course it hurt you idiot. There are needles in the machine you refer to as a tattoo gun. I wish I had a gun to put myself out of misery from a ten minute conversation with you. Here’s a tip, generally people with many tattoos don’t want to answer stupid questions about tattoos.

9. “You’re perfume smells like my Mother” – Hold the phone freak. I’m glad your Mother has taste and may or may not wear Chanel but never compare me to her. That’s a sure fire way for me to NOT to answer the phone the next time you call.

The number 10 thing never to say on a first date, the one that caused me to stand up and walk out.

10. “Ultimately, I know I want to be with my ex” – Great, thanks for the heads up. Ordinarily, I would have probably related to this and offered some piece of advice because I understand what it’s like to feel like that way. However,  I had recently been jerked around for two months by a guy who clearly wasn’t over his ex, who wasted my time because he was lonely and “ultimately” exited out of my life with that very statement. So, to hear it on first date with someone else so soon after certainly rubbed me the wrong way. I stood up and walked out. I’m sure he thinks I’m odd or crazy even for doing so but I did it and it felt great. I hope he worked things out with her.

The ex factor  in general is something I always advise against bringing up early on when dating someone new. I think many people, in an effort to not feel alone, jump right into dating. It isn’t fair to you or the person or persons you date because you did not allow yourself the necessary time to heal. Though some felt it extreme, I held off for a year after the end of my last because I knew it was more important for me to fix the relationship I had with myself than it was to find a relationship with someone else. Just a piece of advice, take your time.

Well, there you have it..10 Things Not to Say on a First Date. What was the worst or most insane thing someone has said to you on a first date?

And the nominees for best party are….

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No – I’m not talking about who’ll win what on Oscar night – I’m talking about where you’re going to party to celebrate! Dayton is a film community, and as such – we’ve got different parties for all different tastes to celebrate the Academy Awards. Want to dress up in your finest or stay cozy in your PJs? Want to watch the show for free or make a donation to a local nonprofit? Want to sit in a theatre and enjoy it on a big screen or hang out in a bar with friends to watch it on 14 smaller screens? Like I said – something for everyone. Here’s a taste:

You’re interested in a very “comfy” event? Check out Jeans ’n’ Jammies at the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs. There will be a screening of the ceremony and a cash bar will be available serving the Little Artini (among other tasty beverages). The Oscars at the Little Art will be preceded at 6:00 p.m. by a pre-party at the Winds Café, just a short walk from the theater, where heavy appetizers and complimentary wine will be served thanks to Mary Kay Smith and Kim Korkan of the Winds Café.  At 7:30 p.m. partygoers will proceed to the red carpet at the Little Art in time to catch the Oscars on the big screen – served up with free popcorn.  For those who wish to go early, the Hollywood red carpet arrivals will be showing at the Little Art at 7:00 p.m. Admission to the entire program is $50, of which $35 is a tax deductible contribution to the nonprofit Little Art Theatre Association. Attendees are invited to come in their pajamas. But, if they are not comfortable with relaxed attire in public, they may opt for jeans. Prizes will be awarded for best Jammies for couple and individual, for correctly predicting winners in the major categories, and for winners of a movie trivia contest. Local actor Howard Shook will emcee the event. Go to littleart.com or call Maureen Lynch at 937-901-1920 for more details and to RSVP.

Looking to stay closer to the center city, but still have that big screen experience? Don’t miss the Oscar Party at the NEON! This free event is a great chance to enjoy the ceremony with your friends in the very theatre that first showed many of the Oscar nominated films to our region.  Known throughout the Miami Valley for bringing the latest and best in independent and foreign cinema, THE NEON screened numerous films that have been nominated for Academy Awards.  Movies that screened over the past year garnered over 30 Oscar nominations, and that number will continue to grow in the coming weeks. Ballots are currently available in THE NEON’s lobby for attendees to begin making their Oscar predictions.  On the night of the party, ballots must be turned in before the first Academy Award is given – and prizes (including soundtracks, screenplays, and dvds) will be awarded throughout the evening for correct guesses.  At the end of the night, the person with the most correct predictions will win “The Star Treatment” – a gift basket from Square Salon & Spa and THE NEON.  (Must be present to win.)  Seating for this year’s party will begin at approximately 7pm and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. NOTE: The Neon is grateful to ThinkTV who provides assistance in acquiring a strong signal for the broadcast.

Like the casual feel, but want a more social night out? Check out the FilmDayton Oscar Party. Moving from the big screen to the small screen, they’ll have the ceremony broadcast on 14  flat screens at Geez Grill and Pub (off Far Hills in Centerville). Doors open at 7:30 PM and you’ll be able to grab some great food, enjoy the cash bar, bid on some great silent auction prizes, compete in a 50/50 cash prize for the best ballot, and play along with Oscar Bingo. Join FilmDayton to mingle with the filmmakers, film lovers, and friends who think the Oscars are a great excuse for a fun party. It’s a great night that encourages grabbing a table, chatting with your friends, and watching who wore what, who got Oscar, and who got robbed. $10 for FilmDayton members and $20 for nonmembers. More information here. This fundraiser for FilmDayton helps support the educational programming that the organization offers throughout the region and supports the annual FilmDayton Festival.