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Archives for December 2012

Psychostick Brings Humorous Holiday Hate to McGuffy’s

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Saturday November 24th humor core pioneers Psychostick brought their unique brand of side splitting heavy metal harmonious bedlam to the Dayton stage bringing their hits, misses and their version of some holiday tunes that to the uninitiated ear would probably sound best roasting on an open fire. They proved however you can have some fun with a few old time Christmas jingles and still sound like you’re pouring out poisonous eggnog to the holly jolly spirited sing along metal carolers.
Adding to the nights serious side were New York’s Xombie, Cincinnati’s The Fallen and Dayton’s Amongst Villains.
Hardcore New York based street kings Xombie opened with a very serious set performing with a Mad Ball/Primus feel and a Rage Against the Machine lyrical delivery. Their sound a self-described Hood Metal mixing hip hop/rap and metal into their own version of heavy street cred. Adam Cruz spits out lyrical novels every five minutes with a Henry Rollins/Mike Muir spoken word rapid fire pace. They soar high above the city smog in the metal heavens with the mighty Terrordactayl, work their game on the ladies G style on Excuse Me Miss and finish up with a PowerSmash giving the crowd something to remember them by.  There are plenty of Biohazard signs in New York but there’s a few more Beware of Xombies too.
The Fallen

The Fallen

Next are two hot chicks from Cincinnasty and the three guys that play music with them. The Fallen, a multi meaning moniker, most important definition being ‘Those that have fallen, will rise up from their knees with a new self-identity and fight another day.’ The band, a metal-core outfit, most members formally in alt metal band Chaotic Existence, they purged forward with a heavier sound and the sweet, harmonic, soothing  feminine growls and sexy screams of Tosha Montgomery. She spent the set sharing her Wicked Wisdom with the crowd with a Straight Line Stitch to the ear. They opened with the mysterious supernatural Ghost of the Unknown playing under the Blood Red Skies to the Last One Standing. They slow it down taking a seat on the speakers as Montgomery gives the throat demoness’s a break for a few minutes bringing out the inner diva for the first half of Dying, their monster 80’s power metal ballad tribute. Proving they’re a band not all about serious stuff they lighten the mood playing an instant crowd favorite about the nation’s love of ‘motorboating’.  The Fallen incorporate a unique blend of metal, mixing an early Slayer sound with Slipknot guitar grooves adding the vocal elements of Angela Gossow and Morgan Lander.

Amongst Villains

Amongst Villains

Just so everyone knows it takes a real badass to sport a white sweater/pink shirt ensemble at a metal show. It takes ever more guts to do it singing with a band onstage. Never the less Josh Marshall from Dayton’s southern metal outfit Amongst Villains looks ‘fabulous’ no matter who he’s wearing. To his credit the sweater came off and gave apologies for both. They’re a band of everyman, spit and shine with a bloody finger scratching the floor working man’s metal with a heavy loaded guitar sound with some Zakk Wylde southern comfort. We went on an intoxicated downstream trip on the Black River Ruin. They brought out a special guest from In the Cut to help out on Heavy is the Crown. They will be returning to the stage on December 15 for the Moshpits and Lighters III local metal showcase.

Psychostick

Psychostick

Psychostick could be considered a modern day version of Scatterbrain. They brought in the holidays early with the Santa’s an A—–e Tour, some pretty red wreaths and a giftwrapped drum kit for all. A huge inflatable jolly Chris Cringle rocks and bobbles on stage just like the big fat cholesterol filled bastard himself. The band thanked everyone for sacrificing their World of Warcraft Saturday to come out and hear some brutal Christmas metal. They welcome you to the show with Welcome to the Show a song sung as the opening song sung letting everyone know they’re at an f’n concert hearing the opening song sung. Concerts are badass, concerts are cool. Show us your middle fingers, you guys are dicks. Take out your car keys… hey don’t leave yet! Now jingle them to make a nice Christmassy sound! Now put them away and give your neighbor a hug (any metal band that can make metal dudes hug each other (some of which didn’t know each other) in public surrounded by hot chicks is well, a unique form of crowd control I guess). Concerts are bad ass, YEAH! Singer Rawrb sports a weird shiny foam spiked pointed hat thingy. Presumably a homemade version of Doc’s mind reading Back to the Future head helmet, pimped out for the occasion. Bassist Matty brings out his cartoonish nature with a head trip tribute to Bullwinkle and friends.  Now it’s time to break out the demonic ho’s, err holiday songs. The double bass pedal kickin yellow snow makin fun loving fury of Jingle Bell Metal. The double extended 24 second remix version of Silent Night followed by a sugary green and red light show filling all with angst and Christmas cheer, along with some curiously strong Jell-O shots. It was washed down with a delicious Sandwich for Santa. Psychostick is where hell and the North Pole collide in a huge pile of red snow. Switching gears we learn how to count to four with Drowning Pool, sort of. It’s an educational mathematically challenging show, elementary. Now that your brain hurts, Psychostick makes your body hurt with the most ingenious original invention every created with built in safety features, the slow motion mosh pit. In other words, the sssloooooww mootiooon moooosh piiiiit….  Old school circle pit! Ok, slower, everyone slower, slower, SLOWER! Stop moving, ok go! Next was a song dedicated to all the boobs in the house, you know… those blessed with less than average intellectually intelligent individual thought patterns. Returning to the holiday theme they sing about sh—y sweaters spreading some holiday Hate Times 8. They sure do hate all the haters who hate the other hating haters who hate the most. They don’t like Bing Crosby or people that hate eggnog either. Now it’s time for some Girl Directions, some girl directions, which way do I go woman? Uhm, like um, you go like uhm, that way, uhm….I guess. Speaking of bad directions this is the true story of Rudolf who killed people Dexter style, and was a blood red nosed freak of nature. System of a put the f’n pudding down! It’s time for the yogurt and eggnog lover’s song. Now, slow dance… by yourself! No clingy girlfriends. They wish you a Merry Christmas, they wish you a Merry Christmas, they wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy taco. A roll of large industrial size gift wrap crowd surfed on this one, along with a huge stuffed oversized taco. Now grab the guy with the sombrero! Next up is a song about the night Santa died fighting off the aliens. (live, on stage intermission brought to you by Hoagy Carmichael) And you know what goes great with Hoagies? Beer, that’s right beer, we all love beer, beer is good, let’s go drink beer with a girl named Ruthie. Time for the Wii, err WEE, worst encore ever. After all the hoopla, jokes, serious social commentary, yelling, screaming, wassailing it was time to send the crowd home happy or at least distracted with a song about hope, faith, high social morals and world peace about all the new year’s resolutions you won’t keep so, Happy F’n New Year from….. wait for it, PSYCHOSTICK!!!!

Psychostick

Psychostick

Tonight Psychostick proved to the dozens of hundreds of fans, including die hard super fan Rob Bowling, they’re one of the greatest, fastest, most brutal, melodic, jazzy, loudest, instrumental bands with loud vocals that perform comedy and Christmas metal songs from Phoenix on a tour called Santa’s an A—–e on the McGuffy’s stage in Dayton Ohio in late November of 2012 around 11 in the evening on a Saturday night at McGuffy’s House of Rock amongst other bands that do the exact same thing.

HITCHCOCK Now Playing At THE NEON

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hitchcock_ver2__121102190026-275x408Hello Everyone,

ANNA KARENINA is still going strong…and we’re opening a film today that I think will continue to keep us quite busy. HITCHCOCK – a film about the making of PSYCHO and the relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville – is lots of fun. The performances are stellar and the story is great. Rex Reed of THE NEW YORK OBSERVER gave the film a 100% review. He wrote, “This is one of the best movies of 2012. With rich performances, a riveting and articulate screenplay, meticulous direction and enough grounded emotional intensity to keep your pulse pounding, Hitchcock grabs you by the lapels like a suspense classic by Hitch himself – a knockout from start to finish.”

Synopsis for HITCHCOCK: “Lurking behind Alfred Hitchcock, cinema’s ‘master of suspense’ — the extraordinary film icon known for orchestrating some of the most intense experiences of menace and intrigue audiences have ever seen, was a hidden side: his creatively explosive romance with his steadfast wife and filmmaking collaborator, Alma Reville. Now, for the first time, Sacha Gervasi’s HITCHCOCK lays bare their captivating and complex love story. It does so through the sly, shadowy lens of their most daring filmmaking adventure: the making of the spine-tingling 1960 thriller, PSYCHO, which would become the director’s most controversial and legendary film. When the tumultuous, against-the-odds production was over, nothing about movies would ever be the same – but few realized that it took two to pull it off.” (Fox Searchlight) Click this link to visit the official site.

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Do you use Facebook? If so, we’ve got a fun contest going on that uses the HITCHCOCK photobooth in our lobby. Check out our Facebook page for details on how you could win a HITCHCOCK prize pack – which includes dvds of PSYCHO and NORTH BY NORTHWEST. Here’s our page – www.facebook.com/neonmovies

The Family Holiday Film Series picked up quite a bit this past weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out for IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE…the crowd was awesome. This Saturday marks the final film in the series. Many thanks to the Dayton Holiday Festival, DP&L, and Channel 99.9 for their sponsorship.
Here is the last film of this year’s line-up:
DEC. 15 at Noon – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
This film is free for children 12 & under and only $2 for everyone else.

If you were a fan of the one-night only screening of RIDE THE DIVIDE, mark your calendars now for January 23. We will host a one-night only screening of the new film REVEAL THE PATH. Next week, I will provide more details…but if you just can’t wait, you can check out the official site to find out more about the film.

The holidays are upon us, and we hope you won’t forget that NEON gift certificates make great presents! Whether they’re for the film-lover in your life…or the person who still needs to discover THE NEON…we sell them at our box office in $5 and $10 denominations.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. Dec. 14 – Thur, Dec. 20:

ANNA KARENINA (R) 2 Hr 10 Min
Friday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Saturday: 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:30, 5:15, 8:00

HITCHCOCK (PG-13) 1 Hr 38 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 7:50

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (NR) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday: 12:00 (Noon)

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
Dec. ? – SMASHED
Dec. ? – A ROYAL AFFAIR
Jan. 4 – HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
Jan ? – RUST AND BONE
Jan ? – ON THE ROAD
Feb ? – WEST OF MEMPHIS
Feb. ? – AMOUR
TBD – DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

Gifts Outside The Box – Lindy and Co.

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This is a series of “Gifts Outside the Box”.  Different ideas for presents for everyone that you love in your life.  The following is article two:

“Mom.  Mommmy.  Moooom.  Mother.  Karen.  Mom!”

“What?”

“Hi.”

I have my very own Stewie, in the form of a white, four-legged furry creature.  He’s a tad bit demanding.  Those of you that have Terrorists – I mean Terriers – will understand.  Charlie is a Westie wanna be.  I say that only because his gene pool is quite shallow and he doesn’t quite make the mark  – a typical puppy mill puppy.  Charlie Brown (his middle name is Clearance – the people we adopted him from bought him on sale) is the most joyous and loving dog ever.  If his exuberance could be cloned, I’d be rich.  Charlie Brown (aka Charlie Daniels, Charles in Charge, Chuck, Chuckmeister, Charles Manson, Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Sheen – that’s when he’s a bad boy), has a little sister named Lucy.  Yes, the connection is obvious.  Lucy also has some aliases: Lulu Belle, “Ol Lucy Brown” (those of you old enough to know the song “Mack the Knife”), Lucy Lou and yes, the obvious one – Lucy van Pelt.  She’s the good one.  Smart as a whip (part mini Golden Doodle and part mini Australian Sheppard) and can run faster than any dog I’ve ever met.

So when Charlie asked me the other day when I was going to take them out for a special Christmas shopping spree, I realized I’d better get my act and gear and figure out where to take them.  It ended up being a great day, and probably best if I just let Charlie and Lucy tell you about it.

Charlie: Mom, are we there yet?

Lucy: No, stupid.  We just left.  And leave mom alone, she’s trying to drive.  And stop touching me or I’m going to tell on you.

Charlie: Mom, where are we going first?  I’m hungry.

Lucy: You just don’t stop, do you?  We just ate breakfast.

Charlie: Well at least I don’t barf up breakfast when we ride in the car.

Lucy: Shut up and stick your head out the window, loser.  We are almost there.

Charlie:  Almost where?

Lucy: You never do listen do you?  Mom said we could stop at Lindy and Co. to get some homemade doggie treats.

Charlie: Oh, boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!

Lucy: I just read their website yesterday.  What’s cool about them is that they are run by Daybreak Shelter and the kids from the shelter are the ones that actually make the treats.  I can’t wait to meet Lindy.  Oh goodie, here we are! And there’s Lindy!  Hi Lindy!  Oh, I think I have a dog crush.  I always wanted golden hair.  But look Lindy, I’m part Golden Retriever too.

Charlie: Lucy, quit babbling. You are making a fool of yourself.  Hi Lindy, will you tell us about your place here – and your yummy biscuits?

Lindy: Well, I teamed up with the people from Daybreak, a non profit agency in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio, who helps homeless youth.

I created “Lindy and Company” to open a pet treat bakery where pet parents can buy healthy, delicious homemade treats baked by homeless youth who are working to develop skills they need to get a good job. Lindy & Company was created specifically to help homeless youth gain work experience so that they are able to secure and maintain livable wage jobs, for without a job, they will never become self-sufficient.

As part of the programming, Daybreak requires residents to be employed as they work towards self-sufficiency. But many of the kids were having a hard time finding and keeping jobs because they lacked the “soft skills” most employers are looking as well as the work experience.

Dog AntlersSo, now they make these yummy doggie treats.  And look at all these flavors!
Lucy: I will shake, dance with joy, play dead or sit for a very long time for a treat.  Which trick do you want?

Charlie: And I can, um.  Well, I can…I can dance too!  Yes, I’ll dance. Please, please…can I have a Cheddar Chomper, oh please?

Lindy: Yes, you can try them all if you want…we have a sampler pack.

Lucy: Oh happy, happy, joy, joy!

Me: Ok, kids, we are here to buy presents, remember?  So go ahead and pick a few things out.  And let’s remind everyone again to go to the website to find out more about the amazing mission of Daybreak and more information about Lindy and Company.  www.lindyandcompany.org.

See you next time!  Woof!

Well, this is where part one of the day out with the doggies ends.  The next segment will involve other local dog-friendly businesses…and the new dog park as well. So stay tuned for the next adventure of Christmas Shopping with Charlie Brown and Lucy!

View all of our “Gifts Outside The Box” articles here:

Tale of Two Disalvo’s: Part 1 Mamma DiSalvo’s Ristorante

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This is the first of a two part story on the DiSalvo Family businesses in Kettering.  This week we focus on Mamma DiSalvo’s Ristorante.  In July 1979, Rinaldo “Papa” DiSalvo Sr. and his wife Elena “Mamma”  DiSalvo opened up an Italian Restaurant at 1375 E. Stroop Rd., and the Miami Valley has never been the same since.   Still going strong, you can see Mamma and Papa in the dining area from time to time greeting customers.   Their sons Nick and Bobby DiSalvo mostly manage the restaurant today.  What is the secret of their success?  Good, homemade Italian food and friendly service where you feel like family.

When you walk into Mamma DiSalvo’s Ristorante,  you notice the small bar area and a cozy dining room.   The aroma from the bustling kitchen is an appetizer in itself.  This place fills up during peak times, so you may want to put your name in at the host desk and grab a drink at the bar while you wait for a table.  They have a decent wine selection, and of course Italian beers like Peroni.  The Big Ragu’s favorite,  Moretti beer.  Sometimes he even goes 70’s old school sometimes with Lambrusco.

Mama DisalvosThere is so much to love about this true “Mom and Pop” place.  The atmosphere makes you feel like you are on  an Italian movie set in New York City.  Casual, yet romantic, it is what an Italian Restaurant should be.  The hosts, wait staff and family always greet you with with a happy disposition and unique personality.  After you are seated, we suggest that you order an appetizer, because homemade Italian entrees take a while to prepare.  Be patient, masterpieces take some time, and it is worth the wait for this Food Adventure.

Two of our favorite appetizers at Mamma DiSalvo’s are the fried calamari, and the antipasti plate which is a variety of cold cut meats, imported cheeses and peppers.  You can’t go wrong here.    A little known secret is that Mamma DiSalvos has some fantastic pizzas made with homemade dough.  We like to mix it up once in a while by grabbing a pie once in a while instead of an Italian Dinner.  Speaking of dinner, before each meal you are served a salad and these wonderful buttery bread loaves sprinkled with garlic powder.  We warn you, the bread is beyond addicting.  As for the salad, please trust us and get the house dressing which is a tangy mix of vinegar and oil, and served with shaved Parmesan cheese on top.  It is a fantastic lead-in to the main course.  As for any other dressings, fawghettabouit stick with the house.

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Lemoncello

 

We have made many trips to this Italian paradise and have some favorites.  Three favorite Food Adventure dishes: Linguini with Buttery Garlic Sauce and Mushrooms, Veal Marsala, or their Chicken Parmesan.   All of these dishes feature sauces from scratch and pasta from scratch.  The linguini and veal have lighter sauces, but the huge Chicken Parmesan dish guarantees a take home box.

The Big Ragu’s favorite entrees are the manicotti or the homemade gnocchi (pronounced ‘nyah-kee’) which is a potato dumpling pasta served with marinara sauce.   He is also partial to the monstrous Panzarotti, which is a giant calzone stuffed with meatballs, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, sauce and cheese.

If you can manage after all of this good food, you have to take advantage of their desserts.  Go light with a Lemoncello served in a flute glass.  It is the perfect mix of sweet, tart and decorated with touches of whipped cream.  Desserts that the Big Ragu enjoys are the cannoli and the tiramisu all of which can be enjoyed with cappuccino.

Mamma DiSalvo’s is not a restaurant it is an experience, wait… it is a true Italian Food Adventure !  Through years of hard work they have built a great reputation and now, when you think of Italian spots in Dayton, you think of Mamma DiSalvo’s.  Visit them online for daily specials and menu details at www.mammadisalvo.com.  If you have not tried this Dayton original, you are missing a gourmet experience.  Stop in to the restaurant and EAT, or as they say “Mangia! Mangia!”

Look for Part 2 of the story next week…

Make sure you browse through the many incredible pictures in the gallery below from our various Food Adventures to Mamma DiSalvo’s.  “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

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ON STAGE DAYTON REVIEW: A Christmas Carol (Zoot Theatre Company) – Holiday Whimsy

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL -John Gary Thompson, JJ Parkey, Heather Atkinson and Lizzy Miller (Photo: Scott J. Kimmins)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL -John Gary Thompson, JJ Parkey, Heather Atkinson and Lizzy Miller (Photo: Scott J. Kimmins)

Excellent puppetry boosts Zoot Theatre Company’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Dayton Art Institute.

 
As the familiar, redemptive Christmas Eve journey of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge transpires, adapted and helmed by Aaron Vega, it’s difficult not to be amazed by puppet designer D. Tristan Cupp’s artistry. Every marvelously detailed creation brims with personality from Ebenezer’s beak-like nose and thin frame to an adorably diminutive youngster with a penchant for caroling. Most eye-catching is his clever reimagining of the Ghost of Christmas Past (recounting Ebenezer’s history in the form of a film projector) and the Ghost of Christmas Present (a humorous copper conception). Due to the slight monotony of Vega’s narrative-driven adaptation, which emotionally resonates but could have been better paced without an intermission, Cupp’s contributions, which also include fine illustrations, are vital to selling the story in a fresh, unexpected fashion.
 
Still, Vega sprinkles the proceedings with inspired moments including the wonderful reveal of Ebenezer’s late partner Jacob Marley (expertly lit by John Rensel) and the spooky use of videography for the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. His decision to place the actors in shadow late in Act Two is a notable misstep (the actors are occasionally unintelligible which slows the action), but his staging is atmospheric, fluid and playful nonetheless.
 
Exhibiting great versatility as puppeteers, the compatible cast, adopting decent British accents and nicely costumed with a Victorian sensibility by Shirley P. Wasser, features the welcomed return of Wright State University theater graduates Ryan James Imhoff and JJ Parkey along with Heather Atkinson, Lizzy Miller and J. Gary Thompson. The tall, striking Imhoff is a terrifically conflicted Young Ebenezer and an absolutely earthy delight as the boozy Ghost of Christmas Present. Parkey, bubbly and expressive as ever, is a funny, genial and warm Bob Cratchit as well as a fittingly ominous Marley. Atkinson and Miller, a charming pair, respectively shine as Mrs. Cratchit and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Oddly, Thompson, comfortably strapped to the Ebenezer puppet akin to Julie Taymor’s visualization of Timon in “The Lion King,” is more cranky than colorful, lessening his appeal in a role with numerous layers. Even so, he endearingly reiterates the joy permeating throughout Ebenezer’s chuckle-inducing transformation, which remains the ultimate heartwarming hallmark of this enduring tale.
 
“A Christmas Carol” continues through Dec. 15 in the NCR Renaissance Auditorium of the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Act One: 45 minutes; Act Two: 48 minutes. Tickets are priced at $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors and $12 for children 12 and under. For tickets, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org. For more information, visit http://zootttheatrecompany.org.

Meghna’s ‘Kind of Friend’ Set To Put Singer On The Radar

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Lyrics to songs tell stories.  To most songwriters, their songs tell the story of relationships in their lives.  When I spoke with the lead singer of the band Heartless Bastards Erika Wennerstrom this past summer, she told me that she would write about past relationships and how they molded her to be what she is today.  Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam’s earlier work dealt with his relationship with his family.  During a sit down with local artist Meghna, she made perfect sense when she described what relationships are in her eyes, “They aren’t black and white.  There is a lot of gray.” On Saturday night the Oregon Express Bar and Restaurant, located in the Oregon District, will be presenting Meghna.  Meghna and her band, The Majority, will be releasing her third album, Kind of Friend.  Playing on the same bill is The Charlie Tipton Band.

MeghnaMeghna Mahambrey began singing when she took the stage in her elementary school musical.  In middle and high school, she participated in talent shows, where would sing songs from Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and the great Etta James.  With her love for singing, she decided to record her first EP in 2005 with the help of production team Music Without Borders.  Then she released her first LP, My Little Tape Recorder.  The album, released in 2007, was a creative fusion of R&B, mixed with the influences of music from around the world.  In 2010, Meghna teamed up with an old high school friend and released the album, Home.  The album, which she co-wrote most of the songs, ranged from folk to rock.

However, Kind of Friend is Meghna’s pride and joy to date.  In 2011, Meghna started to write songs about her recent relationships and friendships.  “I have some good relationships and some bad relationships”, Meghna explained.  “They have dramatically shaped me as a person, and that is what the new album is about.”  With the album, Meghna wrote all the songs, and worked with producer/owner of In The Red Studios Chris Suttle, guitarist Ken Walker, pianoist Jamie Preston, bassist Nathan Warden, and drummer Aaron Farrier.  The group helped Meghna start to play the keyboard again, an instrument that she hasn’t played in some time.  “The album is very heavily influenced of music from Norah Jones and The Civil Wars”, Meghna said to me during our sit down.  So, be expecting some great jazz influence, along with hints of country and folk.

 

The Charlie Tipton Band is another fantastic band that will be performing on Saturday night.  The band provides great Americana music, with the influences of Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson that leaves the crowd breathless.  The band also combines rock and roll into their live performance, adding a level of angst that keeps you on your toes.  If you haven’t had the chance to see The Charlie Tipton Band, this will be one of the best times to see them.  Both acts Saturday night will be telling great stories about love, friendships, and life through their music.  Show starts at 9pm at the Oregon Express Bar.  

 

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Coming up in Dayton theatre, 12/14 – 12/23

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Hello again, one and all. I can’t believe that this edition will bring us right up to the edge of Christmas and, ergo, nearly to the dawn of 2013. Things do tend to slow down a bit as we coast into the Holiday Season, most shows are done with their runs before Christmas and new ones don’t really start up again until we get into January. But there are still several offerings out here for you to sample. For starts!

Closing This Weekend!

12 Dancing Princess

Xenia Area Community Theatre (X*ACT)

The Skinny:X*ACT bills this production as a “Holiday family show,” and indeed this story is one that will please the youngest among us. Based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, it follows the 12 daughters of a king who are locked in their bedroom each night, and yet appear each morning with shoes worn out from dancing.

Dates: Closing on the 16th.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the door, for more information please visit the X*ACT website, here.

A Christmas Carol

Zoot Theatre Company

The Skinny: Dayton’s puppet theatre company takes on Dickens seasonal classic, delightfully retelling this classic morality play as only Zoot can.

Dates: Closing this weekend, on the 15th.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Dayton Art Institute website, here.

Scrooge

The Dayton Playhouse

The Skinny: Adapted from the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” this musical closely follows the classic story with the miserly Ebenezer undergoing a profound experience of redemption over the course of a Christmas Eve night, after being visited by the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley and the Spirits of Christmas past, present and future.

Dates: Three performances left, closing on 12/16.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Dayton Playhouse website, here.

Annie

Troy Civic Theatre

The Skinny: The famous musical version of Lil’ Orphan Annie is,indeed, a Christmas-set offering. This show is a heart-warming favorite, sure to please families with kids, or without.

Dates: One more weekend, closing on the 15th.

Tickets: Tickets are available for reservation by calling 937-339-7700. Pricing information can be found at the Troy Civic Theatre website, here.

Continuing!

Oliver!

The Human Race Theatre Company

The Skinny: Christmas Eve in London, 1838. A small group of working-class, wayward souls gather in a tavern to celebrate when a small, unexpected guest prompts a spontaneous telling of the popular Oliver Twist. With traditional music-hall flair, they delve into Charles Dickens’ haunting moral tale as the lines between story and reality blur. Sized perfectly for The Loft Theatre, this reimagining of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical will touch your heart and challenge your spirit. It’s Oliver with a twist, indeed! Dayton Most Metro’s Russell Florence reviewed Oliver! Click here to read it!

Dates: You’ve got several more chances to catch this wonderful production, which runs through the 22nd.

Tickets: Tickets are available through the Human Race Theatre Company website, here.

One Weekend Only!

In The Spotlight!

Playhouse South

The Skinny: Playhouse Souths annual revue-style evening of musical theatre selections, this year entitled “At The Movies” and featuring numbers from musicals, TV shows and movies.

Dates: Two performances only, December 2oth and 21st.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Playhouse South website, here.

 

So, that all gives you plenty to see up to Christmas eve eve eve (12/22)!  Remember, a night at the theatre is not only a wonderful date, it’s also a splendid holiday gift! There’s 9 days til Christmas and 2 nights of Hanukkah left…head to your favorite theatre box office and buy tickets!

The Hobbit | Bad Santa | Christmas Vacation | Cirque Du Soleil + TICKET CONTEST

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Hello Dayton and Happy Holidays!  Check out these special events as well as great films opening!  Gift cards also make the PERFECT gift.  Get yours today!

As always, thank you for support and we wish you a very merry holiday this season!

 

BAD SANTA – DEC 12th @ 2pm & 7PM – ONLY $5

A conman and his partner pose as Santa and his helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid.

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THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY – OPENS MIDNIGHT DEC 13th

Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

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NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION – DEC 19th @ 2pm & 7pm – ONLY $5

The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL 3D – 12/21 thru 12/24 @ 12pm & 7pm – Normal pricing

From the big top to the big screen, visionary filmmaker James Cameron and director Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Narnia) invite you and your family on an all new 3D adventure. A young couple who is separated, must journey through the astonishing and dreamlike worlds to find each other, as audiences experience the immersive 3D technology that will allow them to leap, soar, swim, and dance with the performers. This Holiday Season, Cirque du Soleil brings their world to your city!

 

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For showtimes click here

ENTER TO WIN TWO MOVIE PASSES!

Fill out the form below and leave a Facebook comment telling us you want to WIN MOVIE PASSES from RAVE CINEMAS DAYTON SOUTH, we will randomly draw a winner and notify same. Contest closes later this week. Passes awarded will be valid for 30 days from close date at Rave Cinemas Dayton South only and must be used by then or will be forfeited. Valid for any showing, except special events.

Congrats to our winner: Molly Nevius

All Good Festival Announces 2013 Dates, Nominated as ‘Music Festival of the Year’

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The 2012 All Good Festival

Returning to Legend Valley in Central Ohio for the second year in a row, the All Good Festival announced dates for the 17th annual event taking place July 18 – 21, 2013.

Following 16 years of putting on the All Good Festival, the event was recently nominated by leading live music industry trade magazine, Pollstar, for 2012 ‘Music Festival of the Year.  Festival co-founder Tim Walther stated, “We are thrilled to be recognized by our peers in the industry – this Pollstar nomination is a huge honor. We would not be where we are today without the support of the thousands of fans nationwide and our world-class crew, all who converge for a fantastic summer weekend of music and community. We thank everyone for their support.”

Following 10 years in West Virginia, the All Good Festival debuted in Ohio in 2012, at the site of the former Buckeye Lake Music Center where the Grateful Dead did some of their largest outdoor performances in the 1980s and 90s. A lineup announcement is forthcoming later this winter with festival tickets slated to go on sale in conjunction with the unveiling of the lineup.

Do You Have What It Takes To Be A “Chopped” Champion?

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Springboro’s Cook’sWares  has just announced they will be hosting a ‘Chopped Challenge‘ this winter, sponsored by Wüsthof  Knives.  Starting on Saturday  afternoon, Jan 26th chefs will compete in a 3 course cook off, preparing an entire meal from a basket of provided ingredients.

Each cook will have access to 4 burners and 1 oven, and they will share the grill. Winners will move on to a second round on February  2nd and winners of that round will move into the finals to be held on Feb 16th.   According to Joe Westvall the culinary school director, winners of each round (2) will get a Wusthof meat cleaver personally signed by Harald Wusthof, 7th generation head of Wusthof International. The Grand Prize winner will get a 7 piece Wusthof set also personally signed by Harald Wusthof.

If you think you have what it takes, you can register by calling 937-748-4540.     Or perhaps you’d rather sit the judges seat.  As ajudge, you will sample all the courses from each chef and vote to determine the winner.

Judging criteria will be provided. Recipes will be made available to you a few days after the class. Judges – register as you would for any class: by phone, on-line, or in person. Each event is limited to 12 judges and it will cost you $40 each to weigh in your vote.

Cooks’ Wares is located at 756 North Main Street  in Springboro, just a few doors down from Dorothy Lane Market at Settlers Walk.  The Springbooro location has been open for 10 years and besides offering cooking classes, they sell a full array of cooking tools, bakeware, small appliances and cookbooks.

 

Chappy’s to host 12.12.12 Epic Event

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Chappy’s Tap Room and  Grille will open at 11:30am this Wed, Dec 12th to celebrate the tapping of a keg of Stone Vertical Epic 12.12.12, the last one in the series at 12:12pm. They will be serving lunch and offering happy hour until 6pm.

According to a news release, “Stone 12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale was brewed with a Belgian yeast strain and features cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, rosehips, sweet orange peel, and a dash of clove. Spices and banana notes are prominently featured in the taste. As it warms, notes of caramel, dark toffee and molasses assert themselves. Overall, the dark beer provides a pleasant juxtaposition of roasted malts, hops and spice layers.”

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Besides 12.12.12, Chappy’s will also have all the Vertical Epics from 2003 through 2011. 11.11.11, 10.10.10, 09.09.09 will be available in draught starting at noon, as well as 08.08.08, 07.07.07and 06.06.06 in bottles (they will sell glasses so more people can have them) and then at 3:03pm we will tap a 1/6th barrrel of 03.03.03 and at 4:04pm we will tap a 1/6th barrel of 04.04.04 and finally at 5:05pm we will tap a 1/6th barrel of 05.05.05.  There will also be a raffle  for a 3.5 liter bottle of 12.12.12 benefiting the  Catholic Social Services Food Bank .   This very rare opportunity to try almost all of the ales in the Vertical Epic series and would not be possible without support from Cavalier Distributing and local beer guru Aaron Spoores.

Food Adventures Visits Mikesells Potato Chip Plant + **CONTEST***

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Who wants a case of your favorite hometown potato chip, Mikesells ?  Then check out this story and comment below on why you love Mikesells Potato Chips!  One lucky fan will be chosen at random, GOOD LUCK !

Dayton’s Mikesells Potato Chips are a true local original.  Started in 1910 by DW Mikesell who delivered his potato chips by bike.   The Wright Brothers bicycle shop even repaired his bike so he could stay in business.   Over 100 years later, Mikesells has been the longest continually operating Potato Chip company in the United States.   Mikesells is cemented deep in family owned tradition.  Four generations of the Mikesell family have worked for the organization.   They have various old photos and antiques in the board room as a constant reminder of where they came from and the hard work it took to get there.  Now, in 2012 they will sell over 12 million bags of  potato chips in the United States.  Chip lovers eat their products in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and more.  The “Good n  Hot” flavored chips have a cult following in the Miami Valley, but the number one seller remains regular Groovy chips.  You may also know they produce pretzels, pork rinds, corn chips, dips and the ever original puffcorn delights.   Over 72 products in various sizes and flavors make up the Mikesell’s family of snack foods.

Mikesells is always evolving and this year is no exception.  They have recently implemented a new packaging look and a new logo.  Be on the lookout for these bags, many which are already in area stores.  The look of the brand has changed but the beloved flavors have not been touched.  Customers can expect the same taste they know and love.

However,  Mikesells released two new flavors in June 2012:

Sweet Chili and Sour Cream: It has a kick of spice, a swirl of sweetness and a touch of sour cream all nestled in a Groovy-style chip.

Tuscan Spice:  A unique flavor with a splash of olive oil, a burst of sun-dried tomato and a hint of rosemary and herbs with 30% less fat than regular chips.

Being lifelong residents of the Miami Valley, The Food Adventure Crew have eaten a few Mikesells Potato Chips in our time.  We love them.   So, when invited for an exclusive tour the potato chip facility with DW Mikesell’s great grandson, Luke Mapp, we jumped at the chance.  What followed was a once in a lifetime Food Adventure to see how a Dayton icon gets its product to the masses.

We toured practically every inch of the state-of-the-art facility on Leo Street in Dayton.  We also harassed more than 130 employees.  We experienced a truly customized and incredible operation.  The process starts with, of course, potatoes.  An 18 wheeler semi-truck  literally pulls into the plant and tilts the load onto a conveyor belt and the process begins.  Each year, 20 million pounds of potatoes are processed through these production lines.

The potatoes are washed and sliced, and then are either cooked in small batches for the “kettle cooked” brands, or in larger quantities for their “regular” chips.  The automated process is supervised and manipulated by workers who ensure the great product that Daytonians love.  The slicer is an amazing piece of machinery that looks like a huge garbage disposal.  It is able to slice 400 pounds of chips in just three minutes.

The chips are then sent through another wash and lead into the deep fryers.  Custom machinery tosses the chips in hot oil so they wont stick together.  The deep fryers are gigantic and as big as a small house.  The chips are then led by conveyor belt through various canals and where they are salted if needed, flavored if it is a seasoned chip.  The product is then weighed sorted into various packages.  The sight is indescribable and Luke Mapp explained the process every step of the way.  After the products are bagged, they are inspected and placed in cases.  There is even a quality control lab where the chemical disposition of the chips are analyzed to ensure consistency.  One of the highlights was when we sampled some fresh reduced fat potato chips right off the assembly line.  It was the best potato chip we had ever eaten.

Talk about Green?  Mikesell’s were Green before Green was cool.  They recycle almost everything and have various steps in their production that re-use boxes and transporting materials.  Truly an environmentally conscious company.  They recycle 130,000 shipping boxes annually.  They also donate 208,000 pounds of potato by-product each year to local farmers for animal feed.  Mikesells also recovers 52,000 pounds of starch annually that is sold to paper mills.

During the tour, The Food Adventures Crew felt proud to be Daytonians and were blown away by the quality product and welcoming atmosphere.  The facility and the process were simply incredible.  They produce 4,000 pounds of potato chips in one hour and typically 6,500 cases of potato chips are produced in an 8 hour shift.  We are told it takes about 10 minutes to create the average Mikesell’s potato chip from start to finish.  So much perfection in so little time.  Also, to guarantee freshness, Mikesell’s  strives to distribute  its products to local retailers in 24 hours or less.

If you have not tried the new flavors of Tuscan Spice and Sweet Chili & Sour Cream, you are missing some fantastic snacks.   Make sure you get your hands on some! Make sure you check out the gallery below for an exclusive behind the scenes look at Mikesells.

Also, fellow Daytonians, next time you celebrate with family or friends, grab some Mikesells Potato Chips to make the party right.  Buy local for freshness, and that unbeatable taste that has been a Dayton tradition for generations.

Special thank you to Director of Marketing Luke, Amy, and Dan for setting up the tour and the coolest Food Adventure we have ever had.  We are grateful! 

Want to be grateful too?  Register below and get a chance to win a case of MIKESELLS POTATO CHIPS – winner will be chosen at random![form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Visit Food Adventures on FACEBOOK and “like” us by clicking HERE !

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our winner: Alma Sove!

WSU goes back to the Middle Ages with its Annual Madigral Dinner

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Bill Rickert – “Lord of the Manor”

Wright State University’s Student Union Apollo Room will once again be transformed into an English manor of the Renaissance era for the 30th annual Madrigal Dinner from Thursday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 16.

The Madrigal Dinner invites attendees to step back into a holiday celebration as it would have happened in the Middle Ages.

The evening begins with a reception featuring eggnog and wassail, a traditional hot holiday drink.

After the reception, guests will be summoned to the table by a fanfare and view the procession of the lords and ladies accompanied by the Wright State Chamber Singers.

Dinner will follow the procession of the boar’s head, an ancient yuletide custom. Guests will enjoy a medieval feast of stuffed turkey breast, beef and leek pie, plum pudding and many other delicious dishes.

Entertainment will be provided by lords and ladies, roving musicians, marionettes, singers, dancers and a court jester—all in full Renaissance attire.

Once again, Bill Rickert will preside at the head table as “Lord of the Manor.”

“I haven’t missed a night in the last 28 years,” said Rickert, a recently retired associate provost and professor emeritus of communication. “It seems each one is better than the last.”

Jim McCutcheon

Music will be directed by Drew Collins, assistant professor of music, and performed by the Wright State University Chamber Singers. Dancers and bearers are members of the Tudor Rose Dance Company, a group dedicated to recreating the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The early music ensemble Wind in the Woods will also perform.

“It’s always a wonderful time for the performers and the audience,” said Artistic Director Hank Dahlman, a Wright State professor of music and director of choral studies. “Everyone has fun and looks forward to returning each year.”

The Madrigal Dinner, a Wright State tradition since 1983, is presented by the Student Union and Department of Music.

Tickets are $50, $40 and $35 and can be purchased at the Wright State Student Union Box Office or at (937) 775-5544.

“For me, the Madrigal Dinner is both the start and the highlight of the Christmas season,” said Rickert.

Visit http://www.wright.edu/events/madrigal for more details.

(By , originally posted on the Wright State University Newsroom page)

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A Holiday Social Media Plan For Your Business

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By now, you should have a holiday social media plan in place for your business.  If not, don’t worry–there’s still time to put one together!

Before you plan a campaign, make sure you set some goals. Are you trying to raise awareness for your brand? Are you trying to increase your Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest fan base? Or, maybe you’d like to increase your sales conversion. Regardless of the goal, make sure you aggregate your baseline statistics so that you can check them against your campaign efforts to see what is working and what is not. The beauty of social media is that it is relatively easy to change tactics as needed. Be sure that any social media you do fits within your brand personality and parameters.

One last thing–don’t forget there are holidays other than the one you celebrate this month.  This December’s holidays include Hanukkah, Christmas and the Mayan-predicted end of the world.  Make sure your efforts include these.

Make life easy for your fans

Right now, coming off election season and immediately getting into holiday advertising, is not a good time to push your product or service.  We, the public, have developed a keen eye for ads and an ability to easily dismiss what we are seeing.  There are other ways to garner attention for your brand that are more consumer friendly during this season.

  • Share tips on de-stressing during the holidays.
  • Share favorite recipes and ask that your fans share theirs.
  • Offer daily gift ideas.
  • Offer reviews of your products and products suitable to your brand (i.e. if you sell homemade soaps, partner with a local natural lotion or candle business to share your message).

Reward your fans

Loyal fans are your biggest asset.  They are the best advocate for your brand to their family and friends.  You should reward them for the work they do on your behalf.

  • Create exclusive events for your followers
  • Create exclusive sales (you can differentiate the sale or a special code by social media channel to see which channel is most effective).
  • Create sales that are time-sensitive or require followers to bring a friend
  • Give a percent off or free gift for any fan who shares your page
  • Offer a free, brand-relevant gift for stopping in
  • In your location and on your other marketing materials, place notification of special discounts for social media followers

Engage your fans

Social media marketing is different from advertising in that advertising is telling your customer what you want them to know about your product or brand.  Social media marketing, however, is a conversation. You can’t just post an item and not check back to see what’s happening with it.  It’s important to respond to fan comments, good or–especially– bad.*

Since search engines now factor social media into the algorithms that help push your business to the top of search results, engagement is of the utmost importance.  The holidays offer many opportunities for engagement.

  • Share any holiday charitable involvement you are engaged in and allow your fans to share theirs (you could also include an offer of a free can of food for every specific purchase to get your fans involved – keep a running tally of total given to the charity of choice).
  • Upload a video of your charity/charities – these may be found on the charities’ YouTube (you’ll need to ask for permission).
  • Offer a backdrop within your location to take holiday pictures to post.  Make sure you ask for permission to tag the customer.  When the pictures are tagged, they will show up in the customer feed for their friends to see.
  • Or, take the same concept but put the effort into the customer’s hands: anyone who posts holiday photos taken at your location or with your product receive a gift, a discount, or are entered into a drawing for a brand-related prize.
  • In a more general sense, you can even ask fans to post pictures of anything holiday related (your Christmas tree, Hanukkah light display, favorite gift given or received).
  • Ask what is going on when the weather is inclement (i.e. too much snow – who’s going sledding?) and get photos. Non brand-related posts about the weather shouldn’t be relied upon regularly, but in general, posts about the weather are always a quick and easy way to engage local followers.
  • Create a poll around the holidays (favorite tradition, tradition lost, new tradition, who actually drinks champagne at midnight on New Year’s Eve, etc.). If you can find a way to tie it into your brand, even better.

Don’t forget to check your stats and measure before and after so you don’t get bogged down in something that isn’t working for you.

These are just a few ideas to boost your holiday social media marketing.  Use these directly or put your own special spin on them.  Feel free to let us know if you did something that was particularly clever or successful. We’d love to highlight your success stories.

*There is no possible way to please all your customers.  They have bad days.  You or your employees have bad days.  Sometimes a bit of service or individual product simply doesn’t turn out the way it should. Should a customer be upset enough to post a complaint on social media, you should immediately address the issue and try to rectify the situation.  Remember, other people are seeing and judging your interaction.  If, despite best efforts, you are unable to please the customer, your fans/followers will understand the lengths you went to and be there to support you.

Submitted by Bridget Oaks of Toucan CREATE – a local marketing company that  integrates social media with community presence through personalized marketing.

Gifts Outside the Box – Blush Boudoir

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December 1st is a perfect time to start a list of unique gift ideas.  What’s different about these gifts, however, is that it will help your mind think out of the box – mainly because these presents can’t fit into a box.  I’ll be updating this list quite frequently, and actually would love some ideas to add to it if you so desire. Just email me at the address listed below.

Ok, so, time to get started.  The first outside the box gift idea is très magnifique!  Just like the Jelly of the Month club from “Christmas Vacation”, this is the gift that will keep on giving.  (PLUS there is a special Dayton Most Metro discount for our reader – see details at the end of the article)

Blush Boudoir truly is just the coolest place around.  Set in the oldest home/building in Dayton, Blush is the place that women go to get pictures taken so their men drool over the final results. I know, sounds risqué and intimidating, doesn’t it?  The risqué part is wonderful.  The intimidating part not so much.  Trust me, I was a little leery myself, so I went to talk to owner Tracy Malott in person.

First of all, Tracy is a model worthy photographer who has an eye for – and a gift with – the camera.  Not only does the camera love her from the picture end, but it also loves her from the lens end as well.  Let me just tell you that the minute you walk into Blush, you will feel à l’aise (translation: at ease.  I loved it there so much I can’t stop speaking French.  And I don’t even know French.)

Tracy greeted me at the door with a hug and a chocolate covered candy cane.  Ok, really?  What’s not to love?  She is so dang sweet (and has the most luscious eye-lashes) that I fell into immediate girly admiration.

Tracy started out as a wedding photographer, and changed over to boudoir when she realized that she really had a gift for it.   Let me share our conversation…

KK: So, Tracy – why did you switch from shooting weddings to taking pics of women in scantily clad clothing?

TM: Honestly?  I realized I could truly change lives.  This entire experience has the ability to make every woman that comes here feel confident and sexy.

KK: Well, just walking in here and seeing all the beds, the claw shaped bathtub with the crystal chandelier above it and all the romantic surroundings, I was ready to just jump in and get started!  But that’s not how it works, is it?  Because truly, I’d be a little hesitant.  I mean, these women are baring more than just skin, aren’t they?

TM: Yes! In the end, this isn’t about pictures.  It is about making all the women feel beautiful.  It’s about helping them see themselves the way their partners and spouses see them – sexy and pretty.

KK:  I love it.  How wonderful.  I’ll bet you get a lot of thank you notes from the guys.  So, what is a typical session like?

TM: Well, first off, I kind of hang out with them and make them comfortable.  I offer them a glass of wine…

KK: Or three?  I think I’d need three…

TM: You’d be surprised.  Because once we start talking, going over ideas and outfits, the women start getting relaxed.  And then we do the make-up and hair.  That alone is enough to make anyone feel special.  My make-up artist, Michelle Richardson, is amazing.  The women are always delighted when they look in the mirror.  And while all of this is going on, we just engage in girl talk.  It’s a fun time!  By the time the hair and makeup girls leave, and it’s just the two of us, they aren’t so nervous.  I coach them through it every step of the way. We laugh, drink wine, and the time just flies.

KK: This isn’t just about photos, is it?  There’s something magical going on.  I mean some of these pictures rival the calendars in a mechanics garage (and I say that with awe).  But not all of these women – in fact most of them – are not the typical “model type” women, are they?

TM: No, in fact far from it.  This isn’t about that.  I’ve had so many women struggling with weight issues, breast cancer, age, and more – and these pictures truly changed the way they thought about themselves.  Not to mention it enriched their relationships.

KK: So they come in nervous and a little wary – and leave as…

TM: Leave as friends.  And self-confident women.

KK: If you weren’t doing this (which I know it’s your passion and calling), what would you be doing?

TM: I’d love to mentor other photographers, and teach them to do what I do.

Ok, so here is my opinion.  You can’t teach someone compassion, zest for life, patience and love – and that is what Tracy at Blush Boudoir exudes. My booking will be after the first of the year.  I tried to tell her that I’d like to wait until I lost 20 pounds and she laughed.  “All the more reason to do it now”, she said.  “You’d be surprised at the final outcome – you will love the pictures and how you look in them – I promise!”

I’m convinced, and I hope you are too. There are several packages and pictures on her website.  This is an amazing gift that will benefit all. So, guys if you are reading this, I highly suggest buying a package for your woman.  It will make her feel like the sexy and loving woman you know her to be.  And girls – make your man go gaga by surprising him with loving, sexy and incredible photographs of the woman he loves best.

It’s out of the box – and outta the ballpark – a true homerun gift.  Check out www.BlushBoudoir.com or  the Blush Boudoir Facebook Page for portfolio pictures and package information.  And while you are there, read the testimonials.  They tell the trust story. Trust me on this one. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

If you  have special and unique gift ideas you’d like to see focused here, please email Karen at [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Dayton Most Metro / Blush Boudoir Discount

Blush Boudoir is offering a $50 Discount off of any Simply Blush, Ooh La La or Premiere Package booked by December 31, 2012 to our readers – just email Tracy at [email protected] and mention this article!

Karen Kelly & Tracy Malott

 

View all of our “Gifts Outside The Box” articles here:

Grand Opening for World Bar-B-Que

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The building that was for years known as the Old Hickory at 4029 North Main Street has been recreated into the home of World Bar-B-Que.  Owner Nathaniel Campbell says, this isn’t your grandmother’s restaurant any longer and is proud to offer amazing barbeque from all around the world.  You can enjoy St Louis style pork ribs- cooked low and slow for up to 6 hours, creating fall off the bone ribs, with a dark bark on the outside, and a pink smoke ring inside or perhaps you’d prefer Texas beef ribs, beef brisket, Carolina smoked pork or southern smoked chicken.  They even offer a meatless option of smoked tofu topped with   BBQ Sauce over a bed of black beans and rice.   Sandwiches on the menu include an authentic Cuban, several reubens and BBQ  options and a choice of catfish or shrimp Po’Boys. The homemade sides menu boasts traditional items like potato salad, cole slaw, mac & cheese as well as fried cabbage, souther fried potatoes and BB!Q chips.  The dessert menu offers ice cream as well as fruit empanada’s and smoked plantains.

The eatery will be open Thursday – Sat nights from 5pm to midnight and will feature a small stage with live shows, an open mic night and karaoke, too.  Happy hour from 5-9pm will feature $2 drafts and $3 margaritas.  They also believe in supporting the community and have  set aside one day a week for a “World Invasion”. Each week they will  choose a group or charity and allow that organization to ‘invade’ the restaurant.  The group would  invite all of their supporters to come join then for the ‘invasion’ and a portion of the nights sales will be donated to them.

As part of their grand opening promotion they will be supporting WDTN’s Food For Friends campaign.  ON Thursday, Dec. 6th bring in a non-perishable food item for and receive a one dollar discount on an appetizer.

If you go check them out, leave us a comment below and let us know what you think!