Archives for April 2013

Register Now for 5th Annual Miami Valley Police Memorial Week Bike Tour

April 30, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

You are invited to participate, along with law enforcement agencies throughout the Miami Valley area, in the 5th Annual Miami Valley Police Memorial Week Bike Tour on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at 8:00 a.m., at Riverscape, 111 E Monument Ave, Dayton. This event is held to honor and bring awareness to our fallen members in law enforcement that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their community and in support of their surviving family members and friends. This ride is held in conjunction with the National Police Memorial Week.

The registration fee is $25.00. Your pre-registration form and registration fee should be turned in by May 3, 2013. You may also register the day of the event. A Miami Valley Police Memorial Week Bike Tour t-shirt and challenge coin will be provided to the first 100 registered riders. T-shirts and Challenge coins can be picked up prior to the beginning of the ride. Proceeds from this event benefits the Montgomery County Association of Police Chiefs, Inc., Scholarship Fund. Roll-out time at Riverscape will be at 9:15 a.m., and then proceed on the bike trail to Rice Field in Miamisburg. Riders will then return to Riverscape. Snacks and beverages will be available to riders at both Riverscape and Rice Field. The ride is a 28 mile round trip.

The ride should end at Riverscape by 11:00 a.m. A brief ceremony will be conducted at Riverscape as close to 11 AM as possible, or as soon as riders have returned from Rice Field. Riders of any skill level are welcome, as well as families. Bicycle helmets are required.

For questions about this event, call Captain Michael Molchan at 937-723-4938.

13th Annual Soup Dressed Up Benefit

April 29, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Stivers School for the Arts, located at 1313 E. Fifth Street, will host the 13th annual “Soup Dressed Up” fund-raising event, from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, May 3rd.

Student and staff at Stivers have created hundreds of bowls for you to choose from, each one unique and artistically prepared. Each guest may choose a handmade ceramic bowl and fill it with soup, bread and dessert generously donated from local restaurants, like Lucky’s CoCo’s, Elsa’s, Christopher’s Roost, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, EarthFare, Big Sky Bread, and Dorothy Lane Market.

Enjoy dinner, music by Gathering Mercury, bid in a silent auction, take a studio tour, and check out wheel throwing demonstrations and award-winning student artwork in the Fifth Street Gallery (located within the school).

Victoria Theatre Association and Human Race Theatre team up to present NEXT TO NORMAL

April 29, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Victoria Theatre Association presents NEXT TO NORMAL, a show considered to be the “rarest of Broadway species” (TimeOut New York). Produced by The Human Race Theatre Company, NEXT TO NORMAL appears on the Victoria Theatre stage May 7-19, 2013 as part of the Premier Health Broadway Series. Tickets are on sale now at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online athttp://www.ticketcenterstage.com.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this production” said Trisha Rapier who plays Diana, a mother who is coping with bipolar disorder. “NEXT TO NORMAL is a rock musical that will take the audience on a journey of discovery through the lives of the Goodman family who are dealing with the mental illness of their mother. To accurately portray a woman whose emotions have such extreme highs and lows, and ultimately make the audience root for Diana as she takes the painful steps to get better is a challenge, and as an actor, it’s a dream!”

Director Scott Stoney said he is “delighted to be directing this incredible collection of artists—designers, musicians and actors—in producing this landmark new musical. NEXT TO NORMAL clearly demonstrates how flexible the form is as it tackles mental illness within the American family using rock musical idioms as its language. Though the journey is complex and difficult, the outcome is ultimately rewarding and hopeful. I guarantee you have never seen or heard anything like this show before.”

A musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, NEXT TO NORMAL is one of the most talked about new show on Broadway. Produced by The Human Race Theatre Company, this is a musical “that pushes Broadway in new directions” (Rolling Stone). This riveting musical won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Tony Award® for Best Score.

NEXT TO NORMAL contains strong language and adult themes, and may not be suitable for all ages. Age recommendation is for ages 17 and up.

Don’t forget about Chase Background on Broadway! One hour prior to select performances, the Education & Engagement Department provides informative and entertaining talks by theatre professionals, focusing on production history, musical highlights, and insider anecdotes of the show. These pre-show chats are free and open to all ticket holders. These talks will take place Tuesday-Friday, May 14-17 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m.

The Human Race Theatre Company is the Dayton region’s professional theatre company. In their 26th season, this company offers an alternative to mainstream theatre in the Dayton community by providing productions that are thought provoking and challenging. As their name suggests, they present universal themes that explore the human condition and startle us all into a renewed awareness of ourselves.

Tickets for NEXT TO NORMAL start at just $40. Tickets are available at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online at http://www.ticketcenterstage.com. Ticket Center Stage Box Office hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

5K Derby Day Dash to Benefit Life Essentials

April 29, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Life Essentials helps people who slip through gaps of community services. Through a dedicated network of volunteers they provide over 25,000 hours of service each year to people in the greater Dayton area. Their services and programs help seniors and individuals living with mental illness. They aim to decrease isolation by providing participants with volunteer caregivers, guardians and help with small home projects.

This Sat, May 4th you’ll have a chance to to participate in their annual Derby Day Dash. This annual 5K Run and Walk involves every age group including fun runs for the little ones like the tot trot for 3-5 year olds, the Gallop for 9-10 year olds. All kids receive a medal and the top 3 each get a trophy. Teams are welcome too, with prizes for Best Name and Largest Team.

The professionally designed course starts and ends at Island Park and snakes along the Great Miami River. Once everyone has finished the race, prizes are awarded for participants in various age categories, farthest distance traveled, and best hat! More than $2,000 in merchandise and gift certificates are awarded at the race. Check in begins at 8am the race starts at 9am. You can register online at www.active.com.

Square One Salon Presents An Earth Month Style Show

April 27, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

The stylists at Square One Salon and Day Spa have been busy creating looks for their 2nd Annual Hair Show, which they are describing as “Avant Garden” where each model’s look being inspired by a flower. This is just part of their month long fundraising efforts for Earth Month. Square One says 100% of the proceeds from a cut-a-thon this past Monday, an earlier raffle and this style show are being donated to Ohio’s Chapter of the Sierra Club to expand its work to improve water quality, producing healthier more active communities through awareness, action, and administrative advocacy.

Sunday’s hair show begins at 2pm on the corner of Wayne and Third, in the old Wine Gallery location. Your $20 ticket will include light hor d’oeuvers and drinks provided by Roost, Olive and Coco’s, as well as a live auction. Tickets can be picket up at Square One and will also be available at the door.

Here’s a peek at last year’s hair show:

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Newest Pop-Up Shops Announced Downtown

April 25, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Two new businesses will open downtown on Friday, May 10, as part of the fourth phase of the Pop-Up Project.

Peace Pilates will offer small group and private Pilates classes in their new studio space. Owner Vanessa Corrigan has been teaching Pilates for 12 years, including private lessons out of her home loft and is looking forward to starting a storefront. Workouts are custom created based on clients’ needs and goals. Peace Pilates will be located at 27 S. St. Clair St. in the St. Clair Lofts.

Green Baby’s philosophy

Green Baby will offer environmentally friendly products for the family, including cloth diapering, baby carriers, and products for holistic approaches to health and healing. The store also plans to host classes and community events. Green Baby will be an advocate for local businesses and producers, as 100% of their products are made in the U.S., many being developed in the Dayton area. Green Baby will be located at 31 S. St. Clair St. in the St. Clair Lofts.

The opening of Green Baby and Peace Pilates builds on the success of the Pop-Up Project’s first three phases, launched in November 2011, May 2012, and September 2012. Two of the initial three businesses in the pilot are still thriving: Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and Peace on Fifth, 508 E. Fifth St. American π, 37 S. St. Clair St, and Sew Dayton, 16 Brown St., are both still open from the second and third phases of the project.

Activated Spaces’ Pop-Up Project, which has helped fill 10,285 square feet of first floor retail space during its four phases, is led by volunteers from the young professional organizations Generation Dayton and UpDayton. The project is a strategic effort to fill vacant street-level space and spur interest in opening a business downtown that’s part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

“The Pop-Up Shops have helped enliven downtown while building on growing momentum for the center city,” said Tom Razauskas, who owns the building housing Beaute Box. “It has been refreshing to work with volunteers and business owners who really believe in downtown and are excited about its future.”

“The Pop-Up Project provides a low-risk, low-cost, flexible way to showcase local businesses while adding vibrancy to downtown,” said Shanon Potts, a past chair of Generation Dayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “The long-term goal of the project is to convert temporary leases into traditional leases, while establishing downtown as a regional destination for shopping for one-of-a-kind items and retail services.”

“This project also supports local, creative entrepreneurs as they take a risk and test out their business concepts while bringing renewed life to downtown storefronts,” said Scott Murphy, past chair of UpDayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “Visitors who support these pop-up shops will help to spur a more permanent retail environment in our downtown ― the next step in downtown revitalization.”

Visit www.activatedspaces.org or e-mail [email protected] for more information about Activated Spaces.

Dayton Restaurants – Closed But Not Forgotten!

April 24, 2013 By Dayton937 88 Comments

Do you have any favorite food places that went out of business, and you still miss them to this day ? Yeah, we do too. This week, lifelong Daytonian, the Big Ragu, takes a trip down memory lane and talk about some restaurants we still mourn to this day. Eateries that used to shine in the Dayton area, which are now gone but not forgotten. Please join us in this of recollection of past Food Adventures. Feel free to add some places of your own, by commenting below.

Here is our list of restaurants that we wish had never closed. Our “Lost Food Gems of Dayton”

JED’S STEAK AND RIBS – Remember their salad bar? Sure it had croutons that tasted like crayons, but their steak burger and ‘make your own sundae bar’ were great childhood memories and huge innovations at the time. There were many Jed’s around the Dayton area, one was located on 725 in Centerville and is now a Goodwill store. We cannot find any photos or trace of this place online, can you?

SHUCKIN’ SHACK – One of our all-time favorite places was on North Main St. in Dayton. They would bring steamed clams out in golf ball baskets. At the raw bar you could sit and eat raw oysters and clams, and throw your shells into a trough. Who could forget their massive peel and eat shrimp, or fried smelts? This was the only place in Dayton that made you fell like you were in a wharf type restaurant in Florida.

THE PEERLESS MILL– The Miamisburg Restaurant with the old fashioned, old school menu. Inside it was like a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas everyday. We recall the incredible decor and churning wheel waterfall. This restaurant was warm and inviting, with a trickling water wheel in the lobby. The food was fantastic, and the service was always exceptional. It was a great place for family celebrations.

KEENG WHA – This Chinese restaurant used to be on the corner of Woodman and Dorothy Lane. They served Ragu’s favorite Chinese dish of all time: “Princess Prawns.” A popular place in the 80’s until the chef left, and it was all downhill until it closed in the mid 90’s.

BILL KNAPPS – The kids meal was filled with animal names like the “tiger” or the “elephant.” The best au gratin potatoes ever were served here in a tiny crock pot with browned cheese on top. Ragu loved the clam strips dinner and their signature chocolate cake. On Tuesdays is was a full meal deal where every entree came with salad, soup and dessert. INSANE ! There was a Bill Knapps on 48 near Loop Rd. in Centerville, one by the Dayton Mall, and another near what is now The Greene.

GIRVE’S BROWN DERBY– As kids, we felt like kings in this place. They had the largest salad bar in town and you could even order a kiddie cocktail. Ragu loved the kids menu fish dinner. Adults seemed to love the “Gus’ Steak” which came out with a wooden stake saying medium, or rare with on onion ring on top. There was a bar inside and even lobster tail dinners flowed freely. We felt the Brown Derby “jumped the shark” when it moved from Bigger Rd to the 725 location by the Dayton Mall. Big mistake, we really miss this food gem.

Woody’s Grocery Store in West Carrollton

WOODY’S GROCERY – We might say the bakery and seafood department was the best part of this West Carrollton icon. Also, we loved the deli with shaved Corned Beef and Swiss on hard rolls with poppy seeds on top. We remember a cashier named Don Baker who had hair like Elvis that never changed for years. Noone could forget the plaid dresses and bonnets worn by some of the female workers.

ELDER BEERMAN RESTAURANT – Who doesn’t love a place where you could get breakfast with Santa and the Easter bunny? Located upstairs in the Centerville store on State Route 48, our memories are also of the Friday night buffet. This was a place where the waitresses were “real” waitresses and they had the same staff for decades.

BURGER CHEF- To this day, we crave the Big Chef sandwich and their “works” bar where you could load up your burger with toppings! Remember that their regular hamburgers were stuffed into clear wrapping pouches and the steam marks would be on the plastic wrap? Bring back Burger Chef !!

CHICKEN LOUIE’S – A 24 hour chicken wing place? What a great idea ! This was a fixture on North Main Street in Dayton for over 40 years. Ragu would risk life and limb by ordering through the bullet proof glass at dusk. The related “Lou’s Broaster Hut on 3^rd st had a special place in our heart.

RAX ROAST BEEF – We loved the salad bar, which hilariously offered nacho cheese next to the pudding. The menu had a star, the “BBC” (the beef bacon and cheddar) which proves the theory that bacon makes everything better. But Rax lovers know that the cheese sauce made those sandwiches. We frequented the 725 store that is now a Tim Horton’s

ROCKY ROCOCO’S PIZZA– Chunks of roma tomatoes on their pizzas, made for a unique tasting pizza that was full of flavor.

JOE BISSETT’S GRUB STEAK– The killer menu item was the Princess Steak and a salad with blue cheese crumbles on top. We also rocked the “kiddie cocktail” on North Main St, Dayton. You may recall our article on the closing of The Grub steak HERE.

Lums – where hot dogs ruled

COZYMEL’S – Great place for happy hours with margaritas swirling in machines above the bars. You got lots of food at a great price here. This sorely missed place was located on 725 near McEwen Rd. in Centerville and became a Smokey Bones which is also now closed.

FARRELL’S – Across from Tri-County Mall in Northern Cincinnati, this place had a ‘sundae on a stretcher.’ The staff would sing happy birthday to customers on kazoos.

LUM’S – An obscure town favorite. They had hot dogs cooked in beer. Lum’s was located where Marion’s Pizza is now, in Town and Country shopping center.

PEASANT STOCK – Who could forget the ‘Peasant salad.’ Ragu loved the atmosphere at the restaurant in the Town and Country Shopping Center. Chef David Glynn served some great food out of this establishment.

We miss Thirsty Dog Brewery!

THIRSTY DOG – A great microbrewery restaurant on the corner of Alex Bell Rd and 48 in Centerville that served homemade chips in dog bowls. Ragu loved the Raspberry Light Beer, and the burgers and fish dinners were fantastic too.

HUNAN GOURMET – A long gone gem that was on 48 near Whipp Rd. We loved this place, especially their dry braised shrimp and sizzling rice soup. Some of their entrees were second to none. The building was razed about 8 years ago to build a coffee shop.

NOBLE ROMAN’S – We miss the real Noble Roman’s, not the stuff they are serving at the ‘new Noble Romans’ restaurants. The old restaurants were completely different. We miss the hand tossed pizza in the window, monster pizza, sicililan pizza and the hand rolled breadsticks with nacho cheese.

MARK PI’s CHINA GATE – The fried rice was addicting at this restaurant that was located upstairs in Town and Country shopping center. A great atmosphere for special get togethers, the decor on the glass is still there today, even though they closed in the 80’s.

Sambo’s was like a weird, kids version of Denny’s

ARTHUR TREACHER’S FISH & CHIPS – It was fried fish, so Ragu could live here. The Jersey Mikes on 48 in Centerville is where one of the Arthur Treacher’s used to be. We hear that some of these still exist in other states. Dear Fast Food Gods, Bring them back to Dayton ASAP, and don’t forget the vinegar.

SAMBO’S – They featured pancakes served with boysenberry syrup. This place was located at 48 near Loop Rd in Centerville until it closed in the early 80’s. It was known for their cheap prices and controversial menu caricatures. It was a weird, kid version of Denny’s on LSD. But you couldn’t deny, they had great breakfast food.

FOUR’S COMPANY – After the Arthur Treacher’s closed on 48 near Whipp Rd in Centerville, this short lived place served up giant beer battered onion rings. They were so full of beer you almost got buzzed by eating a few.

Dominic’s – A Dayton Original like us

TOTENKO – This place on the corner of 725 and 741 near the Dayton Mall was like a 70′s verison of PF Changs. We learned to use chopsticks here while wearing “toughskin” pants. A great restaurant until it closed because a food critic found roaches on her plate (TRUE STORY). That critic was Ann Heller, writing one of her first reviews for the Dayton Daily News/Journal Herald. This place turned into a Chi Chi’s which has since gone out of business too.

D’AMICO and MANZAS – An Italian eatery that was a mom and pop establishment. Incredible spaghetti dishes highlighted a top notch pasta menu. This spot is now Savona Restaurant.

DOMINIC’S – The iconic location on South Main Street in Dayton whose manicotti was incredible. The real attraction here was the house salad dressing with so much garlic flavor that you breathed fire for 2 days afterward. Ask any Daytonian who was around in the 70’s/80’s, they knew the only place to go where strong garlic breath was excused.

GROUND ROUND– Throw your peanut shells on the floor. Ragu loved their all you can eat Friday night fish fry. Remember the scale at the Wilmington Pike site where the cost of a kid’s dinner was a penny for each pound they weighed?

BAJA FRESH – Do you still crave their fish tacos like we do? The now defunct Dorothy Lane and Kettering Blvd location claimed to not have refrigerators, because they served everything fresh. We were sad to see this short-lived restaurant go.

PHIL AND JERRY’S FOOD-A-RAMA – Legendary Centerville grocery that had annual anniversary parties where a hot dog and a coke were around 20 cents. In business for over 30 years, they had a great seafood section.

Matchbook from Westward Ho on Brown Street

JOE’S IS A FISH HOUSE – This seafood spot on Loop Rd and State Rt 48 offered a one of a kind Sunday brunch that would knock your socks off. It featured smelts and steamed mussels. The restaurant was only open a couple of years, but it made an impact on us in the early 80’s.

WESTWARD HO – South Main Street cafeteria style restaurant that had drink glasses as big as your head. The food was good, the patrons were old, yet this was still a hoppin’ place. We used to visit the magic store across the street called the “Magic Hat,” after eating.

PO’ FOLKS – Fried food all over the menu, made this one of Ragu’s faves. The fried clams and fried okra were so good. The one we frequented was on the corner of Wilmington Pike and Dorothy Lane.

D’Lites – The first ‘Healthy Fast Food’

FAZIO’S GOLDMAN ONTARIO’s DISCOUNT FOOD STORES – This was the best place to shop with bellbottom pants in the 70’s for groceries. Good deals and wide collars were the norm at this place!

D’LITES- The first place ever to offer healthy fast food! We weren’t sure how healthy it was, but Ragu loved their burgers and smoothies at the location of 48 and Whipp Rd. Another short lived place, that we feel had great food.

CHMIELS GROCERY STORE – Now a Big Lots store in Centerville, this place had some incredible pastries. Their bakery was almost as good as Woody’s.

Kettering Village Inn – closed but not forgotten

KETTERING VILLAGE INN – A mom and pop Italian eatery known for no frills and good food. This spot is now an “OinkadoodleMoo” restaurant on the corner of Stroop Rd and 48 . KVI had great pizza and pasta dishes. This one is really missed.

ANTONIO’s – An Italian restaurant once owned by the DiPasquale Family. When Villanova’s Basketball team would come to town in the 1980’s, legendary coach Rollie Massimino would always eat here. They had incredible ravioli dishes. Their marinara sauce was out of this world. Sweeney’s Seafood House is now located where Antonio’s operated.

KING COLE RESTAURANT – One of the most elegant dining places in Dayton at the bottom of the Kettering Tower. Known for gourmet steaks and seafood, this was a hot spot in the 70’s and 80’s.

What places do you still think about? Casa Lupita? Charley’s Crab? Tequila Willie’s? Let us know any and all of them by commenting below! Check out the photo album below for even more restaurants that are “Closed but Not Forgotten.”

Please visit Food Adventures on Facebook. Check back every Thursday for a new “Food Adventure” article on DAYTON MOSTMETRO.COM

What restaurants do you miss? WHO DID WE LEAVE OUT? Please comment below !

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Redford’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP at THE NEON!

April 24, 2013 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see Danny Boyle’s latest film – TRANCE – you’ll need to hurry. Today (Thur, April 25) is its last day at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open Robert Redford’s latest film (based on the famous novel) – THE COMPANY YOU KEEP. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our official site: www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: “Jim Grant (Robert Redford) is a public interest lawyer and single father raising his daughter in the tranquil suburbs of Albany, New York. Grant’s world is turned upside down,when a brash young reporter named Ben Shepard (Shia LaBeouf) exposes his true identity as a former 1970s antiwar radical fugitive wanted for murder. After living for more than 30 years underground, Grant must now go on the run. With the FBI in hot pursuit, he sets off on a cross-country journey to track down the one person that can clear his name.” (taken from Sony Pictures Classics) Directed by Redford, this film also stars Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Sam Elliott, Julie Christie, Richard Jenkins, Stanley Tucci and Terrence Howard. Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

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The 13th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival is off to a terrific start. Opening night sold out both of our auditoriums, and audiences are loving the films. You can visit our lobby to pick up a brochure for this year’s festival, and you can visit the website to purchase advanced tickets by clicking this LINK. 5 remaining films from this festival will screen at THE NEON. Here are the dates and times:
Thu, Apr 25 at 7:15 – NICKY’S FAMILY
Tue, Apr 30 at 7:15 – NAOMI
Thu, May 2 at 7:15 – LEA & DARIA
Tue, May 7 at 10am – TORN
Thu, May 9 at 7:15 – A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA

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“The India Foundation celebrates One Hundred Years of Indian Cinema: 1913 – 2013 with a Tribute to Dada Saheb Phalke – Father of the Indian Cinema. The first Indian silent film produced, written and directed by Mr. Phalke was released in Bombay on May 3, 1913. A screening of selected clips entitled Silent Movies – Early Years will be presented on Saturday, May 4th at Noon (the collection includes digitized clips from Phalke’s RAJA HARISHCHANDRA and KALIYA MARDAN (1919) and clips from the only surviving Bengali silent film JAMAI BABU (Son-in-Law) by Kalipada Das). A reception preceding the screening will begin at 11:30a.m. Admission is only $5. The National Film Archives of India has graciously made the present collection possible.” (taken from press notes)

We’ve got a gathr screening on the horizon. This time, it’s for a film called GIRL RISING. For more about this film, click this LINK. This is the site where you can watch the trailer, read about the film and reserve your ticket. The screening will only take place if 50 people reserve a ticket by May 26 (the screening is tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30). Watch the trailer…this film looks terrific!

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Film #4 in Start Freedom Dayton’s film series – CALL + RESPONSE – is scheduled for May 30 at 7:30. “Organized by Justin Dillon, an artist, public speaker, abolitionist, founder and CEO of Slavery Footprint, CALL + RESPONSE is a documentary about human trafficking that combines musicians, celebrities, national abolitionists and political figures to shine a light on human trafficking concerns in the US and abroad. Tickets are $10 day of show at THE NEON or advance tickets are $8 (available exclusively at Peace on Fifth – 508 E. 5th – 937.367-7215). For information about Peace on Fifth or Start Freedom Dayton visit the official site. CALL + RESPONSE is sponsored by Fairly Simple.” (taken from the press release)

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We will open MUD next week – the new thriller with Matthew McConaughey. (I’m delighted to report that the distributor decided to wait for us until next week instead of opening at a multiplex this week.)

We hope to see you soon!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Fri. April 26 – Thur, May 2:

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES
(R) 2 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
Monday: 1:45, 4:30, 7:30
Tuesday: 1:45, 4:30
Wednesday: 1:45, 4:30, 7:30
Thursday: 1:45, 4:30

THE COMAPNY YOU KEEP (R) 2 Hr 05 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:30, 4:40, 7:20, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:00, 4:40, 7:20

DAYTON JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST
Tuesday at 7:15 – NAOMI
Thursday at 7:15 – LEA & DARIA

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
May 3 – MUD
May 10 – THE SAPPHIRES
May ? – STARBUCK
May ? – TO THE WONDER
May 24 – AT ANY PRICE
May 31 – RENOIR
June 7 – LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
TBD – GINGER AND ROSA
TBD – KON TIKI
TBD – FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
TBD – FRANCES HA
TBD – IN THE HOUSE
TBD – NO

Your Guide to Living Gluten-Free in Dayton – 2013 Edition

April 24, 2013 By Tiffany Shaw-Diaz 7 Comments

Does Shredded Wheat leave your stomach…well, shredded? Chances are you are in good company with the millions of Americans who have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that hinders one from properly digesting gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye).

While the words “autoimmune disorder” seem intimidating, treatment for celiac disease is actually rather simple: just adhere to a gluten-free diet. Considering the burgeoning number of gluten-free food manufacturers, people who have celiac disease have more options than ever including gluten-free interpretations of pizza, bread, pasta, beer, and countless other items.

Below is a guide for local gluten-free (or gluten-free friendly) restaurants, bakeries, and support groups, along with grocery stores that sell a plethora of gluten-free items, making your expedition into this specialty diet easy as “GF” pie.

Restaurants

Sinfully Gluten-Free: Dayton’s only 100% dedicated gluten-free restaurant that serves pizzas, sandwiches, quiche, chicken wings, and dessert items.

Olive, an Urban Dive: A localvore favorite. The owners of the establishment welcome patrons with food sensitivities. Upon request, they will even craft their sandwiches with the much-loved Udi’s gluten-free bread for a nominal charge.

The Green Nature Cafe: Located in Clayton, The Green Nature Cafe is Dayton’s latest organic hotspot. They offer a wide spectrum of raw, vegan, and gluten-free selections.

Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery: A hip joint in the Oregon District serving up fine craft beers, soup, salads, and sandwiches. They have many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

P.F. Chang’s: One of the first chain restaurants to provide a gluten-free menu. They offer numerous Asian-fusion dishes on their impressive gluten-free menu.

The Rusty Bucket: A midwest chain with a stronghold in Ohio, they serve Americana fare. They are known for their “gluten-free friendly” menu, which even has a list of gluten-free alcoholic drinks.

Butter Cafe: Socially informed and delectable. You can order one of their sandwiches with gluten-free bread or have gluten-free toast with your breakfast order.

Local Organic Broccoli Rabe, Gluten Free Pasta Salad! from The Chef Case

The Chef Case: Located in the 2nd Street Market, The Chef Case offers conscious cuisine with a focus on local, healthy dishes. They serve individuals who follow a variety of special diets including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and casein-free.

Rue Dumaine: American-meets-French cuisine from expert chef, Anne Kearney. They are gluten-free aware and happy to assist people with special dietary needs.

El Meson: A mainstay of West Carrollton, this upscale restaurant specializes in Spanish and Latin American food. Many of the dishes are naturally gluten-free, and the staff is gluten-free conscious.

Uno’s: Conveniently located across from the Schuster Center, Uno’s has a gluten-free menu that includes pizzas, burgers, and beers.

The Melting Pot: An elegant fondue chain located in Centerville, they have a three-course, gluten-free menu. They even have several gluten-free cocktails from which to choose.

Bonefish Grill: Well-known for their seafood and fish dishes, they have an extensive gluten-free menu. You can find them at the Dayton Mall.

Keep in mind that there are copious other chain restaurants and local eateries that cater to gluten-free patrons, so this is only a partial list. If you dine in a mixed-kitchen, you can minimize your chance of cross-contamination by dining during off-hours (giving the staff time to honor your requests), speaking with management ahead of time about their measures to prevent cross-contamination, and ordering directly from a gluten-free menu instead of requesting custom-made dishes. Additionally, it is recommended to purchase Triumph Dining’s gluten-free dining cards, which come in 10 languages and give tips for safely dining in a variety of world cuisines.

Gluten-Free Bakeries

Tina’s Sweet Treats: Many of her cookies and muffins can be found at Dorothy Lane Market, but you can also place an order by phone. Tina also bakes cakes for all occasions along with the ever-so-hip cake pops.

Sonny Marie’s: While they primarily serve the Cincinnati market, Sonny Marie’s is slowly working its way upstream, as their products can be found in Health Foods Unlimited in Centerville. They are best-known for their Sonny Tarts, which are a gluten-free and dairy-free version of the iconic PopTart.

AllerEnergy: Bringing a twist to the gluten-free market (literally and figuratively), this Centerville-based company makes allergen-free and gluten-free soft pretzels, marshmallows, and energy bars. You can find their products at Dorothy Lane Market, across the United States, and even Canada.

Ella Bella Cookies: One of Dayton’s newest home bakeries, Ella Bella Cookies sells muffins, banana nut bread, lemon bars, whoopie pies, cookies, and other tasty treats. You can call or email Ella Bella with your orders.

Moondance: Based in Cincinnati, you can find products by this award-winning, gluten-free bakery in more than 20 states and 40 Ohio cities
. Make sure to try their individual-serving size cheesecakes and brownies.

Eban Bakery: While they are located in Columbus, Eban Bakery has expanded into the Cincinnati and Dayton health food markets. Well-known for their breads and cookies, you can find their offerings at all three Dorothy Lane Market locations.

Support Groups

DLM Support Group

A diagnoses of celiac disease can be a radical lifestyle change, especially in terms of how you adjust your grocery shopping, cooking, and dining. To help you navigate the initially murky waters of living gluten-free, there are several support groups located within Dayton and the surrounding communities that can offer guidance, classes, and lectures for successfully integrating the gluten-free diet into your daily routine.

Cincinnati Celiac Support Group

Gluten-Intolerance Group of Central Ohio (The Gluten-Free Gang)

DLM Gluten-Free Food Lovers’ Club

Shopping

Now more than ever grocery stores strive to accommodate to their gluten-free patrons. Several large chains, including Kroger’s, Wal-Mart, and Meijer’s, even have gluten-free sections and/or stickers to denote gluten-free products. Below is a list of local grocery stores and health food stores that have a higher percentage of gluten-free product listings (and a few of them even have gluten-free guides).

South Dayton area: Dorothy Lane Market (three locations in south Dayton), Trader Joe’s (Kettering), Health Foods Unlimited (Miami Township), Olympia Health Food Center (Kettering), and Earth Fare (Centerville).

North Dayton area: Healthy Alternative (two locations), Natural Food Plus (Dayton), Nutra Foods (Huber Heights), Dayton Nutra Foods (Trotwood), Starflower Natural Foods (Yellow Springs), and To Your Health (Eaton).

Additional Resources

Celiac disease has only recently gained exposure within popular culture, so new information about this condition is always being disseminated. With that in mind, staying abreast of the latest news and research is imperative and can change (usually for the better) your experience of this diet. For more information, make sure to visit the Celiac Disease Foundation or The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Big Wedding + Pain Gain at Rave Cinemas Dayton South

April 24, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Hello Dayton! There are plenty of options for everyone to have the perfect movie weekend this week. Lots of things happening at your local Rave Cinemas! And don’t forget at Dayton South/Huber, TUESDAYS are $5 all day (*3D $8), The Greene is WEDNESDAYS! You simply cannot beat this great deal with the superior picture and sound quality versus Netflix!

Opening This Week

STAR TREK – 04/25/13 @ 7pm!

The Best of Both Worlds – the two-part storyline comprising the third season finale and the fourth season premiere of the beloved series Star Trek: The Next Generation®- will, for the first time ever, be seamlessly tied together as one continuous and uninterrupted story digitally restored with new CGI effects… on the big screen! Audiences will also see special clips from “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg”, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Best of Both Worlds. This not to be missed movie theater event will feature one of the most memorable moments in TV history and exclusive clips about the making of The Best of Both Worlds and Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3. The Next Generation became the longest running series of the Star Trek franchise, consisting of 178 episodes over 7 seasons.

Resistance is futile so buy your tickets today!

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THE BIG WEDDING – Opens 04/25/13 @ 9pm!

With an all-star cast led by Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams, “The Big Wedding” is an uproarious romantic comedy about a charmingly modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full blown family fiasco. To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin (De Niro and Keaton) are once again forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son’s wedding after his ultra conservative biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend. With all of the wedding guests looking on, the Griffins are hilariously forced to confront their past, present and future – and hopefully avoid killing each other in the process.

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PAIN AND GAIN – Opens 04/25/13 @ 9pm!

Based on a true story, “Pain & Gain” follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. First told in an article from the “Miami New Times,” “Pain and Gain” will be directed by Bay and will star Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

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IRON MAN 3– Opens 05/02/13 @ 9pm!

Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce and Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968.

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RAVE CINEMA CLASSICS – $3 + FREE popcorn & drink! @ Dayton South

04/29/13 @ 1pm brings us…

MARK OF ZORRO (silent), 1920, 90min

One of the best silent films in the pre-dialogue era. A young aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of Zorro as he restores justice to early California. Douglas Fairbanks, Marguerite De La Motte

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For showtimes…CLICK HERE!

Jazz Spotlight: Lincoln Berry + Upcoming Jazz April 24 – May 7

April 24, 2013 By Ron Gable Leave a Comment

Who is a Lincoln Berry?

Jazz organist Lincoln Berry: Was born in St. Paul, MN and was the oldest of twelve. His musical background started on the piano at age three and played his first concert when he was at five yrs old. He was named church pianist at age eight. At age fourteen he played guitar as guest artist with Sam Cooke before he left the gospel group. At 16 he played behind Mahalia Jackson for several appearances with rev Billy graham crusade. At 17 he worked with young musician in several states in the mid-west training them to set-up and play the Hammond organ as churches in his denomination were acquiring them in large numbers. At 18 he did first pro gig as bassist, his 2nd as pianist, his 3rd as drummer and a few more on the piano all as a senior in high school.

Ten years ago Lincoln gave me the following for an article I was writing for a Dayton paper: “In 1962 started my true pro career started in Denver co. I was miles from home, had no job, almost broke, and didn’t want to be a burden on my family (after all I am the eldest of 11). I was walking down Welton Street and saw a sign that read, “talent contest every Tuesday night, winners receive $50, $25, $10″. I said to myself “I’m going to win that contest!” when upon entering the club there sat my favorite instrument, a “b3”! I was dashed when the bartender said, “that ended two weeks ago. We now have twist contest” (chubby checker era}. As I was leaving, the owner was coming in the door and asked, “May I help you young man?” (I looked all of 16). I said “no sir. They don’t have contest here any more.” “What do you do?” he asked, “Play the organ” I replied. He wanted to hear me so I played for him. I only knew about five secular standard tunes. Later I found out he and the barmaid were discussing my performance. She said, “He’ll never make it”. He said, ” Look at those big feet. He’s our next organist”. I would be replacing the well-known James Booker. That night I stopped in to hear the group. I thought I will never be able to do this, but I’m hungry so I must. I met the fellows and played for them. The guitarist (Brice Roberson) asked where I was from. It turned out he knew my cousin Thelma who was a dancer at the key club inMinneapolis. He said he knew of my reputation as a top gospel organist in the mid west. The bandleader, homer brown (tenor sax) showed me some charts and asked me to play them. He said, “you have an excellent left foot, but for jazz you need to develop your left hand. The singer (Gladys Denton) acted kind of snooty and gave me the feeling that I wasn’t good enough for them. I was to start in ten days. Homer worked with me every day and I learned three to five tunes and/or arrangements a day. I was only to play bass lines from the start, but after two nights I could not hold back from copying chords I heard from Brice who said “he said he has ears as big as this room” Three weeks and 100 tunes later, Gloria Lynn was to headline three days at the club. That was my first time backing well-known artist. I did not own my own b3 so I was stuck at this location for two and a half years. It so happened the club owner Leroy Smith was a promoter and hired many national known artists for concerts and performances at his club. Our band backed up about 75% of them.”

Lincoln and Joselane “Jo” Berry have been synonymous with the Jazz Central night club on East Third Street many years. Club owner Charles Stone told me “Lincoln Berry walked in one day and stayed thirty years.” They left Dayton on April 19, 2007 and went back to Minneapolis where Jo passed away on October 1, 2009. Lincoln comes back to the club on a yearly basis and will be performing a special concert with guitarist Cameron Voorhees this Saturday, April 27th.

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:

Today Wednesday, April 24 – Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review at The Dayton Event Connection and The Blue Wisp Big Band performs inCincinnati.

Thursday April 25 – Tony Monaco is at Giammarco’s Pizza in Westerville and Ricky Nye & the Paris Blues Band w/Lisa Biales are at Oxford’sCommunity Arts Center.
Friday April 26 – The New Money Jungle Quintet tribute to Ellington and Mingus is at Jazz Central in Dayton and Triage is at the Thompson House in Newport, KY.

Saturday April 27 – Lincoln Berry and Cameron Voorhees are at Jazz Central in Dayton and “Gypsy Jazz” with Tom Downs is at Spinoza’s inBeavercreek.

Sunday April 28 – The Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Dayton’s Jazz Central and the Rumba Café has Hoo Doo Soul Band inColumbus.
Monday April 29 – The John Taylor Trio is at Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday April 30 – Spinoza’s in Beavercreek is celebrating World Jazz Day with Horns and Keys Trio – Bill Burns, Brian Cashwell and Mike Techenbrock.
Wednesday May 1 – John Pizzarelli is at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights and Todd Hepburn is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Thursday May 2 – The Jazz Central Big Band plays a tribute to Mark Dinkelacker at Jazz Central in Dayton and Jeff Hamilton & DePaul U. Jazz Ensemble at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Friday May 3 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville and 1st Friday Rhythm & Blues is at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Saturday May 4 – The Bobby Floyd Trio is at Boudin’s Bistro & Jazz Club in Columbus and the Rusty Burge Quintet is at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati.

Sunday May 5 – A Live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker is at Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall, OH and Ed Polcer and his Jazz All-Stars is at Gallagher Student Center Theater, Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Monday May 6 – Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe are at Due Amici in Columbus and John Taylor Trio is at The Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek.
Tuesday May 7 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers is at Jimmies Ladder 11 in Dayton.

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com

Salons Compete To Be King Of The Jungle at Cat Walk – Ticket Contest

April 24, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 1 Comment

This Sunday, April 28th, 9 Dayton area hair salons will strut their stuff in a hair show to benefit cat programs at the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. Salons will compete on the CatWalk displaying over the top hair designs and costumes designed to interpret the jungle theme of the event. One of the salons will walk away as Ruler of the Jungle , bute the big winner will be the cat programs at the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.

Besides the hair styling competition there will also be a fashion show by Clash Consignment, and fashions on sale for your pets as well as a Whiskers N Tails game where the entire audience can participate.

Tickets are just $35 for general admission, $75 for VIP, which includes a drawing for the use of a Jaguar for the weekend, donated by White Allen. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm at the Dayton Marriott Hotel located at 1414 S. Patterson Blvd. Tickets may be purchased online.

Take a peek at Cat Walk 2010, to give you an idea of what to expect:

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Participating Salons Include:

Elite Hair Academy Settler’s Walk Salon and Spa Graffiti Hair & Nail Salon Creative Images South

Creative Images North Miami Jacobs Springboro Karina’s Euro Style Tavernier’s Salon & Spa

Creating Waves Salon

DaytonMostMetro would like to send one of our readers and a guest to Cat Walk 2013. Like this story and fill out the form below to be entered to win. We’ll name a winner Thursday evening.

The contest is over and our winner is: Megan Kelly from Kettering!

Another Food Truck Hits the Dayton Streets

April 24, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 3 Comments

Dayton’s newest food truck will hit the street this Thursday serving “the perfect combination of the familiar and the offbeat.” Ringo’s North Star Mobile Eatery will feature favorites like gourmet burgers, quesadillas, and pizza, as well as unique and unusual items like apple-cranberry brie fritters and deep fried asparagus. Their menu will change daily, and co-owner Joy Ring, who describes herself as chief helper to her proprietor husband Dave, explains,
“the feeling that we’re going for with the truck is that of being on a road trip and discovering some cool little place along the way that you remember forever. Our menu will vary, but we’ll always have pizza by the slice from our stone-hearth oven, and will most often feature a “road trip burger” based on various cities we’ve enjoyed visiting, like the Albuquerque burger topped with green chiles, or the Minneapolis “Juicy Lucy” with cheese nestled inside the burger.

Henry David Thoreau Quesidilla

Because we’re also avid readers, we have a line of literary quesadillas (there’s the offbeat part) like the Henry David Thoreau with mushrooms, leeks, and goat cheese, or the Larry McMurtry with chicken, cheddar jack cheese, and “Texas caviar” salsa featuring black-eyed peas, multi-colored peppers, onions, and cilantro. Our goal is that each experience will be a new adventure, like finding a new favorite place while traveling that becomes the highlight of your trip – that special combination of comfort and discovery, a little vacation in the middle of even the most ordinary of days.”

The intend to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on the street, at your workplace, at private parties and festivals, too. If you’d like to request the truck for an event feel free to give them a call or text at 937.474.4944 and be sure tot follow them at twitter.com/ringosnorthstar for menu and locations updates.

Here’s where you can catch them this week:

Brie fritters stuffed with apple and cranberry

Thursday, April 25, 11-1:30: Our Dayton metro area debut!

Bing Design
126 Center College St.
Yellow Springs, Ohio

Saturday, April 27 5-10 pm: Great local food, great local beer!

The Dayton Beer Company
912 E. Dorothy Lane
Kettering, Ohio

And, yes—they accept credit and debit cards!

Glow, Bark & Brew 5K

April 22, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Bring your glow sticks, jewelry, paints, friends and your dog to this first annual fun event in downtown Miamisburg on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Sponsored by Michelob Ultra, proceeds benefit the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals (SICSA) Pet Adoption Center. is excited to announce the inaugural Glow, Bark & Brew 5K, sponsored by Michelob Ultra with proceeds benefiting the SICSA Pet Adoption Center.

Registration includes entry to the run, T-shirt (while supplies last) and one complimentary Michelob Ultra (to those 21 and over). Register here prior to the event, or starting at 6pm the day of at the parking lot of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at 41 S. 1^st Street in Miamisburg. Early registration (through 4/25) is $30, and event-day registration is $35. Pre-event registration is available online, at http://www.active.com/5k-race/miamisburg-oh/glow-bark-and-brew-5k-2013.

The Glow, Bark & Brew 5K will also feature an after-party aglow with music, a Michelob Ultra Beer Garden, and numerous local vendors.

For more information about the Glow, Bark & Brew 5K, visit www.sicsa.org and http://www.active.com/5k-race/miamisburg-oh/glow-bark-and-brew-5k-2013, or call SICSA’s main office number at (937) 294-6505. Don’t miss this chance to Glow, Bark, and enjoy a Brew—all for a great cause!

About SICSA

Originated in 1974, SICSA was started as an alternative to the traditional animal welfare system with a mission of improving the lives of stray animals and promoting adoption. The organization runs an Animal Adoption Center in Kettering at 2600 Wilmington Pike, which is open seven days a week to the public for those interested in bringing a companion animal into their home. For more information about SICSA, please log onto their website at www.sicsa.org or call the Adoption Center at (937) 294-6505.

We Care Arts Celebrates 30 Years

April 22, 2013 By Tiffany Shaw-Diaz Leave a Comment

Thirty years is a remarkable amount of time. In a culture where TV shows are cancelled almost as soon as they begin, and businesses rise and fall with the latest trend, commanding longevity in an ever-changing world means you know how to leverage good fortune, anticipate change, and strategize for the future.

Celebrating their 30-year anniversary, We Care Arts, a Kettering non-profit that teaches art to people with disabilities, has succeeding in doing just that, and their place in the artistic and special needs communities continues to blossom.

“What we do here is very important to a lot of people,” explained Shari Hignite, the program coordinator for We Care Arts. “Without us, many of our clients have nowhere else to go. Many of them have tried other agencies or methods to help them, but they have not had any success. Art is a powerful tool, and our programs help them in ways that nothing else will.”

In 2012 alone, We Care Arts served about 900 clients across four counties in more than a dozen creative fields including woodworking, painting, knitting, sewing, and jewelry making. These are awe-inspiring statistics, considering how they modestly began in a closet attached to the Rose E. Miller Recreation Center’s wood shop to accommodate two clients (one of which was taught by We Care Arts’ executive director, Terry Schalnat).

Flash forward three decades. We Care Arts experienced a rapid-fire expansion that included adding a gift shop, changing locations, and developing nearly two dozen outreach programs to aid as many demographics as possible. And they are still expanding. “We’ve been at our Wilmington Pike location for nine years, and it’s amazing how we are already busting at the seams,” said Brenda Thieman, We Care Arts’ bookkeeper.

During We Care Arts’ 30 years, the staff has witnessed radical transformations–mentally, emotionally, and spiritually–in many of their clients from their newfound sense of pride and self-worth.

“We have had so many people come through our doors broken, in mind and spirit,” mentioned Hignite. “They come to us at their lowest low; at the beginning of the rebuilding process. We provide them with advice, encouragement, and the tools to start moving upward. Many of our clients have gone on to college, gotten jobs, started families, mended fences, left their abusers, and improved their lives.”

Considering the outpouring of inspirational stories, it’s no wonder that We Care Arts is celebrated by the citizens of Dayton.

“I think if we can continue to provide the community with a safe place for people, then we have met our goals,” offered Hignite. “What we do here is very important to so many individuals, yet it is really simple. We are kind. We are supportive, encouraging, loving, and caring. It is amazing what people can do when given the right tools and a little encouragement.”

Hignite mentioned that We Care Arts has several new programs in the works. They currently teach one class at each school they serve, but they have been asked to do more, in addition to piloting initiatives at other schools. They are also thinking about creating more programs for nursing homes.

To supply their massive reach, We Care Arts is always in need of donations, both monetary and in-kind, and they also rely upon the dedication of sundry volunteers who help in-class, serve on committees, man the gift shop, and organize fundraisers in tandem to a variety of other duties. But one of the best ways to contribute to this organization takes very little time.

“What I hope for the most is that more people become aware of us and visit our gift shop,” mentioned Hignite. “When people purchase something made by our clients, it lifts them more than anything else. It is a validation that they are worth something.”

The gift shop certainly has something for everyone and every budget, offering paintings, comic books, household items, coffee mugs, baby blankets, cards, painted wine glasses, and more. They also strive to offer a wide array of seasonal items, especially for Mother’s Day and Christmas, which are some of their busiest times in-store.

In talking with the We Care Arts’ staff, their passion for their vocation is evident, and it is certainly one of the driving forces behind We Care Arts’ success.

“This is the first job I have ever had that I love getting up to go to,” exclaimed Thieman. “Even when I have a bad day, I can take a minute to just visit with a client, and my spirits are lifted.”

Echoing the comments of Thieman, Bruce Rill, a tenured instructor at We Care Arts, offered these parting words:

“Art has great value in the lives of all human beings, no matter where they are in life,” he explained. “We are blessed to use our gifts, all the while learning from others.”

We Care Arts will have their Garden Party fundraiser on Saturday, May 4th. For more information about their programs and upcoming events, visit www.wecarearts.org or call 252-3937. We Care Arts is located at 3035 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH, 45429. Their gift shop is open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Demystifying the Harp

April 22, 2013 By Tiffany Shaw-Diaz Leave a Comment

harp Let’s face it: harps are quite hip. Between the ethereal compositions of indie darling, Joanna Newsom, and the top-40 covers of folk harpist, Amy Farrah Fowler (Sheldon’s neurobiologist, not-a-girlfriend on the hit CBS comedy, The Big Bang Theory), the harp has been plucked from obscurity into the limelight.

Leaving the pop culture references aside, there are so many intriguing questions about this complex instrument: Where did it originate? What compels one to play it? And, most pressing, how the heck do you carry it?

For starters, harps range in sizes, shapes, colors, and without question, prices. They have also been in existence since ancient times, in numerous cultures, and are generally regarded as the oldest known stringed instrument.

To answer some burning questions about the harp and more, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Harpist, Leslie Stratton Norris, recently took some time out of her busy schedule, which also includes directing her own ensemble, Harps of Grace, to candidly discuss her multi-decade career and share her passion for this varied topic.

Dayton Most Metro: Thanks for talking with us today. What inspired you to study the harp?

Leslie Stratton Norris: When I was a kid there was an orchestra show on CBS with Leonard Bernstein called Young People’s Concerts. When they showed the harp player, I was smitten. My mom took me to see a harpist in person shortly thereafter, and the harpist let me try it. Even though I was three years old, I was totally convinced that this would be my life. My mom thought that my interest was a fad, but I pestered her to learn the harp for six more years.

DMM: Did you finally convince her?

LSN: Yes, I was nine years old when I got my first harp, so I dove into playing it with gusto.

DMM: What were those early lessons like? Were you surprised by much?

LSN: I don’t recall being surprised by much. At that age, you just follow along and do what your teacher tells you to do, and all is well. However, I had some difficulty with memorizing. I’m a sight reader, and I resist memorizing. It’s far more fun to play new pieces all the time.

DMM: The size of a concert grand harp, being about six feet tall and weighing 80 pounds, is quite daunting. How do you transport it?

LSN: Thankfully, we now have two-wheeled dollies that are made especially for the harp. With the dolly, my harp rolls along easily, and when loading it into my car, we lean and push, rather than having to pick it up. When I was a kid, harp dollies did not exist unless someone invented their own model. My dad used to throw my harp up on his shoulder and carry it that way.

DMM: There was a hilarious skit on the IFC series, Portlandia, featuring Joanna Newsom trying to fit her concert grand harp into a Ford Focus. I’m assuming a harp doesn’t easily fit into a compact car! What type of car do most harpists buy?

LSN: Harpists tend to own large wagons or vans, but a full-sized (concert grand) harp does fit in my Subaru wagon.

DMM: Usually there are only one or two harpists on stage in an orchestra setting. That’s a lot of pressure, being in the spotlight. How you do handle performance anxiety?

LSN: Most of the time, there is just one harpist on stage, so if the harp sounds bad, everyone knows it is me! Performance anxiety can be disabling for some players. They can be good musicians and know their music, but they are unable to play it well in front of others. Those folks might try some therapies or even medications to help their anxiety. I am fortunate that most of the time, I can keep it together without such an aid.

DMM: Are there any myths you’d like to dispel about the harp?

LSN: The harp can play almost any kind of music. It is a versatile, full-range instrument and can function like a piano within a classical, pop or jazz group. The harp also has much more sound than many people imagine. It is thought to be a soft instrument, which it can be, but a good harpist can play it with a tremendous amount of sound.

DMM: It is easy to see why so many people hire harpists for major life events, such as weddings. Is there a gig in particular that you’d like to share or one that is particularly amusing?

LSN: I have enough funny stories to fill a book! In Los Angeles I was hired to play for an outdoor pool party. The host had decided he wanted some “beautiful music” wafting through the air along with the sound of his water fountain next to the pool. I arrived before the guests, moved my harp into position, and began to play as his guests arrived. After five or six people had gathered, someone said, “Into the pool!” and they all hopped into the pool…in their birthday suits! More folks arrived, and the same thing happened. Soon, I was the only person clothed, and thankfully I remained that way for the length of the party. I learned a valuable lesson: it is very hard to ask a host for your check when he is sans clothes, so I said “Thanks,” packed up at the end of the party, and billed him later.

DMM: Harpists have become quite hip in recent years. Are you surprised that it took this long?

LSN: Often it takes specific performers with charisma and a twist to their performances to open up an instrument to a wider audience. With a performer such as Ravi Shankar on the sitar, that instrument was brought before audiences who never would have thought to listen to a sitar. Harps have been popular in different cultures as folk instruments and as an accompaniment to vocals for a long time, so it is good to see harp music in the limelight.

DMM: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

LSN: When I am lugging my harp around, one of the most frequent questions that comes my way is, “Don’t you wish you played the flute?’” Here is the answer: “No!” In my opinion, the harp is the most beautiful, versatile, calming, joyous, warm, lovely, charming, and challenging instrument out there. Yes, hauling it around is daunting. Paying for it is daunting. Changing strings and maintaining it is daunting. But nothing sounds like a harp, and nothing looks like a harp. When you are in love with the harp, all the difficulties of the instrument are naught compared to the joys of playing it and hearing it.

For more information about the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and its upcoming performances, visit www.daytonperformingarts.org. The next Harps of Grace concert will take place at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Centerville on May 6th at 7:00 p.m. This concert is free and will feature 12 harpists playing all styles of music.