She may be most remembered by Broadway lovers everywhere for her origination of the role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, which earned her a Tony Award Nomination, and her Tony-winning performance in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, for which she stole the show and many hearts in the process.
Archives for August 2015
Heritage, Food, & Fun: The Dayton Lebanese Festival
The 22nd annual Dayton Lebanese Festival will kick off this Friday, August 28th and is an event that you do not want to miss! The festival is happening Friday from 6 pm until 11 pm, Saturday from 11 am until 11 pm, and Sunday from 11 am until 6 pm at St Ignatius of Antioch Maronite Catholic Church. This festival is rich in the Lebanese culture and heritage, including the famous tasty pastries. Even better news, it is free of charge!
Did you know that Lebanon is the oldest nation/country name in the world, existing for nearly 4,000 years? Another fun fact , one of the cities of Lebanon, Byblos, is the oldest existing city in the world. Also, there are no deserts in Lebanon, which makes this the only country that can make this claim in all of Asia and Africa. Come out to this great event to learn even more about this historical country.
The Festival will feature Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment, cultural displays, craft booths and amusement rides for all ages. Authentic hand-made Lebanese food will be available for sale including kibbee, kafta, beef and chicken shawarma (“Lebanese gyro”), tabouli and salata salads (Middle Eastern salads), stuffed grape leaves, hummus dip, homemade Middle Eastern mountain bread with zaatar seasoning, and fresh Lebanese pastries (e.g., baklawa, ghraybeh, nammoora). One particular note, grape leaves may have been the chosen attire of the gods, you can enjoy them for edible reasons as they are rich in vitamins and minerals!
This is the ‘end of summer’ festival season, so come out and support your community! The 22nd Annual Dayton Lebanese Festival has a lot to offer for the whole family. Heritage, food, and fun for all!
Parade Kicks Off 5th Annual Beer Week
Five years ago a couple of dozen folks made their way from the Dublin Pub to Thai 9 in the first ever Beer Week Parade. Today when the parade steps off at 4:30pm from the Dublin Pub, several hundred are expected to participate. Many of the local breweries will participate, pictured left is the contingent from Fifth Street Brewpub last year.
Leading off the parade this year will be the Miami Valley Pipes & Drums. Special floats and vehicles like Thai Rob’s VW Van with Nimrod Camper, The Radler from Warped Wing, Dayton Brew Tours & the Groove Machine Party Bus. Participants are welcome to wear their favorite beer t-shirts, hats and bring signs! Parade Viewers line Fifth Street patio’s and often are treated to give-aways from those in the parade. As the parade turns into the Fifth Street parking lot on the west end of the Oregon District, the crowd will gather for a picture and then the official opening of Beer Week (thought this year is seems there were so many events that several started yesterday, like the Tomfoolery Outdoors Dayton Beer Milers at Dayton Beer Company).
The 2015 Beer Week is a craft beer drinkers bonanza! With over 150 events scheduled at over 65 locations, bars will be hosting tap takeovers, restaurants have planned beer dinners, and glassware giveaways are all over town. Here are a few of the highlights:
Monday, August 24:
National Waffle Day at Fifth Street Brewpub 
Sam Adams Stein Hoist at King’s Point Pub
Heavy Seas Beer Dinner at Chappy’s Social House
Release of Big Hare American Barley Wine at Hairless Hare Brewery
Fat Head Tap Takeover at Bunkers
Tuesday, August 25:
Beer Dinner with North High Brewing at Spinoza’s
Troegs beer dinner at Archer’s Tavern
Sierra Nevada/Riegele Dinner at Whole Foods
Southern Tier Keep the Pint Night at Boston’s Bistro
Sour Beers of New Belgium at Pies and Pints
Star City Brewing Tapping at Ron’s Pizza
Wednesday, August 26:
Garden Station Summer Ale Release at Fifth Street Brewpub
Rivertown Beer & Cheest Pairings at A Taste of Wine
Clown Shoes Tap Takeover at Lock 27 Brewing
Bell’s Tap Takeover at 311 Drafthouse
3 Floyds Tap Takeover at Dog’s Breath Tavern
Thursday, August 27:
Dogfish Head Night at Proto Build Bar
Jackie O’s Beer Dinner at Ollie’s Place
Schlafly Pumpkin and Raspberry Hefe at West Milton IGA
Rhinegeist Tap Takeover at Barrel House
MadTree Brewing Takeover at Mudlick Tap House
Pumpkin Beer Tasting at Oscar’s Bar
Friday, August 28:
Belgian Beers and Bowling at Poelking Lanes
Eight Ball Brewing Takeover at Arrow Wine Centerville
Jackie O’s & Girl Scout Cookie Pairings at South Park Tavern
Dayton vs Cincinnati Breweries Beer Showdown at Jimmie’s Ladder 11
Bottle release of Chai Samsara at Eudora Brewing Company
Founders Tap Takeover at Buffalo Wild Wings Troy
Saturday, August 29:
New Holland Brewing Co. Brunch at Lucky’s Taproom
Merchant du Vin Beer Dinner at Dublin Pub
For all Beer Week Events check out our MostMetro.com calendar.
SUMMER BASH JAM!! —- ZAPP with Funtime Freddy
The funk will be in Middletown tonight!
Bring the whole family to Downtown Middletown for the FREE live music, food, drink, shopping, and tons of entertainment. The End of Summer Bash is the final Broad Street Bash of the summer, and it is going to be one of the best parties of the summer! Bring the whole family to Downtown Middletown for live music, food, drink, shopping, and tons of entertainment.
The night will start with Hometown kids FUNTIME FREDDY Funkin it up around 5:30pm
Then the Headliner for the evening is ZAPP!!! As in “More Bounce to Ounce.” Look for Zapp to hit the stage about 7pm.
Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by the Troutman Brothers. Known for “The Best Live performances” and several hit records.
Underwear Run and Disc Golf, an Interesting Couple
Daytonians, what does running in your underwear and disc golf have in common?
They are both happening in Dayt
on this weekend! The Super Underwear 5K, 10K, and 1 mile fun run is coming to town and disc golf leagues are sprouting up just in time for the end of summer.
Don’t miss your chance to run (or walk) in your briefs this Saturday, August 22 at Eastwood Metro Park. Registration and packet pick up is from 6:45 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The races take off between 8:45 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. depending upon the distance; 10K, 5K, or 1 mile fun run. This event is a chance to express yourself! Put on your favorite super hero underwear or costume and hustle down to this event. There will be prizes for the top finishers in designated categories as well. Best costumes in the following categories will win prizes:
- Best Super Hero or Evil Villain (dressed like an actual super hero or evil villain)
- Best Original Super Hero or Evil Villain (be sure your powers are known)
- Best Male Underwear Runner Costume
- Best Female Underwear Runner Costume
This is a very fun event that you do not want to miss! Perhaps the only time you will be legally allowed to run through Eastwood Metro Park in your favorite barely there items. The post race party will have music, pizza, and gluten free & vegan options as well as a photo booth to capture this special event. All finishers will receive an aromatherapy happy finish towel to keep your undies smelling great!
The end of summer is approaching and if you are ready to try out a new sport check out disc golf. The Dayton Disc Golf Association has weekly disc golf leagues Sunday – Thursday evenings. Disc golf is similar to regular golf. However, instead of using golf clubs and balls aiming for a hole, disc golf players use golf discs and aim for a disc pole hole, a pole extending up from the gro
und with chains and a basket where the disc lands. The object of the game is to complete each hole in the fewest number of throws, starting from a tee area and finishing at the disc pole hole. Generally, a course is 9 or 18 disc pole holes long. Players start at one and complete the course in order, playing through to the last hole. The player with lowest total cumula
tive score wins. The Dayton Disc Golf Association (DDGA) is a member funded, member organized entity that exists in order to provide disc golf events, education, exploration, and awareness to the residents of Dayton and the surrounding communities. Not only are there weekly disc golf leagues, there is also an annual tournament series called “The Best in Dayton”. For all of you sports enthusiasts, disc golf is an incredible activity that you definitely want to check out!
Two very different and very fun activities to try out this weekend in Dayton! Run in your underwear or favorite super hero costume, and then try your hand at a hybrid sport. Get out and get moving Dayton!
‘The Book of Mormon’ Review – Victoria Theatre Association – Irreverent Bliss
Genuine hilarity abounds within Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez’s masterfully irreverent, jaw-dropping, unabashedly vulgar, and delightfully tuneful musical “The Book of Mormon,” the 2011 Tony Award winner for Best Musical currently having an outstanding local premiere at the Schuster Center as a special Star Attractions courtesy of the Victoria Theatre Association.
David Larsen (Elder Price, center) and the cast of “The Book of Mormon” (Contributed photo by Joan Marcus)
Primarily taking direct and often startling jabs at the formation and followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Parker and Stone (the naughty provocateurs behind the wit and popularity of “South Park”) with astute aid from Lopez (who brought raunchiness back to the Great White Way with gusto thanks to his co-creation of “Avenue Q”) fashion a bold, no-holds-barred satiric universe rarely attempted in the world of commercial musical theater. As the Mormon faith is dissected with humorous, eye-opening bluntness, these revelatory collaborators, knowing full well that Mormon skewing would be entirely one-dimensional, skillfully expand the storytelling at hand by spoofing everything from pop culture and musical theater conventions to African stereotypes and Jeffrey Dahmer’s salaciousness. Even so, the central relationship between two young missionaries sent to spread their faith to a Ugandan village remains sharply focused and meaningful as themes of friendship, courage, perseverance, and self-discovery resonate with absurdity and heart under the vibrant, fast paced co-direction of Parker and Casey Nicholaw.
David Larsen and Cody Jamison Strand are exceptionally and respectively paired as the bubbly, optimistic Elder Price and his simple sidekick Elder Cunningham. Larsen, terrifically chipper and believably wholesome, and Strand, goofy and grounded, perfectly capture the oddity and unease of polar opposites thrust into an atmosphere beyond their imagination heightened by a despicable warlord, female circumcision, infant rape, and AIDS. Strand’s portrayal is showier due to the juiciness of his material, but Larsen’s charm, vulnerability and strong tenor (particularly showcased in his knockout rendition of Act 2 anthem “I Believe”) ensures balance. This dynamic duo is tremendously supported by an assortment of first-rate featured players specifically the radiantly sweet Candace Quarrels as sensitive, impressionable villager Nabulungi, the energetic and flamboyant Daxton Bloomquist as closeted Elder McKinley (“Turn it Off,” his Mormon ode to suppressed feelings, is an absolute razzle dazzle hoot), Marcus Terrell Smith as Nabulungi’s amiable father/village prefect Mafala, and the wonderfully intimidating David Aron Damane as the evil General.
Candace Quarrels (Nabulungi) and Cody Jamison Strand (Elder Cunningham) in “The Book of Mormon” (Contributed photo by Joan Marcus)
In addition, Nicholaw’s fantastically clever choreography utilizes the same kind of funny, character-infused movement seen in his sprightly routines for “Monty Python’s Spamalot” and “Something Rotten!” The shockingly joyful “Hasa Diga Eebowai” and “Joseph Smith American Moses” as well as the phenomenally conceived “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” are three of the most creative moments you will ever see in a contemporary musical. The production is also greatly accented by Scott Pask’s striking sets depicting Salt Lake City, Orlando and Uganda, Ann Roth’s imaginative Ugandan costumes, Brian MacDevitt’s evocative lighting, and music director David Truskinoff’s firm, full orchestra including six local musicians.
“The Book of Mormon” isn’t for the easily offended, but if you’re simply looking to be entertained to the hilt you cannot let your weekend pass by without seeing this one-of-a-kind, Broadway-caliber experience.
“The Book of Mormon” continues through August 23 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The production is performed in 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. Tickets are $43-$132. Patrons are advised the show contains strong adult language. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
Here’s What You Missed At Pecha Kucha 24
Nearly 300 people gathered in the historic Engineer’s Club Auditorium on Thursday night to hear 9 presentations each lasting only 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Dayton’s historic club was the host to the 24th installment of Pecha Kucha. A Japanese born presentation built around 20 slides each shown for 20 seconds as the speaker discusses their topic in sync.
These presentations, held quarterly, cover a range of subjects and are presented from every day people. One of Dayton’s cheerleaders,Charlie Campell, opened the night reminding us how Great Dayton really is.
Volume 24 also featured a veterinarian, Bethany Horn, who found love in New Zealand and moved to Dayton after purchasing her home online. Brian Petro, bartender at Rue Dumaine, shared his love for bad cocktails from the 70’s and 80’s while weaving references of pop culture into his discussion. Backpacker Kriss Gang told his story of tackling peaks in the White Mountains of New 
Hampshire with his son. Cincinnati organizer and blogger Austin Radcliffe brought stunning photos documenting his professional success as a curator and artist.
Pecha Kucha talks can be fun, serious and informative. Many times one talk can be all three simultaneous. Volume 24 delivered that multiple times last night by the three ladies on the stage.Emily Fleitz somehow made discussing women’s menstrual health in Tibet engaging, comfortable and informative. The same holds true for local Labor Attorney Lela Klein who redefined Rosie the Riveter for us by sharing modern day tales of women in transit manufacturing. Local storyteller, Lisa Holmes, also moved the crowd with her poignant story of overcoming dyslexia to now using her gift of storytelling to teach in local schools.
In closing the room was challenged by Rodney Veal to consider how we use vocabulary as shared his work building an art installation investigating the word Ghetto at UD. It was impossible to not think beyond that term as he shared the art he created around that word.
Pecha Kucha is a free event and open to the public. As you can see from this most recent event, the topics cover a range of issues and interests. For more photo’s from Volume 24 look here.
The next Dayton PK event is scheduled for December 17. Follow www.pechakucha.org/cities/dayton for information or to register as a speaker.
Get To Know Local Comedian, Trace Martin
I had the pleasure of catching up with local funny guy, Trace Martin. He’s hosting the upcoming open mic night at Wiley’s, as well as other events all over town. I wanted to see what makes this new comedian tick, and where I can catch his next sets!
Q. What made you take the leap of faith to actually do your first stand-up gig?
A. I have been telling jokes since I was 11 years old, but writing and performing your own material, that was a different beast altogether. I have always loved stand-up and thought it would be fun to try to get laughs off of something I had written, not just being a goofball, although that still gets a laugh. Performing actual stand-up comedy is much harder than it looks. I wrote jokes for about 8 years, and made it my goal to perform before I turned 50 years old. I saw a guy do his set at the old Jokers Comedy Café and I wasn’t impressed, but he still got some laughs. I thought “Well hell, I can do better than that.” So I started writing my set and practicing in the bathroom mirror.
Q. Is doing stand-up intimidating or the ultimate rush?
A. Hosting a comedy show is actually a lot of work. Not only do you open the show – so you have to be funny right out of the gate – but you have to know how to warm up the audience, gauge the room and get them fired up to receive the upcoming comedians. Then you have to get each comedian’s name, a bit about them, and be witty on your feet, so you can introduce them in an interesting and funny way that helps them launch into their particular bits. There’s a lot of thought and planning that has to happen quickly, not to mention keeping the energy of the room going between acts.
Q. What is the inspiration of your material typically?
A. I have so much life experience to draw from… and I use it all. I served in the military as a Combat Engineer in the Army and I’ve worked for a police department in Colorado. Work-related stuff is fun because everyone has a work history, good or bad. I drink and have have done “experimental research” with various forms of mind-altering substances in the past, as a lot of people have. Those experiences are always great material. I have been married for 26 wonderful years and I get a lot material from that, because many can relate to that. My wife, Samantha, is also my writing partner, and a great sounding board for new material. She has been to enough comedy shows to know what works and what needs more work. We still make each other laugh every day.
Q. Who are your favorite comedians?
A. First and foremost, George Carlin. His observational humor captured my heart as a kid from the first time I saw him. Steve Martin gave me a love of slapstick and physical, goofy humor, from his early days on Saturday Night Live. Robin Williams gave me a love of improvisation – he could do it like no one else. Finally, Tim Allen, during his early stand-up comedy days, had such a great way of communicating “funny”, often without words. All of these guys still make me laugh to this day!
Q. What is the Dayton comedy scene like, especially for those who are new to going to comedy here?
A. The Comedy scene in Dayton is Fan-FREAKIN’-tastic!! Whether you’re a new comic or a seasoned veteran who wants to work on new material, you can get stage time 5 to 6 times a week at various clubs and venues around town. Sometimes you can hit 2 shows a night. If you like to enjoy laughing as a great evening out with friends, there are many Open Mic nights and comedy showcases happening all over Dayton, almost any day of the week! Check on Facebook for Dayton Comics for show listings, or any of the many other resources dedicated to local comedy.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish through your comedy?
A. I like to give people the opportunity to relax and laugh. So much of life is so serious these days. I like to make people laugh, in a way that stays with them, far after the show. I love to hear that people are still thinking of one of my bits days–even weeks–later, and still laughing about it. That gives me great satisfaction. Making a room full of strangers laugh is the the best thing ever!
Where to see Trace Martin perform this weekend:
Friday August 21st at Chimney’s of Oak Creek in Kettering. Show starts at 9pm. It’s BYOB with $5 admission. Residents get in free. If you haven’t been to a Chimney’s show… you just gotta! These shows are off the hook and usually sell out.
Saturday Aug 22nd, performing at 2pm at Samson’s Summerfest in Jamestown. $5 cover for entire day of music and comedy.
Sunday August 23rd at Wiley’s Comedy Joint in the Oregon District, Dayton. Show starts at 8pm and I get to Feature!! Mention Trace’s name when making reservations (@224-JOKE) and get in FREE! This will be a great evening of hilarity.
Sushi Club to Host All You Can Eat Food Adventure
“Sushi Sunday” one night only, a Food Adventure Event on Sept 20th
Do you love sushi? How about all the sushi you want? Then you need to get tickets to this one night only Food Adventure event called “SUSHI SUNDAY.”
On September 20th, the Food Adventure Crew, teams with The Sushi Club to bring you a fun night of Sushi, door prizes, more sushi, drink specials, trivia fun, more sushi, giveaways and more sushi… The sushi chefs are ready for your appetite !
— The dinner will feature an All You Can Eat Sushi theme, with sushi rolls being made fresh. Choose from over 43 different sushi rolls, (20 cooked and 23 raw choices) all made to order (vegetarian options available).
— There will also be “All You Can Eat Japanese appetizers” like shrimp tempura, gyoza(dumplings), crab rangoon and more. A small, delicious salad with mangos comes with the meal, as does a small soup.
— Did we mention soft drinks and tip are included?
Tickets are PRE-PAY ONLY and we are limited to just 50 seats! This will sell out and promises to be a blast of a FOOD ADVENTURE. BUY YOUR TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE!
HERE’S THE SKINNY:
Salmon and Avocado Roll
WHERE: THE SUSHI CLUB at 2098 S Alex Rd in West Carrollton
WHEN: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20th, 5pm – 7pm
WHAT: ALL YOU CAN EAT “SUSHI SUNDAY” FOOD ADVENTURE EVENT.
COST: $25 per person, includes tip, all you can eat appetizers and soft drinks.
—— Tickets are pre-pay only and can only be purchased through Dayton Most Metro by CLICKING HERE
—— Only 50 seats are available for this event, once they are gone.. they are gone
WHAT’S INCLUDED: Endless appetizers, all you can eat sushi rolls, over 43 to choose from (you can purchase raw nigiri or sashimi pieces for 25cents extra per piece), bottomless soft drinks, gratuity included. Also expect some door prizes, trivia fun and giveaways.
ALSO: There will be some beer specials with wine and sake available for purchase as well.
Endless Sushi Party on September 20th’s Food Adventure
We don’t shy away or turn up our nose at all-you-can-eat, because sometimes you miss great food. This is your chance to take advantage of this special night with prizes and bonus giveaways.
What a deal for all you want apps, sushi, & soft drinks! It used to be the words sushi and West Carrollton meant fishing int the river for carp, but no more!
Come join us for “SUSHI SUNDAY,” a Food Adventure that will finally satisfy your cravings for sushi ! Please browse some of our photos below of Sushi Club’s delicious sushi rolls and more.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
Want more fabulous photos of sushi and local restaurant food? Then “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.
We love the term “foodie” and that’s what we are all about, so join in our fun! We promise a night of fun, sushi and surprises! See you “Sushi Sunday,” Sept. 20th !
The Fancy roll
Shrimp Tempura Roll
All you can eat sushi at THE SUSHI CLUB
2 Tuna Sushi Nigiri and 3 Sushi Rolls
Vegetable Tempura
End of the meal
Sushi rolls are endless, Sushi Nigiri Pieces or Sashimi are 25cents each
Shrimp Tempura
Sushi rolls are all you can eat, pieces of raw Ngiri or Sashimi like these four salmon are 25cents each extra
Sushi Club has some fantastic sushi rolls
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
Overhead view of 2 sushi rolls and 3 pieces of Nigiri Sushi eel and tuna
Tuna Nigiri and a playboy Roll
Tuna Roll
Salmon Roll
Raw Sushi slices like these four, will be 25 cents extra for each piece
Pieces of Nigiri Raw Fish over rice or Sashimi will be available for an extra charge of 25cents per piece
Playboy roll
Tuna Avocado Roll with Sashimi Tuna and Salmon
Playboy Roll
Salad
Drink Specials
Hot n Sour Soup
Meet here for a Food Adventure Sept 20th at 5pm sharp !
Playboy Roll
Spicy Yellowtail
White Dragon roll
Dancing Eel Roll
Salmon and Spicy Salmon rolls
Temptation Roll
Mango Roll
Sushi Sunday is SUNDAY SEPT 20th !
The South Alex Roll
Sexy on the Beach Roll
Dynamite Roll
The Incredible Roll
The Mango roll and more
Angel Hair roll
Spicy Sunshine Roll
Tuna Amazing Roll
Documentary About Dayton Basketball Player “The Blur” Debuts Wed
It’s been a labor of love for sports writer turned film producer and director Branson Wright, but after 8 years of working on a documentary about one of our region’s sports legends, he’s excited and nervous for the premiere. Scheduled for 6pm on Wednesday, August 26, The Dwight Anderson Story: From Stardom, to Streets, to Survival will be shown at the Kroc Center, located at 1000 N. Keowee St. in Dayton. Admission is free, and the community is welcome to attend.
The film tells a compelling story of the early success, subsequent struggle and ultimate redemption of a Dayton high school basketball phenomenon whose speed in the late 1970s earned him the nickname “The Blur.”
While superficially a story of cheers and tears, Wright’s film is also a cautionary tale for young people and ultimately an uplifting message about overcoming drug addiction and its consequences.
Dwight Anderson is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player hailing from Dayton. He led Roth High School to the state title as a sophomore in 1975 and was the top high school player in the country in 1978, averaging a triple double in his senior year. His speed earned hm the nickname “The Blur.” Anderson played for the University of Kentucky and the University of Southern California and was selected by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1982 NBA draft. He also spent several seasons in the Continental Basketball Association, averaging 21 points per game in 112 CBA games. Just how good was Anderson? NBA great Isiah Thomas put it best: “He was the Michael Jordan of our era.” The father of two, he currently plays in the Old Timers Basketball League and trains youth in basketball.
Cincinnati born and currently a Cleveland based sports writer, Branson Wright will be present at the documentary’s debut, which he insisted by in Dwight’s hometown of Dayton. After the screening, Wright and Anderson will be part of a discussion about the movie. In speaking with Wright, who started working on this film in 2007 as a first time filmmaker, he explained “how this project truly became a labor of love, as he learned to raise the funds, called in favors from friends to film, and tracked down interviews with UK greats like Kyle Macy, former coach Joe B. Hall and NBA legends Dominique Wilkins, Mark Aguirre and Isiah Thomas.
Wright explained that his passion for telling Dwight’s story is what carried him through, as months became years. While he was discovering the story of Dwight’s bravery he felt this film was worth fighting for. “I learned a lot about my own perseverance, I had put so much of my own time into this that I just had to finish,” Wright reflected. He launched a GoFundMe campaign about 4 months ago to fund the final editing of the documentary. Wright shared, one of the best things that came from taking so long to finish the project was the story changed. Dwight went to rehab and has been sober for 4 years now.
While this might have been Wright’s first film, he’s sure it’s not his last. He’s got a concept for another basketball project, this time women’s basketball with Cheryl Miller and the McGee twins. He’s hoping that his experience on this first project will make finding an investor a little easier the second time around. And he’s learning, as he reminded me Wednesday’s premiere is free, but donations will be gladly accepted.
The Dayton Human Relations Council is proud partner in the hosting of the film premiere. “We are excited to partner with Branson Wright on this screening,” said Catherine Crosby, Executive Director of the Human Relations Council. “We hope that this documentary will engage young people in reflection and discussion on perseverance, leadership, and personal responsibility.” As part of its mission, the Human Relations Council works to create safe and inclusive neighborhoods, to connect young adults to their community and to give them a voice and vehicle to make positive changes in their lives.
Corner Cafe Introduces 3 Course Pre-Show Dinner
We knew we were impressed with the owners of Corner Kitchen when we experienced their tasting menu paired with some obscure but yummy wines. But now they’ve introduced a prix-fixe dinner, created with the theater crowd in mind. And they’ve even written a song about it:
? It’s time to play the music, It’s time to light the lights,
It’s time to meet the Prix Fixe menu at Corner Kitchen tonight!!! ?
Corner Kitchen serves up dinner a Tues – Thu, 4:30pm – 10:00pm & Fri – Sat, 4:30pm – 11:00pm. You can find them at the corner of 5th Street and Wayne Avenue in the Oregon District.
Learn To Cook. If Not Today, Then This Weekend.
The single most important lifestyle change you can make today, if vibrance and longevity are your goals, is to learn how to cook. Eating healthy can be a dramatic shift for a lot of people, and I’ve found that the newly health conscious abandon their quest for nutrient density because of a surprisingly simple obstacle.
Their food tastes terrible.
Who wants to eat dry chicken breast with plain broccoli? Who wants to eat a piece of grapefruit for breakfast? The most effective tool for maintaining a healthy diet is deliciousness. But deliciousness doesn’t happen over night. You have to work for it. You have to get your reps in. You have to burn some dinners and fail. Cooking, like strength, is a skill game. The more you do it, the better you get at it.
If you’re living alone, the prospect of learning how to cook should be less complicated than if you’re preparing meals for a family. Find a cookbook, find a night when you have some time, and turn your kitchen into a gastronomy laboratory.
But if you’re cooking for more than just yourself, you need to think carefully in a realistic world about when and how to begin your learning to cook journey.
Newbies in the kitchen probably don’t want to risk trying out that three-course French meal on a Tuesday night when they’re just getting home from work, the kids have school the next day, and the spouse has an early morning meeting. A burned dinner under these circumstances can mean disaster—stress, hurt feelings, resentment, and ultimately hunger.
My suggestion? Saturdays.
Turn it into a weekly event. Include your children in the entire process, from choosing the menu, to shopping at the grocery, to basic preparation like washing the produce. Your goal with all of this is twofold: first, you want to change the conversation around food in your house. You want your children and the other members of your household to fall in love with food and ingredients in a healthy way. Second, you want to make the process of cooking simultaneously fun and educational. You’ll be looking up ingredients as a family, shopping as a family, and acquiring a new skill as a family.
Saturdays are good for this sort of thing because there’s less stress and more time generally speaking. And if you burn the dinner, forget to add a crucial ingredient, or quite simply choose a terrible recipe (I’ve done all of these things), you can always resort to whatever it was you were already doing. I won’t be mad at you if you order carryout after putting in a good effort.
When it’s time to choose a recipe, there are a wealth of options for learning the basics. My list below includes (but is not limited to) both poles of the nutrition Cold War: Paleo and vegetarian. I’m not interested in diet orthodoxy, but in fresh, delicious ingredients. Most importantly, I advocate finding what tastes best to you and your family–because that’s what will keep you coming back to the kitchen.
Mark Bittman — I really like his approach to cooking. He has various cookbooks and apps available, including “quick options” and vegetarian options.
NY Times Cooking — I’ve been using this app/page most often lately. With an account you can log in, save recipes, and search for recipes based on ingredients. It also works well if you’re a vegetarian.
The Domestic Man — Technically this is a Paleo resource, but don’t think of it that way. It’s just a good, healthy mix of recipes based on a variety of real food ingredients.
Nom Nom Paleo — Another Paleo resource featuring fresh ingredients and creative recipes. Again, I’m not pushing a Paleo diet (or a vegetarian one), but good, healthy cooking.
Who’s Bad? Michael Jackson Tribute Band
Who’s Bad’s live performance is an unrivaled celebration of pop music’s one true King. Their power-packed performance of Michael Jackson’s expansive catalog has ignited crowds on every continent and can only be described as a jaw-dropping, musical must-see. As the longest-running Michael Jackson tribute band, and the only one to predate his untimely passing, Who’s Bad has awed even the skeptics, selling out nearly 50 venues in the United Kingdom including London’s O2 in December of 2010, the venue where the King of Pop was slated to end his career with a 50-show “This Is It” concert serie
24th 20×20 Pecha Kucha Night Thursday
Dayton’s Engineers Club is a living memorial to the men and women that built our city. Walking through the Club you can easily imagine Charles Kettering or the Wright Brothers sitting and discussing the social and political issues of the day. It is here you can find rich pieces of Dayton’s at every turn.
It is the mission of the Engineers Club to “foster the advancement of business, education, engineering and science, and to promote the professional development of its members.” If you have never had the pleasure of visiting the club Thursday night is your chance to soak up all that is Dayton while enjoying the 24th Volume of Pecha Kucha.
Pecha what? Pecha Kucha are 6-minutes 40-seconds presentations accompanied by 20 slides. The speaker must use 20 slides that automatically advance every 20-seconds. Pecha Kucha rules are strict and going over your time is prohibited. Generally each slide only will contain a single image. The format was developed in Tokyo (hence the Japanese name) by two foreign architects: Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein.
Dayton gathers 4 times a year for Pecha Kucha. It is free and open to the public. Volume 24 is scheduled for Thursday August the 20th and will begin at 7:30 pm. According to the Dayton PK website you can expect a diverse roster of presenters.
“Emcee Duante Beddingfield will keep us on our toes as the mic passes between: Emmy-winning artist Rodney Veal, Rue Dumaine bartender Brian Petro, artist Austin Radcliffe of “Things Organized Neatly,” attorney Lela Klein, the “great” PR man Charlie Campell, Chef Anthony Head, librarian Lisa Holmes, Tibetan traveler Emily Fleitz, veterinarian Bethany Horn and adventurer Kriss Gang.”
The event is free and a cash bar will be available. Don’t miss out on this unique style of presenting in one of Dayton’s most unique spots.
One Full Year of Dayton Activities
365 Things To Do In Dayton
“Dayton’s dead”
“There’s nothing to do here”
“I’m bored”
Those three phrases will likely garner some scowls followed by a long list of why you’re wrong if you were to say them in front of the many people passionate about Dayton. Here at MostMetro, we heart Dayton so darn much that we created this. This entire website with a wealth of community events, centrally located for your convenience. And this couldn’t exist without a cadre of people equally passionate about this area and everything it has to offer.
People like the guys at Lion + Panda, an agency started by WSU alums, Richard Kaiser (lion) + Philip Roestamadji (panda). They recently submitted a design completed by Shannon Seebach to a contest Oregon Printing was running to highlight their new white ink capabilities. They worked together with a handful of influencers, idea makers, go-getters, and lovers of Dayton to put together a list of 365 things to do in Dayton.
Yep. You have something to do every day. Every. Single.Day.
As you can guess, this poster won the design contest and that means you’ll be seeing it around town. Oh, you want one? I don’t blame you. They are finalizing some of the details and partnerships to help cover the cost of printing right now, but you’ll be able to keep up with the developments on their facebook page or ours.
Good job on this, everyone, and congratulations Lion + Panda and Shannon. I bet we’re ready to get started on 365 MORE Things To Do In Dayton. Ready…Go!
An Extraordinary Benefit Feast for The Glen Helen Raptor Center
Celebrated chefs of the region will join farmers, artisans and stewards of the land on Sun, Sept 13th for WHOO COOKS FOR YOU? – a feast of home-grown food and Ohio wine and beer to benefit the Glen Helen Raptor Center, 1075 State Route 343 in Yellow Springs.
With a name borrowed from the classic call of the barred owl – whoo cooks for you! – this sixth annual event explores the connection between the earth, the food on your plate, and supporting a healthy habitat for all, said Glen Helen Executive Director Nick Boutis.
Guests will enjoy a special tour of the Raptor Center followed by a flavorful, six-course feast, sourced by local area growers and prepared by Anne Kearney of Rue Dumaine, Carrie Walters of Dorothy Lane Market, Doug McGregor of Springfield’s Seasons Bistro, Elizabeth Wiley of Meadowlark, Maria Walusis of Nibbles, and Liz Valenti of Wheat Penny. 
Enjoy a culinary adventure that will bring together chefs, raptors and you, our stewards of the land and sky. Guests will be seated at one long table winding its way across the Raptor Center lawn and joined by area growers and farmers. End your evening with an exceptional decadent dessert that will melt your senses and send you home with the satisfied feeling that you have indeed made a difference in the rehabilitation and care of Raptor’s at Glen Helen.
Seating is limited. Please order your tickets now to ensure your place at the table. For more information, please contact Ann Simonson or call 937.769.1902 ext 1103.
If you can not make it to the event, but would like to contribute to the Glen Helen Nature Preserve please visit our Giving page to make a donation.
