Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Archives for September 2016

TIFF 2016 – Day #9 – Wrapping Up This Year’s Fest

By

planetarium-posterHello Everyone,

My first film of my final day of screenings was PLANETARIUM – directed by Rebecca Zlotwoski and starring Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp.  This is the story of two sisters who are mediums living in France and their relationship with a film producer.  Though the concept is intriguing (“sometimes you have to turn off the lights to see something” was an early quote that had promise) and I liked moments of the film, this was the biggest mess I saw at TIFF.  I don’t know what happened, but about an hour in, I felt like there were several films happening at once – and not in a good way. There were also a couple moments where Portman let out laughs that seemed like she was becoming completely unhinged…not her character, but Portman herself.  Attempts at “kinda sexy/kinda creepy” were in full swing – but the results were mostly just on the creepy end of the spectrum, and I eventually couldn’t wait for it to end.  Here’s a trailer…but you’ll have no idea what’s in store.

THE SECRET SCRIPTURE, directed by Jim Sheridan, was my second film of the day.  It was also Rooney Mara’s third film in this year’s festival.  Though Rooney was the star of the film, it was Vanessa Redgrave who shined.  This is the story of an older woman in a mental institution who has keep a journal in between the lines and in the margins of her Bible.  One of the first quotes we get from her journal is “I did not kill my child.”  Through a series of flashbacks, we see her as a younger woman in the 1940’s.  A true beauty, she turns heads everywhere she goes, and people in the town are quick to call her a whore…including the town’s priest who is clearly infatuated with her. Though I felt the story got a little muddled, it’s ultimately beautifully told and will easily find fans.  The Q&A with Jim Sheridan was a treat.  With Irish accent seemed to forgive all of his foul-mouthed responses, and the stories of working with actors (Vanessa Redgrave and the children from IN AMERICA in particular) were fantastic and full of insight.  There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a still.

the-secret-scripture

My last film of the fest was THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM, directed by Juan Carlos Medina and starring Bill Nighy & Olivia Cooke (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL).  In Victorian-era London, a detective has been given his first murder case – a case that has the city on edge as a serial killer is performing more and more heinous acts.  This beautifully styled period piece is a far cry from what you’d expect given the costumes and set-pieces.  With lots of blood and gory details of the crimes, it’s at times unsettling but ultimately rather predictable. There are some moments that should be big…but the materials isn’t there…so the decision was to over-score them – which actually ends up detracting from the scenes in question.  I wanted to like this film more, but I came out feeling it was really quite average.  There’s no trailer for this film yet, so here’s a still.  (Upon looking for images from the film, I found out that Alan Rickman was originally supposed to play the part of the detective – which would have added a different level of eeriness.)

4744

And so my screenings have come to an end.

I saw 30 films (not counting the two I walked out of), I met several great folks in the industry, I saw numerous big stars and directors, and I ate a lot of poutine.  In all, it was an incredible trip.

So here’s the wrap-up.  (All categories have films listed in the order in which I saw them.) My 3 favorites were: MOONLIGHT, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS and LA LA LAND.  Close behind were JULIETA, LOVING and SOUVENIR (BIRTH OF A NATION would be on this list, but I actually saw it several weeks ago and not at TIFF).  Some really good films that are 100% worth viewing but didn’t make it to the very top of my list are MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, FRANTZ, LION, A UNITED KINGDOM, THEIR FINEST, MAUDIE, PATERSON, JACKIE, and UNKNOWN GIRL.  For the other 15 films and how I felt about them, you’ll have to back-track through my blog.

Thanks so much for reading, and I appreciate your continued interest in THE NEON.

All the best,

Jonathan

 

TIFF 2016 – Day #8

By

img_1615Hello Loyal TIFF Followers,

Unfortunately, MostMetro has been experiencing quite a bit of trouble with their website…and that’s why you haven’t heard from me for a couple days.  They’re working hard to iron out all the kinks, and I appreciate you coming back for more (some of you with multiple attempts).

My first film on Thursday was John Butler’s HANDSOME DEVIL.  Though a little light, there’s certainly an audience for this crowd-pleasing film about an outcast with bright red hair at a boarding school in Ireland.  The unlikely friendship he strikes up with his handsome roommate has them eventually entered in a talent night where they’ll sing and play guitar together…and it’s really charming.  However, the focus at this school is rugby, and the behaviors of the new guy don’t fit in with the agenda of his rugby coach.  DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY meets SCHOOL TIES meets SING STREET.  If it doesn’t get released sooner, you can certainly look for this film at next year’s PRIDE screening in June.  There is no trailer for this film, so you only get a still at this time.

handsomedevil_03

Next up was THE UNKOWN GIRL – a film by the Dardenne Brothers (KID WITH A BIKE, TWO DAYS ONE NIGHT).  The Dardennes are known for this social-realist style of filmmaking.  Always commenting on class as well as economic and social justice, this film still fills that role…but goes in a bit of different direction. This is the story of a doctor who doesn’t answer the buzzer at her office door.  It’s after hours, and she figures a person would buzz multiple times if it was an emergency.  The next day, she finds out that the girl who buzzed has been found dead across the street…she was a prostitute who buzzed the door in a panic – looking for help.  Driven by guilt, the doctor begins her own investigation to find the name of the unknown girl.  Without any scoring to trigger emotions, this mystery feels all the more real.  Though not embraced by critics like their previous two films, I found it very satisfying.

SOUVENIR, starring Isabelle Huppert and directed by Babo Defurne, this is the story of a woman who works in a pate factory.  She used to be a famous singer, but her star faded early  after coming in 2nd place during a televised European singing contest (ABBA took home first place that year).  The opening titles for the film are beautiful bubbles floating through water.  Bubbles, bubbles, more bubbles. It’s pretty and hypnotizing.  It’s light, it’s airy, it’s effervescent…it’s alka-seltzer.  Thus we get a joke right from the opening credits. This French gem – which becomes a December/May romance, won’t be embraced by everyone.  But I really like it!  There’s no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip.

After my three films, I met up with an old friend for dinner.  Then I met up with a few more friends (film programmers, PR folks, etc.) for cocktails.  This was by far the latest I stayed out…and I paid for it the next morning.  (But it was worth it.)

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Making A Difference In Dayton With Donuts!

By

14322341_1093060194112789_2938607988023610784_nThere was an overwhelming response to the Fundraiser held at the Donut Haus Bakery in Springboro this past Saturday. The benefit was for the Ronnie Bowers family who lost their 16 year old son senselessly and tragically last week by a group of thug kids in Kettering.  Owner Mike Hemmert said people started lining up at the shop at 5:50 AM to get in to buy donuts and coffee and put extra money in the donation container.

He said they baked around the clock Friday night and had 14 working Saturday morning to keep up with th14358760_1093060267446115_5666865581449817806_ne crowds. He gives special thanks to his good friends Dave& Tracy who volunteered to wash dishes, pack orders, clean tables, whatever I asked them–they were on it.

Hemmert also shared, “one of the HS students that works for me–she was scheduled off that day and wanted to work “for free” that day–she stayed 8 hours and I added her salary to the donation–she also donated her cash tips. I have 23 incredible people on my staff now that stepped it up and never complained.  I could go on and on…there was a true spirit of giving and magic in the air!’

And on Monday morning, Kettering Fairmont Principal Tyler Alexander picked up 50 dozen donuts for his district, which he pre-ordered Saturday  so they could be part of the benefit.

With a special heartfelt THANKS to all of you Mike will be writing a check for $3,147.12 to this family to offset funeral costs and other family expenditures.

 

Dayton Wolfpack Arena FootballTryouts

By

13914169_561101370729484_3048866800136707376_oJerome and Jesse Clark are bringing an Arena Football team to Dayton. Bringing fast paced, hard hitting football to the Miami Valley, the team will be known as the Dayton Wolfpack.
“We are extremely excited to bring Arena style football back home to Dayton,” stated Wolf Pack Co-Owner Jesse Clark. “You can’t ask for a better area in terms of the football landscape to place a team, and we can’t wait to compete against many other proven arena teams the Arena Developmental League is set to have.”

The Arena Developmental League is set for initial kick off in March of 2017. With a playing style resembling traditional Arena rules, the ADL will be announcing member league teams in the coming weeks.  This new competitive league will include the Columbus (GA) Lions, Lehigh Valley (PA)  Steelhawks and the High County (NC) Grizzlies with 3 more to be announced next week and more down the road. This will be a great and exciting journey and a chance to bring the game of football back to the arena in Dayton!  Negotiation are currently under way with the venue they will be playing at, look for that announcement very soon.

Do you think you have what it takes to play for the Dayton Wolfpack? If so, you can  showcase your talents at the very first Dayton Wolfpack tryout. Participants will be tested in the 40 yard dash and short shuttle. Also, you will be participating in position drills and 1 on 1’s.    Try-out are $50 if you pre-register and $60 at the door.  Register at www.daytonwolfpack.com.

 

Finalists Announce for Dayton Literary Peace Prize

By

dlpp_seal-140x98Recognizing the power of literature to promote peace and reconciliation, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation today announced the finalists for the 2016 Dayton Literary Peace Prize in fiction and nonfiction.

Inspired by the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia, The Dayton Literary Peace Prize is the only international literary peace prize awarded in the United States. The Prize celebrates the power of literature to promote peace, social justice, and global understanding. This year’s winners will be honored at a gala ceremony hosted by award-winning journalist Nick Clooney in Dayton on November 20th to be held at the Schuster Center.

Organizers announced in August that novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping, Gilead) will be the recipient of the 2016 Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, named in honor of the celebrated U.S. diplomat who helped negotiate the Dayton Peace Accords.

The shortlist includes “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen, “Nagasaki”i by Susan Southard, “Find Me Unafraid” by Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner, and “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara.
The 2016 Dayton Literary Peace Prize fiction finalists are:

• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: Four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition — seek fame and fortune in New York city in this hymn to brotherly bonds. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into and those that we make for ourselves.

• Delicious Foods by James Hannaham: Held captive on a mysterious farm and under the sway of an overpowering addiction, a widow struggles to reunite with her young son. Hannaham’s daring and shape-shifting prose infuses his characters with grace and humor while wrestling with timeless questions of forgiveness, redemption, and the will to survive.

• Green on Blue by Elliot Ackerman: A young Afghan orphan is forced to join a US-funded militia in order to save his brother, who is hospitalized after an attack on their village, in this morally complex debut novel about the harrowing, intractable nature of war and the sacrifices we make for love.

• Orhan’s Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian: Drawing on her own family history, Ohanesian pulls back the curtain on a devastating chapter of the Armenian Holocaust, moving between the 1990s and the 1915 Ottoman Empire in this remarkable debut novel about war and recovery, crimes and reparations.

• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen: This profound, startling, and beautifully crafted debut novel tells the story of a man of two minds whose lofty ideals necessitate his betrayal of the people closest to him. Both gripping spy yarn and astute exploration of extreme politics, The Sympathizer examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.

• Youngblood by Matt Gallagher: During the final dark days of the War in Iraq, newly minted lieutenant Jack Porter struggles with the preparations for withdrawal from the country, especially the alliances with warlords who have Arab and American blood on their hands.

The 2016 nonfiction finalists are

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: Masterfully weaving together lyrical personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally-charged reportage, Coates shares the story of his awakening to the truth about history and his place in the world, in the process mapping a winding path from fear and confusion to a full and honest understanding of this country, this world, and how we can all get free.

• Find Me Unafraid by Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner: An African man and an American woman share their love story and recount their efforts to empower young people – including founding the first tuition-free school for girls – in Odede’s hometown of Kibera, the largest slum in Africa.

• Nagasaki by Susan Southard: Narrative journalist Southard spent over a decade interviewing survivors, historians, physicians, psychologists, and archivists to take readers from the morning the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki to the modern-day city, offering an intimate, immediate account of one of the most controversial wartime acts in history.

• Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America by Wil Haygood: Using the framework of the contentious five-day Senate hearing to confirm Marshall as the first African-American Supreme Court justice, Haygood creates a provocative look at Marshall’s life as well as the politicians, lawyers, activists, and others who shaped the early civil rights movement.

• The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew: After learning that his father, an accomplished but distant aboriginal Canadian, has cancer, his son spends a year reconnecting with him. By turns lighthearted and solemn, Kinew gives us an inspiring vision for family and cross-cultural reconciliation, and a wider conversation about the future of aboriginal peoples.

• The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell: This dramatic, never-before-told story of a secret FDR-approved WWII Texas internment camp reveals the war-time hysteria against the Japanese and Germans in America, the secrets of FDR’s tactics to rescue high-profile POWs in Germany and Japan, and how the definition of American citizenship changed under the pressure of war.

A winner and runner-up in fiction and nonfiction will be announced on October 11. Winners receive a $10,000 honorarium and runners-up receive $2,500. Finalists will be reviewed by a judging panel of prominent writers including Alexander Chee (Edinburgh, Queen of the Night), Christine Schutt (Florida, All Souls), Ruben Martinez (Desert America: A Journey Across Our Most Divided Landscape, Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail), and Evelyn McDonnell (Rock She Wrote: Women Write about Rock, Pop and Rap, Queens of Noise: The Real Story of the Runaways).

To be eligible for the 2016 awards, English-language books must be published or translated into English in 2015 and address the theme of peace on a variety of levels, such as between individuals, among families and communities, or between nations, religions, or ethnic groups.

TIFF 2016 – Day #7

By

csqaun7wgaqgaq3Hello Everyone,

Thanks for coming back!  Today was my last day during this trip when I have to  wake up before 6am!  I saw three more films (which takes me to 24 total), and I had a nice dinner.  Though there was an invitation to meet up for late drinks, I had to turn it down.  I’m simply too tired and getting more than 4 hours of sleep sounds much better.

My first film of the day was PATERSON, by Jim Jarmusch – who has a cult-like following.  This film stars Adam Driver as “a working-class poet in a small New Jersey town who practices his craft amidst the quiet magic of everyday life.” (TIFF on-line catalog)  As always, Jarmusch finds both humor and pathos in the idiosyncrasies and mundane routines of his characters.  That said, I think this film is his most accessible.  And though not a lot “happens,” I was engaged and liked peeking in on these rather charming characters.  (There is not trailer available, but here’s a clip.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWHA1lcjUt4

JACKIE, the new film about Jackie O’ starring Natalie Portman, was next on my list.  Directed by Pablo Larrain (who also has a film about Pablo Neruda at the festival), this film takes a look at the assassination of JFK through the point of view of Jackie.  The film opens with Jackie greeting a journalist just a few days after the assassination. As she answers questions, we get her version of the story – both anecdotes about the making of the TV special when she led press through the White House as well as her account of what happened in Texas and preparing for the funeral.  She is very candid, but she also makes quite clear that she’ll have the final edit on the piece that is written.  When the journalist says that he just wants the truth, it is finally said that “I will settle for a story that’s believable.”  That sentiment is the film in a nutshell.  It took me a little while to buy Portman as Jackie, but eventually she won me over.  Fox Searchlight picked up this film within the last 48 hours, and they plan to have it released in time for Oscar season.

jackie-1

My final film of the day was UNA – a new film based on the play BLACKBIRD, directed by Benedict Andrews and starring Rooney Mara & Ben Mendelsohn.  This is the story of a young woman in her mid-20’s confronting a middle-aged man at his place of work. It’s been 12 years since they’ve seen each other…and that was when she was 13 and he sexually abused her.  It’s my understanding that the play is just two characters…and adapting it for the screen seemed a bit forced to me.  From ducking behind boxes and into bathroom stalls to hide from other workers, it seemed a bit of a stretch to buy the actions of the characters.  I ultimately had really mixed feelings.  The material is intriguing and bold, but I didn’t buy the set-up (trouble with the man’s position at work is a tangent that seems oddly tacked on).  In addition, I feel like the material didn’t ring with honesty.  SPOILER ALERT…don’t read more if you don’t want to know too much! The director spoke of each character having “unfinished desire” for one another.  I’d be anxious to hear a true feminist read of this material/adaptation.  By the end, I didn’t hate it, but I also can’t recommend it.  There is no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip:

I’ve got three films tomorrow and I get to sleep in until 7:30!  I also plan to meet an old friend for dinner – someone I met in line for Almodovar’s TALK TO HER back at the festival in 2002.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #6

By

maudie-movie-poster-lgHello!

Today’s schedule had me down for 5 films…and though I got into the fifth, I just wasn’t loving it enough to stick around (thus I won’t review it).  Instead, I’ll go over the four films I screened in their entirety.

THEIR FINEST was my first screening at 9:30am, and it was packed in one of Scotiabank’s biggest venues.  Lone Scherfig (AN EDUCATION) delivers a very solid film about the film industry in England during WWII.  The story centers around a female writer who is initially hired to help write and flesh out the female voices just as the industry is also realizing that they need to make a picture that boosts morale on the homefront.  Bill Nighy, who plays an egotistical old pro actor, is a scene-stealer…and the film will be an crowd-pleaser.  Full of nostalgic winks and nods as well as colorful characters, this is an “acquisition title,” and I believe it will get picked up.  There’s no trailer yet for THEIR FINEST…so a photo will have to do at this point.

Their Finest Hour and A Half Directed by Lone Sherfig

Their Finest Hour and A Half
Directed by Lone Sherfig

MAUDIE, a biopic about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, was next on my list.  With an outstanding performance by Sally Hawkins which is touching, physically demanding and full of hysterical funny moments that make Maud all the more endearing, the film is about Lewis’s relationship with her husband (played by Ethan Hawke) and her rise to fame in the art world.  Challenged by childhood rheumatoid arthritis, everything from daily chores to even holding a brush look painful for Maud – but we fall in love with her desire to paint on just about any stationary object.  Directed by Aisling Walsh (she’s done a lot of television work including FINGERSMITH with Hawkins), this is a slower character piece – but I think it could easily find an audience with Neon patrons.  There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a clip.

Once in a while at TIFF, I let myself see a big, splashy Hollywood movie.  One that clearly won’t be coming to THE NEON, but one that’s receiving some critical buzz.  A couple years ago, it was GRAVITY…this year, it was another sci-fi film – ARRIVAL, directed by Denis Villeneuve.  Though I can rattle off a handful of sci-fi films that I greatly admire, this isn’t a genre that usually attracts my attention, and this alien film intrigued me because it wasn’t going to be full of explosions and battle scenes.  Amy Adams plays a linguist who is hired by the government to attempt communicating with aliens who have landed 12 ships around the world.  There’s some really lovely work happening in this film – from the central performance to terrific special effects.  But there’s also some clunky ideas (especially in the third act) that keep me from embracing the film.  I realize that many, many people will love this one…but it’s not for me.

My last full film of the day was THE SALESMAN, directed by Asghar Farhadi (A SEPARATION and THE PAST).  The film opens with people needing to evacuate their building as it is beginning to crack and may soon crash. We follow a young theatrical couple (who are mounting a production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN) as they are displaced and soon find a new apartment that was formerly inhabited by a prostitute (though they don’t know that immediately).  An incident in the new place leaves the couple forever changed, and the film then becomes a subtle thriller.  With narrative elements and themes that I greatly admire, this film is well-done and solid – though not quite up to par with his previous two films due to a somewhat strained final act. There is no trailer yet for this film, but here’s a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VcfinMasfw

I wrapped up the night by attending a low-key party for lgbt industry folks.  I was glad to meet a few new people, and I’m crawling into bed before 2:00…so glad tomorrow is the last day I have to get up before 7:00.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

 

 

J Crew, Stretchy Jeans, and Donuts

By

I dress pretty much like a child on most days. Take a look at a school bus stop near you, and then take a look at what I wear to work every day. You’ll struggle to notice a difference (other than the balding hair line and aging face). Despite my propensity for dressing like an adolescent, somewhere along the line I got subscribed to the J Crew catalogue for men. Maybe they felt sorry for me.

Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset

Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset

I was flipping through the catalogue and I happened upon this bit of copy that I haven’t been able to get out of my head:

Stretch Jeans That Don’t Look Stretchy

That’s the title. And there’s a thin looking model dude bounding down some urban steps on his way probably to jump on a bike to grab some organic sushi or something.

“Thanks to top-quality Japanese fabric we source from one of that country’s original denim mills, they look just like all of our famous jeans. Which means now you can wear slim denim and eat doughnuts.” (emphasis in the original quote)

This copy bothers me on three fronts.

1.) The Settling

You know what? Forget it. Just wear stretchy jeans. You’ll never fit into regular jeans anyway. So here’s some stretchy fabric that might look decent for your fat butt and fat thighs and fat stomach. Fatty.

That’s what I read in this ad. Juxtaposed with the skinny dude accompanying the copy, I just find this offensive.

photo-1470434767159-ac7bf1b43351

2.) Overeating = Only Reason Skinny Jeans Don’t Fit

The second thing that bothers me about this ad is the idea that eating to excess would be the only reason that someone can’t fit into some skinny jeans. Let me tell you something. Try to imagine an octopus on dry land riding a unicycle. That’s what I look like trying to put on a pair of skinny jeans. My ass and thighs just simply refuse to be associated with skinny jeans. They don’t want to be in the same room with them. They’re offended by the idea of skinny jeans.

And it ain’t the donuts.

It’s the squats, deadlifts, lunges, good mornings, Romanian deadlifts, and kettlebell swings. Don’t get me wrong, I can put away some donuts. But these thighs just ain’t ever gonna fit into skinny jeans. So why condescend to the people you’re selling to by suggesting that the only reason one might not fit into skinny jeans is that they overeat? I get it. It’s supposed to be funny. But, no. That’s a swing and a miss.

3.) It’s Just Bad Marketing

The thing I can’t shake about this copy is that it’s just bad marketing. It doesn’t fit the brand. J Crew usually seems to be marketing to a relatively sophisticated group of people who care a little about the fabric, the aesthetic, the origin of the clothes they’re wearing. Right? So why would you wink and nod to a guy sitting on the couch with his hand down his pants mainlining powdered donuts? It’s just the wrong audience.

Sometimes when you’re selling something, especially an aesthetic, cute just isn’t the way to go. And if you’re going to wade into what I think are the much needed waters of sizing clothing for a diverse group of bodies, don’t insult the very people to which you’re ostensibly marketing. I don’t know much. But I know that.

photo-1464929122655-6ac44e59f2f3

New Halloween Beer Festival

By

65d140ee-9642-4115-8b8b-89fa2925143aOhio’s craft brewers are concocting frighteningly flavorful beers and the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is launching a haunting event to celebrate them. The inaugural Dia de las Cervezas, a costumes-encouraged beer tasting, will take place on Saturday, October 29 from 5:00 – 9:00 pm at the significantly-spooky Top of the Market in Dayton. Thirty-plus Ohio craft breweries will sample brews old and new at an event that will also feature live music, food trucks, a costume contest and more.

Dia de las Cervezas is sponsored by Boelter Beverage, Brewers Professional Alliance, Cavalier Distributing, Cellar Dweller Craft Beers, Christian Moerlein Brewing Company, Crooked Handle Brewing Co., Fat Head’ s Brewery, FigLeaf Brewing Co., Frantz Ward, Hairless Hare Brewery, Lock 27 Brewing, Seventh Son Brewing, Warped Wing Brewing Company and Yellow Springs Brewery.

“The Dayton region’s craft beer boom and its embrace by residents has been exciting to witness,” said Mary MacDonald, Director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “We’re thrilled to debut a new craft beer event, Dia de las Cervezas, here and hope that our fun-loving consumers will play along and arrive in Halloween attire to sample our breweries’ hauntingly delicious craft beer.”

Schedule for Dia de las Cervezas
4:00 p.m. – VIP and Enthusiast Member early entry and beer sampling begins
4:00 – 9:00 p.m. – The Deli and food trucks open (Pa’s Pork and The Drunken Waffle)
5:00 p.m. – General Admission entry
5:00 – 9:00 – face painting, tarot card readings
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – music by Team Void
6:45 – 8:45 p.m. – music by The AmpFibians
8:00 p.m. – costume contest
9:00 p.m. – Dia de las Cervezas ends…procession to Hauntfest on Fifth
Participating breweries include: Black Cloister Brewing Company (Toledo), The Brew Kettle (Strongsville), Carillon Brewing Company (Dayton), Cellar Dweller Craft Beers (Morrow), Christian Moerlein Brewing Company (Cincinnati), Crooked Handle Brewing Co. (Springboro), The Dayton Beer Company (Dayton), Eudora Brewing Company (Dayton), Fat Head’ s Brewery (Middleburg Heights), Fifth Street Brewpub (Dayton), Fifty West Brewing Co. (Cincinnati), FigLeaf Brewing Co. (Middletown), Four String Brewing Company (Columbus), Great Lakes Brewing Company (Cleveland), Hairless Hare Brewery (Vandalia), Homestead Beer Co. (Heath), Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery (Athens), Lineage Brewing (Columbus), Little Fish Brewing Company (Athens), Lock 27 Brewing (Centerville), Lucky Star Brewery (Miamisburg), MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati), North High Brewing (Columbus), The Phoenix Brewing Company (Mansfield), Pinups and Pints (Medway), Platform Beer Company (Cleveland), Seventh Son Brewing (Columbus), Thirsty Dog Brewing Company (Akron), Toxic Brew Company (Dayton), Urban Artifact (Cincinnati), Warped Wing Brewing Company (Dayton) and Yellow Springs Brewery (Yellow Springs). Beer list to follow closer to the event.

Dia de las Cervezas takes place on Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 5:00 – 9:00 pm at Top of the Market in Dayton (32 Webster Street, Dayton, OH 45402). General admission tickets are $40 in advance ($50 at the door) and include a souvenir glass with 40 tasting tickets. VIP tickets are $60 in advance ($75 at the door) and include the general admission benefits, early entry at 4:00 p.m. as well as access to a VIP members only section with food and beer. Designated Driver tickets are available for $20 each and includes a non-alcoholic beverage and a food voucher. The event is 21 and over with ID required for admission. Tickets are available online . Dia de las Cervezas is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Ohio Craft Brewers Association.

Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote and preserve Ohio’s unified craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio Craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

‘Sweeney Todd’ Review – Human Race Theatre Company – Dark Victory

By

The Human Race Theatre Company opens its 30th anniversary season with a wonderfully immersive and impressive production of composer Stephen Sondheim and librettist Hugh Wheeler’s 1979 Tony Award-winning masterpiece “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

14224961_10154615224858013_1378619386381839711_n
Based on Christopher Bond’s play of the same name, “Sweeney Todd” marvelously intertwines horror, humor, love, regret, revenge, and suspense into its Victorian account of a crazed barber/ex-convict destroying the society that cheated him. The disturbing, cannibalistic nature of Sweeney’s dastardly deeds, fueled by his kooky accomplice Mrs. Nellie Lovett, a pie shop proprietor in Fleet Street, always provides a riveting centerpiece for this ingenious thriller. However, director Scott Stoney refreshingly opts for more than a mere bloody fright fest. By digging deeper into characterization and the humanity of those inhabiting Sweeney’s dark world, Stoney creates one of the most relevant versions of the show I have seen heightened by a striking intimacy that can only be felt within the confines of the Loft Theatre. In fact, due to certain moments staged on platforms located on opposite sides of the venue, the material has never felt more immediate or engrossing. Some organizations would scoff at the notion of producing such an unnerving musical with an approachable mindset, but Stoney’s boldness, insisting the audience follow every morsel of the action, invites an experience unlike any other. But you wouldn’t want to be kept at a distance anyway considering the fantastic attributes of his vocally sublime cast.

14196152_10154609385993013_5735046620302876221_o

Jamie Cordes plays the title role in “Sweeney Todd.”

Resonant baritone Jamie Cordes, featured as sailor Anthony Hope in the Human Race’s 1996 production of “Sweeney Todd” at the Victoria Theatre starring Stoney, understands the fine line associated with portraying the complex Sweeney, one of the most challenging roles ever conceived. If he aimed too psychotic he’d wallow in overblown histrionics. If he aimed too melodramatic he’d wallow in maudlin shallowness. Thankfully, the evil he concocts is a fetching brew of creepily confident swagger, authoritative menace, distressed paranoia, wounded remorse, and disturbing joy. Toward the end of Act 1, Cordes respectively brings Sweeney’s magnetism and terror to the compelling forefront with splendid renditions of the ravishing ballad “Pretty Women” (terrifically shared with David McDonald as the corrupt Judge Turpin who sent Sweeney to jail on a trumped-up charge and adopted his daughter Johanna while he was incarcerated) and utterly alarming “Epiphany,” one of the scariest songs in the musical theatre canon tailor-made to rip through the fourth wall. Fine comedienne Rebecca Watson (Broadway’s “By Jeeves”) is equally razor sharp as Mrs. Lovett, the Sondheimian equivalent to Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. There’s a comical world-weariness in her portrayal befitting Lovett’s down-and-out nature (she’s responsible for “The Worst Pies in London”), but Watson specifically magnetizes as the deceitful Lovett lures Sweeney deeper into vengeance if only to secure his love. I haven’t seen an actress skillfully weigh Lovett’s self-absorbed matters of pleasure and profit since being blown away by Imelda Staunton’s fiery portrayal in London’s West End four years ago.

14202760_10154615224843013_3259308007451069107_nElsewhere in principal roles, strong tenor Zack Steele is an engagingly sensitive and lovestruck Anthony (his rendition of “Johanna” is beautifully emotive), Kimberly Hessler, well-paired with Steele, supplies lilting operatic strains as the lovely, sheltered Johanna (her rendition of the gorgeous “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” holds many colors), Craig McEldowney is a deliciously flamboyant and spiteful Adolfo Pirelli, DJ Plunkett brilliantly conveys tenderness, vulnerability, spunk, and dread as Pirelli’s humble assistant Tobias Ragg (his moving rendition of “Not While I’m Around” is a genuine heartbreaker), Aaron Vega is a delightfully snide and vindictive Beadle Bamford (his clear falsetto is put to great use in “Ladies in Their Sensitivities”), Christine Zavakos is a playful yet foreboding Beggar Woman, and Scott Hunt (Tobias in the 1996 production) is an appropriately malevolent Jonas Fogg. The fantastic and impactful ensemble, connected through Tracey Bonner’s character-conscious choreography and blessed with phenomenal vocal power as well as a unified versatility to fluidly transform whether as mourning Londoners or hysteric lunatics, consists of Gina Handy, Drew Helton, Cassi Mikat, Nathan Robert Pecchia, David Shough, Sherri L. Sutter (Johanna in 1996 production), and Kandis Wean.

Additionally, scenic designer Dan Gray’s efficient, revolving set is bolstered by a throng of windows evoking the Industrial Revolution. Janet G. Powell’s attractive period costumes distinctly range from drab to swanky (notice Sweeney, Lovett and Tobias’ fancy attire at the top of Act 2). John Rensel’s lighting design marvelously captures varying moods, specifically sending chills up my spine when a barrage of lights ominously beam through the windows at the conclusion of Sweeney and Lovett’s cheerfully eerie “A Little Priest” signaling the beginning of the end for customers along Fleet Street. Music director Sean Michael Flowers leads an eight-piece band that occasionally feels distant but is well-balanced nonetheless despite a few timing glitches on opening night. Jay Brunner’s unsettling sound design aids in spooky ambiance but was also shaky on opening night.

One of the production’s final, lasting images involves a young man contemplating an evil plunge into darkness. It is a chilling reminder giving credence to Sondheim’s probing question which should never be taken lightly: “Isn’t that Sweeney there beside you?” After all, anyone at any time has the potential to simply snap. Attend this tale and rediscover why.

 

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – A Musical Thriller” continues through Oct. 2 at the Loft Theatre of the Metropolitan Arts Center, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. Act One: 90 minutes; Act Two: 60 minutes. Performances are 8 p.m. Sept. 15-17, 22-24, and 29-Oct. 1; 7 p.m. Sept. 13-14, 20-21, 27-28; and 2 p.m. Sept. 18, 25 and Oct. 2. Tickets are $12-$50 (prices vary depending on performance date). There are a limited number of $12 side area seats available for each performance. For tickets or more information, call (937) 228-3630 or visit www.humanracetheatre.org or ticketcenterstage.com. Patrons are advised the production contains adult language and themes.

 

DPAA Offers Free Show Tickets To Military

By

c2033a03ce442a216d09156c05febe82xThe Dayton Performing Arts Alliance is pleased to continue its highly successful Military Appreciation Program for active-duty military members, retired veterans with ID cards, and WPAFB government civilian employees in the Miami Valley area by offering two pairs of free tickets per military household to be chosen from a variety of performances from the 2016-2017 Excite Season, with one pair to be used between September and December 2016 and one pair to be used between January and June 2017.  Military personnel may choose from 48 2016-2017 Excite Season performances listed below. Sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton, the program has dedicated a total of 4,800 complimentary tickets to performances of the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera and Dayton Philharmonic.  For more information, go to www.daytonperformingarts.org/military-1617.

“This is our way of thanking our military personnel and their families for their continued service to our great country,” said DPAA President and CEO Paul Helfrich. “It’s also a great opportunity for military members and veterans who may not be familiar with Dayton’s wonderful performing arts.”
dpaa-triad-rectangle-new-smaller
“Booz Allen is a proud presenting sponsor of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance’s Military Appreciation Program,” said Rick Holley, Senior Vice-President, Booz Allen Hamilton.  “Our support of this program is in keeping with the firm’s commitment to help organizations and community initiatives that benefit our nation’s active-duty military and veterans.”

Tickets are available now at Ticket Center Stage, located in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center on North Main Street (between First and Second Streets in downtown Dayton) or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (888) 228-3630 to reserve tickets.  Box office hours are Monday to Friday, 10 am–6 pm, Saturday, 12 noon–4 pm, and two hours prior to performances.

Tickets to selected performances, per the program guidelines, are available for pickup in person with a military, veteran, or civilian employee ID. A valid ID must be presented when picking up tickets, whether before the performance date or at Will Call.

All tickets to Military Appreciation Program performances may be reserved or picked up within 30 days of the selected performance date. When calling to reserve tickets, please mention the Military Appreciation Program. Inquiries also may be made to (888) 228-3630 regarding how many assigned tickets are still left in a given performance.  A total of 100 tickets per performance date in different seating tiers will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.  One pair of tickets in the 2016 calendar year and one pair in 2017 selected from the listed performance schedule below per military household will be available for pickup in person within 30 days of the performance date. A valid active-duty military, veteran, or government civilian ID must be presented in person.

Dayton World Soccer Games return Saturday, Sept. 17

By

d0322322-2494-4dd9-a9c9-df28e129274aThe fifth annual Dayton World Soccer Games will bring more than 20 youth and adult teams to the Action Sports Center (1103 Gateway Dr.) on Saturday, Sept. 17, for a day-long tournament celebrating Dayton’s diversity.

A parade of nations starts the day at 8:30am Youth matches begin at 9:30am, and the adult championship game starts at approximately 4:00pm (championship game time subject to change).

Spectators are welcome; admission and parking are free (bring sports seating for your own use). Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Since 2012, the Dayton World Soccer Games tournament has united Dayton’s immigrant and native-born communities in the spirit of inclusiveness, good sportsmanship and enjoyment of the world’s most popular sport. The tournament sprang from Welcome Dayton, Dayton’s immigrant friendly city initiative.

Last year, 25 teams participated in the day-long event, including teams representing nearly 20 European, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Asian nations/communities and several “USA” teams. By the tournament’s end, Africa United and the diverse International team emerged as winners. Everyone, though, went home with a stronger sense of Dayton’s diversity and unity.

For more information, go to welcomedayton.org/soccer or call 937-333-8400.

The Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services produces the tournament. Sponsors include Dayton International Airport, the Dayton Department of Water, NAACP, DASA Youth Soccer and Kettering Sports Medicine.

Carraba’s Offers $45 Dinner For Two

By

Carrabba’s Italian Grill, located at 900 Miamisburg Centerville Road,  is offering a special dinner deal for two for just $45 through this Sunday.  Dinners will get an appetizer to share, a choice of four entrees, which are served with choice of soup or salad and a dessert to share. You can enjoy this special from 4:30 -10pm at the Washington Township eatery.

APPETIZER (Choose one to share)carraba

CALAMARI

Hand-breaded to order and served with our marinara sauce.

TOMATO CAPRESE WITH FRESH BURRATA

Creamy burrata mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil, red onions, balsamic glaze, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil.

Entrée (Choose two)

All entrées come with your choice of a cup of soup or side salad.

FETTUCCINE CARRABBA

Fettuccine Alfredo with wood-grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms and peas.

SCAMPI DAMIAN

Shrimp, garlic, white wine and our lemon butter sauce tossed with linguine.

TUSCAN-GRILLED SIRLOIN MARSALA

9oz. sirloin prepared with our signature grill baste, olive oil and herbs and topped with mushrooms and our Lombardo Marsala wine sauce. Served with your choice of side.

CHICKEN PICCATA

Sautéed and topped with our lemon butter sauce and Italian parsley. Served with your choice of side.

Dessert  to Share

SOGNO DI CIOCCOLATA “CHOCOLATE DREAM”

A rich fudge brownie with chocolate mousse, fresh whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

TIFF 2016 – Day #5

By

la-la-land_poster_goldposter_com_3-jpg0o_0l_400w_70qHello Everyone.

Thanks for coming back to my blog.  I had intended to see more films today, but I got turned away from a screening of JACKIE (along with 200+ other people) because the demand was too big and being 25 minutes early wasn’t enough.  That said, there will be another screening Wednesday, so I will know to be extra early.

My first screening of the day was the latest by the prolific (especially for being quite young) Xavier Dolan –  IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD.   This is essentially a chamber piece about a gay man who comes to visit his family and tell them he’s dying…he hasn’t been home for 12 years…and it’s quickly evident why he’s been away so long.  Though I clearly understand what he’s doing, and the film is ultimately well done (though I do have some complaints about several of his choices), this is a film that’s hard to stomach.  The cast is exceptional (I love Marion & Gaspard), but shouting matches, unlikable/annoying characters…it’s not something I can highly recommend. 

LOVING, the new film by Jeff Nichols (TAKE SHELTER, MUD), was next on my list.  It’s also a film I’ve been looking forward to, and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.  This quiet and eloquent film is about the an interracial couple in Virginia whose illegal marriage and subsequent punishment (they went to D.C. to get married, but it wasn’t recognized in Virginia) eventually caught the attention of the ACLU…and eventually went to the Supreme Court to overturn miscegenation laws. For a film that’s largely about court battles, we only spend a few minutes in court rooms…and that’s refreshing.  Instead, we spend lots of time with this Mildred & Richard (stunningly and lovingly played by Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton) – and watching a couple who are so clearly in love with each other makes such a strong case for marriage equality on many levels.

My final film of the day was LA LA LAND, directed by Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH).  This splashy, colorful, song-and-dance musical harkens memories of a bygone era of the Hollywood studio system.  But even more, its influence is from one of my favorite musical directors – Jacques Demy.  The opening scene, shot on an L.A. highway, will blow your mind and immediately had me scribble YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT in my notes.  Starring Emma Stone (who will clearly be nominated for an Oscar) and Ryan Gosling, this film had me on my feet immediately as the “The End” appeared on screen.  For the rest of the night, melodies swirled in my head and merely walking down the street was accompanied by the film’s infectious score.  I can’t wait to obtain the soundtrack and see the film again!

Tomorrow is an extra busy day.  Hoping I’ll be able to stay awake for all of it.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Boston Stoker 43rd Anniversary Deals!

By

bs_packaging_full_01_v1_143 years is a long time for any independent business, but even more impressive for one in the constantly evolving business of coffee. On Tuesday, September 13 Boston Stoker celebrates their 43rd anniversary as one of Ohio’s leading coffee roasters.

“Coffee has always been a part of our lives but it’s also changed a lot over the past 43 years,” Henry Dean, Boston Stoker President said. “We started as a pipe tobacco and custom pipe shop in 1973 and as the times changed we started offering our tobacco customers complimentary coffee and then in 1983 we started roasting our own coffee.”14196172_10153798962242155_6904590852934602960_o

Throughout the 43 years as a business, what a coffee house is has evolved just as much as people’s tastes in the drink.

“Coffee houses are a fixture of their communities. They’re a place for people to meet, to send out a few emails, to listen to music,” Henry Dean said. “We ingrain our shops into the neighborhoods and communities they serve, no two shops are the same.”

To celebrate this anniversary, Boston Stoker will be offering $5 off of all 12oz bags of coffee and $1 off beverages at all shops for one day only on Tuesday, September 13 at all their shops.

“Our customers are why we’ve been growing over the last 43 years,” Henry Dean said. “This is our way of saying thanks and here’s to the next 43.”

Pumpkin Spice Isn’t just for Lattes!

By Leave a Comment

img_8441Even though it’s still 80 degrees out, the season for hoodies, hayrides, cider, apple picking, and so many more Fall favorites is approaching! Our friends over at Thomas’ Breads have already begun to embrace autumn with their seasonal line of baked treats. Hungry Jax was given the opportunity to embrace a VIP Food Adventure of tasting two of their Fall products prior to them hitting the shelves: Pumpkin Spice Bagels and Pumpkin Spice English Muffins! In addition, she whipped up some fun recipes to share with you all to bring these treats to your breakfast table and beyond!

 

img_8439Let’s start with the Pumpkin Spice Bagel. Cut this beauty open and you’ll find nooks and crannies of real pumpkin throughout the bagel. The bagel itself is fantastic toasted with butter. But Hungry Jax didn’t want to limit the potential of this little round masterpiece. So off to her kitchen she went with her kids ready to taste test!

To keep with a traditional use of the bagel, Hungry Jax created an easy homemade Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese spread. Quick, simple, and with just enough of a flavor to bring this breakfast to the next level. The kids gave this two tumbs up!

 

img_8434Cinnamon Maple Cream Cheese

  • 8oz package of cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tbs Maple Syrup

 

Whisk all ingredients together until well combined. Refrigerate.Suggested Use: Top a toasted Thomas’ Pumpkin Spice Bagel with cream cheese and chopped pecans.

 img_8418

Now that breakfast was consumed, it was time for lunch! This next recipe can be devoured using either the Pumpkin Spice Bagels or the Pumpkin Spice English Muffins. It’s sandwich time! And what does pumpkin complement well? Turkey! A simple turkey and sharp cheddar cheese sandwich assembled on one of these baked gems is great. But take it to the next level with a homemade cranberry-sage mayo, and you’ve got yourself a lunchtime WIN.

Cranberry-Sage Mayo

  • 2 sage leaves
  • ¼ c. dried cranberries
  • ¼ tsp minced garlic
  • ½ c. Mayonnaise
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients into a food processor and blend until cranberries are small chunks. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Suggested use: Toast a Thomas’ Pumpkin Spice English Muffin. Spread mayo on both halves and build a sandwich with sliced turkey, sharp white cheddar cheese and baby spinach!

Next Up: Brinner! Yeah, we like breakfast so much that we have it at dinner too! And why not just make it a day of pumpkin spice awesomeness!

For starters, let’s make a salad. And any great salad is topped with croutons. Crunchy, flavorful little bites of fun! This recipe for Pumpkin Spice Bagel Croutons is great for when you have bagels that are not as fresh any more but you want to use them up!

img_8438

Pumpkin Spice Bagel Croutons

  • 1 week old Thomas’ Pumpkin Spice Bagel
    chopped into ½ inch cubes.
  • 2 tbs Spicy Olive Butter Olive Oil
  • ¼ tsp dried Parsley
  • ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp fresh ground pepper
  • 1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

 

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine all seasonings with olive oil in a bowl.  Toss bagel chunks to coat thoroughly.

Spread out on baking sheet and bake for 15 mins or until toasted. Allow to cool.

Suggested use: Top off a bed of spinach with grilled chicken, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, red onion and goat cheese. Drizzle on Spicy Olive Maple Balsamic Vinegar and Coratina Olive Oil. Finish off with croutons on top!

Last, but not least, comes another easy recipe that you can use either the bagels or English muffins for. We’ve already established that turkey and pumpkin are buddies. So how about making a Turkey Maple Sausage and Egg sandwich! Homemade sausage patties are really easy to make. And they freeze well too for ease of tossing together future breakfasts of champions!

img_8423Turkey Sausage Patties

  • ½ lb ground turkey
  • 1 tsp fresh sage leaves finely chopped
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp dried parsley
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp dried orange peel
  • ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tbs pure maple syrup

 Combine all ingredients with ground turkey.

Form into 8 patties. Brown in skillet on medium heat.

Flip and cook until well done (about 4 minutes per side depending on the size of your patties).

Suggested use: Toast either a Thomas’ Pumpkin Spice English Muffin OR Bagel. Top with turkey sausage, egg (scrambled or over easy) and sharp white cheddar cheese.

img_8431

Mmmmmm well there you have it! Just a few options that Hungry Jax came up with. If you gain anything (in addition to hunger) from this, remember to not limit your foods and flavors for just one meal. Pumpkin, bagels, English muffins, and eggs can be enjoyed throughout the day!

 

 

 

Many thanks to Thomas’ Breads for the sneak peek! Let us know what you guys think of these and what recipes you’re giving a while with them!

Food Adventures is on a never ending search for great foods.  Please comment on the article below and feel free to follow us on

INSTAGRAM HERE, or FACEBOOK HERE.    

 

thomas-pumpkin-spice-bagels

Jackie, aka “Hungry Jax” is 1/3 of the Food Adventures Crew & a foodie mom who uses her family as a test kitchen. Oh and she is always HUNGRY…