Archives for December 2016
From Daytime TV to The Stage At Blind Bob’s
You probably know Zac Pitts from his day job, as a host of Living Dayton on WDTN. But when he’s not hosting the daytime show, he’s been working with his band and they are getting ready for their debut show in Dayton. Recently we had the opportunity to talk with him and find out a little more about him. And here’s what Zac shared with us, “A lot of people I grew up with know I have passion for making music. I was always the kid in class drumming on text books and playing air guitar! My dream growing up was to be a rockstar! I don’t think a lot of people who watch Living Dayton know that about me.”
We asked him how his band got the name Flee the Valley?
The meaning of the band name comes from a discussion I’ve had with several people since I’ve moved back home to Dayton. It seems like everyone tries to leave the area because they don’t think Dayton is “good enough” or “there’s nothing to do”. However, by some force of nature, Dayton always has a way of pulling you back to it, and you’re ok with it! You don’t realize how great it is or how much you appreciate it until you leave it for a few years.
How did the members of your band meet?
The drummer, Matt Harm and I have known each other since 2nd grade. We both attended St. Anthony Elementary School in Dayton. In high school we both played in a pop punk band called “Banknine”. There’s absolutely no significance for the name… (for some reason it just sounded really cool to us). He’s our X-factor when it comes to taking a song to the next level with intricate beats.
I met Mike Davis through Matt. We occasionally would jam in high school. He’s definitely the one that brings an extra edge to our band’s sound.
Meeting Steven Willis is perhaps the coolest story…Over the summer my girlfriend and I went to the Blink-182 concert in Cincinnati. We we’re lucky enough to get VIP tickets that allowed us into the venue early to see the band sound check. If that wasn’t already cool enough, the band invited three fans to come on stage and help them sound check by performing their song, “All the Small Things”. I was picked to play guitar and sing…the person picked to play bass was Steven. We didn’t know each other at the time, but weeks later he started following me on twitter. We discovered we both lived in the same area and it just so happened the band I was starting still needed a bassist. He was the perfect fit. If that’s not fate, I don’t know what is!
How long have you been together? Describe your bands style and inspiration.
The band started in June of this year. The band wasn’t a complete until Steven arrived in late August. Our genre is considered pop-punk. It’s a genre all of us grew up listening and ultimately makes us feel like a kid! Some people say the genre is dead, but we feel like it’s coming back! We all grew up listening to bands like Green Day, New Found Glory, Fall Out Boy, Alkaline Trio and of course Blink-182. While we have a strong connection to those influences, we’re constantly looking for ways to stand out and be original. A perfect song in our eyes involves catchy lyrics with punchy guitars and loud drums!
Here’s a link to the lyric video of their first single, “Lose it All” :
We’ve been recording music and hope to release our album EP by February.
Can you share with us each band members favorite song?
Zac Pitts– Lead vocals and Guitar Blink-182: “Dumpweed”
Mike Davis-Lead Guitar & Vocals– Issues: “Issues”
Matt Harm- Drums– Foo Fighter’s: “Ever Long”
Steven Willis – Bass – Alkaline Trio: “Radio”
The band’s first show is at Blind Bob’s on Friday, December 23rd at 9:30pm. They’ll be playing with two other local bands, Nightbeast and You vs. Yesterday. For more info on Flee The Valley, follow them on Facebook, twitter and Instagram.
Passengers on a Troubled Interplanetary Flight
PASSENGERS- Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence take a ride on a less-than-fantastic-but-not-that-bad voyage in Passengers
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| “Man – is THIS where they store all the unsold copies of MOVIE 43 (I was in that, remember?!) Jim (Chris Pratt) and Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) take in the severity of the challenge facing them in a scene from director Morten Tyldum’s PASSENGERS. Credit: Jaimie Trueblood © 2016 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All rights reserved. |
WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen, Lawrence Fishburne … and about 5 unnecessary seconds of Andy Garcia
WRITER(S): Jon Spaihts
DIRECTOR(S): Morten Tyldum
DIRECTOR(S): Morten Tyldum
WEB SITE: http://www.passengersmovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is like many people – or more accurately, he is like all the other 4,999 passengers and 280+ crew members currently hibernating aboard the Avalon. What is the Avalon? It is a ship run by the Homestead company that is en route to Homestead II, a new colonized planet like several of the others that have popped up in the galaxy following what some consider to be the overcrowding of earth. And given that it will take 120 years to get there, Jim and his fellow passengers/crew should be asleep for awhile.
Jim, however, has woken up unexpectedly about 90 years too soon. Which, as you might imagine, is quite a dilemma.
Discovering that the only other person awake on the ship isn’t a person after all but an android bartender named Arthur (Michael Sheen), Jim is horrified at the prospect of dying alone aboard a ship with no potential help or rescue to be had. That is, however, he discovers the presence of Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), a writer from New York who was planning to travel to Homestead II for a year, hibernate, and return to earth to write about her experience after all her friends and family are long gone. There’s just one small problem that may complicate Aurora’s plans …
She’s awake now, too – and neither she nor Jim have any idea how to get back to sleep.
Jim, however, has woken up unexpectedly about 90 years too soon. Which, as you might imagine, is quite a dilemma.
Discovering that the only other person awake on the ship isn’t a person after all but an android bartender named Arthur (Michael Sheen), Jim is horrified at the prospect of dying alone aboard a ship with no potential help or rescue to be had. That is, however, he discovers the presence of Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), a writer from New York who was planning to travel to Homestead II for a year, hibernate, and return to earth to write about her experience after all her friends and family are long gone. There’s just one small problem that may complicate Aurora’s plans …
She’s awake now, too – and neither she nor Jim have any idea how to get back to sleep.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Chris Pratt fans; Michael Sheen fans; Jennifer Lawrence fans happy to have her doing anything that doesn’t involve the word “Hunger;” those who enjoy space travel movies in general and/or the idea of undertaking a journey and then having to overcome a problem; those who find the exploration of Pratt’s character’s life interesting
WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Those who will find the ending as a bit of a romantic drama cop-out; those looking for more of a supernatural/scientific element to the story; people who eviscerate plot holes (or at the very least, scenarios in films that would seem to be ridiculous or at the very least dumb for someone to find themselves in); people who hate what happens to characters of a certain ilk in movies like this all the time; single people who can’t find anyone on earth to spend their lives with
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? “Imagine the movie Gravity with less eye-popping visual, a romantic plot and more upbeat tone.” – That would be the bare-bones way one could summarize Passengers for someone interested in getting a general feel for the film, one which aspires to be inspirational with a “live in the moment message.”
Problem is, it’s final moments kind or blur that message while giving one of that essentially feels like the filmmakers giving in to something familiar and safe to wrap things up.
Pratt, like Lawrence, does an acceptable job in his role as a man facing a serious prospect of dying and dying alone once he awakens far too early on his journey. Unfortunately, the depth of that harrowing experience is offset with montages of general “woe is me” platitudes and conversations with a delightfully glib Michael Sheen. Keep in mind of course that you know what he is going to do about three scenes before he does at every turn and much of the build up that should be building in Passengers often fails to have more than an expected “and here we are” finish. Instead of building, many scenes feel like they are plateauing – a notion that will take away from one’s potential enjoyment. Much the same can be said for Lawrence’s character, which plays out more as a damsel in distress and the force that drives Pratt’s character to mature (and not in a vice-versa, mutual sense). Saying too much about Fishburne’s role would be to give away too much of a story where there is not much to dive too deeply into; all you need to know is that he serves a very specific – and convenient – purpose (a purpose which drove a fellow critic friend hilarious up a proverbial wall at the screening, mind you).Conveniences such as Fishburne’s role are the other major knock on Passengers attempt at smooth sailing, for there are just many things that seem and/or are illogical even in the world in which the film exists. (EVERYONE aboard the ship is asleep?! Not one person was kept awake with the option of going on a shift with another hibernating crew member? The ship is supposed to be this perfect that NOTHING could go wrong? Ever?!) Again, these aren’t enough to completely throw the film off course (pun intended), but they are enough to make one take pause.
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? “Imagine the movie Gravity with less eye-popping visual, a romantic plot and more upbeat tone.” – That would be the bare-bones way one could summarize Passengers for someone interested in getting a general feel for the film, one which aspires to be inspirational with a “live in the moment message.”
Problem is, it’s final moments kind or blur that message while giving one of that essentially feels like the filmmakers giving in to something familiar and safe to wrap things up.
Pratt, like Lawrence, does an acceptable job in his role as a man facing a serious prospect of dying and dying alone once he awakens far too early on his journey. Unfortunately, the depth of that harrowing experience is offset with montages of general “woe is me” platitudes and conversations with a delightfully glib Michael Sheen. Keep in mind of course that you know what he is going to do about three scenes before he does at every turn and much of the build up that should be building in Passengers often fails to have more than an expected “and here we are” finish. Instead of building, many scenes feel like they are plateauing – a notion that will take away from one’s potential enjoyment. Much the same can be said for Lawrence’s character, which plays out more as a damsel in distress and the force that drives Pratt’s character to mature (and not in a vice-versa, mutual sense). Saying too much about Fishburne’s role would be to give away too much of a story where there is not much to dive too deeply into; all you need to know is that he serves a very specific – and convenient – purpose (a purpose which drove a fellow critic friend hilarious up a proverbial wall at the screening, mind you).Conveniences such as Fishburne’s role are the other major knock on Passengers attempt at smooth sailing, for there are just many things that seem and/or are illogical even in the world in which the film exists. (EVERYONE aboard the ship is asleep?! Not one person was kept awake with the option of going on a shift with another hibernating crew member? The ship is supposed to be this perfect that NOTHING could go wrong? Ever?!) Again, these aren’t enough to completely throw the film off course (pun intended), but they are enough to make one take pause.
But if you’re looking for a movie with two pretty people trying to deliver an inspirational romantic drama, you could do worse than to hitch a ride with Passengers.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
Contrary to Rumors, Local Deli Not Closing!
We’ve been hearing rumors of Charlie’s Deli and Catering closing at the end of the year for a while now, but a quick phone call to owner Rod Vangas yesterday put an end to that. Rod said he and his wife Becky had been talking about it, but instead they’ve just recently hired a manager, which will allow them to take on a lighter roll and allow Charlie’s to continue serving up great sandwiches six days a week. Located at 429 Troy Street, this popular German influenced sandwich shop has been feeding the masses since 1964. They are located in Old North Dayton for a reason. Back in the early sixties, the area was not called Old North Dayton, but was nicknamed “Texas” or “Parma.” Many German immigrants and families from Eastern Europe occupied the neighborhood. Charlie’s Deli was created to match the demand for authentic German fare and imported items.
Started by Charlie Vangas, the deli is now owned by Charlie’s son Rod Vangas and his wife, 
Becky. They still hold on to tradition here, and even have a photo of Charlie with Channel 7 news legend Don Wayne. But the old school atmosphere is only the beginning. Charlies Deli and Catering prides itself on serving tasty sandwiches with freshly sliced lunch meats Monday thru Friday from 7:15 am – 6 pm. They are open Saturdays 9am – 3pm and closed on Sundays. The menu has a wide variety of tastes and you could spend a lunch hour just reading the uniquely named sandwiches (click here to see what we are talking about). The prices are a great value, with most sandwiches ranging from $4.50 – $6.75. We love the great choices of breads and buns for your sandwich, and appreciate that they use Springfield’s own Woeber’s Mustard varieties on many sandwiches.
Becky. They still hold on to tradition here, and even have a photo of Charlie with Channel 7 news legend Don Wayne. But the old school atmosphere is only the beginning. Charlies Deli and Catering prides itself on serving tasty sandwiches with freshly sliced lunch meats Monday thru Friday from 7:15 am – 6 pm. They are open Saturdays 9am – 3pm and closed on Sundays. The menu has a wide variety of tastes and you could spend a lunch hour just reading the uniquely named sandwiches (click here to see what we are talking about). The prices are a great value, with most sandwiches ranging from $4.50 – $6.75. We love the great choices of breads and buns for your sandwich, and appreciate that they use Springfield’s own Woeber’s Mustard varieties on many sandwiches.Whether your sub choice is a Reuben or a Cuban, you will be back for more. Even the pulled pork is dynamite sandwich. Want a goal for 2017? If you eat all of the sandwiches on the menu, you get a free Charlie’s Deli T-shirt ! We also enjoy many of the side dishes at Charlie’s, like the cole slaw, potato salad, and those wonderful pickled eggs.
With winter in full swing, now is a good time to enjoy the specialty soups at Charlie’s. Regulars flock to get Chicken Spaetzel Soup or the Wisconsin Cheese Soup. More traditional hot soups include country potato, vegetable beef, and ham and bean. Don’t forget about their chili! It is meaty, old fashioned and hits the spot. Want something hot but a little more filling? Try their famous cabbage rolls. The family recipe is a hit with the locals and is sure to please your taste buds.
“Santa, We’ve Been Naughty with Food”
Has this face been nice?
Dear Santa,
“You see us when we are sleeping, and know when we’re awake. /We know we better be good, but some shortcuts we just had to take.”
The Food Adventures Crew admits it. We made the naughty list. Today we come clean about our secret shortcuts we use from time to time while in our kitchens.
THE BIG RAGU HAS BEEN NAUGHTY:
The Big Ragu has a secret. It is a blemish on his Food Adventure career… Yes it is true, sometimes he fakes it. Sometimes, when in a pinch and he needs some marinara sauce, he turns to a locally jarred sauce. It is one of the only ones
The Big Ragu gets help on occasion
he trusts. Mamma DiSalvo’s Marinara Sauce has saved him in many a tight spots. From parties, to last minute luncheons, it has saved him from Manicotti to Mostaccioli. When faced with hours and hours of cooking down a home made spaghetti sauce, sometimes he gets a little help from Mamma! The sauce is the closest thing to The Big Ragu’s family recipe that he has tasted in a jar. Ahh and the stress it saves. Seriously, Foodies out there, this is the best jarred sauce in the WORLD. Honorable mention to 2 other sauces: Schiavione’s and Zappia’s, both made locally! I’m sorry Santa, shhhhhh no one knows!
HUNGRY JAX HAS BEEN NAUGHTY:
Jax has a secret. Yes, this impeccable home cook has a naughty short cut. Not even her Elf on a Shelf knows about this one. Her bad Food Adventure act? Sometimes she uses American cheese in my mac and cheese. To top it off, she uses
Jax Mac n Cheese
the Boar’s Head Sharp American Cheese instead of Kraft. (This is actually a great tip for you cooks out there who love a rich Mac n Cheese. Hint #2 add maple sausage crumbles into your mac n cheese.) Ahem .. Dear Santa, I am sorry I have been bad, and if you think I deserve coal in my stocking, I will use it for summer cookouts.
Adopt puppies like me through Miami Valley Pit Crew
CHEF HOUSE HAS BEEN NICE:
Dear Santa, I have been nice. I would never do anything like those culinary shortcuts, as you know. If you need a wooden spoon to spank the other two, you can borrow one of mine. Now to reiterate my Christmas list, let’s go over it again shall we Santa? To start with, I want a HUGE de-stemming machine, something that can really breakdown the peppers for my sauces. Also, an endless supply of empty glass bottles would be nice. And a cleaver, remember? A BIG cleaver. One last thing… how about one more little sweet puppy from the Miami Valley Pit Crew, who rescues local dogs? (Miami Valley Pit Crew is a great organization that has helped place dozens of dogs into loving homes. Locally owned, it is a great Dayton area charity to support this holiday season). That’s all, Santa. (Here is a tip though… the frozen gnocchi at Trader Joe’s is a great product if you don’t have time to make your gnocchi from scratch).
Have you been naughty or nice this year? Do you have any shortcut culinary confessions you want to share below?
Please comment and tell us about your naughty Food Adventures!
From all of us at Food Adventures, we with you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year.
Have you been naughty ?
Chef House needs some pepper peelers, Santa !
Big Ragu uses Mamma DiSalvos Jarred sauce when he doesnt have enough time for his own sauce
Chef House has been nice – she wants some more cutlery, Santa
Jax uses Boars Head instead of Kraft for her Mac n Cheese
Jax is a whiz in the DLM Culinary Center
Chef House at a Spicy Olive Cooking Class
Mac N cheese with Maple Sausage – Hungry Jax made it
More empty bottles please !
When it is gonna take hours and you got minutes.. Ragu fakes it
Manicotti from Ragus Kitchen – he didnt use DiSalvos Sauce this time
Kitchen Perfection
A scoop of Hungry Jax Mac N Chese
Dear Santa – maybe one more play pal for these guys?
Dear Santa – a pepper processor would be great, thanks !
Hello .. my name is Big Ragu and this is my manicotti
Sometimes Ragu is nice …
Being A Nerd Is Not Dead: Welcome D20!
This place is going to become a critical hit.
Anyone who has ever sat down for a session of games knows the drill. The players all gather around a table, or several tables, and start to spread out cards, dice, and meeples. Beverages are chilling in the fridge, and friendly banter is flowing. Then the games begin. Sometimes you sit down to a long, intense game of Arkham Horror. It could be a night of a few quick games of Ticket to Ride, Smash Up, or King of Tokyo. Or you look at the four games just mentioned and wondered what the hell are you playing. When you started gaming, it was Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Of course, when you started gaming the drink options were Mountain Dew or Coke. Board games have expanded in the last five years like craft beer started to in the mid-to-late 90’s. There are stores full of European style and other modern games like there are stores full of craft beer from all over the world. These two forces have been emerging in other cities, and have finally made it to Dayton in the form of D20: A Bar with Characters.
The story above is probably familiar to Andrew Sparks, co-owner of D20. He has been a game enthusiast for as long as he could remember. His D&D game was strong, and it grew into a lifelong love of games and gaming. It is something that his wife and co-owner Chrissy Sparks have in common. They also share a love of craft beer, something he developed during his time managing Belmont Party Supply. D20 emerged from the realization that if this was something their friends enjoyed doing, why not invite other people to do it as well? After another bar concept had fallen through, he found a vacant cell phone store on Whipp Rd. to be the perfect place for his new concept. Then Andrew and his crew went to work.
There is a little something for everyone!
When you walk in and look around, everything in the bar was hand selected and hand made by Andrew. Even the stacks and stacks of games were brought in from his collection. There is a handful that are donated, but the vast majority are his. The tap list, covering twenty taps in all, were also hand selected by them. Not a beer person? They have already thought of that. Knowing that a gaming place was going to attract a wide variety of people, they offer a selection of cocktails and mocktails. Mead and ciders are available, as are teas and other non-alcoholic options. You need to pace yourself when someone pulls out Carcassonne. If you are planning on playing through dinner, have no fear. The owners have worked that out as well. Their neighbors at Peking Garden are willing to walk next door to deliver, and a wood-fired, artisan pizza place will be moving in soon. During their soft opening, they had more than a few visits from Cousin Vinny’s.
Their soft opening was a huge success. So much so that the owners extended it an extra three hours to accommodate all of their guests. But they are not going to rest on the huge buzz of opening night. They have events planned soon. They are working with the Ohio Pathfinder Society (Dayton Chapter, of course) to set up some game nights at their venue. They are also planning their affairs, introducing people to games like Cards Against Humanity and Settlers of Catan. Andrew is looking for games that are easy to explain to new gamers, introducing them to games that are different that old standbys. Though if you want, Monopoly, Life, and Stratego are available for you to play. There are games for everyone.
Roll a twenty-sider to decide your next beer…
Andrew and Chrissy want to turn D20 into a gathering place. With comfortable couches and plenty of tables, seating and unique games to explore, they are well on their way. The air was thick with chatter, and the bartenders were keeping busy with patrons celebrating a victory or tending the sting of a narrow loss. Craft beer enthusiasts in the area can come in and enjoy a few pints, and gamers can sit down and either learn a new game, like Hive, or play a familiar one with friends. Either way, Dayton has a great new hang out south of town. Game on!
D20: A Bar with Characters is located at 2144 East Whipp Rd Kettering, OH 45420. You can contact them at (937) 221-9873. Information about the bar, their tap list, and coming events is listed on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
The Force Returns: Rogue One
The first stand-alone (kind of) story that is not considered an official episode in the Star Wars canon but one that fits in between episodes III and IV, Rogue One is centered around Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). Jyn is the daughter of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who has tried to leave his life as a top weapons engineer for the Empire behind.
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| “All right troops … We’ve got to get ready for those after Christmas sales quick!” Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones, center in vest), and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna, in brown jacket) prepare to head out on a mission that may change the galaxy – and their lives – in a scene from ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. Credit: Film Frame © 2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. |
WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whitaker, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Riz Ahmed, Jimmy Smits, Ian McElhinney, Wen Jiang, and the motion capture talents of Alan Tudyk
WRITER(S): Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy (screenplay); John Knoll and Gary Whitta (story by) and George Lucas (based on characters created by)
DIRECTOR(S): Gareth Edwards
DIRECTOR(S): Gareth Edwards
WEB SITE: http://www.starwars.com/films/rogue-oneHERE’S THE STORY: Unfortunately for our would-be defector and his family, Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) is determined to do his job and bring Galen back, which results in a young Jyn having to flee until she is rescued by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker). A former member of the Rebel army, Saw has become deemed an extremist who trusts very few people as he maintains his focus on taking down the Empire by any means necessary despite the great cost to him personally. But while many people are out searching for Jyn and Galen, there is a pilot named Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) that is soon one of the most sought after plans in the galaxy. Why? Because he apparently has seen the Empire’s plans to build a weapon – the infamous Death Star as it is known to longstanding Star Wars fans – capable of wiping out entire planets with just one blast. And since Galen is the man Orson needs to finish building it, it only makes sense why Jyn hasn’t seen her father in 15 years …
But once Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and K-2SO (performed for motion capture by the versatile Alan Tudyk) come to rescue Jyn in hopes of finding her father first, all the players and their roles come into focus. For if Cassian and K-2SO can’t stop Galen, the Death Star may live up to its name in horrifying fashion … Especially if the Empire gets its way. But what they don’t know, however, is the fact that since a version of the Death Star already exists, the expression “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is about to take on a whole new meaning in a battle for intergalactic supremacy …
But once Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and K-2SO (performed for motion capture by the versatile Alan Tudyk) come to rescue Jyn in hopes of finding her father first, all the players and their roles come into focus. For if Cassian and K-2SO can’t stop Galen, the Death Star may live up to its name in horrifying fashion … Especially if the Empire gets its way. But what they don’t know, however, is the fact that since a version of the Death Star already exists, the expression “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is about to take on a whole new meaning in a battle for intergalactic supremacy …
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Die-hard Star Wars fans – especially those who love extended battle scenes; little girls who are enjoying the female-friendly expansion of the franchise’s universe; people who love diversity in film; those who would rather stick with the familiar aspects of the Star Wars universe vs. the newer elements or those from the less-than-stellar prequel trilogy
WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Those who have never cared about the Star Wars franchise as this film won’t make them begin to do so now; casual Star Wars fans who will find it to be more of the same; those who hate films with a lot of long, droll verbal expositions; those who find the film to be full of battle sequences to make up for the lack of character development; anyone who hates a cookie-cutter fed to the audience hero
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Despite being a long at 2-hours plus epic, Rogue One delivers enough of what Star Wars fans enjoy to make this trip into a galaxy far, far away worthwhile in between episodes.
Rogue One doesn’t really do anything spectacularly well at all; instead, it stays the course by delivering justenough of what fans have come to enjoy to keep things moving in telling the story of how the Rebels were able to get the intelligence needed to later blow up its crowning achievement. Luna is capable enough at hitting his marks as is Jones in providing the Han Solo-like accompaniment to her young Skywalker-esque hero. (Don’t worry – there are no training montages as no Jedi-like training figure is to be found her for young Jyn’s journey.) Character-wise, the highlights are found no in our leads nor Mendelsohn’s rather paint-by-numbers villain but instead in the form of Wen Jiang and Donnie Yen. Whereas Jiang excels in playing the strong, dedicated gun toting soldier Baze Malbus, Yen brings out the strongest emotional connection to the audience as a blind, non-lightsaber toting Jedi* (*it’s never made clear if he truly is or not) who is certain to never forget that the force is with him even when things appear to be at their most bleak.
Throw in some homages to the previous films and cameos by some of the galaxy’s best-known and beloved characters and Rogue One lives up to its billing as a Star Wars story. It would just be a better story if it didn’t feel so familiar as you watch it. Whereas the ways in which our heroes cheat death and then formulate their plans will likely enthrall younger fans, they – just like the extended battle sequences – will feel like familiar territory to older, wiser viewers. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just a “we’re sticking with what we know works so we’re not re-inventing the wheel or in this case, lightsaber” thing.
But it’s a thing that works well enough that it will keep fanboys from going rogue and blasting yet another Lucasfilm production on the Internet in a galaxy far, far closer than the one he created.
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Despite being a long at 2-hours plus epic, Rogue One delivers enough of what Star Wars fans enjoy to make this trip into a galaxy far, far away worthwhile in between episodes.
Rogue One doesn’t really do anything spectacularly well at all; instead, it stays the course by delivering justenough of what fans have come to enjoy to keep things moving in telling the story of how the Rebels were able to get the intelligence needed to later blow up its crowning achievement. Luna is capable enough at hitting his marks as is Jones in providing the Han Solo-like accompaniment to her young Skywalker-esque hero. (Don’t worry – there are no training montages as no Jedi-like training figure is to be found her for young Jyn’s journey.) Character-wise, the highlights are found no in our leads nor Mendelsohn’s rather paint-by-numbers villain but instead in the form of Wen Jiang and Donnie Yen. Whereas Jiang excels in playing the strong, dedicated gun toting soldier Baze Malbus, Yen brings out the strongest emotional connection to the audience as a blind, non-lightsaber toting Jedi* (*it’s never made clear if he truly is or not) who is certain to never forget that the force is with him even when things appear to be at their most bleak.
Throw in some homages to the previous films and cameos by some of the galaxy’s best-known and beloved characters and Rogue One lives up to its billing as a Star Wars story. It would just be a better story if it didn’t feel so familiar as you watch it. Whereas the ways in which our heroes cheat death and then formulate their plans will likely enthrall younger fans, they – just like the extended battle sequences – will feel like familiar territory to older, wiser viewers. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just a “we’re sticking with what we know works so we’re not re-inventing the wheel or in this case, lightsaber” thing.
But it’s a thing that works well enough that it will keep fanboys from going rogue and blasting yet another Lucasfilm production on the Internet in a galaxy far, far closer than the one he created.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
Mystery Monday – December 19, 2016
Welcome to Week 45 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 44’s Mystery Photo is: The Falls at Charleston Fall Preserve. I took this photo on December 5, 2016 during the Miami County Parks Evening of Lights holiday event.
We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Miranda of Tipp City. You’ve won two tickets to see the Legendary light of Clifton Mill.
Enter here:
http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48
We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.
Thanks for playing and good luck!
Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 45:
Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.
Big Damn Holiday Jam at Therapy Cafe
This holiday jam session is a Dayton music tradition!
Dayton area musicians and fans are gathering at Therapy Cafe on Wednesday December 21st for the Big Damn Holiday Jam, a special homecoming jam session for the holidays. This unique event includes touring local musicians we don’t get to see too often, so this is definitely a “don’t miss” event!
Not only is there amazing music provided, there’s delicious food provided as well. The theme for this week is holiday appetizers. Feel free to bring a dish if you’d like! It’s a family gathering vibe, which is what makes it extra special.
You can even get some holiday shopping done! Abyss Collections, Candis Young and Jonathon Gale will have some lovely creations for your last minute holiday gifts.
Most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing The Family favorites jam together, including Chris Houser, Dino Dimitrouleas, Jeremy Canonico, Ronald Frost, Jonny Dread, Eric Henry, Melissa Nicole Henry, Anthony SaxTone Arrington, Phil Bradley-Hutchison, Marcus Cornwell and Alex Delk. They’ve even have Blues favorite Bob Dellaposta at this session, to kick off the evening’s festivities with an acoustic hour from 8pm to 9pm.
How to go? Therapy Cafe on 3rd St downtown, in the Cannery District.
Doors and music start at 8pm.
Tickets $6 or $5 with a non perishable food item at the door.
New Years Day Brunch at Fifth Street Brewpub
Bloody Mary Showdown Returns
Are you a Bloody Mary Fan? If your answer is yes, better mark your calendar for Sunday, Jan 15th, as that’s the day the Bloody Mary Showdown returns to the Coliseum at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Last held in October of 2014, defending champion MacKenzie Manley of Mack’s Tavern will be back to defend her title. Her winning cocktail was Mack’s BBQ Burger Mary- a smokey, hearty, beefed up BBQ bloody mary that has a spicy sriracha salted rim and garnished with a sweet lil smokey wrapped in yummy caramelized bacon slice.
Second place was claimed by Tim Gross, representing McGillicutty’s Pub in Kettering. Tim shared with us that he started out as a customer, then worked the door, helped at as a bar back and eventually learned to bartend at the neighborhood tavern. He only works on Sunday’s and that shift helped him perfect his drink, which he calls Tim’s Sunday Vacation, garnished with a small salad, including celery, olive and green beans.
The ladies of Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, which serves up brunch every weekend on Fifth Street, and were picked by many as the favorites heading into the contest, took third place with a bloody Erin Welch called the Radical Tomato.
This year’s Showdown will be fueled by Svedka Vodka which will give the bartenders a choice from their traditional 
vodka or one of their flavored products, as well as Whole Foods, which will be providing some of the ingredients for the bartenders, like limes, celery, tomato juice and a few others. Think you’ve got what it takes to win the Best Bloody Mary bragging rights?
The 2nd Bloody Mary Showdown takes place on Saturday, October 11th from 11am to 2pm at The Coliseum at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. There are two ways you can participate in this event: you can compete for the title of “Best Bloody Mary in Dayton” or you can judge the entries!
Think your Bloody Mary has what it takes? PROVE IT!
To enter the competition, click here. There is a $25 entrance fee and we will provide you with vodka, sample cups, celery, sip sticks, ice and a covered table. You bring your own bloody mary mix and any special garnishes you’d like.
What can you win? First place gets $300, will be featured on MostMetro.com and wins a 3 month advertising contract as well as having bragging rights for a year!
Want to judge the entries? Your opinion counts, participants will vote for Dayton’s Best Bloody Mary! You’ll get to sample at least six 3oz cocktails and enjoy some brunch snacks . You can purchase a judging package online for $25, or if available at the door for $30 from 11: 30-2pm. VIP tickets will allow for early entry at 11am and include a VIP Swag Back for $40.
Proceeds from the Bloody Mary Showdown this year will benefit the Greater Dayton LGBT Center, who work to enhance the lives of sexual minorities in Dayton and the Miami Valley.
TEDxYouth@Dayton Announces Student Speakers for 2017
TEDxYouth@Dayton organizers have released the speaker lineup for the 2017 event, which will take place on Friday, March 3, 2017, in the Wright State University Student Union. Sixteen students between the ages of 14 and 19 from six high schools and one university were chosen in citywide auditions. Applications for performers, also aged 14-19, are still open until Dec. 31; click on the TEDxYouth page to apply.
“A group of committed teachers, administrators and volunteers associated with five schools got TEDxYouth@Dayton started in 2015,” said TEDxYouth@Dayton chairperson Rachel Graves, “For the second youth event, we had students from more communities, including home schoolers, who auditioned. TEDxDayton patrons have supported our efforts to bring the TED model of ‘ideas worth sharing’ to the youth of the Dayton area.”
The theme for TEDxYouth@Dayton 2017 is “Level Up.” Each student will offer ideas about how to move beyond current thinking – or level up – on a diverse range of topics. Representing the spirit of collaboration within this generation, three pairs and one trio will speak at the 2017 event.
Speakers include:
• Lorien Chavez (17, Yellow Springs), Alexis Jackson (17, Chaminade Julienne) and Lana Katai (17, The Miami Valley School), who will discuss appropriation vs. appreciation.
• Keress Weidner (16, Kettering Fairmont), helping us look at gender in new ways.
• Aaron Lewis (17, Dayton Early College Academy), with a personal story about how robotics bridged some big cultural differences.
• Brennan Harlow (16, Chaminade Julienne), sharing thoughts on the unanticipated effects of addiction.
• Caroline Elliot (15, Kettering Fairmont), who has some fascinating speculations about dreaming.
• Satya Morar (15, The Miami Valley School), with lessons you can learn from Star Wars.
• Simra Ahmed (14, The Miami Valley School), suggesting how we might build Democracy 2.0.
• Meg Schwieterman and Caroline Lunne (16, Archbishop Alter), who will tell how they created permission for students at their school to pursue their own brand of fashion.
• Noah Meyer and Spencer Mullins (17, Chaminade Julienne), sharing their story about peer mentoring and discovering connections.
• Ariel Scales and Iyana Smith (17, Dayton Early College Academy), who will demonstrate what you don’t know about isms.
• Vidur Prasad (19, University of Michigan), talking about his research on how to use traffic cameras to reduce drunk and distracted driving.
The TEDxYouth@Dayton event is open to the public; however, each potential attendee must register on the tedxdayton.com Web site. Applicants will be selected on a rolling, person-by-person basis. Most decisions will be made by January 31, or until space is filled. A $10 cash donation is suggested for attendance; these donations will be collected on the day of the event.
One hundred seats are reserved for those who will be 14 to 19 years old in 2017; each may reserve a seat for an accompanying adult, if desired. Fifty seats are reserved for adults who are not connected to a specific youthful attendee. Youth under 18 must provide a medical emergency form if not attending with a legal guardian. Volunteer opportunities are available for youth and adults; apply on the Web site.
TEDx is a global program of independently organized events licensed by TED. Visit www.tedxdayton.com or follow TEDxDayton on Facebook or Twitter for more information.
Dayton Book Fair Awards $30,000 in Grants
Two years ago the The Dayton Book Fair realigned their charitable mission, to select three local non-profit organizations to benefit each year. Their volunteers work year round putting in thousands of hours collecting, sorting and prepping books for the four day fall sale. This year’s sale was well organized, well attended and quite profitable, based on the donation presented this morning to the 3 charities.
Larkin Vonalt, Executive Director of the Dayton Book Foundation presents checks. Photo by Bill Franz
“We’re thrilled to be able to give each of our 3 organizations a $10,000 donation this year,” said Larkin Vonalt, executive director of the Book Fair Foundation. “Through the community’s generosity in both donating books for the sale— and their patronage of the Book Fair we’re able to re-home tens of thousands of books and help support important small area non-profits.”
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The three recipients- FilmDayton, K12 Gallery & TEJAS and the Learning Tree Farm each remarked on how this funding allows them to actual under take a new project, not just pay the electric bill.
The Book Fair Foundation is currently accepting applications for 3 new beneficiaries of the 2017 Book Fair through December 31, details are on their website. Larkin shared they already have 12 pallets of books sorted and ready for the 2017 fair, even though the location will move, due to the Fairgounds sale.
It’s Time To Get “TIEBER TOUGH”
That nasty C word. I hear it and just shake my head. Especially when I hear it associated with a women who is nothing but kind and strong and a marvelous mother.
Suzie Tieber, mom to Sydney and Chase, wife of Steve and co-owner of The Dublin Pub has been diagnosed with Cancer. She’ll be undergoing a double mastectomy on Wednesday morning.
Sydney’s 7th grade girls basketball team at Bellbrook Middle School was to play Preble Shawnee HS/MS tonight and the plan was to present her with a special shirt made for her hospital stay five minutes before the game began. They team was to then unveil as a surprise the special ‘Tieber Tough’ jersey which they would all wear and dedicate the game to Suzie.
Additionally, over 300 T-shirts were made with the same ‘Tieber Tough‘ logo that friends and family will wear, sending pictures & messages to Suzie on her “Lets Support Suzie Tieber” Facebook event page. The shirts were donated by Ty Camacho from Miami Valley Team Sports and a donation has been asked for each shirt.
But alas Mother Nature put a kabash on that plan and the game was cancelled tonight due to the snow.
But let’s still show Suzie we support her and post the Tieber Tough image on your page in support of Suzie, who is indeed Tieber Tough. And if you happen to someone who prays, some kind words to the big guy to support her and her family through tomorrow’s surgery and her healing ahead would be appreciated.
You can also remind her she is TIEBER TOUGH through a custom t-shirt, designed by Nichole Rustad and generously donated by Ty Camacho.
TO ORDER SHIRTS PLEASE COPY THIS AND PASTE
then email to Steve: st[email protected]
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Address (if need to be mailed):
Shirt 1
Men, Woman, Child Shirt:
Size:
Shirt 2 repeat as needed….
Each shirt is $25 and all proceeds will be donated by Steve in Suzie’s name to the Pink Ribbon Girls, http://
Once you place your order, please immediately pay through PayPal to: PayPal.me/Tieber
NOTE! If you don’t have a PayPal account, it is easy to set up. If you don’t want to go through PayPal, still complete the form to order your shirt and you can reimburse Steve at a later time.
Email pics of you wearing the shirt, along with a special message to Suzie, to Steve at [email protected] so he can put together a special gift to Suzie from her family and friends.
The “TIEBER TOUGH, Let’s Support Suzie Tieber” campaign has raised over $3,000 for Dayton’s local Pink Ribbon Girls, an organization that devotes unwavering support helping women fighting breast cancer. If you’d like to make a donation in honor of Suzie, or one of your friends or family, it would be greatly appreciated!
Clifton Mill Free Carriage Rides and Other Things ‘Milling’ About
The ‘Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill’ honors the ‘Children’s Medical Center Ambassadors’ by offering free carriage rides to our guests Wednesday, December 14, 2016.
For many years now the owners of Clifton Mill have had a wonderful relationship with our friends at Children’s Medical Center. During the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill season, we welcome Children’s Ambassadors to be our honorary ‘switch flippers’ which turn on the almost 4 million lights.
This is our way of adding additional ‘light’ to the lives of those battling health issues.
In honor of the ‘Ambassadors’ we are offering free carriage rides to our guests Wednesday evening, December 14.
WARM THOUGHTS: A reminder with the colder weather approaching, which we think is the best time to experience the lights, to dress appropriately and warm up with a cup of our world famous hot chocolate.
RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT BIG SUCCESS: Our annual Relay for Life Cancer Survivors Night raised $2,500 for the American Cancer Society in our area. We thank all who participated and many prayers to those who fought or are fighting a cancer battle.
THE LEGENDARY LIGHTS OF CLIFTON MILL open each evening at 5 pm. Precisely at 6 pm, with the flip of one switch, nearly 4 million lights come on at once transforming the night into a shimmering world of fantasy.
For over a quarter of a century Clifton Mill has been lighting up the winter holidays. What began as a simple idea of stringing a few strands of lights on the historic mill for the enjoyment of family and friends has become one of the largest outdoor holiday displays for miles around. The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill now features close to 4 million lights which decorate the mill, the trees, the river banks and everything else we can reach. There is a synchronized lights and music show, which occurs hourly each night, that is truly breathtaking.
Also 29 years ago, the owners began work on a miniature village with scaled down versions of some of Clifton’s historic buildings built by an artisan in Pennsylvania. There has been a new addition each year by a variety of artists and today it is a sight to behold with street after miniature street of scaled down homes and businesses, a tiny Fire Dept. putting out a “house fire”, an outdoor train, a 1950s drive in theatre, a County Fair and much more, all lit up for the holidays!
Clifton Mill has over 3000 examples of Santa Claus on display dating from as far back as 1850. Some are toys, some are advertising items, some are weird, some are elegant, all are interesting.
The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill is open nightly from the day after Thanksgiving until January 1. It is an outdoor event and is weather permitting. Call before you come in bad weather.
Admission is $10 per person for everyone age 7 and older. Concession Food available. On Dec.8, 2016 a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Clifton is in Greene County, three miles east of Yellow Springs on State Rt. 343, six miles south of Springfield on State Rt. 72, and three miles north of Cedarville on Rt. 72.
Again, for more information visit www.cliftonmill.com or call 937-767-5501.
Montgomery County Awards Grants to 6 Local Artists
Six Montgomery County artists have been awarded grants for professional development opportunities through a new program funded by the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District and administered by Culture Works.
The Artist Opportunity Grant program, announced earlier this year, invites individual artists of all disciplines to apply for funding to support career-enhancing professional development opportunities, such as residencies, conferences, and exhibitions. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of artists, arts administrators, educators, and community leaders.
Based on the funding recommendations made by the panelists at a public meeting in mid-November, $11,022 will be awarded to this year’s grantees: Nicholaus Arnold, gallery director at The Blue House Gallery and an instructor of printmaking and photography at several local institutions; Glenna Jennings, a visual artist and assistant professor at the University of Dayton; Ashley Jonas, co-founder of The Blue House Gallery and an adjunct professor; Gina Handy Minyard, founding artistic director of Magnolia Theatre Company and theatre magnet director at Stivers School for the Arts; Christin Rondeau, a soprano, voice teacher, and director of the St. George’s Orff Ensemble; and Francis Schanberger, a prolific photographer.
Opportunities being funded by this grant cycle include local and international exhibitions, two artist residencies, and professional training in music and theatre. Minyard received funding to pursue certification in the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique, which isn’t currently taught anywhere in Dayton. “As actors, we are always looking for new ways to uncover truth and bring that to the characters we portray,” she said. “The opportunity to learn and share this technique helps me to attract artists who are looking for professional training, as well as bring my students at Stivers another way of approaching a role.”
Matt Dunn, Executive Director of MCACD, emphasized that the panelists considered not only the quality of applicants’ work but also evidence of their commitment to strengthening the local network of artists and the community as a whole. “Since this was the first year of the grant program, it was important to the panelists that we set a standard of excellence,” he said. “Our six grantees are individuals who are not only producing incredible artistic work but who are constantly challenging and expanding the role of art in our community.”
