Archives for June 2017

‘Circus 1903’ Review – Victoria Theatre Association –Under the Big Top

June 16, 2017 By Russell Florence, Jr.

In the mood to embrace the fantastical?

Step right up as the Victoria Theatre Association concludes its 2016-2017 Premier Health Broadway Series with a crowd-pleasing Midwest premiere of “Circus 1903” at the Schuster Center.

Circus 1903

A nostalgic ode to P.T. Barnum’s legacy and influence, “Circus 1903,” which premiered in Australia last year and had its American debut in Los Angeles in February, is not a play or musical. Arriving in town mere days after the 71st annual Tony Awards, the show may feel jarringly out of place to theatergoers accustomed to traditional Broadway Series programming. Nonetheless, it is a very entertaining and flashy theatrical depiction of a traveling circus, showcasing marvelous international talent fully prepared to amaze and astound with vibrant, death-defying displays under the direction of Neil Dorward (“The Illusionists”).

Act One standouts include dynamically jaw-dropping contortionist Senayet Assefa Amara (The Elastic Dislocationist) and lovely aerialist Elena Gatilova (Lucky Moon).

In the far stronger and better paced Act Two, exuberant speed juggler Francois Borie (The Great Gaston), skillful acrobats Anny Laplante and Andrei Kalesnikau (Les Incredibles), and handsome foot jugglers Alejandro and Ricardo Rossi (Fratelli Rossi) notably provide breathtaking, encore-worthy routines of astounding athleticism and showmanship.

The entire proceeding is admirably guided by the grandfatherly charm, narrative magnetism and quick wit of David Williamson as Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade. Williamson’s pleasant banter with impressionable youngsters bolsters the show’s heartwarming nature.

A show within a show

By and large, a lack of story structure is an issue and the show-within-a-show concept would be better served in a one-act format. Even so, the superb talent, mostly derived of generations of circus families from Mexico to Russia, and unique puppetry, under the direction of Mervyn Millar, are worth the price of admission. In fact, the show’s two puppet elephants are the brainchild of London-based Significant Object, the creative puppeteers behind acclaimed drama “War Horse.” Todd Edward Ivins’ eye-catching set, Angela Aaron’s attractively colorful turn of the century costumes, Paul Smith’s dazzlingly evocative lighting, and composer Evan Jolly’s dramatic score are added benefits fueling the captivating look and feel of a bygone era.

It can be argued “Circus 1903” is a programming option more inclined to suit a Las Vegas hotel than a Broadway touring house, but it’s certainly a worthwhile, family-friendly, thrill-inducing spectacle.

“Circus 1903: The Golden Age of Circus” continues through June 18 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 pm. Act One: 50 minutes; Act Two: 45 minutes. Tickets are $30-$97. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage (937) 228-3630 or visit ticketcenterstage.com.

Circus 1903 flies into the Schuster Center!

New Local Salsa & Sauce is “Fresh in a Jar”

June 16, 2017 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Chef Marshall Bartley with his “Fresh in a Jar” Sauce and Salsa

Remember, you heard it here first. Dayton has a new local sauce company, specializing in Salsa and Spaghetti Sauce. Their jarred items should be available in late July. The product line is is called “Fresh in a Jar.”

Made by a local chef, and canned by a local manufacturer, this new product is looking to be the next big thing in Dayton’s long line of food favorites. The Food Adventures Crew were lucky enough to get a VIP personal taste test of the products, and we think they are fantastic.

THE MAN BEHIND THE SAUCES:

Miami Valley Chef, Marshall Bartley is the man behind Dayton’s “Red Headed Sauce Company.” He is a Centerville native, but has traveled the U.S. working in the culinary world.

His past history in the kitchen includes:

-Studying at the National Center for Hospitality Studies at Sullivan College in Louisville
-Opened up the first Bravo Restaurant on Sawmill Rd
–Wetherington Golf Club West Chester
-Culinary Arts Schoool in Ashland
-Cooking stints in Annapolis , MD
–NCR Country Club
-Restaurants in Savannah, GA
-Today, he works for a local catering company as well as promoting “Fresh in a Jar”

All Natural, Gluten Free Salsa – Hints of Roasted Garlic and Cilantro

Sounds like he has been a few Food Adventures of his own…

Marshall is also proud to note that this year makes him 8 years sober from alcohol. Things are going great and he couldnt be happier with his future.

Let’s explore the curent salsas and sauces offered by the Chef. Not only are they all natural, they are gluten free as well. Read the side of the jar and see the simple ingredients.

Here are our “MUST EATS” for the Red Headed Sauce Company’s “Fresh in a Jar” Product Line…

Big Ragu’s New Favorite Salsa

MUST EATS FROM “FRESH IN A JAR”

—FRESH IN A JAR’S MILD SALSA:
The secret here is using the Stanislaus tomatoes. He uses them in all three of his products. It priduces a rich, deep taste that is ind What immediately strikes us is the fresh taste of the salsa. You would swear it had just been made a few minutes ago. Also, note that this product has a 2 year shelf life.

—FRESH IN A JAR’S MEDIUM HOT SALSA:
This is it, this is the big one. This is the salsa that blew us away. We predict this will be the star of the product line. Just enough heat to light you up, and just enough good flavor to pull you back in for just one more dip. The Big Ragu will go on record as saying “this is the best salsa from a jar that he has ever had.” For Ragu the secret to the deliciousness of the sauce is that the onion flavor is very distant. In fact, the salsa has more of faint roasted garlic hint, instead of a sharp onion flavor you might find in other salsas.

Cooking up pasta to test the sauce

—FRESH IN A JAR’S MARINARA:
Again we taste the difference of the Stanislaus tomatoes. Many sauces in a jar are fairly plain, in the old traditional style which is very peasant style. You end up having to doctir up the jarred sauce with spices tobring out some flavor. With “Fresh in a Jar” Marinara, the taste is similar to the gourmet upscale restaurants like Brio Tuscan Grille, Carrabbas and Bravo. An americanized, gourmet take on sauce, bursting with spices, so you do not need to add a thing. It is already doctored up. This saucehas quickly climbed the Big Ragu’s list into the top 2 or 3. We have never tasted anything like it. It is very bold, very fresh, and very flavorful. Even the color of the sauce looks different than the other jarred sauces.

CHARITY TIES:
Chef Marshall Bartley has always believed in giving back to the community. He has decided to give a portion of his sales to Dayton charity the Pink Ribbon Girls. The Pink Ribbon Girls give rides to and supply meals to those who are sick with breast cancer. Due to treatment, many cannot perform daily activities. So Pink Ribbon Girls even clean houses for the families as well. It is a great organization, and we are happy to see Red Headed Sauces teaming with them.

Spaghetti with Fresh in a Jar Marinara

FUNDRAISING PARTNERSHIPS:
Red Headed sauces is also offering a plan for schools, groups and organizations that need to raise money. By selling jars of the sauces, any group or team can raise funds for their cause. For fundraising opportunities, email Chef Bartley

Be on the lookout for these sauces in various local outlets or send an email to the chef to place a direct order.

We are expecting big success with Fresh in a Jar, and are sure you will love the taste too.

Want more scoop on the best eats of Dayton? Please follow Food Adventures on Facebook with the over 7200 fans that interact daily, and thousands more that follow our weekly articles right here on Dayton Most Metro.

A Little Chips and Salsa – the Medium hot is AMAZING

Dippin and bloggin

Try this sauce on for size –

Fresh for sure

Simple way to kick up cheese nachos

The Glo Run 5K

June 16, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

The Glo Run is a night time 5K thru a Neon Luau themed glowing wonderworld of a course. You will be taking selfies galore in front of huge glowing pin

WTUE’s Breakfast with The Beatles

June 16, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

This Father’s Day, enjoy the 16th Annual Breakfast with the Beatles live-broadcast on 104.7 WTUE-FM from 9:00 AM to Noon around the fountains in Lincoln Park Civic Commons

Johansson and Company Turn Up the Funny in Rough Night

June 15, 2017 By Tabari McCoy

“The untold story of Destiny’s stepchildren is a tragic one, indeed …” Alice (Jillian Bell, second from left in blue dress) takes center stage while her best friends Jess (Scarlett Johansson), Blair (Zoë Kravitz) and Frankie (Ilana Glazer) strut their stuff in a scene from ROUGH NIGHT. Credit: Macall Polay © 2016 CTMG Inc. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Zoë Kravitz, Illena Glazer, Paul W. Downs, Ryan Cooper, Dean Winters, Enrique Muriano, Colton Haynes, Bo Burnham, Demi Moore and Ty Burrell

WRITER(S): Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs

DIRECTOR(S): Lucia Aniello

WEB SITE: http://www.roughnightmovie.com/site/HERE’S THE STORY: Jess (Scarlett Johansson), Alice (Jillian Bell), Frankie (Ilana Glaser) and Blair (Zoë Kravitz) were the best of friends in college. But now, they’re grown up and dealing with their own problems which is why Jess’ upcoming marriage to Peter (Paul W. Downs) are a perfect opportunity for the four of them to reunite and blow off some steam down in Miami. After all, Frankie is an unemployed activist, Blair is going through a rough patch of her own and Alice is, well Alice seems to enjoy her job as an elementary school teacher.

So, once the foursome meets up Jess’ other best friend, peppy Australian Pippa (played with Kate McKinnon with the right amount of authenticity and audacity), the group looks to have the makings of a perfect weekend.

Then the stripper (Ryan Cooper) Blair hires shows up … and there’s an incident. (If you watch the trailer, you’ll know what it is.) What follows is more than enough to live up to the movie’s title – and the new champion of the craziest comedy of 2017 thus far.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Anyone who liked the movie Bridesmaids; fans of Broad City; Kate McKinnon fans

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who will be uncomfortable with the lesbian subject matter; those who hate watching women behave badly;

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Women can be and are funny. If you are still having that dumb debate in your head and/or stuck on all the controversy with Kathy Griffin or Amy Schumer, hopefully you will get your mind right and stop having that idiotic notion run through your head.

And if that doesn’t do, how about this – Rough Night is the funniest female ensemble cast movie since Bridesmaids (if not more so) and possibly the best comedy (thus far) of 2017.

Rough Night hits all the beats one needs to hit in modern comedy: the characters are not one-dimensional, they play the wacky moments as if they were serious moments and play off each other perfectly. Likewise, the jokes are sharp, exploits each characters’ foibles expertly and the inherent silliness forces you to become vested in the story and its outcome.

The thing that separates the film from the pack, however, is the clever nature of the writing combined with the snappy, fully committed timing of the cast. Throw in the slight role reversal shown by Downs (who co-wrote the script with director Lucia Aniello) and his male counterparts – to say more would put a damper on watching the performance – and the film is as sharp a comedy to release this year. McKinnon, in keeping up with her usual track record, steals the show (this time by playing things more straight – no pun intended – than usual) while Bell shows she can be less in-your-face with a character that is more human than her recent work. Johannson might be the biggest winner, however, for the woman who has convincingly played both strong, sexy super heroes and enigmas proves her comedic chops as a normal, stressed out person just trying to live her life.

If you and your friends are looking for a good way to enjoy living your lives together, seeing Rough Night is a great way to guarantee avoiding one.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

Dive Bar Thursday: King’s Point Pub

June 15, 2017 By Brian Petro

Feast thine eyes on King’s Point Pub!

Heated discussions have occurred among friends about what constitutes a dive bar. The issues of size, food served, the motivation for going, and even spirit selection has been part of the debate. One thing that came out over time was the bar’s location. It had to be part of a neighborhood or some other small community. That could make it a biker bar, a Bengals bar, or a bar that most of Belmont are seen in after the end of a shift. Certain areas of town just do not lend themselves well to having a dive bar. They are too busy. In the center of it all. A place to go for the whole city to party, not just the people who live in that area. Some bars, like the Time Out Cavern, require a little extra effort to go there. There is one that, if you are not paying attention, you will miss as you head down Wilmington Pike. And King’s Point Pub is not a place you want to miss.

King’s Point Pub (4660 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH 45440) is a well-hidden prize located in the nearly empty Wilmington Height’s Shopping Center. Unless you know it is back there, it may be difficult for you to find. Based on the times that we have been there, plenty of people are finding their way back to this incredible space. The patio that greets you is a fair size, with plenty of room to sit outside and enjoy warm summer nights. Possibly with a game of cornhole. Yes, the patio is really that big. If cornhole is not your game, head inside to the roomy interior for plenty of dart boards and a few pool tables. Summer dart leagues are just starting to get tossing and keep an ear out for the cornhole leagues to begin. They currently are playing some Luck of the Draw games on Sundays at 2 PM, where you put your name into the hat and hope you get a good partner. They have been known in the past to hold the cornhole games inside if there was bad weather. Yes, the interior of the bar is really that big. One their neighboring party supply store shut down, they purchased the space and added it to their pub. There are a few pool tables inside for good measure.

Beer? Cocktails? What is your pleasure?

They have a healthy respect for the craft beer scene but are not going to deny a person a cold Coors Light if that is what they are after. They have eight taps ready and waiting for thirsty patrons, typically split between old favorites and the new brews in town. It is not a surprise to those in the know when they host a tap takeover by a brewery every now and then. If you prefer your beer out of a bottle or a can, they have a broad selection of those as well. Their liquor selection does not offer any incredibly rare or unusual. It does offer anything you could possibly want to drink while playing any one of a number of games there. While they do not have a cocktail menu to look over, most of the bartenders there have their own specials they offer to patrons. And if you get hungry from all that dart throwing and bean bag tossing, Troni Brothers Pizza is right next store and ready to help! They offer pizza (of course), wings, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. They will even deliver it to their neighbors! That is some service.

One of the many factors that make a dive bar popular is being an integrated part of their community. The people there know who is coming in and when, and what drink to have ready for them when they arrive. They give back to the people who keep their doors open in ways that go beyond just discounts on

Darts for charity? King’s Point may be open to that idea.

drinks or a place to come when difficulties roll in. They support the causes that are important to the patrons. The staff gets to know the patrons, and the patrons get to know each other. King’s Point Pub is no different. They have a board of all the causes they have helped, including the Wounded Warrior Project (it is a bar that very much appreciates the military), being a top fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Awareness, and various other projects around the community. Speaking with patrons and employees alike, everyone is very friendly and helpful, willing to chat with strangers about this little home away from home. They also support national and local bands by hosting them at their venue (did I mention the place is large?), with acts like Mad Hatter and Full Frontal showing up to entertain.

Taking a few steps off the beaten path is worth it. That is where you find all of the most interesting things. King’s Point Pub offers a great atmosphere with delightful pizza and entertainment for everyone in the family. Whether you go to root on THE Ohio State Buckeye or try your luck at corn hole, this is a pub that is well worth the effort to get to know.

Help The Mural Machine Transform South Park

June 14, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

The Mural Machine is back to beautify another corner of our city and they need your help. The South Park Mural Painting is your chance to help transform an up-and-coming corridor from a graffiti-ridden eyesore to a beautiful mural that advertises the wonderful South Park community.

For those interested in attending the South Park Mural Painting, the event takes place June 17th at 10AM. The Mural Machine and volunteers will be gathering on Wayne Avenue, near Hickory Street, to beautify this historic neighborhood. Clean up of the area and the first opportunity to help paint a portion of the mural starts at 10AM, with a second opportunity to paint from 2-4PM. Anyone unable to attend during these two time slots but still have an interest in painting a portion of the mural may contact The Mural Machine to make arrangements.

“We have to continue to take care of our communities and now’s your chance to help beautify and celebrate the history of one our oldest districts,” said Weyrich.

“South Park is an amazing community that just nine years ago was recognized nationally for its commitment to rehabilitation,” said Christopher “Etch” Weyrich, cofounder of The Mural Machine. “With this mural project you have an opportunity to contribute a piece of yourself to the constant rehab process. It will also be featured as part of the South Park Garden Tour on June 24th!”

The Mural Machine was founded by Tiffany Clark and Christopher “Etch” Weyrich in order to create and celebrate local, large, public art works.

This is free event that is open to anyone of any age! For more information check out our Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/226238074546754/ or visit Facebook.com and search for South Park Mural Painting.

Event Details:

South Park Mural Painting

Saturday, June 17th from 10-4

Wayne Avenue near Hickory Street

Strong Summer Line-Up at THE NEON

June 14, 2017 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Most Metro!

We’ve got a lot of films to pack in this summer…so we’re moving right along this week! If you still need to see CHURCHILL, Thursday will be your last chance to see it at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open PARIS CAN WAIT – the new film by Eleanor Coppola (June is for the Coppolas! We’ll open Sofia Coppola’s new film BEGUILED later this month and we’ll even bring back a sparkling wine from Francis Ford Coppola’s vineyard at the end of the month). We’ll hold onto MY COUSIN RACHEL for another week.

Synopsis for PARIS CAN WAIT: “Eleanor Coppola’s feature film directorial and screenwriting debut at the age of 81 stars Academy Award nominee Diane Lane as a Hollywood producer’s wife who unexpectedly takes a trip through France, which reawakens her sense of self and her joie de vivre. Anne (Lane) is at a crossroads in her life. Long married to a successfully driven but inattentive movie producer (Alec Baldwin), she finds herself taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with a business associate of her husband (Arnaud Viard). What should be a seven-hour drive turns into a journey of discovery involving mouthwatering meals, spectacular wines, and picturesque sights.” (Sony Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

In last week’s NEON Newsletter, I mentioned that “Tickets are flying” for A VERY SORDID WEDDING! I wasn’t kidding. As I write this paragraph, we only have 3 tickets left at our box office…so we’ve added a second screening. “It’s 2015, seventeen years after Peggy tripped over G.W.’s wooden legs and died in SORDID LIVES, and life has moved into the present for the residents of Winters, Texas. Sissy Hickey (Dale Dickey) is reading the Bible, cover to cover, trying to make some kind of sense out of what it really says about gay people. Her niece Latrelle Williamson (Bonnie Bedelia) has divorced her husband Wilson (Michael MacRae) who has taken up with a hot young gold digger (Katherine Bailess). Latrelle’s now out and proud gay son Ty (Kirk Geiger) is on his way back to town with a black man (T. Ashanti Mozelle) and news of their own. Her sister LaVonda (Ann Walker) is still cussin’ and drankin’ and is being blackmailed to sit with the sick and afflicted…As the sordid saga continues, the cast of colorful characters are all on a collision course for shenanigans and fireworks.” (from official site) Join us for a very PRIDE-ful “Encore” screening on Thursday, June 22 at 10:00. Tickets are available at THE NEON’s box office or by clicking this LINK.

Dayton native Eric Mahoney (director of NORTH DIXIE DRIVE) is coming back to town to shoot additional material for a new documentary…and we’ve sheduled a one-time screening of MADLY, a film he produced, on Thursday, July 6 at 7:30. “Six groundbreaking directors, six iconic international destinations, six visions of modern love in all of its complications. From Producer Eric Mahoney comes the award winning feature MADLY, taking viewers on a passionate trip around the world with short vignettes from acclaimed directors: Gael Garcia Bernal, Sion Sono, Sebastian Silva, Mia Wasikowska, Anurag Kashyap, and Natasha Khan. Indiewire writes, ‘the film, like love itself is hard to resist.’ Actress Radhika Apte was also awarded Best International Actress at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.” (taken from press notes) Proceeds from this special one time screening will go to help finance Mahoney’s current project, a documentary on the Dayton, OH band Brainiac. For more information about the new BRAINIAC film, please visit this LINK. Tickets, just $10 each, are on sale now at THE NEON’s box office. Mahoney will be in attendance for a Q&A at this screening.

This Saturday, June 17, we’ll be collecting money for The Alzheimer’s Association’s LONGEST DAY project – a series of events that recognize the endurance of caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s. We’ll be asking everyone if they’d like to round up their ticket price for the day – with all extra money going to The Alzheimer’s Association (of course we’ll accept additional donations, too). We hope you’ll make it down to see us this Saturday.

I’m delighted to announce that we now have official dates for 2 more special events. MANIFESTO, the new film starring Cate Blanchett in 13 different roles, will be here for a few screenings beginning July 8 (check out the trailer below). On July 10, we will host a one-time special screening of SPRING STREET Season 1 – the new series from creator (and Dayton Native) David Beck. I’ll write more about these screenings next week…but if you can’t wait, read more now on our website – www.neonmovies.com

Thanks so much for your continued support.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for June 13 – June 22:

CHURCHILL (PG) 1 Hr 45 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 13-15): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
FINAL DAY – June 15!

MY COUSIN RACHEL (PG-13) 1 Hr 46 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (June 13-15): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (June 16 & 17): 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday (June 18): 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (June 19-22): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40

PARIS CAN WAIT (PG) 1 Hr 32 Min
Friday & Saturday (June 16 & 17): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (June 18): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10
Monday-Wednesday (June 19-21): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Thursday (June 22): 3:00, 5:15

A VERY SORDID WEDDING (NR) 1 Hr 49 Min
Thursday (June 22): 7:30, 10:00

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
June 23 – A QUIET PASSION
June 24, 25 & 28 – MAURICE
June 30 – THE BEGUILED
July 8, 9 & 12 – MANIFESTO
TBE – BEATRIZ AT DINNER
TBD – THE HERO
July 21 – MAUDIE
TBD – THE WEDDING PLAN
TBD – JEREMIAH TOWER
TBD – DEAN

Dining Deals for Father’s Day 2017

June 14, 2017 By Lisa Grigsby

Want to show your Dad he’s something special? Here’s our list of restaurants offering deals to help you honor your Father this Sunday, June 18th. Please let us know if you have a local favorite we can add to the list! Thanks!

Applebee’s: Get a $10 bonus gift card with the purchase of $50 or more in gift cards until 7/2. Bonus cards valid until 8/13.
Beef O’Brady’s | Dads eat free with purchase of equal or greater value, up to $10
Bonefish Grill: Get a $10 bonus gift card with the purchase of $50 or more in gift cards until 6/18. Bonus cards valid upon next visit from 5/15 through 7/21.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Get a $10 bonus gift card with every $50 spent in gift cards until 6/18. Bonus cards valid upon next visit from 5/15 through 7/21.
Edible Arrangements: Receive a free 12 count box of Celebration Swizzle Berries with the purchase of the Ultimate Father’s Day Gift.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Have a 35 oz. Prime Tomahawk Steak served as part of a three-course menu for only $89, available 6/16 until 6/18.
Frisch’s celebrates Dad with a FREE Fathers’s Day Breakfast Bar with the purchaseof breakfast bar, any sandwich or mini meal.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks: Get a steak and lobster entree for $28.
The Melting Pot: Melting Pot locations across the country are offering many different discounts on Father’s Day, such as endless fondue. Call your local Melting Pot for details.
Olive Garden: Get a $10 bonus gift card with every $50 gift card purchase until 6/25. Bonus cards valid from 7/1 until 7/31.
Omaha Steaks: Get four free burgers and free shipping with the purchase of a Father’s Day combo pack.
Spaghetti Warehouse is celebrating Dad’s special day by treating him to his choice of Lasagne or any Original Recipe Spaghetti Entree
Ruby Tuesday: Get a $15 bonus card for every $50 in gift cards you buy.

American Singer, Songwriter and Musician Mary Chapin Carpenter To Play Dayton

June 14, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

For nearly thirty years strong, on many albums like Come On Come On, Stones in the Road, Between Here and Gone, and Ashes and Roses, Mary Chapin Carpenter has earned the trust of her audience through her willingness to look deep into herself and share joys and sorrows, good times and bad. That honesty, that quiet fearlessness, reaches a startling new level on The Things That We Are Made Of. These eleven songs communicate with the plain-spokenness of handwritten, heartfelt letters from a confiding friend; this is art without the artifice. The result is music that is likely to be as powerfully moving as any you have ever heard.

Mary will play the Victoria Theatre on Sunday, Oct 15th at 7:30pm Tickets will go on sale Fri, Jun 16th at 10am in the Wintergarden of the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, by phone at 937-228-3630, toll-free at 888-228-3630 and online at www.ticketcenterstage.com. Tickets range in price from $39.50-$59.50 plus fees.

The album is suffused with images of maps and traveling – yearning for stillness when in motion, longing for adventure when in repose. “Do we ever stop dreaming of where we belong?,” Carpenter asks in “Map of My Heart.” That’s just one of many unanswerable questions the album raises. Another song wonders “What Does It Mean To Travel,” and offers a meditation on the complex interweaving of distance and desire. Its interrogative tone is one of the album’s most alluring qualities, and why it stays with you so long even after just one hearing. Those questions invite listeners into a conversation, and implicate them in the emotions the songs display for us. The consequences of our attempts to engage those feelings linger long after the songs themselves have stopped playing. The songs and their questions are now inside us. We are like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the great gospel blues pioneer whom Carpenter conjures in “Oh Rosetta” as she walks alone in New York, baffled by the world’s refusal of its own redemption. “If the world is offered goodness but doesn’t use it,” AND Carpenter asks, “Oh, Rosetta, what is it for?” That pained question rests on one of the modest certainties that growing older brings, as she sings in “The Middle Ages”: “love and kindness are all that matter now.”

The first song, “Something Tamed, Something Wild,” opens with the image of “a shoebox full of letters bound up neatly with some twine,” a suggestion of the elements of reflection and remembrance that are so central to the album. Such letters, no doubt, are very much among “The Things That We Are Made Of,” the title song that closes the album. In that aching ballad, Carpenter explores how our lives are comprised of all our experiences – the wonderful and the ravaging, the exalting and the terrifying. We have no choice but to accept the self all those experiences have helped shape and move with hope into the future. “I come on quiet but I’m as fierce as a lion,” Carpenter sings in “Hand On My Back,” and that strength informs all of the album’s unflinching self-examinations. The Things That We Are Made Of was recorded in Nashville and produced by Dave Cobb, best known most recently for his work with Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson. “I was so happy he wanted to work with me,” Carpenter says, laughing. “Finding a producer is a little like looking for a date for the prom – will anybody want to take me? But I couldn’t have felt more embraced and welcomed.” Appropriately, Carpenter’s voice and eloquent acoustic guitar are squarely at the center of these songs, with Cobb’s electric guitar, Mike Webb’s keyboards, Chris Powell’s drums and Annie Clements’ bass filling out the spare arrangements and providing atmosphere and texture. Because of the consistency of its themes, the cool introspection of Carpenter’s voice, and the mid-to slow tempos, the album unfolds like one long, mesmerizing song. Within that rich coherence, Cobb suggested subtle touches that keep every new hearing fresh. “He’s very old school in that he likes hooks and choruses,” Carpenter says, “so he would indicate a riff or something else and say, ‘I’d like to hear that again,’ so the record doesn’t drag. And the way we sequenced it, we take you on a journey.” The Things That We Are Made Of offers listeners a significant gift – an unguarded look into the beating heart of one of the strongest singer-songwriters of our time. In an intriguing way, Carpenter occasionally sounds as if she stands in the same relationship to the album that we do, that having created it, she is still plumbing it for meaning and for sustenance. “I feel as if I’m still trying to come up with a reliable way of talking about what this album is about,” Carpenter says. “I haven’t finished thinking about it. It’s part of an ongoing conversation that I’m having with myself about my life. But if you’re not trying to connect in some way to the world, what else is there? All I can hope for is that people connect to it. That’s the most rewarding part of doing this work – believing that you’re speaking to what we all feel.

Food Adventure Recipe of the Month: Zucchini Ribbon Skewers

June 13, 2017 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Thinly sliced grilled zucchini, the beginnings of a recipe

Attention Dayton Cooks and Foodies !

You know the Food Adventure Crew from their weekly articles and food photos shared on this site, or maybe their dinner events.

With all of this original content, there is more …. Did you know they also have a nice collection of recipes? Some have been shared in various cooking classes at Dorothy Lane Market, Living Dayton TV, Spicy Olive, or through Foremost Seafood’s site. Some recipes will make their debut here.

It is all in a NEW monthly feature now cooking on Dayton Most Metro: “Your Food Adventure Recipe of the Month.”

June starts out featuring our culinary crew hero Chef LeeAnne House and a summer favorite that will wow your friends.

Chef House getting ready for a cooking class !

Chef House has always been known for her love of veggies and her philosophy of using local vendors for that fresh, “farm to table” dimension. The results are Dayton’s seasonal flavors, bursting on your plate and leaving your tastebuds happy.

Without further delay let’s dive into one of those fresh recipes.

ZUCCHINI RIBBON SKEWERS with PEPPER SPIKED MOZZARELLA & ARUGULA PESTO

Ingredients:

2 zucchini

2 teaspoons olive oil

½ teaspoon kosher salt

Lemon juice

ZUCCHINI RIBBON SKEWERS with PEPPER SPIKED MOZZARELLA & ARUGULA PESTO

Directions:
Pick the straightest zucchini, these will be easier to cut on the mandolin. Slice them lengthwise ¼ inch thick. Toss with olive oil and salt.

Grill on high heat quickly, get grill marks on both sides and off the grill. Toss with a pinch more salt and a little lemon juice.

PESTO:

1 clove garlic, smashed

4 ounces basil

2 cups arugula, packed

1/3 cup roasted salted pistachios

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons grated parmesan

Directions:
Puree all of the above ingredients in a food processor till smooth. Slowly drizzle in ¼ cup and 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Now we add and assemble with:
-Fresh mozzarella
-Hot pepper flakes or even better use HouseMade Sriracha Toasted Sriracha Powder

Assembly Directions:
Roll the zucchini ribbons up and skewer 2 to a small skewer. The mozzarella goes on the end. Season it with kosher salt and spiced pepper. Serve with the pesto.

Pesto in the processor

Try this for a summer picnic, or a party on the patio. Your next cookout is a great chance to skewer some of these bites.

More about Chef House. In addition to being a member of the Food Adventure Crew, she has her own line of locally made, all-natural sauces, spices and rubs called Housemade. Her Thai Chili Sriracha sauce and Hot Honey sauce have won National competitions. She also teaches many local cooking classes. In the past, she has helped with catering companies and has been a chef at some top notch local restaurants. You will be able to catch her in a FREE COOKING DEMO on Saturday July 22nd at Garlic Fest at the Sons of Italy Bella Villa Hall on County Line Rd. Chef House will be giving out free tastes of her garlic dish to those in attendance. Come join the party at Garlic Fest !

See you next month with another fun recipe.

Follow Chef House, the Big Ragu and Hungry Jax on Facebook by clicking HERE.

We are not food critics, we are just 3 passionate foodies that love to feature local foods!

ZUCCHINI RIBBON SKEWERS with PEPPER SPIKED MOZZARELLA & ARUGULA PESTO

Quest For The Best: Gyro

June 12, 2017 By Bryan Suddith

I had my first Gyro in a mall in Paducah Kentucky. It was a lackluster affair. We made the 30-minute drive from campus with a fraternity brother who happened to be from Greece. Finding a Gyro in our little west Kentucky college town was not a possibility in 1993.

According to Wikipedia a gyro (Greek: γύρος, gyros, literally ‘turn’) is a Greek dish made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, traditionally pork, or chicken, and outside of Greece with beef, veal or lamb, and usually served wrapped in a flatbread such as pita, with tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce.

There are a few variables to the Gyro and its success. First is the meat and the seasoning. A good Gyro is a mixture of lamb or veal and beef. Seasoned with marjoram, garlic, rosemary and black pepper it is roasted on a spit continuously. Carving off the crunchy outer layers and soft moist inner for each Gyro. Secondly is the tzatziki sauce. A yogurt and cucumber based sauce that can make or break a great Gyro. Olive oil, yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and dill. A pinch of salt and a dash of lemon and you have the perfect light topping to the Gyro.

When I worked downtown the old Pug’s Hot Dog joint on Wayne was the place for a great Gyro. They moved to Indian Ripple Road out by the Greene and live now as Chicago’s Gyros and Dogs. Dollar for dollar this is the best in town. Fresh pitas are hardy and light, it’s a big job to hold all the gyro meat they pile on. A combo comes in at $10.00 with fries and a drink. I love how there is a great mix of the crunchy bits and soft meat in the Gyro. Their tzatziki has a tang to it and I always get an extra for my fries.

ProTip: Order an extra pita, you can split your Gyro into two smaller ones for easier handling.

When I worked out near Wright State, my go-to was Gyro Palace on Airway. It was in the shopping center on the corner of Woodman and Airway/Colonel Glenn. You can now find them at 57 South Springboro Pike near the Dayton Mall. The Greek menu is deeper here and includes stuffed grape leaves, salads, and Moussaka. I’ve never strayed from the oversized Gyro here. The meat is seasoned heavier here and the flavors are bolder in every bite. The tzatziki is creamy and carries a bit more garlic and lemon. Perfect to balance the Gyro meat. I skip the fries and get the Greek salad with olives and feta. The prices here are the lowest on my list, a Gyro platter with two sides is under $7.00. Take your time, sit down and soak it all in. Save room for a piece of baklava.

Honestly, with these two spots in your rotation, you will never have a better Gyro in town. Unless you run into the Greek Street Food Truck. These guys have taken the Gyro to a whole nother level. Find these guys parked near you soon.

The traditional Gyro is tops, but they’ve gone the extra step. Try the Greek Street Gyro, tomato jam and pickled red onion join fresh parsley giving this signature Gyro an upscale feel and flavor. Don’t let the confines of a food truck fool you, they offer your other Greek food favorites as well. Fries, Spanakopita, salads, and stuffed grape leaves are also on the menu. The Lamb gyro will set you back $8.00 but you won’t regret a bit, no one else is carving lamb streetside for your Gyro. For something different, try the shrimp gyro.

A quick Google search brings up more than a dozen joints serving a classic Gyro. I omitted Arby’s and Subway from consideration. There is no shortage of Greek spots to get a good pita besides the ones mentioned here try Gyro Delight on Wilmington, or the Greek Isle Deli in Page Manor Shopping Center.

UPDATE: The Gyro Room closed in Jan 2018
However, the new kid on the block is The Gyro Room on Brown near UD. Tucked in across the alley from Butter Cafe the Gyro Room is a nice spot for a quick Gyro. Sides are limited to a rice dish and no fries are available. This made me a little sad. The service was fast. Real fast. Which is nice. Unless you like the art of the making of the Gyro. The slicing of the meat off the rotisserie. The Gyro room had 3-4 pounds of meat already sliced and resting in a warming tray to make assembly more efficient. This is good for time, but not so good if you are wanting those crusty and crunchy edge pieces off the spit. They are generous with portions and I opted for the extra pita and split my gyro in two. The flavors didn’t impress me like the friendliness of the staff or the quickness of the service, but it’s still a great stop if you are near campus.

I’m always looking for a new spot north of town and south of town for a great Gyro. Tell us where you go to find yours. Chicken? Beef? Lamb? What’s your Gyro choice and where do you go to get it?

Luminaries of Dayton: Henry Ware, Civil War Soldier

June 12, 2017 By Angie Hoschouer

Henry Elias Ware

Henry E. Ware Index to Pension File 1894

Henry E. Ware served a three-year enlistment as a private in the Union Army, Company E of the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment, from September 1861 to August 1864. This regiment served in Kentucky and Tennessee, fighting in a number of conflicts including Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. During his service, Ware suffered a gunshot wound but fulfilled his enlistment.

Following his return to Dayton, the Dayton City Directory lists Henry as a city fireman from 1866 to 1870 and an engineer from 1876 to 1893.

Henry married Caroline Ziesler on September 19, 1861 in Montgomery County, Ohio. The Ware family lived at 332 Johnson Street in the South Park Historic District. Henry died on June 22, 1894 due to rheumatism. Henry, Caroline and other family members are buried in Section 69 Lot 396.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

Calling All Makers

June 11, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Mini Maker Faire is a fun-filled community festival that brings together science, art, craft, engineering and history plus music, food, workshops, and performance. It is a celebration of the ingenuity and innovative spirit that has inspired generations of Daytonians from the Wright Brothers to today. The 2017 Dayton Mini Maker Faire will be held August 5-6, 2017 at Carillon Historical Park in Downtown Dayton, Ohio.

At our 2016 inaugural Dayton Mini Maker Faire we welcomed over 2,500 people to Carillon Historical Park. Attendees got to meet the over 50 makers exhibiting projects of all sorts and sizes; participate in hands-on workshops and making across tech, craft, science and history; and enjoy the thrilling, fast-paced Boneyard Build-Off competition.

This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers across the Dayton region and beyond—anyone who is embracing the DIY or DIT (do-it-together!) spirit and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience. Exhibits that are interactive or highlight the process of making things are especially desired.

Entries

Apply as an exhibitor, performer, or presenter.
Entry Open Date: February 1, 2017. Please enter early so we can reserve space for your exhibit.
Entry Close Date: July 4, 2017. Late applications will still be reviewed and if we are able to accommodate you, we will respond on a rolling basis.

The first step to participating in the Maker Faire is to submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted from individuals; groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools; commercial makers or crafters; startups; and companies.

Note there is no fee to participate in the Maker Faire if you are not selling or promoting a product. If you plan to sell items on site at the Dayton Mini Maker Faire, there is a $150 vendor fee (waived for event sponsors). Startups and companies can participate at varying levels (please check out our Become a Sponsor page for more information).

Here’s some suggested ideas for topics that we’re looking for:

Robotics
Wearables, E-Textiles, Fashion Tech
Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
Drones & RC Fun
Homesteader & Domestic Arts
Kinetic, Fire & Installation Art
Digital Fabrication – 3D Printers, CNC, ETC
Open Hardware Projects
Design: Industrial, Fashion, Product, Urban
Young Makers & School Maker Clubs
Music Performance
Hacks of Any Sort
Glass
Ceramics
Foundry & Blacksmithing
How-To Workshops, Panel Discussions and Presenters
Electronic Projects
Textiles and Arts and Crafts
Rockets and RC Toys
Sustainable Transportation
Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
Electronics
Puppets
Bicycles and Human-Powered Machines
Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
Unusual Tools or Machines
How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Maker Exhibit: Our standard setup for a Maker exhibit is an outdoor 10’x10′ space under a shade tent. If you need a different space for your exhibit or project, please let us know. Use this space to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something.

Presentations or Workshops: Various length time slots can be accommodated. Can be demos, stories, how-tos, and group (panel) conversations.

Performances: We will have an outdoor stage available for musical and non-musical performances. Limited indoor space may also be available upon request.

Any questions can be directed to [email protected].

Free Taco Tuesday For All At Taco Bell

June 10, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

Thanks to the Golden State Warriors winning Game 3 in the NBA Finals we all get to enjoy a FREE taco Bell giveaway.

Taco Bell’s yearly “Steal a Game, Steal a Taco” promotion was triggered when the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night. Taco Bell is giving everyone in America one free Doritos Locos Taco, today between 2-6pm. Anyone can get one free Doritos Locos Taco — a Doritos-flavored hard shell taco in your choice of Nacho Cheese, Fiery or Cool Ranch with an approximate value of a $1.69.

To find a Taco Bell near you, use this link on the Taco Bell Website.