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Archives for June 2023

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River

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Head to RiverScape for Tai Chi and Qigong at the River. Each hour-long Tai Chi & Qigong session will start with breathing exercises, warm up, and gentle stretching.

You will then be guided through flowing movements mixed with short standing meditations. We will end with a slightly longer guided standing (or sitting) meditation. This should leave a few minutes to answer questions or discuss any insights.

Qigong doesn’t require any special skills (other than breathing) or equipment (other than your body).

McCoy on Movies: The Flash

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“All right … Let’s get out there and revive a cinematic universe!” Credit: © 2023 Warner Bros. Pictures
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 
 
DIRECTOR: Andy Muschietti

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Ron Livington, Michael Shannon, Sasha Calle, Maribel Verdú, Kiersey Clemons, Ben Affleck … And some other special guests.

 

THE BACK STORY: Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) is a member of the Justice League, the super-powered team of heroes consisting of himself, the cybernetic Victor Stone a.k.a. Cyborg, Diana Prince a.k.a. Wonder Woman, Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman, Arthur Curry a.k.a. the Atlean known as Aquaman and Clark Kent a.k.a. Kal-El a.k.a Superman. While each has suffered their own traumas, they have each respectively come to accept it, move on and help save the world from numerous threats.
But what would the world be like if they could undo that trauma? Well, in the case of Barry, he discovers that he just might be able to do so.
You see, while in the middle of another superhero quest, Allen discovers that, when fully charged, he can run so fast he can actually travel back in time. That gives the opportunity he’s always wanted: To save his deceased mom (Maribel Verdú) from her murder/fatal accident (it’s never really explained what happened, but you can draw your own conclusion) and clear his father (Ron Livingston) in the process.
Unfortunately for Barry, he is about to learn that messing with the space-time continuum comes with some serious consequences just like Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) warned him … And his adventure with Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) – and Barry Allen (Miller again) is about to prove with dire consequences.
 

 

THE REVIEW: Warner Bros., the parent company of DC Comics, has had one heck of a time getting there superhero universe off the ground. For every one good movie or TV show they make – Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn & The Birds of Prey, Peacemaker, for example – they seem to make another – Black Adam, Batman vs. Superman, the original cut of Justice League that eradicates any momentum they have. Throw in the fact six actors have played Batman since 1989 (Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Affleck and Robert Pattison) and they’ve all existed in their own worlds (until now) and the lack of a comprehensive plan has made a mess of things. In turn, it’s allowed the competition – Marvel, for those who aren’t good at reading between the lines – to repeatedly do this to them with every release.
What THE FLASH does well, however, is what many of its DC predecessors have not: (1) Develop its lead character (who admittedly at times almost does feel like he is playing second fiddle in their own movie); (2) Tell a story that is compelling due to its depth with visuals that mostly enhance versus detract away from it and (3) Find its emotional center without forcing or shoehorning it in as an afterthought. In turn, the supporting characters actually help enhance the overall quality as opposed to taking away from it and being better than the lead (see Brosnan, Pierce in the aforementioned Black Adam).
Love or hate Ezra Miller for its somewhat polarizing performance in Justice League and/or all his away from a movie set antics, about 25/30 minutes or so into the film, everything just seems to click. He is able to make all of the character’s antics transition and make you forget about him and instead focus on the character, his motivations, flaws and strengths. While fans can (and likely will) continue to debate whether or not he should be recast in future films, this performance is one Miller can truly call their own (Note: Miller uses the they/them/theirs pronouns). Warner Bros. has done a very clever campaign by minimizing Miller in the trailers leading up to the film, but it’s likely that once people see it, most of the harsh fan boy population will just be happy with the finished result enough to cool down.
Is the film perfect? No. Keaton owns all of his moments as the film at times feels more like “The Flash and the Justice League” and is a definite way to set up future DC Multiverse films since the previous ones have, well, failed to do so. Likewise, some of the CGI sequences are very noticeable for their enhancements; if you had a problem with the last two to three Marvel live action releases, be prepared to be taken out of scenes with some of the motions here. That notwithstanding, director Andy Muschietti does bring a visual style that is (1) effective and (2) much needed to make the film work as a whole. Likewise, he and his team are able to provide just the right amount of humor true to what Miller’s take on the character does without being too corny too often and he is able to center the story to keep it from feeling like a series of random events.
Where the DC Cinematic Universe goes from here remains to be seen; if THE FLASH is any indication, however, it seems to finally be finding its footing to go alongside aforementioned The Peacemaker HBO series in moving away from cartoon-ish pulp to grittier fare. They still need to find some villains other than Lex Luthor, Joker, Penguin and General Zod to beef up and raise the stakes, but again, THE FLASH shows things are improving. And in a world where Wonder Woman 1984 exists, that is a very good thing indeed.
The final verdict? Despite a star that has been as problematic as the entire DC Comics cinematic universe has been to date, THE FLASH is the most complete Warner Bros. comic book-based adventure in quite some time. Hopefully, it is a quick step in the right direction … And not a flash in the superhero pan.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

 

 

Quest for the Best Breakfast Sandwich

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I like a good breakfast sandwich.

I’ve been known to bash a cheap sausage biscuit from Speedway in a pinch and when I was younger the Bacon Egg and Cheese biscuit from McDonalds was the gold standard.

In college the sausage biscuit with mustard and a can of Coke (daily) literally got me through sophomore year.

The older I get the more refined and particular my tastes, but my affinity for a great breakfast sammie still lives on. It’s the my inner college kid trying to stay alive I suppose.

So here it is my quest for the best breakfast sandwich:

Warehouse 4 Kettering, bacon, egg and cheese on a square biscuit. The bacon is cooked right, the cheese melty and the eggs almost omelet like fluffy. It’s a complete sandwich and doesn’t lack for flavor or texture. Creamy eggs and melty cheese, a crunch from the bacon and the exterior of the biscuit all live in harmony. Paired with a latte and good book, my Saturday morning is complete for about $10.00.

Ghostlight Dough at Second Street Market has bagels. Delicious chewy flavorful bagels and they make for a great sandwich. I opted for the bacon, egg and cheese on their onion bagel. This is as close to a perfect bagel breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had. It was under $6.00 and wrapped perfect for eating while walking the market.

Few people know about the delight that is Vinny’s Bar and Grill and Carryout in Moraine for breakfast on the go. It’s a bit out of my way but I make the effort every month to get one of their sandwiches. My usual is fried egg, bacon, American cheese on white toast with light mayo. This isn’t a health food column so don’t @ me on this one. Best served with a cold Coke or Diet Coke it feels like your grandma made it. Part of this experience is ordering in the kitchen. Trust the process and tip the cook. She’s the best.

B&B Carryout is a special place. For those of us Warren County kids raised hunting and fishing at Caesar’s Creek, you know B&B. It’s local. They’ve got bait. Jerky. They have a kitchen and a full Craft Beer cooler with more than 100 different cans. You can also get gas, a new hat, a pair of gloves or a fishing lure. I go there for the Big Bo (bacon instead of sausage, if you ask nice they’ll do that for you). The Big Bo is bacon, egg, hash brown, double American Cheese on a toasted hamburger bun. This is not for the weak. They also have superb biscuits and gravy and the nicest ladies behind the counter. The Big Bo is under $5.00 so that leaves room for coffee, or a Coke or 1/2 dozen minnows if you’re fishing later.

A good quest is never complete. So tell us, where do you go for a quick breakfast sandwich on the go? Tell us in the comments and maybe we will see you at your favorite spot.

Sign up for the GREAT Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge

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Registration is now open for the 2023 GREAT Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge to be held on the Great Miami River from June 17 to August 13. This family-friendly event is a catch-and-release, virtual fishing tournament, where anglers use the I-Angler app to register and send in their catches. Prizes include cash, gear, and more!

The Great Miami River is Ohio’s best river for catching smallmouth bass, according to the number of smallmouth trophy-sized fish registered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resource (ODNR) Fish Ohio program.

“The largest smallmouth bass caught in the Great Miami River in the last five years measured out at 24.3 inches,” said Donnie Knight, Troy resident and biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “Smallmouth bass are plentiful in the Great Miami River from March through October, so it’s a great time to encourage anglers to get out on the water.”

“Last year, we had quite a few smallmouth bass caught that were 18” or greater,” said Barry Puskas, Chief of Engineering and Technical Services for the Miami Conservancy District, and an avid angler. “there’s plenty of healthy smallmouth bass out there for anglers.”

This year’s sponsors include the Molson Coors Beverage company, located in Trenton along the Great Miami River. Additional sponsors include the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA), ReelFlyRod of Bellbrook, Fisherman’s Headquarters, Hamilton Bait and Tackle, and Mad River Outfitters.

For complete rules and to register for the tournament, visit https://tinyurl.com/2022fishingchallenge

The Great Miami Riverway is more than just a river. This regional destination in southwest Ohio includes more than 99 miles of paved trails and connected communities where you can surf the river, cycle the bike trail, and find your way through charming downtowns.

 

Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Is Back and Here to Stay

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Popeyes has expanded its chicken sandwich line-up to half a dozen options with the return – and permanent addition of version not seen since 2019. The blackened chicken sandwich, made without breading, returns to menus this week. Customers also have another option to customize their meal – add bacon and/or cheese to any chicken sandwich. Fans can get their hands on the Popeyes Blackened Chicken Sandwich at restaurants nationwide starting at a suggested price of $4.99.

“As we expand our iconic chicken sandwich line-up, the Blackened Chicken Sandwich will provide guests with a lighter option that is perfect for everyday,” said Sami Siddiqui, president of Popeyes. “And, with the addition of bacon and cheese, our loyal fans will now have six Chicken Sandwich options to choose from, all with the irresistible Cajun flavors and boldness they crave.” The Bacon and Cheese add-on option starts at  $1.50.

To celebrate, Popeyes is offering a deal through June 25. Customers that buy any chicken sandwich combo online or in the app can get an extra regular side for free.

Popeyes said its blackened chicken sandwich features an antibiotic-free, whole chicken breast, marinated for 12 hours, and seasoned with a blend of Cajun spices, served on a warm, toasted brioche bun with house classic or spicy mayo and crunchy barrel-cured pickles.

The breading-free  sandwich represents the first permanent addition to Popeyes’ chicken sandwich family since its launch in 2019.

 

 

Fritz & Fiona’s Sundae Fundae at the Zoo

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On Sunday, July 30th from 6 -8pm the Cincinnati Zoo is hosting  Fritz & Fiona’s Sundae Fundae Fundraiser. Tickets for this event run $30, and can be purchased online.  Zoo members get discounted tickets.

This sweet event offers a double-dip of Fritz & Fiona and delicious Graeter’s ice cream.  Fritz & Fiona’s Sundae Fundae will take you around the Zoo for an ice cream sampling where you will be able to see some of your favorite animals enjoying their outdoor habitats after hours.

As you wander through the Zoo, sample delicious Graeter’s Ice Cream at stations around the Zoo! Guests also get free train and carousel rides during this event!

 

 

 

Upon arrival, guests will receive their Graeter’s Ice Cream passport to show for a scoop at each of the 6 sampling stations.

 

Ice Cream Flavors

  • Lemon Sorbet
  • Black Raspberry Chip
  • Cotton Candy
  • Dark Chocolate Brownie
  • Oregon Strawberry
  • Seasonal Summer Flavor TBA

Limited concessions will be open during the Fiona Sundae Fundae.

Kings Island’s Adventure Port opens Saturday

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Adventure Port, a new themed area featuring two new family rides, will open at Kings Island on Saturday.vThe area is located near the front of the park, between Action Zone and Coney Mall.

The park describes the new area’s theme this way: “Adventure Port is a hub for explorers searching for an ancient civilization’s forbidden temple and mysterious wonders.”

Kings Island describes the two new rides:

  • Sol Spin: This recently discovered mechanism appears to be an immense sun disk created by an ancient civilization. Riders will board open-air, suspended passenger vehicles and experience the sensation of flying 60 feet through the air at 25 m.p.h

  • Cargo Loco: Their methods might be a little dizzying, but the Arrow Cargo Company will get your goods from Point A to Point B …. eventually. Riders will board these shipping barrels where they will be able to manually control the speed of their spin with a wheel in the middle of the barrel.

“What I love about Adventure Port is that we’ve taken parts of the Adventure Express story and built upon it to create this new themed area,” said Mike Koontz, vice president and general manager of Kings Island. “When guests who have been coming to the park for years visit this area for the first time, the story will feel familiar, but it will be told in a whole new way.”

Also in the area: Enrique’s, formerly Hank’s Mexican Grill, with burrito bowls, tacos and salads; and the Mercado, formerly the Bier Garten, with food, shopping and a full-service bar.

The area will be open to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday. Kings Island is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Information: visitkingsisland.com

Roadtrip To The Columbus Arts Festival

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With 225 visual artists, three stages of performances and dozens of food vendors  the Columbus Arts Festival is a great welcome-to-summer event produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC). Here are some of the adventures in store for the nearly 500,000 guests coming to the 2023 festival, June 9-11:

Headliners on the Genoa Park Main Stage

Dehd, Ghost Shirt and MojoFlo headline free concerts on Genoa Park Main Stage

With the city skyline offering a beautiful backdrop, the Genoa Park Main Stage will feature music, dance and theater throughout the weekend. On Friday, June 9 the stage hosts runway show Fashion As Art featuring Columbus-area fashion designers followed by Columbus’ neo funk favorite MojoFlo. On Saturday, June 10, the Festival welcomes local power pop group Ghost Shirt opening for Chicago-based indie rock trio Dehd. Main stage performances are supported by Huntington. Full performance schedule here.

 

Artists live painting murals at Scrawl 2022
Scrawl 2022
Scribble Mini Mural Festival

Columbus’ live painting mural festival, Scrawl, will bring a mini version called “Scribble” to the Columbus Arts Festival, sponsored by Deloitte. Throughout the Festival weekend, 12 Columbus-area artists will create murals along the fences surrounding Bicentennial Park on the east side of the river. Featured artists include Andy Clarkson, Bridgette Barnes, Dane Khy, Evelyn McBride, Elizabeth Miller, Jennifer Morley, Danny Painter, Sarah Schlup, Andy Smith, Jay Snyder, Technocolor Art and WXVVY. Learn more about Scribble here: franklintonartsdistrict.com/scribble.html.

Created in 2011, the Emerging Festival Artist program is for artists who have limited or no experience exhibiting at national festivals. Artists must be residents of Franklin or the surrounding counties. The 2023 Columbus Arts Festival will feature the largest Emerging Festival Artist class to date, with 18 central Ohio artists showcasing their work. The Emerging Festival Artist program is supported by the Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust.

Film returns to the Festival this year! Find the film stage, supported by Gateway Film Center and Greater Columbus Film Commission, in the triangle park west of the river. On Friday and Saturday you can see Broad & High episodes, student animation, local filmmakers’ work, classic Looney Tunes, and the 2009 feature Where The Wild Things Are.

This year the Festival has partnered with Columbus’ High Bank Distillery to feature a trio of boozy slushies crafted with their award-winning spirits. Available at three beverage booths at the Festival, High Bank’s Signature Slushies include a Cranberry Lime Cosmo, Whiskey Vanilla Root Beer and a Whiskey Bramble.

 

In addition to a beer garden with shaded seating and fun group games, Rhinegeist brewed a hoppy wheat ale named “Sketch” especially for the Columbus Arts Festival. Sketch will be available at the beer garden and select beverage booths at the Festival. Guests eager to try it will also find it at select locations where Rhinegeist is on tap in Columbus.

 

Columbus Arts Festival Hours:
Friday, June 9 from 11 am to 10:30 pm
Saturday, June 10 from 10 am to 10:30 pm
Sunday, June 11 from 10 am to 5 pm

Parking: The Festival is located along the Scioto Mile, Columbus’ signature riverfront park, along the Rich and Main Street bridges, in Dorrian Green Park and in front of COSI, the Center of Science and Industry.  If you are able to walk a few blocks, street, surface lot and garage parking is generally less expensive farther out from the Festival. Use the ParkColumbus app to find options.

 

It’s Time for Versailles Poultry Days’

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After the turn of the century, Versailles, Ohio became known as the Poultry Capital of the Midwest. Although Versailles is a small village its production of eggs and poultry was recognized far beyond Ohio. The festival began as “Poultry Day” a single day event held on Thursdays until 1962 when it expanded to Wednesday. In 1966 the festival moved to a weekend festival to be held on Friday and Saturday. In 1969 carnival rides were introduced and, in 1972 it was finally expanded to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Arguably the area’s oldest festival, Poultry Days settled into being held on the second full weekend in June.

The 2023 festival theme is “Chilly Willy Wonka and the Chicken Factory.” 

Chicken dinners costs $11.00 and is sized for a single meal with half a chicken, Mike-Sells potato chips, Roll, Butter, Applesauce and the traditional Chilly Willy Orange Drink.  Dinners can be enjoyed in a 500-person dining tent or picnic tables located throughout the grounds.  A four-lane drive through allows visitors to purchase dinners for a backyard picnic without leaving your car.  The festival also offers bulk chicken purchases on a presale basis with 20 chicken halves packed in an insulated cooler.

Come early as chicken often sells out earlier then posted times.  The festival sells over 35,000 dinners each year and has served over one million dinners since 1952.  Our walk through and drive through lines are staffed by volunteers and organizations capable of delivering over 2,500 dinners per hour.  

Find the “Golden Ticket” at Versailles Poultry Days and win FREE Chicken For life.  Keeping with the theme, three golden tickets will be placed randomly into chicken dinners (or coolers).  One golden ticket will be released each day (Friday June 9, Saturday June 10, and Sunday June 11).  The three winners will each receive FREE Poultry Days Chicken For Life!  For a chance to win you must pick up chicken in the festival’s Walk Thru, Drive Thru or Bulk Pick Up lines.  Limit two chicken dinners per winner per festival day. 

Highlights of Poultry Days:

Friday, June 9, 9:30am
Flower Show 
Bus Drivers Meeting Room, 459 South Center Street, Versailles

Friday, June 9th 6pm
Bingo
Versailles, 459 S Center St, Versailles

Chuck-a-Luck – 2023

Jun 09, 6:00 PM – Jun 11, 9:00 PM
Front Lawn of the Festival Grounds, Versailles

Sat, June 10th 8am
Poultry Days 5K Walk/Run + 1 Mile Fun Run
Versailles High School, 280 Marker Rd, Versailles

Ultimate Frisbee Tournament

Heritage Park, 10200 Klipstine Rd, Versailles

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June 11, 10:00 AM
The parade begins at 2:30 pm
Versailles Poultry Days, South Center & Ward Streets
Jun 11, 3:00 PM
Front Lawn of Festival Grounds, Versailles, OH, USA.

Sun June 11th 3:30pm
The Chicken Eating Contest 
Registration for this event is FREE! How fast can you eat a chicken dinner? The traditional chicken half is replaced by drumsticks. There is a 16-20 and a 21 & over division with cash prizes. Register online at VersaillesPoultryDays.com or the day of the event.

Lily’s 10th Anniversary Bourbon Bash

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Lily’s in the Oregon District turned 10 last month and they are throwing a Bourbon Bash to celebrate on Thursday, June 15th.
Back in November, they travelled to NKY to do a bourbon barrel pick and they’ll be sampling their  special single barrel bourbon along with 3 other fantastic samples from our pals at New Riff Distilling!
It’s also happens to be co-owner Blind Bob’s 70th birthday too, and as a treat, he’s bringing his friends TEAM VOID to play some surf rock ‘n roll music for you! The kitchen will also be putting together a special selection of small plates which will be available for purchase alongside our regular dinner menu!
Tickets are $30 and include a special welcome cocktail, 4 bourbon and rye samples presented by Rachel from RNDC and Jay from New Riff including the special Lily’s/Blind Bob’s single barrel selection, music from TEAM VOID, and tip. You can buy your ticket online.
The tasting begins at  630pm and will be lead by  liquor rep Rachel from RNDC, Jay from New Riff Distilling, and Emily from Lily’s, then the kitchen will be open and TEAM VOID will help us celebrate with some groovy tunes! Event will take place on the back garden patio weather if no rain, inside if rain.

Milano’s Releases Summer Menu

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Milano’s Summer Menu is here! From Jalapeno Garlic Dippers to the Po’ Boy, what are you looking forward to trying the most?

 

LOCATION RESTAURANT HOURS DELIVERY HOURS PHONE NUMBER
University of Dayton
1834 Brown Street
Dayton, OH 45409		 Sun: 11a-midnight
M-W: 11a-1a
Th-Sat: 11a-2:30a		 Sun-Thurs 11a-midnight
Fri-Sat 11a-1a		 937-222-7072
Miami Township
9572 Springboro Pike
Miami Township, Ohio 45342		 Mon-Thurs 11a-11p
Fri-Sat 11a-12a
Sun 11a-10p		 Mon-Thurs 11a-11p
Fri-Sat 11a-12a
Sun 11a-10p		 937-434-7827
Beavercreek
2260 N. Fairfield Rd
Beavercreek, Ohio 45431		 Mon-Thurs 11a-11p
Fri-Sat 11a-12a
Sun 11a-10p		 Mon-Thurs 11a-11p
Fri-Sat 11a-12a
Sun 11a-10p		 937-427-7827

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifying Circuit In Dayton Friday

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Nathan’s Famous will host the third qualifying event for its annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest following the Dayton Dragons’ game on Friday, June 9.

The top male and female finishers in the competition will advance to the renowned competition at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 4, where they will take on a field of the world’s best competitive eaters.

Nathan’s Famous, Smithfield, and Kroger will donate $5,000 to The Foodbank, Inc. prior to the Dayton qualifier.

“The Foodbank works to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Montgomery, Greene, and Preble counties of Ohio,” said Michelle Riley, CEO of The Foodbank, Inc. “This donation of $5,000 will provide 25,000 meals to children and families in our community. We know that summer can be a challenging time for families, high cooling bills, and increased childcare costs can absorb a family’s food budget quickly.”

Nathan’s Famous qualifying events will also visit cities around the country in 2023, including Pleasanton, Calif, Kissimmee, Fla, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Washington, DC.

In 2022, Joey Chestnut of Westfield, Ind., won his 15th championship as the world’s best hot dog eater. He presently holds the record with 76 hot dogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes.

https://youtu.be/dIQJjh8Y_48

 

The eight-time female champion, Miki Sudo of Port Richey, Fla., will defend her title. Sudo ate 40 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2022, while her previous record was 48.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

This article by Jeffery Schrock originally appeared on the Dayton237now.com website.

 

 

Graeter’s Second Bonus Flavor of the Summer Released

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Graeter’s Ice Cream, known for its indulgent, handcrafted flavors, signature chocolate chips and Old World French Pot process, is celebrating their annual introduction of Bonus Flavors. A “secret” that remains under lock and key until the day it’s released, guests will be made aware of the new flavors via broadcast media, social media, local scoop shops, the Graeter’s app and online store.

This year, five Bonus Flavors will be released in Graeter’s scoop shops and online.

The first bonus flavor, released May 15th is Dough’licious, a caramel brownie batter ice cream loaded with peanut butter dough, cookie dough, and brownie pieces.

The SECOND Bonus Flavor is Hot Honey Crunch made with crunchy honeycomb and sweet icing pieces combined with a little heat in this hot honey ice cream.

Each Bonus Flavor is considered a “Limited Time Only” flavor, and once the flavor is gone it is retired for the year. Buy it by the scoop in Graeter’s stores or ship nationwide at graeters.com!

McCoy on Movies: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

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Director Steven Caple, Jr., Anthony Ramos and Pete Davidson finally help Transformers franchise rise to the occasion with latest entry

“PETA is gonna have problem with this, right?!” Cheetor (voiced by Tongayi Chirisa) gets up close and personal with Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson) as Arcee (voiced by Liza Koshy) looks on in a scene from TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS. Credit: © 2023 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. 
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 
 
DIRECTOR: Steven Caple, Jr.

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Luna Lauren Velez, Dean Scott Vazquez and the voices of Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez,  Cristo Fernández, Tobe Nwigwe and Tongayi Chirisa 

 

THE BACK STORY: Set in 1994 long before Shia LeBeouf’s Sam Witwicky would ever enter the picture, TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS finds former U.S. Army private Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) trying his best to do right by his family. His hardworking mother (Luna Lauren Velez) is doing the best she can to provide while his 11 year-old brother (Dean Scott Vazquez), whose sickle cell anemia is causing him all sorts of complications.
Not finding opportunities to make the money – or C.R.E.A.M. in accordance with the film’s hip-hop heavy soundtrack – necessary legally, Noah takes a gig to steal a Porsche from a local parking garage. But this is no ordinary Porsche.
That Porsche is Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson), one of several Autobots living on Earth after the destruction of their home planet Cybertron. Led by Optimus Prime, (voiced by longtime Transformers mainstay Peter Cullen) the Autobots are stuck with no way home since the one thing they need – a key – has been lost forever … Or so they think.
You see, that key was taken and hidden centuries ago by robot gorilla Optimus Primal (voiced by Ron Perlman), leader of the Maximals, robots who took on animal form instead of cars like the Autobots. But like the Autobots, the Maximals have a natural enemy: The Predacons, a race of robots led by the aptly-named Scourge (voiced by Peter Dinklage) that answer to Omnicron (voiced by Colman Domingo of Fear the Walking Dead fame). Why is that important? Because Omnicron is the Transformers equivalent of the Death Star in Star Wars and Galactus in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: A massive villain who consumes planets – like the Maximals home world – to sustain himself.
So … What happens when aspiring museum intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) inadvertently makes a discovery that threatens life on Earth and every other planet in the galaxy? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
THE REVIEW: As a kid, I LOVED Transformers as an animated series. I LOVED original animated adventure, The Transformers: The Movie. I had several of the toys – I have never gotten over my Optimus Prime getting broken in elementary school by another kid nor never getting the Dinobots – comic books and more. So, in 2007, when I heard they were making a live action Transformers movie, I was excited.
Then I saw it … And it absolutely sucked. As did the first sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with the two hip-hop robots I joked about on my second stand-up album, Remarkable. And if you think I had similar thoughts about the 2011 sequel Transformers: Dark of the Moon, you’d be right. That’s when I tapped out. Sure, I caught a few minutes of the latter sequels on cable in recent years, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch them.
Needless to say, I walked into the latest sequel – which is actually a prequel to the first live-action film but a sequel to 2018’s prequel Bumblebee (that film was set in 1987, FYI) – with the lowest of low expectations. I came prepared to hate it, to talk about Michael Bay’s love of explosions, the corny jokes and dumb human characters that are inconsequential to all the Battlebots-style goofy sequences on the screen in front of me.
Well, I hate to admit this, but here it goes … I actually liked TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS … And many audiences will, too.
It only took them several tries, but Paramount Pictures has finally turned out a Transformers movie where the story mostly makes sense, the jokes aren’t cringe-inducing (and dare I say, in a few instances, smart) and the human characters are actually interesting. Even more astounding? The action sequences work and there are is a BIG surprise that could signal the fix of something else much maligned 1980s kids will likely let out an audible gasp in response to it.
I’m not saying RISE is perfect. What I am saying, however, is that this film is enjoyable as everything pretty much works more than it doesn’t. Why? The film inserts the things that many of the others were lacking: Some intelligence and genuine emotion combined with visuals that pop and sequences that bring it all home.
Love him or hate him, Davidson has figured out who he is and is a perfect fit as Mirage and a much-needed balance from the wet blanket of a leader that has defined Optimus Prime throughout the series. Perlman, however, is able to bring some less-depressing leadership qualities to Optimus Primal, teaching the Autobot he was named after a thing or two in the process.
Likewise, Ramos and Fishback bring some much needed humanity (pun intended) to their roles, a quality that has been so forced throughout the Transformers live action franchise it’s not even funny (because it never was). Ramos is infinitely relatable as a character, which makes his journey interesting, a promise he delivers on with a solid performance. Likewise, Fishback’s character is smart but not too smart for the room to the point it’s annoying or silly, just effective and inspiration since the majority of women in this series well … Haven’t exactly been the given the best roles.
While one would be tempted to give credit to Michael Bay for stepping out of the director’s chair and focusing on actors right for the roles instead of familiar names and/or pretty faces, that would simply be too easy and frankly rude. For in the case of director Steven Caple, Jr., you can tell he was like many youths growing up in the 80s and 90s: An actual Transformers fan who saw great potential for the lack action films but knew how important it was to finally do them justice, striking the right balance between humorous and heartfelt as well as intense and interesting.
Given the implications of the film, it remains to be seen where exactly the franchise goes from here. But in much the same fashion that Warner Bros./D.C. is hoping James Gunn can get its comic book movie franchise finally headed in the right, consistent direction, if this is any indication of what’s next, there might be hope yet this series might finally deliver more than meets the eye since what had been previously seen wasn’t worth it.
But for those craving an entertaining Transformers movie, RISE OF THE BEASTS is far more fun than you’d ever expect.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

 

 

 

City of Dayton Jazz Fest Cancelled, Funk, Blues & Reggae To Continue!

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According to Bryan Taulbee from the City of Dayton Office of Communications and Public Affairs, declining attendance at the annual Jazz Festival was the main reason for this cancellation of this event that had been scheduled for June 12th of  this year.

He say the Dayton Blues Festival is  still on  for  Sunday,  July  23rd  at  Levitt  Pavilion, as is the Funk Festival for Sunday, August 13th, and the Dayton Reggae Festival for Sunday, Sept 3rd.  He shared  that  the  three  festivals are  what  the  city  can  handle right now.

Dayton Reggae Festival 2023