Dayton937

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

Archives for September 2023

Gem City Burlesque at Fairborn Phoenix

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Come seize the first night of autumn as we transport you into the enchanting and bizarre world of sideshow acts burlesque aerial arts and more! This show will present some of the greatest performers from across the Midwest at none other than the Fairborn Phoenix Theatre! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the theatre to assist in renovations!

VIP: $60

Exclusive VIP performances featuring..
Snake Dance by Zattana, Burlesque and more!

Also includes a complimentary drink

Table seat by stage (no assigned seating, first come first serve)

VIP Theatre doors open at 7pm for VIP show.

Gen Admission: $30

Lobby door opens at 7pm  Enjoy vendors, food truck and a drink at the concession stand before showtime and during intermissions.

Main show begins after 8pm.

Neon Introduces Cult Movie Mondays

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Downtown Dayton’s only movie theater will be starting a new film series featuring cult movies.  The Neon will kick this off on Monday, September 25th at 7:30pm with the cult classic and locally filmed DEADBEAT AT DAWN, written and directed by Jim Van Bebber.

Synopsis: One last job separates the leader of the Ravens gang from an early retirement. When he finds his girlfriend beaten to death by members of a rival gang, he seeks revenge, knowing that he may be dead by dawn. Will more blood bring her back?

In addition to the film, they will host a Q & A with Jim Van Bebber before the film along with screenings of some of his early short films.
Everything starts with special programming at 7:30pm and the film starting promptly at 8:00pm.
Tickets are $11 in advance, $14 at the door, and $53 for a 6 pack of tickets in advance (only available at cultmoviemonday.com or in-person 30 min. before the screening).

10?’s With Chef Waverly Howard

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Meet Chef Waverly Howard, affectionately known as Chef Wave, hailing proudly from Dayton, Ohio. Over the last decade, he has breathed life into his culinary aspirations. Chef Wave’s odyssey commenced with launching his food truck, Cruising Cuisine, and establishing his catering venture, Creative Delights.

What began as a fervent idea has blossomed into a remarkable success story, propelling him to the forefront of Downtown Dayton’s corporate landscape. As one of the most sought-after executive chefs in the region, Chef Wave remains dedicated to perfecting his craft and nurturing a vibrant food community.

Beyond the culinary realm, Chef Wave has embarked on a profound personal journey, striving for self-improvement while giving back to his cherished community. His commitment extends far beyond the kitchen, as he passionately advocates for renal kidney failure awareness, a cause deeply close to his heart.

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? 

My favorite ingredient is Garlic, it brings my dishes to life.
What ingredient do you dread?
I dread utilizing Thyme, too little you can’t tell it’s there and too much it can take over your entire dish.
What’s your favorite dish to make?
My favorite dish to make is Lasagna, it’s a dish that I can make in a variety of ways and it turns out perfect every time.

4 Cheese Chicken Lasagna

What’s your favorite pig out food?
My favorite thing to eat anytime of day is Savory Grits, I have such fine memories associated with Grits.
What restaurant, other than your own, do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?
The Roost Modern Italian
What’s your best advice for home chefs?
Take risks, be innovative, and have fun with your creations. Food is an experience that you should enjoy putting together.

Family meal brown sugar hot honey deep fried rib pan

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?
Kobe Bryant-
David Goggins-
Chad Wright-
Les Brown
These are all people who really motivate and inspire me in my everyday life. They share my willingness and drive to win at all cost. Such brilliant minds full of determination I would really enjoy just having a conversation over a good meal.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Bobby Flay, I think he has a really good story that really inspires me as we have several similarities in our life experiences. Throughout all of his obstacles he was determined to really make something of his life and he did just that.

Grilled salmon over eggs with bacon

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?
I’m always working and studying my craft. I have no days off.
Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:
During a traveling catering event that was scheduled to start at one time the event staff moved the time up an hour before we were initially scheduled. This event space had no tools for me to get my food up to temperature in a hurry. I didn’t want to compromise the quality of my food. I had to think quickly and utilized a technique with my hot boxes and sternos that was shared with me by another professional. I was able to serve my food on time and at the correct temperature without compromising the integrity of my food.

Monday is National Cheeseburger Day – Check Out These Deals

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If you’re a burger lover,  you’ll have plenty of reason to celebrate on Sept. 18th. It’s National Cheeseburger Day and many fast-food and fast-casual chains will be offering deals to mark the occasion.

Here’s a look at some of the deals and special offers to celebrate:

Applebee’s: Get a Classic Handcrafted Burger and Fries for $8.99 on Sept 18th

Burger King: Get a free cheeseburger with any purchase of $1 or more on Sept 18th

 

Dairy Queen: Get A Free Cheeseburger With Any Order Of $1 Or More In The App On Sept 18th

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Order through the app and get a Freddy’s Original Double for free at participating locations.

McDonald’s: Offering 50-Cent Double Cheeseburger Deal On Sept 18th

Smashburger: Offering $5 Classic Singles From Sept 18-20

Twin Peaks: Enjoy a $10 cheeseburger, fries and soda/tea bundle OR a $12 cheeseburger, fries and 22-oz Coors Light or Miller Lite bundle on National Cheeseburger Day.

Wahlburgers: Offering half off all burgers at participating locations on Sept 18th

Wendy’s: Offering 1-Cent Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger With any purchase In The App From Sept 18-22

White Castle: BOGO Single Cheese Slider – available with coupons on White Castle’s social media and/or website.

If you know of other deals, please share below in the comments.

Food Lovers Fundraiser For Miami Valley Meals This Tuesday

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Sample tastes from your favorite local chefs and support a great cause at the Diced in Dayton Chef’s Challenge this coming Tuesday at Top of the Market.  Diced is an interactive, food-filled event that showcases and celebrates the creativity of local chefs as they craft unique dishes from a set of mystery ingredients. Participating chefs must meet the challenge that MVM chefs face each day: how to transform unpredictable ingredients into something new and delicious.  Each chef was presented with a mystery box of 4 ingredients and will transform them into a great bite for all of the guests. Guests will delight in the ingenuity and flavor of the dishes while learning about what Miami Valley Meals does to help those who are food insecure in our community. At the end of the night, one chef will be named champion.
Featuring a dozen chefs from Bella Sorella Pizza Co, Blind Dogs, Creative Delights Catering, Corner Kitchen, De’Lish Cafe, Gather by Ghostlight, Greek Street, Kung Fu BBQ,  Napales, Rich Taste Catering, redBerry, You won’t want to miss this chance to enjoy great food for a great cause at the one-and-only Diced in Dayton.
General admission ticket – $75
-6:00 p.m. entry
-Sample tastes from 8 chefs
-Cast a vote for your favorite dish
VIP ticket – $150
-Early entry for VIP-exclusive happy half-hour at 5:30 p.m.
-2 free drink tickets
-Access to reserved VIP seating area
-Sample tastes from all 12 chefs
-Cast a vote for your favorite dish
-Free deck of Dayton Foodie cards ($30 value)
-Random chance to taste and judge in the final round
Purchase your ticket online here.
About Miami Valley Meals: Miami Valley Meals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides delicious chef-inspired meals to Daytonians experiencing food insecurity. Since we first launched our program in 2020, our team of professional chefs have recovered thousands of pounds of surplus food from a variety of local sources and transformed it into more than 580,000 meals for our hungry neighbors. These fresh and hearty meals are distributed free of charge throughout the Miami Valley by our network of nonprofit partners in an effort to help residents thrive.

Kettering Community Cupboard

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Kettering Leadership Academy’s Class of 2023 is proud to introduce Kettering’s first Community Cupboard located at Oakview Elementary School at the corner of Stroop Road and Ackerman Boulevard. The cupboard will be accessible 24/7 stocked with non-perishable food items, hygiene and household supplies and information for a variety of community resources.

Two additional locations have also been approved and details will be shared at a later date. Cupboard maintenance will happen collaboratively between the school and other community groups. The philosophy behind the cupboard is for people to take what they need and give what they can.

This initiative would not be possible without the efforts of KLA ’23 and countless partnerships created to make this concept a reality. Many thanks to Day-Air Credit Union, Bogg Ministries, Lowe’s Centerville on Wilmington Pike, Dor Wood Optimists, Good Shepherd Church, Kettering City Schools – Oakview Elementary, Kettering City Schools Forward Foundation and Kettering Rotary Club.

Calling All Pinball Wizards

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DK Effect’s eight week pinball and arcade league will start up on October 2nd.  Each week  you’ll play 3 random pinball machines and 1 arcade game. You’ll earn points based on your ranking on each machine. Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned gamer, it’s all about friendly competition and video game fun! To keep the good times rolling, DK Effect has 40 craft beers on tap and Gionino’s pizza available for purchase. The top flipper flippers and joystick joysters will win prizes at the end!
Entry is just $25 for the whole 8 week league, sign up online. So join them for  some electric entertainment! Drinks, food, and good times at DK Effect. See you on the leaderboards!
1600 East Third
Dayton, OH, 45403
937-416-2750
Mon – Thurs 4-11pm
Fri 11am – midnight
Sat noon – 1am
Sun no0n- 1opm

Grandview Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament

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Welcome to the Grandview Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament 2023! Join us for a day of fun, competition, and giving back to the community. This event is happening in person on Saturday, Sep 23 2023 at Yankee Park, 7500 Yankee Street, Dayton, OH 45459. Grab your friends and family to form a team of 5 (amateur skill level) and compete against other teams in the wiffle ball tournament. Cost is $50 per team, or $10 per individual.

Not only will you have a blast playing wiffle ball, but you will also be supporting a great cause. All proceeds from the event will support future RAGS programs through the Grandview Foundation.

There will be plenty of food and drinks available via food trucks and vendors, so bring your appetite (and your wallet!). Get ready for a day full of laughter and friendly competition. Games will be running all day, round-robin style. Schedule to follow after registration is complete. We can’t wait to see you there!

THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT

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A poignant yet high-spirited reflection on love, loss and resilience, Lend Me A Hand emerged as SCI coped with such life-changing events as the sudden death of their close friend Jesse Aratow (a member of their management team for most of the band’s history). As they dreamed up a batch of songs firmly centered on their storytelling, the band joined forces with Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Waxahatchee), a producer whose distinct vision helped SCI to fully embrace the album’s rootsy simplicity.

Kettering All You Can Eat Buffet Reopens

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A kitchen fire in the fall of 2022 closed down this family owned Chinese buffet, but today Bright Moon Buffet reopens.  This all you can eat buffet has been freshened up with new paint, new chairs and a staff that is ready to get back to work.

The buffet features classic Chinese cuisine like Egg Foo Young, Chop Suey, Chicken Lo Mein, Sweet and Sour Pork, with a salad bar, soups, a selection of sushi and dessert bar.  On the weekend you’ll even find crab legs on the buffet table.

Bright Moon Buffet
2900 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH
937-999-4108
Hours:
 Sun – Thurs 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat 11am – 9:30pm

TIFF Day #9 – 2023

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Hello Dayton937,

Today was my final day of screenings for 2023.  Over the past 9 days, I’ve gone to 35 screenings..and I’ve screened 33 films.  How’s that possible?  I walked out of one and I saw one film 2 times.

There are/were so many other films at the festival that I wish I had been able to see – sometimes it was a matter of scheduling, and other times it was a matter of buzz not happening until after the opportunities had passed. HIT MAN, DREAM SCENARIO, AMERICAN FICTION, SING SING, and ZONE OF INTEREST are among the films I hope to catch in the months ahead.  Then there are the films of the season that didn’t screen at TIFF…they either already played at Cannes, Venice or Telluride…or they’ll be screening at NYFF – like PRISCILLA, POOR THINGS, ALL OF US STRANGERS, MAESTRO, FERRARI or KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.  So there’s still a lot to see this year!

My first film today was complicated subject matter. MEMORY, dir Michel Franco (USA) “Past, present, and future collide when Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) follows Sylvia (Jessica Chastain) home from a high school reunion, in this touching and masterful film by director Michel Franco.” (TIFF Catalog)  Without giving too much away, Sarsgaard’s character is dealing with dementia – so his memories are inconsistent and unreliable.  Chastain’s character made accusations as a young person that weren’t believed…so her memories are challenged at every step.  The performances here are strong, but there are clearly moments of improvisation within the script – and some moments/performers are better than others.  Though there’s some great work happening here, I found myself cringing so often at decisions that characters were making…which I found truly upsetting.  But in the end, I guess that would only work if I felt an investment in them.

STRANGE WAY OF LIFE, dir Pedro Almodovar (Spain) – REPEAT VIEWING!  I wanted to see the new Almodovar on the big screen again.  The film is only 30 minutes, so I scurried and chose a front row seat.  I wanted to be consumed by it…it’s Almodovar – so the production design and color palette are incredible, and the guys are all beautiful.  One fun fact about this short is that Almodovar shot it on an old set that Sergio Leone used to shoot three Westerns with Clint Eastwood (so many classic Westerns were shot in Spain…so when uninformed actors like Sam Elliott complain that there’s no place for gay characters in Westerns…and that directors who aren’t from America shouldn’t be making American Westerns – they need a bit of education).  The thrust of this film is mostly to answer a question that was posed in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN but never answered…and because Almodovar was originally courted to direct BROKEBACK, he decided to answer the question 20 years later. (That said, Almodovar means no disrespect to BROKEBACK.  He says he loves what Ang Lee created.)

My next film was new Blanchett.  I couldn’t skip a chance to see Blanchett at work.  THE NEW BOY, dir. Warwick Thornton (Australia) “Starring Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, this spiritual drama from Warwick Thornton (TIFF ’17’s Sweet Country) hauntingly evokes Australia’s fraught colonial legacy through the story of one very special child.” (TIFF Catalog).  This story is about an Aboriginal boy who is dropped off at at place for orphans in the middle of nowhere Australia where a nun – Sister Eileen (Blanchett) – runs the shop….and Sister Eileen is also charged with converting the boys to Christianity (the pastor who is supposed to be in charge is mysteriously absent).  The boy seems to have a special gift – a little light that he conjures and uses for healing and comfort.  The film is gorgeously shot, relatively quiet and full of great performances.  It shows us what happens when we force our own doctrines on those around us.

What a way to end my festival! My final film was a documentary about one of my favorite filmmakers/filmmaking personalities – the late, incredible Agnes Varda!  VIVA VARDA, dir. Pierre-Henri Gibert (France) “This profile of filmmaker Agnès Varda brings fresh perspectives missing from her autobiographical work, as it covers her oeuvre spanning from her emergence in the French New Wave to acclaimed works such as Vagabond and The Gleaners and I.” (TIFF Catalog). I was a little nervous about this film.  How could a filmmaker create something fresh and new about Varda – she spent the last several years of her career telling us all about her life.   Well…In fact, there was a lot more to tell!  This concise, hour+ documentary is so packed with great material that I want to see it again again – sometimes focusing on the subtitles, sometimes focusing on the visuals…and then going back to the source material and watching the films.  (Next Criterion sale, I’ll be buying the 15-disc set.). Varda was a pioneer and quite a character.  The director introduced the film (and did a Q&A), and he said that the French have pivoted to a positive gaze of Varda’s work due in part to North America’s embrace…France had often written her off and not included her in much talk of the French New Wave until “recently.” I can’t wait to see this film again.

Before walking into  VIVA VARDA tonight, I was already mourning the end of this year’s festival.  I often hear industry folks complaining about being at the festival.  It’s like people complaining about where they live – what a bore.  I have absolutely adored submerging myself in international cinema over the past nine days.  During the last few years, I have truly missed this part of my job…and I’m so glad I was able to come back.

Over the coming days and weeks (and possibly through repeat viewings), I’m sure my feelings on certain films will evolve (sometimes due simply to more rested eyes).  I know that I can be a little rough on films sometimes, but I’ve been honest with my gut responses to all 33 films immediately after seeing them.  Thanks for coming along on the journey with me…I hope to see you back in Dayton.

My best,

Jonathan

Fleming’s $75 Filet & Lobster 3-Course Meal

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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has just introduced a Filet Mignon and North Atlantic Lobster 3 course dinner special starting at $75* that will be available nightly through September 26th. *Price excludes tax and  gratuity.

Filet & Lobster 3-Course Menu

All entrées include choice of salad & dessert.

Salad choice of:

FLEMING’S SALAD -walnuts, tomatoes, dried cranberries, red onion, lemon balsamic vinaigrette 300 cal

CAESAR SALAD – romaine, parmesan, fried capers, crispy prosciutto 300 cal

choice of Entrée:

PETITE FILET MIGNON* & NORTH ATLANTIC LOBSTER TAIL     980 cal | 75

MAIN FILET MIGNON* & NORTH ATLANTIC LOBSTER TAIL 1130 cal | 81

PETITE FILET MIGNON* & ALASKAN GOLDEN KING CRAB LEGS 1160 cal | 75

MAIN FILET MIGNON* & ALASKAN GOLDEN KING CRAB LEGS 1300 cal | 81

Dessert choice of:

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE – classic preparation, strawberry red wine sauce & fresh mint 1110 cal

CHOCOLATE GOOEY BUTTER CAKE- honeycomb brittle, chocolate sauce & caramel 760 cal

Dayton Fleming’s

4432 Walnut Street
Dayton, OH 45440
937-320-9548

GET DIRECTIONS

HOURS

Main Dining Room
& Outdoor Dining
Sun: 4PM–9PM
Mon–Sat: 4PM–10PM

Carry Out
Sun: 12PM–9PM
Mon–Sat: 12PM–10PM

Delivery
Sun: 12:30PM–8:30PM
Mon–Sat: 12:30PM–9:30PM

Hardee’s New Nashville Hot Chicken Lineup

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Joining Hardee’s signature Hand-Breaded Chicken platform, the new Nashville Hot Chicken lineup includes kicked-up versions of Hardee’s favorites like Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich, Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, and Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Biscuit

Hardee's Launches New Nashville Hot Chicken Lineup

Here’s a closer look at the lineup:

  • Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich: A premium, all-white chicken fillet, hand dipped in buttermilk, lightly breaded, fried to a golden brown, topped with Nashville Hot Seasoning, plus garlic pickles and mayonnaise, all served on a toasted potato bun.
  • Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Biscuit: A tender all-white meat chicken breast, battered and breaded in the brand’s crispy coating, topped with Nashville Hot Seasoning on a Made from Scratch Biscuit
  • Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders: Premium, all-white meat chicken, hand dipped in buttermilk, lightly breaded, fried to a golden brown and topped with Nashville Hot Seasoning. Each order is served with a choice of dipping sauce.
Hardee’s Nashville Hot Chicken

To celebrate the launch, Hardee’s is offering My Rewards members an in-app only offer good for a buy one hand-breaded chicken sandwich (regular, BLT or Nashville Hot), get one for $2 at participating locations for a limited time.

 

Soft Opening For Culture This Weekend

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After a couple of months of doing pop up meals, Chef Dane is holding the soft opening for his new Oregon spot, CULTURE this Friday and Saturday from 4-10pm.  Dane describes his food as elevated comfort food and his menu is a true fusion of southern food, with a nod towards asian and Indian.  He’ll also feature some vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Here’s a peek at the menu:

 

Located in the space that was formerly the 416 Diner, it still has the same seating options, booths against the wall, counter seating, as well as a great outdoor patio.

CULTURE
 Food and Vibes

416 E. Fifth Street
Dayton, OH 45402

 

 

TIFF Day #8 – 2023 – 30 Films Screened So Far

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Hello Dayton937!

Today was looking slim initially.  My only official film on the books today was NYAD – everything else came as surprises…and we all know that not all surprises are good.

My first film was from Cuba. WILD WOMAN, dir. Alán González (Cuba). “Yolanda, a Cuban woman, goes from dancing her heart out at a house party to running against the clock to find her son and skip town once a video circulates from that gathering that seems to incriminate her.” (TIFF Catalog)  Not only did I feel like this film was missing a reel (that doesn’t really happen anymore), it also is as much about the landscape as it is about the main character.  Though the lead actress was quite compelling and gives an honest and rather heartbreaking performance, not everyone is as good. I ultimately was only slightly invested to find out “what happens” at the end, and I don’t see this film breaking out.

My next film was my first “early departure” from TIFF.  If you’re new to my blog, you might not know that I don’t review or name names for films that I don’t finish.  I don’t think it’s fair to write reviews for films that I don’t watch from beginning to end.  In this case, the idiot dialog and some really poor performances (it seemed like every line was said with a knowing smile) made me cringe a lot…and my eyes were starting to hurt from rolling so much.  It was noted at the start that it was being presented courtesy of Paramount+, so maybe you’ll stumble upon it there one day – let me know if you watch a movie with some really big stars there in the near future.

Next up was a film I was anxious to see…and it didn’t disappoint. NYAD, dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin (USA). “Annette Bening and Jodie Foster dive into the dangerous waters of the Florida Straits, in this film based on the true story of the woman who, at the age of 64, became the first person to swim from Cuba to the US without a shark cage.” (TIFF Catalog) This film was directed by the folks who brought us the incredible doc FREE SOLO – and it’s their first time directing a narrative.  They’s got the chops to do it…and with Bening and Foster as the talent, it turns into crowd-pleasing gold. As a bonus, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & the real Bonnie (Nyad’s best friend turned coach) were in attendance to introduce the film and partake in a Q&A after.  It was spectacular, and Bening is so very present and alive in this performance!  The film is inspiring on a lot of levels, and every now and then, I saw a little glimmer of my friend Julia Reichert in Annette Bening. I’m sad that most people will see this on Netflix…it deserves a big screen with good sound.

I tried to get a ticket to the film AMERICAN FICTION tonight, but demand was too high – and even though I waited over an hour, at least 100 of us were turned away…so instead, I chose a documentary about a performer I admire but didn’t know much about. LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO, dir. Carlos López Estrada, Zac Manuel (USA). “Watch superstar Lil Nas X transcend genres and defy expectations in this revealing, jubilant, and inspiring musical documentary.”  This documentary, though certainly a PR piece, shined some light on a performer who is breaking down barriers.  I admire how unabashedly queer and flamboyant Lil Nas has become in the public eye over the past couple years, and it was nice to get some background on him as well as explore some production moments of the tour I wasn’t able to attend.  For all the quick fame and money that has come his way, Lil Nas still seems a bit naive but also grounded on some level…and that’s refreshing.  Madonna makes a quick appearance in the doc – which certainly seems to give a nod to TRUTH OR DARE – which was groundbreaking 30+ years ago.

Tomorrow is my last full day of screenings.  On some level, it’s hard to believe it’s winding down…on another, it seems like I’ve been here for months.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan