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Reinventing Daytonians

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Emily Evans, Shawndra Jones, Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert and Megan Hague at Urban Nights 2012/SheriWilliams

Emily Evans, Shawndra Jones, Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert and Megan Hague at Urban Nights 2012/SheriWilliams

In the summer of 2012, I had the pleasure to join filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, along with about 15 other radio producers and filmmakers, as we hit the streets of Dayton asking the questions, “How is Dayton doing?” and “Have you had to reinvent yourself?” We focused on four neighborhoods, split into teams and started talking to anyone who would respond. The interaction was simple. If you see someone walking down the street, say hi, and try to start a conversation; If someone is out on their porch, same thing. Time after time I was surprised by how many people didn’t think their story applied, only for them to tell their experience and find out they were in the middle of reinventing themselves. Other times, it was like they were waiting for someone–anyone–to come along and ask them about their story. Hearing someone reflect on their own achievements, failures, and losses was a humbling and intimate experience, one that will stay with me throughout my life. After months of collecting audio and footage, and intensive editing, I am very proud the third act of the interactive website, ReinventionStories.org will go live on April 9th.

We are all very excited about Act Three.  Unlike the previous acts, Act Three unlocks an interactive map of Dayton that contains lots more.  There’s a place for you to participate in telling the story of reinventing Dayton by uploading your own story of reinvention. The process is easy. Simply click on the ‘share your story’ box located on the map. You’ll give your name, neighborhood, a title to your story and upload your own pictures. Next you’ll tell your story in three parts, prompted by three questions: “Who were you?” “What happened?” “Who are you now?” Your story will appear on the map in your given neighborhood.

While you wait for Act Three, explore Act One and Two of ReinventionStories.org now! There is plenty to watch. First the short films following seven individuals in various neighborhoods.  Then there are several one-minute vignettes of events and activities happening around Dayton, located in the ‘Drive the Road’ page of each act. Every act ends in a question to which you can respond. The first questions prompt you to think about what you value in Dayton.  The second set urges you to think about what gives you hope for the future.  Each response appears on the ‘Speak You Mind’ page, and then is tweeted through our twitter @ReinventDayton. Follow us to see the responses.

Working on this project has completely changed my view of the city I have lived near for 22 years. I grew up thinking there was nothing going on in Dayton. I couldn’t have been more wrong and this site proves it. It’s all about how curious you are, and how much you’re willing to see and discover.

Come back on April 9th and add your story! How do you think Dayton is doing? Have you reinvented yourself?

Belmont Theater, Watervliet Ave, North side, 1949/Courtesy of Reggie Swickard

Belmont Theater, Watervliet Ave, North side, 1949/Courtesy of Reggie Swickard

With the addition of the map, the full expression of the interactivity of the site is revealed. There are other categories: Participation, History, Happenings and Neighbors. The history category is really fun.  It contains old photos from locations throughout Dayton. The photos from Belmont, Twin Towers and South Park are especially amazing. I helped collect the photos from Belmont and Twin Towers with the generous aid of Kay Wolff from St. Mary’s Church in Twin Towers and Reggie Swickard from Foot Focus in Belmont. We need your help to add more so we can continue to reveal our rich past. Send us your archival photos!

(Contributed by Emily Evans, Field Producer and Associate Producer of Reinvention Stories)

Walking Dead Food Adventure & Zombie Dogz at Horror Hound Weekend

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‘Juan of the Dead’ Zombie Dog

Here is something you will not see anywhere else.  The Big Ragu and Crew had a VIP experience at last weekend’s Horror Hound convention in Sharonville.  We had a Food Adventure with Merle & Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead (Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker)!  Featured along with the Cast of the Walking Dead and many celebrities was a Dayton’s own,  Zombie Dogz.  Typically a food truck, it was a little different this time for the gourmet hot dog masters.   They operated out of a catering booth inside the convention center.     Owners of  Zombie Dogz,  Lee and David VanArtsdalen and Horror Hound Magazine’s Eric Crowley personally invited us to the event and set us up for an unforgettable Food Adventure.

The Big Ragu and Crew shared some iconic Dayton foods with the celebrities:

We had a Zombie Dog with a Reservoir Dog.  That’s right, we dined and joked with Michael Madsen.  Michael was a great sport, and he didn’t carve our ear off.   He shared some good Hollywood stories and laughs with us.  We also learned he was telling other celebrities about his time with us and the Zombie Dogz.

Legendary horror film director John Carpenter also enjoyed one of Dayton’s Zombie Dogz with us, while he was wearing some pretty sweet black velvet sweat pants.  It was almost as scary as his film “Halloween.”   Meeting this giant of the film industry was priceless.

We gave a hungry Twisted Sister Frontman Dee Snider some Mikesell’s Good n Hot Potato chips.  In fact, the whole cast of his show “Holliston” shared the bag.  What does Dee wanna do with his chips?  ‘He wants them hot, HOT !’   This Celebrity Apprentice star loved the taste of Mikesells, and we were not ‘fired’ in the boardroom.

Dee Snider from Twisted Sister & Celeb Apprentice loves Mikesells Chips

The star of the scary Candyman movies Tony Todd, loved the box of Esther Price Candies we gave him.   He enjoyed them so much, he gave us a high five the next day.   Even movie stars like the Candyman love Esther Price Candies !

Remember the classic 60’s TV show The Munsters?  Well, we ate Muenster cheese with Eddie Munster, thanks to Murray’s Cheese from Kroger in Centerville.  Eddie, played by Butch Patrick, appreciated it so much, he signed a photo for us!

The  Big Ragu and Crew ate lunch with Bengals Defensive Tackle Domata Peko .  We enjoyed some LaRosa’s Pizza while sitting with his family.  Domata is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.  He is also a horror movie fan like us,  and was excited to meet the various celebs.

Where else can you see this kind of stuff?  Only here, only Food Adventures and Dayton Most Metro.  Often imitated, never duplicated.

The Big Ragu also shared French Bread and Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water with 80’s babe Diane Franklin from the movie “Better Off Dead.”  If you saw the movie, you get the significance of the food items, ‘and to drink…. Peru’ .  These days Diane is promoting her new book “Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s.”  You can buy the book here on Amazon.com.

We hung out with other famous horror actors including Lew Temple, Sid Haig, Tom Savini,  Irwin Keyes, Robert Mukes and many other costumed monsters.  The original car from the movie Christine was there, we wanted to take it to the Root Beer Stande Drive in but she turned us down.  Special mention to our friends at S.T.A.R.S Cincinnati, a costumed fan group of the movie “Resident Evil.”  They do charity appearances and their slogan is “We kill zombies for charity.”  Speaking of Zombies….

The “Calling in Dead” Zombie Dog has Mac N Cheese on top

About Zombie Dogz:

Have you tried a Zombie Dog?  These hot dogs are so big, that they almost look like kielbasa sausages.  The menu at Zombie Dogz is pretty simple.  It all starts with large, juicy all beef hot dog.    The hot dog is placed into a wonderful sandwich roll, strong enough to hold the hot dog and ingredients intact.  What makes a zombie dog special is the choice of toppings.  Each Zombie Dog has a creative name based on those toppings.  The menu is constantly evolving with new creations, but The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax ate these hot dogs all weekend and want to share our favorites.

Zombe’ Grande – The all beef hot dog is topped with cheese queso sauce, lettuce, cilantro sour cream, jalapeno bacon bits and crushed corn chips.  The mix of the cheese sauce and crushed corn chips are a gooey, tasty combination that won us over.  This was definitely one of our favorites

Juan of the Dead – An all beef frank topped with Swiss cheese, homemade bbq pulled pork, sweet and tangy mustard and pickles.  The pulled pork and pickles really make this gourmet hot dog.  The Big Ragu say this is a must eat!

The Nibbler – This time they wrap the hot dog in bacon, then smother it in spicy chili.  The zombie dog is then topped off with diced red onion, sweet & tangy mustard, and shredded muenster cheese.  This one really woke up our taste buds and is a Food Adventure in your mouth.

Owners Dave and Lee VanArtsdalen of Zombie Dogz, with Co-founder/Marketer Michael Whitaker

Calling in Dead  – This over the top creation tops the hot dog with homemade mac n cheese.  The creamy mac n cheese is cooked in truffle oil for a magnificent flavor.  The final touch in this hot dog is a sprinkle of truffle salt and cracker crumbs.  This hot dog was so rich, we could hardly finish it.  It packed a powerful punch on our appetites, but we couldn’t stop eating it.

Brain Daddy – This was the most Caribbean style hot dog that we tried.  The all beef dog is topped with slow roasted mango habanero pulled pork.  It was also topped with pineapple-cherry salsa.  The final dash of white and black sesame seeds finishes this masterpiece.  This gourmet dog promises to have your taste buds dancing the mambo.

The Horror Hound Weekend was incredible. We got to meet Dayton horror film makers like our pals from Concept Media Films.  We even bought a couple of their Dayton-made DVD’s!  Meanwhile The Big Ragu was distracted by the Jersey girls over at GorgeousAndGory.com.  Supporting local people and making new Food Adventure fans seemed to sum up this fantastic experience.

This Zombie Dog is called “The Nibbler”

Miami Valley foodies should keep their eye open for events featuring the Zombie Dogz Food Truck and their unique creations.  The hot dogs will satisfy your hunger at the not so bad price of $6.50 per dog.  There are even have veggie dog options.  Want to catch Zombie Dogz Food Truck’s next event?  Then visit Dayton’s Crafty-Con on April 5th.  The event will be held from 5pm to 11pm at the Yellow Cab Building on 700 East 4th St.   Tell the zombies that The Big Ragu sent you !

 

Feel free to comment on the Zombie Dogz Food Truck below.  Also share any thoughts about Horror Hound Weekend as well.

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here, unless you are scared of zombies and good times.

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Pick up the Telephone Weekly – It’s For You

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Telephone WeeklyI am often looking at articles on other local sites to stay on top of things happening in the Dayton Region, and a few weeks ago I came across an Examiner.com article in which the author mentioned writing for a new weekly paper that was about to launch in Dayton – Telephone Weekly.  What was this?  I hadn’t heard about it, and this is something that I should have heard about – was I slipping?  I followed the link to this brand new website and looked at the Contributors page to see who was behind it.  Brian Johnson – hmm, I had heard that name before but wasn’t sure if I had ever met him.  There wasn’t much info to go by, but it didn’t take long for me to find a friend who did know Brian (this being a small city, most of us are only one Kevin Bacon-degree away from each other).  Soon, Lisa Grigsby and I were having coffee with Brian and his partner/editor Kerry D. Brown at our favorite coffee shop (and unofficial DMM headquarters) Ghostlight Coffee, and we heard all about this new venture.  Soon, we were talking about collaborating together.  But before I get to that, let me share more about the founders of Telephone Weekly and what their new paper is all about.

Brian Johnson had been helping small businesses, including doing screen-printing sales with Four Ambition and doing advertising and branding sales with Clay+Stan.  Kerry D. Brown had done sales and even worked at a homeless shelter before fate connected these two entrepreneurs, and after a lot of convincing from Brian they decided to launch their idea for a new free weekly paper: Telephone Weekly.

Kerry D. Brown - Editor at Telephone Weekly

Kerry D. Brown – Editor at Telephone Weekly

Dayton Most Metro: Welcome to the local Dayton media world, guys!  We’re excited to be collaborating with you, and we’re looking forward to helping introduce you and Telephone Weekly to our readers. What is Telephone Weekly and what inspired you to start it?

Kerry Brown: A lot of different things, really.  As far as what is Telephone – it is an independent free print weekly.  A lot of cities have  one or more, and we thought Dayton could use another.  We wanted to put our take out there on what a free weekly could be.

Brian Johnson:  We wanted a new voice in the Dayton area – something more interactive, more for the people.  Another option… we were tired of reading the same things week in and week out with no options, while seeing other print medias dying off.

DMM: What can people expect when they pick it up and begin to read it?

KB: A lot of fun, interactivity… a lot of great images.  We were inspired a bit by a magazine called Mental Floss – a mash-up of all kinds of things like science, art and humor.  I believe we’re going to do a lot of that.  A focus on the local DIY culture.  And all locally created content – as in nothing syndicated.

BJ: Heavy on solid design, solid well-written content and a focus on local businesses.

DMM: Telephone Weekly is an interesting name – how did you choose it?

BJ: The name Telephone Weekly came from that old game “telephone” that people would play where somebody whispers something to somebody else, and that person repeats it to another, and so on.  We’re building on that idea, where people will read something and talk to others about it.  We also want it to be a two-way conversation.

KB: Our friend Bryan Brady actually came up with the name Telephone after we all brainstormed ideas, wanting a word that people don’t use anymore.  We like the juxtaposition of telephone and magazine, two things that don’t normally go together.

DMM: Where will people be able to find Telephone Weekly?

BJ:  People can find it in places like coffee shops, college campuses, restaurants, museums, etc.  Our reach is Troy to the north, Springboro to the south, Springfield to the east and many places just west of Dayton.

….

So now that you know the story behind Telephone Weekly, look for it next time you’re out – and be sure to pick it up (and check out their website and Facebook page)!  As for the collaboration between Telephone Weekly and Dayton Most Metro…

Telephone Weekly Issue 1Telephone Weekly and Dayton Most Metro

(from the writers at Telephone Weekly)

When Brian and Kerry set out to develop the Dayton’s new independent weekly magazine they knew that providing information about all of the things to do in and around Dayton was going to be an important aspect of the magazine. It turns out that fate had another idea.

What Brian and Kerry had not yet realized was the overwhelming amount of information that would need to be gathered, formatted, checked for accuracy and ultimately published in order to be a source of information on local events. An entire publication could be filled with listings of community organizations, meetings, art events, restaurants, music, theatre, film, active lifestyles; the list goes on-and-on. After thinking on the issue they eventually remembered this little thing called the Internet. Kerry explains “ We were like; why, in-the-name-of-all-that-is-holy, would people turn to a weekly print publication to find out what was going down in their hometown when they could immediately look it up on one of the multiple electronic devices surrounding them?” Why indeed. Someone else was already doing this and doing it better, in a format better suited to it. It was at that point Brian and Kerry formulated their simple solution. Kerry describes the basic thought process behind it “We thought, let’s just pick a few cool events each week, events we think will connect with our readers and that fits with what Telephone is and leave the comprehensive listings to those that are already on it; why be redundant?”

That settled the issue for the time being. Kerry continues “It was like, a couple of weeks later when Brian called me saying that Bill Pote from Dayton Most Metro contacted him and that Bill had hinted at the idea of us working together. We were both, like ‘This is awesome dude!’ They are easily the biggest and best online, local events site there is!”

Jazzed for their meeting with Bill, the two conspired to present the most professional sounding proposal they could. Each knew that it would be great for Telephone to develop a relationship with Dayton Most Metro; having access to such a comprehensive events listing would save them a huge amount time, provide a source from which to curate Telephone’s event listings and avoid the annoying redundancy of pages of printed events listings. Not to mention an initial legitimizing force for the magazine.

But what of Dayton Most Metro; what was in it for them? Kerry explains their thoughts on this “We figured it was basically just a big weekly ad for Dayton Most Metro. We would post our listings and if people weren’t into what they were seeing or just wanted to know more about what was going on . . . Well, go online and check out Dayton Most Metro. Guaranteed you’ll find something there that you like.

So here we are Dayton’s freshest independent free weekly; Telephone Magazine and the most widely used online resource for information on what’s going down in your hometown, Dayton Most Metro, making sweet, sweet music together.

Look for the Dayton Most Metro page in Telephone Weekly where you can see a few featured upcoming events, and check out the DMM Event Calendar here to see 3,000 more!

The Great 1913 Flood

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Downtown Dayton, March 1913. MS-128, Miami Conservancy District Records, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University

Downtown Dayton, March 1913. MS-128, Miami Conservancy District Records, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University

A major natural disaster that tested, and proved, the courage, tenacity and foresight of the people of the Miami Valley

By Joe Aiello

© 2013, J.C. Aiello

 

I am a native Daytonian. As such, you might think it reasonable that I would know quite a bit about the Great 1913 Flood. And I do … now. But the first time I ever received any hard information about the flood was 1963, the year it celebrated its 50th anniversary. And I my twenty-third birthday.

I had recently graduated college and had started working for a company whose offices were located on the north side of Monument Avenue across the street from where Fifth Third Field presently stands. My particular office was on the second floor. One day, while on a long-distance call, I looked at the wall across from my desk, and something about it just didn’t look right. The wall was painted all one color, but the bottom two-thirds of the wall were pronouncedly darker than the top third.

When I had finished the call, I asked a fellow employee if he knew why the color varied.

“Sure,” he replied. “The 1913 flood.”

Then he explained. The building we were in had been in the flood, and the water had reached as high as the third floor and then some. It took a moment, but it finally hit me; if we had been standing in that office during the flood, we two would most likely have drowned. Over fifteen feet above street level!

That day sparked a curiosity in me about the Great Flood. However, it would be another 25 years before I would make a serious, focused effort to satisfy it.

1988 was the 75th anniversary of the flood. I spent a good part of that year researching and writing a script for a television documentary about it. What I learned in that process – about the flood itself, the effect it had on the people, the rescue and relief efforts and the steps undertaken to ensure that such a catastrophe would never again endanger the city or the valley in which it resides –  is something that everyone living here today should know.

Employing the same research sources I used in 1988 plus some I have since uncovered, here is what I learned.

 

Courtesy of the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources

Courtesy of the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources

An Environmental Trap

Look at Dayton and the Miami Valley today, and the last thing you might ever imagine is that it had once been the scene of one of the greatest natural disasters North America has ever endured.

Water has always been with us. According to scientific estimates, 300 million years ago Ohio and most of North America existed beneath a saltwater sea. It took a series of lengthy geological stages before that sea gradually dried up and land rife with developmentally early plant and animal life emerged in Ohio.

But there was still water, in the form of a river geologists called Tayes, that started in the Appalachian plateau and flowed across Central Ohio, creating hills and a valley. The Miami Valley.

About 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, there came more water, but in the form of two glacier-like Ice Sheets (the Kansas and the Illinois) and the Wisconsin Glacier. Each in turn scraped its way through the area damning the Tayes with sand and gravel, cutting new streams through the valley and filling them with glacial drift. The result was the Miami Valley’s present river system, an environment just waiting for a natural disaster to happen.

And it had ample opportunities.

Since 1805, numerous floods had descended on the Miami Valley; the 1805 flood alone buried Dayton streets under eight feet of water. Communities abutting the Great Miami River built levees out of dirt to counter the flooding. Under normal circumstances that alone should have been enough to solve the problem. If only the way the streams joined one another around Dayton had been different ….

Picture this: you’re holding a large, clear-rubber tube in your hand. Other, smaller tubes connect with it in three different places. Pretend the large tube is the Great Miami River flowing through Dayton, and the smaller, connecting tubes are the Stillwater and Mad Rivers and Wolf Creek. Got the picture? Now try to visualize the large tube bent in the shape of the letter “S” with the lower half of it narrowing to a little more than half the size of the opening at the top.

That was the Great Miami River in March, 1913. Two rivers and a stream joined to a twisted, narrowing large river in a region with a long and well-documented history of floods, setting the stage for a disaster of monumental proportions.

 

A Time of Change

It was 1913. Jesse L. Lasky had founded the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company and later helped found Paramount Pictures. The Indian‑Head Nickel came into circulation. The Sixteenth Amendment established income taxes, and the Seventeenth regulated senatorial elections by popular vote. Woodrow Wilson of Virginia was inaugurated as the twenty‑eighth President. In Ohio, James M. Cox, who had been publisher of the major local newspaper, became the newly elected, staunchly pro-business Governor. And Dayton adopted the City Commission/City Manager form of government.

1913 Dayton’s neighborhoods were populated by African-Americans, Bavarians, Irish, New Englanders, Pennsylvanians, Slavs and Southerners. Neighbors all, they shared a love for parades – hardly needing much excuse for participating in, or watching – parades, many of which crossed in or out of downtown Dayton on bridges over the Miami River.

 

A Perfect Storm

The weather during the week of March 17, 1913 was dry and windy. Droppings from horses and horse-pulled buggies left city streets crying for a good washing. People were wishing for rain. And rain it did.

Huge air masses from Canada, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Plains converged on Ohio dropping between one and two inches of rain on Easter Sunday, March 23, and another two to five inches on Monday, March 24. The river began to rise … slowly … steadily.

 

An Apathetic Reaction

On River Street (today known as Riverview Avenue in the section of Dayton called Lower Riverdale) that Monday, the City of Dayton was having trouble at the storm sewer pumping station there and reported it to the Dayton Power and Light Company. Whenever the river was above the storm sewer outlet, the station’s function was to pump all the rain water that fell in Lower Riverdale directly into the river.

Two Dayton Power and Light Company service employees corrected the trouble, then walked back up the north levee to the Main Street Bridge. At that time the river was six to eight feet below the top of the levee and reportedly rising one foot an hour. Despite this, neither service employee thought that there was any danger of a flood.

Given the area’s flood history, most Daytonians were more curious than concerned; many gathered at the levees to watch the water rise. Few thought, or knew, they were actually risking their lives. They had seen high water before. They did what they had historically done; they returned home and waited for the water to subside.

However, this time was far different than anything that had gone before. Between nine and 11 inches of rain on ground saturated with melted ice and snow would become almost four trillion gallons of water, about the same amount as one month’s worth of water flow over Niagara Falls.

One reason why, perhaps, many people weren’t worried was that 1912 had seen the development of a flood control plan scheduled for implementation in 1913. The contract was completed, men hired, and equipment positioned. Had it been implemented, the plan would have controlled floods with a flow of up to 90,000 cubic‑feet‑per‑second. Had it been implemented ….

Next – A Titanic Terror (Continue reading…)

It’s Munch Madness at Vinny’s Bar & Grill

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Reuben, with Corned Beef Baked in Guinness Stout for Flavor

Going to the March Madness games at UD arena?  We have found THE pre-party place, Vinny’s Bar & Grille, just minutes from campus.  They are having a big bash on Friday starting at 11am and will be grilling in the parking lots! Grab a hot polish weiner then go root for your winner.   Don’t have a ticket to the NCAA games?  Don’t fret, stay and eat!  Vinny’s will have the action on various TV’s, so it will feel like you are there.

The Food Adventures Crew are sports fans, and a while ago we found a locally owned place to have a little ‘Munch Madness’ of our own.  Vinny’s features an in-house menu with many homemade variations depending on the day.  Sometimes you can even catch the bearded catering sensation Rick from “Rick’s Tropical Delight Catering” and his ‘Big Green Egg Cooker.’

Lamb Chops cooked by Rick from ‘Ricks Tropical Delight Catering’

Vinny’s Bar & Grille is on 2229 Dryden Rd in Moraine just a couple of miles from UD Arena.  The bar & grill is active in the community, supporting charities and trumpeting Dayton athletics.  What Daytonian wouldn’t love that?  It is a hometown bar with a unique menu.. well, three menus, actually.  There is a weekday menu, nightime bar menu and a special ‘tailgate buffet’ menu during men’s home basketball games.   The prices are cheap too!! Oh, but that’s not all folks.   Add to the mix their special guest from time to time, Rick with “Rick’s Tropical Delight.”  He cooks out back and sips beers with patrons.  This bearded wonder could be a long lost member of ZZ top.  He has style, he has skills, and long beard that amazingly avoids being singed on the grill.   Rick has a 6 ceramic cookers called the ‘Big Green Egg.’  What is the Big Green Egg? It is a hardwood, lump charcoal ceramic grill.  You can find Rick cooking anything from Hot Polish Sausages and Bratwurst, to Beef Brisket and Chateaubriand Steak depending on his mood.  Last night, we were lucky enough to enjoy his Grilled Lamb Chops and Shrimp on the Barbie.  The lamb chops were lean, delicious and perfectly cooked.  The shrimp also had an unforgettable flavor of infused smokiness from the hardwood grill.  Rick knows his craft, and is a true grill master.

We were first introduced to Vinny (who’s 50th birthday is today) when we tried his Voodoo Chili at the AMBUCS chili cookoff.   Now having visited Vinny’s a few times, we can tell you that the menu choices are constantly changing.  But with the variety, comes some pretty fantastic food.  The waitress told us all of the entrees and sides were homemade except the cottage cheese.   you gotta love that.  Energetic owner, Vinny Nyhan invited us to the ‘First Four’ Pre-Party at Vinny’s Bar & Grill last night to kick off March Madness.  His wife Jane and kitchen cook Cindy were preparing some amazing dishes.  What ensued was a full blown Food Adventure.

The Glazed Carrots are the best we have ever eaten

First on our list of things we want to tell local foodies about is a regular menu item at Vinny’s, the Wright Way Reuben.   It is a slow-roasted Corned Beef Brisket baked in Guinness Stout.  Sauteed in sauerkraut, the beef is topped with Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing, then placed on grilled rye bread.  We thought it was a damn good reuben, especially at the price of $6.50.   It was loaded with flavor.  We liked the fact that it was filled with chopped, not stringy, corned beef.  You can’t go wrong with this homemade sandwich.   If you do not order one, you should be charged with a technical foul.

Speaking of foul, another specialty at Vinny’s is Broasted Wings.  Tasty sauces like BBQ and Hot are hugely popular with wing fans.  We prefer the Medium Garlic Wings and the Orange Chipotle Wings.   The wing size are some of the biggest in Dayton, yet they are  cooked all the way through.  Does anyone else have broasted wings in Dayton?  We would put them up against any wing in the area.  If you love wings, make sure you check out  50 cent wing night every Thursday.

We would do anything for love, including eat Vinny’s Meatloaf.   This is not some trendy apricot chutney meatloaf.  This is the kind of meatloaf your mom would make.  It is a slab of meat with perfectly hardened edges and just the right amount of baked ketchup on the top.  Bring your mom out to try some, it is just that good.  It will give you a chance to say MOM, THE MEATLOAF!

Broasted Chicken Wings – Orange Chipotle Flavored and Huge

May we also suggest the Wednesday night special, the Pulled Pork Sandwich.  Tossed in sauce, this sandwich was huge, but we devoured a couple of them in no time. They were delicious.  We would suggest the straight BBQ Sauce as opposed to the hot bbq on the rebound.

Rarely do you find a place with excellent homemade side dishes.  We cant believe we are writing this but the Glazed Carrots are to die for!  Yes we said it, and we aren’t ashamed to admit it!  Perfectly glazed and tossed in rosemary spices, they were the best carrots we have ever eaten.  It would shame some of the best fine dining establishments.   The Homemade Potato salad was so fresh, and the Macaroni Salad deserves honorable mention.  Just like us, accept no substitutions or weak imitations here.

There is so much more to Vinny’s that we have yet to explore.   They have a full breakfast menu, burgers, sausages and an attached carryout store.   Also, Vinny’s  has a great spread before each home UD Basketball game called the “Tailgate Buffet” or “Fast Break Buffet.”  It features all you can eat wings, sausages, side items, soup and a specialty item.  The specialty item on our trip to Vinny’s last month was Sloppy Joes.   The sloppy joe recipe is a good one.  It is a sweet meat recipe and also includes some green peppers.  Again, some of the best we have ever eaten.  Make sure you check out the buffet before the basketball games, it feels just like sinking a 3 point shot.

Vinny and Rick out back with the ‘Big Green Egg’ Ceramic Grill

Vinny’s  daily specials are: Monday Meatloaf, Tuesday Broasted Chicken, Wednesday Pulled Pork, Thursday Sloppy Joe night and 50 cent Wing Night, and Fried Alaskan Pollock Fish Friday.  There is one catch with Vinny’s, they are only open Monday-Friday.  In an area once populated by NCR and GM, Vinny’s still continues to crank out good food from scratch.  They are open on Saturdays and Sundays only during special events like UD home basketball games or private parties.   The atmosphere is a clean, casual family sports bar.  The servers are very personable and many of the patrons seem to know each other.  We even had a chance to meet Vinny’s Mom and Dad, who used to own East Dayton Sausage company.

Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu continue to be  charmed by the home cooked recipes at Vinny’s.  Listen, we are not food critics, we are Food Adventurers.  Every good meal we attend is an event.  We are just two guys that love to eat.    Vinny’s Bar & Grill is just the place for people who love good food.   They have a basic menu and daily specials.  Just come in and look on the board, you will always be in for a treat.   There is no place like it in Dayton.  The prices are inexpensive and some of the best prices for quality food in the Miami Valley.  We promise that if you come in here and try some of these in-house creations, you will be hooked like us.   All of the specialty items on Vinny’s menu are slam dunks !

Have you tried the home cooking at Vinny’s Bar & Grill?  Please comment below about your experiences !

DONT FORGET TO VISIT VINNY’S ON FRIDAY (Tomorrow) FOR THE MARCH MADNESS PARTY STARTING AT 11AM, FEATURING THE BIG GREEN EGG COOKER and RICK’s TROPICAL DELIGHT CATERING !

Also – For more FOOD ADVENTURES , dribble on over to our Facebook Page and “like” us by clicking HERE.

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Hey Dayton – Show Us Your Peeps – Contest with Prizes!

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It’s time for our 3rd annual Peep Show!   url-40

Here’s your chance to use your creativity and love of Dayton to craft a picture, sculpture or diorama using Peeps candies based on a Dayton related event, person, landmark or historical happening!  Think pop culture, news events, movies, and more.    Your entry can be constuctd from just about anything, but must be at least 1/3 peeps.  Peeps do not need to be used in their original shape of form.

Once you’ve created it, you’ll need to submit it to us, art work is due by  Sunday, March 31st.
Contact us for more info if you’re submitting an entry. Something new this year, all  entries will be on display at Town & Country Shopping Center in Kettering.  We will post all the pictures and ask our readers to help us choose their favorite based on originality, creativity and adherence to the theme.   Voting will begin on Monday, krogerApril 1st and winners will be announced on Thurs, April 4th. And what’s a contest without prizes?  Our first place winner will win a $150 gift card to Kroger, second place will get a $100 Kroger gift card, and third place will get a $50 Kroger gift card!

Not familiar with Peeps?  Boxed in sets of five, they are marshmallow candies,  created by a Russian immigrant and hatched each Easter season at a factory in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Over the years peeps have become diverse, first expanding from the original yellow chick to an array of pastels.  Next came bunnies and then in a recent campaign the candy has been touted as “Peeps – Always in Season” and they’ve started making them in other shapes, like ghosts at Halloween and snowman at Christmas.   They are made from marshmallow, corn syrup, gelatin, and carnauba wax.

Peeps art contests have popped up all over the country and here are a few sites you can visit for inspiration:

20 Awesome Pieces Of Marshmallow Peep Arturl-41

Peep Modernist – The Best Peep Art Creations

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The Food Adventures Crew Discover Great Italian Tastes at Arthur’s

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Delicious Shrimp Scampi Dinner at Arthur’s

Good pasta, pizza and more is what ‘wowed’ us at Arthur’s Restaurant.   This Italian eatery is located in a spot that has housed many restaurants,   Heck, we remember when this building  at 5900 Bigger Road was a Pizza Hut in the 70’s.   We hope it breaks the trend and becomes a mainstay.  Arthur’s came with glowing recommendations from many friends, so we knew this locally owned restaurant deserved a spot on our Food Adventure hit list.  We checked it out over and over, and we have never had a bad meal.  Maybe that is because the chef, Louie, has been cooking for 33 years.  He even spent 2 years in Italy, and 8 years in New York City honing his skills in various kitchens.   The waitress we typically have for dinner is experienced, friendly and couldn’t be more helpful.   She is a star.  The lunch staff is attentive and always has some suggestions.

Manicotti, Baked to Perfection

So, you gotta try their food, but where to start?  How about the Calamari appetizer?  It is lightly fried and full of great seafood flavor.  Share it with a friend and you will devour it in no time like we did.  May we also suggest the Mussels in garlic wine sauce?  We are talking Italian old school here.   Another appetizer that you do not see many places in Ohio is Steamed Clams.  Catch them if they are in season!

Many of the entrees come with a salad, and the house Italian dressing is our favorite.  Then there are the rolls.  These lovehandle causing little bites are irresistible.  They are a cross between bread and a crescent roll, and are lightly dusted with butter and Parmesan cheese on top.  Try and use your willpower, but it is futile, you will ask for more rolls.  Let the battle of the bread begin.

Let’s talk pasta.  If you love  gourmet flavors and pasta dishes.  At Arthur’s, he would suggest a winning entree of Shrimp Scampi.  Large, garlic infused shrimp are perfectly sauteed and placed over linguini.  The sauce is delicate with hints of butter, lemon, Parmesan cheese, basil and oregano.  This dish is more than a few forkfulls, and may have you taking a to-go container.

Arthur’s Pizza: Magnifico !

The Big Ragu prefers the more traditional, tomato based or marinara sauce dishes.  He found a favorite as well.  It is the Manicotti dinner, which is simply exquisite.  The entree is filling, yet one of the lighter tasting manicotti recipes that we have experienced.  Served piping hot, these ricotta stuffed shells were baked and sauced with a light marinara.   The finishing touch is covering in the manicotti with mozzarella cheese.

Two other specialties that we enjoy at Arthur’s are their Pizza and their Stuffed Rolls.   Filling and cheesy on both counts.  From the homemade crust, to the fresh ingredients, they have these menu items down pat.  The pizzas are plentiful and they aren’t stingy on toppings.  The same goes for the magnificent and large stuffed  rolls.  These picture perfect delights were eye-opening good.

Don’t forget their sandwiches!  Arthur’s has one of the best Eggplant Parmesan Subs that we have ever eaten.  The combination of the fresh bread, sauce, eggplant and cheese is a wonderland of taste.  The sub will put a dent in your hunger, but not your wallet at $7.99.  It even comes with a side salad or potato.

Want more to “mangia” (that means eat for you non-Italians)?  There is a dessert at Arthur’s that is an absolute ‘must mangia.’  It is the homemade Tiramisu.  Sliced like a pie, the taste is exceptional.  The ladyfingers soaked in coffee liqueur matches the silky, whipped pudding foundation perfectly.   If you miss getting a piece of this, we will have to call Tony Soprano on you.

Again, we share with you another little known jewel of the Miami Valley food scene.  Locally owned with pride, Arthur’s is yet another place that keeps us “Foodies in our Forties.”   On a side note, the same people who own Arthur’s own Palermo’s Restaurant on S. Dixie Drive.  We only touched on the menu here, but other signature dishes include soups, open-faced seafood sandwiches and calzones.  Arthur’s will also cater any event at 10% off the menu pricing.

If you have not yet visited Arthur’s, swing by for a $6.99 lunch deal.  For that price you can keep coming back and trying various menu items.   The dinner prices are reasonable, especially compared to other restaurants.   Take advantage of their early bird special of buy one get one 1/2 off when you eat from 2pm-5:30pm.   The dining room is casual, yet a perfect place to take a date for a romantic dinner.  We were very impressed with what Arthur’s had to offer, and plan to come back many times.   They do not have a website or Facebook page, so you will have to check them out in person.  Take your own little private Food Adventure  to Arthur’s and give this place a try.  You just may see us in the dining room, eating like kings and practicing some off-color, Italian hand gestures !

Have you been to Arthur’s?  If so, what were your thoughts on their menu?  Please comment below and browse our photos from our Food Adventures to Arthur’s.

Are you a Facebook Foodie?  Then”like” Food Adventures Facebook by clicking HERE !

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Jazz Spotlight: Scott Gasaway and Stivers Jazz Orchestra + Upcoming Jazz March 13 – 26

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Stivers Leader Student Combo (1)Scott Gasaway is the new Band Director at Stivers School for the Arts – though he’s not new to jazz, or to the Dayton area. Born on November 9, 1987, in San Diego, California, Scott’s family moved to Dayton when he was just six years old. Scott credits his mom, Lourdes, with providing him — and his two brothers, Nicholas and Matthew with supporting their education in the arts, an opportunity she did not have as a child.

Scott came up through the Centerville High School band program, which is where, under the guidance of many highly influential teachers, he discovered his passion for music and decided that music was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Upon his graduation, Scott went on to pursue music education and saxophone at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where he studied under saxophonist Dino Govoni and saxophonist and clarinetist Shannon LeClaire and performed with vibraphonist and composer Victor Mendoza and bassist Oscar Stagnaro.

Upon graduation from Berklee, Scott accepted a position as the high school music director with Hull Public Schools, in the Town of Hull, Massachusetts, where he was put in charge of starting the band program — teaching band, piano and music technology. It was while he was back home in Dayton to visit his family last summer, that Scott received a call from Stivers Jazz Orchestra Director Emeritus Claude Thomas.

Scott had met Thomas when Thomas was a faculty member of the Miami Valley Jazz Summer Camp and Scott was still an aspiring jazz musician. Thomas was calling to say that he had retired from Stivers to focus on composing full-time and that he wanted to recommend Scott for his position. The rest, as they say, is history.

Scott is now responsible for the operation of the band at Stivers School for the Arts, where he teaches music theory, directs the middle-school concert band, the high-school symphonic wind orchestra and the jazz orchestra. “It keeps me on my toes — and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he says, with great pride and excitement.

Scott will make his debut with the Stivers musicians in their March 18 concert entitled “On the Shoulders of Giants” — a salute to the celebrated Stivers student musicians who captured national honors at three separate Berklee High School Jazz Festivals in Boston and who were invitees and performers at Lincoln Center during the New York City Jazz Festival last year.

The March 18 concert is also a celebration of the release of the new CD “From Boston to New York.” The Stivers musicians will be joined by international jazz artist Greg Abate, who played lead alto sax with the Ray Charles Orchestra and who has recorded with jazz legends Rufus Reid and Kenny Washington. The evening’s program will include works from Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Buddy Rich and more.

Click here for all of the concert details.

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:

Today Wednesday, March 13 – Brian Cashwell Trio is at Wright State’s Student Union Hearth Lounge in Fairborn, OH and you can Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review at the Dayton Event Connection.
Thursday March 14 – The Dayton Art Institute kicks off with The Shin Sings Orchestra to open it’s 2013 its Vectren Jazz and Beyond series and Gilly’s presents a Funk In My Backyard benefit.
Friday March 15 – the Chicago Fire Comes to Dayton with Brad Goode & Bill Burns at Jazz Central, trumpeter Al Hood plays with the Sinclair Jazz Ensemble and the Classic Jazz Stompers are at Jay’s Seafood all in Dayton.
Saturday March 16 – A St. Patty’s Day Blues Jam with Kevin Dumont and Mississippi Red is at Jazz Central In Dayton.
Sunday March 17 – the Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Dayton’s Jazz Central.
Monday March 18 – Stivers School for the Arts presents “On the Shoulders of Giants” with their new director and special guest Greg Abate.
Tuesday March 19 – the JD Allen Band is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam continues in Columbus.
Wednesday March 20 – the eleven piece Different Hats Band at the Dayton Event Connection.
Thursday March 21 – the Generations Big Band plays Jazz Central in Dayton and the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at The 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus.
Friday March 22 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville and Stanley Jordan is Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.
Saturday March 23 – C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood presents James & Moore and the Randy Fankell Jazz Trio will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton.
Sunday March 24 – Petra’s Recession Seven Band is at the Gallagher Student Center Theater, of Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Monday March 25 – John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek.
Tuesday March 26 – Ed Moss & the Society Jazz Orchestra are at the Schwartz Point Jazz Club and Jazz Cab is at The Greenwich both in Cincinnati.

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com

Former Sidebar location to become Salar Restaurant and Lounge

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SalarSince the minute Sidebar closed last July, rumors have been circulating about a revival of the restaurant. Today, after months of planning, partnering and negotiations, Chef Margo Blondet and General Manager Harry Trubounis were finally able to announce that the lease is signed and the renovations are under way for the Salar Restaurant and Lounge to bring back to life the corner of Fifth and Brown Streets in the Oregon District. The name of the restaurant, Salar, is derived from a vulgar Lating slang for ” salt-encrusted,” which is so appropriate, since Chef Margot’s favorite seasoning is salt.

Featuring an exciting menu of Mediterranean-Peruvian fusion cuisine with French ChefMargotinfluences along with hand-crafted cocktails, the restaurant plans to be a reasonably priced, upscale, yet casual style restaurant. Chef Margot plans to feature an array of small plate entrees, distinctive salads, appetizers and pizzas, allowing customers to enjoy different courses should they choose to try a sampling of diverse dishes. Salar also will feature a wide selection of handmade cocktails created with house-prepared syrups, fresh fruit and juices, and only the finest spirits. Blondet will craft Salar’s menu, with entrée prices ranging from a $12 to $22 per person.

“Peruvian cuisine reflects not only the traditional dishes native to the area but also, through centuries of immigration, influences from Spain, China, Italy, West Africa and Japan,” Blondet said. “By integrating classical French techniques, our menu will consist of a fusion of influences that result in dishes that are both comfortable and unique. The outcome becomes an exciting twist, rather than a radical departure from the diners’ favorite foods.”

“This is exciting news for the Oregon District, downtown and the Dayton community,” said Dr. Michael Ervin, owner of the building in which Salar is located. “Interest in this space was extremely strong, which reflects growing interest from business owners in investing in a downtown Dayton location. I am confident everyone will love the fine food and cocktails at Salar, where they’re sure to have a dining experience like none other in the region.”

sidebar-5Salar also will provide on and off-site catering and carry-out dining will be available to lunch and dinner customers as well.

Saar plans to  be open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11-2 and at 4 pm. Monday through Saturday for dinner and closed on Sunday.  The dining room will be open Monday through Thursday until 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday until midnight. The bar will remain open until 2 am Thursday through Saturday.

 

Reinventing The Telling of Stories – A New Interactive Website About Dayton Wants Your Input

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POSTCARDIn the Spring of 2012, Emmy-winning, Oscar nominated filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, along with about 15 other media artists, hit the streets of Dayton asking the question, “How is Dayton doing?” Engaging subjects in thoughtful interviews and creating compelling, non-fiction stories is nothing new for Reichert and Bognar – but it turns out that this project was much more difficult than anticipated.

“This was a really ambitious project,” said Bognar. “We were attempting to take the pulse of the whole city. And we did not know what the answers would be.”

After identifying a handful of focus neighborhoods, the group—which was a collaboration with WYSO 91.3 FM— split into teams. They began to find and interview people who were in the process of reinventing themselves. In addition, the group documented over 35 events throughout the city. After weeks and months of sifting through hundreds of hours of material (not to mention a whole different language of web design), the resulting efforts can now be seen on an interactive website – ReinventionStories.Org.

Upon logging on the site, the first thing you’ll see is a beautifully animated introduction featuring a vintage postcard of the city and various soundbytes from numerous interviews. This introduction leads into an 18-minute documentary featuring 7 individuals from various neighborhoods. Using a combination of still photography, audio interviews and video footage, users get a sense for who these people are and how they are in the process of reinventing themselves. Each piece ends with a sort of cliffhanger. This 18-minute piece is merely Act One of three. In the coming weeks, each of the seven characters’ stories will continue in Act Two and Three. Reichert says that as the stories unfold, more dramatic material will reveal itself. She said, “These stories fit together to tell a bigger story about the city. We wanted to capture our City’s life and diversity and to show that we’re not all that far from each other. We’re all in this together.”

7 StoriesThe 7 subjects of the documentary on ReinventionStories.org.

Those ideas are conveyed even more as we “Drive the Road.” This section of the website takes the viewer down East 3rd Street. The voice of Carol Coffey, teller of one of the stories, asks: “ What signs of life do you see in Dayton?” While passing storefronts and houses, a series of bubbles appear that allow the user to watch short stories about events from over the summer, prompting the viewer to think about that question. One story is about the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, another is about the Blessing of the Bikes, another, the World Soccer Tournament, sponsored by Welcome Dayton.

The storytellers want us to think about the fabric of the city…that all these very different events are happening in the same town.

In a third section of the site, the user is asked questions like “Where do you see signs of life in Dayton?” or “What city event do you most look forward to each year?” Once answered, the responses are broadcast via twitter. @ReinventDayton

In addition to new sections of the documentary, the coming months will see more coverage of events while “Driving Down the Road” and additional questions posed to users. The team also noted that “treasures have yet to be unveiled.”

The website went live in late February, but the idea is to let the website become a living, breathing site that will reveal more elements in time. The interactive part will rely on users to keep it fresh and alive. By April, Daytonians can upload their own stories of reinvention.

NEENAH JULIA STEVENeenah Ellis of WYSO and filmmakers Steve Bognar & Julia Reichert.

This project came about when WYSO director Neenah Ellis approached Reichert and Bognar regarding a national competition called LOCALORE – a new initiative of the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR), in collaboration with Zeega (a group of people who want to push non-fiction storytelling into unchartered territory*). Hundreds of organizations applied for the competition – only 10 were selected.

Bognar said he had so much fun running around the city over the summer. He noted that there was so much to do and that events were all always well attended. “When we started, we weren’t really sure how the city was doing. But luckily for the project and for the community, a corner was turning as we hit the streets. People were taking risks, opening new businesses, forming groups,and we caught the wave.” Reichert added, “A year later, we can answer with certainty. Yes. The city is very much alive and growing.

 

*AUTHOR’S BONUS NOTE FOR CINEASTES – Bognar told me that Zeega is named after Dziga Vertov – director of the masterpiece MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA. This is a great treat for film lovers. Vertov’s films and theories influenced the cinema verite movement…which pushed “non-fiction storytelling into unchartered territory.”

Meet Our Gal, ‘Juicy Lucy,’ at Romer’s Bar & Grill

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Romer’s – Much More than Beer-thirty

Food Adventures found another locally owned place, you gotta try.  It is watering hole called Romer’s Bar and Grill, located at 4439 East Franklin Street in Bellbrook, near Wilmington Pike.  When you think of bars, you don’t normally think of homemade food.   That is where Romer’s beats the stereotype, because most things here are homemade.  The atmosphere is hopping and usually loud.  We have been to Romer’s for happy hour drinks, benefit concerts, and Thursday trivia nights.  But, our favorite is visiting during non-peak hours and just having some good food.  During our latest visit, owner Greg Romer came out from the kitchen to tell us he is a Food Adventure fan!  He also explained that many of the dressings, food items and sauces are made in the kitchen from scratch.  Greg grinds the hamburger meat himself and personally shaves thin slices from roasted beef to make their specialty sandwiches.  So which homemade items make us smile?  Here is a breakdown of Romer’s best from your favorite Dayton Foodies.

Romer’s Bar and Grill first made an impact on us at the Chicken Wing Festival at Fraze Pavillion, two years ago.   If you like wings, you gotta try Romer’s.  We would suggest the “Asian Persuasion” wing flavor.   Appropriately named, the sauce is made in-house and delivers a sweet thai pepper taste with a light touch of heat.  The wings here are crunchy and cooked just right.  We also recommend the hot bbq sauce and the dry rub option.  The wings are available breaded, but we prefer them naked… who doesn’t?

Hand Breaded Jalapeno Poppers

We digress into another inappropriate topic when we talk about Turkey Balls.  They are not what you think.  Food Adventurers recognize this interesting name as a homemade appetizer at Romer’s.  We tried these delicious appetizers which are pretty much “Thanksgiving dinner rolled into a ball.”   The turkey balls are made with dressing, mashed potatoes and of course turkey.  The mixture is rolled into a ball the size of a large meatball, and is coated with panko crumbs.  The turkey balls are then pan fried, and covered with a light brown turkey gravy.   As we sliced the turkey balls, steam rose and we fought over the turkey gravy for dipping rights.  These heavy appetizers are perfect for sharing, and are as addicting as Saturday Night Live’s “Schweddie” skit brand name.

Looking for something a little more spicy?  Romer’s  hand breads their own Homemade Jalepeno Poppers.  What other restaurant in the Dayton area does that?  The heavy breading and spicy insides make this a good choice if you are hungry and want to heat things up.  Another fantastic appetizer that is the Big Ragu’s favorite is the Memphis Fried Pickles.  Hand cut into chip like slices, then hand breaded, these pickles are served with a dipping sauce.  They are a very addicting, yet very filling appetizer that you have to try.

The Beef N Cheddar – Slow Roasted Beef, Sliced in-house

There is no doubt of what the specialty is at Romer’s.   It is homemade, slow-roasted, beef sandwiches.  There are three of these special sandwiches, and they are “must eats.”   Chef House is our resident expert on shaved beef , and her favorite is the Beef N Cheddar.    This sandwich is made sliced to order, so it is fresh and delicious.  Romer’s also does it right.  They top it with cheddar cheese sauce.  The experts in Philadelphia do it this way, and so does Romer’s Bar and Grill.   The sandwich is served on Sour Dough bread and is simply magnificent.  The beef is delicate and moist.  The sandwich will fill you up and is a great meal deal at under 8 bucks.  Most get a side of saratoga chips, but we suggest the waffle fries with these sandwiches.  You won’t be disappointed.

Inside a ‘Juicy Lucy’ Burger

Continuing with our favorite things at Romer’s, we dive into the topic of  Burgers.  All the burgers are ground in-house to ensure great taste.  What burger is best?  Sure, you can build your own burger or chicken breast sandwich with toppings, cheese and sauce.  But wouldn’t you rather  step it up to the big leagues?  Then order a burger at Romer’s that will knock your socks off,  the Minnesota Juicy Lucy.  Owner Greg Romer developed this after seeing a similar sandwich on a food show.  The Juicy Lucy is a 1/2 pound burger stuffed with provolone, pepperoni and jalapenos.  The result is a tasty burger that oozes cheese with every bite from inside the burger.  This is a true Food Adventure item for taste and uniqueness, which is what Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu are all about.   Make sure you grab a Juicy Lucy.

We do have one tip on what not to grab.  Don’t grab a seat by the door to the smoking patio.  Since Romer’s gets busy, many people come in and out of that door to smoke.   Take advantage of their selection of beers on draught, but don’t sit by the patio door unless you want a wind draft.   Be forewarned the place gets noisy during peak hours.  It is a fun atmosphere, but if you want quiet conversation, hit this place during slow times like early lunch hours.

There are many other good menu items we like at Romer’s that are worth mentioning.  The Reuben is good, how could it not be with the slow roasted touch?  They also have good thin crust pizzas.  They are a popular with kids and a good value at $11 for a large cheese pizza.  Even with our many trips to Romer’s we have not completely tapped the constantly evolving menu.   Currently they are featuring a Lenten menu insert and feature a fish fry on Friday’s with thick, pub style battered fish.  Romer’s Bar and Grill is yet another locally owned  gem, that many people may not have heard about.  Take the time to stop in, and visit the friendly staff like Lanette, who is our favorite server.  Next time you are hungry, tell your friends you want to grab some turkey balls and see your friends Reuben and Juicy Lucy!

Have you been to Romer’s Bar and Grill?  Please comment below on your experiences with their unique menu.

The Food Adventure Crew says “like” us on Facebook, but love us in your hearts by clicking here !

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Family Matters – The Addams Family musical scares up laughs at the Schuster

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Addams Family - OriginalThey say you can never go home again, but that’s not always true. From March 5 – 10, people in the Dayton area can return to one of everyone’s favorite childhood haunts, Addams Manor, as the hit Broadway musical The Addams Family takes up residence at the Schuster Center. And whether you grew up with their New Yorker cartoons, the original 1960s sitcom, the ‘90s films, or any of the various animated and live-action spinoffs over the decades, you know that once you’ve met these characters, they’re always a part of you.

A beloved staple of American pop culture, the Addams Family has walked among us for 75 years, tracing back to their first appearance — unnamed but looking essentially as we know them today — in The New Yorker as drawn by cartoonist Charles Addams. The artist was best known for his one-panel illustrations in the famed magazine; frequently accompanied by a devastatingly witty one-liner, the humor in his work tended toward jet-black macabre. The familiar Family characters populated a total of 150 single panel cartoons, and approximately half of them were published in the 50 years between their debut and the artist’s death in 1988.

In 1964, ABC debuted (the same week as CBS’ similarly freaky The Munsters, no less) a sitcom based on the characters, which gave them names and fleshed out their lives and connections. Though it only ran for two seasons (ending, also, the same week as The Munsters in 1966), it remained a cult hit that rose from the grave again and again. There was the failed 1973 pilot for
The Addams Family Fun-House, a musical comedy variety show(?!) with Jack Riley and Liz Torres as Gomez and Morticia, comedian Stubby Kaye as Fester, and Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster!) as Pugsley. There was an animated appearance on an episode of The New Scooby Doo Movies, with most of the original series cast voicing the characters…which led to a 1973-75 Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera. Oddly enough, this show featured the family cruising the country in a Victorian mansion-type RV — oh, and eight-year-old Jodie Foster voicing Pugsley. In ‘77, the live-action series cast reunited for a (dreadful) TV-movie, Halloween with the New Addams Family.

The casts of the 1966 TV series and the 1991 film

The casts of the 1966 TV series and the 1991 film

And then, they returned to the A-list. Paramount’s 1991 big-screen take on the characters was a smash hit and introduced the characters to a new generation. Helmed by the late Raul Julia’s gleefully madcap Gomez and Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston’s seductively steely Morticia, the movie spun off another Saturday morning cartoon and a popular sequel, Addams Family Values, as well as launching the career of Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday.

Broadway beckoned, and after more than three years of development, The Addams Family slithered onto the stage in April 2010 with the picture-perfect casting of Tony and Emmy winners Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth heading the cast. It was a success, running for 725 performances and snagging two Tony nominations (Best Score, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Kevin Chamberlin as Fester) and eight Drama Desk nods. (Interesting piece of trivia: Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson was in talks to take over the role of Morticia when the show closed.) Now, touring productions of the musical are planned for almost every continent.

In the musical, we meet the family at a time of great conflict. This premise will be familiar to anyone who’s seen La Cage Aux Folles, also known as The Birdcage: 18-year-old Wednesday invites her boyfriend to dinner to meet her folks. Unfortunately, he’s also bringing his folks, who happen to be a couple of bland, uptight buzzkills from — of course — Ohio. She begs her family to act “normal,” a word which, of course, carries a somewhat different meaning to the Addamses…

The show, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys) with music by Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), has been significantly reworked for the tour version, which differs a good bit from the original Broadway incarnation. Four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks guided an extensive revision that cut three songs, added three new ones, and restructured two others. Storylines were changed and rebuilt as well, including some major changes that removed a plot twist involving the family’s giant pet squid. The effort paid off, fashioning a tighter, fast-moving, more character-driven show that places Gomez and Morticia front and center and ties everything together in a more organic fashion.

Shaun Rice as Uncle Fester

Shaun Rice as Uncle Fester

The jovial Uncle Fester is our guide for the evening’s events, which provide plenty of the expected laughs and romance while also showing off these classic characters in ways we’ve never seen before. Happy-go-lucky Gomez seems to ruin everything he touches and can’t please anyone. Eternal beauty Morticia, approaching middle age, fears growing older, and the two find themselves having their first marital spat and staring into a half-empty nest as their firstborn prepares to take flight. We see Wednesday as an adult with her well-known independent streak now influenced by the realization that the real world and the world she grew up in are two very different things. Pugsley is afraid that if he loses his sister, there’ll be no one to torture him anymore. And, perhaps most touching of all, this incarnation of Fester is almost childlike in his innocence and unconditional love.

It works, and it makes for a terrific evening of theatre. The script is packed with huge belly laughs and so many throwaway gags that by the time you finish laughing at one, you’ve likely missed two more. The in-law characters have depth and humor (Blair Anderson as Alice is particularly dynamite in her showcase number). Jennifer Fogarty’s deadpan delivery and incredibly strong voice make Wednesday a real standout. And Amanda Bruton nearly steals the whole show as Grandma, played like a salty, funky, ancient hippie just old enough to not care what comes out of her mouth. Jesse Sharp as Gomez drives the proceedings with boundless energy and zest, bringing the house down with his mindless comedic rants and witty asides. He and Bruton easily score the biggest and longest laughs of the evening, while Shaun Rice’s joyous, soulful Fester unexpectedly forms the heart of the show.

“He’s a little different from how we’ve seen him in the movies and the TV show,” said Rice. “He’s more similar to the original comics. He’s very sweet and is kind of the narrator of the show. Each character has their own sort of musical style in terms of the songs they do, and he has this kind of old-timey, song-and-dance, vaudeville style. There’s a wonderful song in Act Two where Fester sort of interrupts the action to tell us about the love of his life that really shows him at his best.”

Rice started out doing theatre in the Tampa Bay area at a very young age, then began directing before enrolling in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. And this isn’t his first experience bringing a treasured ‘60s sitcom to the stage: Rice put in some time playing Jonas “The Skipper” Grumby in Gilligan’s Island: The Musical back in the ‘80s.

“This show has been my proudest achievement so far,” he said. “It’s been fantastic. The Addams Family is so iconic. I grew up watching the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and of course, I saw the movies as an adult, and it’s just a dream come true to be part of such an iconic thing in pop culture. These characters are so simple and silly in some ways, but they’re also more than that because they represent that part of us that never quite fit in. Everyone loves this family. When certain characters show up, the audience just goes nuts for them, and we don’t have to spend a lot of time laying groundwork or explaining who we are. The minute we walk out onstage, you know where you are and who you’re with, and you can really feel how excited and comfortable the audience is being with these characters again. It’s so much fun.”

Actor Jesse Sharp as Gomez

Actor Jesse Sharp as Gomez

“People just eat it up,” said Jesse Sharp, who plays Gomez. “I’ve been on a couple of Broadway tours before and never had audiences react to a show the way they do here. I like that it’s a very sweet family show, but it’s also a comedy. People can expect to have an easy, good time.”

Frazier Park, California native Sharp studied acting at UCLA while performing sketch and improv comedy before relocating to New York to pursue musical theatre and eventually landing in classical theatre doing the Shakespeare festival circuit. His pet creation, the raucous Hamlet Project (“basically a drinking game version of Hamlet we do in bars”) caught on big enough in L.A. that it now has a spinoff version in Chicago and is continuing to expand.

And in the meantime, he’s spending the next year and a half traveling the U.S., Canada, and Asia with the world’s favorite ghoulish gaggle.

“I’ve played a lot of best friends and funny sidekicks during my career, so playing Gomez has been a real highlight. Our tour is still just getting started. It’s still early on for us, and down the line, we’re heading to a part of the world I’ve never been to, and we just go onstage and have fun every night. I’m incredibly excited.”

The Addams Family runs March 5 – 10 at the Schuster Center. Tickets are $40 – $96. For military and student and more information, visit http://www.victoriatheatre.com/shows/the-addams-family/ or call (937) 228-3630.

Downtown Dayton’s First Friday Features Derby & Dresses, Tiki Show, Arts Potluck & Demos, Flood Walk

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SAMSUNG CSCBrim is hosting a fashion show featuring Kentucky Derby hats and one-of-a-kind dresses by Tracy McElfresh of Sew Dayton. The models will walk at 6 and 8 p.m. and coffee will be provided by Ghostlight Coffee. Clash Consignments is hosting a Tiki Show that will feature Liz Dearth of Artifact Pottery as artist of the month, along with work by Greg Dearth, Scott Kustowski, Skull 13 and others. Eric Heilman and Rob Hale will provide rockabilly, surf, psychobilly and punk music throughout the evening.

Several art galleries and other venues will host special events this month. Blue Sky Gallery will host a closing reception for “Your Turn,” a collaborative exhibit, by Francis Schanberger and his wife, Bridgette Bogle, who have organized an arts potluck. Instead of bringing food, bring an example of something that inspires you — such as music, video, magazine clippings or books — to share. Dayton Visual Arts Center is opening new exhibit, “The Cline Show.” In memory of Barbara C. Cline and her dedication to student artists, this exhibit features works in all media produced by local students from Wright State University, the University of Dayton, Central State University and Sinclair Community College. Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center will feature paintings by artist of the month Annica Damico. Hands-on activities for children and a free introduction to Reiki and chair massage also will be offered. Bring your favorite wine bottle to “Functional Art “at the CADC. Christy Jennewein will demo wine bottle painting.  The Yellow Cab Building is hosting Dollar Holler, a free event to sell and buy — for only $1 —handmade, vintage, and arts and crafts supplies. Items at past events include vintage home décor and fabric, beads, and original art and prints. Donations will be accepted to support the 2013 Dayton Sideshow arts event.

Urban Nights(2)This First Friday also offers outdoor events. The Courteous Mass Ride will host its monthly cycling expedition throughout the city.  Bikers meet at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field. The Great Dayton Flood Walk starts at 7p.m. and is $10 per person. The tour allows guests to view vintage photos of the great flood, visit buildings that made it through the flood, see high-water marks from 1913 and much more. Call 274-4749 or email [email protected] for required reservation and meeting location.

First Friday includes sales and special event at retail shops, discounts at restaurants, special events, live music, and more. A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website.  First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

 

Awesome Audra: A Chat with Audra McDonald

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audra-mcdonaldLuminous soprano and Broadway sensation Audra McDonald, one of the finest actresses/vocalists of her generation, will be in concert Friday, March 1 in celebration of the Schuster Center’s 10th anniversary.  McDonald, 42, has received five Tony Awards for her outstanding work in “Carousel,” “Master Class,” “Ragtime,” “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Porgy and Bess.” She has also been nominated for her splendid performances in “Marie Christine” and “110 in the Shade,” and memorably appeared in Lincoln Center Theater’s production of “Henry IV” and the Public Theater’s “Twelfth Night.” In addition to portraying Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC’s “Private Practice” for four seasons, she has been featured in television adaptations of “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Annie” and “Wit,” receiving an Emmy nomination for the latter. She also won two Grammy Awards for “Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.”

In advance of her highly anticipated concert, accompanied by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time since 2005, the very engaging McDonald discussed her distinguished career and future plans.

Q: On Feb. 11 you were honored by the Drama League for your contributions to Broadway. How did it feel to be saluted in such a grand fashion by so many of your colleagues?

A: It was amazing! I wept, laughed and screamed the entire evening. To see people I love, people I adore, people I’ve worked with, people I want to work with attending the event was really overwhelming.

Q: When you reflect on your legacy, particularly your multiple Tony victories and nominations, does it seem like a blur? What does it all mean to you at this point in your career?

A: It does seem like a blur. When you’re in a show, your mind is on the show and you’re living another life on stage. Then the Tonys come, it happens, and then it’s gone. You’re a pumpkin again. But when I accumulate it all it feels like a big, fantastic blur. The biggest memories I have of the Tonys is the emotions of how it all felt. And at the end of it, you still have to go on with your daily life.

Q: But when you look at your hardware, your five Tonys, does it give you greater motivation? You could certainly win five more Tonys in the future.

A: I’m not done yet. There is still more theater I want to do. I don’t ever pursue projects looking for Tonys, but this is what I’ve wanted to do since I was 9 years old. For me, it’s all about looking for the next challenge. For me, the Tonys represent an incredible honor and something for me to be grateful for, but also something that reminds me that I’m lucky to do what I love and I must continue to grow, give back, and continue to live in the world that is theater.

Q: Assessing your many roles, which character or characters were the most challenging?
A: Without a doubt, it would be Bess, particularly in terms of stamina. To be able to sustain the performance and make that journey eight times a week was the most challenging. The hardest character to grasp was Ruth in “A Raisin in the Sun.” I had a hard time succumbing to her sadness and world-weariness.

Q: Do you have any dream roles? Are there roles you haven’t tackled that you would like to pursue?
A: I would like to do more Shakespeare, particularly playing Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra.” As far as musical theater, as long as a role scares me, challenges me, I’m completely open to whatever comes along.

060704Celebs52ARQ: Would you consider starring in another Michael John LaChuisa (“Marie Christine”) musical?

A: Of course. There is some stuff in the pipeline with him. He’s such a prolific writer.

Q: Are there any directors or performers you would like to work with that you haven’t yet?

A: I would like to work with Bartlett Sher (“The Light in the Piazza”), who has been doing fantastic work, as well as Joe Mantello (“Wicked”). I would also like to work with Dan Sullivan (“Twelfth Night”), Lonny Price (“110 In the Shade”), Diane Paulus (“Porgy and Bess”) and Kenny Leon (“A Raisin in the Sun”) again. All of them are directors I admire greatly.

Q: Would you ever consider directing or producing?

A: Maybe directing, but I need to build my confidence. I just started teaching some master classes and really felt quite challenged and fulfilled by it. I would not count out directing in the future.

Q: What are your views on the current state of Broadway? Are improvements needed? What shows are you recommending to friends?

A: I think it’s a very fertile time on Broadway. For a while it seemed as if Broadway was only for superstars and “face projects.” But I feel there is a lot of good stuff out there that isn’t necessarily a star vehicle. For instance, “Once,” which is a tiny little show which had some recognition from the movie but it didn’t have stars in it and took Broadway by storm. There’s room for all of the above, but as long as there are new musicals being produced, and Broadway continues to replenish and nurture, I’m happy.

Q: You have been a trailblazer for non-traditional casting from Broadway to television. Would you like to see more non-traditional casting implemented?

A: Always. I understand that in some cases, like historical pieces, it doesn’t work, but whenever it can be utilized it’s a great thing.

Q: I remember many years ago you were being considered to star in a Broadway revival of “My Fair Lady.”

A: Yes, but some things come into fruition and some things don’t. And now I’m too old!

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Q: What words of advice do you have for aspiring performers?

A: Always say yes to your artistic instincts. Don’t ever say no to yourself. If you think there’s a role you can play go out and audition for it, work on it, study it. There will be enough people in the business that will say no to you. You cannot be one of those people. Also, I’d advise anyone to get on stage anywhere. It doesn’t have to be on Broadway, but your local church or dinner theater. Get used to being in front of a live audience, which is an experience that is the same as being on Broadway or in your school musical. The dynamic is the same and very important.

Q: You are currently working on your fifth studio album released by Nonesuch Records. What should your fans expect this time around? Will it be musical theater-heavy or are you aiming for more eclectic selections?
A: The new album will have more full-throated singing. It will be Audra full-throttle! My last album was a bit more contemplative, but the new album will have some wonderful older songs, newer songs, and songs from composers I just haven’t sung a lot of like Kander and Ebb.

Q: It’s wonderful to know you will be appearing once more in Dayton at the Schuster Center. What will your program consist of?

A: It’s going to be an eclectic mix, but it’s always nice when you can take advantage of performing with an entire orchestra, which is the case in Dayton. I’ll be singing songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Bock and Harnick, Kander and Ebb, Leslie Bricusse, and Henry Mancini among others. It’s going to be a great concert.

A gala concert starring Audra McDonald will be presented Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m. at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets., Dayton. Tickets are $40-$90. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Grapes of Gratitude to benefit local nonprofits!

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GOG_FebFlyerCompetitive wine tasting comes to the Miami Valley this Thursday, Feb 28th at 6pm.  Grapes of Gratitude is a team wine tasting event created to allow local nonprofits to raise money while participants blindly taste an array of wines of the same varietal.

Groups of 1 -3 people form a team and each team brings 3 of the exact same bottles of wine to be tasted.  The first varietal chosen to showcase will be Cabernet Sauvignon. To participate  your team will bring 3 identical bottles of a Cabernet Sauvignon to the event.

When your team arrives at the Dayton Grand Hotel for the event, you’ll check in your wine.  The first two bottles are bagged and tagged for tasting.  The third bottle is set aside to form the prizes for the winning teams.  Guests taste all the wines while enjoying appetizers and rate the wines.  

The team that brings the highest ranked wine will take home two thirds of the 3rd bottles, the rulesGraphic2nd place team take home one third of the prize wine adn the team that brought the lowest ranked wine get to take home the extra bottle of their own wine!  If 2 or more teams bring the same wine, rankings can still differ depending upon the temperature of the wine, how long it has been open, etc.

So grab some friends and get your team together and buy your tickets now!  Your $10 advance ticket ($15 at the door)  will benefit the Associate Board of AIDS Resource Center Ohio for this first Grapes of Gratitude event.   Grapes of Gratitude will repeat every other month, and the charity partner will rotate for each tasting.  If you’d like to submit your nonprofit to be a partner for a future tasting event, please send us an email.

Date:  

Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Address: Dayton Grand Hotel 11 S. Ludlow St. Dayton, OH 45402
Parking in the hotel garage is free

If you’d like to attend this event you can purchase tickets online.

 

Dayton ReInvention Stories – Using Radio, Film and Web to tell stories about starting over…

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Reinvention StoriesDayton’s own Academy Award nominated, Emmy winning filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar announce the launch of REINVENTION STORIES – a multiplatform documentary project which tells stories of Daytonians who have started over in their lives.

A groundbreaking interactive documentary, created solely for the internet, will launch on February 26, 2013, at www.reinventionstories.org.  This immersive interactive experience, a collaboration with WYSO 91.3 FM, will introduce stories, photos, events, neighborhoods and people from throughout the Miami Valley, in an engaging form.

“Creating an interactive documentary has been a wild ride,” notes Julia Reichert.  “We’re doing something brand new, by creating a nonfiction film experience specifically for the web.  It’s been scary and fun and we’ve learned a ton. There are very few documentary projects in the world that have been created in this new form.  There’s not even word for it – we’re calling it a “transmedia”  documentary.”

The Sundance Institute recently awarded ReInvention Stories a production grant, to help with programming the complex web site.  “We’re so honored that this local project is getting such national attention,” notes WYSO General Manager Neenah Ellis, who launched the project by urging Reichert and Bognar to apply for a national competition.

ReInvention Stories one of only ten projects to win a major grant from AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio, a national organization of radio producers based in Boston.  Other cities to receive the grants include Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin and San Francisco.  “Dayton is one of only two small cities to receive this big project funding .  We’re proud to have been so competitive on a national scale,” adds Steven Bognar.

A series of radio stories based on the project interviews began airing weekly on WYSO on Wednesdays during Morning Edition.  Each radio story is accompanied by a short film on the WYSO website, www.wyso.org.  There have been film and radio stories of the Fifth Street Brewpub in St Anne’s Hill, Pat Reed of Angie’s Firehouse Tavern in Belmont,  former GM worker Debbie Bradley of Fairborn who is now a Registered Nurse, Oronde Clarke of South Park, Kevin Rotramel of Truth and Triumph Tattoo in Belmont, among others (see all videos below).  Upcoming is Kim Cottrell, creator of Olive and Brenda DeWinter of South Park, and many more.

A team of producers, including WYSO staff, alumni of Wright State University’s award winning film program, and WYSO’s Community Voices radio training program, hit the streets last summer, walking neighborhoods, collecting stories.  “We wanted to get out of our comfort zones,” explains Julia Reichert.  “We didn’t want to interview people who we already knew, or even use the usual journalistic sources.  So we trusted to luck and fate, and we met amazing people from all over town.”

The team focused on four Dayton neighborhoods, Twin Towers, Residence Park, South Park and Belmont, but also covered dozens of events and reinvention stories from Fairborn, St. Anne’s Hill, Clayton, East Dayton and Kettering, among others.

The transmedia documentary will launch in three parts, following the structure of the interview questions the team posed:  Who was I?  What happened?  Who am I trying to become?

Act 1 of the stories will launch on February 26, Act 2 on March 19 and Act 3 on April 9th at www.reinventionstories.org  and can also be found at the WYSO website: WYSO.org.

ReInvention Stories is part of a national initiative of AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio, Inc and with financial support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , The Wyncote Foundation, the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Regional funders include Chicken and Egg Pictures, The Ohio Arts Council, The Yellow Springs Community Foundation and Wright State University’s Center for Collaboration and Leadership in the Arts (CELIA).

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