Last weekend, Team Void rocked and rolled Bar Tiki in the Oregon District. If you weren’t there to experience this amazing live show, here are 9 luchatastic minutes of video to start your week with. Enjoy!
Archives for November 2010
Dayton Philharmonic Rocks – Broadway Style
The Dayton Philharmonic’s 2010-2011 Kettering Health Network SuperPops Series will continue with a fast-paced revue of the best of contemporary musical theatre titled “Broadway Rocks!” on Friday and Saturday, November 12 & 13, at 8 p.m. both nights at the Schuster Center.
Four top-notch Broadway vocalists – Rob Evan, Capathia Jenkins, Doug LaBrecque, and Anne Runolfsson – will join the DPO for inspired performances of the best in up-tempo hits from smash shows such as Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, The Wiz, Mamma Mia and more. Each guest artist brings an impressive list of leading-role performances in popular Broadway musicals. Together, they will light up the stage in a dynamic revue that will leave audiences breathless!
Robert Evan starred in the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde, playing the title roles for three years and over 600 performances. His rendition of This Is the Moment has been heard at numerous prestigious events including the 2001 Inaugural Gala for President George W. Bush, the Millennium Independence Day US Naval Revue aboard the USS JFK for President Clinton, the Millennium World Forum Conference with guest speaker Mikhail Gorbachev, the 1998 Goodwill Games, the New York City Mayor’s Inaugural Gala, the 1998 and 1999 NY Yankees World Series Celebration at City Hall, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Telecast, the Today Show, and Monday Night Football. Robert has starred around the world in the all-new Jekyll & Hyde: The Concert, having enjoyed a 16-show run in Seoul, South Korea’s Olympic Hall.
Capathia Jenkins was born and raised in Brooklyn who made her Broadway debut in The Civil War, where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She then starred in the Off-Broadway revival of Godspell, where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of ‘Turn Back, O Man’ which can still be heard on the original cast recording. She returned to Broadway in The Look of Love and was critically acclaimed for her performances of the Bacharach/David hits. Ms. Jenkins then created the roles of ‘The Washing Machine’ in Caroline, Or Change and ‘Frieda May’ in Martin Short-Fame becomes me where she sang ‘Stop the Show’ and brought the house down every night.
In 2007 she went back to Off-Broadway and starred in (mis) Understanding Mammy-The Hattie McDaniel Story for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Most recently she was seen in Nora Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore. She has appeared with the Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony, Utah Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, San Diego Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
Doug LaBrecque thrilled theater audiences as The Phantom and Raoul in the Harold Prince production of The Phantom of the Opera. In addition, Mr. LaBrecque has starred on Broadway as Ravenal in the Hal Prince revival of Showboat, a role he also performed in Canada and Chicago. He was featured in Oscar Hammerstein’s 100th Birthday Celebration on Broadway at The Gershwin Theatre, and toured nationally with Les Miserables. Regionally, Mr. LaBrecque has performed leading roles in Candide, A Chorus Line, and Man of LaMancha among others. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he was featured in the world premiere of A Wonderful Life, written by Sheldon Harnick and Joe Raposo, and starred in the premiere revival of Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner’s Love Life.
An active concert performer, Mr. LaBrecque has been a soloist with some of the world’s finest symphony orchestras, including The San Francisco Symphony, The Israel Philharmonic (Tel Aviv), The Chicago Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, The National Symphony, among many others. In the last few years, Mr. LaBrecque’s U.S appearances have included Seattle Symphony, Detroit Symphony, , Houston Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Utah Symphony, and with Marvin Hamlisch both at the Ravinia Festival with The Chicago Symphony, and at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops.
Anne Runolfsson is one of those rare artists whose unique versatility has allowed her a distinguished career not only in the theater but also in recording studios, intimate cabaret spaces, and concert halls throughout the world. The New York Times proclaimed, “Ms. Runolfsson has a flexible virtuosity, between ethereal melodiousness and piercing big-moment resonance,” while the LA Times has called her “A savvy and thoughtful performer.”
She recently completed a two-year run on Broadway as the tempestuous diva, Carlotta Giudacelli in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, the longest running show in Broadway history. Hal Prince referred to her performance as a “revelation.” Prior to that she made a splash in Victor/Victoria where she had the honor of standing by for Dame Julie Andrews and Liza Minelli. She performed the title role over 120 times to great acclaim and went on to recreate the role in the National Tour which began in Seattle and Houston. Other Broadway and National Tour credits include: the role of Gretta Conroy in James Joyce’s The Dead, Fantine in Les Miserable, Roxane in Cyrano-The Musical, Lili in The Secret Garden, and Aspects of Love. Off-Broadway and Regional credits include: Listen to My Heart (Studio 54), Rags, Jack’s Holiday, Cather County, A Little Night Music, Showboat, and Funny Girl.
She has appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall (with Tenor Jose Carreras), The Kennedy Center, Town Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, The National Theater in Iceland, Rainbow and Stars, The Russian Tea Room, Bay Street Theater, The Pump Room, The Cinegrill, The 92nd st. Y, and with The National Symphony, The Boston Pops, The Jerusalem Symphony, The Orchestra of St. Lukes, The National Symphony of Canada, The Hong Kong Philharmonic, The Cincinnati Pops, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, The Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Indianapolis, Toronto, Milwaukee, Utah, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Columbus, San Diego, Colorado, Minnesota, and St. Louis, among many others.
Patrick Reynolds, Assistant Conductor of the DPO, will conduct. The concerts will also feature the Dayton Philharmonic Chorus, under the direction of Hank Dahlman.
Tickets for the concerts range from $22 – $76 and are available by calling (888) 228-3630 or by ordering on the web at www.daytonphilharmonic.com.
CTW Boutique Holiday Open House
Finding Wines to Pair With Your Turkey
If you are a red wine drinker, try a Pinot Noir. It’s a nice flavored red wine that will pair well with turkey. Pinot Noir has very little tannins which means it won’t overwhelm the meal. Putting the Pinot Noir in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before serving it will bring out the fruit and will take away the ‘bite’ that alcohol can give when served at room temperature.
If you like white wines, try a Chardonnay or even a Pinot Gris. Almost any good white will work, but stay away from the sweet dessert style whites. Light and crisp Chardonnay’s along with most Sauvignon Blanc’s will work. Sparkling Wine also works and brings a festive note to the meal. There are some powerful, yet affordable brut Champagnes that have sufficient weight and structure to stand up to a rich meal. Again, stay away from the sweeter Champagnes.
Still want more help? Many of our local wine stores have events that will help you find the combination you like best:
Arrow’s Annual Holiday Tasting!
Sun, Nov 14th, 5:30 – 7:30pm at the Centerville Store
Over 75 wines, great appetizers and live music!
$50/person, pre-paid reservations required by Nov 10th
Call 433-6778 to make your reservations!
A Taste of Wine Holiday Show- Thurs, Nov 18th, 7 – 9pm
Food, Fun and Fabulous wine pairings. Taste wines for your holiday feasts & gift giving.
$20 Please RSVP by phone 937.247.1120
Bella Vino’s Wine & Food Pairing Dinners
Wed, Nov 10th – 7pm
Sat, Nov 20th – 5pm
Tues Nov 23rd – 7pm
Dinner includes:
turkey dinner – with mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, and cranberry sauce.
4 wines specially selected to pair with Thanksgiving dinner.
An open-ended discussion about wine & food pairing with resident Wine Enthusiast, John Feltz.
Dinner is $30 per person and seats are limited. These dinner sold out last year, so reserve early
Coco’s Bistro 30 for $30
Wed, Nov 10th, 6 – 8pm
Special holiday flavored appetizers to make it easy to pick which wine to go with the Turkey, Ham, Roast or for the Toast on New Years Eve.
Wine vendors on hand, to help you choose- and we’ll have special pricing on wines by the case as well. Limited seating, so reserve your place online, or call 937-228-2626 (coco) and we’ll save you a seat.
Cork & Vine presents Wines That Make Your Turkey Happy
Wed, Nov 17 · 7- 9pm
(hey- I tried to get more info- but was told to call back when a manager is in – they didn’t know anything about it).
If we’ve missed any, please feel free to add them in the comments below! Cheers!
Italiano Vino Dinner
Giovanni’s Pizzeria and Ristoranto Italiano will be hosting a an Italian Fall Food & Wine Dinner on Tuesday, Nov 9th at 6:30pm. This 5 course dinner will be paired with 6 wines for the just $32.50 per person. Reservations are required and due by Nov 7th. You can reach the Fairborn restaurant at 878-1611 and tell them DaytonMostMetro sent you!
WELCOMING DRINK
Lamarcu Prosecco
APPETIZER
Bruschetta with fresh made Rigotta and Tomato
Wine: Marchese Montefusco Syrah
PASTA
Cheese and Ham filled Ravioli with Sage Butter
Wine: Masi Masianco
SALAD
Asparagus and Mushroom Salad with Egg
Wine: Savuto Odoardi
MAIN ENTRE
Grilled Skirt Steak with Salsa Verde & Sauted Broccoli Rabe
Wine: Marchese Montefusco Nero d`Avola
DESSERT
Abruzzese Chocolate Cake
Wine: Rosa Regale
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN and the Young John Lennon biopic
2 new films open this Friday at THE NEON. We’ve had more calls about WAITING FOR SUPERMAN than any other film in recent months, and NOWHERE BOY – a film about the young John Lennon – is certainly a crowd-pleaser. We hope you’re making plans to see us this weekend!
Synopsis for WAITING FOR SUPERMAN: “Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of WAITING FOR SUPERMAN. As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop-out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems.” (Sundance Film Festival) http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/
Synopsis for NOWHERE BOY: “The drama tells the story of Lennon’s teenage years and the start of his journey to becoming a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood – his Aunt Mimi, and his mother, Julia. In addition, the film shows the first meeting of Lennon with future Beatle Paul McCartney, and the development of their friendship and musical partnership. British actor Aaron Johnson portrays Lennon, and Thomas Brodie Sangster plays Paul McCartney. Aunt Mimi is portrayed by Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff plays Julia.” (Wikipedia) http://nowhereboy.com
Only 2 films left in Living City’s Festival! Here are the remaing films in the Jeff Bridges retrospective:
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT (sponsored by Jeff Martin Florist) – Nov. 8 at 7PM
RANCHO DELUXE (sponsored by CityWide Development) – Nov. 15 at 7PM
Single tickets will be $8 each available before each show.
The Ohio Liberty Film Festival starts next week at multiple venues. This is the second year for the festival, and more information can be found by clicking http://www.ohiolibertyfilmfestival.com/aboutthefestival.htm. The Liberty Film Fest ia a “…celebration of freedom and liberty. The underlying idea is that man’s great achievements, whether artistic, scientific or intellectual, have come about through the exercise of freedom and opportunity. The intent will be to showcase films that show the positive use of freedom, and also the negative outcomes and conditions related to the suppression of freedom.” (taken from Liberty Film Fest’s website)
Films screening at THE NEON are:
RESCUE DAWN – Thursday, November 11 at 2:30pm
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES – Thursday, November 11 at 7:30
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST – Sunday, November 14 at 2:30
On Thursday, November 18 at 8PM, New York director Gary Beeber (a Dayton native) will bring his movie DIRTY MARTINI AND THE NEW BURLESQUE to town – “a feature-length, independent documentary that explores the outrageous world of the performers who created the ‘new burlesque’ scene in New York City. Get to know Miss Dirty Martini and her friends Julie Atlas Muz, World-Famous *BOB*, Bambi the Mermaid, Tigger!, Scotty the Blue Bunny, and many other cult stars. The movie’s seductiveness comes from its sexy acts as well as its dark exploration of the performers’ struggle to pay their bills, quest for stable love relationships and inability to envision the future after burlesque. The relationship between sex work, burlesque and feminism are discussed. As a classically trained dancer, Dirty Martini has struggled since childhood to overcome criticism of her size. Like Bette Midler, she began her career as part of the downtown drag scene where she
was accepted for her talent. She went on to develop her act in the East Village drag clubs where the gay community appreciated her glamour and kitsch.
Dirty Martini redefines female beauty and allows other women, of all shapes and sizes, to feel uninhibited in expressing their raw sexuality.” (taken from press notes) In addition to the documentary, Beeber is also rounding up regional Burlesque stars to put on a show for attendees. More details will be available in the coming days, but for now you can check out a teaser trailer by clicking HERE. Advanced tickets for this event will cost $15 – and will be available this weekend at THE NEON’s box office. Tickets on the day of the show will be $20.
We hope to see you very soon.
Take care,
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for November 5 – November 11:
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (PG) 111 minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
NOWHERE BOY (R) 98 Minutes
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday: 2:45, 5:00, 9:30
Tuesday & Wednesday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Thursday: 5:00
THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT (R) 115 minutes (Living City)
Monday: 7:00
RESCUE DAWN (R) 126 Minutes (Liberty Film Fest)
Thursday: 2:30
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (NR) 172 Minutes
Thursday: 7:30
COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Some of these dates will change.
Nov. 12 INSIDE JOB & LEBANON
Nov. 19 TAMARA DREW
Nov. 24 127 HOURS
TBD This Fall: THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST
Dec. 24 MADE IN DAGENHAM
Dec. 24 BLACK SWAN
TBD: THE KING’S SPEECH & RABBIT HOLE
French Bistro Introduces New Specials
Chef Dominique Fortin has introduced a new version of his daily specials and invites you to visit C’est Tout for a two course meal at a great price. Here are the weekly features:
MON : Chicken Pot Pie $12.95
TUES: Spaghetti and Meatballs with Garlic Bread $10.95
WED: Pork Chop, Sweet Potato Casserole and Vegetables – $12.75
THURS: Homemade Meatloaf with Pomme Puree and Vegetables – Red Wine Sauce $10.95
FRI: Fish ‘n’ Chips- Tartare Sauce $14.50
SAT: Roasted Prime Rib ” au jus” small $15.95 queen $19.75 king $26.50
Each meal comes with your choice of a small house salad or a cup of the soup du jour! Enjoy these specials Mon – Thurs between 5 – 10pm and Fri and Sat from 5 – 11pm. C’est Tout is closed on Sunday’s. The restaurant is located at 2600 Far Hills Avenue.
Dayton Peace Accords – Fifteen Years Later
Fifteen years ago this month, the agreement that ended the war in Bosnia was negotiated and initialed here in Dayton. Most people around here know that, and probably remember the talks that happened at Wright-Patterson AFB. The war, the largest of the wars of dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, had lasted three and a half years and cost over a hundred thousand lives, a huge number of them civilians killed in attempts to eradicate a specific ethnic group. The Dayton Peace Accords ended the war and created the constitutional structure that is still in force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke chose Dayton as the summit site for a number of reasons. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, provided sufficient accommodations for the nine participating delegations at a location easy for US diplomats to reach from the East Coast, it sealed the participants off from the ravenous East Coast press, allowed Holbrooke to completely control the talks’ physical environment, and also the delegations’ movement and contacts, and prominently displayed America’s air power. Holding the talks in Dayton enabled Holbrooke’s use of the “Big Bang” strategy – now known in diplomacy circles as a “Dayton” – where negotiators are more or less locked into an area until they reach an agreement. For our part, Daytonians welcomed the negotiators and then formed human peace chains around the base, holding candlelight vigils, and praying for peace throughout the 21 days of talks.
You can read the history of the war, and of the Dayton negotiations & remarks specifically, in a number of authoritative accounts, and I won’t repeat it here. What I would like to do is talk about two effects of the Accords on Dayton.
The first affect the Accords had on Dayton was to instantly create a bond between Daytonians and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. Even today, whether they liked the terms of the Accords or not, everyone in those three countries knows about Dayton and what happened here. The City of Dayton is Sister City to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and numerous organizations and institutions like the Friendship Force and the University of Dayton have established productive exchanges and programs over the last 15 years. In addition, like many American cities, we now have a group of immigrants living here in Dayton from the countries who were involved in the war. As anyone who has seen the South Slavic Club dancers perform or eaten some ćevapi sausages at World A’Fair can attest, they are enhancing our cultural richness. Also, with the language ability they bring, and their experience in distinct cultures, they can potentially help us compete on the world stage in a number of areas. I know that as a community we have not utilized them as a resource as fully as we should have.
Second, because of the high profile of the war in Bosnia, the Accords placed Dayton in the world’s spotlight for an entire month. This sort of exposure is hard to come by, and its value is nearly impossible to measure, in a world where travel and communications advances have enabled rapid cross-border commerce and conversation, where the overseas success of a business could partially rest on it coming from a city with a recognizable international reputation. The Accords have given Dayton our second shot at that exposure and reputation, and our first since the world-shaking successes of the Wright brothers one hundred years ago.
We are doing a better job of promoting our city as the home of the Wright brothers than we used to. The bicycle shop is doing well, the hangar at the flying field at Wright Patt is looking great, and we are finally growing more comfortable with our Wright brothers image or brand. The question being discussed now isn’t whether we should focus on the Wrights, but on the best way to do it.
Even though the Dayton Peace Accords are lower-profile (except in Bosnia itself) than the Wrights, I propose that we should do more to capitalize on the fact that the Accords happened here. As I mentioned earlier, there are many organizations who maintain close relationships with people in Bosnia and the region. Through them, we are doing a good job of keeping the personal connections strong. However, there are more things we can do to take advantage of the increased visibility and recognition the Accords have given us both in Bosnia and throughout the world. I would like to suggest the following as possible ways to help our city by using the Accords to our advantage.
1. We could collect and archive documents from the Dayton Peace Accords. The Accords utilized a unique model to reach agreement between the warring parties, one that is still being studied and analyzed, and we would likely gain some international attention as the prime location for that analysis.
2. We could mobilize our current immigrant population from Southeast Europe and our universal name recognition there to encourage skilled immigrants to come to Dayton, and following the model provided by our new Ahiska Turk population (and countless other immigrant waves over the last 200 years,) revitalize a neighborhood or two and provide new energy to the city.
3. We could come up with a strategy to exploit the historic sites of the Accords to attract historical and other tourists. Other cities have opened museums and offer tours with displays, reenactments and other attractions that highlight their roles in major negotiations, agreements, signings and other historically significant events, but we haven’t even tried to do this here. I think we should at least take a look at the feasibility of such a coordinated effort.
4. We could endow an academic chair at a local university to teach about the region or to research and teach about applying lessons learned in our involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
5. Before the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a highly industrialized place, with a skilled workforce. Now they are making the transition, like we are, to the information-based economy. There are progressive minds in the region looking to increase the number of companies working on new green technologies, and in other areas that coincide with areas that we are working in, like the heat pump systems that use groundwater instead of outside air to heat and cool buildings. Perhaps we should research and assist our local companies in signing cooperative agreements with business incubators and small businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, along the same lines as the model Montgomery County is using in Israel today. We hold the same advantage in this case, which is access to the huge US market for these technologies. If we can use this advantage to create jobs here in Dayton, using new innovative technologies, we should.
In these days of cynicism about government, and the general reluctance of people to put aside their own personal comfort for a greater goal, the Accords are especially good for us to remember. We Americans, through our government’s action, ended a horribly vicious war, and the peace has held, even though the political situation continues to be unruly there, 15 years later. We can be proud of the small but crucial role we played, and we should do more to take advantage of the fact that the Accords took place here in Dayton.
To that end, this coming weekend, UD, WSU and Sinclair, along with a number of other partners, are sponsoring two events to commemorate the 15 years since the Accords were negotiated here. There is a dinner on Friday night at the Hope Hotel, in the same room that the accords were initialed, and there is a policy forum on Saturday from 9 to 4:30 at UD. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister Sven Alkalaj, will be here for both events, along with the Mayor of Sarajevo, Dr. Alija Behmen, and a number of other guests and experts from the region. We are including, for the first time, a greater focus on the status of average people caught in the conflict, with one panel talking about everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and another discussing the experiences of the immigrants who came here during and after the war. As of this morning, there are still seats available for both the dinner and the forum. I’d like to see us make this weekend’s events the start of a more focused strategy to take advantage of the opportunities granted to us by the historical quirk of the Accords’ signing here in Dayton, and I hope you will join in both this weekend, and in what will come after.
If you would like more information, go to www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/accords_update.htm, and to order tickets to the Banquet, or RSVP for the Forum, please visit: http://daytonpeaceaccordsat15.eventbrite.com, or call Kate Evans at 333-3659.
Jane’s Best Bets (11/3 – 11/7)
Election season is over! No matter your political stance and your state of happiness/unhappiness following the elections, at least celebrate the fact that you won’t have to deal with any more campaign commercials, fliers, or annoying phone calls! In order to start the celebration, here are some options this week!
On Wednesday, support the Humane Society by attending Pet Afflaire 2010: 20th Anniversary at the Presidential Banquet Center, which will include dining, socializing, “barktinis”, and an auction. Or sip a variety of wines at Dorothy Lane Market’s Wine Tasting (Centerville location) or at the The Wine Gallery’s Weekly Wine Tasting. Even though you might be bummed that fall is here, spring is in the air at the Victoria Theatre! Be sure to attend their presentation of the Tony Award winning musical, Spring Awakening. Plus, if you’re a student and you bring your student ID to the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, you can get half-off tickets two hours before the show!
On Thursday, all you Buckeye fans will want to head to the Schuster Center to see Archie Griffin as part of the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture Series. At the Dayton Art Institute, attend the last DAI 2010 Vectren Just Jazz Series, featuring Khalid Moss. If you enjoy baking and want to perfect your cookie decorating skills, consider heading to Cooks’ Wares in Springboro for their Holiday Cookie Decorating. If you need a taste tester or have any “goof-ups,” let me know…I’d be happy to help! At the First Baptist Church of Dayton, attend the Local Foods Chili Dinner, where UD students from the Nutrition & Dietetics Department will prepare a meal in order to promote local foods. In addition, all donations received will benefit the Foodbank. And if you love musicals, attend ETC’s Big Fat Concert Series: Indulge Yourself at Sidebar in the Oregon District for cocktails and a FREE concert!
On Friday, “accord”ing to me, you should consider attending the Commemorative Banquet as part of the Dayton Peace “Accords” 15th Anniversary Event at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center. In the evening, get your bike from out of the garage (and in my case, dust it off and put air in your tires), and participate in the Courteous Mass Ride. While you’re downtown, check out many of the events going on there as part of First Friday. Even though I’m typically on the side of the good guys, this weekend I’ll recommend the Bad Boys & Beer at the Belly Bomb Cafe Event at Taj Ma Garaj for fine food, samples of craft beer, and live music! Plus, proceeds benefit the Epilepsy Foundation and Dayton History. Or, if you want to catch a show/concert, some of your options include ‘Chopin’s Circle’at the Schuster Center, Irving Berlin’s White Christmasat La Comedia, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs at Town Hall Theatre, The 39 Steps at The Loft Theatre, The Sugar Witch at the Dayton Theatre Guild. Also, if you are a theater lover, be sure to check out the onStageDayton section of DaytonMostMetro.com for more detailed info about the Dayton theater scene!
On Saturday, attend the We Care Arts Holiday Open House. If you love Thomas, The Dayton Train Show at Hara Arena is where it’s at. (Sorry English teachers – prepositions are what my sentences sometimes end in.) If you can’t get enough of the King and the Rocket Man, come to the Mandalay Banquet Center for Rock the House – Elvis & Elton. In addition to music, there will be a dinner, raffle, silent auction, and much more. The Kettering Medical Center will thank you, thank you very much, as the proceeds will benefit oncology services there. There will also be some theater options, including The Sugar Witch at the Dayton Theatre Guild, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs at Town Hall Theatre, The 39 Steps at The Loft Theatre, and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia. If you enjoy classical music, attend ‘Chopin’s Circle’ at the Schuster Center. Also at the Schuster Center, consider attending Justin and Ryan: A Night of Improv…I think just about anything with improv in its name is going to be funny! Are you among the Flyer Faithful? If so, hopefully you will be checking out Brian Gregory’s team as the Flyers play Findlay in an exhibition game at UD Arena. Gotta love UD basketball! And finallly on Saturday, if you want to get a head start on your Christmas shopping (after all, Christmas is less than two months away!), head down to the Dayton Visual Arts Center for the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery for some unique options!
On Sunday, after you enjoy an extra hour of sleep (or perhaps you used your extra hour partying on Saturday!), all active duty, reserve, guard, retired military personnel and their families should head to Young’s Jersey Dairy, where they are offering a 20% off discount as part of their Support the Troops 20% Off Weekend (just show them your military ID). Also, The Dayton Train Show will continue on at Hara Arena. Sundays are also great days to visit museums, so you may want to take a trip to the Dayton Art Institute for one of their many exhibits, including 100 Years of African-American Art: The Arthur Primas Collection, Marking the Past/Shaping the Present: The Art of Willis ‘Bing’ Davis, and the Max May Memorial Holocaust Art Exhibition. If you’d like to catch more theater, here are your possibilities: The Sugar Witch at the Dayton Theatre Guild, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs at Town Hall Theatre, The 39 Steps at The Loft Theatre, and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia.
And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…
Why shouldn’t you tell secrets when a clock is around?
Because time will tell.
These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!
Have a great week Dayton!
Meet Your MetroParks
As a former journalist, the election season has always been an exciting time for me, but when I took up my mantle with Five Rivers MetroParks, I would be on the other side of the proverbial punch card. No longer simply an observer, I kicked off my new career with a tall order—volunteer with the MetroParks levy campaign. Through those months of phone calls and canvassing, I discovered that many Dayton area residents knew of the MetroParks closest to their home, but weren’t aware of the total number of parks, or the number of acres we protect. I thought it would be appropriate today to give you a little overview of each of our facilities.
- Aullwood Garden MetroPark: This 31-acre garden situated on the edge of Englewood MetroPark is the former home of John and Marie Aull, whose world-wide travels inspired this luxurious shade garden. Lenten roses and other choice shade plants are featured at this estate garden.
- Carriage Hill MetroPark: Take a trip back in time at this preserved 1880s historical farm.
Children love to learn about agricultural and professional skills popular during the turn of the 20thCentury. This 900-acre park, located in Huber Heights, also offers hiking and equestrian trails as well as fishing ponds, a 14-acre lake, and the nearby Carriage Hill Riding Center, where trail and pony rides are offered April through October.
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark: Mature forests populate this 189-acre park south of Dayton near Moraine and Miamisburg, along with diverse gardens, such as the Edible Landscape Garden and the Clematis Arbor. The Butterfly House is a favorite summertime destination to view native butterflies and moths in various stages of metamorphosis.
- Deeds Point MetroPark: The landscape beds this park perched downtown along the Great Miami River offer visitors a floral garden paradise in an urban setting.
- Eastwood MetroPark: Paddle in the 185-acre lake, ride the Mad River bikeway, fish in the lagoon or river or hike 3 miles of wooded and open meadow trails in this park just off State Route 4 near Riverside. Both the Buckeye and North Country National Scenic trails run through this park. This is the site of the annual GearFest recreation celebration, which takes place in the fall.
- Englewood MetroPark: The potential for recreation is endless in this 1,900-acre park. Choose from 12 miles
of scenic trails, 3.5 miles of bridle trails, paddling on the Stillwater River, and great spots for fishing. This park also boasts a unique feature—an 18-hole disc golf course. Disc golf is an easy-to-learn activity that involves throwing flying discs into a “basket” situated a distance from the starting point.
- Germantown MetroPark: The size, quality and age of the woodlands make this 1,665-acre park the most diverse of the natural areas. The park also contains large open grasslands, cedar glades and dry hillside prairies. One popular weekend attraction (particularly for birders) is the Nature Center with its Window on Wildlife.
- Hills & Dales MetroPark: This Olmsted-designed park has 63 acres of native plants and landscaped areas situated in the crux of Kettering, Oakwood and Dayton. Recently renovated to restore its former beauty, this park boasts 2 miles of wooded trails, including the Adirondack boardwalk that gives visitors a tour of the wetlands.
- Huffman MetroPark: One of the most prominent amenities of this park located just east of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is MoMBA, the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area. About 8 miles of track snake their way through this wooded sub-facility. MoMBA’s trails are constructed to help the novice gain mountain biking confidence and challenge the most experienced rider.
- Island MetroPark: Towering sycamore and cottonwood trees lend shade to those seeking respite from the bustling city in this 33-acre park, located just north of downtown Dayton. Landscaped beds, a seasonal water playground, picnic shelters and the historic bandshell are other hallmarks of this park.
- PNC 2nd Street Market: Pick up farm-fresh produce, meats,cheeses, eggs and dry goods as well as flowers, wine, jewelry, soaps,gifts and more. The Market highlights the growers, producers and
artisans we have right here in the greater Dayton region. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
- Possum Creek MetroPark: Head southwest of downtown Dayton to find this 556-acre park and enjoy its many amenities, such as Polly Possum’s Math Farm, fishing ponds, historic Argonne Forest, 100-plus-acre planted prairies and the sustainable farm.
- RiverScape MetroPark: Downtown Dayton’s favorite hangout has become an indelible icon with its fountains and renovated amenities. The covered pavilion provides shade for summer concert and festival-goers in the summer and doubles as an outdoor skating rink in the winter. Cyclists who commute or ride for recreation have welcomed the new bike hub. Children can splash around in the interactive fountains or get a brief history on Dayton’s innovative past while traveling the Dayton Inventor’s River Walk.
- Sugarcreek MetroPark: This diverse area—with all stages of succession, mature forests, a trio of 500-year old white oaks, varied topography, a planted prairie, meadows and scenic Sugar Creek—is located near the Bellbrook area. Its trails are popular among trail runners, dog walkers and equestrians.
- Sunrise MetroPark: The walkways of this tiny urban oasis, conveniently located just north of downtown Dayton, are filled with stunning views of the city’s skyline. Prairie plantings and wildflowers draw in wildlife from the adjacent river habitat, and make the park a serene spot for relaxing. Catch a glimpse of the large and graceful blue herons that frequent the area.
- Taylorsville MetroPark: There’s no shortage of history or nature to encounter along this 1,300-acre park’s 13 miles of trails, nestled just outside Vandalia. Visitors also can link up with the Buckeye and North Country
trails. The Buckeye Trail completely encircles Ohio and is over 1,200 miles long. The North Country Trailextends into seven states and will be the longest continuous hiking trail in the United States when completed.
- Twin Creek MetroPark: This 1,000-acre park situated in the southwest corner of Montgomery County is home to 20 miles of hiking trails, 7 miles of equestrian trails, and ample access to the Twin Creek, one of Ohio’s cleanest waterways. Hike the Twin Valley Trail, a 22-mile backpacking trail connecting Twin Creek and Germantown MetroParks.
- Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark: With about eight different formal garden areas, this north Dayton park is a haven for plant lovers, featuring something in bloom nearly year-round. The Children’s Discovery Garden here offers fun and learning through the joy of gardening. Visitors can also enjoy paved bikeways and the Marie Aull Nature Trail.
- Wesleyan MetroPark: Home to Adventure Central, a program aimed at getting urban youth engaged in the outdoors, this 55-acre park offers its west Dayton neighbors a place to enjoy nature, whether hiking on 1.5 miles of trail, cycling along the Wolf Creek Bikeway, playing on the playground equipment or fishing in Wolf Creek.
Now that you know a little bit about each park and its respective subfacilities, plan your next adventure today.
Foursquare Equals Freebies at Chain Restaurant
Fans of the smartphone application Foursquare can now earn free food at McCormick & Schmick’s when they check in during happy hour. You’ll have your choice of beer battered mushrooms, black bean hummus, fried zucchini or salmon cakes, as long as you check in and purchase a drink – alcoholic or not.Happy hour runs from 3-6pm and all day Sunday in the bar area. And don’t forget every Tuesday night you can enjoy $1 oysters as well.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant is located at The Greene at 4429 Cedar Park Drive
in Beavercreek,
Jimmy Pardo: The Jazz Zinger
From Comedy Clubs To Conan, This Comedian Is Never Not Funny
After studying for a year at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California, Jimmy Pardo decided to go back to his home state of Illinois and entered the comedy scene during the halcyon days of the eighties. Coming up through the ranks, Jimmy went on to become a headliner, appearing in his own Comedy Central half-hour special and making guest appearances on television shows like That Seventies Show and Becker. Always casting a nervous eye on the future, Jimmy has taken a practical approach to his career, creating opportunities for himself instead of waiting for that ephemeral big break. By doing so, Jimmy has created several shows of his own, such as Running Your Trap, You Bet Your Life and a very successful one man show, understatedly titled Attention Must Be Paid: The Jimmy Pardo Story. Not satisfied with becoming stale or behind the times, Pardo hosts a critically acclaimed and wildly successful podcast, Never Not Funny, which is an unscripted talk with various guests from the world of comedy as well as Pardo’s unique humor.
What follows is an (almost) unedited transcript of my most recent interview with the acerbically witty comedian as he was in transit to the world’s best day job…
J.T.: How are you doing?
Jimmy: Good! Jimmy Pardo calling…but obviously you know that.
J.T.: See? I was editing pictures from a pole fitness class. That’s where you rate with me. ‘Pictures of hot, nubile women exercising on stripper poles…what? Jimmy Pardo is on the phone? Well, let me just put these away then!’
Jimmy: Well good for you! And those are ladies you know, right?
J.T.: Yeah.
Jimmy: That makes it hotter, doesn’t it?
J.T.: Yeah, it has that ‘girl next door’ quality to it.
Jimmy: Yeah! Right! I like it. I love the idea of it.
J.T.: Well, how is everything in your world?
Jimmy: Everything is good. As we speak, I am driving to go to work with Conan.
J.T.: That was going to be my first question. I was wondering where that was going to lead because you were there right when the Jay Leno hammer fell.
Jimmy: I was. I was there for the whole seven months of the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and, luckily, I got picked up to go to work again. Today is our first test show and, as I said, I’m heading there right now.
J.T.: That is just ultra-cool.
Jimmy: Yeah! I’m really excited about it. I don’t…and if I’m repeating myself, I apologize… this is a great group of people to work with and Conan is just a terrific guy and I’m honored to be part of such a terrific team. I know that sounds like a press release, but I mean it.
J.T.: Oh, well yeah. You know, the way that Conan has handled this whole situation, from beginning to end, has just been classy and funny at the same time. I think that it has boosted his image in a lot of people’s eyes.
Jimmy: It really has. It’s made him sort of like this underdog/folk hero too. People are like, here’s this guy who, for no reason, got shit on, basically. He was putting on and doing a great show, he was being funny and he was getting the ratings in the demographics that they had told him that they had wanted him to do, and then they went, ‘Yeah, you know what? That’s not what we want after all *click*’ It’s just ridiculous.
J.T.: Yeah, and things went the other way for Leno as well.
Jimmy: Oh, absolutely.
J.T.: On many different levels.
Jimmy: You know, (Leno) didn’t come off well in any of those interviews that he gave, during and post, in my opinion.
J.T.: Well, switching gears, Never Not Funny is doing really well…
Jimmy: We are doing very well and I’m proud to be a part of that as well. I’ve never been prouder of anything than I am about the podcast.
J.T.: Well, I read a while back that it even got a write up in GQ Magazine…
Jimmy: Yeah! They were nice enough to mention us as their Number One Relatively Obscure Thing To be Paid Attention To and hopefully that got us a few more listeners.
J.T.: Well, that’s kind of a left handed compliment, isn’t it?
Jimmy: (Laughing) Yeah, right! Well, you know how everything needs to be snarky, right?
J.T.: Yeah, but it’s like, ‘Should I say thank you or smack the fuck out of someone?’
Jimmy: Yeah, well, you read Entertainment Weekly and everything has to be some backhanded compliment. It just can’t be, ‘Hey! This is great!’ Everything just has to have that subtext of snarkiness to it.
J.T.: Right! You know, when people have asked me to describe your show, I always say…and you might disagree with this…but there seems to be different styles of stage presence and types of delivery, so I put it into musical terms which is to say that there are those whose performance is more like grunge and some that are more like classical jazz. I’ve always describe your act as being like watching classical jazz. It’s almost got that Catskills quality to it.
Jimmy: I don’t, uh…I don’t disagree with anything you have said. In fact, I’m very flattered when people refer to my delivery as jazz because I do think it has some of those elements, if you are trying to compare it to music because it’s got that rhythm and it can take off into another rhythm. No, I one hundred percent agree with you and I appreciate the compliment and I take it as such.
J.T.: Well, how would you describe your act to someone who hasn’t seen you perform?
Jimmy: You know what? I’ve been trying to figure that out for twenty years. How do you put into words the nonsense I do? You know, I used to call it ‘high energy sarcasm,’ or somebody once described it as that in a review of my show and, at the time, I thought it summed up what I do. I still think it does, but when people think of sarcasm, they picture some dour guy, like a guy that just stands there and is mean, bitter and angry…and that is certainly not what I am. But when they said ‘high energy sarcasm’ I thought, ‘Well, that makes sense because I’m also not Dane Cook or Steve Byrne, who are both fine comics. I’m not one of these guys that shits on those guys. But, they are these high energy kind of guys, but they aren’t really sarcastic. So, for me, high energy sarcasm worked, but I do so much improvisation on stage these days that if there was a way to figure out something like, ‘high energy improvisational sarcasm’…but boy, doesn’t that sound like a shit show? (laughing) I don’t know. I really don’t know how to describe it.
J.T.: That’s what I mean. I have a hard time describing your show because you can go from an egocentric dictator at one point directly into some self deprecating rant about yourself.
Jimmy: It’s, uh…you know what? I mean, that’s exactly it too.
J.T.: Maybe highly energetic schizophrenia.
Jimmy: You know, I want to say that somebody used that term to describe my show once before too. A woman in Ann Arbor called me that. But, I don’t disagree with that either. You’re right…I mean the egocentric dictator is kind of rough…but yeah, I turn it around and then I’m the stooge, which I think is necessary because if you’re just up there yelling, you’re just an a-hole, don’t you think? I mean, you have to turn it on yourself at some point. I think some of these young comics don’t realize that part of it. I apologize J.T., but at zero with this question. It’s odd to try and describe what it is that I do. It’s just funny and…I don’t know. I’m a failure. (laughs)
J.T.: Let’s talk about the Never Not Funny podcasts for a minute then. What do you have coming up with that? Any interesting interviews slated?
Jimmy: You know, we have Scott Aukerman makes his return (October 27th) and next week my beautiful wife Danielle Koenig will be on the show. We’re coming to the end of this season, and we’ve had a lot of new guests this season and added some new faces to the show and I already have a lot of new faces lined up for season eight, but I don’t want to give those away because it won’t be a surprise when we do it.
J.T.: That and you’ll jinx yourself and they’ll pull out at the last minute the moment you utter their names.
Jimmy: Oh, of course. The minute you printed their name, that guy would cancel. We also have the Podcast-o-thon coming up the day after Thanksgiving. This year we’re going to go for twelve hours where last year we only went for nine. We raised over twenty-one thousand bucks last year. We’re hoping to best that, but I don’t see that being possible, but I would should love it if it happened. Starting today, as a matter of fact, we began to book the people for that event. I sent out a bunch of invitations to appear for it and hopefully soon they will start to come back to me, so there will be that as well as well as the regulars from the show and we will have a great twelve hour marathon.
J.T.: What is the charity that you are raising money for?
Jimmy: It goes to Smile Train. That’s the charity that goes to Third World countries and fixes cleft palates.
J.T.: Oh yeah!
Jimmy: Yeah, you’ve probably seen the ads like in the back of Parade Magazine.
J.T.: Yeah, some of the most horrific pictures in those ads.
Jimmy: They really are. I picked up Parade Magazine and I saw this ad and it says, ‘Each surgery only costs $250.’ So, I immediately donated…not because I’m this big money guy…I don’t have money to donate, but I was so moved by those horrific pictures that I thought, ‘Jesus Christ! For $250 bucks you can fix this kid’s face? Why not donate?’ Then when it came time last year for the end of the season, we said, ‘Hey, let’s do a marathon podcast just for the fun of it!’ and then I thought, ‘You know what? Let’s do it for this charity.’ So, when we raised this much money…I never…I never felt like I had done something better for the world in my life than giving this much money to save this many kids. It really felt great and hopefully we can do the same this year.
J.T.: Well, I sincerely hope it does as well. With the podcasts getting more popular, are people seeking you out asking to be a guest instead of visa versa?
Jimmy: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! People…uh…not so much calling, but if I’m like out at a show, (comedians) are like, ‘Yeah, I’d sure like to show up on that podcast!’ Nine times out of ten, I go, ‘Yeah!’ and walk away and hope they never bring it up again. With the one out of ten, I’ll go back to my co-host producer Matt (Belknap) and tell him, ‘Hey! Kevin Pollak wants to do our show!’ and so it’s like, ‘Great! Let’s book him!’ and we definitely get him on as quickly as we can. But, with all of the requests, sadly, there’s a reason you haven’t been asked my friend. By the way, some of those are really funny people, but not funny in conversation. You know, I used to hear Steve Dahl and Garry Meier do radio out of Chicago and they interviewed Jerry Seinfeld who, at the time my…you know…and man, he was awful!
J.T.: Oh yeah, I’ve seen a ton of interviews where you would have gotten better reactions out of coma patients.
Jimmy: Don’t you think?
J.T.: Yeah, he always just gave really short, deadpan answers.
Jimmy: Just horrible! Not even funny! You’re not promoting your show! You just…showed up! So, again, it’s not an insult to these people when I don’t want to have them on, it’s just I know that they are not going to be right for that format.
J.T.: I’ve always thought that about some of these morning radio shows. There are some absolutely hysterical people that have been on there, but the format kills them.
Jimmy: Right!
J.T.: Ron Shock is a perfect example because he is a brilliantly funny man, but his long drawling type of storytelling does not survive on that ADHD programming format. I mean, before he is 1/16th through a story, someone has already interrupted him and derailed the whole thing…
Jimmy: Exactly! Boy! You’re not kidding either. You’re just derailed and, like in Ron’s case, with that Southern drawl, how do you go back like, ‘Anyhow, what Ah wuz sayin’ wuz…’ It would make you sound like a dick, so you drop it and you’re done. So, instead of coming off with this really funny story, people listening are like, ‘Well, that made no sense! Thank God someone interrupted it!’ Yeah, I agree with you. I one hundred percent agree.
J.T.: By the same token, there are people that are absolutely hysterical on radio, and you would think that their stage show would utilize that improvisation, but after four or five years, it’s the same routine.
Jimmy: (laughing) Right!
J.T.: Well, that’s like that air bass thing you do on Bob and Tom. At least since their program has been picked up for television broadcast by WGN, you can get the more subtle nuances of the air bass performance.
Jimmy: Definitely. You know, as much as I want exposure, the downside is that anytime I go to a Bob and Tom market, there’s always at least one guy that yells out, ‘Air bass!’ It’s like, ‘Okay, there’s no music playing sir. It doesn’t apply to what we are doing currently.’ And by the way, and you know this: They don’t yell out when it’s quiet…they yell it out one word before the punchline. ‘Air bass!’ Yeah, thanks.
J.T.: Well, have you picked up any other air instruments like the accordion?
Jimmy: I have not. I stick strictly with the bass. You know, when you perfect an instrument like that, you don’t want to take away from its uniqueness. How’s that for a ridiculous answer (laughing).
J.T.: What you should do is if someone yells out for air bass, you should just stop what you’re doing and do like a three minute solo without any music or noise whatsoever and then, when you’re done, remind everyone to thank the gentleman after the show for suggesting that encore performance.
Jimmy: Right! I mean, obviously I do other nonsense, like I tap dance for no reason…you know, I’m doing this Cajun character who just shows up out of nowhere now, for no reason.
J.T.: (laughing) I haven’t seen that yet.
Jimmy: Oh, it is the dumbest thing you will see in your entire life. I’m not going to lie to you: I’ve never, in my entire career in comedy, I’ve never heard an audience laugh harder than when I do this dumb Cajun guy. It doesn’t last more than two minutes, because it can’t because it is so ridiculous, but when I do it, I still get spit-takes. I mean, Jesus Christ, I’ve worked my ass off for twenty years and, as it turns out, I do this dumb Cajun guy and he gets the biggest laugh. Fair enough.
J.T.: You caught the Larry the Cable Guy syndrome.
Jimmy: Yeah, right. But I never go more than two minutes because I don’t want to be that guy…you know, with all of his billions of dollars. I don’t want that. No.
J.T.: That’s funny because I just watched the roast of Larry the Cable Guy and Greg Giraldo just tore into him.
Jimmy: He was great, Greg. Everybody says Jeff Ross, they call him the ‘master of the roast,’ but I think Greg was. Don’t you think?
J.T.: Greg’s stuff was brilliant.
Jimmy: Nobody was writing sharper material than Greg.
J.T.: Oh, I mean, Greg Giraldo doing the Flavor Flav roast with, ‘You look like Idi Amin after a three year crack binge on the sun!’ That is an elegant reference.
Jimmy: (laughing) Gorgeous!
J.T.: I got to meet Greg once when he middled for Colin Quinn. I was very surprised. He was a very subdued guy off stage.
Jimmy: You know, it surprised me to. I met him a couple of times at the Montreal Comedy Festival and he’s one of those guys that, like when you see him, with what he does on stage, which is so quick and sarcastic, but off stage, it’s like, ‘Hey man, I’m Greg.’ And it’s like, ‘Oh! Oh good! We’re just people.’
J.T.: If you ever get a chance to, look up Greg’s interview in Psychology Today…it definitely gives some insight into what happened.
Jimmy: Okay. I will definitely look that up when I get home tonight.
J.T.: So, your role on Conan: are you doing the warm up only or are you going to be getting into the writing as well?
Jimmy: You know, I’ll still be just the opening act, but I’m hoping to get in some more sketches this go-round. I did a few for the Tonight Show (with Conan O’Brien) that, due to time constraints, never aired. I am hoping to get in some more sketches and to be a little more involved, but for the most part right now, I’m happy to just go out and be the warm up act and have, quite frankly, the greatest day job in the world.
J.T.: That would be fantastic. Have you been told to keep things in check?
Jimmy: You know what, the only notes that I was ever given, to be honest with you, is just ‘don’t swear.’ That was it.
J.T.: I interviewed Archbishop Schnurr and the whole way to the interview, I’m smoking like a freight train telling myself, ‘Don’t say fuck, don’t say fuck and for fuck’s sake, don’t say goddamn.’ Then I got worried that I had hyped myself up so much that the first words out of my mouth were going to be, ‘Fuck, fuck, fucking, fuckity fuck!’…and then I would go straight to hell.
Jimmy: (laughing) Of course! You know, it’s funny, I did a private gig once, which I can’t stand doing, by the way, and before I went on, the guy goes, ‘The only thing I ask is just don’t say fuck.’ So I said, ‘Oh, okay.’ So I decided to replace every ‘fuck’ in my act with ‘goddamn.’ As it turns out, that might be a little more offensive to some people. Turns out that saying, ‘This goddamn thing and that goddamn thing’…some people truly get offended by that. Okay, good enough.
J.T.: Now, you’ve played Wiley’s a few times…
Jimmy: This will be my third time there. I used to play Joker’s way back in the day, so when that kind of went down, Rob (Haney) was kind enough to call me up, so I went over there and I love it.
J.T.: Do you think it’s a good room for you?
Jimmy: You know what? I’m a guy that speaks so positively about comedy clubs as opposed to venues, and you have one of each in Dayton. I love Wiley’s and while he might not get the numbers that the other club gets, in my opinion, you’re getting comedy fans as opposed to people who just want a night out. I like a nice 150-200 seat room with the stage right there and the people are right there with you, so you can communicate as opposed to perform. That’s the problem…well, I guess it’s not a problem…well, I kind of think it’s a problem…I think that having the stage and the audience so separated has made some comedians go in the direction of, ‘I should perform! I need to kill!’ as opposed to just worrying about being funny. That’s what I love about Wiley’s…even back in the day when Joker’s was there. There were many years when Joker’s drew tremendous crowds. Then, sadly, it became a place for bachelorette parties and you end up wanting to slam your head against a wall.
J.T.: There’s no competing with a bachelorette party.
Jimmy: The day that someone puts a rule out across the country that bachelorette parties are not allowed at comedy clubs, that guy will be my hero.
J.T.: Speaking of Rob, when he told me he sent you an email warning you that I wanted an interview, he said, ‘Oh, I told him that a local writer wanted to interview him and that you were a big fan of his iPod.’ Rob and technology equals a bad mix.
Jimmy: You know, Rob will send me an email and if it takes me more than one word to respond, he’ll write back, ‘Can you just pick up the phone!’ He’s like a dad in that way. Like a dad…if you picture the stereotypical dad…that’s Rob. ‘I don’t understand this future!’
J.T.: When he said I loved your iPod instead of Podcast, I was like, ‘Yeah, I love how Jimmy’s playlist jumps from Marilyn Manson to Air Supply…it’s such an eclectic mix.’
Jimmy: You know, there’s a good chance that might happen. Yeah, you’ve seen my iPod. You like the way I handle it. You like the case and the clear plastic I put over it to prevent scratches.
J.T.: Well, let’s wrap this up. Is there anything that you want out there that we haven’t covered?
Jimmy: Nah, I think that covers it. In fact, I’m going to be pulling into a garage and I’m probably going to lose you. I sure do appreciate you taking the time to do a story.
J.T.: And I surely appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. I will definitely see you when you get to Wiley’s then.
Jimmy: Fantastic! I look forward to it. Thank you so much and I appreciate it J.T.
You can catch the sweetly sardonic humor of Jimmy Pardo for a limited engagement at Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub (101 Pine St. in the Oregon District) on Friday November 5th at 9:00 pm and for two shows on Saturday, November 6th at 8:00 pm and 10:30 pm. Tickets range from $10 to $12 and, since this is a special show, no coupons, passes or offers can be accepted. Call (937) 224-JOKE to make reservations and for more information, check out Wiley’s website at www.wileyscomedyclub.com or become friends with them on Facebook.
November YP Roundup
With Thanksgiving ending the month, there are some changes in the regular schedule for the YP events in November. Take a look at what’s available here, click on the Web sites or event calendar links and get out there to meet some new people.
And, although it’s not a *specific* YP event, I gotta use this chance to say – VOTE! Regardless of whatever else you’re doing on Tuesday, November 2, make sure you take the time to have your say on the future direction of our schools, cities, counties, and state. A lot of people don’t bother to get involved during midterms, but there’s a lot at stake, so take the time to make a difference. Soapbox put away – back to the YPs…
Something new I’m discovering – Meetups! A couple casual groups who coordinate events that may be fun:
20 Somethings of Dayton: http://www.meetup.com/20somethings-of-Dayton-Ohio/ and
Dayton Young Professional group – http://www.meetup.com/Dayton-Professionals/
Let’s get to events in November:
November 1-6
First up, for you aspiring photographers, Dayton Creative Syndicate (with Ohio Photography) is hosting a contest for you to win a free photo session on November 6 at the beautiful Cox Arboretum MetroPark with Jim Crotty (big photography deal). The contest ends November 3, so check it out now if you’re interested in learning more!
After you submit your entry, head over to the Dayton Racquet Club to enjoy complimentary appetizers, happy hour prices, and free parking in the Kettering Tower garage while you meet and mingle with members of the Dayton Ballet Barre. Happy Hour is from 5 – 5:45 and then the Associate Board meeting begins. Not on the Associate Board? Use this meeting as your opportunity to learn more about this group, try it out by volunteering, or sign up that night.
Nothing specifically YP that I’ve discovered on Friday, November 6, so you’ll want to make sure you head downtown for First Friday, the Courteous Mass bike ride, or one of the great dining, music or arts options. Check the DaytonMostMetro.com event calendar for your options.
November 7-13
My gift to you for the second weekend of November – not only great YP events, but another hour in your day as we “fall back” for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, November 7 at 2 AM. Don’t forget!
Tuesday, November 9 – Generation Dayton combines your entrepreneurial spirit with tasty spirits from The Wine Gallery at “Smashing Glasses,” an entrepreneur event presented by Jeff Van Horne. He highlights what it takes to start a small business – the hard work and the fun. Limited to only 35 participants, so make your RSVP early if you want to go.
Also on Tuesday, the Dayton Creative Syndicate has great opportunities for members. Together with the School of Advertising Art and the Greater Dayton Advertising Association, DCS presents guest speakers Ben Nunery and Pat Jones from Powerhouse Factories. Ben and Pat have a great story – hear it at 6 PM ($10 for members, $20 for nonmembers, $5 students w/ ID). And like many a good YP groups, the Dayton Creative Syndicate does more than *just* the educational and professional stuff, so mix and mingle with the DCS members right after the speakers at the November Happy Hour beginning at 7:30 PM.
Wednesday, November 10 – Join up with the HYPE members for lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Piqua. It’s a great opportunity to meet other YPs who live or work in the northern Miami Valley and get involved with this great group.
Thursday, November 11 is the day to “Jump into Art” as jumpstART visits the Dayton Visual Arts Center. Stop by after work starting at 5:30 PM for light snacks, some adult beverages, and Art to Buy. It’s a casual opportunity to explore one of Dayton’s great art resources. And just in time for the holidays, Art to Buy is an exhibit that provides you with affordable and accessible art items (jewelry, wine toppers, ornaments, etc) perfect for gift giving!
Looking for some fun south of town on Thursday? Be sure to stop by Champps Americana for the Generation Dayton Thirsty Thursday from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Meet in the side room to enjoy Chips and Salsa and $2.50 pints of any beer. No membership requirement – just come to learn more about Generation Dayton and have a great time with fellow YPs.
Friday, Friday, Friday! On the second Friday of every month, you can “USUALLY* count on the Dayton Urban League Young Professionals to enjoy kids play in an adult way at YP @ Play. They pull out the Wii, Twister, Jenga, cards and more for you to enjoy. But, in November it’s GALA time – no YP @ Play this month. But you will want to catch up with your DULYP pals at the Dayton Art Institute for this beautiful, fun, and fancy-schmancy event. Learn more here.
And the fun on Friday continues. The Young Republicans are hosting a party for members at Chappy’s Tap Room beginning at 7 PM. Learn more about the group and how to get involved. Questions? Call 937-689-6084.
November 14-20
Tuesday this week gets you started early with the Generation Dayton Business & Breakfast. Get to Tank’s at 7 AM for some tasty and affordable breakfast and hear from David Grupe – the General Manager of the Bach Society of Dayton and Chair of the Community Arts Network. Free to attend, but RSVP so they can save a seat for you.
You can count on the Dayton Urban League YPs to host an interesting membership meeting on the third Thursday of every month. Only $5 for nonmembers (members free) to get up to date on all the happenings and what’s next for this exciting group. Start time – 6:30 PM.
Head back up north on Thursday, November 18 for the HYPE Holiday Kickoff and Gift Drive beginning at 5:30 PM. This is a great charity event PLUS a fantastic party. Raffle prizes, music, games, drink specials, 20% off food, and so much more! Plus = everyone who brings a new, unwrapped gift for kids to the Buffalo Wild Wings in Troy receives a coupon for 5 free wings. This is quite an event – make sure you’re there to help a great cause and have a great time.
Also for your drinking and dining pleasure on Thursday, you can join the Ballet Barre for their monthly Wine & Ballet happy hour at the Wine Gallery downtown (new digs – not over by the Cannery anymore!). They meet from 5:30 – 7:30; enjoy some happy hour pricing and great wine tastings with this YP group. Plus – parking is available in the lot just West of the Wine Gallery for only $1.
November 21 – 30
So that’s what I could dig up for November. And Spoiler Alert -I just learned about a new group that is getting going specifically for social media types who want to give back to the community. Can’t tell you much about them (as their launch event is in December), but you can follow them here.
Music Video Monday: November 1st, 2010
The new month brings lots of excitement, and of course some new albums. On November 13th, Auburndale will be celebrate the release of their highly anticipated new album, Alive in a Dying City. Release show details are here, and the album is now available on iTunes. Here’s Auburndale performing the an acoustic version of the title track from their new album at the WYSO studios this summer.