A deeply melodic drumming style. A comic, almost antic approach to life. An abiding love for jazz history. New York-based drummer and Grammy nominee Matt Wilson is one of today’s most celebrated jazz artists and band-leaders. Known as a gifted composer, producer and teaching artist, Wilson will visit Dayton not just for a concert appearance but also to work in residency. With his ensemble—Chris Lightcap, bass; Jeff Lederer, tenor saxophone/clarinet; Kirk Knuffke, cornet—Wilson consistently delivers phenomenal performances that leave audiences smiling.
Archives for February 2016
Want To Go From Couch to 5K?
The Running 101 run/walk group is for the individual who wants to train from the couch to 5k. Prior to starting this program the individual should be able to walk for a brisk 30 minutes. Up and Running will provide coach led workouts, training schedules, technical product, weekly updates, and much more.
We Wanna Hear From Miami Valley’s Raktakvists!
This week is Random Acts of Kindness Week, and DMM wants to help celebrate! We want to hear from Raktavists. RAKtivist is short for ‘Random Acts of Kindness activist’. Think of RAKtivists like kindness ambassadors – and, like all ambassadors, they’re a part of an active, global community. Anyone who believes kindness can change the world, who reminds everyone around them how much love there is in the world, who inspires hope and generosity with their actions as much as their words… they’re a RAKtivist.
SKOUT recently conducted a survey among more than 2,700 people to uncover trends when it comes to unexpected kindness. The most heartwarming finding in the survey was that 65% of people say they perform a random act of kindness every day! A Random Act of Kindness (RAK) can take many different forms:
To celebrate Random Acts of Kindness week DMM wants you to share your stories in the comment below!
Why share your RAK story?
Kindness is contagious! As you share and read RAK stories, you will inspire others and be inspired to take small actions that can help make someone else’s (and your) day a little better.
Think about the RAKs you’ve experienced and how they may have affected you, even on a small scale. Share your stories throughout from now until Sun , February 21st by commenting below. Don’t have any to share yet? Use these next few days to observe how someone’s unexpected RAK impacts you. We look forward to reading your stories and you never know, we might even reward a few Raktavists with a RAK of our own!
Mystery Monday – February 15, 2016
Welcome to Week 3 of Mystery Mondays. While many of you guessed it was Matilda Stanley “Queen of the Gypsies” at Woodland Cemetery or a headstone at Calvary Cemetery, the answer to Week Two’s Mystery Photo is: The Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont between Immaculate Conception School and Immaculate Conception Parish Church on Smithville Road in Dayton’s Belmont neighborhood.
Congratulations to our winner Theresa Hatton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way! I took this photo on October 15, 2015 during my shoot for ICS’s 75th Anniversary celebration.
Here are some interesting facts about the Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont, which was formally dedicated on May 18, 1958 along with a new addition to Immaculate Conception School by the Most Rev. Karl J. Alter, Archbishop of Cincinnati.
Our Lady of Bel-Mont
The title, Our Lady of Bel-Mont, means “Our Lady of the Beautiful Hill or Mountain.” Mary stands upon the Mount of Heaven to bestow upon us the graces won by Christ her Son upon the Cross. She prays for us and obtains His blessing for us. At the Shrine, besides the statue of Mary, are eight other figures, all carved of solid marble, at Pietrasanta, Italy. The figure of Mary shows her standing upon a cloud, having at her feet the moon. She is clothed in a queenly robe, and wears a crown upon her head. Her hands are extended to receive us.
I’d like to give special thanks to Father Satish Joseph and Parish Secretary Martha Lombard for providing me with research materials (1966 dedication program for the church’s current building) regarding the Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont.
We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below. We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.
Enter here:
http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48
We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.
Thanks for playing and good luck!
Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week Three:
Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.
New Michael Moore Film Now Playing at THE NEON!
Hello Everyone,
We just opened a documentary that is insightful, optimistic and terribly funny – Michael Moore’s WHERE TO INVADE NEXT. Knowing Moore’s work, you might look at the title and feel as though you already know where this film is going…but it’s actually quite a different tone (more below). In addition, we’re holding ANOMALISA as well as the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS (we’ve even brought back the documentaries for a few screenings). On February 19, we will open the new highly-anticipated Maggie Smith film – THE LADY IN THE VAN.
Synopsis for WHERE TO INVADE NEXT: “WHERE TO INVADE NEXT is an expansive, rib-tickling, and subversive comedy in which Moore, playing the role of ‘invader,’ visits a host of nations to learn how the U.S. could improve its own prospects. The creator of FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE is back with this hilarious and eye-opening call to arms. Turns out the solutions to America’s most entrenched problems already existed in the world – they’re just waiting to be co-opted.” (taken from Drafthouse Films) Entertainment Weekly wrote, “Where to Invade Next is so heartfelt and sincere, it’s tempting to say that Moore’s mellowed with age. But beneath its innocent-abroad optimism, the film has a stinging truth that’s hard to ignore.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.
Our friends at ThinkTV are helping us once again to get a signal for our Annual FREE Oscar Party! This year’s telecast will happen on Sunday, February 28, and Ballots (where you can predict the winners for awesome prizes) are now available in our lobby. Our friends at Square One Salon & Spa are once again donating a fantastic prize that will part of our Grand Prize – “The Star Treatment.” Keep tuning in for more details!
“The Junior Leaguers Club of Dayton will sponsor a screening of OPPOSITE FIELD on March 5, 2016 at Noon. This is the club’s fifth annual fundraiser at THE NEON, and this movie is a classic underdog sports story about an Ugandan Little League team. This documentary is inspiring and will have the audience displaying a wide range of emotions as the team makes history as the first African team hosted by the Little League World Series. This is a great film for adults and our youth. The funds raised will go into the Junior Leaguers Club scholarship fund. The tickets are $30 for adults (which include movie, glass of wine, glass of soda, and popcorn) and $15 for students (which include soda and popcorn). Tickets can be purchased at THE NEON. Guest speakers for this screening will be Mr. Ron Johnson, president First Dayton Little League and Mr. Keith Byars, former NFL professional player and a little league player in his youth.” (taken from press notes)
Due to the upcoming holiday, we will have later hours on Sunday and earlier hours on Monday. Please see all of our upcoming showtimes below.
We hope to see you soon!
Thanks for your continued support!
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for Saturday, Feb. 13 – Thursday, Feb. 18:
OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: ANIMATION (NR) 1 Hr 26 Min
Saturday, Sunday (Feb 13-14): 9:30
Monday (Feb 15): No Screening
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Feb 16-18): 3:15
OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: LIVE ACTION (NR) 1 Hr 47 Min
Friday – Thursday (Feb 12-18): 5:10
ANOMALISA (R) 1 Hr 30 Min
Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Feb 13-15): 12:00, 7:30
Tuesday (Feb 16): 7:30
Wednesday (Feb 17): No Screening
Thursday (Feb 18): 7:30
OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS: DOCUMENTARY (NR) 2 Hr 44 Min
Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Feb 13-15): 1:50
Tuesday (Feb 16): No Screening
Wednesday (Feb 17): 7:30
Thursday (Feb 18): No Screening
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (R) 1 Hr 59 Min
Saturday, Sunday (Feb 13 & 14): 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 9:50
Monday (Feb 15): 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:20
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (Feb 16-18): 2:50, 5:20, 7:45
COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Feb. 19 – LADY IN THE VAN (Maggie Smith – need we say more?)
Mar. 4 – JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE
TBD – 45 YEARS (Oscar Nomination for Charlotte Rampling)
TBD – SON OF SAUL (Oscar Nominated “Best Foreign Film”)
March 25 – KNIGHT OF CUPS
April 1 – I SAW THE LIGHT
TBD – THE LOBSTER, DEMOLITION, THE BRONZE
For A Cheesy Good Time
It’s all about cheese at Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival. With over 1,400 cheeses offered everyday in our amazing Cheese Shop, it’s no surprise that we have enough to dedicate an entire festival to celebrate its deliciousness. Experience a world of cheese featuring 40+ booths from over 80 companies, sharing their goods across a range of styles and flavors. They’ll have local, artisan, and international cheeses as well as charcuterie and more, all under one roof! Saturday’s show is already sold out, but tickets are available for Sunday. The show runs from noon -5pm and tickets are $10
Life is Great But Cheese Makes it Better
Cheese is good when served alone, but you will excite your taste buds even more with the delectable selection of meats, olives, breads, and a variety of condiments including spreads, jams, and fruits we’ll have throughout. So be on the lookout for a variety of food booths amongst the tables of cheese.
Where There’s Wine, There’s a Whey!
Nothing goes better with cheese than a cold beer or glass of wine – the flavors are enhanced when they’re paired together. There will be multiple stations throughout the festival, all placed by region so finding the perfect pair will be easy as possible. Wine and beer will be available for purchase at the event by the glass, or get a VIP or drinking wristband and enjoy samples throughout the day.
Sarah the Cheese Lady
Don’t miss the incredible artistic prowess of Guinness Book of World Records cheese carver, Sarah Kaufmann, as she completes an amazing cheese carving at the festival. She knows cheese inside and out and has a knack for transforming a block of cheese into something worthy of a museum. Make sure to stop by and watch her carve, and you can even sample some shavings as she unveils a magical design from a simple block of cheese.
Say Cheese!
This is a family friendly show, with exciting things planned for all ages! There will be lively music to complement the experience, and there will be several entertaining photo opportunities available throughout the day. Be sure to vote for some of your favorite cheeses, as well. You can help crown Best in Show or, if you’re up to the task, the Stinkiest Cheese! This show is bursting with all types of fun to see, try, and experience.
Downtown Businesses Here To Rescue You From Lame Valentine’s Day
Whether you truly “heart” Valentine’s Day, shun the celebration, or are simply ambivalent to arrow-slinging amoretti, if you’re looking for heartfelt gifts, awesome dinner specials, or great local music, downtown Dayton has you covered. Choose your own adventure in today’s post to create the best weekend experience plopped in the middle of a frigid February.
Date Night
Find out why Amazon.com rated Dayton in its top 20 list of most romantic U.S. cities. If you need gifts and activities for you and your sweetie, here are a few suggestions to squeeze every last drop of romance out of your city:
- Sweetheart Skate, Feb 13-14, MetroParks Ice Rink: Spend Valentine’s weekend at RiverScape MetroParks Ice Rink! During regular ice rink hours Friday through Sunday, you can purchase the “Sweetheart Deal” and get two rink admissions, two ice skate rentals, two cups of hot chocolate and a Parker the Penguin plush for only $20.
- February Fantasy, Feb 13-14, Victoria Theatre: The Dayton Ballet presents a powerful ballet program with four diverse works, including two world-premiere ballets. A pre-performance talk will take place 45 minutes prior to each performance. Visit com for details. Don’t forget to bring your receipt from your recent purchase at a downtown Dayton business for discount tickets to this performance!
- Valentine’s Day Gift-Making, Feb 13-14, Proto BuildBar: Nothing says “love” like 3D printing your own customized Proto Heart and filling it with gifts. Proto also offers pre-stuffed hearts, full of sweets and a piece of locally made, handcrafted jewelry by Brooke Medlin!
- Super Saturday Family Days, Feb 13, Dayton Art Institute: Maybe your special someone is a little on the short side. Take the kids to create your own beautiful valentines using classic and vintage valentines as your inspiration. Enjoy a gallery hunt featuring some of the most romantic paintings at The Dayton Art Institute.
- Salsa Saturday Valentine’s Celebration, Feb 13, Therapy Café: DJ Danny D plays a mixture of Latin dance music consisting of salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, dembow, line dance, reggaeton, soca, punta, and vallenato, music that will definitely heat up the dance floor. Learn the basics of this sexy, sultry dance with a free lesson at 9:45pm.
- Annual Valentine’s Show with Touch, Feb 13, Gilly’s Jazz: Dayton-based Touch, a five-member, “old school” rhythm-and-blues band, covers baby-makin’ hits by the Temptations, the Stylistics, the Delfonics, and more at Gilly’s during the annual Valentine Party Saturday night.
Who Needs Cupid?
Does that chubby cherub even have a license for his amorous arrows? If you’d rather avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous corporate holidays, here are a few ways you can still have a great time without a heart-shaped box.
- February Specials, Feb 13-14, Salon J Ladner: You can go and love yourself with special pricing on relaxation massages, 30-min facials, and Brazilian wax.
- The Glass Menagerie, Feb 13-14, The Loft Theatre: Not into all this lovey-dovey business? Take in a little Tennessee Williams, courtesy The Human Race Theatre Co. Dreams meet reality and love becomes desperate in a shimmering drama of a family on the edge. Tom struggles in a modern day world while his mother holds tight to a fantasy of Southern gentility and his sister hides amongst the glistening crystalline creatures she collects.
- Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Feb 13-14, Schuster Center: Wishing for your own Prince Charming to sweep you off your feet? Escape to magical, musical enchantment where your destiny can change with the right pair of shoes.
- TechFest 2016, Feb 13-14, Sinclair Community College: Forget roses; pick STEM instead! TechFest motivates kids to love science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and study science subjects in their normal school environment. This two-day program creates an atmosphere of excitement and fun for K-12 youth, their parents, and grandparents.
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- The Red Party Valentines Celebration, Feb 13, MJ’s on Jefferson: Valentine’s feeling like a drag? Hit up MJ’s to see Mr and Miss Continental 2016 Mykul Jay Valentine and Tiffany T Hunter. Also starring Scarlett Fever, aka Cameron Dye, with the sexy Jake M. Decardeza, and one of MJ’s favorite divas, Jamie Lee Devereaux. Win a prize for your best “Valentine’s wear.”
- V-Day Improved Musical, Feb 13, The Black Box Improv Theater: Black Box improv stars’ “most favoritestest show” is here for V-Day: an improvised musical with pianist Trey Stone, a stage full of hairy men, and not-so-hairy women. BOYB and laughs for all.
- Detox to Retox, Feb 14, Toxic Brewing Co: Get a little flexible with an instructor-led yoga session (detox) followed by a pint of Toxic-brewed suds (retox).
Eat Your Heart Out
Coupled or not, everyone’s gotta eat! Here are a few drool-worthy dining specials this weekend:
- Valentine’s Day Aphrodisiac Chef’s Experience for Two, Feb 13-14, Salar Restaurant & Lounge: Enjoy a special food-and-wine pairing dinner featuring menu items rumored to work up l’amore along with an appetite!
- Valentine’s Weekend at Lily’s Bistro, Feb 13-14, Lily’s Bistro: Lily’s is serving a special Valentine’s prix fixe menu Friday and Saturday, and Sunday’s Valentine’s dinner menu includes the “lovebird dinner for two,” which features a choice of appetizer; half of a local, free-range, fried chicken; choice of two sides; and a dessert to share.
- Valentine’s Weekend Beer and Chocolate Pairing, Feb 13-14, Fifth Street Brewpub: Who needs romance when you’ve got beer and chocolate? Sip your way through five flights of beers paired with local creations from Winan’s Chocolates, Peace on Fifth, Esther Price, and Angel’s Food Cakes.
- Valentine’s Day at De’Lish, Feb 13, De’Lish: Dinner is paired with romantic entertainment with Friday Nights Unplugged featuring Roxie the Soul Butterfly and the Liquid Crystal Project. Saturday, enjoy an evening of soul and R&B from Cincinnati’s own Vince Stroud.
- Valentine’s Day Dinner, Feb 14, Roost Modern Italian: Book at table for two for an intimate evening with your significant other, or schedule a party with friends in the Dough Room. Call the restaurant at (937) 222-3100, or make reservations online at roostdayton.com.
The American Institute of Architects Elevates DaytonianTerry Welker to College of Fellows
The 2016 Jury of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated Terry Welker to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the profession.Welker will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the 2016 National AIA Convention in Philadelphia in May.
The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.
Since AIA Dayton was formed in 1899, Terry is the fifth architect from the Dayton region to be elevated to the AIA College of Fellows. Out of a total AIA membership of nearly 88,000, there are over 3,200 distinguished with this honor. Nationally, there were 149 architects elevated to Fellow this year, including three from Ohio with one from Dayton.
Terry Welker, FAIA, is an architect/sculptor serving the Dayton region as the Chief Building Official for the City of Kettering since 2000. He teaches fellow architects, engineers and construction professionals how to navigate the complexities of building codes and use them to serve their clients in the interest of good design and urban planning.
He is recognized by the AIA College of Fellows for his contribution to the practice of architecture, his work as a sculptor, and his lifelong dedication to the arts as a community volunteer. He was recently a feature artist on ThinkTV’s Art Show and is currently creating a large sculpture, Fractal Rain, for the Main Metro Library (see www.welkerstudio.com). A past President of AIA Dayton and AIA Ohio, he has also served on boards of the Dayton Visual Arts Center, Film Dayton and the Boy Scouts of America. He currently serves on Kettering’s Art in Public Places Committee.
‘Cinderella’ Review – Victoria Theatre Association – A Lovely Night
Marvelously inventive costumes, gorgeous vocals, terrific performances, and timely social themes fuel the outstanding national tour of the 2013 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” continuing through Sunday at the Schuster Center courtesy of the Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Broadway Series.
Fluidly directed with subtly substantive flair by Mark Brokaw and cleverly reconceived with contemporary flourishes by Douglas Carter Beane (“Xanadu”), “Cinderella,” originally written for television in 1957, is new and improved for all the right reasons. What used to feel merely sweet and safe arises with inspired twists and a refreshingly current vivacity specifically as the musical’s look at finding The One and the townspeople’s quest for revolution respectively conjures the giddy awkwardness of “The Bachelor” and the excitement of Bernie Sanders’ stump speeches. As this romantic tale evolves, Ella (as she’s known here) truly desires to wed royalty, but she wants to change her world in the process. After she appears at the swanky ball (a sumptuous sequence heightened by choreographer Josh Rhodes’ dazzling waltzes) and cheerfully adjusts everyone’s perspective by flipping a cruel game of ridicule (a fascinating addition to this updated version), Ella eventually raises the stakes by returning to face Prince Topher in an attempt to make him understand what is really happening outside the palace walls. Her bold tenacity coupled with a determination to make her dreams come true makes her wonderfully three-dimensional. Thanks to Beane, a comic master bolstered by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s delightfully tuneful foundation, the Cinderella ideal has never been more compelling or progressive than in this production’s captivating depiction of her conviction, strength and kindness.
The very endearing Kaitlyn Davidson, a lovely soprano particularly bringing sweetness and depth to “In My Own Little Corner,” is an absolutely effervescent Ella. Davidson is well-matched by the handsome and charming Andy Huntington Jones as the relatable, contemplative Topher, a sheltered leader who grows in confidence for his own sake and the future of his country. As Ella’s Fairy Godmother Marie, the humorous, enchanting Liz McCartney provides radiant renditions of “Impossible” and the beautifully soaring “There’s Music in You.” Blair Ross is a superbly stern and malicious Madame, Ella’s wicked stepmother. Kimberly Fauré (kindly Gabrielle) and understudy Summer Broyhill (kooky Charlotte) are compatibly goofy as Ella’s spoiled stepsisters. The amiable David Andino is a spirited Jean-Michel, the sensitive rebel inciting revolt. Blake Hammond is fussy and slick as the treacherous Sebastian, Topher’s royal administrator. As the trusty Lord Pinkleton, Chauncey Packer impressively displays operatic heft while proudly proclaiming “The Prince Is Giving a Ball,” an Act 1 ensemble highlight.
Additionally, William Ivey Long’s applause-inducing, Tony Award-winning period costumes are simply stunning, particularly his meticulously crafted outfits for Ella and Marie which transform in full view of the audience. Long’s 330 costumes are notably inspired by French painter Pieter Breughel’s “The Wedding Feast” as well as the French court of Catherine de Medici. Scenic designer Anna Louizos’ colorful storybook sets, Kenneth Posner’s exemplary evocative lighting, Nevin Steinberg’s striking sound design, Paul Huntley’s superb hair and wig design, and music director Valerie Gebert’s excellent orchestra are noteworthy.
Having seen the “Cinderella” revival on Broadway with its original cast and later in its run when Keke Palmer became the first African-American to portray the titular role on the Great White Way, I can say with all honesty that this equally top-notch tour, perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day, is not to be missed.
“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” continues through Feb. 14 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Act One: 60 minutes; Act Two: 60 minutes. Tickets are $25-$132. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com.
In addition, a special activity for the week of “Cinderella” is Cinderella’s Closet. Please go through your closets and find new or gently-used prom or formal dresses and bring them to Cinderella and help us make dreams come true for teen girls in Dayton. Victoria Theatre Association has partnered with YWCA Dayton and Girls Inc. to collect prom dresses, evening gowns, party dresses, shoes and accessories (shawls, clutches, jewelry and hair pins/clips etc.) for young ladies who do not have a fairy godmother to provide them with a gown of their dreams. The collection area will be open starting two hours prior to show time for each performance.
The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift
With only two days left, the House of Bread is looking to break a fundraising record during its fourth annual Blue Hearts Campaign.
Executive Director Melodie Bennett says this year’s fundraiser is unlike others of the past.
“What’s fantastic about this year is that we have a good friend to us, a donor, who said ‘Hey, I’m in a pretty good position in life and I’m really fortunate that I’m in a spot where I can give back, and so I will match all of the donations that are made.’”
Bennett continues, “I said you know that could be $4,000 or $8,000, and she said ‘I have no limit of what I can do for you during this four day campaign.’”
As of yesterday afternoon the total amount raised was just over $3,800. Bennett says the most money raised during any Blue Hearts Campaign is $8,000. With the fundraiser running until Sunday, and the guarantee that all contributions will be matched, the organization could see it’s best Valentine’s Day yet.
House of Bread, a non-profit community kitchen located on Dayton’s west side, is unlike any other area charitable organization addressing hunger in the Miami Valley. Volunteers and staff serve a “hot, nutritious, lunchtime meal” to anyone in need, 365 days a year. In the first five weeks of 2016, the kitchen served over 10,000 meals.
Bennett says the February campaign began in an effort to fund the kitchens needs during the winter months after a peak of donations around Christmas.
“We designed it [The Blue Hearts Campaign] around Valentine’s Day because we find that a lot of people think about us at Christmastime, but come February or March, even a little into April, we’re not on top of mind for people,” Bennett says.
While the non-profit receives private and corporate food donations, the costs of operation are covered mostly through fundraising events like this one.
Bennett explains how the House of Bread is no different than any other house. “Think about your house and all the expenses you incur in its daily operation. When it comes to keeping the lights on, when it comes to hot water so you can wash dishes, when it comes to having electricity and or gas so that your home is heated in the winter. The House of Bread has all the expenses that you have of operating your home just on a much larger scale.”
To give online, click here for the House of Bread website.
McCoy on Movies: HOW TO BE SINGLE
HOW TO BE SINGLE
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Alison Brie, Nicholas Braun, Damon Wayans, Jr., Jason Mantzoukas, Jake Lacy and Anders Holm
DIRECTOR: Christian Ditter
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Alice (Dakota Johnson) is dating Josh (Nicholas Braun) and everything is fine. Then Alice, much to Josh’s dismay, decides that they should go on a break so that she can find herself. So naturally she moves to New York and gets a job as a paralegal at a law firm which her new loquacious, free-spirited co-worker Robin (Rebel Wilson) describes as “two guys and a Jewish guy – just kidding: they’re all Jewish.” And while Robin does her best to get Alice out into the city to go party, Alice’s sister Meg (Leslie Mann) is all about her job as a doctor delivering babies, even though she has no desire to have one of her own.
Meanwhile, Tom (Anders Holm) is busy running his bar … And Lucy (Brie Larson) is busy stealing his WiFi signal to run the dating algorithm she’s constructed to help her find the perfect mate … On one of the 10 online dating apps she is using. And poor Ken (Jake Lacy)? He just wants to date Meg, even if he is completely unaware of the decision she has already made by the time he meets her.
But no worries – they’re all about to get a valuable collective lesson in the title of this movie.
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? How to Be Single is a lot like real dating in the modern world: There are times when it doesn’t make sense, it’s loaded with people that are a mix of self-loathing, psychopathic and, for the most part, self-destructive even when their behavior obviously is.
Wilson’s character is there to serve as the comic relief … But other than a barrage of jokes about how promiscuous she is or feels Johnson’s character should be, there’s not much to her. Whereas sometimes you have the “she’s-fun-because-she’s-so-outrageous” vibe with a character, Wilson’s is more of the “I’d watch this person from a distance but never really wanna hang out them because she’s annoying and not a good person.” In short, her character is just a garden tool – and no, I don’t mean a rake – that says inappropriate things and then is supposed to be “fun.” This is another main problem with the film as the characters come off either severely undeveloped or illogical thanks to weak storytelling (see the character portrayed by Damon Wayans, Jr.), the others come off as one-dimensional (see Johnson), fun but dumb and one dimensional (see Wilson) or way too good of a person to be in the situation they are in so you’ll root for them because they deserve better (see Jake Lacy).
Now, will the film make you laugh? A bit – I can’t deny that there aren’t funny parts as Lacy and Mann have a good chemistry together and fans of Mantzoukas work of the FX show The League will be happy to see he can channel his inner Rafi in a calmer, nicer character without losing his comedic edge. However, since Johnson is neither the funny one or one you feel enough care for to get completely invested in her and her alone, she’s kind of just there to take the punches for the most part.
The fault for that falls squarely on the shoulders of director Christian Ditter and the film’s screenwriting team. By trying to cram so many stories in at once, they fail to really make one of them standout before wrapping everything up at the end in a “see, it all makes sense now, see?!” fashion. (Maybe diverting from the source material wasn’t such a good idea, hmm?)
In summary, How to Be Single is a movie that’s not bad enough to hate, but definitely not good enough to love or recommend or more than a silly diversion (at a matinee price). However, if you are currently dating someone and have a desire to be single, take them to this movie under the guise of thinking it’s a must-see romantic comedy.
You’ll likely be single by the time the credits roll.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
Tabari McCoy (http://mccoyonmovies.blogspot.com)
Slip Her the Slipper!
There is nothing more thrilling than an audience screaming and cheering when all things end well. Especially an audience filled with girls of all ages dressed to the hilt in princess gowns!
‘Cinderella’ at the Schuster Center delivers a feel good version of the classic tale, with some not-so-classic moments. Buoyed by a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek script, the Rodgers and Hammerstein rendition is silly, sweet and satisfying. There are surprises! No doubt, you too will leave for intermission feeling like something didn’t go as expected. ‘They made a mistake,’ said 10 year-old Natalie Combs. ‘I sure hope they can fix it by the end.’ At the sake of ruining the surprise, I’ll let you discover the big ‘HUH?’
The technical edge this production carries is truly mesmerizing. I, for one, am still not sure how Cinderella got into that gown, or out of it for that matter! Those moments of magic inspire children and adults alike. Most lovable is the fairy godmother, played with such zest by Liz McCartney, who makes some dramatic entrances and exits, all worth the applause she garnered. The stepmother and the stepsisters are…well, they are the step-family we all have grown to love and hate!
Truly, it’s in Prince Topher, played Andy Huntington Jones, and Cinderella, played by Kaitlyn Davidson, that we get the romantic edge we all crave. They are perfectly suited for their roles. They share an innocence, grace and likability that seal the deal. Sprinkled into the love story is a social awareness edge that adults can appreciate. The Prince really wants to make the world a more beautiful place. Can I vote for him in the 2016 election?
And in this version, Cinderella shows she can take care of herself, when necessary! The music is true to Rodgers and Hammerstein, with stand-outs ‘It’s Possible,’ ‘Ten Minutes Ago,’ and ‘Do I Love You because You’re Beautiful?’ The scenery is top-notch, especially the lighting design which takes us from deep in the forest, to dancing at the ball. And my, oh my, the dresses, some weighing up to 27 pounds, make the setting complete.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, ‘Cinderella’ will make for the perfect love story at the perfect time. Who doesn’t love a Cinderella Story, especially one where the ending is, much like a Venetian Glass slipper, truly fitting!
Information: “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at the Schuster Center.
Showing Feb. 9-14; 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 8 pm Saturday; 2 and 7:30 pm on Sunday. Call (937) 228-3630 or go to www.ticketcenterstage.com
Amazon.com’s Top 20 Most Romantic U.S. Cities- Dayton Included!
As couples from Seattle to Savannah prepare to celebrate Valentine’s Day with loved ones, Amazon.com today revealed its annual list of the Top 20 Most Romantic Cities in the U.S. Dayton, which was ranked 7th last year slid down the list to the 19th spot. Guess we need to step our romance up, and with Valentine’s weekend on the horizon we’ve got some suggestions for local celebrating.
The list is determined by a compilation of sales data from cities with more than 100,000 residents on a per capita basis and includes purchases of romance novels and relationship books (both Kindle and print); romantic comedy movies (DVDs and digital); a curated list of romantic music, including artists like Barry White, Maxwell, Miguel, and Luther Vandross (CDs and MP3 format); as well as the sales of sexual wellness products.
The Top 20 Most Romantic Cities in the U.S. are: | ||
1. Alexandria, Va. | 11. Atlanta, Ga. | |
2. Miami, Fla. | 12. Salt Lake City, Utah | |
3. Knoxville, Tenn. | 13. Scottsdale, Ariz. | |
4. Orlando, Fla. | 14. Everett, Wash. | |
5. Vancouver, Wash. | 15. Gainesville, Fla. | |
6. Cincinnati, Ohio | 16. Seattle, Wash. | |
7. Columbia, S.C. | 17. Wilmington, N.C. | |
8. Pittsburgh, Pa. | 18. Rochester, N.Y. | |
9. Round Rock, Texas | 19. Dayton, Ohio | |
10. Ann Arbor, Mich. | 20. Bellevue, Wash. |
Some of the interesting finding in Amazon’s romantic data revealed that:
• Customers turned to Amazon Echo to set the mood, with Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe coming in as the most requested Barry White song.
• Virginia is for lovers, with Alexandria, Va., reclaiming its position as the most romantic city after five heartbreaking years away from the top spot.
• Number three, Knoxville, Tenn., is keeping up its reputation as a city of love — ranking in the top three for the past five years in a row.
• Miami, Fla. knows how to keep the passion alive, with the city purchasing the most sexual wellness products.
• Love’s brewing in Washington, with four cities making the list this year: Vancouver, Everett, Seattle and Bellevue.
• Sin City is saying hello from the other side, with Las Vegas, Nev. falling off the top 20 this year.
Whether looking to set the mood or evoke the thrilling feeling of love this Valentine’s Day, customers can browse the Amazon Books Editors’ curated collection of love stories at amazon.com/150lovestories, watch their favorite romance film on Prime Video, and also enjoy Prime Music’s 50 Great Love Songs playlist.
Strength, Individual Edition
I used to write a regular newsletter for my business, but contributing weekly columns here largely has brought that output to a screeching halt. It’s not a complaint so much as an admission to my limited capacity for meaningful output. To the extent that I lament my newsletter’s slow demise, it’s because I miss having an avenue where I could explore broadly without fear of alienating anyone. That is, if you signed up for the Present Tense Fitness newsletter, you sort of knew that you were just as likely to get a think piece on street art as you were anything about squats.
In this space, I know people tune in a least partially because they want to learn about something fitness related. I confess to being a little self-conscious about the sometimes tenuous connection between what I write here and straight up fitness. This self-consciousness is a close cousin to the insecurity I sometimes feel around my own accomplishments (or lack thereof) in the weight room. I’m not as strong as most well-known trainers, for example, and I’ve never competed in any sport at a high level. So why the hell should you even listen to what I have to say about fitness?
When I describe what I do, I try to be clear that I’m not the guy to go to if you’re trying to achieve a 600-pound deadlift. I can teach you how to deadlift, but if you’re looking for elite, I’m just not the right guy. Sometimes I feel that my niche–people who are new to fitness who are trying to live well-rounded, rich lives–is an excuse used to paper over my own lack of accomplishments. But then my clients remind me why I do this, and why the way I’ve chosen to use the space can be useful.
Earlier this week I was coaching someone who told me they “hate the gym.” We’ve been working together a while now, and this person is thoroughly convinced of strength training’s efficacy. That’s not in doubt. What is in doubt is whether this person will ever be the type of person to love driving to a place, maybe changing clothes and heading over to the power rack, and busting out some barbell front squats. That’s likely never gonna happen.
But yoga, yoga is something this person has always loved. And having been convinced of why strength training is important and can measurably improve one’s life, this person sprinkled in some dumbbell work with a recent yoga workout.
And loved it.
Will this client ever load up 225 pounds on a bar and squat to depth?
Will this client deadlift twice bodyweight?
Will this client compete in a powerlifting competition?
No. I try generally to avoid words like never, but I can safely say in this case the answer to these questions is almost certainly “never.”
But can this person love the body they inhabit?
Can this person live a life full of passion, soul, and creativity?
Can this person with a combination of yoga and selected strength-training exercises mitigate bone density loss, enhance mobility, and increase the amount of lean body mass while decreasing fat mass?
Yes. So much yes.
So whenever I get that imposter feeling, that feeling that I’m not really serving a purpose, and that I ought to use this space to break down the force vectors involved in a high-bar back squat, I remember conversations like I had this week.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t find the right mix of exercise for you. That you shouldn’t run. Or you shouldn’t do yoga. Or that you’re wasting your time if you’re not doing X, Y, or Z. (Especially Z. Z is overrated).
I’ll say it again. Every person on the planet ought to be doing some sort of weight-bearing exercise at least two days a week. What form that takes though can be highly individualized. Chances are if you’re reading this you’re not getting ready for the Olympics, so your goal is to find the right combination of exercise that will allow you to live a life full of passion, soul, and as much creativity as your brain can handle. Live. Get stronger and go out there and live.
Edit: I actually sent out a newsletter ahead of this column. It was about songs with outer space as a theme. I’ll say you’re welcome in advance for not writing about that here.
Starbucks Menage A Trois of Chocolate Drinks For Valentine’s Day!
What says love more than coffee and chocolate?
As Valentine’s Day nears, Starbucks invites customers to get together with loved ones and friends to try three new chocolate beverages. The recipe developers behind the new trio of drinks explained that they were trying to evoke a celebration of love. And when they were first trying to come up with a Valentine’s Day flavor they asked themselves, “What would coffee be in love with?” The obvious answer was chocolate. So the beverages are actually all about the special relationship between coffee and chocolate, which we can celebrate regardless of our relationship status. You won’t find these on the menu, but love letters have been flying around social media about these new frappuccinos. Participating Starbucks® stores in the U.S. and Canada will offer the trio of Starbucks Molten Chocolate beverages through February 14th only!
Molten Chocolate Latte: Chocolatey chips are melted into espresso, then topped with steamed milk combined with bittersweet mocha sauce. This latte is finished with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and an espresso mocha drizzle. It’s available hot and iced.
Molten Chocolate Frappuccino® Blended Beverage: Coffee with rich mocha sauce and chocolatey chips blended with milk and ice. This beverage is finished with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and an espresso mocha drizzle.
Molten Hot Chocolate: Bittersweet mocha sauce and chocolatey chips melted into steamed milk for a smooth and creamy taste. Mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and espresso mocha drizzle tops off the beverage.
The chain, which has recently teamed up with Spotify, has also curated a Valentine’s Day playlist on the music streaming platform.
‘The Glass Menagerie’ Review – Human Race Theatre Company – Dissecting Memory
Dysfunction reigns and happiness is fleeting within Tennessee Williams’1945 semi-autobiographical drama “The Glass Menagerie,” a powerhouse of a play currently receiving a lovely, attractively designed presentation courtesy of the Human Race Theatre Company at the Loft Theatre.
Set in a St. Louis apartment in the 1930s, this potent saga of a disillusioned, regretful Southern belle stuck in the past and her two emotionally scarred children meandering in the present never fails to entice. In stark contrast to Williams’ equally marvelous “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a masterpiece primarily fueled by anger, violence and betrayal, “Glass Menagerie” mesmerizes with a gentler magnetism propelled by remarkable poetry and a powerfully relatable familial sting. As Tom Wingfield (Williams’ alter ego) looks back on his troubled life, specifically the squabbles with his overbearing mother Amanda, the overprotection given to his insecure sister Laura, and the pain of being abandoned by his father, he conjures memories which are entirely one-sided and purposefully askew. He opts for “truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion” because it is his most viable means of acceptance. It’s natural to suspect Tom was born to experience more than what St. Louis could offer which makes his ultimate decision to leave his family behind far from outrageous. Even so, he forever remains a prisoner of regret with no escape.
Pensively directed by Greg Hellems, the production is superbly led by Race resident artist Scott Hunt as the frustrated, soul-searching Tom. In one of his finest performances, Hunt, in his first non-musical role on the Loft stage, conveys a tremendous mastery of the text (and its beauty) along with a grounded sense of confinement and yearning which makes the character’s struggles so palpable. Race resident artist Jennifer Joplin, seen as the daughter of a political power couple in “Other Desert Cities” two seasons ago, is too young to be credible as an aging matriarch, but delivers nonetheless in terms of vigor, motherly concern and Southern charm. I would have preferred her portrayal to be more abrasively domineering (which perhaps contributes to the low-wattage electricity of her Act 1 exchanges with Hunt), but at the same rate, it’s refreshing to see this play tilt in Tom’s direction. The luminously expressive Claire Kennedy, a Wright State University alumna with numerous Race credits, dazzles as the introverted, awkward Laura whose passion for her glass menagerie is her only solace. Whether awaiting an autograph or opening a door, Kennedy fills every moment with a captivating, beguiling delicacy. In his Race debut, handsome Drew Vidal (recalling John Krasinksi of “The Office”) terrifically embodies the affable, smooth-talking Jim O’Connor (a.k.a. The Gentleman Caller), a high school alum of Tom and Laura who stops by the Wingfields for dinner only to awaken feelings within Laura she thought would never spring to life beyond her yearbook. Due to Kennedy and Vidal’s exceptional chemistry, Laura and Jim’s Act 2 heart-to-heart conversation by candlelight effortlessly evolves into the splendid centerpiece Williams intended.
Hellems’ first-rate artistic team, contributing authenticity and an evocative allure, includes scenic designer Eric Barker, costumer Ayn Kaethchen Wood, lighting designer John Rensel, composer/sound designer Jay Brunner, properties master Heather Powell, and dialect coach Deborah Thomas.
Surprisingly, “Glass Menagerie” marks the first time a play by Williams has been presented in the Race’s nearly 30-year history. Here’s hoping it will not be the last.
“The Glass Menagerie” continues through Feb. 21 in the Loft Theatre of the Metropolitan Arts Center, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. Performances are 8 p.m. Feb. 10-13, Feb. 18-20; 2 p.m. Feb. 14 and 21; and 7 p.m. Feb. 16. Act One: 70 minutes; Act Two: 70 minutes. Tickets are $35-$50 for adults, $32-$46 for seniors, and $17.50-$25 for students. Select side-area seats available for $25 at all performances. For tickets or more information, call (937) 228-3630 or visit www.humanracetheatre.org or ticketcenterstage.com. Group sales: contact Betty Gould at (937) 461-8295 or [email protected]