Your experience will begin with a play and picture time where you meet the herd up close and take selfies and enjoy getting to know the herd. Then you will lead the herd on a short hike back to one of our beautiful outdoor studios under the canopy of a pine forest. Find a nice spot to lay your mat, and ease into a one hour easy flow yoga session designed for all levels. Goats and chickens will grace your practice with their peaceful presence.
Archives for April 2018
Little Art Theatre Welcomes Home Caricature Artist Tom Bachtell
The Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs welcomes Yellow Springs’ own caricature artist Tom Bachtell as their third guest in the special Homecoming series.
Tom Bachtell’s distinctive drawings and caricatures appear each week in “The Talk of the Town” and other sections of The New Yorker, where he has been a regular contributor for 20-plus years. Tom’s work is seen in many other national and international publications, from Entertainment Weekly to Newsweek, Forbes to Bon Appetit, Town and Country to Mother Jones, as well as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York magazine, The New York Observer, London’s Evening Standard, and Poetry magazine. His ad campaigns range from the late Marshall Field’s department store to Lands’ End mail order to the chamber music series at The University of Chicago.
Trained as a pianist at the Cleveland Institute of Music and with a liberal arts degree from Case Western Reserve University, Tom is self-taught as an artist. Working primarily in brush and ink, Tom’s drawing style pays homage to many of the classic American illustrators and cartoonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He has drawn countless celebrities, artists, and politicians. Tom is the illustrator of When I Knew (HarperCollins), edited by Robert Trachtenberg, and a Lambda Literary Award finalist. He illustrated the cover of “Trump and Me,” by Mark Singer (Penguin Random House). He frequently portrays musicians, doing regular work with the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards (Kalamazoo, Michigan), the Risør International Chamber Music Festival in Norway, and Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley. He recently created the official poster for “The Girl, The Grouch, & The Goat,” a new musical comedy by Jack Helbig and Mark Hollmann; a portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for “Notorious RBG: A Portrait in Song,” a new release from Cedille Records; and a new Mahjong set.
Tom’s work has been exhibited in New York at the offices of The New Yorker; the invitational exhibitions Drawing the Candidates at The New York Times; Politics ’08 at the Society of Illustrators; Good Work at Nazareth College; and the Bedford Arts Center in Bedford, Virginia. In Chicago, he has exhibited at the historic Water Tower Gallery and The Cliff Dwellers. His illustrated talk, How I Learned to Stop Complaining and Start Drawing Mariah Carey: My Life As a Cartoonist, was commissioned as a Marquis Lecture at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has also been given at The Arts Club of Chicago. He has spoken about his work and education at the Kelvin Smith Library at Case Western Reserve University, and was recently inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
Tom is also a pianist and swing dancer. He graduated from Yellow Springs High School in 1975.
Homecoming Series Friday, April 13
7:00: Reception hosted by Wheat Penny Oven and Bar
7:45: Welcome and Introduction
8:00: Presentation with Q & A
Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.
Tickets are $25 and are available at the box office and online.
Calling All Pinball Wizards!
Do you enjoy playing pinball? Do you have good eye-hand coordination ? Have you mastered ball control, the single flipper hit, and the flip trap? Do you get sweaty hands and an adrenaline rush at the pull of the plunger? Then you might be just the person to join the Canal Street Arcade and Deli Pinball League.
We asked Michelle “Sully” Sullivan to tell us about h0w the league got started and why she’s playing in the league and here’s what she had to say:
“Late last summer I fell in love with playing Pinball. As a person with epilepsy, pinball wasn’t something that I thought I could enjoy. The fear that the flashing lights that might trigger a seizure kept me away. I am now 20 years seizure free and decided to give it a try. A competition and terrific friendship began, with several other pinball enthusiast constantly trying to outscore one another. One competitor, is the owner of Canal Street Arcade and Deli. I approached Rob about starting a pinball league. The league was formed and the sponsorship of Tito’s was obtained. The best part about pinball is that anyone can play. The league is full of people from different backgrounds all coming to compete and socialize. The next league starts 04/16/2018! Come and unleash your Pinball Wizard!”
The league is played on individual basis, no teammates required! Fee is $30.00 this includes quarters, T-shirt, overall league winner prizes, and admin fees to keep it all organized. The spring league starts play April 16th and runs through May 21st and players must be 21 years of age or older.
Official Rules:
- Each individual will play 3 arcade games per night
- Each game will be played as a 2 player game
- All Arcade games vary and scoring is done weighted to make it more fair
- League T-Shirts will be provided
- Each night a prize winner will be drawn
- May 13th Overall Winners will be awarded prizes
Late\Absence Policy: Should an individual be late, please notify the league manager. If you are unable to attend one night, make ups can be done on Sunday’s at 6PM prior to the start of the next league night.
So get signed up for the Canal Pinball League and have a flippin’ good time!
New Camping Music Festival Coming to Waynesville
There’s a brand new new camping music festival set to take place on August 10th and 11th at the Ohio Renaissance Festival Grounds. Topping the bill for the inaugural Bellwether Music Festival will be MGMT and The Flaming Lips.
Bellwether — a new camping music festival dreamed up in part by Bill Donabedian, whose resume includes co-founding Cincinnati’s MidPoint, Bunbury and BuckleUp music festivals. As the festival’s description on their site notes, “Bellwether Music Festival is a two-day, two-stage alternative music festival with camping. Get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy some peace and quiet… Until the music starts. Join us August 10-11 for music by day and stars by night.”
Organizers are aiming for 10,000 to 15,000 people to kick off this first festival, drawing from Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus. “The response has been just fantastic right out of the gate. Other than just great activity on social media, the tickets are selling,” Donabedian said. The two-day festival boasts two stages and will have facilities for basic tent camping, glamping (40-by-40 space with tent and cots provided and one parking space) and traditional RV camping.
Attendees can purchase tickets for one or both days, a “freshen up” pass with access to shower facilities, as well as VIP tickets that include private viewing of both stages, private restroom facilities, air-conditioned hospitality tents with free snacks and access to private cash bars with drink specials. The 2-Day General Admission Pass is $95, while the VIP Pass is $245. Camping and RV Camping passes are also available.
Visit Bellwether Music Festival’s website here for ticket information, musician info and more.
Spring Parade of Homes Tour
April is National New Homes Month and you can be a part of the excitement by participating in the Home Builder’s Association of Dayton’s annual Spring Parade of Homes.
FREE and open to the public, the Spring Parade of Homes will take place the next two weekends: April 7-8 and April 14-15. The Parade homes will be open from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm each date.
It is a great time to purchase a new home and the Home Builders Association of Dayton’s Spring Parade of Homes will showcase many of the best new home options for buyers today. The Spring Parade is a great way to get a feel for the types of new homes available in the Dayton region and all of the homes are available for purchase if you find the perfect home. Plus, it is FREE for the public to visit each of the 20 homes.
Be inspired by the latest design trends, features, and amenities
From Clayton to Franklin and downtown Dayton to Xenia, plus all points in between, there are many styles of homes to view and amenities to consider. From ranch homes to townhomes, multi-level homes to empty nester homes, you will see a wide variety of what is possible – and popular – in home building today. The home prices range from $218,700 to $989,000; and if you do decide to purchase, you could move-in almost immediately.
The participating builders are Catalyst Homes, Charles Simms Development, Crosstowne Properties, Ellis Custom Homes, Inverness Homes, JM Dungan Custom Homes, Justin Doyle Homes, M/I Homes, Peebles Homes*, and Radian Custom Builders. *Please note that Home #9 built by Peebles Homes will not be open to the public on either Saturday.
Download: 2018 SPRING PARADE OF HOMES MAP
Even if you aren’t looking for a new home, visiting the parade, and seeing some of the newest features going in — everything from open interior architecture to eco-friendly windowpanes — will get your creative juices flowing, and be sure to leave you itching for a remodel!
To view more details on the homes, visit hbadayton.com
New Director of Planning and Community Development Starts May 7th
7th Annual Crafty Con Kicks Off Tonight
Sideshow is an arts experience featuring work by 40+ local artists and more than 50+ Dayton bands and performers. Sideshow 13 will be held May 25th and 26th at the Yellow Cab building. Focused on local participants, Sideshow is a celebration of the art and culture found in the Dayton region. Admission is free.
Yellow Cab is a community art space and bar in Dayton, Ohio in the Motor Car District near the Oregon District. Formerly, home to a taxi business for more than 40 year, we now host a variety of events – art shows, live music, movie nights, food truck rallies and much more.
For more information about CraftyCon www.daytonsideshow.org/craftycon.html or on Dayton Crafty-Con’s Facebook fan page. For more information on Sideshow please visit www.daytonsideshow.org.
McCoy on Movies: Blockers
Blockers brings mature-but-raunchy-when-it-needs-to-be fun, positive mentality to teenage sexcapades
WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: John Cena, Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Ramona Young, Sarayu Blue, Geraldine Viswanathan, Miles Robbins, Graham Phillips, Gary Cole, Gina Gershon and Jimmy Bellinger
WRITER(S): Brian and Jim Kehoe
DIRECTOR(S): Kay Cannon
What ensues is a lesson in adolescence that might teach parents as much as it does their kids …
SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? A film that is not what it seems – in a very good way – Blockers is the perfect, anti-#metoo movement sex-related comedy that is more mature than you might believe.
Blockers works for a very simple reason: It explores a very common subject with a funny-yet-mature honesty missing from many films of its ilk coupled with a sense of non-stupidity in its approach. Sure, there may be a few scenes involving body parts, bodily fluids and a way 99.9% of its audience will most likely NEVER want to think about beer, but there are plenty of moments that approach the film’s core topics – sex, growing up and growing apart, etc. – that are as poignant as they are comedically profane.
The three young actresses of the film almost serve as a bit of the straight(wo)men for Blockers‘ hijinks, leaving most – but not all – of the heavy lifting to Cena, Barinholtz and Mann who expose all the various fears parents have about their children leaving the nest. Whereas Cena plays his seriously muscular presence for laughs as a man with a overly sensitive nature, Mann goes tiger mom with Barinholtz being the screw-up who may be more sensible than the quote-unquote sensible parents. You get well-developed characters that grow over the course of the story, those whose problems may be outrageous but relatable and jokes that pop, shock and make you laugh.
Director Kay Cannon and writers Brian and Jim Kehoe deserve an equal amount of credit for delivering a body-positive, funny film that takes one of the most awkward things in life and trying to render it part of growing up as it can. There are plenty of “OMG” moments, but they are all well-balanced by plenty of “wow – that makes a lot of sense” moments, too.
In other words, Blockers is a lot like sex itself the first time you have – only hopefully this experience is filled with more laughs.
Seafood Shines at Old Bag of Nails
A lot of pubs have been popping up around town. One of the most popular has been The Old Bag of Nails Pub in Cross Pointe Shopping Center in Centerville. The packed parking lot at the corner of Alex Bell and State Route 48 has been steady since the restaurant opening, in November, 2017.
Recently, neighboring Schlotsky’s Deli has closed its doors, making Old Bag of Nails the end cap on Cross Pointe Center. The Food Adventure Crew has gotten a chance to visit the pub a half a dozen times and have had a good sampling of the menu at different times of the day. We have found the menu to be pretty seafood dominated, and those were some of our favorite dishes.
Let’s get started giving you the scoop….
HERE IS THE SKINNY on THE OLD BAG OF NAILS PUB:
— The Old Bag of Nails is a chain based out of Columbus. Owner Mike Purdum and his staff manage 13 restaurants located from Northern to Southern Ohio.
— The menu is extensive and eclectic, featuring favorite pub foods to unique creations you won’t see anywhere else in town.
— The bar has a great list of craft beers on tap. Usually from Bells Brewery to local Dayton brews, you can find something for every palate, event the Bud and Miller Lite lovers.
— Located at 101 E Alex-Bell Rd. Suite 191 in Centerville, their hours are 11am-10pm everyday except 11am-9pm on Sundays.
So what’s the best stuff on this big menu? We can help you there, with our patented .. MUST EATS !
MUST EATS at THE OLD BAG OF NAILS PUB:
— BRITISH STYLE FISH and CHIPS:
Everyday is a fish fry at Old Bag of Nails Pub. This dinner is their big daddy, this is their house specialty. It is a filling plate too, with two huge whitefish filets, thick steak fries and a scoop of cole slaw. If you try one thing on the menu, this should be it ….
— THE NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER:
Oh it is good. Nice and creamy and loaded with clams and potatoes. There is a hint of bacon, but the recipe stays true to showcasing the clams.
— MUSSELS AND SHRIMP APPETIZER:
Over a pound of Mussels with Shrimp steamed in white wine and butter. The plate is served with Garlic Bread and is a delicious combo.
— BLACKENED SALMON CAESAR SALAD:
A generous slab of salmon over a Caesar Salad bowl (ask for a small salad). The salmon is cooked slightly rare, so if you do not like that, let the server know you want your salmon cooked more.
— DYNAMITE SHRIMP DIP APPETIZER:
An interesting and unique dip made of shrimp, cheese and hot sauce. It is a little bit oily, but strangely addicting. Served with toasted pita triangles, you will find yourself spooning heaps of the dip onto your chips.
—FRIED OYSTER BASKET:
These Oysters are delicious and plump. We recommend this over the Oyster Po Boy because the oysters get lost in the sandwich, sub bun and toppings. The basket is the way to go, but this may be a special and sometimes not available on the menu. Ask your server about this one. The scallop and chips dinner is ok, but the oysters are much better.
—DEEP FRIED CORN ON THE COB SIDE DISH:
This dish is a side option to many meals. It is an option you MUST EAT. Deep fried corn on the cob. It has a splash of butter and Parmesan cheese. Easily our favorite side dish.
We have tried many other entrees and apps, but those are the best of the best. We have an extensive photo gallery below of dishes for Old Bag of Nails so please check them out below. The prices are a little higher, but that is because seafood specialties are typically higher in price. Shrimp Lovers will love that Wednesday nights is an all you can eat shrimp and chips deal, so they can get their bang for their buck.
If you aren’t a seafood fan, go for the Specialty Cheesburgers. Old Bag of Nails has a couple big options with lots of delicious toppings.
The decor is nice and open. Service is sometimes slow, but that is because a lot of the menu is homemade. Good things come to those who wait….
Food Adventures has weekly feature articles right here on Dayton Most Metro. We have been highlighting all of Dayton’s food stops for the past 10 years. Often imitated, but never duplicated, our no rules approach has gained us a cult following. You too can follow us on Facebook by clicking here.
Antioch College Launches Yoga Teacher Training
Starting with the Winter quarter in January 2018, Antioch College students can now receive college credits for Yoga Teacher Training through an innovative 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program at the College’s Wellness Center. Comprised of community members, Antioch students, and a few Antioch alums, the inaugural program cohort is completing the training in partnership with Yoga Springs Studio, a Registered Yoga School with the National Yoga Alliance.
“I am very excited to bring the program to Antioch. It is an additional tool for students to have when they graduate. The skills that one learns teaching yoga can be applied in various community and work environments. It also teaches valuable life skills for maintaining balance and well-being,” said Monica Hasek, director of the Yoga Teacher Training program and the Wellness Center. Antioch students interested in obtaining certification had previously approached Hasek about offering courses, and during the College’s community-wide visioning process, the opportunity presented itself to integrate the Wellness Center more fully into the College’s curriculum. This resulted in the Yoga Teacher Training program as well as other certifications, like American Red Cross Lifeguard Training.
Students in the program are doing much more than refining their yoga skills. Through classes mixed with alums and community members, students have the opportunity to build new connections. Amelia la Plante Horne ‘18 described it as “a community of people openly working on themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally.” The support from the community and the practice and knowledge gained through yoga training also positively affected her other academic pursuits. “It’s easier to do my schoolwork,” la Plante Horne explained. A weekend of intensive practice has provided new perspective for her other courses and work during the week.
Another current student, Hollyn Bermod, said the intensive weekend structure “helps balance out the rigorous academic curriculum” at Antioch. She expected the program to be a deepening of her own personal practice of yoga and challenging to as a full-time student, but she discovered the program also taught her to focus in new ways. “I’ve been able to integrate full body awareness into everything I do. It’s about honoring yourself and where you’re at.”
As an approved part of the curriculum at the College, students can find new ways to integrate the lessons learned from Yoga Teacher Training with their current degree programs, whether they plan to teach yoga or study ecologic systems. Starting with the Fall 2018 quarter, students at Antioch College will truly own their education through self-designed majors that will include a curricular focus on the College’s Area of Practice: wellbeing, sustainability, deliberative democracy and justice, creativity and story, and work and resilient community. Innovative pieces of the curriculum, such as Yoga Teacher Training, give students the opportunity to put values into practice and integrate a variety of learning opportunities into a degree program.
For more information about this program and other Antioch College courses focusing on Areas of Practice, including wellbeing, please contact Christine Reedy, communications specialist.
Local Entrepreneur Finalist for International Pet Advocacy Award
BlogPaws, a subsidiary of Chewy.com, has announced the finalists for the first-ever BlogPaws Founders Award for excellence in animal advocacy. Among them is Dayton-area start-up, Wagtown, founded by Daytonian Beth Miller. Wagtown, now leading several initiatives to pursue grant dollars available through large resource giants in the pet industry to enhance the region’s pet-lover appeal.
“This category acknowledges a person who embodies the spirit of BlogPaws and its founders. The founders created BlogPaws with a sense of purpose, passion, community, and giving back. Judged on purpose, achievement, and engagement, we were looking for passion and persistence, a sense of community, and engagement in animal welfare. This person reflects the spirit of BlogPaws,” stated officials from the BlogPaws organization.
Wagtown’s Beth Miller and Tom Everhart, have been actively working with community, state, and national leaders and champions for animals in the development of several exciting initiatives. “Our mission is to increase dog-friendliness in sustainable and vibrant ways. There are countless passionate organizations striving toward better lives for these furry extensions of our families.
Following more than 400 in-person interviews, substantial secondary research, and countless site visits all over the United States, we can say without hesitation that dog-friendliness yields communities that are safer, healthier, more welcoming, better economically, more humane and far more responsible about dog ownership,” stated Miller.
Several projects are underway for launch this year that will increase walkability and raise awareness of dog-related legislation and infrastructure change. Additionally, a nationally-accredited PBS program to teach responsible dog ownership skills and keep kids safe around dogs, a children’s book, and several events to celebrate all of the positive effects on a community that come from investing time and energy into collaborating for dog-friendly localities.
About Wagtown: Wagtown, a nonprofit organization* provides the blueprint, hands-on assistance, and recognition for legislative, infrastructure, education, and community engagement to become authentically dog friendly and benefit from the resulting increased economic vitality. With their proprietary algorithm to quantifiably identify a community’s success in the dog-friendly race, they provide the tools and consulting to help elevate expectations and celebrate positive and responsible collaboration. Follow the journey and learn more by following them on their page. To find out how you can donate or volunteer to join the movement, call 937-477-2403 or message at [email protected]. [*pending]
Salar To Return This Summer
Salar Restaurant and Lounge co-owner and executive chef Margot Blondet announced that she has signed a lease for her popular chef-driven concept, marking her comeback to Dayton’s diverse culinary scene. Salar will re-open in the summer in its former Historic Oregon District location on 400 E. Fifth St.
The upscale French-Peruvian fusion eatery suffered devastating loses after an early morning fire broke out on Dec. 29, forcing the staff to cancel more than 350 New Year celebration reservations and the restaurant to shutter temporarily.
In asking Chef how she’s been filling her time, she shared , “I think I’ve worked harder in the last couple months working with the insurance company, re-negotiating the lease and dealing with the architects. It’s been a real roller coaster of emotions, and by the way I don’t like roller coasters or surprises.”
“It’s time to get cooking again,” says Blondet, “The love and support that the Dayton community has shown me and my restaurant family is overwhelming. Now, we’re ready for the renovation journey that will refresh Salar with new ideas while honoring what our guests have come to cherish from our culinary and bar program.”
She says they’ve been cleaning and packing away things that can be salvaged to get ready for the renovation and making manuals for the new vision.
The interior design vibe will evolve to embrace current trends, with a color palette that’s lighter, airier and more inviting. The new layout begins with a lobby that leads to a new wine and main bar area that will accommodate more guests than before, complemented by an expanded wine and spirits menu. A larger outdoor dining area will enhance the experience of customers wishing for an al fresco ambiance.
“While the loss was heartbreaking, starting over has given me the opportunity to dream bigger, to be more creative and to take more risks,” adds Blondet. “Dayton, I’m coming for you. Expect to be wowed.”
The construction phase will commence soon, pending permitting, and will continue through the next few months. The building will be getting new a new HVAC system, new electric and plumbing. It will be like a brand new building with a grand re-opening expected in the summer. Construction updates and new information will be posted as it becomes available on Salar’s social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.
Hurry up, we can’t wait Chef Margot!
Ohio Playwrights Circle Announces New Classes
The Human Race Theatre Company in conjunction with the Ohio Playwrights Circle will once again partner to offer a series of new classes beginning this April. These classes are made possible by a Sponsorship from the American ArtWorks Foundation.
The Submission and Production Workshop Series runs six Saturdays, April 14-May 19, 10am-1pm. Come with one or more completed plays and we’ll explore the nuts and bolts of getting your work produced, including treatments, a pitch, format, what not to do, and more.
The Playwrighting class is for all levels. Playwrights will hear their work read aloud by actors and prepared by directors. Eight sessions run Saturdays, June 9-July 28, 10am-2pm. Last session is an evening public reading of student works.
The Collaboration Workshop Series is for writers with basic playwrighting training who wish to work with others in a way similar to the television writers’ room. Eight meetings, August 4-September 22, 10am-2pm. Last session is an evening public reading.
The Making a Play Workshop Series is for playwrights with a completed first draft, who want to workshop their play through to a public reading. Open to writers who have completed Playwrighting levels I and II or equivalent. Ten meetings, Oct 6-Dec 8, 10am-2pm. Last session is an evening public reading.
Please know that participation is limited and each activity may reach the limit quickly. Additionally, there may be opportunities for readers and directors. Locations are central Dayton, but may change.
Please direct questions to Jahzerah Brooks, our Project Administrator at: [email protected].
Registration, fees and additional info at: https://jahzerahbrooks.typeform.com/to/Logp71
All activities are hosted by Human Race Theatre Company, presented by Ohio Playwrights Circle and sponsored by the American ArtWorks Foundation.
Free Mini DeepDish from BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse Today
In honor of Deep Dish Pizza Day, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse will be offering 30,000 free mini pies today, Thursday, April 5.
DoorDash will deliver a free mini cheese or pepperoni deep dish pizza to customers who use the promo code “DEEPDISH” at checkout.
The offer is valid for up to one pizza per order, with a subtotal of $10 or more required The order must be made between 9 am and 9 pm on Thursday online.
“We are so pleased to partner with DoorDash to celebrate National Deep Dish Pizza Day,” said Greg Trojan, Chief Executive Officer of BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, in a statement. “It gives us the opportunity to treat our loyal fans and new guests to one of our most popular menu items.”
If you miss out on the April 5 deal, DoorDash is also offering a free week of delivery on all orders that are at least $10 from BJ’s Restaurant from April 6 until April 12. No promotion code is necessary to get this deal.
WiBN Announce 2018 25 Women To Watch
Women in Business Networking (WiBN) is a group of diverse women in business who encourage one another’s professional growth and success. For 10 years, WiBN has been honoring women making a difference, in and around the Miami Valley, for what they do and how they do it. Created by Jeanne Porter in 2008 WiBN, became a program of the Better Business Bureau in 2014. WiBN provides forums for building relationships so women will achieve career and personal success through education, resources and recognition.
Every year since 2009, WiBN has announced its Top 25 Women to Watch: Influential Women of the Miami Valley awards.These awards recognize women in the Miami Valley who are exceptional in their roles and respected in their fields, who are causing more than just a ripple in the public arena and in their communities and who “light a spark” or make an impression.
Here are the 2018 Women To Watch:
Pictures above are:
Lisa Balster, Kim Bramlage, Jennifer Buckwalter, Angelia Erbaugh, Valerie Smiley, Lori Kershner, Tina Koumoutsos, Beth Langefels, Alexis Larsen, Susan Lopez, Kate McEwen, Courtney Moore, Ann Morrissey, Darybel Ortiz, Crystal Phillips- Everett, Tonya Roberds, Jeannine Sheppard, Tracy Sibbing, Amy Strozier, Lora Van Lear, Emily von Stuckrad-Smolinski, Kate Vriner, Sarah Williams and Laura Woeste.
There will be a Top 25 Women to Watch Introduction of 2018 Honorees and Reunion held on April 25th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Country Club of the North. All classes of Top 25 Women to Watch Honorees (2009-2017) are invited to gather together for this reunion and meet the new honorees. You will get the chance to network with past alumni and hear their experiences while enjoying appetizers and beverages. The event is free for 2018 honorees and $5 for all else. You can register online for the event.
Gin Blossoms coming to The Rose
Gin Blossoms are hitting the road this summer in support of their forthcoming album Mixed Reality. The iconic band will make a stop in Huber Heights, OH at Rose Music Center on Wednesday, June 13th. The show will feature support by very special guests Tonic and Vertical Horizon.
In the late 80’s, Gin Blossoms started to grow a huge following as the #1 local music draw in Phoenix and certainly were the hometown heroes of their favorite hang, Tempe, Arizona.
Gin Blossoms indelible jangle-pop sound was evolving during radio’s diverse mix of hair bands and grunge music superstars. They qualified to perform at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas in 1989. That same year College Music Journal dubbed them “The Best Unsigned Band In America” and added an invitation to perform on MTV’s New Music Awards in New York City. Their breakout record New Miserable Experience was where their rise to fame began. This album kept the band on the chart for almost 3 years with singles “Hey Jealousy,” “Allison Road,” Until I Fall Away,” “Mrs. Rita,” and “Found Out About You.” The crossover hits onNew Miserable Experience played on 4 radio formats and, to date, have sold over 5 million records.
Those hits were followed up by “Til I Hear It From You” which rocketed to #1 and moved the Empire Records smash soundtrack to platinum status. The track also became Canada’s longest-running #1 hit of 1995, its #1 tenure lasting six weeks. This song was co-written with the great Marshall Crenshaw and Billboard described it as “the closest thing to a perfect pop song to hit radio in recent memory.” Their next gem “Follow You Down” spent ten weeks in the top 10, and “As Long As It Matters” earned the band a Grammy nomination for “Best Performance by a Duo or Group” making their Congratulations I’m Sorry record another multi radio format favorite and multi-platinum success.
Having dominated radio and MTV playlists for most of the 90s, Gin Blossoms took a brief turn of the century hiatus, a provisional parting of the ways that singer Robin Wilson chalks up to “personal dissatisfaction and the mistaken impression that we could perform at that same level with another group.” The brief break allowed guitarist Jesse Valenzuela and Wilson to re-energize via solo recordings, new combos, and production credits for an array of local Arizona acts. However, Gin Blossoms’ idiosyncratic magic proved impossible to ignore for long, and on New Year’s Eve 2001 in their hometown of Tempe, the band reconvened and never looked back.
The revivified band hit the road hard, earning a well-deserved reputation as one of the busiest touring acts in the world, playing close to 150 shows a year. Those chops were readily apparent on 2006’s Major Lodge Victory – Gin Blossoms’ long awaited fourth album and first new recording in almost a decade. Rave reviews followed, as did a top 10 Triple A smash in the album’s lead single, “Learning The Hard Way.” The album’s second single, “Long Time Gone,” quickly became another favorite among both fans and the critics and Major Lodge Victory made Billboards Top 10 Independent Albums. Next, Gin Blossoms recorded “No Chocolate Cake” and released the single “Miss Disarray” which is now one of the most requested songs in the band’s live set and the album reached #1 on Amazon’s sales chart.
These talented tunesmiths promise the inevitable arrival of new material and as they approach their third decade, Gin Blossoms remain a rare breed – rock ‘n’ roll lifers, destined to continue creating, crafting, and performing for audiences ever rapt by their glorious catalog of material. “We’re entertaining and we have chops,” says Wilson, “but it really comes down to the songs. The reason we’re still here is that we have good songs. When young musicians ask me for advice, what’s the best thing to do to further my career, I always say, ‘Write good songs.’ It always comes down to that.”
The band’s fusion of Pop, Melodic Rock, Folk and Country elements took the airwaves by siege, making the band an MTV playlist hostage for almost a decade and the group a natural 90’s mainstay. From their breakout album through today, Robin, Jesse, Bill and Scotty have sold over 10 million records and are one of the most in demand 90’s live artists who began at the end of the grunge era. In 2017 the band went back in the studio recording a new album Mixed Reality which is set to release on May 11th.
Tickets for the Huber Heights show will go on sale to the public beginning 11am on Friday, April 6th at www.Ticketmaster.com andwww.Rosemusiccenter.com. Charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000. *Ticket prices include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees. Dates, times and artists subject to change without notice. All events rain or shine.