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FoodAdventures Dives Into Papi’s by the Lake

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What do you get when you cross an abandoned school gymnasium in the Waynesville/Harveysburg area and a veteran of butcher of 40 years.  No, this is not the plot of a bad horror movie, but an incredibly unique restaurant called Papi’s by the Lake.  Located near Caesar’s Creek, as in salad, this “everything from scratch” restaurant is located in the antique, sauerkraut and Renaissance Festival mecca of the world.   Food Adventures will now think of good food when we hear the words Waynesville or Harveysburg.

For the past couple of months, our friend Kim has been telling us that we have to come to Papi’s by the Lake, and try their homemade food.  She would know, Kim works there as a waitress.  We finally decided to take the plunge and dive into the lake.   So, we got into our cars to find out where the heck Harveysburg is located.  Eventually, we found our way to the restaurant, which is near the Caesars Creek bridge.

Yes, This Restaurant is in a School Gymnasium !

When we pulled up to the restaurant we gasped.  This was not like any place we have ever seen.  The modest handmade sign, guarded the entry to an old abandoned high school gymnasium.  We noticed immediately that the parking lot was packed with customers.  We knew at this moment we were in for a seriously good Food Adventure!  As we walked in, to our surprise the restaurant and kitchen were inside the gym!  We strolled into the gym like the King and Queen of the prom (please post your comment on who you think the Queen would be).  We were greeted by an antique moonshine still, that to our dismay was not in operation.  Our friend Kim took us to our table, and introduced us to owner Mike “Papi” Hatfield, who promised us a great homecooked meal.  “Papi'” explained to us that he was a former butcher for 40 years, and after cooking at various festival booths, he decided to open his own place.  The city of Harveysburg welcomed the new restaurant with open arms.

Why the name Papi’s?  Because his grandchildren call him Papi, and let us tell you, this restaurant has a family feel to it.   Some of the friendly workers are family members, and the patrons are as jovial as the staff.  We interacted with various customers and staff alike, and not one person was offended by us, in fact they all participated in our Food Adventure.

First we were given a basket of hot, homemade dinner rolls drizzled with butter, that would have made Paula Deen proud.  As or food arrived Papi explained he likes to serve large salads since his homecooked meals can sometimes take a few extra minutes to prepare.   We enjoyed our salad under the basketball nets and scoreboard, and out came the parade of entrees.

Keep in mind we only ordered 2 dinners, salmon and a cheeseburger.  Those meals were followed by samples of fried shrimp, a pulled pork sandwich, and a grilled butterflied porkchop. The large piece of lemon pepper salmon was cooked to perfection, and would rival any restaurant.  Ragu went the more casual route and tried the cheeseburger, which Papi’s himself ground in the back from black angus top rounds.   Ragu was again for murdering the hamburger with condiments, and he even involved Papi in the argument.  If the school was still in function, Papi would have given Ragu detention for sauce violations.  Ragu also enjoyed the freshly cut fries that were sliced and cooked minutes earlier.

The couple of fried shrimp we had were good, but you will have to ask our waitress how they were, as she sat down at our table and ate most of them.   Papi’s also offers chilled shrimp cocktail with his own homemade cocktail sauce.  This was a great treat.

Their Burgers are Ground Fresh Daily From Black Angus Rounds

The “sample” porkchop we received compliments of Papi, was a huge butterflied chop, that carnivore we dug into. and left his baked potato unfinished.   Not only was this dish good, but Papi’s pulled pork sandwich was incredible and we would put it up against any BBQ in the Dayton area.

As we talked with Mr. Hatfield, we walked up to the kitchen carving area, which was located near the visitors bench.  They had incredible looking prime rib, large grilled steaks, carved whole turkeys, and whole roasted chickens coming out of the kitchen.  Their chicken is never frozen, they use a local bakery for their bread, and they buy local produce whenever they can.  The staff told us every Thursday is sausage gravy night with Papi’s own hand ground sausage gravy.

The front of the kitchen and cashier area is a table display of homemade desserts.  Papi’s wife, Lynne, makes the pies and cakes from scratch.  They had berry pies, pumpkin pies, carrot cake and our favorite, the peanut butter cake.  This peanut butter cake is one of the greatest creations known to man.  An already stuffed Food Adventure Crew still could not stop eating this rich cake, and it made Lynne smile.

This Peanu Butter Cake Made From Scratch is Legendary

For those penny pinchers, you will like Papi’s as well.  Every item on the menu is under $10 except the nightly specials which are around $15.  For homemade, fresh from scratch meals, it is a great deal.

Papi’s on the Lake is a perfect example of why we do Food Adventures.   People need to know about good places like this.  This is a mom and pop place in a friendly small town, that is a hidden secret.  Papi’s by the Lake is a one of a kind, home cooking restaurant.  Whether you are near Caesars Creek for  the day, or live a good 20 minutes away, this place is definitely worth a visit.  Do not be put off by the fact it is in a high school gym, in fact it give Papi’s its charm.  It has personality, and substance.  Papi promised us a great home cooked meal, and he delivered.  We would gladly go back to this eatery in a heartbeat.  As for the restaurant in a gymnasium, Papi scored a slam dunk on this one.  Light up the scoreboard!

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Comment below, have you been to Papi’s on the Lake?  What did you think?

 

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Murder on The Menu every Monday

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Looking for a fun and mysterious way to spend your Halloween evening? Dress up in your best Halloween costume and head to Dayton’s Spaghetti Warehouse to enjoy Mayhem & Mystery’s hilarious and interactive dinner theater show.  Guests will enjoy a full meal while getting involved in a spooky yet humorous murder mystery that is sure to entertain family members of all ages.

Mayhem & Mystery is an Ohio-based acting company that was founded about 12 years ago. The actors perform an improv show while guests enjoy a salad, a main course, and dessert. It is a very interactive experience – actors never break character, even while having individual conversations with the audience members. The audience participates in games and contests throughout the show and are asked to solve the murder mystery at the end. Three winners are chosen and each receives a certificate and a prize. Each show is themed for the season and runs for two months, allowing time for six different productions each year. It is now operated by Tamra and Jerry Francis, who have been with the company since it began. Tamra and Jerry write all the scripts themselves while also participating in the shows, and rotate the rest of the cast between four or five actors.

“We’ve never repeated a script,” says Tamra.

I attended the Halloween-themed show entitled “Costume Carousing,” where guests were invited to Morana Toggery’s annual costume party and encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. We were seated at long tables in a back room, giving a true party-like atmosphere to the experience.

Guests were enjoying their salad when a tall woman dressed entirely in black entered the room and welcomed all of us to her Halloween costume party. Morana Toggery, continued on to introduce herself and inform us about her dark family history and hidden family fortune. We were soon joined by her neighbor, Dolorous Peacock, who wasted no time in showing us her dark and dry sense of humor and love for all things eerie and weird. A loud, obnoxious woman entered the party, belting out country tunes and introducing herself to everyone as Ethel Mae Chatman. The actors bantered back and forth with each other and with the crowd, decorating each table and guest with cobwebs and dust in order to set the Halloween mood. Morana’s husband – a tall, Frankenstein look-alike named Frank – joined the party and provided endless comic relief with his corny jokes and loud, entertaining demeanor.

After introducing themselves to the audience, the actors exited while dinner was served. The cast returned later and wasted no time in making the guests feel right at home – guests were chosen at random to participate in games such as a costume contest, and were constantly interacting with the actors. The dark and witty humor entertained the audience and kept us laughing throughout our meal, while also introducing a mysterious storyline and prepping the audience for what was to come. The actors played off each other and the guests, bouncing back and forth from well-rehearsed lines to on-the-spot jokes and conversations. I do not want to give away the end of the show, but as is custom for Mayhem & Mystery, one of the actors was “murdered” and guests were asked to solve the crime. I was one of the three winners for the night! I received a Comedic Criminology certificate signed by the cast and a free ticket to attend another show later this year.

“It’s a part time fun job and hobby,” says Tamra. “It’s still a production, we still have a script, but it’s a different show every night.” All shows are written to be family friendly, and audience members of all ages are welcome.

The next Costume Carousing Halloween-themed show is on October 31st at 7 p.m., at the Spaghetti Warehouse in downtown Dayton. The cost of a ticket is $25.95 and covers the meal and the show. Mayhem & Mystery perform their shows in Dayton on Monday and Friday nights and perform in Columbus on Tuesdays. They perform these public shows and also at hotels, catering companies, and corporate events.

The holiday show, Forties Yuletide Frolics, will begin on November 7th and run through New Year’s Eve. Tamra says the holiday show is her favorite show of the year, and the cast puts in a little something special for the show on New Year’s Eve. Wednesday night performances at the Dayton Spaghetti Warehouse are added in December, but Tamra warned me that tickets sell out quickly during this time, so hurry and make your reservations while they’re still available!

If you’re interested in booking Mayhem & Mystery for an event, attending a show, or auditioning for the cast, contact Tamra Francis at [email protected] or check out the website at www.mayhemmystery.com.

Jane’s Best Bets (10/26 – 10/30)

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Pumpkins Courtesy of My Mom

Halloween is right around the corner!  Hopefully you have your costume and are ready for some good scares this week…as well as some good fun!

On Wednesday, hang out in Oakwood for The Nights of the Arts.  Do all those political commercials have you confused on how to vote on election day?  If so, make your way to the Updayton Candidate Forum.  Or make your way to the Schuster Center for Tyler Perry’s ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’.

On Thursday, support a great cause by attending the Clothes That Work Fashioning Futures Modeling Success Luncheon at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.  Get out that Halloween costume and join some great young professionals for the Generation Dayton Costume Party at The Moraine Embassy.  Enjoy Half-Price Wine Night at Coco’s Bistro…”wine not?”  At the Dayton Racquet Club, enjoy their Dinner & Goose Island Beer Tasting with New Chef Jack Skilliter.  And at the Victoria Theatre, you will be able to have An Evening with David Sedaris.

On Friday after work, participate in the Oregon Arts District Walking Tour.  There are plenty of spooky/Halloween-themed activities on Friday including the Halloween Party Wine Tasting at Emporium Wines/Underdog Cafe; Horrorama 2011 at Englewood Cinema; Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk at Courthouse Square; the Haunted Butcher House; Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre: ‘Costume Carousing’ at the Spaghetti Warehouse; the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park; and Slasher: A Horrifying Comedy at UD…I think I would need the comedy to put up with the horror.  And finally, in theater news, you will be able to see Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) or Opera Theatre: Opera Scenes (Wright State).

On Saturday, if you’re a 5K runner with an extreme sense of adventure, then you will want to participate in the Swamp Stomp Mud Challenge Event.  You may not be able to afford a trip to Italy so instead, make your way to Jay’s Restaurant for their Italian Wine Luncheon.  Saturday is also all about Halloween, as it is the night for the famous Hauntfest in the Oregon District.  In addition to Hauntfest, there are many other Halloween-themed events/activities for Saturday including the  ‘PhilharMonster’ Halloween Concert at the Schuster Center; the 1st Annual Tailgate of Terror at the Yellow Cab Building; the 3rd Annual Boo & Bruise in the Oregon District; a Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk at Courthouse Square; Spooktacular at SideBar; the Dayton Philharmonic’s Bride of Frankenstein at the Schuster Center; and Howl-O-Ween at the Boonshoft Museum (a family friendly event).

On Sunday, make your back to the Oregon District (if you even left from Saturday night) for a Walking Tour.  Get a group together and enjoy a Segway Tour of Downtown Dayton.  (I was actually just talking to some people who went on one of these and said it was a fun experience!)  And if you enjoy theater, then check out Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) or Monty Python’s Spamalot (Schuster Center).

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What do you call a witch at the beach?  A sand-witch.

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!

Food Adventures Heads South of Dayton to Kyojin Sushi Buffet

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The Raw Sushi Buffet Bar – click to enlarge

Sushi, one of your Food Adventurer’s favorite foods.  Let’s get this straight up front, not all sushi is raw.  There are many types of cooked sushi that involve shrimp and crab for example.  But, we crave it all, specialty rolls, sashimi, hand rolls, nigiri, you name it.   So you can imagine our delight the first time we heard about a sushi buffet south of Dayton off of I-71 near Cincinnati.  We know, this is DaytonMostMetro.com, but once in very blue moon, we spread our wings and have to tell our fellow foodies about a special place outside the Dayton area.  This is one of those times.

The place is called Kyojin and it is a truly unique place.  They have sushi, lots of it, probably 40 different kinds of rolls on their buffet, and for dinner they add more items including sashimi, raw scallop, flying fish roe, and giant clam sushi.  Please check out our picture album below and you will see the vast variety of items.  When we first tried this restaurant, we ate so much, we had to go directly to IKEA to walk it off.  So here is a tip, if you go .. pace yourself!

The Dinner Buffet Includes Seared Ahi Tuna, and Tuna Sashimi

The restaurant is setup with 5 buffet bars and a dessert cabinet and ice cream freezer.  The 5 buffet bars are a sushi roll bar, a raw sushi bar, a Chinese food bar, a shrimp/mussel appetizer bar and a salad/fruit bar.  There is even an area for edamame(soybeans), tofu, and a wasabi and ginger area.  In the evenings, the dinner menu includes a hibachi option as well as skewered duck, squid and shrimp offerings on the side hibachi area.  We also love the steamed mussels and peel and eat shrimp available,and we have never seen a raw calamari nigiri offered anywhere else.  Other items of interest include raw calamari rolls, and the dinner treats of flying fish roe, raw scallop rolls and seared ahi tuna sashimi.

Kyojin is truly a dream for the seafood and sushi lover, and the prices are not bad either.  For lunch the price is $9.95 and dinner is $16.95.  But here is a tip, on their website kyojinohio.com you can show them the online coupon on your phone and get $1 off each lunch and $2 off each dinner purchased.  We think it is a good value.  Is it the best sushi we have ever had? No, but it is pretty decent.  It is actual sushi chefs preparing good food.   It is not comparable to the Chinese buffets that offer the side sushi.  This place is much better than that.

Kyojin offers the normal soft drinks, and they offer $5 specialty cocktails.  Kyojin is one of our guilty pleasures, especially for the Big Ragu, as some like the traditional sushi bars and their offerings.  We challenge the “sushi snobs” to try this place and let us know what you think.  But Kyojin is a great place for a sushi novice to finally try a lot of different types of sushi, cooked, or raw and see what they like, without having to order an entire roll.  They even have some vegetarian rolls and seaweed salad with pasta for you non meat eaters.  We even saw a sushi roll with chicken!

Our most recent trip to Kyojin was a challenge, while Ragu was challenged by  Shawn to a sushi eating contest.   Shawn stopped in his 40 something piece to go get some Chinese food, while Big Ragu matched his football number by eating 71 pieces of sushi.  It was our comic relief for the day watching the “sushi eat off.”

There is something for everyone at this place.  The Big Ragu’s favorite items on the buffet are raw salmon on rice, the kani (crab nigiri) and the raw tuna roll.  We enjoyed the shrimp tempura roll, the Cincinnati roll, and coconut shrimp on the Chinese food bar.

Big Ragu called his plate “Mount Va-sushi-us”

Do you love sushi?  Have you ever tried it? Sushi pro or sushi rookie, Kyojin is worth the trip.  Take a drive south on I-71 and the Fields Ertel exit, and Kyojin is just a minute away.  It is an incredible deal to get all the good sushi you can eat.  Check it out, you will be glad you gave it a chance.  All you can eat sushi, that’s how we “roll.”

Become an “Official” fan of Food Adventures by clicking here and visiting their page on Facebook !

Have you been to Kyojin?  What did you think?  Please comment below.

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Kyojin Japanese Buffet
12140 Royal Point Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45249
P: 513-683-2628
kyojinohio.com

Get Your Spook On at Spinoza’s

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It’s that time of year again. The time to flaunt that Dracula cape or dress your little one in her favorite princess gown. The time for parents to walk the neighborhood while little Buzz Lightyear is sprinting with all his might to get to the next candy bowl. The time when everyone regrets how many sugary treats they just wolfed down.  It’s a time for crazy costumes, haunted houses, and genuine fun. We all remember the glorious days of trick-or-treating, and if those days still constitute your present, all the better! But not all the fun of Halloween is wrapped inside those treats vanishing into what may seem like thin air. Actually, a local restaurant, Spinoza’s, is putting together a special pre-Halloween celebration for adults. Accompanied with live and entertaining music, this local pizzeria is serving up six special beers by Wychwood Brewing Company, (how perfect a name!) all paired with delicious eats. So all you twenty-one and uppers, climb into that storage closet and put some life back into that fang and cape duo on October 25th—Spinoza’s is even giving away special prizes for guests who appear in costume!

This six course meal is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween a tad early; what better to pair fun with than delicious food and beer? Plus live music by the Evil Jim Volk! Let me tell you—you’re in for a treat. Wychwood Brewery has fully embodied the spirit of Halloween with their clever names of the featured ales, while Spinoza’s has carefully matched the prepared cuisine to stimulate your taste buds. But before we dive into the logistics of the meal, let’s indulge in a bit of a history lesson about both of these fine companies. How did they come to be?

This is Glen ↑

Glen Brailey, the owner of Spinoza’s, has been in the pizza industry for many years. He began his adventure at Domino’s while attending college, and after a few more adventures and thirteen years at Pacchia Wood Fired Pizza, which he opened, he found an empty pizzeria in the Mall at Fairfield Commons, located in Beavercreek. “The space was great, the rent was right, and I was yearning to toss dough again!” wrote Brailey in a blurb on Spinoza’s website. After aging the dough, using the freshest ingredients in their sauce, the “finest (and most expensive)” cheese, and topping it all off with all-natural pepperoni, this pizza is sure to be like nothing you’ve ever tasted before. And the fact that a mouth-watering brew is to be served alongside this gourmet pizza—this will constitute the ultimate testimony that beer and pizza were a match made in heaven.

Now for the second half of this dynamic duo—Wychwood Brewery. After perusing their Halloween-decorated, interactive website, I was briefed on Wychwood’s history. This company is located in the heart of Witney, in Oxfordshire, England—a town famous for its brewing. The brewery acquired its name in 1990, actually named after the Wychwood Forest which is located on the outskirts of Witney. “By 1997, Wychwood Brewery was producing nearly 30,000 barrels a year…” according to wychwood.co.uk. That’s extremely impressive, and a whole lot of beer! Today, Wychwood is famous for their hand-crafted ales, and exports all over the world. Just thinking about the combination of fine pizza with hearty beer—isn’t your mouth watering already?

So I’m sure you’re biting at the bit to know what exactly is on the menu for the Halloween Beer Dinner next Wednesday at 7 PM. Well, let me tell you.

Warning: The following description may cause a severe longing and appetite that can only be satisfied by attending Spinoza’s on Wednesday, October 25th.

Welcome—The evening will begin with Wychwood’s “Wychcraft” 3 Hopped Golden Ale. It has been described as “bursting with succulent citrus and lime hop character”. This unique ale will be paired with Spinoza’s Crispy Deviled Eggs with pistachio, bacon and chives.

Appetizer—Immediately following, Wychwood “Scarecrow” Organic Pale Ale will be served alongside “Finger” Sandwiches of spicy capicola, peppered salami, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, and garlic aioli. The Brewery describes this pale ale as having a “refreshing citrus and delightful malt flavor, rounded off with a spicy bittersweet finish.”

Salad—Next, we will be served the salad portion of the meal, consisting of shaved harvest salad with Fuji Apple Dressing and Spanish Marcona Almonds. The drink of choice will be St. Peters India Pale Ale, whose brewery has been in business for over 700 years

Pizza—To begin our fourth course, we will be graced by a draft of Wychwood’s most famous ale—“Hobgoblin” Dark Ale. This very smooth ale acquires its flavors from “chocolate and crystal malts”, and will be paired with Spinoza’s Sicilian Poutine Calzones with Sweet Potato, Snake River Farms Ground Beef, Wine-infused Marinara, Basil Pesto Sour Cream, Jumbo Ripe Olives, and Shredded Parmesan.

Cheese Course—Wychwood “King Goblin” Special Reserve Ale will be served beside Black Label Cambozola with Quince. This ale has a very rich character, while still being smooth.

Dessert—And last, but certainly not least, is dessert. Yes, you read dessert. Spinoza’s is putting together house-made “Blood Red” Velvet Doughnuts with honey glaze and toasted almonds. Complementing this decadent dessert is a “deep chestnut beer…with hints of coffee, banana and licorice”, titled Monty Python’s Holy Grail “Dark Knight Reserve”.

This menu and more can be found at spinozas.com

Now, try to tell me your mouth isn’t watering right now. Are you even still with me or are you already slipping into that witch’s hat and attaching that ugly green mole to your nose? Honestly, this is a Halloween celebration you and your taste buds can’t afford to miss. So what are you waiting for? Give Spinoza’s a call RIGHT NOW to put in your reservation for this epic night. Better hurry before they are booked. I’ve even made it convenient for you and included the number:

937.426.7799

spinozas.com

So here’s how the scene should ultimately play out. You arrive in your decked out Dracula ensemble and casually stroll into Spinoza’s. And when the hustle and bustle has finally died down and the waiter comes to serve you your first course, you quote this famous line from 1992’s Dracula:

“They say you are a man of good…taste.”

Then proceed to cackle in the most evil way imaginable. Oh, and then dig in!

The Formal Name… the “Gateway Arch…”

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Call it the city with a handle… Or MAYBE the city with just a little bit of an identity crisis?

Is it “St. Louis,” as in… oh, say the St. Louis Cardinals (now referring ONLY to a baseball team, now that the pesky “football Cardinals” moved on to some southern hospitality… not to say southern MONEY). Or is it “Saint Louis,” as in… Well, the newscasts who spell out the name. ESPN, for example, when they tell us how things went sports-wise. Baseball and such.

So, yeah. TV spells it “Saint Louis.” Newspapers spell it “Saint Louis.” Only radio sticks with “St. Louis…” (At least, that’s what it sounds like to me!)

Yep: I was born and raised in good ole’ St. Louis… south St. Louis, to be specific. And, yes… St. Louis. Yep: pesky habit, to this day. Still… at one point, my home sweet home when was a kid.

Oh. And I was kind of sure St. Louis was gonna’ be where I lived for my whole life.

Didn’t turn out that way, though. Nope.

If whatever powers that be have decided these days to get real real holy and proper about spelling the name of the place… the LAST batch of “powers that be,” the ones who were in control for most of my life, decided that St. Louis was… appropriate. That’s the word.

Worse… Whoever “they” are… Well: they also decided that St. (or Saint) Louis would grow OUT. Not UP. Out, by the way, as in “way WAY out.” Drive a long way “way WAY out.”

So here’s where little bitty (then and VERY MUCH now) Dayton comes in.

Having graduated with “yet ANOTHER” degreee from the University of Dayton, I was headed back “home,” to Saint (or St.) Louis University to work on a Doctoral degree, to begin life as an even MORE grown up person. First step: become a “teaching assistant” at “SLU.” Pronounced… well, “SLU.”

What it all meant I thought… naive little me… I BELIEVED I was finally home from my life’s travels.

That FEELING of “being home” lasted for exactly ten days: TEN DAYS.. Ten days of going down to to “SLU” from my childhood home in the “suburbs…” and ten days, one after another, in which I witnessed fatal auto accidents on what “we” Saint Louis-ans (I guess that’s correct)… what we called the “Mark Twain Expressway.” Yep: ten days, one after the other. Watching cars crash and people dying.

My home sweet home.

On the “Mark Twain Expressway…” aka: Interstate 70.

That’s when I knew I was NOT going to live there, but that I’d go back to Dayton as fast as possible when the whole education trip was over. Now, it’s not that I suffered or anything for the next two and a half years. Nope: it’s just that I consciously lived as a tourist. I went to Gaslight Square and enjoyed good jazz, went to Hrdlicka’s. and enjoyed a fantastic local restaurant specializing in “deep fried in beer batter chicken,” which did make me think about buying my own franchise (for Dayton, of course). I went to the wonderful “Muny Opera” in Forest Park, enjoyed the free seats as off-Broadway” musicals were presented (in case you’re curious: in Dayton, I would discover, we called this “The Kenley Players”)

Best of all that, though, was that I DID get reacquainted with lots and lots of my huge circle of relatives who had, when I was a kid, lived within blocks of our family “flat” in South St. Louis (from here on in, if you want it to be “Saint Louis,” you’ll have to do the transform yourself). That St. Louis, I think it’s safe to say, was small in size, still small enough for a kid to go VISIT anyone of the friends and relatives by walking.

But when I got back… aunts and uncles who had lived down the block or around the corner or next door in the same flat as my family lived in… well, now these aunts and uncles lived thirty… forty… even FIFTY miles away. Still in “St. Louis County,” but far, far away in the County. Well, you know: none of us, in those wonderful late ’60’s day, knew anything about “urban sprawl.” All those aunts and uncles and cousins and friends had just… moved. And it was never REALLY far… “why,” they’d say, “it’s just off highway 70.”

Of course, back then we didn’t complain about the amount of gas it took to make a hundred mile round trip to visit an aunt or an uncle. Nope: we always had gas wars to keep the “price at the pump” dirt cheap. No, the only thing we decided not to notice was how long an afternoon visit would really take.

But when I’d drive up with my wife and kids to VISIT good ole’ Dayton… well, people were nice and lived close even though there was this thing called “Interstate 75.” Sure, it was there. You just didn’t have to USE IT. The Interstate was for folks going to Florida from Michigan or vice versa.

In St. Louis, a traffic jam on OR off the freeway could take an hour or so to unwind. BUT Dayton… Dayton’s traffic jams?? Back then — and even NOW — traffic jams off the freeway back then and now take ten minutes or so to unwind.

But all in all, in a few very short years, St. Louis drew itself into being a big, big city: even had a new stadium back then — as it does now, as a matter of fact: a NEWER new Stadium — and a good thing back then was I could go see the Cardinals play in the World Series a couple of years in a row. But… the Cardinals and the NEW new stadium. You know what: that’s another story.

Oh. And another OTHER story was living with all those little restaurants in some of the living rooms in neighborhoods of… well: politely now. Italian Heights. Yep: helped my mom even back then kick the cooking habit. But again: you know… That’s another story.

But here in Dayton: it’s the same old story.

Yes sir. Yes INDEED.

Jane’s Best Bets (10/19 – 10/23)

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At the Ghosts N' Goblins 5K - Can you guess my costume?!?!

Even though Halloween is about two weeks away, the Halloween festivities have officially begun with the Ghosts N’ Goblins 5K downtown on Tuesday night!  There are many more great Halloween themed, as well as non-Halloween themed options for this week!

On Wednesday, if you love a good scare, then be sure to make your way to the Haunted Butcher House.  To be honest, the name of it alone scares me!  In addition to seeing lots of Halloween decorations this time of year, you also see lots of political signs, commercials, etc.  The task of choosing who to vote for or how to vote on certain issues can be daunting.  Get some help by attending the Voters Guide LIVE at Stivers.  History buffs should make plans to attend Soaring at Kitty Hawk, 1911: Buster’s Vacation at The Engineers Club of Dayton.  At the Dayton Convention Center, attend the TechNet-Aero Conference if you work in or are interested in business and defense information technologies (hopefully if you work in it, you are also interested in it!).  And finally, I hope you were lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Mix 107.7 Concert For A Cure at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, with some great acoustic performances by Safetysuit, Christina Perri, and Andy Grammer.  And if you weren’t, it’s okay.  As Andy Grammer would say, “you gotta keep your head up.”

On Thursday, make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for their $10 Wine Tasting.  Afterall, what could be better than sipping some great wine and enjoying their amazing views?!?!  Head to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  And if you would prefer to celebrate in honor of the ballet, then dress in your favorite black and white costume and participate in the Ballet Barre’s 2001 Halloween Pub Crawl, which will take place in the Oregon District.  Or wear your Halloween costume for Boo in the Burg in Downtown Miamisburg.  If you want to do something fun with the kids, then take them to see Disney On Ice – Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey at the Nutter Center.  And if you can’t take them Thursday night, there will be shows all weekend long!

On Friday, get a start on your holiday cooking plans by attending Tasty Party Appetizers at 2nd Street Market.  It is FREE!  Attention all you yoga lovers – make your way to Practice Yoga on Fifth for the screening of the new documentary ‘Yogawoman’ to benefit the YWCA of Dayton.  If you have never been to the opera, now is your time, as the Dayton Opera will be presenting La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  In addition, they are offering “Friday Nite Tweet Seats” for members of area Young Professional Networking Groups and their guests.  These seats are valued at $66 but are being sold at the promotional rate of $15!  So, if you think the arts are too expensive for young professionals, think again!  At Victoria Theatre, you will be able to see the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  There are a couple other shows you can catch on Friday as well, including Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And if you prefer to have fun in a less formal environment, then check out my friend’s band Buddha and the Boogie Down as they play at Flanagan’s!

On Saturday, start the day off high on carbs with the Centerville Rotary’s 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast.  Then, make your way to The Salvation Army Kroc Center for their Chili Cook Off.  In the afternoon, take the kids to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Children’s Halloween Party.  And in the evening, take your date to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  Head to the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Fall Concert at Shiloh Church.  At Schindler Banquet Center, get a new wardrobe without spending a fortune as part of the 3rd Annual Fashion Swap ‘N Shop.  If you are Irish (or just like Irish music), then purchase tickets to see bohola, featuring dancers from the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance at Stivers School For the Arts.  Theater options will still include Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And finally, support United Rehabilitation Services, a wonderful organization who works to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, by attending their 55th Anniversary Gala at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.

On Sunday, listen to the Duquesne Tamburitzans at the Centerville Performing Arts Center, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra at Kettering Fairmont, or to the sounds of the Dayton Opera as they perform La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  Watch the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside at Victoria Theatre or the Dayton Theatre Guild’s performance of Lost in Yonkers.  And finally…if you have been craving chocolate, you are in luck as there will be an All You Can Eat Chocolate Party at the Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the movies?

Because he had no body to go with.

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!

Wine Tasting For A Cause Thursday

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If you’re an alumnus of Wright State University, currently working in the nonprofit field, or if you just enjoy testing out a good wine now and then, don’t miss the Wright State University Alumni Association’s Nonprofit Leadership Alliance wine tasting and silent auction fundraiser on Thursday, October 20, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance is a national organization that helps students make connections within the nonprofit sector. The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance offers a national nonprofit management and leadership credential, the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP). In order to become certified, students must meet a number of requirements, which includes taking three required courses and attending one management institute. Through the Alliance, students can strengthen their leadership abilities, gain access to internship opportunities, learn more about the world of nonprofits, and enjoy many other benefits.

According to Sarah Williams, the Associate Executive Director at the Dayton Christian Center, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance exists to “helps develop students who are going through the certification process.”  One of the most significant ways that the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance helps students is by raising money for the Alumni Society and the Student Alumni Association.  The money raised goes towards scholarships and funds events organized by the students. There is a management institution that takes place every January, and a portion of the funds “help provide a little assistance” to students who would like to attend. There are also workshops held in the fall and in the spring that are orchestrated by students, with the help of money raised by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.

For more information on how to join the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance or to check out the other fundraising events that will be taking place, visit http://webapp3.wright.edu/web2/americanhumanics/.

As a fairly new organization, the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance at Wright State University is excited about trying their hand at new events, such as the wine tasting and silent auction that is taking place later this month. The organization is specifically reaching out towards alumni who are currently working in the nonprofit field.

“[We are] looking to expand our horizons,” said Williams. “We’ve had a good response from the alumni thanks to our great partnership with the Alumni Association.”   Alumni of the program include Lindsay Ackley, recently named Executive Director of Clothes That Work, Debbie Fox, Grants Manager at Levin Family Foundation, and Mary DeMar, Annual Fund Manager at Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley.

If you’re interested in coming out to support Wright State alumni or students who are looking for work in the nonprofit sector, you can register for the wine tasting and silent auction at https://www.wrightstatealumni.com/component/registrationpro/event/148/Nonprofit-Leadership-Alliance-Wine-Tasting-and-Silent-Auction.html. The event will be held at the Therapy Café in Dayton, located at 425 E. Third Street. Tickets cost $20 and include four wine tastes and hor d’oeuvres. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the tickets will go towards the Alumni Association. If you would like to show support but cannot attend the event, feel free to purchase a ticket anyway! If you purchase a ticket but do not attend the event, the Alumni Association will receive 100% of the profit.  Any and all support is appreciated – it’s guaranteed to be a tasty time!

Jane’s Best Bets (10/12 – 10/16)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you have been able to enjoy these nice fall days!  And even if the weather does get bad this week, there are some indoor options along with the outdoor options!

On Wednesday, attend The Fundraiser’s Guide to Social Media at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  This is great (and free!) opportunity, particularly if you serve on a board or work for a non-profit.  And in the evening, you’ll be able to support one of those non-profits, Agape for Youth, by attending the Fostering Changes for Future Generations Gala at the Schuster Center.  At Wright State, listen to Arlene B. Mayerson, a national expert on disability rights law, as part of the Wright State University’s Presidential Lecture Series.  Listen to classical music as the Tiberius String Quartet from Rumania performs at the University of Dayton.  And if you want music you can jam to, then make your way to the Oregon District’s Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam or to Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band.

On Thursday, bring your kids to the 2nd Street Market for Pizza Making for Kids.  You’ve been making dinner for them for a while, so why not let them learn how to make dinner for you for a change?!?!  If you consider yourself a “techie,” then make your way to Brixx for Tech Town Thursday.  Attention all you vegetarians out there – don’t “wine” because there aren’t any food options for you, as McCormick & Schmick’s is offering a Vegetarian Wine Dinner.  In Centerville, listen to the music of Sean Jones (R&B and Soul) presented by the Miami Valley Community Concert Association.  Join some great young professionals in the area with Generation Dayton’s Thirsty Thursday at The Wine Gallery.  At Oregon Express, catch Theology on Tap.  Or make your way to the Schuster Center to listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, Romeo, Juliet & Prokofiev.

On Friday, aspiring artists should make their way to Wright State for Draw on the Walls.  If your kids love animals but you don’t want to bring them into your house (the animals that is, not the kids), take them to the Bison Hayride Tour at Heaven’s Corner Zoo.  Halloween is right around the corner, so make your way to the Spaghetti Warehouse for their Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre: ‘Costume Carousing’.  If you get a laugh when Jay Leno and David Letterman make fun of all things political, then be sure to make your way to Springfield to see The Capitol Steps, as they will take on a variety of current events…including the Octomom.  Head up to Yellow Springs for Fling in the Springs.  At the Schuster Center, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic with Prokofiev Meets Shakespeare.  You may have read the Cliff Notes in high school, but what is even easier (and more entertaining) is watching The Crucible live at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater.  And if you enjoy being scared, then make your way to the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park.

On Saturday, get your girlfriends together and participate in the Girlfriend Ride Dayton to benefit the Artemis Center.  This won’t just be any ride, as some stops along the way include a hand massage station, a chocolate fountain, and a wine tasting.  Or make your way to Fifth Third Field for the 2011 Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk.  At the 2nd Street Market, it’s Fall Family Fun Day, so be sure to bring the kids!  Typically, it would be inappropriate to bring your kids to the Funny Bone (unless they are your adult children).  However, in the afternoon, you will be able to take them there for the Family, Food, & Fun Comedy Magic Show.  And if you don’t have any, I have friends that would probably be happy to lend theirs to you.  If you live up north, make your way to the HarvestFest Street Fair in downtown Tipp City…it sounds like fun and it’s free!  In addition, in the evening, you will be able to hear live music by the 80s cover band Stranger.  In Yellow Springs, you’ll be able to attend Fling in the Springs.  If you enjoy German music, head to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club for their German Fall Concert.  Have some fun and support the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio with the Fall Treasure Hunt Road Rally…sounds like a mini amazing race!  You will be able to listen to music at both the Schuster Center (Romeo, Juliet & Prokofiev) and Victoria Theatre (The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra).  And finally, put on your mask and attend a major party in Dayton – ARC Ohio’s Masquerage…a decade of decadence, which will benefit the AIDS Resource Center.

On Sunday, make your way to Garden Station Sunday Market, which is the only Sunday Farmer’s Market in the area.  If you like to write, then attend the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop at Books & Co.  It says “free writers” so I wonder if they’re in jail for something.  Make your way to Belmont for their Neighborhood Jam Fest, which will feature food, music, drinks, artists, and a car show.  If you enjoy shopping, head to The Event Connection for the Home, Lifestyle and Craft Expo…after all, it’s not too early to start your Christmas shopping!  Listen to the sounds of the University of Dayton Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble at South Park United Methodist Church.  At Sinclair, catch a performance of The Crucible.  And if you’re looking for a little Sunday fling, then enjoy Fling in the Springs.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What did the mother buffalo say to her little boy when he went off to school?  Bison.

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!

Food Adventures Spice Things Up at Amar India

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Indian food.. some people love it,  some people cringe, others have never had it.  Being Food Adventurers means we try and experience many culinary things in life, some out of our comfort zone.  Enter Amar India, one of the fancier Indian restaurants in Dayton, located across from the Dayton Mall.

The Big Ragu and Crew have developed a taste for Indian food over the years, and for us it started with Amar India.  If you have never tried Indian cuisine, let us recommend this restaurant for your American pallet.

A great way to experience some Indian food and see what you like, is to go to their buffet lunch, where you can sample a number of dishes (usually appetizers and chicken and vegetarian entrees).  The buffet lunches are fairly cheap and again it is a great way to get a variety of items.  Dinner at Amar India is ordered off the menu only.  Amar India’s menu is fairly extensive, but to sort it out, the dishes are basically four types: vegetarian, chicken, lamb, and fish.  Each dish may be ordered on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the spiciest.

Our latest visit to Amar India started with our incredibly friendly and passionate waiter, Regendier.  He welcomed us and recommended a few menu items and was happy to be a part of our Food Adventure article and photos.  In our conversations with him, he shared his love for food, Indian culture, and Pro-Wrestling.  After some fun conversation, your humble F decided to order.

Vegetable Pakora is served with 3 tasty sauces

We started out with an appetizer, ood AdventurersVegetable Pakora.  For all intents and purposes it is a vegetable fritter or hushpuppy.  The Big Ragu was ecstatic because the item was deep fried.  We explored the accompanying sauces.  This appetizer was served with a tray with 3 cups of sauces.  The sauces were a green mint sauce, a spicy chunky sauce, and a sweet bbq-like sauce.  We thought the mint sauce was the best.

Then we saw a sight for sore eyes.  Our waiter was bringing out an order of our favorite side item, Garlic Nan Bread.  Amar India offers different types of Nan bread, which are homemade pita breads with different flavored ingredients cooked right into the bread.  We cannot stress enough, that an order of Garlic Nan bread is a MUST.  When coming to Amar India, we can’t function without it.

The Garlic Nan Bread Appetizer is Addicting

We have always had a love for an Indian dish called Saag Paneer.  It is a funny sounding dish, with a big taste.  It is fresh homemade cheese cubes cooked in spinach & light cream.  It was a perfect storm of spice and flavor.

The Big Ragu ordered Fish Masala.  This dish is marinated fish,  pan fried with tomatoes, curry and cream.  Ragu ordered spice level 4 and was sweating the whole meal.  The dishes are all served in oval metal bowls that look small, but the food is filling.  They serve the meals with a white rice that has some Indian flavor.  We were both stuffed after dinner.

Top to Bottom: Fish Masala, White Rice, Saag Paneer

Our check arrived with a candy treat, small little fennel pellets.  They taste like licorice, or as Ragu said “mini good-n-plenty.”  We asked our waiter if he would take a photo with us after the dinner.  He told us his heritage was Punjabi, and he primped his moustache before the picture by curling it with his hands.  He smiled, flexed and helped us cap off a great night with a few laughs.

Whether you have acquired a taste for Indian food or not, you really need to give Amar India a chance.  The dinners are reasonable at $13-$16 on average for the unique dining experience.  If you have not been there, it will be an experience your tastebuds won’t soon forget.

Love these “Dayton Foodies?”  Then become an OFFICIAL FAN of FOOD ADVENTURES by going to our FACEBOOK and clicking LIKE.

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Jane’s Best Bets (10/5 – 10/9)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It is going to be another great fall week in Dayton with plenty of things to do!

On Wednesday, it’s all about social justice, with a little theater and beer brewed in the mix.  At lunch time, attend the Awareness Luncheon at the Dayton Racquet Club to learn more about human trafficking or the Domestic Violence Vigil at Courthouse Square to remember the victims of domestic violence and to honor those survivors.  At the Schuster Center, you will be able to attend Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’.  And I didn’t forget the beer – there is a Beer Tasting at Trolley Stop, as well as a Beer Tasting with Beer Guru Charles at Rumbleseat Wine.

On Thursday, don’t miss your chance to get fresh produce at the Centerville Farmers Market.  You may have to wait another year for both Dayton’s and Minster’s Oktoberfests, but you will still have the opportunity to participate in Rue Dumaine’s Oktoberfest, with a special menu and beer selection!  One of the other great things about this time of year is pumpkin beer…and you will be able to have some with the Pumpkin Beer Tap Takeover at Spinoza’s or Pumpkin Beer Night at Thai 9.  And if you feel guilty about drinking beer, then pair it with religion with Theology on Tap at Oregon Express.  Wishing to jazz things up a bit?  Listen to Ed Clay and The Patrol as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute.  If you want to get involved in your community, join Generation Dayton for the event, Better Boards 101.  And at the Fraze in Kettering, participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

On Friday, if you enjoy discussing economic issues, then be sure to attend the Economic Summit on the Revitalization of Manufacturing at the Dayton Convention Center.  Friday is also First Friday downtown, so be sure to check out all the galleries, live music, demonstrations, the First Friday Scavenger Hunt, the Dayton Visual Arts Center’s Steamroller Prints: Flat-Out Fun, and much more!  At Victoria Theatre, “catch” The Flying Karamazov Brothers, whose show will involve music, comedy, dance, theater, and juggling.  Plus, there is a Buckeye Vodka Tasting prior to the show!  If you enjoy being spooked, then make your way to the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park in Middletown.  At the Schuster Center, Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ will still be showing.  And over at Sinclair, check out A Vintage Affair, in which you will be able to sample wines and unique beers, have a few hors d’oeuvres and desserts, take part in a silent auction, and enjoy jazz music.

On Saturday, kick-off your day with me at the Kickin’ It for Breast Cancer Fall Kickball Classic.  They have gone country at the 2nd Street Market with Saturday Live Music by The Johnsons.  Make a trip up to Yellow Springs for the Yellow Springs Street Fair.  Or make your “way” to Waynesville for the very popular Sauerkraut Festival – just be sure to get there early as it will be very “krauted”.  Oktoberfest celebrations are not over yet!  Head to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club for their Oktoberfest Celebration.  There will also be beer at the Big Beers & Barley Wines Beer Fest 2011 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  At Stivers, watch the amazing Dayton Contemporary Dance Company during their Fall Concert – Director’s Cut.  Attend Haunting Harmony at Centerville High School to listen to the Gem City Chorus, with some great guest artists including contestants from NBC’s The Sing Off. Or catch Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ if you haven’t yet had an opportunity to do so.

On Sunday, kick it into gear by participating in the 35th Dayton River Corridor Classic Half-Marathon & 5k Run/Walk.  Head to Stivers to see the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Director’s Cut.  Purchase some local goods at Garden Station Sunday Market.  In addition, you will be able to check out the Ohio Renaissance Festival, the Sauerkraut Festival, or Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What do you call a clever monster?  Frank Einstein

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!

Forever Loving Your Crazy Self

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This photo, taken during that infamous home-ec class at Centerville High School, is perhaps my favorite of us.

Dedicated to Jason Braman.

Things I want to remember: Hissing “yesssss” at each other through the phone. Listening to “Arnold Layne” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” at full blast in your room with the strobe light flashing. Drawings created with ball-point pens and colored pencils ― your doodles. Hippie beads, scarves and that cape I made you from a red velvet bedspread we bought at the Goodwill in the Oregon District. The way you carried one of those ’70s flowered suitcases as a book bag at Centerville High School, circa 1988. Songs you wrote and played for me on the guitar. Trudging along in the snow-covered golf course behind my parents’ house admiring the sun’s glint in the ice-covered trees. You, an almost constant passenger in my red Chevette.

Remember how we could read each other’s minds? People thought it was something we, the wacky and iconic couple, made up. But we knew it was true. I wonder if you’ve been reading my mind in the weeks since you’ve been gone.

I’ve been wearing that silver and opal ring you gave me, on a chain around my neck. My body has spread a bit since that day in high school when you got down on one knee in home-ec class and proposed to me. It doesn’t quite fit my ring finger, but on the chain it lays right on my heart. Back then, we had read books about soul mates, astrology and numerology checked out from Woodbourne Library and we knew we’d be connected forever. Back then, forever was a philosophical concept we also discussed for hours while hanging out at Denny’s or in David’s Cemetery. I’ve been wearing this ring to remind me I once had that kind of connection with another human. Even though it has been years since I last saw you, I miss you so much now. Like crazy. You left me way too soon.

Homecoming 1988.

Things I want to forget: Visiting you in the psych ward at Grandview Hospital and Twin Valley Medical Center. Having to tell you I can’t see you anymore because you stole beer and over-the-counter medication from my house. The vague sense of relief I felt when you canceled plans for us to get together because you were “sick,” although I was sure it was because you’d had too much to drink.

All these memories I want to crumple up. After all, you are my coming of age story. We were inseparable for nearly three years during that time when we lurched through poems and art and music and books, grabbing pieces of who we would become. Pieces of me are swimming with your ashes in that Wisconsin lake, and I feel pieces of you in me like lumps under my skin.

You are the person who convinced me I could write, even though you, too, could cook words into a gourmet meal. I remember reading you a piece on the phone that began with a letter to you. At the end, you were crying. I doubt I’ll ever publish that piece. It’s about such a dark time in my life ― geesh, it’s titled “100 Days of Winter” ― but I reprint the letter to you here:

A piece of your artwork, titled "The Fear and the Struggle," from 1991-1992.

Dear Jason,

Sorry I’ve been out of touch this past year, but I’ve been really busy going crazy. Burying my I-can-hold-a-day-job self in a morass of self-loathing has taken a lot of my time.

I know I’m not supposed to say I’m “crazy.” Or “nuts.” I know those aren’t politically correct terms. They offend someone. But I am crazy now. Here’s how I know: Sitting in my doctor’s office, in the windowless basement of some rectangular brick building, I started to cry because some soft-serve song about “remembering people” played on Lite 99.9 FM. It’s supposed to be nothing more than the background noise in the office, dimming the buzz of the florescent lights, but this song was on a DVD played at Kier’s sixth-grade graduation featuring smiling portraits of all the kids who were moving on to junior high and lives of teenage malaise. I started sobbing ― guttural cries that made me double over and start choking. I freaked the receptionist, who took me right back to an exam room. My blood pressure was something nearly unheard of, like 100 over 200, and she told me to breathe, panic spreading across her face like a wine stain on carpet.

I also know I’m crazy because of what happens to me at night. The hand of a ghost reaches into my brain and turns up the volume to 10. Boosts the bass, too. I’ll think it’s time for bed, and all of a sudden the cells in my body are humming a catchy show tune and tap dancing. Some nights, my head is an engine running full speed with no oil, metal scraping metal, a pain so intense I am almost paralyzed with fear that I’m dying, for real this time. Still other nights, I’m sent scampering to my journal, freestyling verse like some hot shot hip hop from the big city.

At our perpetual high school hangout, Denny's.

At our perpetual high school hangout, Denny's.

The moments when I can’t breathe remind me I’m crazy, too. It’s always something trite that gigs me out. Like thinking about a meeting and I haven’t written my stupid weekly activity report. Or because of a kitchen cabinet, like when someone goes on a search for hot chocolate mix and then puts everything back in the cabinet pell mell. I have to pull out everything, check for sticky spots on boxes and crumbs, wipe down everything, and put it neatly back in the cabinet the way nature intended.

Now, you know normal people don’t do these things. So I say I am crazy.

But enough about me. What was it like when you went crazy? Did you know it in one flash, like the Three Kings seeing the Star of Bethlehem? Or did it creep up on you? Was it like the feeling you have when a wispy Daddy Long Legs crawls up your leg?

Remember when you wanted so badly to be Syd Barrett, the madcap laughs, be crazy just like him? We used to make fun of you and call you “Syd the hairclip,” remember? So it was kind of funny at first when you really did go crazy. We thought you’d snap out of it, that it was one more of your eccentric experiments in living. But as time passed, it seemed a trap set in your brain was clutching you tighter and tighter. We would sit around my dining room table with somber faces, clutching glasses of wine as we discussed your latest antic or despair. “What happened to Jason?,” we’d ask, shrugging. Not everyone believed you were crazy, but I did. I believe it about myself now.

One of your poems, this one published in our high school literary magazine.

One of your poems, this one published in our high school literary magazine.

I should have gotten in touch with you sooner. I know you understand me. You always have, and you have never judged me no matter what. I can’t say the same about anyone else. Please write back soon.

Love you,

Kristen

I wrote that so long ago, but it’s still tinged with truth, at least from my version of this story that was your life. In my version, your life seemed utterly tragic at times ― so tragic that one of the most intelligent, thoughtful and creative people I will ever know was smudged with medication and booze and schizophrenia and pancreatitis. Really, though, you lived through a bullhorn, lived on your own terms. In moments, it may have felt a bit pathetic that you hadn’t quite found your niche when the rest of us “adapted” ― I wear high heels and blazers to work sometimes for chrissakes ― but I wonder now who is pathetic and who is true and free. If you were here, we would talk for half a day about this alone.

I have rewritten this piece 276 times. Waited a month to publish it. Only tonight, during a discussion at my book club about a memoir that reminded me so much of the terror and raw beauty that was you, did I realize it’s a dishonor to not put it out there. And so I do, even though I feel as if nothing I could ever write will serve your memory justice.

One of perhaps a million "artsy" photos I took of you in high school.

I hear you were truly in love when you collapsed on your couch. This makes me happy, because that is what you deserved. And regardless the pieces we remember, regardless of the way we choose to fit them together, those of us who knew you will never forget Jason Braman.

I promise to remember you as the tortured genius, the effervescent teenager I so deeply loved, with that laugh and skip and wry humor.

See you on the dark side of the moon.

Food Adventures Devours the 2011 Dayton Oktobertfest

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Spaten Munich beer and Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest were on draft

This past weekend, we experienced one of their favorite Food Adventures to date. Daytonmostmetro.com generously provided us with tickets to the preview party at the 40th Oktoberfest which is held at the Dayton Art Institute.  Although we have both been to the festival many times in the past, this would be the first time going to the preview party.

On this Food Adventure, we decided to take separate vehicles and that was a big mistake!  It wasn’t too easy to find a parking space, so The Big Ragu who is always “fashionably late,” this time proved no different.

While Hungry Jax was waiting in the long entrance line, a frantic Ragu was searching for a parking space while developing a little case of road rage.  We were both pretty amazed at how many people attended the pre-party and had no idea that it would be this packed.  Nonetheless, feeling like VIP’s we developed our game plan and a night of ethnic gluttony started to ensue.

Bratwurst from Schmidt’s restaurant booth – Incredible !

The festival is pretty much a bunch of food booths from different companies and 2 tents of craft goods.  Yeah, we skipped the arts and crafts.  Jax headed over to the Schmidt’s Sausage Haus booth while the Big Ragu shimmied over the beer line.

Schmidt’s is located in the German Village in Columbus, Ohio and was featured on Man v. Food.  Hungry Jax ordered a bratwurst with sauerkraut and added on spicy brown mustard and horseradish.  The first bite was absolutely amazing and this was a sign of good things to come.  The beer booth had some general choices, but we decided to go for the Leinenkugel Oktoberfest and the Spaten Munich beers.  After the Big Ragu got the beer, he decided to go hit the food line.  Ragu really showed that he was in the Oktoberfest spirit by showing up with a German treat … wait, a Gyro from the Greek Orthodox Church booth!  Well, at least the gyro was good because he devoured it in about 2 bites.  At this time we were both very happy Food Adventurers, but that was about to change.

The Dreaded Limburger Sandwich

We headed to the next food stall and the sign read…..Limburger Cheese Sandwich.  Neither one of us has ever tried Limburger Cheese, so we decided to take one for the team and ordered one up.  The Big Ragu’s dad had eaten Limburger Cheese as a kid in New York, so we decided to call him up and see what we had in store for us.  Ragu Sr. found it pretty amusing that we were going to indulge in this thing and basically told us….good luck!  We decided to punish the Big Ragu for buying a gyro by making him take half of this sandwich.  We have both eaten to pretty questionable things in our lifetime, but this by far was the worst thing that we have tried.  We have a rule with Food Adventures….you must finish the whole thing.  The Big Ragu was the smart one here when teared up on the final bite, got teary eyed and spit the sandwich out in the trash can. We hope to never see another Limburger Cheese Sandwich again.

After we grabbed more beers, we headed over to Don LeDoux’s Cajun Restaurant booth and decided to go with the Crawfish Etoufee.  It was served on a bed of rice and was incredibly tasty with lots of crawfish in it!  The employees and owners were very friendly.  We definitely have to head up to Troy, Ohio and try this place out!  While the crew was talking to the Don LeDoux employees, Ragu suddenly showed up with a Weinerschnitzel sandwich that he bought at the booth next door.  He had to get the limburger taste out of his mouth.  We also visited briefly with the Kosmic Kettlecorn booth who had some tasty popcorn, and showed us how the process worked.

Meeting the local legend, Voltzy at his Oktoberfest booth

The next item that we tried was the highlight of the Oktoberfest for us….we finally tried a Voltzy burger!  This is by far, the best hamburger that we have tried so far…..you can definitely taste the freshness.  Voltzy came out and doused our burgers out with three different sauces, which put a sparkle in the Big Ragu’s eye.  One taste of these things and you will be hooked!  And the sauces give it some sweet heat!  The burgers were amazingly fresh, and Voltzy said the meat is never frozen.

We will both admit that before we met Voltzy, we were very intimidated by his reputation for being a hard A$$, but he was a great guy, with a good sense of humor, who we had a lot of fun with.  We are looking forward to a future food adventure at his restaurant!

At this point we were both pretty stuffed and we decided to do what anyone else would…..get another beer!  The Spaten was incredible and we couldn’t get enough of it.  Ragu also loved the Wisconsin brewed Leinenkugel Oktoberfest beer, but Jax stuck with the German Spaten Beer.  While waiting in the beer line, the Cream Puff Pastry at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus caught our eye.  While the Big Ragu loves his fried food, and Jax has a weakness for sweets.  The cream puff pastry was a gift send down from the Confectionary Gods and we loved every morsel of it.

Schmidt’s Restaurant has perfected the Cream Puff

This Food Adventure was a blast.  Our leiderhosen are a bit tighter after the food we consumed at this festival.  Sure, we ended up with a few drops of beer, sauce, and powdered sugar on our shirts, which housed our full stomachs, but it was all in a night’s work.  So we say, to honor Oktoberfest, Lisa, Bill and the crew at DAYTONMOSTMETRO.com who got us VIP tickets to this event, we say “Danke schön!”

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Did you go to Oktoberfest? What did you think about the food and beer selection
?

Please post a comment below!

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Katrina Kittle has many Reasons to Be Happy

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Katrina Kittle’s first tween novel, Reasons to Be Happy, is a touching look into the life of 8th grader Hannah, a young girl trying to find her identity while attending middle school in Beverly Hills. The novel itself is much like Katrina Kittle; endearing, sweet, and has many valuable lessons to teach. Reasons to Be Happy is a story grown from an idea that began in Kittle’s previous novel The Blessings of Animals where Hannah was featured as the daughter. Kittle, however felt that Hannah’s character needed her own story; the two novels are not connected though.

Kittle’s inspiration for her new novel comes from her time as a middle school teacher, where she was pained to see young girls going through such emotional turmoil. The novel sheds light on an issue that is affecting more and more girls at younger ages. Kittle’s main hope is that her novel will help young girls be able to skip an identity crisis and continue to high school with more self-confidence.

“I would teach these young girls and watch as they seemed to become less bold versions of themselves. It was heartbreaking to me because I felt like they didn’t need to go through something like this at their age. I hope that this novel helps young girls,” said Kittle.

Kittle herself is an amazing individual. Besides the fact that for one year she spent her time as a gypsy, which means she traveled from home to home just living and writing.

“I think I lived in 18 different homes in the length of one year. My favorite was Brooklyn. I wrote so much while I was in Brooklyn,” said Kittle.

She also has been quite successful as a novelist. Her previous novels have all been for an adult audience which is why she’s especially excited about Reasons to Be Happy because it’s for young girls.

“I hope to write more young adult fiction. I already have one idea I’m working on,” said Kittle.

Kittle is very grateful for the life she has and celebrates every day the fact that she can be a full time writer. Among the many reasons she has to be happy are her niece and nephew, her strange cat Joey, and spending time tending her elaborate garden. A new venture Kittle is proud to say she is a part of is Puddingstone Project, a dance and music theatre production. Kittle is the scriptwriter for the production with Kevin Anderson writing music and Beth Wright doing the choreography.

“It’s just a wonderful experience. We had our first reading just the other day. And I already feel like I have to get rid of a character. Which makes me sad but they just don’t fit,” said Kittle with a sad look but she immediately was smiling again as she talked more about the project.

Reasons to Be Happy releases October 4 from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and the debut reading and signing will be October 13, at 7PM at Books & Co. at the Greene. Enjoy a good book and talk to Katrina Kittle about the reasons you have to be happy.

5th Annual Fiery Food Show in Fairfield

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If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly way to spice up your weekend, check out Jungle Jim’s 5th annual Weekend of Fire this Saturday and Sunday for two days full of fun, food, and fire. This show has grown from 500 guests in year one to over 2500 in  attendance last year.  There’s something for everyone from the Fiery Food Expo to the Arena of Fire to BBQ Alley, it’s a guaranteed  hot time in Farifield this weekend.

Fifty five vendors from all across the country will be setting up shop this weekend in the Fiery Food Expo. They will be offering a variety of free samples, including hot sauces, BBQ sauces, salsas, rubs, and even ice cream with a spicy kick. Vendors will also be taking orders if you find something you’d like to take home and share!

The Arena of Fire is the place where all sorts of “wild and wacky” contests will be held hourly.  “We thought it was a great venue, we had a lot of fun. We really liked the contests,” said  Mike & Jill Shuster of last years event.  If you’re brave enough, you can sign up at the registration table and compete in the horseradish eating contest, the hot salsa contest or the kid friendly coney dot eating.  Can you take the heat?

If you’re not up to the heat of the competition, stroll outside and enjoy an outdoor lunch, dinner, or snack in BBQ Alley. This is the first year that BBQ Alley has been opened during the Weekend of Fire. You and your family can enjoy ribs, wings, Hawaiian shaved ice, funnel cakes, deep fried goodies, and much more. Vendors that will be providing food in BBQ Alley include: Dragon Fire Hot Sauce, Sweet Mama’s Jam-N-Salsa, Rib City, Goldie’s Q, and many more.

While attending the show, be sure to stop and vote for your favorites! Awards include Best Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Best Salsa, and Best Hot Specialty. Trophies will be presented on Sunday before the end of the show.

Another special event you won’t want to miss is the DeafCon DeathMatch. The DeathMatch is a mysterious event that you will have to see to believe.  The bleachers will be  filled way before the contest as people vie for a good seat. Late comers cluster around the Arena of Fire, climbing on each others shoulders; anything to see. Contestants gather in a group awaiting their fate and take their place as The Creator calls their name. Tension mounts as The Creatress brings out the wings drenched in sauce so hot the contestants are required to sign a release to compete for bragging rights.  The event will take place in BBQ Alley at 8 p.m. on Saturday night.

If just one Weekend of Fire isn’t enough to fill your fiery hunger, sign up for Eat the Heat cooking class to bring some of fire back to your family. The class will be taught by Leigh Barnhart Ochs, the Cooking School Director. She will teach techniques, recipes, and what foods work together so you can spice up dinner time any day. Cost for the class is $50 and includes free tickets to the show. For more information on how to register, visit http://www.junglejims.com/weekendoffire/eat-the-heat.asp.

Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire will take place on October 1st from 10-6 p.m. and October 2nd from 11-5 p.m. at The Oscar Event Center which is located at  5440 Dixie Highway, just north of 275.  Tickets cost $5 if purchased in advance and $7 at the door. Admission cost includes admission to the Fiery Foods Expo, samples from all the vendors, the ability to purchase hundreds of products directly from the vendors, access to BBQ Alley, access to the Arena of Fire, and rides on the Monorail. Children under 6-years-old are free.

If all of these appetizing aspects of Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire are not enough to persuade you to attend, come out to show support for Dayton! Crazy Uncle Jester’s and Firehouse Pantry, local Dayton hot sauce makers, will have booths set up in the Fiery Foods Expo. Stop by and show some support for your local blazing businesses!

Weekend of Fire:

Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 10am – 8pm
Sunday, October 2, 2011 from 11am – 5pm
The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim’s International Market

Directions from Dayton

Take I-75 South
Merge I-275 West – To Indianapolis
Exit #41 toward Hamilton/Fairfield
Drive north 3.8 miles on Route 4/Dixie Highway
Turn right onto Jungle Jim’s Blvd

The Waterski Team at the University of Dayton

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Quack: (n) 1. The harsh, throaty cry of a duck or any similar sound. 2. Charlatan.

-According to Dictionary.com

Photo Credit: Jessica Harrigan

Do you know the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the utterance of this onomatopoeia? The University of Dayton’s Waterski Team. No, this great group of people is not, by any means, going around pretending to be doctors as the second denotation of this word may suggest. There isn’t one member on the team that is a duck farmer, either. Actually, this word is what we chant while cheering each other on during the collegiate weekend tournaments. Yep—you guessed it. We proudly don the duck as the mascot of the UD Waterski Team.

I know exactly what you’re thinking—“UD has a waterski team??” Yes. In fact, we do. The waterski club team was born about 12 years ago by three university students who had a passion for water sports and wanted to share this with their peers. Actually, one of the co-presidents has literally inherited his love for the team; George Cressy is the younger cousin of one of the students responsible for making it an official club sport at UD.

So a special thank you to Jim Cressy for putting in all the hard work of originally organizing this club, which “is one of the best things you can ever do in your life,” according to fellow co-president Jessica Harrigan’s testament. Along with accumulating years, our team has grown in skill and number since its beginning over a decade ago. Most recently, we have added a South American Champion skier, a sophomore international student named Michael Woodman. But, more important than anything, the love of the sport has grown over the years through the members of this tight-knit skiing community, as well as our love for one another. I’m probably embarrassing Jesse by including this, but our co-president (Jesse) and social chair (Jack Klass) literally found love through their years with the Dayton Waterski Team and are engaged to be married next September! But overall, the experience of being part of this unique club team has been described as “awesome”, “superb”, and “pretty darn great”.

So you’re probably wondering what exactly we do at these tournaments besides make great friendships and get to hang out at a lake all weekend. Being my first year on the team, I am by no means an expert on the happenings of tournaments, but with a little help from George and Jesse, I hope to be able to give a pretty accurate description. So here are the basic need-to-knows:

  1. There are three events: slalom, trick, and jump. You get two attempts to “get up” for each event.
  2. Slalom— Scoring depends on the speed of the boat, the length of the ski rope, and how many buoys you are able to go around consecutively. First, you must make it through the “gates”—two buoys located at the beginning of the course (which always happens to be my downfall). After the gates you must zigzag around six buoys and then make it through another set of gates at the end of the course. A skier receives more points for making it around all six buoys, even at a lower boat speed.
  3. Trick— Certain tricks are performed on trick skis (short and fat skis without fins which equal super-squirrelly skiing) or a wakeboard. Each trick is assigned a certain number of points.
  4. Jump— In the words of George Cressy: “It’s a distance thing, in feet.” So, you strap on some huge jump skis, a helmet (don’t worry moms and dads), a cushioned jump suit, and some gloves. You pick what speed you’d like and before you know it, you’re headed at a 5-foot tall ramp. Now how do you land a jump? Jesse’s key piece of advice: “Knees, Trees, Freeze.” This translates to bending your knees, looking up at the trees in the distance, and freezing your posture. Then, hope for the best. The best part about jump, in my opinion, is sitting lakeside and watching the really great skiers hit distances in the 140 foot range and also watching the newbies have some pretty epic crashes into the water.

NOTE: NO SKIERS WERE HURT DURING THE RESEARCH FOR THIS ARTICLE

Below is a video of one our co- presidents, Jesse Harrigan, jumping in our first tournament of the year:

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsiRMH0Q5Wc’]

Video provided by Jessica Harrigan

But the best part of the tournaments as a whole? No one is critical of how skilled you are as a skier. In fact, at some of the tournaments a few people got up on two skis for the first time in their lives. I think Jesse phrased it best when she said, “Everyone just wants to help each other do their best.” This camaraderie really makes the waterski tournaments a great time to be had by all.

Basically, as George described, we are “an organization devoted to having fun while skiing, not necessarily winning competitions.” So, if you’re a UD student, step out of your comfort zone and try something a little different and extremely fun. I’m sure if you have any questions, George and Jesse would be more than happy to answer them. And all those not enrolled at Dayton, come out and support your local waterski team or start a club of your own! Who knows? You might even be lucky enough to find your fiancé, but one thing is for certain—you’ll eat more than enough $0.88/pack hotdogs to last you a lifetime and you’ll have a blast while doing it.

But as for finding the love of your life—Jesse and Jack may just be “lucky ducks”. Now that’s a knee-slapper.