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Impress your significant other AND help a great cause…

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While the event isn’t until next month, here is a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day – a dinner made by a top local chef at a private home and after-party, all to support a great cause.  Introducing the Doors of Compassion – a unique fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region!  On March 19, over 20 private homes in Oakwood and Kettering will be hosting dinner parties, with some of the area’s elite chefs preparing a different culinary experience.  Afterward, all dinner guests will be invited to the After Party Twenty One One at a beautiful Oakwood home to enjoy a decadent dessert buffet, coffee bar and after-dinner drinks.  The after party will feature Kim Faris of Lite 99.9 as emcee and “Rodney The Band” for live entertainment, as well as a live auction for guests to bid on gift packages and raise funds for Ronald McDonald House families in need.  There will also be raffle prizes, including Marco Bicego jewelry provided by James Free Jewelers.

The chefs come from the region’s finest restaurants and catering companies, including a couple we’ve featured here on DaytonMostMetro.com in our Dayton Dining 10 ?’s series.  Here is the lineup:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region is a fantastic organization that provides a temporary home-away-from-home for families of critically ill, hospitalized children and supports efforts that improve children’s health within our region.  Their beautiful facility is located across from Dayton Children’s Medical Center, and it helps families who come to the hospital (or any local hospital serving pediatric patients) from outside of the Dayton Region – 468 families in 2010.  Families have access to private guest bedrooms, four kitchens, a playroom, library and more.  When you think of sick children receiving hospital care, you don’t usually think about the burden placed on the families of those children, but RMHC does and goes above and beyond to make sure their extended stays in Dayton are as comfortable as possible – with no cost to them.

DaytonMostMetro.com is proud to be a Dinner Party Sponsor for this event, and we hope that our readers will consider making reservations today, as there are only so many seats available; with the popularity of the participating chefs, seats are going quickly.  This is a great fund raising event, a great opportunity to network with other influential people in a private dinner setting, and a chance to experience some delicious culinary magic by a top local chef… not to mention a great way to impress your significant other this Valentine’s Day.

More information on the Doors of Compassion Event can be found here, along with package prices and other sponsorship opportunities.

Will the Oregon District Finally Solve Liquor Permit Dilemma?

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Dayton’s Oregon District is an interesting combination of entertainment district and upscale historic residential neighborhood.  It didn’t always have the upscale side though, until the 1970’s and ’80s when some very dedicated citizens began to move into the very rough hood and started bringing back historic homes to their original glory.  In addition to the enormous task of rehabbing old homes, these urban pioneers had to contend with some of the roughest bars in the city.  Not just Fifth Street establishments that helped the district earn the nickname “Filth and Wine”, but especially places like the old Southern Belle and Fred & Sylvia’s situated in the residential neighborhood’s interior.  It was their persistence and never-say-die attitude that helped transform the district into what it is today.  While many of those original pioneers have since moved on, there are still some left and to many of them the fight to keep the riffraff out has never ended.

Before I detail the current situation, here is a brief history of the OD’s liquor permit saga as I understand it based on conversations with several people in the OD:

In 1997, the neighborhood association called the Oregon Historic District Society (OHDS) approved the first liquor permit policy for the district, limiting the total number of allowable permits to 17.  A few years later they reduced it to 16, but in 2004 the City of Dayton approved an additional permit for Coco’s Bistro, with the OHDS deferring to the city.  Soon afterward, the city commission adopted an informal resolution that ensured the commission would not approve liquor permits for the OD above the 17 threshold, and the “Rule of 17” was born.  It should be noted that the State of Ohio Division of Liquor Control ultimately approves or denies liquor permits in Ohio, and while it does consider the City of Dayton Commission recommendations, it does not have to follow them.

In 2007, Thai 9 owner Rob Strong opened the 5th Street Wine & Deli and requested a beer & wine permit.  Since there were already 17 liquor permits, the OHDS objected and the city formally objected to the state.  The state overruled the city and granted the 5th Street Deli its permit, and since the Dayton Gym Club building was sold to the Dayton Theatre Guild without transferring its liquor permit, the total number came back down to 17 and the city did not appeal the 5th Street Deli case.  However, this situation worsened the already contentious relationship between the OHDS and the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) – a group focused on the OD’s business district.

In 2009, an established bed & breakfast called Inn Port D’Vino applied for its own liquor permit, and the OHDS and subsequently the City of Dayton objected – again based on the Rule of 17.  Like with the 5th Street Wine & Deli, the state liquor board overruled the city and granted the permit, but this time the city appealed at the request of the OHDS board and in 2010 the state board overturned their original decision to grant the permit.  Jeff and Leslie Gonya (owners of Inn Port D’Vino) are appealing that decision and it is currently pending.  They gathered 172 signed petitions from OD residents in an effort to abolish the “Rule of 17”, which they presented to both OHDS and the city commission.  Soon the discussion on whether or not the current “Rule of 17” is still necessary or in fact a detriment to positive growth in the OD was at the forefront.  The debate is not simple and has many sides, including those who want to simply abolish the “Rule of 17” in favor of more business growth, those who do not want any additional alcohol-serving businesses no matter what – and those who fall in the middle.  The later group wants to see 5th Street thriving with more classy establishments like Side Bar and Thai 9 (and less vacant spaces) but are concerned with the possibility that undesirable bars might open shop – and some may even try to open in the interior of the residential neighborhood and jeopardize the quality of life that now exists.

New S.I.D. map including OD Business District (click to enlarge) - Courtesy of Downtown Dayton Partnership

In November 2010, Dayton Commissioners Joey Williams and Nan Whaley met with the OHDS board and suggested a possible solution that all parties might approve.  This involves the ability for the city to divide the OD into two separate voting precincts – the residential neighborhood and the 5th Street business district (based on new SID boundaries that includes existing businesses off of 5th such as Thai 9, Jay’s Seafood and Inn Port D’Vino).  The residential precinct could then vote itself dry, meaning that no liquor permits could be granted to any business within the residential precinct – a binding law that unlike the informal “Rule of 17” resolution, could not be overruled by the city commission or the state liquor board.  With this in place, it is believed that an overwhelming majority of neighborhood residents would then approve getting rid of the “Rule of 17” in favor of more growth in the business district.  As it stands, a letter of agreement between the OHDS and ODBA for the purposes of establishing a new voting precinct in the OD has been signed by the ODBA president Mike Martin, and the ball is now in the OHDS’s court.  There is a monthly general membership OHDS meeting tomorrow (Tuesday February 8 at 7pm), and while the OHDS board doesn’t necessarily have to vote on anything it is believed that this will be the main topic of discussion.  Proponents of the agreement are urging fellow residents to attend this meeting and have their voices heard.

In my many discussions with various players in this saga, I believe there are still neighborhood influencers and OHDS board members who will likely continue to push to keep things as they are, with the “Rule of 17” kept intact.  Sources tell me that the board is evenly split on this latest proposal, and it is unlikely the board will vote in favor of the proposed agreement because of a concern about a lack of specific language that would require the precinct lines be drawn and the dry-neighborhood proposition be placed on a ballot before removing the “Rule of 17” (a feeling that the ODBA refuses to cooperate because of a few conflicting personalities on both sides also exists among various residents).  Ironically, the neighborhood risks losing all protection including the “Rule of 17” regardless of whether or not the OHDS votes to move forward with the agreement, since the “Rule of 17” is an informal resolution that the city commission could eventually dismiss anyway – a distinct possibility given that the most recent commission vote to appeal the state’s granting of a liquor licence to the B&B barely passed 3-2 (with Nan Whaley and Matt Joseph opposing the appeal).  Not to mention that the state can grant liquor licenses regardless of the “Rule of 17”.  Only by voting the residential precinct dry can the OD residents guarantee that no bars can open in the residential neighborhood.

Photo Credit: sbluerock on Flickr

As objectively as I’ve tried to present this complicated situation, I should disclose my own personal bias.  I don’t live in the OD but I have lived downtown for the past 7 years, and while I understand the residents’ concerns about the impacts that businesses on Fifth Street have on their quality of life, I also think that the “Rule of 17” is a draconian tool that has negatively impacted the vibrancy of Fifth Street.  The OD is not just a historic neighborhood with a business district, but it is THE entertainment district for the city and the only authentically local entertainment district in the region; its vibrancy or lack thereof affects all of us, not just the OD neighborhood.  This latest proposal makes sense, and I applaud the leadership that Nan Whaley and Joey Williams have shown in bringing it to the OHDS.  I also applaud the efforts of people like Lt. Larry Faulkner, who has been working closely with bar owners to make sure that incidents are reduced.  It is time for the OHDS to recognize that the status quo is not acceptable, and it is time to adapt to changing times.  It is also time for the ODBA to get over past differences between various individuals and understand that there are in fact many residents and OHDS board members that want the same thing as they do – a vibrant business district.  If language has to be adjusted to make more people comfortable, then make it happen so that we can finally get rid of the “Rule of 17” and move closer toward a united and thriving Oregon District that the rest of the city and region can be proud of.

I attended the public OHDS membership meeting following this article on Tuesday 2/8 – here is the follow-up.

In the Company of Helen

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Dayton Theatre Guild presents Neil LaBute's FAT PIT - February 11-27, 2011FAT PIG

Dayton Theatre Guild

Neil LaBute’s dark comedy premieres at downtown theatre.

For his entire career, playwright/film director Neil LaBute has explored a wide variety of genres. Consider his film work like In The Company of Men, dark comedies Nurse Betty and Death at a Funeral, and even bona fide horror films The Wicker Man and Lakeview Terrace. LaBute has mastered the art of the dark comedy – exploring the darker side of the human psyche in ways that make us oddly uncomfortable and questioning our own darkness.

Neil LaBute, playwright of FAT PIG

Neil LaBute, playwright

What I think strikes most people as fascinating is that LaBute’s language always feels ‘real’, colloquial and in turn, honest. One really feels as if they are listening to REAL people having REAL dialogue (sometimes TOO real). One of the best examples of LaBute’s influence on American theater and cinema opens February 11 at Dayton Theatre Guild.

Neil LaBute's FAT PIG at Dayton Theatre Guild - February 11-17, 2011Fat Pig tells the story of Tom – a well built attractive man who meets and falls in love with the quite plus-sized but ever-charming Helen. When people in Tom’s life begin to discuss why he is dating such a large woman, Tom must decide where HE stands. It is a fascinating exploration into society’s treatment of those we deem unfit, in this case, plus-sized. Neil’s language is smart and engaging and provides a great “what would you do?” discussion starter. If you want to see what the contemporary American theatre sounds and looks like, LaBute’s Fat Pig is great choice. Dayton Theatre Guild is to be applauded for producing this daring and important play and I, for one, was thrilled to see it on their season. It is also quite timely as a Broadway production of Fat Pig (directed by LaBute himself) is headed to Broadway this spring starring Dane Cook and Julia Stiles.

Here in Dayton, the Guild production features Amy Askins (Jeannie), Nicolas Bauer (Carter), Steve Strawser (Tom), and Wendi Williams (Helen). The production is under the direction of Dayton Theatre Hall Of Fame inductee Fran Pesch. There is honestly no better place for LaBute’s work than the Guild (with the exception of the Human Race). DTG has a track record of choosing daring titles by contemporary exciting playwrights and Fat Pig, to me, is a harbinger of good things to come. Later this year, the Guild will present the local premiere of the one-woman tour-de-force Golda’s Balcony (about Israeli Prime Minster Golda Meir) as well as Theresa Rebeck’s acclaimed Mauritius.

Neil LaBute's FAT PIG at Dayton Theatre Guild - February 11-17, 2011

The cast of Dayton Theatre Guild's FAT PIG. L to R: Nicolas Bauer, Steve Strawser, Wendi Williams, Amy Askins

-DB

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Tickets & Performance Information:

Dayton Theatre GuildNeil LaBute’s FAT PIG – February 11-17 – Performance Times Vary (click for details)

Tickets Prices: $11 student / $16 senior / $18 adult

Location:  Dayton Theatre Guild at The Caryl D. Philip’s TheatreScape – 430 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio  45410 (MAP)

Contains adult situations and language.

Tickets are on sale now through DTG’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 278-5993 (due to a volunteer staff, phones are not monitored continually).

For more information about Dayton Theatre Guild’s entire 2010-2011 season, visit www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

FilmDayton – Production Assistant Training Seminar

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The following was submitted by Eva Buttacavoli, Executive Director of FilmDayton

George Clooney’s filming in Cincy; films have recently wrapped in Akron, Cleveland and Dayton; and you’re wondering “how can I be a part of it?” Well, here’s your opportunity to learn the protocols and procedures you need to be a successful Production Assistant on a film, television or commercial set.

The Production Assistant Training Seminar (P.A.T.S.) is the real deal. This “boot camp” style instruction workshop features practical, hands-on drills, and demonstrations to prepare you you for your first day of work on a professional set. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes with the Producers, Directors, and Actors. From the page to the screen, you’ll learn the elements you need to understand the PA’s role in the big picture. The program will teach you job search skills, from creating “industry standard” resumes and preparing for a production interview to finding entry-level jobs and applying.

P.A.T.S. is designed for all those who have some set experience but want to hone their production skills to those who are truly “green” and have never worked on a film. Upon completion of the Seminar, participants will be entered into the P.A.T.S. national database, a resource for Hollywood and locally based production companies and local film professionals for crew staffing.

Organized by FilmDayton and presented by P.A.T.S. LLC, Los Angeles, CA, a trusted on-location PA training for film, tv, video, new media and commercial production. P.A.T.S. will be led by Kenny Chaplin, a film industry veteran with experience on Terrence Malick’s “Thin Red Line, shows such as “Runaway Jury,” “Roswell” and “Judging Amy;” second assistant director BODY OF LIES, and the soon to be released TICKET OUT, starring Ray Liotta.

As a bonus for P.A.T.S. registrants – and open to anyone interested in taking their production to the next level, FilmDayton has partnered with the P.A.T.S. team to present a second workshop — Indie Financing: Closing the Budget for your Feature Film. This workshop is designed for producers, directors and filmmakers who are seeking funding for current or future projects. Indie Financing will provide an overview of the avenues for closing the budget for your project, including:  pre-sales, studio financing, incentives and subsidies, pre-sales, private equity and bank financing. Indie Financing will be by Doug Lodato, producer (Co-Producer – WILD,WILD WEST) and director of the soon to be released feature TICKET OUT.

Date, Time and Place

P.A.T.S. will take place Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 10am-7pm. Indie Financing will take place Sunday, February 27, 2011, from 10am-2pm. Both programs will take place at Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Room 14-130 – The Forum.

Registration, Payment and Questions

Early Registration

P.A.T.S. (Includes FREE Registration for Indie Financing)

FilmDayton Members $100; Students with ID $125; Non-Members $150

Indie Financing ONLY

FilmDayton Members $50; Students with ID $75; Non-Members $100

Registration after February 15th (Space Permitting)

P.AT.S. (Includes FREE Registration for Indie Financing)

FilmDayton Members $120; Students with ID $150; Non-Members $175

Indie Financing ONLY

FilmDayton Members $60; Students with ID $85; Non-Members $110

Registration includes free parking at Sinclair, lunch on Saturday, and a P.A.T.S. Resource Manual.

This program is generously sponsored by the Levin Family Foundation.

About FilmDayton:

FilmDayton is the go-to organization that supports the creative and professional growth of our region’s filmmakers and the film community. Established in 2007 through the DaytonCREATE initiative to revitalize the region’s economic competitiveness via a creative workforce, FilmDayton presents year-round initiatives including Film Connections, monthly info and networking meetings; classes and workshops that build our member filmmakers’ skills; filmmaking “Boot Camps” and Film Clubs for area students; and the annual FilmDayton Festival. FilmDayton is a publically supported, not-for-profit 501(c)(3).

Completing the River – Downtown Dayton Game Changer

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Riverscape Phase IV Proposal (click for larger view)

Over the past ten years, Dayton has been bringing people back to the shores of our rivers (Great Miami River, Mad River, Stillwater River, Wolf Creek and Twin Creek) with the ongoing development of Riverscape.  Phase I/II was completed in 2001/2003 and Phase III was completed last summer with the addition of a permanent covered pavilion, new ice skating rink and bike hub.  It would be easy to assume that the project is now complete but Five Rivers MetroParks is still not done, and they now have their sights set IN the river itself.

On any given summer day, one can see a paddler or two in our downtown river.  There is actually a nice river run that begins at Eastwood Lake MetroPark with Mad River and takes you to Riverscape and into the Great Miami River, but because of a treacherous low dam you really can’t go any further than the I-75 bridge.  This low dam is one of six that were installed in our various rivers after the Dayton Flood of 1913 to prevent further disasters, and along with the earthen levies they have done the job for the past 98 years (correction – the dams were added to create a pooling effect for recreational purposes).  In fact, the “hydraulic jump” dam was invented in Dayton by Arthur Morgan (is there anything that wasn’t invented here?) but decades later they are now being replaced in other cities because of their reputation as death traps.  Get stuck in the undertow at the bottom of one of these things and you’re not getting out without some major help – not exactly conducive to paddling.
In cooperation with the Miami Conservancy District, City of Dayton and Montgomery County (and as part of the ‘Rivers, Cycling & Active Lifestyle committee of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan), Five Rivers MetroParks has just announced its proposal to remove the downtown low dam and install two grade-control whitewater/bypass “canoe” channels that will make the river navigable through downtown and past Carillon Park.  A similar effort is being implemented in nearby Springfield’s Buck Creek, with two of four low dams having been converted last year.

In addition to making the river safer and navigable, the project would improve the health of the river and increase fish stock – an outcome experienced relatively quickly in other locations where low dams were similarly removed.  A pair of jetties would be constructed with rocks and boulders at each channel (see proposal above), giving visitors and spectators ways to sit and enjoy the river up-close, and planners anticipate the project would draw even more people downtown and to the river.  Recreation Engineering and Planning has completed a preliminary design, and sediment testing has been conducted and passed.  Next steps include regulatory permitting, memorandum understanding between the various stakeholder groups, fund raising and then final engineering and implementation.  The project is estimated to cost $2.9 million for the low dam removal and in-river work, with an additional $1.1 million for river bank modifications and enhancements – totaling $4 million.

A similar project was completed in Pueblo, CO – converting a larger low dam into five consecutive drops like the two proposed for Dayton.  The Pueblo Whitewater Park now attracts thousands of paddlers and spectators each year – check out the video and imagine this scene in front of our own Riverscape.  Yes this could be the next game changer for Downtown Dayton.

Pecha Kucha Dayton – Volume 6

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We’ve been helping to promote the local Pecha Kucha events since the first one in August 2009, and this Thursday Feb. 3 brings number six to The Neon theater in Downtown Dayton.  For those who have never experienced it – it is a social gathering where people present ideas to the group with 20 powerpoint slides at a face-paced 20 seconds each.  It only costs $5 and it starts at 7:15pm.

PK Vol. 6 Presenters


Sam Enslen of Dragonfly Editorial uncovers a treasure trove of staged photos she and her sister took of their Barbie dolls 30 years ago. For the first time, the secret lives of these three Barbies, their modeling agency, their families, their pets, and their globe-trotting adventures are revealed to the public.
Sharon Howard, Director of Marketing for the Dayton Development Coalition, relates the story of how her celebration of the photo-journal: Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, took on a life of its own to become a calendar benefit for the Kettering Medical Foundation’s Women’s Wellness Fund.
Sherif Hedayat, owner of Erratic Media, is a stand-up comic and director who will share his expertise on erratic creativity.
Brandy King, a.k.a. Vizz, is a food reviewer through her blog Food vs. Face. This ravishing redhead is known to extol the merits of meat and beer and eats like a well-mannered wild animal.
Chris Wire is an artist who is turned on by welding and grinding. He does not like celery.  As head of Real Art Design Group he surely has something intelligent, imaginative and inspiring to share with us.
Jay King talks! If you are fascinated by comic book style illustrators, you will love Jay’s presentation. Normally a man of few words, it will be a rare treat to have him take the mic.
Reade Faulkner is a funny thinker and he is friends with Jason Sheets. But that’s not the only thing that makes him amusing. You’ll have to come listen to find out anything else.
Rounding out the speakers is urban activist Theresa Gasper, Full Circle Development, a woman of vision and action. Hear the story of how she came back to the neighborhood where she grew up, determined to renew it.
At 9:00PM, watch the 50-minute documentary DIVE! Filmmaker Jeremy Seifert dumpster dived in the receptacles of L.A.’s supermarkets to expose the truth about waste.

Dayton’s “Tech Connect” Needs Your Help

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(from The City of Dayton)

The City of Dayton has applied for Ohio Dept. of Transportation funds to support reconstruction of streets and corridors essential for future growth. This “Tech Connect” project will dramatically improve Brown, Warren and Washington Streets (within the Ohio Aerospace Hub) and East First/Springfield Street (between downtown Dayton and Wright-Patterson AFB). These improvements (shown in yellow on the map linked here) would join other planned enhancements to South Main Street and Patterson Boulevard. Dayton is applying for $1.67 million in Ohio Dept. of Transportation TRAC funds to help make this proposal a reality.
Here’s how you can help
Contact the Ohio Dept. of Transportation’s TRAC program at [email protected] with a message of support for Dayton’s Tech Connect proposal. Your message supporting Dayton must be sent by Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. Following are some ideas for email content:
Please accept my support for the City of Dayton’s Tech Connect TRAC application. The proposed improvements to the transportation network are vital to the development of Ohio’s Aerospace Hub and to the region’s economic future.  I support the City of Dayton’s Tech Connect TRAC application. A modern, attractive and efficient transportation system is vital for the future of Ohio and the Dayton region.
Please copy your email message to [email protected].
Questions: Contact Keith Steeber at 333-3838 or [email protected].

Kevin Smith vs Hollywood – Springfield, Ohio is a battlefield…

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Kevin Smith, the director of the 1994 cult-hit Clerks as well as several follow-up films such as Mall Rats, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back and Chasing Amy (as well as playing Silent Bob in many of those same films) has made a new movie.  Titled Red State, this horror/thriller is about a group of sex-crazed teens who encounter a gay-hating minister and his group of fundamentalists with a sinister agenda.

While this genre is a bit of a departure from Smith’s prior efforts, his method of marketing and distribution for the film harkens back to his Clerks days when he sold his comic book collection and maxed out credit cards in order to achieve independent film maker status.  This time around, he is completely bypassing the Hollywood machine – instead choosing to use his fan base through social media to release the film, as well as a fifteen-city screening tour that will make a stop at Kuss Auditorium at the Clark State Performing Arts Center on March 14th.

Smith plans to work directly with movie theater owners in order to get the movie on screen by the targeted October 19, 2011 date, a plan he unveiled at the film’s Sundance Film Festival premiere this past Sunday where he had originally indicated he’d be auctioning the film to a distributor live on the stage.  Instead, he “bought” the film himself for $20 and gave the proverbial middle finger to Hollywood.  As an added twist, the film is supposedly based on the Christian fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church, infamous for picketing soldiers’ funerals with “God Hates Fags” signs.  That group predictably protested the premiere and will likely be in Springfield in March for the screening.

Tickets to the local screening go on sale for $67 this Friday at 10am in person at the Clark State Performing Arts Center, with online tickets available that same day at noon.

Generation Dayton Offers 2011 Speaker Series

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Generation Dayton is offering a Speaker Series for 2011 that will be a great opportunity for young professionals to “network-up.”  These events will bring young professionals and local business leaders together, offering frequent high-level professional development and mentoring opportunities.

“The 2011 Speaker Series will provide a unique opportunity for young professionals to meet, network with, and learn from top-level businesses and community leaders who have a desire and passion to share their expertise with tomorrow’s leaders,” says Generation Dayton Chair, Jennifer Rettig.

The list of speakers includes Phil Parker, President and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner, Neil Arthur, Publisher of the Dayton Business Journal, Peggy Lehner, Ohio Senator for the 6th District, and many more.  Sample topics include the Economic State of the Dayton Region and Climbing the News Ladder in the Digital Age.

The first lunch will be held on January 28th at the Crowne Plaza.  Former Governor Taft will be speaking on the topic of Education and Innovation.

Visit www.generationdayton.org for details about the event and organization, or visit Generation Dayton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GenDayton.  For a list of upcoming speakers and topics lined up, please see below:

Event Date Location Speaker Topic
Fourth Friday Lunch January 28, 2011 Stars Lounge, Crowne Plaza Former Governor Taft Education and Innovation
Business & Breakfast February 15, 2011 Racquet Club Phil Parker, President and CEO of Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Generation Dayton’s Role in the Overall Mission of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce
Fourth Friday Lunch February 25, 2011 Dayton Art Institute Ginny Strausburg, Director, DP&L Foundation Choosing Board Positions Wisely: Questions Young Professionals Should Ask
Business & Breakfast March 15, 2011 Cracker Barrel, Miller Lane Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner Montgomery County Economic Update
Fourth Friday Lunch March 25, 2011 Schuster Center Donor Lounge Ken Neufeld, President and CEO of the Victoria Theatre Association Get Excited About the Arts in Dayton
Business & Breakfast April 19, 2011 Mimi’s Neil Arthur, Publisher of the Dayton Business Journal Climbing the News Ladder in the Digital Age
Fourth Friday Lunch April 29, 2011 Norton’s Peggy Lehner, Ohio Senator for the 6th District Update on Ohio’s State Budget
Business & Breakfast May 17, 2011 First Watch, Kettering Dr. Steven Johnson, President of Sinclair Community College TBA
Fourth Friday Lunch May 27, 2011 Racquet Club Jim Leftwich, CEO and President of Dayton Development Coalition Economic State of the Dayton Region
Business & Breakfast June 21, 2011 Courtyard by Marriott, University of Dayton Allen Elijah, United Way of the Greater Dayton Area The Aladdin Factor- One of the Greatest Lessons You’ll Ever Learn
Fourth Friday Lunch June 24, 2011 Amber Rose Dr. Roy Chew, President of Kettering Medical Center Healthcare Reform and It’s Impact on You

RSVP’s are required for attendance. Please RSVP to [email protected]

Generation Dayton, established in 2006, is the place for the diverse pool of talented young professionals who live and work in the Dayton region to meet, network, learn, grow and establish themselves as integral components in the future success of the Dayton region.

Film Review – True Grit (B)

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True Grit – Christmas, 2010
Rave Motion Pictures
(Huber Heights)
Grade: B

I love Coen brothers movies. Everything they do is entertaining. So, when I see one of their movies and don’t instantly recognize it as terrific, I tend to be disappointed. That’s not to say that their True Grit remake wasn’t good. It was. It’s just that it wasn’t the funniest movie I’ve ever seen, as was The Big Lebowski, wasn’t Fargo perfect, and didn’t leave me fearing an indifferent Universe, Like The Man Who Wasn’t There did.

Rooster & Mattie

While I did enjoy True Grit, that feeling of, “I’m all in. I need to find out what happens to the hero,” that typically accompanies a Coen brothers movie was absent. I just wasn’t fully invested in the story. While the circumstances of the characters may have been somewhat uncompelling, the characters themselves were great. Jeff Bridges as tough, drunk U.S. Marshal and remorseless killer, Rooster Cogburn, is fun to root for. Matt Damon unsurprisingly plays likably arrogant well as Texas Ranger LaBoeuf, and the two butt heads throughout their time together as legal authorities with opposing outlooks on the law likely would. Relative unknown Hailee Steinfeld does well to be noticeable on screen alongside movie stars as Mattie Ross, a teenage girl who elicits the help of Rooster to capture her father’s murderer, Tom Chaney. True grit is carried by the performances of these three and the combative, comedic interactions between them. Those looking for a dark, suspenseful take on a timid classic will be surprised to find that True Grit is more of a comedy than anything else.

Smallish yet quality roles by Josh Brolin (Milk, The Goonies), playing Chaney and Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, 61*) as Lucky Ned Pepper, the leader of a group of outlaws with which Chaney has found refuge,  give the story energy. Ned Pepper’s rough appearance and demeanor has no doubt convinced Dayton audiences that he’d have no problem fitting in at a local establishment of the same name. Seeing these famous faces get relatively little screen time served as a reminder of the pull of the Coen brothers. I watched the 1969 original for the first time after I saw the remake, and was pleased to see that the original was similarly cast, with Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper making big impacts despite brief appearances.

Surely, had this movie been made by unknown filmmakers and had I left my unfairly high expectations of the Coen brothers at the door, I’d be speaking about True Grit in more glowing terms. As it stands, I can say that True Grit at least kept my attention and that I’ll carry the same unfairly high expectations with me into the next Coen brothers movie I see.

Arenacross Comes To Dayton – Win Free Tickets

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High intensity, bar-to-bar dirt-bike racing at its finest is coming to Dayton as the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series brings some heat during the Winter season with its annual visit to the Ervin J. Nutter Center on Saturday, January 22. Tickets for Round 3 of the world’s most intimate form of racing are on sale now at TicketMaster.com and the Nutter Center box office.  (special DaytonMostMetro.com ticket promotion info at the end of this article)

Hundreds of the best Arenacross riders from around the globe will compete for their chance to be one of just 32 riders to make a pair of 16-rider main events in the AMA Arenacross and AMA Arenacross Lites classes. The national series travels throughout the country to several of the most renowned arenas in the United States, bringing in 150 truckloads of dirt to sculpt a man made dirt battleground. Technical obstacles, close competition and impressive airtime combine to create one of the most unique spectacles in the sporting world.

Anything can and does happen in Arenacross and the man left standing atop the podium at the end of the night with the coveted trophy will have earned his prize. The defending champion Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLube Kawasaki team and riders Chad Johnson, Tyler Bowers and Gray Davenport lead a highly-talented group of riders hungry to claim the prestigious national AMA Arenacross Series title.

Last season in Dayton, 2008 AMA Arenacross Series champion Chad Johnson captured his second win of the season for Babbitt’s Kawasaki. The win helped the two-time series champion stay within striking distance of his teammate and eventual champion Josh Demuth as the battle for the championship came down to the wire.

The AMA Arenacross Series is fun for the whole family! The always popular track walk and post-race autograph session gives an opportunity for fans of all ages to get up close and personal with the stars of Arenacross and get the a coveted autograph from some of the best riders in the world.

A limited number of Gold Circle seating is available. Kid’s seats are just $8 (excluding Gold Circle)! Adults admission starts at just $20! Tickets are available at the Nutter Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Tickets for all rounds of the 2011 season can be purchased by clicking here.  And for a DaytonMostMetro.com $4 discount, enter the promo code MMETRO.  (Restrictions: Not valid on Gold Circle seats; limit 4 per transaction; valid on the Sat, JAN.22, 7:30pm performance only)

OR…

WIN FREE TICKETS HERE ON DAYTONMOSTMETRO.COM!

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series at the Nutter Center, simply click the Facebook Like button to share this article with your FB friends, fill out the form below and leave a comment.  We’ll announce 10 winners this coming weekend.

Note – we will not share this info nor make it public.  We need your address so we can mail you tickets if you win, and you wont’ receive anything else from us – because hey, postage is expensive these days and we’d rather you just join our FB page!

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Donerik Black and the Dayton Weekly News

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Photo Credit: Jason Eckley

The following was submitted by Juliette Rocheleau of the updayton Entrepreneurship Team, and is their first of several future feature articles about Dayton-area entrepreneurs.

Co-owner of the Dayton Weekly News, Donerik Black knows that being an entrepreneur is no easy task. The Dayton Weekly News celebrated its seventeenth year in circulation this November, with Black juggling the duties of project manager salesman, designer and more. While the different tasks of entrepreneurship can be demanding, Black admitted in most other professions he would, “be bored to death.”

A native of the Dayton Region, Black chose to stay in the area after he finished college.  Post-graduation Black realized, “Unless I won the lottery, I was going to work for somebody. What better person to work for than my dad?” Black and his business partner father, Don Black, first owned and operated a public relations and consulting business. Additionally, both knew the Dayton area well, having been born and raised in and around the city.

In the early nineties, the perception of Dayton was extremely negative. Despite its reputation, Black knew there was a better story to tell. “We felt that there was a need for Dayton’s urban community to have a voice,” said Black.  He and his father set out to create a newspaper. Originally they used a publisher in the Columbus area. Due to simple geographical complications, the paper was labeled as “a Columbus paper with a Dayton masthead.” Consequently, the two businessmen severed ties with the Columbus branch. From there the Dayton Weekly News was born.

“…even if we have to give them away, we still want people to see the paper.”

The early days were tough. However, thanks to their public relations and consulting business, the Blacks had already created many good relationships with social organizations and churches in the area. Using, “guerilla marketing,” as Black puts it, the business, “hired young kids to go door to door and [gave] away a lot of complimentary copies of the paper.” The Blacks followed up each give-away with another paper, turning recipients into potential readers.

After years of successful business, the Blacks are still trying new and inventive ways to raise awareness of the Dayton Weekly News. Black explained, “We’ll have subscription drives. We’ve even had young kids who have used it as fundraising projects—even if we have to give them away, we still want people to see the paper.”

Black serves on the board of the United Health Solutions, an organization focused on enriching the lives of those who are less fortunate in the Dayton community. The cause is important to Black, explaining, “They’re a great organization. And, we try to get as involved with them as possible.” Black also encourages the Dayton Weekly News to get involved with the American Heart Association. For Black, the organization hits close to home. A heart patient himself, he advocates the importance of health.

Each year in April, which is Minority Health Month, the Dayton Weekly News covers important medical details. “Minority Health Month is something that we’ve really tried to put our hands around. We let our readership know what’s going on within the community so they can get tested for ailments that really plague African Americans, like diabetes and high blood pressure, that are preventable and controllable.” Black added, “We really like to get involved with those organizations that are putting out information that help our readers make healthier choices.”

As an entrepreneur, Black admitted it would be easier to calculate how many hours a week he doesn’t work. “When I’m sleeping, I’m typically not working,” he said, “From the entrepreneurial standpoint, you’re always working.” Long hours aren’t the only necessity for starting and owning your own business. According to Black, “Everybody’s a salesman. Everybody sells something to someone everyday. Period. Pointblank.” Black believes the need to sell drives all jobs. “If you don’t like selling,” he said, “you’re going to have a hard time doing anything.” Passion for what you do should fuel your desire to sell. Black knows, “You need to love what you do.”

“For lack of a better term, I enjoy the ‘smallness’ of Dayton”

He also emphasized both the need to “be a people person” and “be ready to close when you get the opportunity.”  Black explained, the “kiss of death” for small business owners is when an opportunity is lost and the potential client moves on to the next company. “A lot of times as a small business person, you many only get one shot to make a good impression.” He continued, “When you get an opportunity, you have to seize it by any means necessary.”

As a resident and business owner in the Dayton area, Black most appreciates the city’s size. “For lack of a better term, I enjoy the ‘smallness’ of Dayton, “ describing Dayton as an accessible city and a “ninety-minute market.” Black likes that Dayton’s not far from larger cities such as Chicago and Atlanta, both a few hours away via car or plane. As for the city itself, Black said, “From a business perspective it’s a good place to work, because if you have innovative ideas, you can really cut your teeth in a town like Dayton.” The key to Dayton, or to any big city, is to be aggressive.

Black admits that Dayton has the tendency to slip into complacency. However, he does not consider it to be negative. “If everyone’s going to sleep,” said Black, “I’m just going to tiptoe right through it—chomp it all up.” Dayton is a “reactionary city,” with events happening in and around Dayton. “Policy is passed, things are done, and we have to take control of it,” he said. Black added, “As a whole, the smallness could be Dayton’s best attribute and its worst.” And yet, there are many opportunities. “Dayton would be a wonderful place to come and test the waters,” said Black, “I hope more people look at it as a hub for technology.”

The Dayton Weekly News is looking to expand digitally and offer a version of the paper online. Currently the website is geared toward advertising.  “Baby steps” is Black’s answer to expanding. The team is working to both offer the paper online and maintain subscription numbers. Black isn’t too concerned about adding a digital version of the paper. With a loyal readership, Black trusts the Dayton citizens.  “We’re going to get that support,” he explained. “The larger number of supporters will subscribe because they want to see this paper survive.” Black thinks in the end, “People will always want that hard copy.”

The Dayton Weekly News is working hard to bring the people of Dayton an efficient, cost-effective, timely newspaper. “That’s always my mission,” Black proudly declared. “Every week I enjoy opening it up, looking through it, and selling that paper.”

Bike Lanes Create More Jobs Than Other Transportation Projects

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In the wake of a monumental policy  passed by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission this past week, all transportation project submissions requesting federal funds will require the design to accommodate all users, not just motor vehicles.  This concept is commonly known as “Complete Streets.”  A street designed to be complete is friendlier to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and the disabled.

Some local examples of Complete Streets tactics used here in the Miami Valley are bike lanes, shares, audible signals, road diets, round-abouts and so on.

This philosophy isn’t necessarily accepted by planners, engineers, and community leaders across the board.  As a matter of fact, the process of reaching a “Complete Streets” policy was highly contested and took many years achieve.

The Outdoor Evangelist would like to start a movement to hault all record of referring to pedestrian, bicycle and transit infrastructure and development as “alternative,” considering our own two feet are our primary method of travel, the car, however import to our culture, is historically, the true alternative.

This new policy brings the local planning organization up to speed with the various other regional planning groups across the state,  who have adopted complete streets policies months, some years ago.

Another hot topic in the bicycle and pedestrian planning realm is a popular, and controversial research study that became public this month.  In a article posted by the League of American Bicyclists, “According to a new report by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst says that building bike lanes/boulevards and pedestrian projects creates more jobs per million dollars spent than road repairs and road resurfacing.

Yes, they said it.  Bike lanes create more jobs than other transportation projects.  As a matter of fact, they are cited as creating twice as many jobs. The study, “Estimating the Employment Impacts of Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Road Infrastructure,” which examines the costs of engineering, construction, and materials costs for different types of projects in the city of Baltimore, concludes that, for a given amount of spending, bike lanes create about twice as many jobs as road construction. The difference lies in the varying labor intensity and the ratio of engineering costs to construction expenses across project types. Footway repairs and bike lane signing are labor intensive, meaning that a greater share of the total cost goes to pay people than in material heavy road projects. “Each $1 million spent creating on-street bike lanes directly creates 7.9 jobs and creates a total of 14.4 jobs when we include the indirect and induced effects,” the author, Heidi Garrett-Peltier, writes, “The two categories of road repairs have the lowest employment effects, with 3-4 direct jobs and approximately 7 total jobs created for each $1 million.”

More information on this exciting research and other complete streets projects can be found by visiting League of American Bicyclists website.  Interested in reviewing the MVRPC Complete Streets Policy in its entirety? Their website has not only the policy but details the process and a presentation providing a great overview of what a complete street is and how it applies to our region.

Picture Perfect Success: Kristina McBride

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It shouldn’t be a surprise that Kristina McBride fell into the young adult genre with her first book, The Tension of Opposites. As a high school English teacher in Springboro for eight years, she spent plenty of time around teenagers.

“Plus I can vividly remember the swirl of emotions and conflicts I endured as a teenager. For me, teens come to life in a way that adults just do not. The characters that pop into my head and start talking simply happen to be teens. And then I’m just along for the ride,” said McBride.

And what ride it has been. McBride wrote three full manuscripts which were rejected over 200 times before she landed a literary agent. Even after catching the interest of her dream agent, she still faced almost a year’s worth of additional revisions on The Tension of Opposites. But after the initial struggle, McBride was rewarded with a two book deal after her manuscript went to auction.

“I wish I’d known when I was struggling that I would eventually accomplish my goal of being an agented, published author. But the perks have been amazing! Emails and fan mail feel like little, zero-calorie treats.”

The Tension of Opposites
The Tension of Opposites is a novel that examines the cost of friendship when tragedy strikes. When Tessa’s best friend, Noelle, is abducted, Tessa tries to cobble her life back together even as she hides behind her camera lens. When Noelle returns—different and mysterious—both Tessa and Noelle have to learn how to live again.

Strong visual images are the hallmark of the book which plays nicely to the newest trend in book marketing—book trailers. McBride connected with one of her former students, Rocky Smith, who had graduated from Wright State University as a talented filmmaker. They reconnected over Facebook and McBride asked if he’d be interested in helping with the book trailer.

“I initially visualized as a montage of pictures with some text included, all played to some super cool music. Rocky wouldn’t have it,” said McBride. “He insisted that we film a live trailer. I was a little nervous but the finished product has been very well received in the literary world. He told my story in a new way.”

Next on the horizon for McBride—besides promoting her current book—is a second book tentatively slated for a 2011 release.

“When we were in the process of selling The Tension of Opposites, I was lucky enough to experience an auction between three publishing houses. I actually sold two books to my publishing house. My second book, another YA, is a little on the edgy side which is challenging when you’re writing for the 14-and-up age range. You have to be careful not to push the limit.”

Hope – This Exit

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Hope – This Exit

( Redemption – Next Exit )

Ted Williams - Homeless Radio Announcer in Columbus, OH

In the last 72 hours the world has witnessed the Cinderella story of Ted Williams, a homeless guy known as “Radio Man” holding the standard cardboard sign begging for help at an off ramp of I-71 in Columbus, Ohio. The scene is something we witness daily during our commutes. How many times have we all cringed and felt a bit awkward at the familiar site of our own local off-ramps? Wayne and Keowee being one. We all ask ourselves the same questions and have the same thoughts that last the duration of a red light. I won’t go into them here, but we all have the same basic thoughts and pangs of emotion. Sometimes those feelings are so strong we don’t make eye contact, let alone read the sign in hand. It was Ted Williams’ sign that took him on this journey, “I have a God given gift of voice. I’m an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times.”

God granted a slow news day and the rest is history.

The story takes off when a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch took an interest and not only read the sign and gave him some change, but actually got out of his comfort zone and spoke to him. The voice that came back was shocking to say the least. The reporter returned a few days later to video tape Mr. Williams, then shelved it waiting for a slow news day. While that tape sat on the shelf Mr. Williams remained in his hovel in the brush by the interstate as winter set in.

God granted a slow news day and the rest is history. If you don’t know this story already, you are probably living in a hovel in the brush by the interstate. (or in a van down by the river.)  What took place in the few hours after that video went viral via YouTube was no less an act of God. Over 5 million views in the first 24 hours. I remember viewing it on my laptop from the comfort of my bed one very cold morning this week and was moved to tears. I can’t say what exactly resonated with me but it was instant and personal.

Obviously I was not the only one to have the “OMG” moment because by the end of the day Mr. Williams was being sought out by those who had something to offer and he literally over night was being courted by corporations and networks, flooded with job offers and even a house in one case.What he wanted most, to see his 90 year old mother. His mother. The one who prayed for his redemption and recovery from the painful pit of alcohol and drugs. She prayed for a rescue from his self imposed prison. He was the first to admit this is what took him to the street and that his voice, 2 years of sobriety, the clothes on his back and a newly developed faith in God was the only thing he owned in life. (and a pre-paid cell phone.)

Now, this story in itself is amazing and wonderful and I’m sure Will Smith has probably started voice training while his people buy the rights to the story. (If he can beat Oprah to it.) The REAL story here is the sense of community that developed during those few days. In the midst of greedy networks scratching and clawing for first dibs on this story for their ratings, a heart changing Grinch moment happened between rival network morning shows, The Early Show and The Today Show.

The usual production tricks kick off this event with Early Show delivering Mr. Williams elderly mother to LaGuardia to tape the end of their 20 year separation only for Today Show to make a power play and whisk Mr. Williams away when he landed staling the event as the jockey for position. Call it Karma or God or some kind of voice from the universe, something historic happened when the two networks brokered a deal to show the reunion between Ted Williams and his mother at the same time on Thursday morning. The prodigal son televised on a morning show. The world cheers and cries as he runs “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy….” a 53 year old man with a fresh haircut falls into his elderly mothers arms.

“What if that man was a famous painter?”

Community made this happen. This mother and child reunion resonates with us all. The redemption story resonates with us all. The realization that this could happen to any one of us as a parent or as a child should help us connect on some level. Ted Williams took his family through hell. He was far from perfect. We all want a second chance and a happy ending, if not for ourselves but for others. Imagine this being your child. Don’t think it can’t happen to you. I myself have stood in a church food pantry feeling like I’ve just had a TSA screening of my pride and dignity and asking myself  “WHY? We work hard, we have good morals, we are good people, how can this happen to US?”

On another level we all have the same desire to be heard.  “Deep down inside, many of us long to have our own inner greatness discovered by the world,” says Los Angles author and speaker BJ Gallagher. (“It’s Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been.”) Homelessness is not sexy and less dramatic journeys back from the edge happen every day.

Saint Patrick Parish, Lawrence, Massachusetts

I saw a mini documentary once on Independent Lens about a homeless choir at Saint Patrick Parish in Lawernce, MA, and how the chance to sing and play an instrument gave dignity back to those on Skid Row. Since seeing that film I look at homeless people differently. “What if she was opera trained in voice?” “What if he was an amazing jazz drummer?” “What if that man was a famous painter?”

We can all relate to the hell of not having food or a warm bed, or at least we can imagine it. I for one cannot imagine not having access to music. No computer or radio. No MP3 player or even a cd player. What about films? What about just basic information? What a hell that would be. Mr. Williams didn’t even see this video of himself until he was plucked off the street. He knew nothing until the celebrity tsunami hit him.

It isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of fame in the last few years. The film “The Soloist” about a real-life classical musician, Nathaniel Ayers, who became homeless and was re-discovered is a beautiful story.

For those of you like me who delight in the cheesier side of things, what of accidental singer Antoine Dodson whose spot on local news shot to fame after being altered by popular site Auto-Tune The News made his “Bed Intruder Song” a hit world wide. He got his family out of the projects and is now on every D-list broadcast event you can imagine. (not counting Dick Clarks Rockin’ New Years Eve, which I still don’t understand the connection, but it happened.)

The beauty of Antoine Dodsons’ story holds the same element of Mr. Williams, they are using this new lease on life to help others. Spending celebrity wisely is a rare thing these days. Dodson, a victim of childhood rape, now has a phone app to help rape victims and endangered children. Ted Williams just recorded a commercial spot yesterday for Kraft Mac & Cheese that will air on ESPN Sunday during the “Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl” game. On the theme of internet sensations,  “Double Rainbow Guy”, nothing happening on that front, which is a good thing. Maybe he can help the legalization of pot effort, but I digress.

So, what does this have to do with Dayton or you or the world? Why write about this on DaytonMostMetro.com? I found it ironic that as I was following Mr. Williams story I was busy promoting an upcoming event here in Dayton to benefit one of our own off-ramp fixtures, Mr. Rick Sowa. Mr. Sowa has been the flower vendor at the Main Street / I-75 ramp downtown for over 20 years. He was shot in the arm and robbed last October as he was selling flowers like he has done every day. He was hospitalized for his injuries and is now back out on his beat. As a community many of us rallied around him. Many of us have never bought even one flower from him, but he belongs to our community, that’s what matters most.  Local artist, musician and author “Drexel” Dave Sparks put out the call for area musicians and venue owners to help raise money for Mr. Sowa. I am one that chimed in early on and am assisting Dave in organizing the event.

So, you might ask yourself, “Why help the flower guy? Lot’s of people need help.”Well, you are right. And if you know someone who needs help, do something. Whatever you can. Or ask others to pitch in. You don’t have to feed the world, just feed one. (I wish that was MY saying but it’s a quote I heard somewhere.)

I’ve never bought a flower from Mr. Sowa. I’ve never met him and do not know him. But when I drive by I ask myself those set of questions “What’s his story?” As a contributing writer here at DaytonMostMetro.com that is my goal, to find those in the community who are invisible or don’t have a place to be heard and tell their stories. Who knows, maybe the next Ted Williams is you, or someone you recognize. Everyone deserves to be heard. Meanwhile, stop by the benefit show for Mr. Rick Sowa at Blind Bobs on January 15. Hear some great music from bands that are donating their pay for the night. Drexel – Akillis Green – Oxymoronatron – Team Void – Okay Lindon – Chuck Cleaver

Speaking of community and being good hearted for the benefit of others, BIG PROPS to the band “Human Reunion” who endured a scheduling issue with the same date / venue and graciously moved their show to Jimmy’s Cornerstone Bar, the last show of that venues location before Miami Valley Hospital tears it down. Please buy a “Human Reunion” record and support them as well. Or, if you are ambitious that night, go to both shows! You can never get too much good Dayton music!

GladGirl

Film Review – The Fighter

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Although I’m a knowledgeable sports fan, I entered the Dayton Mall theatre knowing little to nothing about the life of working class boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his half brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). I assumed, though, that as a boxing movie, “The Fighter” was most likely about a lovable, down and out boxer who improbably seized a fluke opportunity to realize his dream of becoming world champ. The fact that this assumption turned out to be accurate did not make “The Fighter” any less enjoyable.

I’d imagine that this was a passable plot line in the eyes of Paramount execs despite the predictability and commonality of it (“Rocky,” “Cinderella Man,” “Million Dollar Baby”) because, you know, it actually happened and it’s a good story. What stands out about “The Fighter” in comparison to other boxing movies are the authenticity of the fight scenes and Micky’s comically destructive family, who, despite their good intentions, almost seem to be actively trying to keep him from any sort of success. At the forefront is Dicky, a former promising boxer turned crack addict who unsurprisingly can’t figure out how to balance crack addiction and helping Micky realize his own unfulfilled dreams. Christian Bale absolutely kills it as Dicky Eklund; shedding his celebrity in a scene-stealing supportive role.

Had I not seen Wahlberg explain the process of shooting the fight scenes while being interviewed on Conan, “We beat the crap out of each other,” I wouldn’t have known how they captured such realistic landed punches. I watched clips of a number of Micky Ward’s actual fights and was not surprised to see that the fight scenes from “The Fighter” looked like shot for shot remakes of the real thing. Wahlberg completely avoids the clumsy actor portraying a fluid athlete problem that is often a distraction in sports movies. DiCaprio in “Basketball Diaries” and Tom Berenger in “Major League” come to mind.

In most boxing movies I’ve seen, I find myself impatiently waiting for the next fight scene. In “The Fighter” the fight scenes are exciting, impeccably done and there are actually relatively few of them, but the excitement and anticipation of the fights does not overshadow the surrounding story. The absurdity of Micky’s family – from Dicky’s antics, to their overprotective, maniacally controlling mother (Melissa Leo),

to his seven sisters blindly serving the will of their mom – speak to the unlikeliness of Micky’s success in the ring and encourage the audience to be personally invested in the outcome of the fights.

As much as I enjoyed “The Fighter,” I was disappointed by the ending. The obligatory biographical movie ending – white text on black background explaining Micky’s life after movie – was fine with me, but seeing merely in text that he went on to have his most memorable, brutal fights against all time great Arturo Gatti left me thinking, “Really? What the hell? Show me THAT!” Fortunately, the fight scenes and the acting performances, especially Bale’s, more than make up for the feelings of unfulfillment the ending leaves with the audience and make “The Fighter” well worth a watch.