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TIFF 2017 – Day #4

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Hello Everyone.

I just got in from a very full day.  I left the condo at 7:45am and returned at 1:45am.  I saw 4 films and countless celebrities…ranging from Emma Stone and Steve Carell to Judi Dench…and then several folks at a Fox Searchlight party including Nicholas Hoult, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Sarah Silverman, James McAvoy, and more.

The first film I saw today was a highly anticipated film (in some circles) from auteur Darren Aronofsky (director of BLACK SWAN).  It’s called MOTHER!, and I absolutely loathed it.  Though Aronofsky is a master craftsman, I’m simply not interested in his stories.  I often find his metaphors rather obtuse, and in the case of this film, the violence and brutality in the third act is just too much.  This is on the bottom of the list for me so far this year.

I cleansed the palette with JANE, a new documentary about Jane Goodall directed by Brett Morgen (director of THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE).  This new film is largely constructed from footage that was recently discovered (thought to have been lost) that was shot in the 1960’s by renowned National Geographic photographer Hugo van Lawick.  With a tremendous score by Philip Glass, the film is a love story and a gorgeous portrait of Goodall’s early monumental work with chimpanzees.  To make it extra special, Goodall was in attendance, and seeing her speak has been a highlight of the festival.  She’s so inspiring and commands attention through her passion, grace and eloquence. When she was approached to be a part of this documentary, she said “Not again,” but agreed nonetheless – and she said it’s been one of the best experiences of recounting her work. (below is a photo I took…there is no trailer available yet for this documentary)

VICTORIA & ABDUL, the new film by Stephen Frears, was next on the list.  And it didn’t disappoint.  (Fears has had an incredible career.  From MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE to DANGEROUS LIAISONS to THE GRIFTERS to MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS to PHILOMENA – many of his films are quite special to me.) This elegant period piece is not at all stuffy or staid, it’s actually quite funny and charming, and the chemistry between Dench and Fazel is magic.  This is a story about Queen Victoria’s later years and how she befriended an Indian man who was initially only intended to present her with a special gift from India.  This true story, which was supposed to have been wiped from the history books by Victoria’s son – King Edward VII, was discovered several years ago by author Shrabani Basu. I know that our audiences are going to love this film when it opens on October 6.  Extra special…Dench and many others were in attendance for a Q&A.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES was my final film of the day (though the after-party was something special too).  Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris (directors of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE), this film is so much more than the shenanigans of Steve Carell featured in the trailer.  Based on the true story of Billie Jean King and her famous match with Bobby Riggs, we actually end up getting a lot of King’s personal struggle to live her own truth.  With a strong screenplay and strong performances across the board, I think we’ll do well with this film when it opens on Sept. 29 (this date just got bumped up over the weekend).  Extra special…Billie Jean King, Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Sarah Silverman, the directors and many others were in attendance for a Q&A.

After my final screening, I went to Fox Searchlight’s party that was held to celebrate the three films playing at the festival – BATTLE OF THE SEXES, THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS.  This was the party to be at last night.  The cocktails and food were spectacular, and everywhere you turned, stars were everywhere – from Stone and Silverman to Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Rachel Weisz and Nicholas Hoult.  What a night!

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

 

Cardboard Crowns Kickstarter Event!

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Cardboard Crowns Logo

Opening in October 2017…

The intersection of board games and beverages is not a new phenomenon. For those that have been enjoying coffee shops since the late 90’s, there has always been a few well-loved board games on the shelves of our favorite place to grab a cappuccino to start the day. It was not until 2010 that two enterprising Canadians opened Snakes and Lattes, the first café to offer games as a reason to get some coffee with friends, not just as an added benefit. In the seven years they have been open, they have witnessed an explosion of venues that offers drinks and light snacks while gamers enjoy some beverages and explore new games. While many started with coffee drinks, there has been an evolution into craft beer and craft cocktails. Coming soon, a new venue in the Dayton area will offer a space to explore gaming with good friends. Cardboard Crowns will be opening up this fall at 147 N. Springboro Pike, and they want you to be part of the fun with a Kickstarter Launch Party this Saturday, September 16 from 12 PM to 5 PM at Warped Wing Brewery!

Head to the brewery to learn about the Kickstarter, play new games and enjoy great craft beer. At this event, you have the opportunity to meet the owner and manager of Cardboard Crowns and hear about everything they have planned for the cafe. They will be introducing the support levels for their Kickstarter at the event, but you can prepare with this handy list:

  • $5 – Show your support for Cardboard Crowns and get your name inlaid in a wooden hex in the cafe’s bar top.
  • $15 – Donate a seat for one of our guests with your name on it! (Plus Bar Hex)
  • $25 – Help us grow the cafe’s library by backing a new game for the cafe’s collection, adding your name to the game’s inside box lid for all to see! (Plus Bar Hex)
  • $50 – Donate a section of shelving that will bear your name for all to see! (Plus Bar Hex)
  • Cardboard Crowns In Progress

    All his space for gaming in progress!

    $75 – You helped us purchase a table for the cafe that will forever bear your name! (Plus Bar Hex)

  • $100 – Two tickets to the cafe’s grand opening party, a private event open only to Kickstarter supporters! Each ticket includes drinks, food, your name in one of the cafe’s games, and a bar hex.
  • $300 – You’re donating the coolest seating option the cafe has to offer.  Our 6-seater booths will make you feel like you’re a VIP for the night.  As part of this reward, you’ll get to pick the board game that will be framed and used to theme one of our booths; your name will go on a plaque in the booth, you’ll get two tickets to the grand opening party and a hex on the bar top.
  • $350 –  The ultimate party experience.  You and seven friends get the cafe’s party booth for the night!  The package includes two drinks per person, two food items per person and a dedicated board game teacher to help make sure your group has a night they won’t forget!
  • $1000 – The cafe will only have one 8-seater party booth, and you’re going to help us theme it and put your name on it!  As part of this reward, you’ll get to pick the board game that will be framed and used to theme the cafe’s party booth; your name will go on a plaque in the party booth, you’ll get two tickets to the grand opening party and a monster sized hex on the bar top.
  • $2000 – The back of the cafe will feature a relaxed social corner for folks to sit down in and play social/party games.  Back at this level and you’ll get your name on a plaque letting folks know who made the area possible.  Additionally, you’ll get two tickets to the grand opening party and a mammoth sized hex on the bar top.
Cardboard Crowns game collection

So many games to play!

All of this support is going into a gaming café that has been planned out and well researched by Ben Adams, the owner of the venue. Ben has visited many other of these cafes across the country and has worked hard to address the most common issues he found in each location. To cut down on the noise of many games going on at once, soundproofing materials will be used on the walls and in booth separators to quiet down the space. Access to the cafe and its collection of over 700 games will be just a $5 library fee per person, and if you are looking to play in a private booth, an extra ten dollars for the party can provide that privacy. As mentioned above, there will also be a larger space for party games and party booth for private events.

They have developed a rating system for each one of the games, so those that are just getting into the hobby have an idea of the involvement of the game. Green labels are less involved games, where a quick explanation of the rules by one of the cafe’s game masters should be enough to get a group started. Yellow labels are more complex, and there will be staff on hand to help answer questions as you play. Red labels will be very intricate, heavy strategy games which may require more explanation than the team can provide. And with over 700 games in the collection, not every staff member will know all the games.  Booths and tables will have tablets available that will provide videos to explain the rules of almost any game in the cafe’s collection.

This Saturday, September 16th from 12 to 5 PM, is the big launch party! You will have the opportunity to support this new venture while playing some games with the owner and enjoying craft beers by Warped Wing. There are even some hints about game giveaways that day. Ben and the Cardboard Crowns team look forward to seeing all of you this weekend!

 

TIFF 2017 – Day #3

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Hello Everyone.

I had a couple nice surprises today.  Though I have liked some of Alexander Payne’s work (I adored his short in PARIS J’TAIME and I liked DESCENDANTS and NEBRASKA and ABOUT SCHMIDT), I wasn’t terribly excited about seeing DOWNSIZING.  It’s a satirical allegory about a man who decides to partake in a new government subsidized program that shrinks you – thus taking up less space, consuming less food, etc…it also allows you to live a potentially more lavish lifestyle – because your dollars go further when you need less of everything.  I wasn’t prepared for just how funny this film was going to be…yet still provide a mirror to contemporary injustices.  Critical response has been mixed, but I was engaged from beginning to end and liked what this film had to say.

Next up was the world premiere of THE CHILDREN ACT, directed by Richard Eyre (director of IRIS and NOTES ON A SCANDAL).  Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci star in this British film about a family court judge who must determine difficult cases – i.e. should a set of conjoined twins be separated if one will certainly die even though they’ll both die if left conjoined.  The screenplay is so smart, and Thompson is in top form.  There is no trailer yet for this film, and it has not been picked up for distribution…but I’m certain it will.  Thompson and others were there to introduce the film and then answers questions after the film.  It was a wonderful Q&A and I did manage to get a couple pictures. (there is no trailer yet for this film)

My last film of the day was the terribly dark and disturbing film THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.  (This film was shot in Cincinnati!) Starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell, this film will is about a teenage boy who forms a relationship with the doctor who he believes is responsible for the death of his father.  After he befriends the entire family, he begins to terrorize them. With parallels and similarities to Greek tragedy (and in my opinion – Michael Haneke), this film is a in a category of its own.  The performances are intentionally a bit stifled and peculiar, but everyone is 100% invested in the off-kilter world that Lanthimos has created.  The sound design and score are an eerie and terrifying addition, and many audience members didn’t know what to make of this film.  (Which is kind of what happened with the diretor’s most recent film THE LOBSTER.)  Though I applaud the craft and was entirely absorbed during the screening of this film, it’s one that I have no intention to see again.  In my opinion, DOGTOOTH is still this director’s masterpiece. (my pic from the Q&A is below)

 

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

TIFF 2017 – Day #2

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Hello Everyone.

Today was my 2nd day of screenings for the festival, and the first film I saw was ON CHESIL BEACH, directed by Dominic Cooke – based on the novel by Ian McEwan (McEwan wrote the screenplay too and was part of the Q&A).  This very British film has an incredible central performance by Saoirse Ronan.  Set mostly in the 1960s, the film is about two newlyweds who are having trouble consummating their relationship while on their beachside honeymoon. A series of flashbacks help us understand their backstories and courtship, and the story is beautifully told.  The film might be described as a bit staid by some, but I think it’s quite eloquent…though it could use one more cut.  There are a couple scenes that are absolutely brilliant, and I think this film will eventually find distribution.

GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI was the second film I saw today.  Directed by Sophie Fiennes, this documentary was funded by folks in Ireland and the UK.  Though Ms. Jones is an exceptional and striking performance artist, this film is entirely too long given the footage on display.  It makes sense that the director attempted to make an unconventional doc given her subject, but the grainy (VHS-looking) quality of the footage does a disservice to the material – especially the concert footage.  There are a lot of gems in this film, but an hour-long version would be much stronger.  (And I’d still love to see a documentary that contextualizes Ms. Jones and her artistic process in the fabric of the music scene.)

LADY BIRD, Greta Gerwig’s feature-length directorial debut, was the winner for today.  Saoirse Ronan stars as a high school senior living in Sacramento, California who really wants to get out of town, and her parents are expertly played by Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts.   This quirky comedy seems to have flavors of so many people with whom Gerwig has worked.  It’s a little bit Baumbach, a little bit Stillman…but still a whole lot of Gerwig. This film is a treat.  (Timothee Chalamet also has a small part in this film.  This officially makes Saoirse and Timothee two of the “It” gang for the season.  Both have incredible ranges and are a joy to watch on screen.)  During the Q&A (check out the photo I took below), Gerwig said that the film is about realizing how much you love something as you’re preparing to leave.  When she came to the stage to a standing ovation, she was in tears.  This personal film is certainly worth celebrating, and it’s clear that the film is coming from someone with a sincere, lovely attachment to the material.

During the Q&A, Gerwig also noted that the casting of Saoirse Ronan was born at TIFF in 2015.  The two both had films at the festival that year (BROOKLYN and MAGGIE’S PLAN) – and that’s when they met and read the script together in Ronan’s hotel room (Ronan read the lead and Gerwig read all the other parts).  Gerwig knew that Ronan was perfect for the role, and she pushed back production by 6 months to make certain it would work for everyone’s schedule.

I capped off the night at a fun party hosted by IFC with a couple friends who I met in Dayton over the years.  My friend Glenn works at Dolby and was a guest of the Dayton LGBT Film Festival several years ago (we’ll see several films together over the next few days), and Charlie is a publicist (representing a great roster of films this year) who regularly visits Dayton with his partner who grew up in Miamisburg.  It’s been great catching up with both of them.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

TIFF 2017 – Day #1

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Hello NEON Supporters,

Yesterday was a super easy day of travel.  Though there was one minor delay with a flight, we made up for it in the air…and customs was a breeze.  I was on a bus en route to the subway within 15 minutes of landing (perhaps an all-time record).  After about 40 minutes of travel to get to the central hub for Press & Industry folks, I got my credentials and first round of tickets, and I was feeling good.

Though my check-in with my airbnb was rather frustrating, I managed to get a lot of work done for the LGBT Film Fest while I awaited the key to my room…so yesterday was productive (albeit in a rather corporate setting and not on the streets of Toronto).

Today was my first day of screenings…and I’m off to a good start.

My first film this morning was LOVELESS – directed by Andrey Zvyagintsey (director of LEVIATHAN – nominated for “Best Foreign Film” a couple years ago…and won the Golden Globe). This Russian film won the Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.  It’s a film about a marriage that’s on the verge of divorce…and how the couple has become so consumed by themselves that they “abandon” their young son.  They don’t even immediately notice when he goes missing.  The film is a slow, slow burn, and I think some editors (or distributors…you know who I mean) would be inclined to chop a good 30 minutes out.  But this is all part of the point.  There’s a stillness in its lonely composition and a desire to hold a frame longer than usual…as though the director is provoking you to search for clues within the frame.  Overall, I think it’s a hard sell, but I’m glad I was along for the ride.

IN THE FADE was my next film – directed by Fatih Akin (director of EDGE OF HEAVEN – a lovely film we featured at the Dayton LGBT Film Fest several years ago.)  This German film stars Diane Kruger – who won “Best Actress” for her role in this film at the Cannes Film Festival.  It’s the story of a German woman who loses her husband (of Turkish descent) and son in an explosion…and soon finds out that the explosion was set by Neo-Nazis with the intent to kill foreigners.  This film turns from a courtroom drama into a tale of revenge on a dime (the original German title is “Aus Dem Nichts” – aka “Out Of Nowhere”), and the tension builds pretty quickly and effectively – until it becomes a little too absurd.  I liked it, but a few major eye rolls kept me really liking it more.

Regarding my third and final film of the day, I have to make a confession.  I had already seen it!  Sony Classics screened this and several other films for exhibitors in our market over the past several weeks…but this is one that I had to see again (there are 4 other films playing at the festival that I have already seen – but I won’t see any of them for a second time).  CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, directed by Luca Guadagnino (director of I AM LOVE  – one of my absolute favorite films of the past decade) – is an Italian film that’s mostly in English.  Based on one of the best novels I’ve read in quite some time (with a screenplay by James Ivory), this is the story of a teenage boy and his sexual awakening during the summer of 1983.  This film is absolutely one of the best films of the year, and the central performance by Timothy Chalamet is unbelievable.  The film is sensual in so many ways, and the soundtrack is one that I’ll own as soon as it’s available.  Checkout the trailer below…it’s only a small, delicious taste of what’s in store for you.  **Director Luca Gaudaanino and actors Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet did a brief and insightful Q&A after the screening.**

Thanks for checking in with me today.

I only have three films scheduled for tomorrow…and then it gets crazy after that.

All the best,

Jonathan

Jax’s Recipe For Grilled Spicy Hawaiian BBQ Pizza

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Spicy Grilled Hawaiian Pizza – a Food Adventure on a plate !

Aloha! Jax here, from the Food Adventure Crew with our monthly recipe feature.

School may be starting, but we still have plenty of sunshine and summer  ahead of us! For many of us, summer means using the grill as much as possible. But if you’re falling into a grilling funk, here’s a fun and delicious recipe that is sure to please a crowd. And while this recipe is for a Hawaiian style pizza, get creative and use the base recipe of grilling the dough as a blank canvas for any type of pizza toppings!

You can also grill the dough ahead of time and either keep in the refrigerator for later or freeze!

When ready to eat, top the grilled dough with your favorite toppings and bake in the oven at 375 for about 15 minutes. This recipe is great for feeding a lot of people. You can lay out tons of topping and let everyone make their own!

A Drizzle of Housemade Hot Honey

Grilled Hawaiian Pizza

You’ll need:

  1. 1 lb fresh pizza dough (Bobby Flay has a great recipe)
  2. 6 pineapple rings, about 1 inch thick
  3. 2 jalapeños
  4. ¼ cup red onion chopped
  5. 8 oz shredded mozzarella
  6. 8 oz shredded sharp white cheddar
  7. 1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled.
  8. 1 cup bourbon sriracha bbq sauce (recipe to follow)

Directions:

This recipe is great for feeding party sized crowds

Preheat Grill to medium-high heat

  1. Lightly oil pineapple slices and jalapeños. For the pineapple, cook on grill until grill marks are distinct. Flip to grill both sides. For the jalapeño, it will only take 2-3 minutes. Slice up into pieces.
  2. Divide dough into four pieces. Roll out onto oiled piece of parchment paper. Lightly oil the top of the dough. Take dough and flip onto grill. Peel off parchment. Allow to cook until grill marks are distinct (about 3-minutes). Do not flip! Remove from heat and place grilled side up onto an oiled pan.
  3. Top the pizzas with bbq sauce, cheese, pineapple, jalapeno, and red onion. Place back onto grill until bottom is crispy and cheese is melted. You might have to turn heat down to avoid burning.
  4. Finish it off with a drizzle of HouseMade hot honey and bacon crumbled on top!

 

Thats not all Food Adventure fans!  You gotta have a base sauce for that pizza!

 

Bourbon Sriracha BBQ Sauce 

Jackie is known for her recipes & her  Foodie t-shirts

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¾ cup bourbon whiskey
  • 2 cups ketchup
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp. liquid smoke flavoring
  • 1½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tbs HouseMade Sriracha

Directions:

Pre-Grilled PIzza Dough

Bring the onion, garlic and whiskey to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Low heat to a simmer and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 minutes. Use BBQ sauce in your favorite recipes or as a dip or topping ingredient.

NOTE:

If you prefer a smooth sauce, run the sauce through a sieve or strainer to remove onion and garlic bits.

The sky is the limit for adding your own toppings

Store in refrigerator and use within 10-14 days.

(Sauce adapted from: here)

There you have it.  A fun summer twist on grilling that is sure to please the masses.

Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here.

 

Browse the photos below for more about Jax and her recipe.  Stay tuned to Dayton Most Metro every Tuesday for a feature food article from the Food Adventures crew.

Pre-Grilled Pizza Dough option

The sky is the limit on the toppings you choose.

Jax is one third of the Food Adventure Crew. She is an Italian mom, who uses her family as taste testers in her home kitchen. Always “Hungry” she is a passionate foodie, and loves trying new restaurants.

Jax uses her grill for many things from Turkeys to Pizzas

Get your family involved in recipes whenever possible

 

Human Race kicks off 17-18 Season with Legendale

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The Human Race Theatre Company kicks off it’s 2017-2018 Season with a fun performance for the next generation of theatre fans! LEGENDALE, an exciting new pop-musical where reality and the digital world collide, opens September 7 and runs through October 1, 2017. 
The story is based on Andy, whose favorite way to escape his miserable job and humdrum life is the online game “Legendale.” He dreams of victory in its new tournament and winning the grand prize to become “the Lord of Legendale,” but is stuck competing as a lowly milkmaid. When things in the online world suddenly take a strange turn, Andy and his avatar must both discover their inner warrior. A blend of romance, adventure and virtual reality with a pop-infused score, it’s an inspiring tale like no other that’s sure to delight!
 
Human Race is offering fun ways to celebrate this first performance, and American Premiere of LEGENDALE! They have two very special upcoming nights that are extra special:
  • HRTC is hosting their very first COSPLAY CONTEST NIGHT  on September 11 with more than $1800 worth of prizes (full list of prizes and rules are posted on the FB event page). Comedian Jessica Graue is MCing the event. $10 for participants, $5 for general audience. Kids can compete too! Registration starts at 6:15pm, pre-judging at 7pm, and parade of costumes at 8pm. All participants ages 13 and up will receive a ticket voucher good for and show on our 2017-2018 Loft season.
  • Young Professionals Night is Saturday, September 16. The pre-show party begins at 5pm in the HRTC rehearsal hall on the second floor below the theatre. They have a massive selection of board games to play, a taco bar, margaritas and craft beer. We will also be giving away prizes donated from 2nd & Charles, The Human Race Theatre, and Sixteen 37. (board games, gift certificates, and more!) Tickets are available at www.ticketcenterstage.com by entering code YPGAME. A value of $70+ for $35!
Don’t miss out on this cutting-edge new musical, that’s perfectly timed after Game of Thrones finale, and during Renaissance Festival season. Fall is the perfect time to let fantasy worlds come alive! So please get your ticket for the first of many amazing productions by our own, Human Race Theatre Company!

How to go?
Performances run Sept 7th through October 1st (Mondays off)
Tickets start at just $12 and up! Special $10 any seat nights also available.
For more info on tickets, click here or call box office: (937) 228-3630
DMM Ticket Give Away:  We’ve got a pair of tickets and winner can pick the date they attend (based on availability).  To enter our drawing, just like and share this post and leave a comment below on why you deserve to win!
We’ll name our winner here Thursday, so check back to see if it’s you!
 

NEON Manager Preparing For Toronto International Film Festival

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Hello Everyone,

My bags are mostly packed, a third draft of my “Must See” list has been deciphered from my scribbled notes, and I can hardly contain my excitement as I prepare to embark on my 13th Toronto International Film Festival.

Over the past several years of attending TIFF, I’ve seen almost everything I set out to see.  I had a rhythm (which involved very little sleep), and I knew how early I needed to wake every morning in order to be one of the first dozen people in line (which helped to secure the really hot tickets).  But this year, they’ve mixed it up.  Instead of waiting in queue every day, I’ll have two small windows of opportunity to get on-line and request the tickets I desire for the entire festival…thus luck will have more to do with it than gumption.  My fingers are crossed.

I’ll be keeping a daily log of all the films I see (and stars I encounter).  Though I wish I could do all the festivals – like Berlin and Cannes and Sundance and NYFF and  Telluride – I’m actually quite happy that TIFF is the one that fits so well with my schedule.  I’ve loved going to the festival over the years, and I love being able to report my findings to all of you.

Here are a few films that I’m quite anxious to see:

SHAPE OF WATER – Sally Hawkins is divine.  Here’s the trailer:

LEAN ON PETE – from the director of WEEKEND and 45 YEARS (and creator of HBO’s LOOKING).  Here’s a clip:

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME – from the director of I AM LOVE (one of my favorite films of the past decade).  Here’s a trailer:

FACES AND PLACES – from the incomparable Agnes Varda and JR.  (I’m pretty certain that JR. has been to Dayton!)

Stay tuned.  I start screening movies Thursday morning!

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Dayton Ballet & DCDC Volunteers Duel Behind the Bar!

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Dayton is renowned for it’s incredible legacy in the history of American dance. In 1927, The Schwarz School of Dance (now Dayton Ballet School) was opened in Dayton, by the gifted Schwarz sisters, who returned home after performing professionally around the world. Ten years later, the sisters created “The Experimental Group for Young Dancers,” and staged a performance at the Dayton Art Institute. This was the first performance of what is now the Dayton Ballet, the second oldest regional ballet company in the US.

The Schwarz sisters instructed another pioneer of dance, Jeraldyne Blunden. In 1968, Jeraldyen went on to create her own school, Jeraldyne’s School of Dance. A few years later, she established the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the first modern dance company in Ohio. The company regularly performs in Dayton, and around the world, including an upcoming trip to Russia and Kazakhstan next May as part of Dance Motion USA, a cultural diplomacy program organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

These incredible achievements and milestones are being celebrated with style over the next year or two. The Dayton Ballet celebrates it’s 80th Season, and next year DCDC hits their 50th Birthday! Volunteers from the Dayton Ballet Barre and DCDC Ambassadors are joining forces Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 at Brixx Ice Company to kickoff these spectacular seasons! They’ll be slinging drinks as dueling bartenders, and might even have a dance off or two!

Enjoy commradere, drink specials, and a fun way to support these historic arts organizations. Best of all – there will be random ticket giveaways for the exciting up-coming seasons! There will also be ticket discounts available to anyone interested. Tickets to these outstanding artistic events are perfect for date nights, girls nights, and gifts!

How to Go?

Dayton Ballet Barre & DCDC Ambassadors

Dueling Bartenders / 2017-2018 Season Kickoff!

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 from 6pm-8pm

Brixx Ice Company – 500 E 1st Dayton, OH

 

Have You Been Eating Sushi Wrong?

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Is this the correct way to eat Eel?

Did you know there is a correct way to eat sushi?

Neither did we, and we have been doing it all wrong for years ! It’s a good thing we have Japanese native, Miko Whigham, in town.  Miko is here to teach us how to eat sushi correctly, like they do in Japan.  This will ensure politeness and manners, if you ever find yourself in an authentic sushi restaurant on a Food Adventure.

How do they eat Salmon sushi rolls in Japan ?

Miko is a sushi expert.  She grew up in Japan, moved to the United States decades ago.  She now owns her second Sushi restaurant called ARIAKE SUSHI BAR  which is near the Dayton Mall, at 59 Fiesta Lane, by the intersection of 741 and 725.

 

THE BIGGEST ERRORS IN SUSHI EATING:
Many of us find ourselves using chopsticks, when actually it is more customary to use your hands. This can save you from fumbling with chopsticks, if you aren’t well versed.  It can also save your sushi from crumbling, which happens to the Food Adventure Crew a lot.  Miko also says mixing the wasabi in the soy sauce is only a sometimes thing.

 

Exotic Sushi rolls at Ariake demand special handling

CORRECT WAY TO EAT SUSHI ROLLS :  VIDEO
(Sushi rolls are the most common sushi, cooked or raw filling inside of rice cut into circles)
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
2) Brush a little wasabi anywhere on your sushi roll pieces using chopsticks.
3) Next, get rid of the chopsticks or forks and use your hands only.
4) Pick up the sushi piece (it is typically a small circle shape) and dip it quickly into the soy sauce
5) Put the whole thing in your mouth.  Yes, the whole thing.  They are made for you to taste it all at once.


CORRECT WAY TO EAT NIGIRI SUSHI: VIDEO
(Ngiri is typically a piece of fish laying on top a small bunch of rice, raw or cooked)
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.

What is the customary way to eat Nigiri ?

2) Brush a little wasabi on the fish side of your sushi using chopsticks.
3) Next, get rid of the chopsticks or forks and use your hands only.
4) Pick up the sushi piece with your hand fish side down, rice side up,and dip the fish part into the soy sauce
5) Put the whole thing in your mouth.   Yes, the whole thing.  They are made for you to taste it all at once.
(#4 makes sense, we always dipped the rice side into the soy and it fell apart.. NEVER AGAIN !)

This VIDEO will help you with a little known Wasabi request …

 

Sashimi – Fatty Tuna

CORRECT WAY TO EAT SASHIMI: VIDEO
(Sashimi is raw fish, sliced into bite sized squares)
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
2) Put a little dab of wasabi into the soy sauce, and using chopsticks mix it into the soy sauce until blended.
3) Using chopsticks, pick up a piece of sashimi, dip the fish part into the soy sauce
4) Put the whole thing in your mouth.

 

CORRECT WAY TO EAT A HAND ROLL:

Fold the Hand Roll Bottom closed, pour a few drops of soy on the top

1) Hold the roll like an ice cream cone
2) Using chopsticks, smear a small amount of wasabi across the top opening of the roll.
3) Fold the bottom opening closed and hold it closed with your pinky finger while holding the hand roll like an ice cream cone.
4) Pour a small amount of soy sauce across the top opening of the roll.
5) Take bites out of the roll, like eating an ice cream cone.

 

OPTIONAL WAY TO EAT SUSHI ROLLS AND NIGIRI: (THE GINGER MOP METHOD): VIDEO
There is another way to soak your sushi with soy and wasabi. Food Adventures has named this the “Ginger Mop Method”
1) Fill your little sauce tray up 2/3rd the way with soy sauce.
2) Put a little dab of wasabi into the soy sauce, and using chopsticks mix it into the soy sauce until it disintegrates.
3) Next, using your chopsticks, get a pinch of ginger, and dip it into your soy sauce

Japanese native Miko Whigham, owner of Ariake Sushi

4) Using the ginger like a “mop”, brush the sushi with the wet ginger, spreading soy sauce on the sushi. If you want to break tradition, you can mix wasabi into the soy sauce here.
5) Pick up the sushi piece with your hand, if it is nigiri (fish on a bed of rice) turn it fish side down, rice side up,and dip the fish part into the soy sauce. If it is a roll you can dip it by hand or by chop stick.
6) Put the whole thing in your mouth.   Yes, the whole thing.  They are made for you to taste it all at once.

There you have it, you are now an official Sushi Ninja…

Thank you to Japanese native Miko Whigham for her guidance on “How to eat sushi correctly.” Make sure you visit her restaurant, Ariake Sushi Bar in Miamisburg for Dayton’s most authentic Japanese menu.   When you do, you now know how to mind your sushi manners!

Please browse our sushi photos below, and follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Now you can tackle sushi in the “correct manner”

How would you address this roll??

Kani, Tuna and Salmon Nigiri – use the upside down dip method

Spicy Tuna Roll

Shrimp Tempura

Sushi is life

Tell your friends to use their hands !

Sushi Boat at Ariake

How would you tackle this one? With your hands !

Sashimi Plate

Sushi roll

Roll topped with eel

Ariake Feast !

Dreams come true at Ariake Sushi Bar

hello , lover…

Mackrel, tuna and yellow tail

The Kani imitation Krab is good stuff

Some sushi rolls come deep fried

Love the Spicy tuna roll

Hand Rolls – $1 – limit 1

 

Sashimi Plate

Ngiri Plate – Salmon, Tuna, Crab

Tuna Roll

Outside Ariake Sushi near the Dayton Mall

AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL Now Playing at THE NEON + FALSETTOS News!

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Hello Everyone!

We opened a new film yesterday that many people have been asking about – AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER. In addition to this powerful  new film, we’re holding LANDLINE and THE BIG SICK (this winner just keeps going and going) for one more week. (Details about a special screening of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL followed by a panel discussion can be found at the end of this newsletter.)  Next week, we plan to open MAUDIE.

Synopsis for AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL – TRUTH TO POWER: “Former Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight, traveling around the world to train an army of activists and influence international climate policy. Cameras follow him behind the scenes — in moments both private and public, funny and poignant — as he pursues the inspirational idea that while the stakes have never been higher, the perils of climate change can be overcome with human ingenuity and passion.” (Paramount Pictures) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Due to local demand, THE NEON is excited to explore bringing a bit of Broadway to our screens. Buy your tickets now, and let’s see if we can make this one-night-only screening of FALSETTOS a success! “Nominated for five 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Falsettos is a hilarious and poignant look at a modern family revolving around the life of a gay man Marvin, his wife, his lover, his soon-to-be-bar-mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and the lesbians next door. Originally created under the specter of the AIDS crisis, this timely musical about middle-class family dynamics manages to remain buoyant and satirically perceptive even as it moves towards its heartbreaking conclusion. Lincoln Center Theater’s production stars Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block, Andrew Rannells, and Brandon Uranowitz, all of whom received Tony nominations for their respective performances.” FALSETTOS will screen Wednesday, August 16 at 7:30. Tickets are $12 each and are currently available on-line via this LINK. They are also available at THE NEON’s box office.

Dayton Writers Movement is gearing up for the premiere of UNWRITTEN – SEASON 2 on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 5:30. “UNWRITTEN is a serialized audio drama podcas – think radio play – written, acted and produced locally here in Dayton. The first season, which was up for several AudioVerse Podcast Awards, has reached 54+ countries and more than 1,600 cities with its dramatic storytelling and comedic timing. In Season 2, the podcast series continues the journey with a group of friends as they deal with the events of season 1 and wrangle mature social issues, uncover a mystery, and tackle their inner demons. The group will be premiering the first episode of Season 2 with a live talk back afterward. Advanced tickets are available for $6 each by clicking this Official Link. One Time Only Public Showing! (Explicit, mature content) For more information about the podcast, visit unwrittenpodcast.com” Tickets not sold on-line, if available, will be available at our box office starting 1 hour before the event.

This year’s Dayton LGBT Film Fest is shaping up, and we’re almost ready to start rolling out details. Mark your calendars for Oct. 13-15, it’s going to be a great weekend-long fest!  And speaking of film festivals, The Toronto International Film Festival has begun releasing titles from this year’s line-up…I’m getting pretty excited about several of them!

Some local organizations are very excited about our engagement of AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL and the opportunity to continue local discussions about our climate with you. After Tuesday August 15’s 7:30 screening, representatives from Citizens Climate Lobby, Sierra Club Miami Group, The Climate Mobilization, and Move To Amend will hold a panel discussion. In addition, there will be other opportunities to engage with members from these organizations at various locations at different times around town. We’ll have flyers in our lobby this weekend that outline all the opportunities, and you can also find the flyer on our Facebook page by following this LINK.

Thanks so much for your continued support.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Saturday, Aug. 12 – Thursday, Aug. 17:

THE BIG SICK (R) 1 Hr 59 Min
Saturday (Aug 12): 4:50, 9:30
Sunday (Aug 13): 4:50
Monday – Thursday (Aug 14-17): 5:15

LANDLINE (R) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday, Sunday (Aug 12-13): 12:30, 2:40, 7:20
Monday & Tuesday (Aug 14 & 15): 3:00, 7:45
Wednesday (Aug 16): 3:00
Thursday (Aug 17): 3:00, 7:45

AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER (PG) 1 Hr 38 Min
Saturday (Aug 12): 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (Aug 13): 12:40, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (Aug 14-17): 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

FALSETTOS (NR) 2 Hrs 22 Min
Wednesday (Aug 16): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
Aug. 18 – MAUDIE
Aug. 18 – THE LITTLE HOURS
TBD – LADY MACBETH
Aug 30 – PATTI CAKE$
Oct 6 – VICTORIA AND ABDUL
Oct 13-15 – DAYTON LGBT FILM FEST

Dayton Bar Stars – Jerrod Claytor

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Dayton Bar Stars The Century Bar

The staff at The Century with their 2017 Summer cocktail menu.

The list of reasons that the Century Bar is one of the best bourbon bars in the country is a long one. It starts with the well-curated whiskey collection, brought together by the staff over the years. Everything from daily sippers to rare bottles saved for special occasions. Once that was assembled, they began a cocktail program that is one of the best in the city. Not only are they making specialty cocktails, they are making the syrups, shrubs, and bitters that go in it. They are doing the research to revive some of the classic, lesser known libations and creating some modern delights. They use local ingredients and spirits when they are able, building an impressive library of recipes. Even the atmosphere feels like you have stepped out of Dayton and into a little pocket where time stopped just before Prohibition. The back bar is over 150 years old, and has been sitting in that building for the last eighty years.

The most important differentiator, however, is the staff. Joe Head, co-owner of this fine establishment, has established a system that makes sure the bartenders employed there know more about liquor and cocktails than anyone walking through that door. They can tell you the history of any of the bottles they grab off that elegant back bar, right down to the best way to enjoy it. It is possible they can discuss the actual tree the barrel was made from. One of these bartenders, Jerrod Claytor, knows as much as anyone else about what is going on behind that bar.

Jerrod Claytor The Century Bar

Jerrod Claytor of The Century Bar

Jerrod, like many bartenders, followed a wandering path to get to be in one of the more coveted bartender gigs in Dayton. He started off working towards a job in the finance sector, filled with its own unique perils. When he discovered that was not the right fit for him, he started to explore other career options in the Miami Valley. When the Century made its transition from a dive bar to a bourbon house, Jerrod was one of the first people they brought in to help with their expanded hours and new direction. He has been part of this new chapter since almost day one, and it looks like he is going to be there for a long time.

How did you get into bartending?

I started serving and bartending 15 years ago after college. Frankly, it gave me an opportunity to meet lots of people, make fair money, and have the freedom to pursue other endeavors. It wasn’t, yet, a career choice. The more experienced I gained (at one point I worked at four locations) and more responsibilities I was given, I realized this path was apt for me and my personality. I now feel both incredibly fortunate and comfortable to be working alongside such professional people who’ve walked this path with me. Not too many people can say they work with their family and best friends in a nationally recognized bar.

What is your favorite drink to make?

Well-executed classics are great. I am always happy making a simple old-fashioned. It’s a no-fail and for some, a gateway to bourbon and whiskey (my love). I make Manhattans mostly at home.

Which drink makes you internally cringe?

I honestly love cocktails and drink just about anything myself, so I don’t discriminate. I suppose I may internally roll my eyes when folks still order chilled shots or shot backs. Just seems unnecessary.

Jerrod Claytor Century Bar

In his favorite environment with his favorite spirits.

Do you have a favorite spirit you like to work with?

Aside from bourbon and whiskey, I really find cognacs, brandies, and their variations highly versatile and tasty.

When you go out for a drink in Dayton, where is your favorite place to go?

Breweries, restaurants, etc. I really enjoy quiet afternoons on days off at small family bars.

Who is the most famous person you have served?

I served Arlo Guthrie once. I thought that was pretty cool. I had a room full of astronauts including every one of the first moon-landers. I still get goosebumps when I think of that. Surprisingly, the nicest celebrities I’ve served were Donahue and Arnold Palmer.

What do you do when you are not bartending?

Relaxing, cooking, backpacking, cycling, pseudo art projects, and of course, drinking.

What are your favorite trends from the last year?

The emergence of more high-end rums, mezcals, and the continuing validity of handmade or fresh ingredients in bars and restaurants.

Sometimes he travels outside of the bar…

What trends do you see coming to Dayton over the next six months?

More availability of unique whiskey blend and finishes, along with Eurasian malts (Americans curiosity is swiftly fueling these).

What advice do you want to give bartenders just getting into the business?

Be patient, pay your dues, and work hard. Never sit on your hands, keep your mind open and continually learn. Of course, take pride in your work. Oh, don’t make it snooty either.

What do you love most about Dayton?

Dayton is culturally my kind of city – historically and philosophically. It fits my personality. I transplanted here over 20 years ago and it’s always felt like home.

How you normally see Jerrod; a blur and a cocktail in front of you.

Most interesting thing you have seen from behind the bar?

Nakedness.

How has bartending changed in the time you have been in the industry?

Generally, the refocus on quality spirits and ingredients as opposed to synthetic and faux martinis. I think it’s mostly an extension of this generation’s ability to eat better. They also want to drink better!

What do you wish customers knew that helped you do your job?

There’s really no need to start a tab for one drink.

If you were not a bartender, what career would you be pursuing?

Something with plants. Maybe I’d have a greenhouse or something. Don’t really know. I never liked jobs.

2 Hot New Films at THE NEON – THE BIG SICK and THE HERO

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Hello Everyone!

We’re moving forward in a big way this weekend. If you still need to see THE BEGUILED or BEATRIZ AT DINNER, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. You also have one last chance to catch Cate Blanchett in MANIFESTO on Wednesday evening. On Friday, we’ll officially begin two hot, new films – THE BIG SICK and THE HERO. (We’ll have a special preview screening of THE BIG SICK on Thursday evening with 10 extra bonus minutes of stand-up from cast members of the film.)

Synopsis for THE BIG SICK: This is the best reviewed romantic comedy in a long, long time. Critics and audiences alike are loving this film, and it’s currently rated “97% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.com! “Based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, THE BIG SICK tells the story of Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail (Nanjiani), who connects with grad student Emily (Kazan) after one of his standup sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life that is expected of Kumail by his traditional Muslim parents. When Emily is beset with a mystery illness, it forces Kumail to navigate the medical crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) who he’s never met, while dealing with the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart. THE BIG SICK is directed by Michael Showalter (HELLO MY NAME IS DORIS) and producer by Judd Apatow (TRAINWRECK, THIS IS 40) and Barry Mendel (TRAINWRECK, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS).” (Lionsgate) Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for THE HERO: Many of our regulars keep asking “When is that Sam Elliott movie coming?” Well it’s finally here! “Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging Western icon with a golden voice, but his best performances are decades behind him. He spends his days reliving old glories and smoking too much weed with his former-co-star-turned-dealer, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), until a surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. He soon strikes up an exciting, contentious relationship with stand-up comic Charlotte (Laura Prepon), and he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter), all while searching for one final role to cement his legacy.” (The Orchard)

 

Joseph Bargdill of Broken Lamp Productions has rented our space to premiere his new film INCRUENTUS on Thursday, July 27. “Zoe finds herself trapped in a web of lies while she turns into a Vampire. Will she die or be sucked into a web of trickery from her husband and friends or overcome the poison of her infection? INCRUENTUS will have its world premier on July 27th at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased now for $7 at THE NEON’s box office. The film will be introduced and followed by a Q&A with the director and producer.” (Broken Lamp Productions)

Dayton filmmaker Alfred Powell is premiering his new documentary with us on Sunday, August 6 at 5:30. “WE BELIEVE IN US is an intriguing true story of a once prominent inner city football power located on the southwest side of Dayton. In a breathtaking manner this raw documentary brilliantly transports you through the daily saga and life a young black coach and his staff and his players during their unpredictable 2015 season. This story simultaneously captures the realism of generational poverty, stigma, stereotypes, and promise while embracing the power of hope and survival. Dunbar High School – where disappointment is often undefeated – provoked this team to make a promise to themselves. When no one else in the world believes in us…We Believe In Us.” (press notes) Tickets are $5 each and are currently available at THE NEON’s Box Office.

Thanks so much for your continued support.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, July 11 – Thursday, July 20:

THE BEGUILED (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Tuesday & Wednesday (July 11 & 12): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Thursday (July 13): 3:00, 5:15
FINAL DAY – July 13!

BEATRIZ AT DINNER (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Tuesday (July 11): 3:15, 5:20, 7:40
Wednesday (July 12): 3:15, 5:20
Thursday (July 13): 3:15, 5:20, 7:40
FINAL DAY – July 13!

MANIFESTO (NR) 1 Hr 35 Min
Wednesday (July 12): 7:30
FINAL SCREENING!

THE BIG SICK (R) 1 Hr 59 Min
Thursday (July 13): 7:30 Preview with Bonus – THE BIG(GER) SICK
Friday & Saturday (July 14 & 15): 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:30, 9:55
Sunday (July 16): 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:30
Monday – Thursday (July 17-20): 2:45, 5:10, 7:40

THE HERO (R) 1 Hr 33 Min
Friday & Saturday (July 14 & 15): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (July 16): 12:50, 5:30, 7:40
Monday – Thursday (July 17-20): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear)
TBD – MAUDIE
TBD – A GHOST STORY
TBD – LADY MACBETH
TBD – LANDLINE

There’s Something About Fair Food!

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Dayton Most Metro has the updated Food Vendor list for the 2017 Montgomery County Fair.

Hey Hungry Foodies – calling all concession nuts!

Bring us your thirsty and hungry
Bring them to 1043 South Main Street Dayton, Ohio 45409

COME TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR !!

OPEN this week thru Saturday open every day until 10pm and you can get into the fair for free for lunch from 11am -1pm through Friday.

We’ve even got a $2 off coupon you can use to save on admission for Thursday!

Turn the Fair into a Food Adventure!

Here is the list of food vendors you can hit up at the fair in 2017

—BAKIN BUDDIES:
Bourbon Chicken, Smoked Turkey Legs, Nachos
—BITE ME:
Corndogs Chili Cheese Corndog, Traditional Corndog, Bacon Corndog,
Bacon Ceddar Corndog, BBQ Corndog, Sauerkraut Corndog
—CHINA RAINBOW: 
Chinese Cuisine, egg rolls
—CW CONCESSIONS:
Pizza, Meatball Subs, Spaghetti Dinner, Garlic Bread, Breadsticks
—DUNHAMS FOODS:
Sugar Waffles, Funnel Cakes, Elephant Ears
—HOW ‘BOUT THEM APPLES:
Apple Dumplings, Brownie Sundae, Flurries, Floats, Sushies
—MURTY’S CONCESSIONS:
Breakfast, Pizza Bombs, Mozarella Sticks, Loaded Tater Tots, Cobbler,
Homecooked Chicken Bacon Alfredo, Italian Sausage Penne, Salads
—BEME CONCESSIONS:
Bourbon Chicken & Rice, Grilled Wraps, Angus Burgers, Corndogs,
Tenderloins, Ribbon Fries, Tornado Fries, Fried Green Beans, Sweet Potato Fries
—RISMILLER CONCESSIONS:
Fresh Baked Soft Pretzels, Fresh Baked Soft Pretzel Sweet Sticks,
Chocolate Dipped Cheesecake, funnel cakes, elephant ears, deep fried oreos
—SHIVE’S:
Breakfast, Tenderloins, Corndogs, Chicken & Potato Wedges, Philly Steak
—SMOKIN DICK’S
BBQ Pulled Pork, 1/4 Chicken Dinner, Ribs, Cornbread, Veggie Mac Salad,
BBQ Baked Beans, French Fries
—TROPICOOL:
Shaved Ice Shaved Ice
—ULLERY’S:
Homemade Ice Cream
—WORLD OF WAFFLES:
 Hot Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich, Frozen Cheesecake on a stick,
Ice Cream Bars dipped in Chocolate, Frozen Chocolate Bananas,
Fruit Topped Belguim Waffle
—ZERKLE’S
Kettle Corn
There you have it food fans.  Bring Cash and a hungry belly.  Hug a  carnie, eat a lot, its the American way at fair season.
See you at the concession booth….

Fair-well to S. Main Street – Free Ticket Offer

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Montgomery County Fair opens this week

Next week will be the end of an era in Dayton.  The 165th Annual Montgomery County Fair will be historic, because it marks the last time the event will take place on 1043 South Main Street.  

2017 is the last time the fair will be held here

For multiple generations, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds has hosted this event. That all ends next Saturday July 15th.   So one last time, smell the funnel cakes and listen to the kids on the ferris wheel at the corner of main street.   But cheer up, this is one heck of a place for a Food Adventure.  So… Corn Dog lovers unite, this is your type of festival.  Farmers, carnival rides and special events will fill an action packed week.

 

Here are some old facts for you foodie history buffs….

FIRST FAIR HOSTED IN 1874
After Dayton failed to win a bid for the Ohio State Fair, the City decided to put on their own fair.  Dubbed the “Southern Ohio Fair,” the event started September 29th, 1874 at the place we all know as the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds’ saw over 100,000 vistors that week.

Now for this year’s event ….

FAMOUS VISITORS to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:
President Lyndon B Johnson in 1966, with First Lady – Ladybird Johnson

HERE’S THE SKINNY on THE 2017 MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:

Lots of good food


— WHEN: Monday July 10th thru  Saturday July 15 (8am- 10pm, except Monday ends 8pm)

— WHERE: 1043 South Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45409  (It is on South Main between Stewart and Apple Streets).

— COST: $8 per person, ages 6 and under are free, but the really BIG NEWS is FREE ADMISSION from 11am – 1pm Monday – Friday so you can eat lunch every day at the fair!    Also DMM has a $2 off coupon good on Thursday – just print and present at gate!

FREE TICKET OFFER:  Like and share this story and leave a comment below about your favorite fair food and we’ve got a few pairs of FREE ADMISSION tickets we’ll randomly give to those that comment below.

— WHAT: There will be swine, and horse races.  There are pie and cake auctions.  The fair even has  live bands, sheep judging and goat judging!  Rabbits, poultry, kiddie tractor pulls, a demolition derby, garden club and the list goes on and on.

 

Craft Booths

— FULL SCHEDULE:  For a list of EVERYTHING going on and to find what tickles your fancy, click on the link below.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENT
S

So what is happening in 2017’s fair?  You know the usual, livestock contests, pie contests, and 4-H activities. But we like to point out some of the favorites we are anticipating.  Horse races and Demolition Derby to name a couple!

HERE IS THE SKINNY on THE BIG EVENTS:

MONDAY – JULY 10th 
—7:00pm  501 Diesel Dirt Drags – at the Grandstands

TUESDAY – JULY 11TH

165th year

Good Food

—7:00pm TUG-A-TRUCK, at the Grandstands

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH
—7:00pm Truck/Tractor Pull, at the Grandstands

THURSDAY – JULY 13TH
—6:00pm Harness Racing, at the Grandstands
—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Shelby County Line,” in the Entertainment Tent

FRIDAY – JULY 14TH
—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Rolling Stone Rodeo, at the Grandstands”
—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers,” in the Entertainment Tent

SATURDAY – JULY 15TH
7:00pm: Demolition Derby at the Grandstands

 

This is a food blog. we would be remiss if we didnt give you our often imitated, but never duplicated “Must Eats.”

MUST EATS at the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:


— THE ASIAN CHICKEN WINGS at DAVE’S CONCESSIONS:
You can’t miss the huge “Broasted Chicken and Broasted Potatoes” sign that drapes this

Asian Wings

amazing booth.  Also, a huge grill teases the crowd with incredible aromas of chicken cooking.  But the thing to get here is the Chicken Wings.  Deep fried, served whole and drenched in any sauce you can’t go wrong.  Our suggestion is get the Asian Sauce.

 

The Donut Grilled cheese

— THE DONUT GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH at THE GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE BOOTH:
A glazed donut with cheese, pan grilled and with pickles and tomatoes.  It is sweet and a tad salty, but surprisingly good!  This kind of stuff is what Food Adventures is all about.  No rules, no whiners.


— THE BLACKBERRY COBBLER from JEAN’S HOME COOKING: 
Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this literally made our day.  It was like being

Cobbler

transported to your grandma’s house and the cobbler had just come out of the oven.  Get lost in this dish, and take in the taste.  The warm cobbler and the sun, melt the ice cream slowly for a creamy experience.  We promise you will be impressed.

 

— THE HUGE SWEET TEA’S:  
It is gonna be warm and humid, and nothing zaps that like an ice cold sweet tea.  They have a 99 cent size and a huge ass mega size.  Get the biggest one they have … you will kneel with thanks for this

99 cent Huge Sweet Teas

day saving item.

 

Don’t miss your chance to attend the event and say farewell to the memories in your own way.  Go ahead, party like its 1899.

In 2018 the  fair will move to Arthur O. Fisher Park in Jefferson Twp.   Go area and out it on your calendar for July 9-14, 2018.

Are you a Dayton Foodie? Then follow the food related antics of The Food Adventure Crew:  Chef House, Big Ragu and Hungry Jax as they open and explore every nook and cranny of Dayton related eats.   Love Food Pictures?  Then our Facebook site is your Graceland! – CLICK HERE TO “LIKE OUR PAGE

Dont Miss this chicken stand

 

 

 

Luminaries of Dayton: Leaving Pennies on a Grave

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There are many traditions that involve placing objects, specifically money, on graves. These traditions  are usually regional or customary practices and do not necessarily have religious connotations.

Large amounts of pennies which are thrown onto Benjamin Franklin’s grave by visitors each day are a symbol of good luck, and a nod to Franklin’s motto that “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

Some people hold to the tradition of leaving something of yourself when visiting a grave. If nothing else, a coin from your pocket serves as a marker of the passage and your esteem for the departed. It also signifies to any that pass by that the grave was visited and that the deceased is well loved and esteemed and has not been abandoned or forgotten. Coins are also an older form of leaving flowers, a practice prompted by the heavy Romanticism of the Victorian era.

Some believe that to leave a coin on a grave brings good luck. Students in some areas are known to leave pennies on the graves of their school’s founder in the hopes of good luck with exams.

Some are, perhaps unwittingly, mimicking the ancient tradition where gold coins were buried with the corpse in order to pay the toll charged by Charon, the boatman of the Underworld, for passage to the other side of the river Styx. It was considered sinful not to leave this toll with the dead as it would condemn them to forever wander the shores without end.

It is an old tradition to leave a penny at the grave site of a loved one as a gesture of deep love and understanding. Some coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America’s military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a tombstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier’s family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect.

Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited. A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.

In the United States, this practice became common during the Vietnam War, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier’s family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.

No matter what type of item you leave at a grave site, it is seen by others that the person is not forgotten.

At Woodland Cemetery, you will find that the grave sites of the Wright Brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar receives the most coins. The coins are picked up periodically and are deposited to the Woodland Arboretum Foundation to care for the grounds and gardens of the cemetery.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.