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TIFF 2016 – Day #5

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la-la-land_poster_goldposter_com_3-jpg0o_0l_400w_70qHello Everyone.

Thanks for coming back to my blog.  I had intended to see more films today, but I got turned away from a screening of JACKIE (along with 200+ other people) because the demand was too big and being 25 minutes early wasn’t enough.  That said, there will be another screening Wednesday, so I will know to be extra early.

My first screening of the day was the latest by the prolific (especially for being quite young) Xavier Dolan –  IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD.   This is essentially a chamber piece about a gay man who comes to visit his family and tell them he’s dying…he hasn’t been home for 12 years…and it’s quickly evident why he’s been away so long.  Though I clearly understand what he’s doing, and the film is ultimately well done (though I do have some complaints about several of his choices), this is a film that’s hard to stomach.  The cast is exceptional (I love Marion & Gaspard), but shouting matches, unlikable/annoying characters…it’s not something I can highly recommend. 

LOVING, the new film by Jeff Nichols (TAKE SHELTER, MUD), was next on my list.  It’s also a film I’ve been looking forward to, and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.  This quiet and eloquent film is about the an interracial couple in Virginia whose illegal marriage and subsequent punishment (they went to D.C. to get married, but it wasn’t recognized in Virginia) eventually caught the attention of the ACLU…and eventually went to the Supreme Court to overturn miscegenation laws. For a film that’s largely about court battles, we only spend a few minutes in court rooms…and that’s refreshing.  Instead, we spend lots of time with this Mildred & Richard (stunningly and lovingly played by Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton) – and watching a couple who are so clearly in love with each other makes such a strong case for marriage equality on many levels.

My final film of the day was LA LA LAND, directed by Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH).  This splashy, colorful, song-and-dance musical harkens memories of a bygone era of the Hollywood studio system.  But even more, its influence is from one of my favorite musical directors – Jacques Demy.  The opening scene, shot on an L.A. highway, will blow your mind and immediately had me scribble YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT in my notes.  Starring Emma Stone (who will clearly be nominated for an Oscar) and Ryan Gosling, this film had me on my feet immediately as the “The End” appeared on screen.  For the rest of the night, melodies swirled in my head and merely walking down the street was accompanied by the film’s infectious score.  I can’t wait to obtain the soundtrack and see the film again!

Tomorrow is an extra busy day.  Hoping I’ll be able to stay awake for all of it.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #4

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julieta620x709-1461716694Hello Everyone,

I’m up to my old TIFF tricks now.  Long days/nights…minimal sleep.

My first film today was The Weinstein Company’s big Oscar hopeful for this year – LION, directed by Garth Davis and starring Dev Patel.  This is the story of a little Indian boy who gets lost in the streets of Calcutta – hundreds of miles away from home.  After eventually being adopted by an Australian family, 20+ years later he begins a trip to find his birth family.  Once again, I found myself interested in trimming this film down.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I’m watching dozens of movies…but I’m finding most material would be better if trimmed down.  This film shouldn’t be 2 Hrs & 10 Min…it should be 20-30 minutes shorter.  That said, what it accomplishes is indeed lovely, and the story is wonderful.  The final bit of archival footage at the end resulted in even more tears.

I met up with a friend to catch the next film on my list – A UNITED KINGDOM, directed by Amma Asante (director of BELLE).  This is the film about the relationship between Seretse Khama (a former African royal) and his wife Ruth Williams.  Being a black man, alarm bells go up on each side of the fence when he courts and eventually asks for a white Englishwoman’s hand in marriage.  This film feels old-fashioned in a good way.  The storytelling is very direct – nothing edgy here, just solid storytelling, and I came away feeling as though I’d just had a good (and entertaining) history lesson.  David Oyelowo is fantastic as Khama – his speeches are particularly moving and seem like they could stand alone as inspirational messages about race and patriotism.  Rosamund Pike plays Williams, and she’s lovely as usual.

After lunch with a friend from Dayton I hadn’t seen in almost a decade – who now works at Almo Drafthouse (in Austin), I took a little nap before heading to my two evening screenings.  Next up was a film I had already seen at an exhibitor screening.  I almost never see a film at TIFF that I’ve already seen…but because I got a tip that Pedro Almodovar was in town, I got a ticket to JULIETA.  Unfortunately, the tip was some bad intel. He wasn’t there. That said, I had tweeted a hopeful message that I wished Rossy de Palma would attend…and imagine my giddiness when she was introduced – her first time to Toronto.  The film was even better with a second viewing – it’s richness in color and layers of storytelling all the richer.  This is the story of a woman who decides to stay in Madrid in hopes that her daughter will return – someone who left her side 20 years before.  With an exceptional score and great performances (Julieta is played by three different actresses in different stages of her life), this film is lovely.  It’s hard to let an Almodovar film stand on its own without comparison.  When compared to his other work, it falls short of being one of Almodovar’s masterpieces…if it stood alone, it would be heralded as superb.  And P.S.  The Q&A was delightful…and Rossy was so funny, warm and personable. I got my picture taken with her at the stage door, and my day was made!

Tom Ford’s second feature film NOCTURNAL ANIMALS was my final film of the day.  I’ve been waiting 7 years since A SINGLE MAN to see what Tom Ford would do next, and this new film is exceptional!  Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon, this is the story of a woman who receives an advanced reading copy of her ex-husband’s novel which is a terrifying story that hits a little too close to home.  The film uses certain visual devices to distinguish three different stories happening at once – the present story, the story of the novel and flashbacks to the relationship that spurred the novel.  The costume design, sets and photography are stunning, the performances are incredible, and the story is intense and emotional.  With a late 2016 release in store, I think this film will certainly begin to create some award buzz. (no trailer is available yet)

nocturnal

I then went out to meet up with a bunch of industry folks for a couple beers.  That 5:50am alarm is gonna be hard.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #3

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moonlight_2016_filmHello Everyone,

I got the tickets I needed this morning (for Monday), so the day was off to a great start.  I hightailed it to the Scotiabank multiplex for my first screening of the day – a movie I know we won’t play (but I felt like I wanted something ridiculous) – Christopher Guest’s MASCOTS (which will soon make its debut on Netflix).  It’s been a long time since we saw Guest and his crew, and I was delighted by the opening scenes.  I thought “he’s back!”  The set-up is an competition for mascots from around the world – and it lends itself to some really fun material.  Unfortunately, the material lost some steam…and though the movie is sprinkled with a few gems, I felt like it didn’t quite live up to previous films (though the return of one of Guest’s most famous characters was a moment that made me feel like applauding).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6hqYhcPFvw

ALL I SEE IS YOU, the new film by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND, MONSTER’S BALL) starring Blake Lively, was next on my list.  This is a dramatic film with Lively playing a woman who lost her sight in an accident when she was a child. The first 20 minutes of the film has a certain experimental tone – as Forster has us experiencing many moments as the lead character “sees” them.  It’s a lovely, interesting approach, and the film works in setting a tone (though I never understood why it was set in Thailand).  An operation is available for Lively’s character to have her vision restored, and everything changes.  With sight, she is surprised by how the world around her looks…and her husband quickly becomes disappointed in how their lives are changing.  The movie then shifts tone and becomes more of a quiet thriller.  I won’t give away more of the story, but I did feel like the tonal shift was surprising and the final 6 minutes of the film wrapped things up in a very frantic pace from what started as a slow and methodical first 90 minutes.  The sound design is incredible, and the photography is lovely. I think this film will find an audience, but it’s not incredible.

 After a short nap and a bite to eat, I went to an event – IN CONVERSATION WITH ISABELLE HUPPERT.  This 80 minute curated Q&A was incredible.  Accented with clips of Huppert’s body of work (she’s made over 100 films/television appearances), she sat with Piers Handling and talked about her craft.  From insight to how she doesn’t feel like she truly “prepare” for roles to inside stories about movies like HEAVEN’S GATE to the fact that sometimes she takes a role because she reads the script and falls in love with one line,  it’s a wonderful inside look at one of the greatest actresses working today. Here’s a treat…you can watch the taped event by visiting this LINK and clicking the image of Huppert. 

My final film of the day was also the highlight of the festival so far – Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT.  This gorgeous, poetic look at the life of a black man growing up in Miami, is based on the play IN MOONLIGHT, BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE.  The film is told in three chapters – with the protagonist played by three different actors (each giving incredible performances).  We see him grow from a bullied, guarded young boy to a hyper masculine drug dealer.  This examination of masculinity is one of the most thoughtful and beautifully told stories I’ve seen in recent years.  Performances are incredible across the board, the photography is lovely, and the screenplay is touching and heartbreaking and honest.  I think this film will see a lot of love this award season.  (Janelle Monae, one of my favorite music artists, has a small role in this film…and seeing her on screen seemed like a natural extension of her talents.  She sat across the aisle from me at the screening, and though I contained myself, I was a giddy schoolgirl inside.)  The cast, director and playwright had a Q&A after the screening, and it was also incredible.

After the screening, I met up with a friend from NYC for a couple beers and a bite to eat.  I returned to my apartment at 2:00…so my alarm going off at 5:50 will not be a welcome sound.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #2

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Hi Everyone,

I was in bed by 12:30 last night, so getting up by 6:00am wasn’t so rough today (it will get much worse later in the festival).  That said, the line was already about 15 deep when I arrived at the industry box office at 6:40 (by 7:30/7:45, it was at about 100).

BURN YOUR MAPS, directed by Jordan Roberts, was my first film of the day.  This is a film with Jacob Tremblay (the little guy from ROOM) & Vera Farmiga, and they give really wonderful performances…unfortunately, I can’t say the same for everyone else. This is a story about how a kid begins to say that he’s actually Mongolian. He becomes “obsessed” with wearing traditional costumes and shepherding his make-believe goats.  His parents are having marital problems after the loss of a child, and the desire for the boy to connect with his “true heritage” is a pleasant distraction for his mother…and a source of frustration for his father.  The story eventually “takes” us to Mongolia, and budget restrictions rear their heads.  There were some lovely moments in this film, and it will certainly find its fans – but overall, it wasn’t a big success for me.  (There is no trailer currently available, so a photo is all I can post.)

burnyourmaps_01

 

 

FRANTZ was up next for me.  Francois Ozon is a French director who has made some of my favorite films (I adore UNDER THE SAND, 8 WOMEN, SWIMMING POOL, TIME TO LEAVE and IN THE HOUSE).  That said, he’s quite unpredictable and difficult to nail down as an auteur, and he’s made a couple magnificent clunkers, too.  Tone, themes and genres are often in flux, and this film lends itself to that sentiment quite well – as it’s his most accessible work.  Gorgeously shot in black and white, this post WWI story is about a German woman who meets the French man who has been visiting her fiancee’s grave.  The film is shrouded in mystery, and and to tell you more of the story is to reveal too much.  In both setting and a story with twists-and-turns, this film had me thinking of A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT – a film that I admire much more than critics did.  This film has found American distribution with Music Box Films, and I hope the timing works for us to be able to bring it.

A MONSTER CALLS, directed by J.A. Bayona, was next on my list.  People may immediately want to dismiss a story about a pre-teen boy who is visited by a monster as being too fantastical or juvenile…but this lovely film connects and works on so many levels and is certainly not for children.  Dealing with repeated nightmares and constant fear of the declining health of his mother, the boy summons a monster who comes to tell him stories…and potentially save his mom (played by Felicity Jones).  Though I thought the film could use some trimming, it’s ultimately quite wonderful (albeit a challenge to market).

AMERICAN PASTORAL, the directorial debut of Ewan McGregor (based on the novel by Philip Roth), was my final film of the day.  With a story that spans from the late 40’s to the early 90’s, this beautifully shot and gorgeously art directed film stars McGregor and Jennifer Connelly.  Examining the breakdown of American society via looking at an American family who has to deal with the radicalization of a daughter who eventually becomes an underground terrorist, this film sadly falls a bit flat and didn’t live up to my hopes for the material.  Though the look of the film and the performances are solid, I came out feeling like the film never really hit the mark.

Tomorrow morning is an important one for me.  There are two tickets for Sunday that I really want to make sure I get for Monday – LOVING and LA LA LAND.  Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #1

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a-quiet-passion_poster_goldposter_com_1personal-shopper-poster

Hello Everyone.

With the pass that I have, I can screen as many “press/industry screenings” that I’d like during the festival.  That said, those screenings are just screenings.  It’s awesome to have the opportunity to see so many films with an audience, but part of the reason I come to a festival (people come for a variety of reasons) is to hear filmmakers talk about their craft.  Thus I have the opportunity to obtain two “public screening” tickets per day.  Public screenings are the fun, glamorous screenings where they roll out the red carpet and hold Q&A’s with directors, producers, screenwriters and actors. These tickets are only available two days in advance of each screening, so I find myself in line every day during the festival…usually before 7am.

This morning, I was out to obtain tickets for Barry Jenkins’ MOONLIGHT and a curated interview with Isabelle Huppert.  Both take place on Saturday…and I got both!

Then I was off to my first screening at 9:00am – Kenneth Lonergan’s MANCHESTER BY THE SEA.  This film had a lot of tonal qualities of Lonergan’s first feature – YOU CAN COUNT ON ME.  With a wonderful central performance by Casey Affleck (and a spectacularly touching small role by Michelle Williams), the story is about a man who seems to lead a rather thankless life of mundane routines (he’s a janitorial handy man for an apartment complex).  When he gets a call that his brother has passed away, he is forced to confront lingering pain from his past – told through a series of flashbacks.  Though I thought the film was a bit overscored, the drama really works and the story unfolds in a lovely way.  There were a couple moments of schtick that I thought seemed a bit out of place – but so is life.  I think this film will go far.

Olivier Assayas’ PERSONAL SHOPPER was next on my list.  This non-traditional ghost story had me teetering back and forth throughout…I was invested, I was raising my eyebrows, I was intrigued, I was disappointed…and then I ultimately was sold by the final 10 minutes.  Kristen Stewart gives a great performance as a woman who shops for high-end designer clothing and jewelry for a wealthy client who is always on the go.  She’s also a medium.  While trying to connect to the spirit world for a client, she’s also hoping to catch a sign from her recently deceased brother.  Assayas’ previous work included THE CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA (with Juliette Binoche as well as Stewart) and of my favorites from TIFF in 2008 – SUMMER HOURS.  This film won’t go down as one of my favorites, and I know many people will be quite disappointed, but I was a fan by the end.

The third film of the day for me was Terence Davies’ A QUIET PASSION – a film about Emily Dickinson starring Cynthia Nixon.  The film opens in a sort of parochial school.  A teacher asks students who have given themselves to Christ to go to one side and for students who are still working toward giving themselves to Christ to the other.  Left in the middle is one student – a young Emily Dickinson (at this point played by Emma Bell).  The dialog is sharp and thoughtful (one of the best strengths throughout the film), and the teacher eventually tell Dickinson, “You stand alone in your rebellion.” This telling line haunts the remainder of the film.  Though I found some filmmaking devices to be odd choices (one superimposed was particularly weird), it’s ultimately a thoughtful and visually stunning film with wonderful performances and some very funny moments due to razor sharp dialog.

The official “Opening Night Film” was a big Hollywood remake – THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, directed by Antoine Fuqua (SOUTHPAW, BROOKLYN’S FINEST) and starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and many more.  Here’s the point that some of you might find disappointing…I left 20 minutes into the film.  (I almost never write about films that I don’t finish.)  I went to the Opening night with my friend Glenn Kiser – a great filmmaker who attended The Dayton LGBT Film Festival with his short film SABBATICAL.  We had “great” seats – very close to the stage…only paces from all of the stars and director.  The movie started an hour late and the speakers were above us – thus pushing the sound far behind us and bouncing off the back walls.  Having difficulty understanding any of the dialog, we decided to leave.  Not being a film I would seek out under any other circumstances, I wasn’t disappointed…it gave me a great opportunity to catch up with Glenn and finally grab dinner.

 

At the end of the day, I’ll simply say I’ve seen 3 films (and a dozen stars) so far.

Thanks for reading!

More soon,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Arrival & Prep

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tiff_logo_cmykHello Everyone.

I made it to Toronto with minimal delays…and made my way to the Industry offices to pick up my credentials and begin the madness.  This is just an intro!  Watching movies actually starts tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 8).

I always give myself a buffer day when traveling to Toronto for TIFF.  It can come in handy if you have flight delays, ridiculous lines in customs or you’re carrying an expired passport (that was a nightmare 2 years ago)…that extra day can make certain that you don’t miss any of the good stuff.

If all goes as planned, tomorrow will be a busy day with 4 films – including the splashy Opening Night film with a friend who I first met when he was a guest of The Dayton LGBT Film Festival.  If all goes as planned, tomorrow’s screenings include new work by Kenneth Lonergan, Terence Davies and Olivier Assayas.

In the next couple hours, I’ll grab a bite to eat, check into my apartment and continue to plan my schedule for the next 9 days.

Here are trailers for a few films I can’t wait to see:

Check back in Friday morning…that’s when I’ll have my Thursday wrap-up posted.

Thanks for reading!

Jonathan

Mystery Monday – September 5, 2016

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Welcome to Week 32 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 31’s Mystery Photo is: The cupola of the Premier Health Building in Downtown Dayton via the Kettering Tower‘s Dayton Racquet Club. I took this photo on October 23, 2015.

Completed in 1989 and designed by the Dayton architectural firm Lorenz & Williams, this 20 floor building was originally known as One Citizens Federal Centre.

DMM Mystery Monday-31

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Peter Wine of Dayton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below.  We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 32:

DMM Mystery Monday-1

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU & New Chair Update at THE NEON

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maxresdefaultHello!

We opened SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU this weekend – the charming and inspiring film about Barack & Michelle Obama’s first date…and we still have HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE and INDIGNATION for a couple more days (Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON).

Synopsis for SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU : From executive producer John Legend comes a charming and inspiring film about a wonderful couple. “Inspired by Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date, SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU recounts the eventful summer day in 1989 when a young law firm associate named Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) tried to woo lawyer Michelle Robinson (Tika Sumpter) during a daylong date that took them from the Art Institute of Chicago to a screening of Spike Lee’s DO THE RIGHT THING to the site of their first kiss outside of an ice cream parlor.” (taken from Roadside Attractions) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

YARN ticket sales have passed the threshold and the screening will move forward as planned! The Miami Valley Knitting Guild is bringing the film YARN to town on Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30. ” Meet the artists who are redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world. Reinventing our relationship with this colorful tradition, YARN weaves together wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers into a visually-striking look at the women who are making a creative stance while building one of modern art’s hottest trends.” Click this LINK to reserve your advanced ticket. If tickets remain, they will be available at our box office one hour before the screening.

“Join us for a special screening of 91%: A Film About Guns in America. A film collaboration between John Richie and Dayton Native Ian Cook. 91% is a documentary that examines U.S. gun policies with a focus on the background check system. 91% of Americans are for background checks on all gun sales, yet Congress continues to fail to close the loophole. Why is that and how does that undermine our public safety? The hour long film will be followed by a discussion afterwards. Please join us for this important event!” (taken from 91% press notes) This film will screen on Sunday, September 4 at 7:30, and tickets are now on sale at THE NEON’s box office – traditional ticket prices apply.

“NEON Lumbar Supporter” Update: Amazing news! We made our Goal!!! Replacing our 30 year-old chairs will cost us $50,000, and we hoped to raise at least half of that through your generous donations. As of this weekend, we have sold 113 chairs at $250 each! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! You can read all about this project by clicking this LINK, and we’ll keep the campaign running until the end of August. Donations can be accepted on-line, but we can also take donations in person — where we’d love to chat with you about the new chairs and have you try out the samples in our lobby.

We’ve had many requests for the new film from Mike Birbiglia – DON’T THINK TWICE. I’m happy to let you know that this new comedy (rated “99% Fresh” on rottentomatoes) is slated to open Sept. 9!

EQUITY – a film about women on Wall Street – opens Friday!!

I’ll be heading to The Toronto International Film Festival again this year…and I’ll be there Sept. 7-17.  You can check in on all my screenings and parties and sightings by visiting www.mostmetro.com/tag/tiff 

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

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Thursday, Sept. 1:

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (PG-13) 1 Hr 41 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Aug 30-Sept 1): 5:20

INDIGNATION (R) 1 Hr 50 Min
Tuesday (Aug 30): 3:00, 7:45
Wednesday (Aug 31): 3:00
Thursday (Sept 1): 3:00, 7:45

SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU (PG-13) 1 hr 24 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (Aug 30-Sept 1): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

YARN (NR) 1 Hr 16 Min
Wednesday (Aug 31): 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Sept 2 – EQUITY
Sept 9 – DON’T THINK TWICE
Sept 16 – THE INNOCENTS
Sept 23 – COMPLETE UNKNOWN
Sept 23 – THE HOLLARS
Oct 7-9 – DAYTON LGBT FILM FEST
Oct 7 – BIRTH OF A NATION

Montgomery County Fair Starts Wed- Ticket Giveaway!

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Sweet Tea Booth on a Hot Fair Afternoon

Smell the funnel cakes?  Hear the kids on the ferris wheel?  It can only mean one thing. It is that time of year again for the Montgomery County Fair.  And oh yes, this is one heck of a place for a Food Adventure.  For 164 years, Daytonians have been packing the fair for food and fun.  The event will be held in the same place as always, although local level talks about moving the fairgrounds in a couple of years continue to swirl.

So… Corn Dog lovers unite, this is your type of festival.  Farmers, carnival rides and special events will fill an action packed week at the corner of Main Street, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:

Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream

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

— WHEN: Wednesday  August 31st – Monday September 5th (8am- 10pm, except Monday ends 8pm)

— COST: $8 per person, ages 6 and under are free

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

The DONUT GRILLED CHEESE – incredible

— 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 EVENTS

 

 

MostMetro.com Ticket GiveAway:

A VIP PRIZE PACKAGE For 4   (value  $236)
4 $20 Ride Vouchers
4 $10 Food Vouchers
4 Cotton Candy Vouchers ($16 value)
4 Weekly Passes ($100 value)

For a chance to win you must like this story, leave us a comment below about what you like best about the fair  and share this story on your Facebook page (tagging MostMetro.com so we can see it!)  We’ll name our winner Wed night 8/31/16.

But this is a Food Adventure, so we will concentrate on the eats you gotta try.  Take it from us and our patented “Must Eats.”

 

MUST EATS at the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:

Wings from Dave’s Concessions

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

The 164th Annual Montgomery County Fair will start 8/31/16

Adventures are made of ….

— 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 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.

Just Announced:
Free admission for lunch 11am to 1pm Wed thru Friday

— 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 day saving item.

Horse Barn #17

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 foodstuffs. Are you a foodie?  Our Facebook site is your Graceland! – CLICK HERE TO “LIKE OUR PAGE”

The Big Ragu versus a Donut Grilled Cheese

Cattleman Goods

Rides !

Great atmosphere

Go here for the best wings at the fair ..

Incredible Home Style Cooking at Jean’s Booth

Smell the flavors of the Montgomery County Fair this coming week

Mystery Monday – August 29, 2016

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Welcome to Week 31 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 30’s Mystery Photo is: The third floor of the currently under construction new Main Dayton Metro Library in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on August 10, 2016.DMM Mystery Monday-30

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Su Nela of Centerville! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below.  We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 31:

DMM Mystery Monday-31

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Cassano’s to Open London Bobby On Old Hickory Site

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London Bobby is back on Main Street

One legendary restaurant site, will turn into another legend this winter.   The site of the new Cassano’s / London Bobby Fish & Chips will be at 4029 N. Main St. in Dayton.  Food Adventures has learned that the site will not only be a new Cassano’s, but they are planning on offering an entire London Bobby Fish & Chips Menu.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The new restaurant is expected to open in the October/November time frame.

— The site is on the grounds of the recently demolished Old Hickory Restaurant at 4029 N. Main St. in Dayton. 

London Bobby Fish and Chips

— For you nostalgic Daytonians who remember the London Bobby Fish & Chips around town in the 1970’s and 80’s, this will bring back some memories.

— Bringing back the London Bobby brand is a plan that Vic Cassano Jr. had before his passing.   The next generation of Cassano  family is seeing that vision through as a tribute to him.  It is also a great rebirth of a Dayton favorite, and welcome news to many Miami Valley residents.

The new Cassano’s will offer all of your pizza favorites and even cassini sandwiches, calzones and the subs you’ve grown to love.  But let’s take a look at what will be a part of the London Bobby menu.

If you can’t wait for the opening, visit the Stroop Rd.  Cassano’s location or the store in Trenton, Ohio for your London Bobby fix.

 

SO .. royal subjects…. Hear ye, hear ye !  Your majesty the Pizza King and Food Adventures announce the patented London Bobby “Must Eats”

 

FUTURE MUST EATS at THE NEW LONDON BOBBY on N. MAIN STREET.

The Big Cheese Pizza will be on the menu too !

— THE FISH AND CHIPS : Three pieces of battered fish, fries, two hushpuppies and cole slaw.  Splash on some vinegar to make it “authentic,” old chap.

— EXTRA ORDER OF HUSHPUPPIES:  Avoid fighting or wishing you had more.. order about 8 extra like we do and watch the hands grab!

— BASKET OF ONION RINGS:  Beer battered and cooked to order.

— THE FISH SANDWICH:  This delicious beer battered treat is

Flaky fish, splash it with vinegar to go old school, fool !

perfect for on the go.

 

So there you have it … you have Italy and England in one spot.  Your fave Big Cheese Pizza isnt going anywhere, you just may be tempted to order some fish as well.   Congratulations to the Cassano family, Sharon, Lora, Chris and Chip.  Thank you for bringing back a lost piece of Dayton.

Browse the photos below and feel free to comment at the bottom and share your memories.

Hushpuppies – get some extra , so there’s no fighting

For more original photos and content “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.    7,000 fans cant be wrong.

Food Adventures is a blog run by 3 local foodies.  You can expect a feature article every week on MostMetro, year round.  Together Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu explore Dayton’s greatest foods.  From farmers markets, to fine dining, we eat it all.  Look for our dinner events, festival appearances and upcoming cooking classes on our website www.DaytonFoodies.com.  Since 2008, turning over every plate !

Until then .. tally ho .. carry on… Mr Watson I presume and all that stuff…

The Pizza King is gonna open another store!

The Big Cheese is still here

Chicken Parm

Fish and Chips

The dough

North Main will have all the subs too !

Try the Cassini Burger – it is AWESOME

Calzones will be served at the North Main location

London Bobby is coming back to North Dayton

Onion Rings

Deluxe

The Pizza King !

Cassanos Delivers the Taste

London Bobby’s Fish and Chips

Join Us For A Giovanni’s Food Adventure!

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Pizza will be part of the 5 Courses !

Pizza! Wine! Pasta! Tiramisu!  That’s what is promised at the first ever, one-night-only, Food Adventure dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant!

FIVE DINNER COURSES, 2 WINES TO SAMPLE,
1 NIGHT ONLY !

YES ! We are opening the restaurant just for our group only – a true private party!

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE  – They are only available online through Dayton Most Metro

The one-of-a-kind event will happen at 6:30pm on September 19th. Take your tastebuds on a tour of Italy at this legendary Miami Valley eatery.

Mon. Sept 19th – 1 night only Food Adventure

Every week, all year,  the Food Adventures crew shares articles here on Dayton Most Metro.  This week’s article is especially exciting for us as we unleash an extravaganza.  Please get your tickets now, because there is limited seating.

This is a PERFECT chance to get a good sample of the Giovanni’s menu.  The price includes the tip, so sit back, relax and enjoy.  Want the full scoop on the event?  Here ya go !

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHERE: GIOVANNI’S PIZZERIA & RISTORANTE ITALIANO, an iconic, respected Dayton area restaurant located at 215 W Main St, Fairborn, OH 45324

WHEN: MONDAY NIGHT , SEPTEMBER 19th at 6:30 PM – We have the entire restaurant to ourselves!

COST: $35 per person, includes tip.   Guests for this dinner must be 21 and over, please. (Tickets are pre pay only — click HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Giovanni’s food always pleases

WHAT: A FIVE COURSE DINNER and TWO WINE pairings of the GIOVANNI’s MENU and ITALIAN WINERIES.

COURSE 1: STUFFED VIDALIA ONION APPETIZER: An Italian style appetizer, so unique and so good

COURSE 2: TWO SLICES OF PIZZA: PEPPERONI and MARGHERITA STYLE.  the legendary pizza that made Giovanni’s a Dayton icon

COURSE 3: CAESAR SALAD – Fresh, crunchy and creamy

COURSE 4: TRIO OF:

     a) FETTUCINI ALFREDO – Flat pasta noodles and creamy, house alfredo sauce

     b) LASAGNA – Homemade like “the old country”

     c) PASTA WITH SAUSAGE:  Ziti with fresh, creamy tomato sauce and sausage

2 wine pairings – Salut ! Vino !!

COURSE 5: TIRAMISU – The classic, creamy Italian dessert that will leave you speechless.

Mama Mia White and Mama Mia Red Wine will be served during the second and fourth courses.

 

We cant wait for the vino and pasta.  This will be a Food Adventure for the ages!  Door prizes, trivia and personal stories with the owners, the Spaziani family will fill the night.  Learn about their family tradition and philosophy about Italian food.

Whether you live in Fairborn, or not, this is a great locally owned spot that you have to try.  Please join us for this personal night out with Giovanni’s staff and the Food Adventures Crew !

TICKETS  ARE PRE-PAY ONLY and are ONLY AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK – so click here

 

Pizzas galore

A pasta trio rendition

 

Sausage and Pasta

Fettuccine Alfredo

Lasagna

Pasta and Sausage

Gnocchi dish with Red Pepper flakes added

5 topping pizza

Wine dinner !

Pizza with proscuitto

Giovanni’s is a delightful experience every time…

Back Entrance

Chicken and Pasta

Front Glass

A Dayton Legend

Iconic dishes – like this gnocchi

a Slice of life

Lobster Ravioli

 

Ohio’s Biggest Fair Ends Saturday in Darke County

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Huge Pieces of Fried Dough or as we call it “Pizza Frite”

The Great Darke County Fair ends a week long array of festivities this Saturday, so there is still time to get your fair groove up near the Greenville / Arcanum area.  It is about a 40 minute trip to the Darke County fairgrounds, but oh is it worth the drive.

Rides and and more rides, food and more food, and of course livestock to make your experience farm filled fun.

We have literally been having Food Adventures at this fair since the early 1970’s.  The Big Ragu has memories of his grandfather John Miller, who was born in Arcanum, taking the whole family from Centerville to Greenville.  So you could say we have 40+ years of expertise on this subject.

Cheese Curds from a Wisconsin Vendor

First of all, a NON-FOOD TIP

  1. Hit the Horse Races Friday night 5:30pm – 9pm.  The environment is a throwback like you wont experience at other racetracks.
  2. Hit the Demolition Derby on Saturday 6:30pm.  It’s like a Wal-Mart parking lot out there and maybe someone will give somebody the “Malachi Crunch” like in Happy Days.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Address of the Great Darke County Fair is 800 Sweitzer St, Greenville, OH 45331

So many food vendors, so little room in our stomachs

— OPEN 7pm – MIDNIGHT both Friday and Saturday – enough time to get your grit on… but the FAIR ENDS SATURDAY!

— Admission is $7.00,  people watching is free

 

So here we go with our often imitated never duplicated trademark…  “Must Eats.”

Here is the result of decades of studies…..

MUST EATS at THE GREAT DARKE COUNTY FAIR:

— THE FOOTLONG HOT DOG & ROOT BEER from the THE DOG N SUDS TRAILER:  The pride of Champagne, Illinois, you NEVER get to eat this stuff.  You may see their root beer plastic

Lots of rides

bottles in stores, but “aint nothing like the real thing baby.”

— THE CHEESE CURDS from MIKE’S CHEESE SHACK:  These cheeseheads are from Eau Claire, Wisconsin and every year they kill it at the fair.  And every year we load up and chow down.

— THE “LOADED RIBBON FRIES” or “TORNADO POTATOES”:  Ribbon cut potato chips, deep fried and topped with cheese, chives and bacon.  We love this stuff.  Eat them and devour them one string at a time.  People will stare as you lower the pinwheels of potatoes into your mouth.  That’s just jealousy.

Pulled Pork from Hog Wild

— THE TROLLEY BURGER WITH CANDIED BACON from KC CONCESSION’S TROLLEY CART: We eat it all, we know our stuff.  This burger is perfect for a browsing Food Adventure.  It is not too big and the candied bacon is definitely a nice attraction.  Chew on friends….

— DEEP FRIED ALLIGATOR MEAT ON A STICK from CRACKERBILLIES: Exotic, yet familiar, these nuggets on a stick had a great taste.  All the way from Cape Coral, Florida to your mouth!  We went back for seconds.

— BEEF BRISKET from GRUMPY’S BBQ: Cooked low and slow by Grumpy himself, this old farmer not only has a badass disposition but his brisket is just a s bad.  Actually , Grumpy is a pretty nice guy, we got him to smile  … once….

Ohio’s Largest County Fair

— THE HOT BROWN from FARMER BROWN’S FOOD STAND:  The restaurant that is a legend in Arcanum, is a hot spot at the fair with their food stand.  Farmer Brown’s serves up not a Hot Carl.. but the Hot Brown – which is a shaved top round sandwich, with provolone, lettuce, special sauce and mushrooms.  If that isnt enough they slap it on a grilled buttered bun.  You might call it a Hot Brown, we love to refer to it as an “Arcanum Cheesesteak.”

— PULLED PORK SANDWICH from HOG WILD SMOKE HOUSE:  Homemade sauce in huge squirt jars meant we loaded it up for a finger lickin, lip smackin helluva good ‘sammich’ (when its so good you can’t talk).  We went hog wild for sure.  These

— DEEP FRIED PECAN PIE from the PIE ON THE FLY:  This is frickin’ sinful.  The pies are “Wicks Pies” from Winchester, Indiana.  It makes the deep

Deep Fried Pecan Pie

fried snickers look like child’s play.  This is a piece of frickin pie deep fried in batter.  The pecan pie is the one to get, and it is AMAZING.  We actually had to sit down afterwards to take in the whole experience.  INSANE yet so logical….

— FRIED DOUGH from FISKE CONCESSIONS:  One of the deep fried candy bar booths has a treat we have enjoyed as kids.  It is called “pizza frite” or fried dough.  But this is the biggest slab of dough we have ever seen.  Our moms and grandmas never made it that large.  It is fried dough, with powdered sugar and it is the tick tick tick .. bomb!  This vendor is from Brookville, Florida.

Ribbon Fries or Potato Tornados

Honorable Mention:  The Deep Fried Mushrooms from Chuck’s Foods and the Deep Fried Twinkies from Fiske Concessions.

 

TWO MORE FOOD ADVENTURE TIPS:
— Use this chance to hit MAID-RITE HAMBURGERS down the street, on the way home… a loose meat sandwich that has a secret recipe that will keep you guessing and eating.  We will grab a sack and love the snack.
— Stop at KENNEDY VINEYARDS on the way home in New Madison.  Wine off the vine and we love the sweet, to the blush to the dry.  15 Minutes from the fair, you will fall in love with this place.

Alligator Meat on a Stick

Open til 10pm this Saturday, and we will see you there!

 

That’s it – the FULL BLOWN story on the biggest county fair in Ohio….  See you next week with another foodie filled story!

Check out Food Adventures on Facebook and see the difference.  This is not our job, it is our passion…..

 

Suds n Dogs !

Farmer Browns portable patio

The Farmer Brown “Hot Brown” sandwich or what we like to call the “Arcanum Cheesesteak”

Deep fried friggin pies

Grillin and we walkin

Lawwwd look at dem Baby Backs !

Sweating more than Ludlow Falls

Yo we got a tip in the third race for youse

Crackerbillies

Grilled Turkey Legs

Oreo Sundae Funnel Cake

Trolley Burger with Candied Bacon

More Darke Meat

The infamous bottle game

Cheese Curds from Wisconsin

kids whippin pigs butts

Fried and more fried

Favorite Treat as a kid

Dusk and Darke

Hog Wild Squirt a sauce

This cheese head

The Grumpy owner of Grumpys BBQ

Light up the sky

Best fried mushrooms in town

Son of a brisket

Deep fried twinkie

Coils of sausage

Big Ragu versus a footlong dog

Love the alligator chunks on a stick

Brisket from Grumpys BBQ

Pulled Pork from Hog Wild Smokehouse

Stringing them up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery Monday – August 22, 2016

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Welcome to Week 30 of Mystery Mondays. While many of you thought this was the Old Court House, the answer to Week 29’s Mystery Photo is: Architectural detail on the exterior of the AT&T Building at the corner of Second & Wilkinson Streets in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on July 15, 2016.DMM Mystery Monday-29

Built in 1930 by the architectural firm of Schenck & Williams, the Ohio Bell Building as it was originally known is a fine example of Art Deco architecture.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Sheri of Union! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below.  We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 30:

DMM Mystery Monday-30

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Hog Jam Adds Canoeing to the 11th Annual Music Festival

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13874852_10208401248725947_1994616728_nOne of the area’s most beloved local music showcases, Hog Jam Music and Camping Festival, is back yet again with it’s eleventh year of musical goodness. This year festival organizers have added a fun twist, by changing the location of the festival to Adventures on the Great Miami in Tipp City, adding canoeing to the list of awesome activities this event has to offer!

The best reason to go is the simply astounding line-up of local music, which includes The Almighty Get Down, Guthrie Brown, Subterranean, Tony Red Band, Jonny Dreads and the Mystiks, Sharon Lane, Reyna Spears and many more! Add camping, waterslide, vendors, canoeing, and the traditional hog roast to the event, and it’s a “don’t miss” event for music lovers and adventurers alike.

Hog Jam is family friendly, so don’t be afraid to bring the kids along! Kids under 12 are free!

How to go?

13883914_10208401248285936_468821857_nWhen: August 26th and 27th. Gates open 12pm Friday. Music starts at 5pm Friday. Saturday music starts at 12pm. 

Where: Adventures on the Great Miami, 1995 Ross Rd., Tipp City, Ohio, 45371

Tickets: Cost is $30-$70 depending on the ticket package you purchase. (Very affordable!) Click here for ticket information.

 

Support Breast Cancer Charities through 5k For Kelli on Saturday Aug 20th

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5k1

Kelli’s family remembers her through this annual fundraiser!

The Breast Wishes Foundation presents the 4th annual 5k for Kelli to honor and support women with breast cancer and to remember all those we have lost. The 5k for Kelli is a fun and family friendly event that gives 100% of its proceeds to local charities: The Noble Circle Project, Good Samaritan Hospital’s Breast Health Center and our very own Breast Wishes Foundation which grants wishes that bring joy to women and their families affected by breast cancer.

This race is in memory of Kelli James who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006, and is organized by her two loving sisters. Kelli loved fairies so they encourage everyone to wear tutus and wings…no fairy gear? No problem! We will have plenty to purchase at the merchandise tent with all proceeds going to charity.
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Organizers will have free coffee, fruit, and cookies. There will also be free face painting and colored hair spraying. Day Yoga Studio is offering a free pre-race stretch and warm up. The Shakery Juice truck will be there selling delicious juice and healthy sandwiches.
Raffle tickets for $1 include prizes like a 50″ flat screen TV, Kings Island tickets, massages, $100 Kroger gift card, Restaurant gift cards for Luckys, Roost and even the Oakwood Club! Great prizes to the Top 3 male and female runners in each age group and the Top 3 male and female runners overall.  Age Divisions include: 19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Over
5klogo
When: Saturday August 20th– Onsite registration starts at 7:30 am. Race starts at 9 am.
Where: Wegerzyn Gardens 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue in Dayton. The 5k loop begins and ends close to Wegerzyn Gardens Metro Park but takes place on the Stillwater River Bikeway and Recreation Trail.
Cost: $25, which includes commemorative t-shirt. Please note, shirts are unisex and run a little small so plan accordingly.
NOTE: Early Packet Pickup at George’s Family Restaurant 5216 North Dixie Drive in Dayton on Thursday and Friday August 18th and 19th from 9a-7p.