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halloween

REVIEW: Mushroomhead Bring 20 Years of Halloween Havoc to Dayton

November 15, 2013 By Mike Ritchie Leave a Comment

What’s cooler than one of Ohio’s own, Cleveland’s masked men playing doomsday in December last year coming back the following October and playing Halloween night? Dayton was the third to last show on Mushroomhead’s 40 date fall tour with returning vocalist JMann. Though mother-nature brought the rain and winds of fury, postponing several little demons and dragons’ stroll through candy land and once again darkened a few house lights, McGuffy’s House of Rock was packed and celebrating All Hallows Eve under the influence of Mushroomed metal.

Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Pagan New Year, Samhain and the night before All Saints Day. The harvest is over and the winter/darker half of the year begins. The name meaning ‘hallowed’ or ‘holy’ evening has origins in both Christian and Pagan history. To any devout horror or heavy metal fan, the 31st is definitely the scariest day of the year and deserving of all day worship. Even mask-wearing, heavy-breathing, knife wielding, silent fictional slashers deserve their own day too.

Forces of Nature

Forces of Nature

Dayton hometown heros Forces of Nature started the hallowed evening. Last year’s lone Armageddon playing partner to the headliner. Notwithstanding what mother-nature was doing outside. Forces played their patented Pantera meets Slayer mid-pit stomp pounding the piss out of each other sound, ripping open the metal kegger with the face smashing Magnus Lee. Tate Moore’s voice has the devil sandpapering his vocal chords. Since the Apocalypse didn’t happen on schedule last year, they decide to court global danger and play a heavy, angry, defiant song about it with a few guitar licking tastes of Morbid Angel for extra heavenly hierarchal rebellion.

ASOT (As Seen On TV) rips out Udo Dirkschneider’s soft vocals ramming them down Tate’s hoarse, coarse throat, and together they make beautiful music along-side Marc Godsey, Jimmy Rose’s ripping guitar-flesh playing and Johnnie Wallace’s vampiric bass blood wallop. Of course any foursome of metal beasts are lucky to have a fair beauty among them, and the drums are pleasantly hammered by metal matriarch Shannon Godsey. The Godsey’s were also celebrating their 23 year anniversary.

The second showing of local support comes from Dayton’s self-made Moshpits & Lighters creators, In The Cut, led by event marketing mastermind Daniel DeDoncker. Breaking right into Killswitch Engage’s Until the End, they’re each a silent army of one and collectively sold out McGuffy’s with all local talent.

They play a song about all the assholes, particularly the ones out on Halloween doing stupid sh- (present company excluded). Here’s some Hatred Divine. Aaron Noble poured out the power on keys with the black eyes of Alice. He also broke out the skull and bones keyboard decor using two freshly pulled spines courtesy of one ugly motherf-…..  They finish with a fun, fan friendly dip into the 80’s rock power ballad vault singing Separate Ways. There were a few zombies onstage that just happened to be in the band and the night couldn’t end without a cute and innocent love bite amongst monstrous brothers. The end also marked a first time event as DeDoncker stopped mid-song announcing McGuffy’s owner Julia’s birthday.

The Xmembers

The Xmembers

Next up, from the birthplace of the Mushroom, comes the answer of what Quentin Tarantino in a heavy metal band would sound like. The X Members are birthed in musical freedom, bathed in whiskey and bred to destroy. Self-described as a beautiful train wreck of punk, rockabilly, metal, swing and hard rock, they’re greasy, mean and good at it too. Comprised of current and former members of Cleveland talent Pitch Black Forecast, State of Conviction, The Missing, Keratoma and Horror Madonna, they’re equal parts Astro-Creep mixed with Horton Heat.

They opened with the fast, twitching high impact Swinging Neckbreaker. Whether demon alcohol fueled or play acting, singer Elliot Barry does the zombie stagger a bit too realistically. The musical head-bobbing concussion begins with a trip down the devil’s highway burning up the whisky fueled roadster. It’s Quarter To Three and time for some Seltzer’d rockabilly metal and a few hotrod smoking streaks from Ministry with the hard crunch of oiled up bike chains and greasy gears. Ladies, in the sweetest of southern (Cleveland) sincerity, they want to see your special F Hole, and they’re willing to play with hardcore punk speed, serenading with the most mosh friendly tune a bunch of cowboy hat wearing, slick styled, metal hillbillies from up north can play on Halloween, if you’ll be so kind to oblige. Just like Anthrax, they’re startin’ up a posse. Indrid Cold is a hard hitting, bass thump’n return home if Slayer, Buck Cherry and The Black Crowes were born in the same place.
Nothing More (Than a Dream) cruises down the road with a silver skull on the shifter, slick backed hair in the wind and a cigarette smile heading to the Black Flag show. It’s a windmill mosh pit come to life. Antemorten Overdrive cranks out the smoke induced haze with some skeletons from the closet riding shotgun in the Jesus built hotrod. Everyone’s got a Dirty Little Secret, they just choose to scream about theirs turning it into an amped up merry go round of punk chain fisted southern charred horse power.
The X Members are a blood drenched wild-west biker gang movie on stage. From dusk till dawn, they play their mosh pit twang faster than a hole in the wall one night stand in the making can pound down Jager, Jack and Jim and feel coyote ugly in the morning. They were also celebrating their tenth show in ten days with Mushroomhead.
Xfactor1

Xfactor1

Columbus’ XFactor1 is American blue collar passion and intensity with a second to none with do it yourself attitude and an unquenchable desire for success. They open with Break You.  Singer QBall is dressed for the evening in metal surgical scrubs ready for the scalpel and some bloodshed. With a sound combination of Hellyeah, Seether and Shinedown with hints of Staind and Creed, they Bring It On with every show, with deep dark powered background vocals, clean strong lead vocals and a muscle bound hard rock sound stringing the metal carrot at the audience.

The rap rock POD power punch of Parasite could blare over any PA system as a fighter walks toward the octagon. They finish with a classic cover because everyone wants to be like the Rolling Stones and Paint it Black.
Austin based co-headliner One Eyed Doll arrived onstage with the evening’s playful animated playmate, skeleton boned Kimberly Freeman.  She’s your friend to the end, but ‘she’ won’t kill you…yet. Formed in 2007 with Jason ‘Junior’ Sewell on drums, they’ve toured the country playing a unique brand of rock, punk, metal with vaudeville humor and stand up slapstick encompassing an all-around entertaining show. Freeman and Sewell have released five OED records with creepy comedic videos for You’re a Vampire, Envy, Committed and Be My Friend along with a special 90 minute gonzo tour rockumentary on YouTube. Freedman’s been featured as Revolver’s hottest chick in Hard Rock in 2011 and 2012 and is listed in Guitar Player Magazine’s top 20 most extraordinary female guitarists. She also has four solo albums under her name with Sewell producing and is a real life character in the game Adventure Quest Worlds.
One Eyed Doll

One Eyed Doll

Alanis Morissette with the dark side of Smurfette and a twitter of Tinkerbell, Freedman resembles a sweet swirling mixture of what made Babes in Toyland, L7, Courtney Love and the Cycle Sluts from Hell so alluring to kids and enduring to concerned mothers everywhere. With a raw performance style of The Great Kat and voice ranging from high pitched innocent girl next door to loud feminine roar, she’s her own switchblade banshee donning many hats on stage, including a cowboy and the pope. The demented dolls open with Committed. Freeman, the Chelsea grinned painted princess playing the bad seed asylum escapee roaming the empty roads and backwoods churches in search of her sanity. She could be a sideshow freak or a lost child of the corn.

Unbeknownst to many but the few they’re secretly an easy listening, smooth jazz, hip-hop, contemporary Christian, Kenny G inspired band. In fact the next song was covered by Celine Dion and Michael Bolton also appearing on the soundtracks of Titanic, My Little Pony: The Movie and Passion of the Christ. Crowd chants of Hail Satan were acknowledged but not endorsed by Freeman. So in honor of these musical/movie influences they get ‘Dirty’ with the Black Sabbath/Slayer inspired Plumes of Death.
Crowd participation from Dayton, Texas was needed and politely demanded for the next song. They brought out fellow misunderstood friends Michael Myers and some dead guys borrowed from The Walking Dead. Their show and message is all about friendship and just like touring bands and axe murderers, serial killers are people too. “If you take away the voices I’m just like you. I’ll hack you up and bury you in my yard. So why does making friends have to be so very hard?” She led the crowd though the hardcore metal, country twanged Yee-Haw sing along first verse. The second verse conversed about religion as Freeman sported His Holy Eminences’ head gear proclaiming our two choices (you’ll be forced or converted either way) Amen or….Hail Satan (despite the crowd’s heavily biased dark side, only half-heartedly endorsed by Freeman).
They finish as she proclaims her true calling and identity as a dedicated woman of the metal law threatening to arrest anyone (with a show of horns in the air) who wasn’t metal. It was time to Break… the law One Eyed Doll style with slow motion hard ramming speed. She finishes crowd diving, surfing her way back to the merch booth.
Next, the Cleveland masked men return after playing and escaping the Mayan apocalypse to play Halloween celebrating 20 years of shroom-influenced metal. They open playing heavily from XX and XII, going straight in for the keyboard lobe shattering mind hemorrhage and religious confusion playing like dog faced gods. The leeches and the lepers in the crowd start to salivate as the predator stalks its prey preparing to Kill Tomorrow.
We take a mind expanding music tablet trip and get Bwomp’d on history’s leaders and who’s trying to control us. Would we be better with the convicted maniacs in charge, creepy crawling the country forward?  Ever been offered candy by a water drum playing human Borg reindeer? Only on Halloween.
Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead count their blessings, being around/fan supported for 20 years and counting. They’re fed up with the status quo and ready to fight and kill for what they believe in. Do you really wanna f- with a band that looks like that tonight? The Sun Doesn’t Rise at all until the past is put behind.

We take a slower ballad like breather as they Save Us from the flawed masterpiece of humanity. There’s only one way, forward.  Inner torment, pain and memories fester inside bleeding your life away, Never Let It Go. Everyone has their own cards to play in life and the inner struggle of good VS evil, right and wrong and what you choose to self-deal.
Everyday life takes its toll on the road, Becoming Cold, missing home. They dedicated The Dream Is Over to lost friend and original guitarist JJ Righteous and called for a pit in his honor.
They encored, changing faces to pumpkin grins and maniacal cut out smiles filling the empty spaces on the floor with some Floyd, proving that every successful band with staying power is Born of Desire.
Forces of Nature photos courtesy of Tom Wilson.
All other photos courtesy of Nikki Forte Design & Photography.

Filed Under: Dayton Music Tagged With: Dayton Music, Forces of Nature, halloween, McGuffys House of Rock, review

REVIEW: Katz Goes Aces High on Halloween

November 6, 2013 By Mike Ritchie Leave a Comment

Aces High take the stage at Katz (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Aces High take the stage at Katz (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Saturday October 25 the Pre-Halloween bash was going full scare all over Dayton. Katz in Kettering trumped everyone bringing in Aces High, ‘The’ Iron Maiden tribute band playing homage to metal’s scariest and coolest mascot, Edward the Great. The night’s Yankee played British invasion included two, 90- minute sets with a costume contest in between and plenty of grisly ghouls, a major French Kiss and some very lovely iron maidens.

Aces High pulled out familiar classics, crowd favorites and a few vintage tunes. Bathed in the vibrant green illumination of Osiris and eye of Horus, they start the evening’s maiden voyage to Egypt walking the sands of time as the names of ancient hailed deities are whispered through the air, telling us why we have to be a Powerslave and a slave to the power of death. Well, you know what they say, if you’re gonna die…. Die With Your Boots On! We get another nicely sliced Piece of Mind as dawn breaks above the ground. The only escape is air-born on your wings like an eagle, fly as high and touch the sun with Icarus, yeah. 11:58 came early at 10:19 with the glamour, the fortune, the pain. For anyone who doubts the power of Maiden, we’ll show the unbelievers. They’ll go anywhere, even Bavaria Where Eagles Dare.

French Kiss (photo by Mike Ritchie)

French Kiss (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Singer of all things Dianno and Dickinson, Tony Oliver said hello to the crowd and costumed incognito members of ‘French’ Kiss. “The fake Kiss came to see the fake Iron Maiden,” he quipped. We get our first Number of the Beast, walking along-side the doomed Children of the Damned. We skip ahead a few years to the late-eighties and get cultish with old creepy Crowley with the seven deadly sins, seven ways to win, seven holy paths to see Aces High as the first song from Seventh Son begins. Then they return to the beginning, since no one brought their daughter to the slaughter they play the next best thing, the blood red instrumental about Dracula’s home turf. Speaking of old-school Killers, they play another Dianno drenched bloodlust tune.

We take a time warp forward into an Eddie’fied future but before we’re caught in time we have to go back to the golden coast across the seven seas and search for those Wasted Years. You might need a Clairvoyant to find them. Back to killers in the literal sense as we get pseudo Poe’d in the Rue Morgue. Whether it’s the Rue Morgue, Mockingbird Lane or the Whitechapel district, we’re Caught Somewhere In time. Time catches up to even the greatest of legendary man, even Alexander.

As the band rested, the creatures of the night have their moment in the spotlight. A robust personal trainer, some iron maidens, Joker and Batgirl, the Mighty Son of Hercules and his queen, the ‘French’ Kiss, a straight jacket laced zombie and a solo feminine Gene Simmons among others rounded out the party guests. Though French Kiss had the bread and Pierre, crazy’s always in and the insane zombie won the night.

Aces High (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Aces High (photo by Mike Ritchie)

The Book of Revelation opens as the ominous voice of Barry Clayton reads its verses: “Woe to you, oh earth and sea, For the Devil sends the beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short, let him who hath understanding, reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.” The song partially inspired by Omen II starts its epic intro and iconic scream. Sticking with the beast we are labeled number six by the new number two but we proclaim our freedom as free men, not a Prisoner. We get medieval in Egypt witnessing the swordsman seeking vengeance.  Flash of the Blade is Oliver’s first Maiden song performed on stage. Dario Argento also used it in his 1984 film Phenomena.

The condemned is waiting in his cold cell when the bells begin to chime, at 5 O’clock he’s taken to the gallows pole.  The sands of time run low and he doesn’t have much time. Iced Earth, Cradle of Filth and Machine Head have each taken the walk. Hallowed be their names. Churchill rallies the troops for war, they shall defend their island and fight…everywhere, whatever the cost may be, and never surrender. Aces High lives to play the opener from the legendary Live After Death Tour. After the fighting’s done we head down to Acacia Ave for some well- deserved decadent debauchery.

Aces played an impromptu fan request of Good Times Bad Times before connecting with some Infinite Dreams. Then go straight to Boleskine House for some Sacred Magick rituals to bring about Revelations. Then we hear the most epic song written by metal heads, inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. We’ll never look at birds the same way again. Five minutes later the stage is sprayed in laser light and smoke as the ship sails wayward. The timbers stretch and creak as the captain spins his tale of strange happenings followed by one of the coolest bass lines…ever, from Randy Gaines and the tale goes on and on and on.

We go from a seas tale to the Crimean War and battle back to back with The Trooper. Even the Mighty Son of Hercules and his fair lady worship at the stage of Maiden going crazy for The Wrathchild. The Evil That Men Do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones. So says mighty Caesar. We finish the evening with the iconic show closer of confrontation between Indians and Anglo-Saxons. Run To The Hills, run for your life!

Oliver thanked the crowd for coming as they only do a select amount of shows each year. He thanked the band, Dave McCarty, drummer Brian Harris and guitarist Dan Briley for upgrading/sprucing up the stage design and props and there is… no Iron Maiden tribute without Randy Gaines.  Till next time, scream for me Katz in Kettering, scream for me Katz in Kettering!

 

Filed Under: Dayton Music Tagged With: Dayton Music, halloween, Katz

An Adult Trick or Treat? Try Winans Chocolates

October 31, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Why should kids have all the fun on Halloween?

Why should kids have all the fun this Halloween season?  Adults around Dayton love chocolate and deserve to eat themselves into a sugar high as well.  FOOD ADVENTURES has been hitting Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees for years, and think this is a perfect time to load up on some of their elegant chocolate specialties.  Go ahead, look at your diet for a day and go “BOO!!”

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Founded near Piqua, this business has been owned by the same family for four generations

— Specialties include chocolate and candy creations, coffees and even a decent wine selection.

— Relaxing, inviting atmosphere to have a glass of wine and some chocolates.  Some stores have decent  patio seating as well.

— These are fine chocolates, and with quality comes a price.  Don’t expect cheap deals, this is the good stuff.

— The candies are made locally with natural ingredients.   We love products made in the Miami Valley, and pure is good too!

— Three area locations:  6735 Miller Lane in North Dayton, 2806 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd(Dayton Mall) and 3510 Pentagon Rd. in Beavercreek.

Break open a Bourbon Cherry from Winans. You won’t be the same.

Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees captures the elegance and decadence of chocolate in their stores.  The display cases and sitting areas allow for browsing in a rush, or a slow indulgence.  Speaking of indulgence, brace yourself for the “Must Eats” at Winans!

MUST EATS:

— BOURBON CHERRIES:  There is nothing quite like these chocolate covered cherries in Dayton.  Chef House, Big Ragu and Hungry Jax eat enough of these to get a hangover.

— MAINE BLUEBERRY COFFEE:  Yes, you read that right.  Food Adventures will tell you “Don’t knock it til you try it.”  He highly recommends this uniquely flavored coffee.

— WETZELS:  Winan’s chocolate covered pretzels are the perfect mixture of sweet and salty.  You simply cannot eat just one of these delicious treats.

— TRUFFLES:  Stick one on your tongue and let it melt.  The chocolate ganache in the middle is like finding the prize in a Cracker Jack box.   This is a Food Adventure in a bite.

Coffee lovers love Winans

— MINT JEWELS:  Rich, creamy and oh so dreamy.  White chocolate and the texture of the top from the nonpareils makes this a must eat.  More addicting than Candy Crush.

 

Slobbering yet?  Then turn the tables on the kids and have yourself a little Halloween Food Adventure at Winans fine Chocolates.  Just don’t wear a creepy costume and demand free candy, we wouldn’t want the Mall Police to get involved….

 

 Want more fun with the Dayton Originals, THE FOOD ADVENTURE CREW ?  Then click here and “like” them Facebook!!

Browse through the photo gallery below and tell us your favorite treats from Winans in the comment section.

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Filed Under: Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: bark, Beavercreek, Big Ragu, blueberry coffee, bourbon cherries, candies, chcolate dipped strawberries, cherries, chocolate, chocolate covered, chocolates, Christmas, coffee, coffees, cordial, cordials, Dayton, Dayton Mall, family owned, Food Adventure, Food Adventures, Gifts, halloween, local, miller lane, mint jewels, piqua, strawberries, The Big Ragu, truffle, truffles, wetzels, winans, wine

Food Adventures does “Dinner and a Ghost!”

October 21, 2013 By Dayton937 3 Comments

Is Snow Hill Country Club Haunted ? Have dinner and decide yourself

Ever had dinner with a ghost?   Well here is your chance, Ghost Hunters!   Snow Hill Country Club is haunted, and had been serving up “Dinner and a Ghost” nights on Fridays in October for the past 12 years.    In fact, the place is so legendary, that it was featured on an episode of the Biography channel’s “My Ghost Story.”  The country club is located just outside of Wilmington, on State Route 73.  The “Dinner and a Ghost” nights feature food, fear and even an overnight stay.

The Food Adventures Crew have eaten in many scary places, but this was our first “Haunted Food Adventure.”   The food is pretty straight forward.  On our two trips to the country club, buffet items included turkey and ham, while another night they featured ribs and salmon.   The meal is rounded out with salad, a couple of sides and a dessert plate shared by the table, or possibly some cake.

But we weren’t here for the food, we were here for the ghosts.  And Snow Hill delivered….

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— “Dinner and a Ghost” features appetizers in the bar and a buffet style dinner.    The menu has improved since the 1820’s and they wont be serving  rabbit, steamed onions, venison and beef tongue anymore. 

One of our dinners featured Ribs and Salmon

— After dinner, the hosts take you on a guided tour complete with historical information, sound recordings of unexplained voices, and even a couple of photos believed to be “supernatural.”  Tour gurus include historian Kathleen Madison and Ghost expert/Paranormal Investigator Shelly Suittor.   Supporting cast includes Ghost Hunters Kat Powell and Alicia Soich.

— After the tour, guests are encouraged to look around for about an hour and explore for themselves.  During this time a few notable unexplained “phenomenon” have been known to occur.

— Attendees may purchase alcohol at a full service bar on the main level.

— There are 6 guest rooms, and groups may make reservations to stay the night for about 100 bucks per room.   Included in the stay is “ghost hunting” all night, if you have the guts to roam the halls late at night.   Even golf may be arranged during good weather.

— Snow Hill Country Club is located in New Vienna, Ohio at 11093 New Vienna Rd (Daytonians know this as State Route 73).  Famous visitors have included Henry Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt, and legendary 1920’s golfer, Walter Hagen.

— Minimum groups for ‘dinner and a ghost’ are 12 people.  Cost of dinner and tour is $45 per person.

Click to enlarge: What you think of the “orb” in this photo. Is it the sign of a spirit ?

 

MUST SCREAMS:

— Snow Hill was built and owned by the Harris family in 1820.  It was a popular Inn and tavern up through the 1900’s.  One of the oldest running businesses in Ohio, the country club is said to be haunted by spirits of past owners, family members and past guests.

— Many stories abound from the 70’s and 80’s like a man whom believed he hit a pedestrian in the road, but noone was found.   Or records of police and firefighters responding to alarms and seeing unexplained light and movements throughout the house.

— The Food Adventures Crew had a few unexplained happenings during our two tours:

Big Ragu was taking photographs in the dark, damp cellar thought to be a passage for the underground railroad.   In some of the photos, some circular orbs appeared, one very prominently.  We were told that many ghost hunters believe these are tell tale signs of “spirits” in the room.   To be honest, we do not know what to think, other than the orbs were strange and not in photos taken of the same place seconds earlier.  The prominent orb in the photo had a distinct outline and almost looked to have “veins” running through it.  Odd indeed.  Is it a spirit?  You decide.

The Big Ragu was in the storage area of the basement, when the door next to him opened about an inch and then slammed quickly.  He looked around the room at the handful of people near him and they had that “oh crap” look on their face.  Ragu opened the door and saw a dark empty hall with a staircase, there was nobody there.  There was also a moment where the Big Ragu felt something grab his back pocket.  He was unsure if this was a  fan who liked his behind or a ghost.

Elegant, yet Spooky: Stay the night… if you dare

— During our 2nd visit to Snow Hill, one of our fellow guests took a photo of what appears to be an apparition in one of the bedrooms.   Again, unexplained and just plain weird.

— Employees tell stories of glasses shattering, chandeliers swinging violently, and various apparition sightings.

— Recordings of various unexplained voices gave us goosebumps, especially one particular ghost that whispered the word “Becky” as clear as day on the recording.  The voice was creepy like Golem from Lord of the Rings movies, or like someone who ate too much at Golden Corral.

— An 1880’s portrait photo of an man was found in a cupboard, and when locked away, would keep appearing in various open areas of the country club.  One of the tour guests recognized the photo as her ancestor Thomas Wilson, a Civil War vet.   Since being identified, it was found out that he was a former owner of the country club, purchasing it at auction in 1898.  Since being identified, his photo has ceased moving inexplicably.

— A candlemaker tool levitated and slammed to the ground on a couple of occasions in front of various dinner party guests a few years back.   The theory is that the ghost of the original owner, Mrs Harris, might not be keen on a “peasant tool” being allowed in her formal dining room as decor.

 

With Halloween around the corner, this is the perfect time for “Dinner and a Ghost” at Snow Hill Country Club.  We were skeptical going in, and realized after 2 visits, some things happened that we couldn’t explain.  Were they spirits from lives past?   Look at our photos, listen to the recordings in person.  Is the place haunted?  Did we see “ghosts?”  You decide…. and check it out for yourself,  but we suggest you don’t go alone.

Click to enlarge: On our 2nd trip to Snow Hill a fellow guest took this pic. Is is a ghost?

So you want to get spooked?  Want a frightening Food Adventure ??

Then contact Snow Hill Country Club and ask for a private Dinner and a Ghost Group (minimum 12 people).  Tell them Food Adventures sent you!

Don’t forget, you can book an overnight stay and/or a round of golf !

For reservations contact General Manager Katie Gephardt at [email protected] or call her at 937-987-2491.

The  Dinner and a Ghost website can be found HERE –>http://www.snowhillcountryclub.com/dinner-and-a-ghost/

For scary images, haunting plates and funny faces, “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY BELOW FOR UNEXPLAINED AND DELICIOUS PHENOMENA !

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Filed Under: Dayton Dining, Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: #daytonfood, Alcohol, Alicia Soich, apparition, Beer, Big Ragu, boo, booze, buffet, butter, Cake, chef house, cookies, country club, Dayton, dessert, dinner, food, Food Adventure, Food Adventures, ghost, ghost hunting, ghosts, golf, green beans, group, halloween, ham, haunted, haunted house, haunted houses, haunting, hungry jax, Kat Powell, Kathleen Madison, Katie Gebhardt, new vienna, October, Oh, oh ghost hunters, ohio, overnight, paranormal, pie, polteregeists, poltergeist, ribs, rolls, rooms, salmon, Shelly Suittor, snow hill, spirit, spirits, st rt 73, state route 73, The Big Ragu, turkey, Wilmington, wine, wings

Walking Dead Food Adventure & Zombie Dogz at Horror Hound Weekend

March 28, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

‘Juan of the Dead’ Zombie Dog

Here is something you will not see anywhere else.  The Big Ragu and Crew had a VIP experience at last weekend’s Horror Hound convention in Sharonville.  We had a Food Adventure with Merle & Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead (Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker)!  Featured along with the Cast of the Walking Dead and many celebrities was a Dayton’s own,  Zombie Dogz.  Typically a food truck, it was a little different this time for the gourmet hot dog masters.   They operated out of a catering booth inside the convention center.     Owners of  Zombie Dogz,  Lee and David VanArtsdalen and Horror Hound Magazine’s Eric Crowley personally invited us to the event and set us up for an unforgettable Food Adventure.

The Big Ragu and Crew shared some iconic Dayton foods with the celebrities:

We had a Zombie Dog with a Reservoir Dog.  That’s right, we dined and joked with Michael Madsen.  Michael was a great sport, and he didn’t carve our ear off.   He shared some good Hollywood stories and laughs with us.  We also learned he was telling other celebrities about his time with us and the Zombie Dogz.

Legendary horror film director John Carpenter also enjoyed one of Dayton’s Zombie Dogz with us, while he was wearing some pretty sweet black velvet sweat pants.  It was almost as scary as his film “Halloween.”   Meeting this giant of the film industry was priceless.

We gave a hungry Twisted Sister Frontman Dee Snider some Mikesell’s Good n Hot Potato chips.  In fact, the whole cast of his show “Holliston” shared the bag.  What does Dee wanna do with his chips?  ‘He wants them hot, HOT !’   This Celebrity Apprentice star loved the taste of Mikesells, and we were not ‘fired’ in the boardroom.

Dee Snider from Twisted Sister & Celeb Apprentice loves Mikesells Chips

The star of the scary Candyman movies Tony Todd, loved the box of Esther Price Candies we gave him.   He enjoyed them so much, he gave us a high five the next day.   Even movie stars like the Candyman love Esther Price Candies !

Remember the classic 60’s TV show The Munsters?  Well, we ate Muenster cheese with Eddie Munster, thanks to Murray’s Cheese from Kroger in Centerville.  Eddie, played by Butch Patrick, appreciated it so much, he signed a photo for us!

The  Big Ragu and Crew ate lunch with Bengals Defensive Tackle Domata Peko .  We enjoyed some LaRosa’s Pizza while sitting with his family.  Domata is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.  He is also a horror movie fan like us,  and was excited to meet the various celebs.

Where else can you see this kind of stuff?  Only here, only Food Adventures and Dayton Most Metro.  Often imitated, never duplicated.

The Big Ragu also shared French Bread and Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water with 80’s babe Diane Franklin from the movie “Better Off Dead.”  If you saw the movie, you get the significance of the food items, ‘and to drink…. Peru’ .  These days Diane is promoting her new book “Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s.”  You can buy the book here on Amazon.com.

We hung out with other famous horror actors including Lew Temple, Sid Haig, Tom Savini,  Irwin Keyes, Robert Mukes and many other costumed monsters.  The original car from the movie Christine was there, we wanted to take it to the Root Beer Stande Drive in but she turned us down.  Special mention to our friends at S.T.A.R.S Cincinnati, a costumed fan group of the movie “Resident Evil.”  They do charity appearances and their slogan is “We kill zombies for charity.”  Speaking of Zombies….

The “Calling in Dead” Zombie Dog has Mac N Cheese on top

About Zombie Dogz:

Have you tried a Zombie Dog?  These hot dogs are so big, that they almost look like kielbasa sausages.  The menu at Zombie Dogz is pretty simple.  It all starts with large, juicy all beef hot dog.    The hot dog is placed into a wonderful sandwich roll, strong enough to hold the hot dog and ingredients intact.  What makes a zombie dog special is the choice of toppings.  Each Zombie Dog has a creative name based on those toppings.  The menu is constantly evolving with new creations, but The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax ate these hot dogs all weekend and want to share our favorites.

Zombe’ Grande – The all beef hot dog is topped with cheese queso sauce, lettuce, cilantro sour cream, jalapeno bacon bits and crushed corn chips.  The mix of the cheese sauce and crushed corn chips are a gooey, tasty combination that won us over.  This was definitely one of our favorites

Juan of the Dead – An all beef frank topped with Swiss cheese, homemade bbq pulled pork, sweet and tangy mustard and pickles.  The pulled pork and pickles really make this gourmet hot dog.  The Big Ragu say this is a must eat!

The Nibbler – This time they wrap the hot dog in bacon, then smother it in spicy chili.  The zombie dog is then topped off with diced red onion, sweet & tangy mustard, and shredded muenster cheese.  This one really woke up our taste buds and is a Food Adventure in your mouth.

Owners Dave and Lee VanArtsdalen of Zombie Dogz, with Co-founder/Marketer Michael Whitaker

Calling in Dead  – This over the top creation tops the hot dog with homemade mac n cheese.  The creamy mac n cheese is cooked in truffle oil for a magnificent flavor.  The final touch in this hot dog is a sprinkle of truffle salt and cracker crumbs.  This hot dog was so rich, we could hardly finish it.  It packed a powerful punch on our appetites, but we couldn’t stop eating it.

Brain Daddy – This was the most Caribbean style hot dog that we tried.  The all beef dog is topped with slow roasted mango habanero pulled pork.  It was also topped with pineapple-cherry salsa.  The final dash of white and black sesame seeds finishes this masterpiece.  This gourmet dog promises to have your taste buds dancing the mambo.

The Horror Hound Weekend was incredible. We got to meet Dayton horror film makers like our pals from Concept Media Films.  We even bought a couple of their Dayton-made DVD’s!  Meanwhile The Big Ragu was distracted by the Jersey girls over at GorgeousAndGory.com.  Supporting local people and making new Food Adventure fans seemed to sum up this fantastic experience.

This Zombie Dog is called “The Nibbler”

Miami Valley foodies should keep their eye open for events featuring the Zombie Dogz Food Truck and their unique creations.  The hot dogs will satisfy your hunger at the not so bad price of $6.50 per dog.  There are even have veggie dog options.  Want to catch Zombie Dogz Food Truck’s next event?  Then visit Dayton’s Crafty-Con on April 5th.  The event will be held from 5pm to 11pm at the Yellow Cab Building on 700 East 4th St.   Tell the zombies that The Big Ragu sent you !

 

Feel free to comment on the Zombie Dogz Food Truck below.  Also share any thoughts about Horror Hound Weekend as well.

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here, unless you are scared of zombies and good times.

[flagallery gid=32 name=Gallery]

Filed Under: Dayton Food Trucks, Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: bengals, better off dead, Big Ragu, bill, butch patrick, candies, candyman, celebrity apprentice, cheeses, chef house, cincinnati, convention, David, Dayton, dee snider, diane franklin, domata peko, eddie munster, Esther Price, excellent adventure, halloween, holliston, hollywood, horror, horror films, horror hound, hot dog, hot dogs, hungry jax, Irwin Keyes, john carpenter, Kroger, larosas, last american virgin, laura ortiz, Lee, Lew Temple, michael madsen, michael rooker, Michael Whitaker, mike-sells, Mikesells, muenster cheese, munster, Murray's, norman reedus, On Screen Dayton, Perrier, potato chips, resevoir dog, resevoir dogs, robert mukes, S.T.A.R.S., sharonville, sid haig, ted's, the munsters, the walking dead, tom savini, tony todd, twisted sister, VanArtsdalen, walking dead, weekend, zombie dogz, zombies

Day of the Dead Celebration, Mural Unveiling, Holiday Gift Buying at November First Friday

October 29, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Pick up holiday items such as these festive ornaments at DVAC’s Art to Buy gift gallery, opening this First Friday.

Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2.

Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community program will host a Day of the Dead Community Ofrenda Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. with a parade in the Oregon District. The parade will begin on Wyandot Avenue, near Hauer Music, and will continue down East Fifth Street. The community is invited to participate in the parade, led by artist and musician Michael Bashaw and students from Chaminade-Julienne High School and Stivers School for the Arts. The parade will end around 6:30 p.m. at Missing Peace Art Space, 234 S. Dutoit St., just off East Fifth Street near Stivers School for the Arts. A reception will run until 10 p.m. at the art gallery with food provided by Taqueria Mixteca. The reception will feature an exhibit of community art created for the occasion.

Fair trade retail store Peace on Fifth will host its grand opening in its new location at 510 E. Fifth St., where it will share space with art studio and shop Gallery 510 Fine Art. Peace on Fifth will take over part of Gallery 510’s art gallery space at the front of the store, and the businesses will continue to operate as two separate stores coexisting in the same space. For First Friday, Peace on Fifth will host a fair trade food tasting in the store.

Peace on Fifth, a sucessful Pop Up Shop from the first round of Activated Spaces’ program, will move into a new space in Gallery 510 Fine Art and will host a grand opening during November First Friday.

With the holidays just around the corner, visit downtown retail stores and art galleries to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift.  The Dayton Visual Arts Center and CADC both will host openings of their holiday gift galleries, featuring unique gift items made by local artisans, and K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS will host a handmade arts and crafts event. Several other art galleries will host show openings, and retail stores will feature items for the holiday season.

A new series of murals along East Third Street will be unveiled, with a meet-and-greet reception with the artists held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the nearby studio of Hamilton Dixon, 811 E. Third St. This album of photos shows the mural project in progress. Look for the murals on East Third between Keowee and Webster streets.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, Downtown Dayton, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Cityfolk, day of the dead, Downtown Dayton, First Friday, halloween, holidays, peace on fifth

Jesus Christ Superstar | Halloween | Cloud Atlas | Chasing Mavericks | Silent Hill 3d Revelation Special Showing

October 24, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Hello Dayton! Last week’s blog featured lots of scary movies just in time for Halloween. This week focuses on more special events as well as upcoming releases that should be sure to make a splash!

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR MONDAY OCTOBER 29TH & THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1ST @ 7:30PM

Experience Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newly staged rock opera sensation Jesus Christ Superstar in a whole new way, on the big screen. The theatrical production originally opened in the West End in 1972 and has been reimagined to capture today’s audiences with the classic musical numbers that you are sure to remember and love. The evening will begin with an exclusive historical retrospective on this iconic title including interviews with cast members from the past and present. This version features actor/singer Ben Forster as Jesus, Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, and Melanie Chisholm (aka Mel C from the Spice Girls) as Mary Magdalene.

Don’t miss this special event playing two nights only!

 

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x61EQP-4IUY’]

HALLOWEEN TUESDAY OCTOBER 30TH @ 7:30PM

Celebrate the day before Halloween with one of Halloween’s best loved scary movies! The original movie from 1972 featuring Jamie Lee Curtis will be on the big screen for just one night at one time and it’s more terrifying than ever. A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zrp-k-OnrM’]

 

 

 

 

CLOUD ATLAS- OPENING FRIDAY OCTOBER 26TH

An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution. Beginning as far back as an 1849 diary of an ocean voyage and going as far into the future during a post-apocalyptic, this movie, based off a novel, has a stellar cast featuring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, and Susan Serandon.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQFAPeaJOf8′]

CHASING MAVERICKS- OPENING FRIDAY OCTOBER 26TH

The inspirational true story of real life surfing phenomenon Jay Moriarty begins when 15 year old Jay discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home. He enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it. As Jay and Frosty embark on their quest to accomplish the impossible, they form a unique friendship that transforms both their lives, and their quest to tame Mavericks becomes as much about their bond as it is about surfing.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYc3jRoua8′]

SPECIAL SHOWING- SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D THURSDAY OCTOBER 25TH @ 10PM

Heather Mason and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand, Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she’s not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever. This movie releases on Friday, October 26th but has a special early show Thursday at 10pm.

Click for showtimes…

ENTER TO WIN TWO MOVIE PASSES!

Complete the form and leave a Facebook comment telling us you want to WIN MOVIE PASSES from RAVE CINEMAS DAYTON SOUTH, we will randomly draw a winner and notify same. Contest closes 10/25/12. Passes awarded will be valid for 30 days from close date at Rave Cinemas Dayton South only and must be used by then or will be forfeited. Valid for any showing, except special events. Please bring ID to verify your name and just ask for a manager when attending informing them you won the Dayton Most Metro contest.

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to this week’s winner:

Brian Anzek

Filed Under: On Screen Dayton Tagged With: chasing mavericks, classic, cloud atlas, Dayton South, Discount, films, halloween, Huber Heights, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jesus Christ superstar, Michael myers, movie, movies, musical, On Screen Dayton, Rave Cinemas, scary, show times, silent hill, surfing, The Greene, Theater, ticket, waves

Foy’s Hulks Up For Halloween

October 23, 2012 By Mike Ritchie Leave a Comment

Lou Ferrigno as the Incredible Hulk

Saturday October 20th Foy’s Halloween Store in partnership with the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce brought in fitness celebrity and actor Lou Ferrigno. Known for his body building prowess and memorable TV appearances as the angrier side of David Banner, he was the winner of the IFBB Mr. America Title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe Titles. He also appeared in the body building documentary Pumping Iron. From 2000-2007 he played himself on the CBS Sitcom King of Queens and in the 2009 feature comedy I Love You, Man. Ferrigno hung out with fans, signed autographs, posed for pics and walked around Friday evening socializing with the locals. This is the first national celebrity appearance booked by Foy’s and Fairborn. Store owner Mike Foy met Ferrigno in Columbus at an Arnold Classic a few years back and inquired about a future appearance. It took a little time but the deal was done.

Foy’s store is the only year round Halloween supply stores in case you feel the need to scare someone and it’s a different season. There are six different Fairborn stores showcasing Foy’s items. There’s a special age appropriate Halloween store for kids where little ghouls and zombie princesses can roam around without getting too scared. Of course for the older Hellraiser or Hot Vampiress there’s a tailor made adult store for costumes on the bigger side and other attire more on the devilish/devious side of Halloween fashion.

The original Foy’s in Fairborn (photo by Juliet Fromholt)

This year marks their 83rd anniversary and they’re celebrating with a first ever Halloween Festival. Friday October 26th from 4-11pm and Saturday October 27th 10am-11pm. Friday’s costume judging for the 48th Annual Spooktacular Parade will begin at 6pm at the YMCA with prizes awarded for 8 age groups plus pets based on originality, cuteness and whatever scary, creepy stuff one can put yourself into. Parade will start at 7:30 traveling to the maiming stage area on Main Street. There will also be all day Amusement Rides, so if you spin, twirl around, go upside down enough times you’ll walk like the undead anyway. Saturday the 3rd annual scary cardio craze Zombie Walk will commence dragging feet from the Great American Legion at 8:30pm. Hosted by The Fairborn Community Center, Pre-party starts at 7pm with make-up, raffle, photo ops and optional blood bath (cleanliness is next to Godliness). There is a $5 entry fee. Other festivities include a Zombie Thriller dance performed with grave skill at 9 followed by a Gene Simmons Impersonator.

Also on Friday The Fairborn Community Library wants you to be in a one of a kind ‘lively’ music video for their YouTube channel. Professional videographer Scott Cornell will be filming the zombie part of a Halloween tribute to the Thriller video at 8pm.  Zombies created at 6:30, get there early. There are multiple parts for dancers who would usually devour books with their eyes and…..braaains. This is an all ages event so no blood or gore even during after-hours operation. Zombie make-up will be provided if needed. Also if you know or can learn The Thriller, grizzly ghouls from every tomb will be needed Saturday at 2pm for the Thrill The World dance around the main stage. Go to www.thrilltheworld.com.
Next year Foy’s plans to bring in Butch Patrick aka Eddie Munster and might have a few upcoming Halloween surprises straight from Haddonfield.  So you have no excuses to be bored next weekend. Come and join the fun, friendly, fiendish atmosphere and all day entertainment and scare up a good time.

Filed Under: Community, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Fairborn, Foy's Halloween Store, halloween

Dayton Playhouse Presents “Dracula”

September 23, 2012 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

(left) Alex Carmichal, Dracula, and Jared Mola, Renfield, rehearsing for the Dayton Playhouse production of Dracula

The Dayton Playhouse will present Dracula, October 12-21.  This version of the well-known play was adapted by William McNulty, originally dramatized by John L. Balderston and Hamilton Deane from Bram Stoker’s novel.

The action of the play engulfs the audience as Professor Van Helsing and his brave comrades must hunt down and destroy the evil Count Dracula.  However, the Count is exceedingly resourceful, employing superhuman strength and psychic powers to confound his antagonists.  The action culminates in a shocking confrontation between the King of Vampires and those who would rid the world of him.

David Shough, director of this production, and Jennifer Lockwood, assistant director, have assembled a seasoned cast including: Alex Carmichal as Count Dracula, Jared Mola as Renfield, Sara Parsons as Lucy, and Saul Caplan as Van Helsing.   Rounding out the cast are Margaret Foley, Matthew Glenn, David Hallowren, Carolyn Anne Hoogsteden, Matthew Lindsay, Heather Martin, Cari Meixner, Debra Strauss, David Thomas and Addison Paige Wheeler, Shough has incorporated many audio visual effects to heighten the drama.  According to Shough, “This is an intense and faced-paced version of the Dracula legend.  It will be a complete theatrical experience of the typoe seldom seen on this stage.  Not for the faint of heart.”

Projections for the opening narrative of this production were designed by Miamisburg artist, Chris Newman.  Some of the original pen and ink drawings will be raffled off in the lobby during the run of the play.  Proceeds from the raffle will go to the Dayton Playhouse Celebrate 25 capital campaign.  Tickets for the raffle will be $2 each, or three for $5.

Performances of Dracula will be Friday through Sunday, October 12-21.  All performances are at 8:00 p.m. except Sundays, which are at 2:00 p.m.  (see full schedule here)  Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and students.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.daytonplayhouse.org, or through the box office, 937-424-8477.  The box office is staffed Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 2-5 p.m., however messages may be left at any time.  The Dayton Playhouse is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414.

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Previews Tagged With: Alex Carmichal, David Shough, Dayton Playhouse, Dracula, halloween, Jared Mola, Jennifer Lockwood, Sara Parsons, Saul Caplan

Music Video Monday: October 24, 2011

October 24, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

In the words of a classic film minus a classic killer, “8 more days til Halloween, Halloween, Halloween…”  Okay, so we’re actually a bit farther a long than that.  So it’s a perfect time to share a fantastic music video by local musician and filmmaker Henrique Couto.  It’s a new twist on the classic tune, Monster Mash and features Couto alongside Moriah Yux (Jasper the Colossal), Jay Madewell (Fab Gear) and a host of friends and ghouls.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewbvvGF0jT4′]

Filed Under: Dayton Music Tagged With: Dayton Music, halloween, Music video monday

“Of Soft And Golden Hue”

October 28, 2010 By J.T. Ryder 3 Comments

The Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.”

Judith Chaffin

Reflecting on a pumpkin patch, it reminds me of the way a community should truly be. Occupying your own mounded hill, you are nurtured from the same sustenance offered to your neighbor. When you bask in the warmth of a sunlit day, your neighbors feel the sun’s impartial rays as well. When hard times befall you, the community must endure the inclement storms. Eventually, your vines and roots tangle and twist together, becoming a communal plot of land. Could it be that a simple jack-o’-lantern could bring a community of people together as well?

Many years ago, Judy Chaffin envision ghoulishly glowing pumpkin lighting the perfect darkness of the McKinley Park located on Forest Ave. by the Dayton Art Institute. Her vision remained a wil-o’the-wisp…until she moved nearby onto Stoddard Ave.

“When I moved onto Stoddard Ave., I thought, ‘Boy, if we put some over on the hill, how neat would that look?’” Judy reminisce. “I then asked my brother and his wife if they would help me and I went out and bought thirty-six pumpkins and, back then, I thought that was huge! So, we put them over there and people stopped by and seemed to really like them and that was really nice.”

The hill behind the Greek Orthodox Church seemed perfect, providing the pumpkins with a raised dais so that the casual passersby would fall under it’s eerie orange stare while the stone edifice of the Church itself endowed the tableaux with the ideal backdrop. The idea seemed to grow all on it’s own, sending tendrils and roots through the fertile furrows of the imagination. Judy recounted how the pumpkin patch grew with each subsequent year that passed.

“Then the next year, we decided to go for a little more. We tried to increase it by twenty-five or so…we did seventy-five, then one hundred, then one hundred and twenty-five…it just kept going up and up and up.” With a wave, Judy said, “At some point, it just jumped up to three hundred, and once that number goes up, you really can’t go back down. Last year it jumped to like four hundred and this year we have like five hundred pumpkins.”

In the beginning, Judy would trek up towards Springfield each night after work to cull through a local pumpkin farm, loading up her little Honda Civic with all that it would carry. After a few years, her brother helped her by loading up his van with the orange gourd-like squash. Eventually, she was referred to another Springfield area farmer who not only negotiated a fair price for the prestigious pumpkins, but more importantly…he delivered.

Neighbors and friends have joined into the mix, offering their services from gutting and cleaning to carving, placing and lighting the finished pumpkins. It became a neighborhood affair.

“Well, I think that a lot of them like to bring people into the neighborhood for something positive. You know how it is. If you say, ‘Oh, I live over by the Dayton Art Institute’ people are aghast. It’s not like that. It’s a great neighborhood.” Judy opined, “I think that is why the neighbors enjoy it because we have people from all over…we have people from Sidney and Troy and other cities that come down. It’s just nice. I have friends from Cincinnati who come up to see it.”

With every manner of carving displayed, the Pumpkin Glow has definitely grown, taking in the hearts and imaginations of people from far away cities who have hear about the extraordinary exhibit by word of mouth. The sheer logistics is staggering when one realizes how few people are involved in the actual process of cleaning and carving the pumpkins. Before I left, Judy outlined the schedule for this year’s Pumpkin Glow for me.

“We’re going to try and put them up early this year at about eleven o’clock in the morning and then at about four-thirty or five o’clock, we’ll begin lighting them and they’ll stay lit well past midnight. Then they will be up Saturday night and Sunday night and then Monday, we take them off the hill.” Judy ended by alluding to one of the many factors that make this such a special occasion. “Some people want us to keep them lit until Monday. I think that two nights is enough…it’s fleeting, and that’s what makes it so special.”

The Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow can be seen on Saturday and Sunday, October 30th and 31st. It is a display that is well worth seeing, not only for it’s sheer eerie beauty, but also for the sense of community that it invokes on this All Hallows Eve.

“Only the knife knows what goes on in the heart of a pumpkin.”
~Simone Schwarz-Bart

...let the carnage begin!

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/Stoddard Ave. Pumpkin Glow/]

Filed Under: The Featured Articles Tagged With: All Hallow's Eve, carving, halloween, jack-o'-lantern, Judith Chaffin, pumpkin, Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow

Whatever Happened to My Transylvania Twist? Halloween Concert Roundup

October 27, 2010 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

Just because you’re wearing a costume doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t enjoy some great music.  Here are some of the best Halloween concerts happening around town this week:

  • Start your celebrations on Wednesday night with Don’t Be Afraid, It’s Only Us, an original Halloween concert party presented by DJ Mister Kidd at Canal Street Tavern.  Ten bands will perform and there will be a DJ between sets. Details and lineup are here.
  • We gave you a preview of Saturday’s Monster Hop during this week’s Music Video Monday.  You can check out more details about this Canal Street Tavern show featuring the Luxury Pushers and Legbone here.
  • On Saturday night, Brixx Ice Company will be hosting a free Halloween Bash featuring music from C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks and the Playboys.  103.9FM the X will also be on the scene doing a live remote.  Click here for details.
  • J’Alan’s is also hosting a Halloween party/concert featuring the Dark Backward, Once-ler and Blaxeed. Full details here.
  • Hauntfest on Fifth is the Oregon District’s big party and will feature live music and more.  More on that here.
  • If you’re looking for something that’s a bit more family friendly, head over to the Schuster Center for the Dayton Philharmonic’s annual Philharmonster show on Saturday afternoon.
  • On Halloween night, head over to Therapy Cafe for their Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Anniversary Halloween Party.  They’ll have DJs spinning retro and industrial tunes all night long.  Details are here.

What musical Halloween celebrations are you looking forward to?

Filed Under: Dayton Music Tagged With: Dayton Music, halloween

Music Video Monday: October 25, 2010

October 25, 2010 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

Halloween is so close you can almost taste the fun-sized Kit Kat bars.  There are many great Halloween happenings this weekend, but one of my favorite Halloween traditions has to be the Monster Hop at Canal Street Tavern.  This yearly party is hosted by the Luxury Pushers who’ll be joined onstage by Legbone and Timeless Entertainment Burlesque.  Full show details are at the DaytonMostMetro events calendar.

We’ll tell you about some more Halloween concerts later this week here in the Dayton Music section.  In the meantime, here’s a video of the Luxury Pushers performing at Canal Street Tavern.

Filed Under: Dayton Music Tagged With: Dayton Music, halloween, Monster Hop, Music Video Mondays

Hauntfest 2009

October 29, 2009 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

It is that time of year again as Dayton’s Oregon District gears up for THE Halloween event of the year for the entire region – HAUNTFEST 2009!

OregonHauntFest2009Poster-FINAL-3OCTOBER 31st (Halloween night!)

Gates open at 7pm.  (enter at Fifth/Patterson or at Fifth/Wayne or Jackson/Wayne)
Beer sales are until 12:30am
Event closes at 1:00am
Entry fee is $5 (This represents a 50% reduction in cost from 2008!). 
Advance tickets available at all Oregon taverns as well as Coco’s Bistro and Fifth St Wine and Deli.
Purchase of advance tickets will allow speedy entry into the event as we will have special entrance for holders of advanced tickets.
AFTERHOURS will be at your choice(s) of Oregon’s Taverns until their closing times.  Most taverns are not charging a cover charge on the evening of Hauntfest (Sloopy’s, Tumbleweed will be charging an entry charge).
There will be food vendors, live music from The Story Changes and Skilless Villans until 1230 as well as music provided by Clear Channel’s The Kegger.   A costume contest will offer cash prizes.

There will be a Craft Beer and Wine Garden at Fifth and Pine Streets serving Redhook Longhammer IPA, Goose Island Honker’s Ale, Harvest Ale, 312 Urban Wheat, Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale, Jack’s Pumkin Spice Ale, Abbaye d’Leffe Belgian Blonde, Hoegaarden Witbier, Redhook ESB and Michelob Dunkel Weiss.

The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is being presented by The Miami Valley Restaurant Association from 3pm until 7pm on Fifth / Wayne / Brown Streets as well that day.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment Tagged With: halloween, Hauntfest, Oregon District

Horrorama is Friday – Get the Inside Scoop from the Organizers and Dr. Creep on WYSO

October 20, 2009 By Juliet Fromholt 1 Comment

horrorama 09It’s been over 20 years since Shock Theatre graced the TV sets of Dayton residents, but as Halloween approaches the Miami Valley, you can still catch Dr. Creep at many area events.  One event that’s been a become a seasonal tradition for fans of scary movies is Horrorama, a charity horror film marathon that’s been in the area since 1997.  Dr. Creep will be on hand to host this year’s festivities this Friday, October 23 starting at 7pm at the Englewood Theater.

Dr. Creep and two of the organizers of Horrorama will be guests on WYSO’s Kaleidoscope this Wednesday night, October 21 around 9pm.  Tune into WYSO at 91.3Fm or listen online at wyso.org.

Filed Under: On Screen Dayton Tagged With: Dr. Creep, festival, halloween, On Screen Dayton, Things to Do, WYSO

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