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Homemade Deliciousness and Genuine Care: The Perfect Recipe

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The warmth of the sun’s rays kissing my cheek, the smell of homemade goodness embracing me as I push open the entryway, and the friendly smile of the woman behind the counter all contribute to my gentle coaxing into this cozy shop in the middle of Oakwood. This woman, Theresa as I will come to know her, is the owner of Ashley’s Pastry Shop, and located all around her is heaven on earth—homemade pastries.

Now, I’ve always been blessed with a very intense sweet tooth (…or is it a curse?), so as you can imagine I was more than overjoyed to have the chance to “do my homework”, as we shall say, in order to write this article. But it wasn’t only the sweet treats that will bring me back to this bakery in the future; it’s also the people. The friendly environment and observable relationship between their customers and workers contribute to the little shop’s homey character. I felt like I wasn’t just another dime in the bucket, but an actual person whom they were excited to treat with the most satisfying treat possible. Once I arrived, Theresa very kindly offered me her most recommended pastry—a cheese Danish—which I can honestly say is the best I have ever tasted. It didn’t have that pre-packaged quality we have all experienced when biting into a mass-produced name-brand goodie. This Danish was the real deal. And shortly after I found out exactly what the secret is to the decadent sweets made exclusively in house at Ashley’s Pastry Shop.

The owners, Greg and Theresa Hammons opened this shop twenty-nine years ago and named the bakery after their first daughter. Greg’s family had owned bakeries throughout his life and when the opportunity arose for the Hammons to open their own in Oakwood on Park Avenue, they jumped at the chance. “It has allowed us to bake, be creative, and show our passion for the love of baking, while being part of the community,” explained Theresa. And over the years, this cute little shop has definitely become sewn into the fabric of the community. Ashley’s Pastry Shop now supplies many surrounding restaurants with pastries, such as the delicious bread at The Pine Club and Old Hickory Bar-B-Que. Ashley’s also gives all of their unsold bakery items to Catholic Social Services daily. This bakery may be little, but it has the biggest heart. When I spoke to Theresa, she emphasized how she believed we all have an obligation to give back to the community: “it is much better for a lot of people to do little things, because when it comes down to it, we may not have the means, time, or talent to do one big thing if we wait.” And let me tell you, these gifts that Ashley’s is giving to deserving charities and non-profit clubs are no little thing—a lot of time and effort goes into each pastry made in their kitchen.

Ashley’s Pastry Shop is very fortunate to have a great group of employees, most of them considered family now after being together over twenty-five years. A crew comes in at 11 o’clock each night and begins to bake for the next day. There are no cake mixes or prepackaged crescents behind those kitchen doors. Every item in their display cases and every wedding cake that appears on that couple’s special day are baked from scratch on site. Now that’s an amazing, and delicious, feat. Ashley’s is one of the few remaining bakeries that offer such a large homemade selection, ranging from Danishes to cookies to wedding cakes to donuts—anything catered to the customer’s desire. That’s another wonderful thing about this quaint, cozy shop; they are more than willing to work with the customer to fill any need, just itching for the opportunity to put their creativity to use. They are truly at your service, and trust me, you really can’t go wrong with any pastry you choose.

So next time you have a special occasion, or maybe you need something sweet to brighten your day, or hey, maybe it’s just a Tuesday, I highly recommend meandering over to Ashley’s Pastry Shop.  You could have the pleasure of sinking your teeth into a sand-tart cookie—a classic favorite that was actually shipped to three different coasts just last Friday! Or you could start your morning off right with a breakfast treat, like their cheese pocket (I know…I’m getting hungry, too). With the season being fall, Ashley’s is also featuring a lot of homemade pumpkin pastries. I assure you whichever you end up choosing will be pristine and truly a treat. Really, your taste buds might not be able to take the deprivation much longer, which is truly what it is considered if you haven’t yet savored a pastry from Ashley’s. It’s homemade goodness away from home, baked with love and care, and probably even a hug if that’s what the customer needs.

Doesn’t it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

Ashley’s Pastry Shop
21 Park Avenue
Dayton, OH 45419
937.293.1719

Hours
Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday  7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday-Monday  Closed

There’s A Starman Waiting In The Sky

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The Resurrection of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars

In the post apocalyptic wasteland of what could be mistaken for the present, a Leper Messiah lunges into the spotlight, ready and albeit a tad too willing to save humanity with merely the sacrifice of his soul. A shock of shocking shag cut red hair defies the laws of nature as the asymmetrically dilated wonder filled eyes defies the apathetically addled masses to ignore the impending termination of humanity as a whole. Is this the act of a sacrificial lamb? The crucifixion of yet another messianic messenger’s? Or might this be a rock and roll suicide set in C major? Whatever your interpretation, it is, unarguably, the final teachings from the Gospel of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

David Bowie has always been the master chameleon, being able to sense trends and incorporate upcoming styles into whatever persona he was projecting at the time that, even those that he aggressively borrowed from felt honored by the imaginative pilfering. From the vast catalogue of Bowie’s affected personas, Ziggy Stardust stands out as one of the most completely three dimensional characters that he has created and personified that glittering epoch, with Bowie’s colorful incarnation becoming the poster child for the glam era.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, for the uninitiated, is a concept album crafted by Bowie. The storyline, as such, is a convoluted array of perceptive sociology, religious icons wrapped snuggly in familiar parables all bound together in a roiling spiral of science fiction. The inspiration for the album/character itself is steeped in mythos, which includes such fringe personalities as The Legendary Stardust Cowboy and Vince Taylor, also known as the French Elvis who, after completely going off his nut, fired his band and went on stage draped in a sheet to inform the audience that he was the new messiah. Vince also had a penchant for carrying around maps of Europe to show anyone who stood still long enough where the UFOs would be landing. From these shards of broken soul, Ziggy was born.

Under Bowie’s skillful hands, the story emerges that the main character, Ziggy, takes on the role of a messianic messenger, filling the plundering youth with news of the world. In what turns out to be the Earth’s final five years of existence, the news happens to be quite bad but, from the whispered information that he is receiving through dreams from the black hole jumping Infinites, Ziggy is told of a savior: the Starman. The message is seized by the masses with a vigor that only the abjectly hopeless can muster. Riding on the wave of the Message, Ziggy is exulted up into new spiritual heights, but soon succumbs to his own Earlthy desires, living a reckless life that leaves him as a shell, a fractured liberator. When the Infinites arrive, they use their vessel to give themselves life, taking of their host Ziggy, until he dies a martyr’s death.

The documentary film by D.A. Pennebaker (Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) chronicles the last concert Bowie performs as Ziggy. Filmed at the Hammersmith Odeon on July 3rd, 1973, this was Bowie’s last hurrah as he partially shelved the character of Ziggy. The impetuous for the premature retirement rested on several elements, one of which was that the character was threatening to outstrip the creator. The documentary itself dabbled very little behind the scenes, choosing instead to generate a full frontal assault of the ninety minute concert itself.

In this vein, local artist, entrepreneur and agent of rebellion Shelly “Gladgirl” Hulce became enamored with the concept, music and the film at an early age and she always kept this fantasy vision of it in the back of her mind…until now. “Back when I was a teenager, I was really into Bowie and really anything that was considered shocking. At the time, the most shocking thing was glam rock. I was raised in a very strict Baptist home. I mean to the point that we didn’t watch movies, wear pants, cut hair…” Gladgirl went on to detail some of the other elements of her upbringing before adding, “Rock and roll was just totally out of the question, so I would sneak and listen to it. I snuck a Bowie poster and hung it inside the closet where nobody could find it. We had these teen bonfires and many times I burnt the same records over and over. I would burn them at this church bonfire and then I would save up my lunch money and replace them.”

With Bowie’s body of work being arguably more theatrical than musically motivated, this mirrored some of Gladgirl’s interests within her own life.  “For me, music, theater and comedy have all been synonymous. My worlds have always collided. I did improv comedy for two years, travelling with a troupe and I’ve played with a couple of bands. I’ve never gotten into acting, but I’ve always been writing. I have written a rock opera using all music from Queen. I haven’t done anything with that because it’s very extensive and I wouldn’t even know where to start with something like that. I guess I will work my way up. Some opportunity will present itself when the timing is right and so I can put it into the back of my brain until then.” Exposure to ETC (Encore Theater Company) brought Gladgirl face to face with fringe musicals like Hedwig and the Angry Inch. This chance encounter was the starting point to push her vision into reality.

“I went to see Hedwig last April and as soon as JJ (Parkey) came out and belted that first big song and I just turned to Juliet and said. ‘That’s Bowie! That’s my Bowie!’ I really didn’t even pay attention to the rest of the show. All I kept thinking was, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God! I have to meet this guy! How do I pitch this idea? Who can I get for the band?’” Gladgirl ended the thought abashedly, “I was just terrible.”

Instead of immediately plunging into the pitch after the show ended, Gladgirl decided to show restraint only found in the best of stalker: she waited. Another opportunity presented itself a short time later.

“JJ and I were at a FilmDayton function together a few weeks later and I was like, ‘Hey! Let’s talk about David Bowie! What do you know about David Bowie and about Ziggy Stardust?’ and he was like, ‘What’s that?’” dejected but not dissuaded, Gladgirl took things into perspective. “I mean, he’s twenty-three years old at that point…he’s twenty-four now. So, after this, I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh! Will you sit with me and watch a film and let me talk to you about an idea I have?’ and he’s like, ‘Oh, absolutely!’ We met up the next week and sat down and watched the documentary, which was the very last show that Bowie did in character as Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Well, they filmed that show on July 3rd, 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London and what is so bizarre about this is that the night I had JJ up to watch the documentary was July 3rd. The opening credits came up and I was like, ‘Oh my God! That was July 3rd! It’s July 3rd!’”

Kismet and karma were not finished meddling with the vision of the production just yet…

“I was already, in the back of my mind, dreaming of doing a rock opera and thinking about who would be my dream team. There are so many good musicians in town that it’s just amazing.” The eventual line up of the band is a representation of the cream of Dayton’s music scene. “Oh, it’s stellar! I got everyone I wanted right off the bat. I went straight to the ones I wanted and I thought that I would have to work my way down, but every one of them were like, ‘Oh yeah! Definitely!”

There were even some inclusions that, on the face of it, seemed incongruous choices for a recreated glam band, such as local blues guitarist, Noah Wotherspoon.  “Yeah, he’s such a blues guy, but he really loves it all. The cool thing is that he really has a vintage red Hagstrom guitar just like Bowie played during the Ziggy era!”

Some of the musicians were more obvious choices because of their own musical leanings.  “Shrug, which is Tod Weidner’s band, were having a CD release party a few years ago at Canal Street and to surprise their fans, they came out and did the entire album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust. It totally shocked everybody and, of course, it stuck with me. Tod, being such a great singer, pulled it off vocally as Bowie and the band did the music perfectly. So, I had that in the back of my head, but with Tod traveling and doing the Pink Floyd tribute band (Set The Controls) around the nation…”

Gladgirl trailed off, indicating the slim chances of being able to have Tod as part of the band. “To know his stamina and to know his musical genius and being able to do anything that is put in front of him, I knew that there was no way that I could do this without Tod. Absolutely no way. So I called Tod and I said, ‘Look, I’ve got this guy and I have this idea and I know your schedule is crazy…I know you’re not going to have any time to do this, but I just had to ask you, is there any way that you could squeeze this in? What’s your schedule like in the Fall? Tod said, ‘Probably around Thanksgiving or maybe a little earlier than that.’ I said, ‘What about 11/11/11?’ and he’s like, “That’s pretty sweet! I’m in!’ It was just like the stars were aligning! I had my two pillars: JJ and Tod.

The other band members are bassist Chris Corn, drummer Ian Kaplan, keyboardist Ken Hall, percussionist Erich Reith, Marie Spohn and Gladgirl herself. With the band in place, the next hurdle would be the costumes.

“JJ and I have been making the costumes for this show from scratch since July. Well, with the exception of one piece, which I hired Tracy McElfresh to make. She’s a third generation dress maker and she’s killer. I told Tracy that I was going to buy this shirt and try to make this spaceman costume but that I didn’t think it was going to work and I asked her to help. She sent me off to the fabric store with a list and I bought the stuff and brought it back to her.”Gladgirl paused, reflecting on what her event has become. “That’s what this has all turned into. It’s just a collective. This whole event has just been a huge collaboration.”

One of the most interesting aspects of this passion play is that, at a time when Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar were espousing a reconceived image of Biblical prophesies and parables, Ziggy chose instead to cloak his message in a shimmering cloud of veiled innuendos.

“It was all Biblical, but he didn’t blatantly come out and say that this had a Biblical bend to it, but there are so many comparisons that you could make. The arc of the story is the same.” Gladgirl said before launching into the parallels. “The Starman messiah with a message of the world ending in five years and then he is betrayed by one of the Spiders From Mars and he’s crucified. John the Baptist is in there and Judas, Mary Magdalene, the Holy Trinity…Bowie is the Trinity at different points throughout the album and he is the Leper Messiah…the whole bit. Bowie even went as far as to match a lot of his costumes to whatever character he was in the Trinity. When he comes out, he comes down with the message for Five Years, he is wearing an all white kimono, so it’s like this pure deity kind of thing.”

While there are many fantastic tribute bands that abound in our area, Gladgirl wants to make the distinction that this is not merely a tribute featuring the music of David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust. This is a faithful recreation of the epic show that Bowie presented at the Hammersmith Odeon on July 3rd, 1973.  “What I’m telling people is that this is not a tribute show like with people just showing up and doing Bowie’s music.” Gladgirl stated. “This is a passion play and it totally follows the whole arc that Bowie did as Ziggy. That’s why I titled this The Resurrection. I call it a ‘rock and roll rapture.’”

 

There are some added features to this show that were not in the original, such as a piece written by Gladgirl herself.  “The way that I’m presenting this to the audience is Chris Shea from Free Shakespeare will be coming out before Noah’s band and Ziggy’s set and I’ve dubbed him The News Guy because, in one of the lyrics, it talks about being ‘baptized by the News Guy’s tears.’ I’ve also written what I call The Soul Love Greeting…Soul Love being one of the songs about the Holy Spirit.” Gladgirl went on to explain that, “…this is all to lead a person to think. There’s twenty-four songs and I listed lyrics from each song and made this list for Chris Shay to present to the audience. After that, the real fun begins!”

Space Oddity: The Resurrection of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars will be held at Gilly’s (132 S. Jefferson St.) on November 11th at 9:00pm. Tickets are only $10 and presale tickets are available at Omega, Record Gallery in the Oregon District, Toxic Beauty Records in Yellow Springs and Game Swap in Woodlane Plaza in Kettering. Chad Wells of Wells & Co. Tattoo and Cricketbows will be on hand to provide Liquid Skin Display – Glam Rock Face Painting before and during the show for anyone wanting the full glam experience. Another, as yet to be announced ‘mystery guest musician’ will also be present.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxKu7ggU3HU’]

American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell – at DAI

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(from The Dayton Art Institute)

Norman Rockwell painted the best of America, creating indelible images of the lives, hopes, and dreams of Americans in the 20th century. Those images continue to resonate with subsequent generations, well into the 21st century.

 

"Checkers"

The Dayton Art Institute will celebrate the life and work of Norman Rockwell with the special exhibition American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, presented by PNC. The exhibition opens Saturday, November 12 and runs through February 5, 2012.

The exhibition, organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, explores Rockwell’s unparalleled role as an iconic American storyteller. American Chronicles features 42 original artworks from the Norman Rockwell Museum’s collection, including well-known images such as Triple Self-Portrait (1960), Girl at Mirror (1954), Going and Coming (1947), and Art Critic (1955). The exhibition also includes cover sheets of all 323 Saturday Evening Post covers created by Rockwell. His work for the Post spanned a remarkable 47 years, and the artist became a household name in the process.

Expertly weaving both narrative and painterly images, Rockwell was a consummate visual storyteller with a finely honed sense of what made an image successful in the rapidly changing era of mass media. Rockwell’s unique artistic legacy, established during 65 years of painting, offers a personal chronicle of 20th century life and aspirations that has both reflected and profoundly influenced American perceptions and ideals.

"Mine America's Coal"

American Chronicles traces the evolution of Rockwell’s art and iconography throughout his career – from carefully choreographed reflections on childhood innocence in paintings such as No Swimming (1921) to powerful, consciousness-raising images like The Problem We All Live With (1964), which documented the traumatic realities of desegregation in the South.

The exhibition also includes materials from the Museum’s archives that demonstrate how Rockwell worked, from preliminary sketches, photographs, color studies, and detailed drawings to the finished painting. Commentary focusing on recurring personal themes, artistic and cultural influences, and the commercial climate that influenced Rockwell’s creative process will be woven throughout the exhibition.

 

"Going and Coming"

Related Events and Programs

The Dayton Art Institute is planning a number of special events and programs in conjunction with American Chronicles. These include a Veterans Day Program on November 11, talks, workshops, the popular Tour and Tea programs, and a special visit by Ruby Bridges, the subject of Rockwell’s painting The Problem We All Live With.

Visitors to American Chronicles will also have the opportunity to have their pictures taken in front of a life-size Saturday Evening Post cover. Props will be available for those who want to create a Rockwell-inspired scene. Photos will be posted to the museum’s Flickr and Facebook pages.

For more about related events and programs, visit www.daytonartinstitute.org/rockwell or call the museum at 937-223-5277 to request a copy of the exhibition brochure.

How To Go:

"No Swimming"

American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell is on view at The Dayton Art Institute from November 12 – February 5, 2012.

Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (60+), students (18+ w/ID) and active military, $10 for youth (ages 7-17) and free for children (ages 6 & under). Museum members are free for their first visit, $10 for return visits. Exhibition tickets include admission to the museum’s permanent collection.

Exhibition audio guides, providing commentary on Norman Rockwell’s life and work, are available at the Visitor Services Desk for an additional $5.

Group tour packages are available, including docent-led tours of the exhibitions and boxed lunches from the museum’s Cafe. Group tickets (groups of 10 or more) are $13 per person. Information about group tours is available by contacting Mary Eberle, at 937-512-0152 or [email protected].

For more about the exhibition and other programs at The Dayton Art Institute, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-5277. Be sure to also visit The Dayton Art Institute’s Facebook and Twitter pages for additional information and offers. On Twitter, look for the hashtag #rockwelldai.

Between a Rock and an Eternally Hard Place

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DPO presents a musical metaphor for our technology-dependent world

When I was a kid, it wasn’t all that unusual for one kid to call down his or her wrath on another. If you were really P-O’d at Bobby or Suzy, you might say something like, “I hope you fall down a deep well full of spiders that crawl in your ears and up your nose and suck your brains right out of your skull.”

Talk about spite.

And before you think such curses are child’s play, consider this: folklore is crammed with stories of people who actually did things as bad as that…and worse. For example….

In Greek mythology, there was a god named Prometheus, who committed an unpardonable crime – he brought fire to the world. For his crime, he was bound to a rock, where a giant bird picked away at his vitals in perpetuity. (They were eternally renewed and eternally destroyed each day.) Yeeeech!

After all, what was there for the gods to be so upset about? It was fire, for Pete’s sake. It heats homes, cooks food, melts metal. All good things. But obviously the gods had a different take on it.

And a brilliant American musical composer had a different take on it as well. He saw fire as representing technology, technology that has expanded for the last 500 years and drastically changed our society. Need an example?

Not quite 50 years ago, most businesses hired top- and middle-management personnel (mostly men) and supplied each with a secretary (mostly women), who performed all the clerical duties for the manager. Then technology, in the form of room-sized computers with all their support machinery (keypunch machines, optical character readers) changed the nature of the secretaries’ clerical duties to mostly those of a data entry clerk.

Not long after, managers found computer terminals on their desks replete with word processing and spreadsheet software. And looked up to see their secretaries were no longer there. An entire segment of the country’s workforce had disappeared; the company retained one secretary in each department, gave her the title of Administrative Assistant, and tasked her with hassling the various managers’ travel itineraries. In a short while, even she would disappear.

And the managers, both male and female now and armed with the new technology, became quasi-secretaries. As time passed and computer technology became infinitely smaller and more powerful it became all too prevalent for companies to dismiss large portions of their managerial staff and double the workload of those remaining. Why? To save money and increase profits.

And because they could.

Their managerial staff each had computers of their own so small that, if the managers couldn’t get all their work done in the 60-80 hours they spent in the office each week, they could simply take their computers (and their smart phones and tablets) home with them and do their work there. On their “free” time.

The American composer to whom I referred earlier is William Bolcom, a professor of composition at the University of Michigan. And his musical portrayal of the story of Prometheus follows in the footsteps of such other brilliant composers as Ludwig von Beethoven and Franz Liszt. But with a decidedly 21-st Century twist.

“We in the West have brought ourselves to a level of technical sophistication unknown to any other era,” Bolcom wrote in 2010. “We’ve wedged our way into almost-divine capability, unlike Prometheus who as a god was born with it – but at a price. We are now all Prometheus, chained to our rock of technological dependency; there is no question that our unprecedented advance has given the world enormous benefits we have no desire of relinquishing – nor should we – but we are enjoined to see the dark side of this bounty.”

And Bolcom’s Prometheus is a dark, and challenging, work.

Its musical materials are twisted, dissonant, uneven. The pianist represents Prometheus, and the chorus sings the text of Lord Byron’s poem of the same name. The orchestra is frenzied and explosive. The music gradually becomes more poetic, a salute to the spirit of mankind. Colorful. Peaceful.

Hopeful.

Promethean Exploits
 11/18 & 11/19 at 8 pm
 Schuster Center
Click For Tickets

On Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 at 8pm in the Schuster Center, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra presents Promethean Exploits, a program that features Beethoven’s Prometheus Overture, Bolcom’s Prometheus, Liszt’s Prometheus Symphonic Poem, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8. Guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel and the 120-plus members of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus, selected from singers from all over the Miami Valley, join Music Director Neal Gittleman and the DPO.

“When I was requested to write the present work for the same forces as Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy,” Bolcom writes, “I felt the piano part would be ideal in portraying Prometheus’ eternal agony; my Prometheus is perhaps the antithesis of the joyous mood of the Beethoven but is not devoid of hope, particularly if it points us to begin to understand our situation. This piece is dedicated to that hope.”

Jane’s Best Bets (11/2 – 11/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Happy November everyone!  I hope everyone had a fabulous and safe Halloween…and that your kids (or your neighbors’ kids) shared their candy with you!  Even though there may not be any more opportunities to dress up in costume for a while (unless you’re an actor), there are still plenty of opportunities to have fun in Dayton this week!

On Wednesday, get a jump start on your holiday shopping by visiting the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery at the Dayton Visual Arts Center or the Give Art! Gift Gallery at the Cannery Art and Design Center.  Or make your way to the Oregon District for some good fun – head to the Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam, Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band, or to Blind Bob’s for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.

On Thursday, purchase a holiday gift or a piece of artwork for your home or apartment at the 9th Annual Holiday Student Art Sale at Sinclair.  Listen to the music of Khalid Moss and Michael Bashaw as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute.  Have you ever wondered what a near-death experience is like?  Learn Everything You Wanted to Know about Near-Death Experiences from someone who has been researching this topic for over 20 years.  If you feel like your day has gotten off to a “rocky” start, then make your way to Bullwinkle’s in Miamisburg for Guilty? Or Not – A Mystery Dinner Theatre, to benefit the Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg.  Does the thought of dating and relationships leave you feeling confused like the rest of the world?  If so, make it to Sinclair’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.  Yes, I know love sometimes “cuts like a knife.”  Others are “all for love.” Regardless of your attitude towards love and relationships, you will not to want miss seeing music legend Bryan Adams perform at the Taft Theatre!

On Friday, make your way downtown for First Friday, the fabulous art hop that occurs once per month.  They always say men won’t go to the doctor, so please help raise funds and awareness for men’s cancer/research by participating in the Movember Mustache Ride.  And men – if your lady doesn’t like a little stubble on your face, just let her know it’s for a good cause!  In addition to growing a mustache for a good cause, you will also be able to drink some great beer for two great causes!  Attend the AutoberFest Craft Beer Tasting at Taj Ma Garaj to support Dayton History and the Epilepsy Foundation.  There are lots of theater options throughout the weekend, including I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Sinclair Community College;  Pinkalicious the Musical at the Schuster Center; ‘Master Harold’ …and the Boys at the Dayton Playhouse; Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre; and Lost in Yonkers at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  And if you enjoy music, there are plenty of opportunities for that as well!  Check out the Pride of Dayton Marching Band at UD; Lynda Carter: The Wonder of Song at the Schuster Center; or Chamber Orchestra Kremlin as part of the Vanguard Concerts at the Dayton Art Institute.

On Saturday, participate in Hospice of Dayton’s 7th Annual 5K Remembrance Walk (which means you don’t have to be a runner!).  Get a start on your holiday decorations by participating in the Gingerbread House Making Workshop at the Dayton Cultural Center.  If you’re a train fanatic (not the music group kind, although you can like them too), then chugga chugga choo choo your way to the National Model Railroad Association Dayton Train Show at Hara Arena.  Visit We Care Arts’ art gallery and gift shop as part of their Holiday Open House.  There are several theater options including those mentioned under Friday, as well as My Fair Lady at Kuss Auditorium in Springfield.  If you would like a show that will have you rolling (hopefully with laughter!) and dancing, then make your way to Victoria Theatre for BAM Percussion:  The Blue Barrel Show.  Halloween may be over, but at the Schuster Center, you will be able to see “Wonder Woman”  Lynda Carter perform.  And at the Taft Theatre, Lily Tomlin will be performing…and that’s the truth.

On Sunday, you will still be able to check out some of the events/shows that have been going on throughout the weekend, including the National Model Railroad Association Dayton Train Show (Hara Arena), BAM Percussion:  The Blue Barrel Show (Victoria Theatre), Caroline, or Change (The Loft Theatre), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Sinclair).  At UD, attend the Family Pops Concert featuring the University of Dayton Symphonic Wind Ensemble.  Or get in the spirit of the holidays by attending Holidays in the Heartland at the Schuster Center.

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

What do you call a train loaded with toffee?  A chew chew train.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Animal Heat That Lasts And Lasts And…

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DPO presents Three Dog Night in season kick-off of Rockin’ Orchestra Series

Exactly how does someone go about starting a rock band?

The most common approach involves amateurs with a burning desire to get into the music business, who meet at someone’s garage or rec room, set up their equipment, and begin by practicing cover songs, popular hits that most know by ear and for which few ever see any written music. Somewhere in the process, one or more of these aspiring rock stars will compose a song or two, and the group will practice performing its new, original music.

I don’t have access to the actual statistics, but I’m willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of these ventures end in years of mutually fond memories and little else. The music business is a hard taskmaster (this said from the perspective of personal experience).

Does it help if those involved in the startup of a rock band have some actual music industry experience? Definitely. A caveat here: there’s music industry experience, and then there’s music industry experience. Here’s a case in point….

It was the ‘60s. A young vocalist named Cory Wells was touring with Sonny and Cher, (music industry experience) when he met Danny Hutton, who had been loading and unloading records at the Disney studio (music industry experience, sort of…) before recording as a solo artist (music industry experience). See my point?

In 1968, they decide to pool their money and their talent and start a rock band of their own. But what to call the group? Hutton and Wells? Wells and Hutton? In the ‘60s, the conventional naming technique of referring to a group’s principal talent in its name had all but disappeared. While such groups as Loggins and Messina; Emerson, Lake and Palmer; and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young still followed the convention, the practice began to revert to one of picking highly unusual and often extremely esoteric names for rock bands, e.g., Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson Airplane, Crystal Harp, Steely Dan.

Not to be outdone, Hutton and Wells came up with a name that – while suitably cryptic to comply with the governing fashion – actually had a basis in conventional usage. Well, sort of…. It’s reputed that, on cold nights, Australian aborigines in the outback sleep with their dogs for warmth. The coldest evenings are known as three-dog nights….

Armed with a name that could stand toe-to-toe with the most enigmatic of band names, Three Dog Night went about ensuring that its name would not only be suitably mysterious, but it would also become a hallmark in the world of rock music for outstanding harmonies and arrangements. Virtually unknown itself, Three Dog Night threw in its lot with new and mostly undiscovered songwriters, recording music to the words and melodies of Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Elton John, Laura Nyro, Paul Williams, and Hoyt Axton.

And, man, did the evenings ever get warm.

Not to date myself, but I can remember water skiing at Lake Cumberland and Lake Herrington during summer days and joining my Ski Club buddies at night in our campground or in the lodge to enjoy a variety of refreshing liquid beverages and dance to the music of Three Dog Night. I found it amazing how upwards of sixty men and women could dance and – at one and the exact same time, with little or no direction – sing Jeremiah was a bullfrog; he was a good friend of mine completely in tune! Hey, this is my flashback; I can remember it the way I want, right?

Three Dog Night: Live with Orchestra at The Schuster Performing Arts Center
Saturday 11/12/2011 8pm
Click For Tickets

Joy to the World wasn’t the only one of Three Dog Night’s hits we and the rest of the world danced and sang to. After all, the group has had twenty-one consecutive Top 40 hits and twelve straight gold LPs, selling nearly 50 million records by the mid-‘70s. And the group continues to top the list of artists with the best Billboard Top 100 Chart average.

Still as good as ever, the 2011 version of Three Dog Night appears to be tireless. Beside founding members Cory Wells and Danny Hutton on lead vocals and original keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon, the group now includes guitarist Michael Allsup, with Paul Kingery on bass and vocals and Pat Bautz on drums.

Their concert schedule is, to say the very least, formidable. In the last 25 years, the group has performed over 2,000 shows, including two Super Bowls. They were so busy, in fact, that it wasn’t until 2009 that the group released its first single in all that time, Heart Of Blues backed by the ballad Prayer of the Children. Face it; you rest, you rust.

43 years after it started, Three Dog Night looks back on a career that resulted in a body of work with 21 songs that became Top 40 hits. Reading the names of some of those titles, I can hear the music in my head: Mama Told Me, Joy to The World, Black And White, Shambala, Easy To Be Hard, An Old Fashioned Love Song, One, Eli’s Coming, and Celebrate.

If you want to hear them again, go to the Schuster Center on Saturday, Nov­ember 12 at 8 pm for Three Dog Night: Live with Orchestra. Experience Three Dog Night, backed by Music Director Neal Gittleman and the DPO. It might be cold outside, but don’t worry.

They’ve got the dogs to keep you warm.

Jimmie’s Last Call

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The iconic ceiling at Jimmie's Cornerstone

Last call…

(And… Soon…Welcome HOME)

Last Call at Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar and Grille… and all that history at Brown and Wyoming!

Last Call for Jimmie and sons, and the whole wonderful gang of friendly wait staff, cooks and… who knows… a coupla’ ghosts and goblins who show up ONLY at Hallowe’en… Las Call at Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar and Grille is… well, Hallowe’en. October 31st. The “evening and “morning” before” All Saints Day.

Get your drinks and food one more time… before… silence falls at Brown and Wyoming.

That silence… that’s gonna be… Well, complicated.

For Jimmie and Sue Brandell and their sons Nick and Jason… Well. For them it’s been a sort of virtual second home: dad Jimmie shows up at 5:30 a.m. or so (that, of course, won’t change in the NEW home) and maybe leaving at… Gosh: a visitor to the “Bar and Grille” will find Jimmie still around at 5:00 or 6:00 or… whenever he can lead. And that ALSO won’t be changing. Wife Sue helps out with — well, handles, in lots of ways — things like radio/TV advertising, wine selections and… WeeElks football players, too. Oh: and the “real” home, too.

Plus saying “hello” to old friends while she walks to a meeting about… things like radio/TV advertising, wine selections. Oh: and let’s not forget making sure Jimmie, Jason and Nick are happy, too.

The “total family effort” is what it takes to keep me ‘n’ you and all the rest of his steady customers. In this “high tech” world we’re getting used to, there’s now “double click” to get a hamburger just right or get the “french” in the potato fries on the tables. For all of us folks waiting for the “just right” burger or the hot from the deep fryer…

Hmmm… If we’re on a tight schedule to get back to work, we might be just a “tad” annoyed. For Jimmie and company and for the whole rest of the “food industry” getting it out of the kitchen and on the tables in just… business as usual.

But last call. Last call: like we said: that’s complicated. All that silence that’ll never end, even as what was once the home of good food, good company, some music and that weird, weird ceiling that you had to know about to even look up at it… Well, the next noises that will come from that building after last call will be the sounds of workers taking that building apart so that all that wonderful activity… the good food, good company, loud music and all… That will gone.

Something will turn in to… Nothing. No patio. No pool tables or posters on the wall, no “band stand” doubling as an elevated eating area when the music ends.

And Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar and Gille and all that history beginning in 1868 when liquor was first tipped and from the 1930’s when it was “Stoecklein Cafe and many other bar/restaurants) will be gone. (Oh: and if you’re reading this and remembering the “1001 Club” or any others, just add your memory to the “Comments section” of this website!)

So back to that “virtual home” concept. Jimmie lives at the “Bar and Grille” probably a bit more than he gets to relax at this “real” home. Oh: and another thing about that “virtual” home? Talk to Jimmie and Sue and you get to hear the stories of pratfalls involving hidden accesses to the basement for beer and such, stories of tiny couches that offered a night’s sleep to Jimmie… And on and on and on.

Again: it has been sort of the family’s virtual home. For the record, for the past seven years. Coming to an end on Hallowe’en…

So, finally: NEXT.

“First Call: In the Company of Heroes.”

Yep: Ladder 11. A whole new place… a place for new memories to begin… A place with old memories, by the way, and we will begin to learn about those. About those heroes, too. And if you can contribute a story or two… or THREE… about the days when it was “just” the firehouse at Brown and Wyoming: well, add those to the “Comments Section” as well.

So now we’re here at “Last Call” and soon…

First Call.

See you there.

Wonderland: It’s Larger Than You Realize

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DPO features multi-talented actress, pop icon, singer, and social advocate Lynda Carter in SuperPops season opener

Where were you in ‘72?

Trick question. Actually, a better one might be “Where were you when you were 21?” In the service? Still in school? Pursuing a career?

Lynda Carter was coming off of four years of uphill climbing chasing the dream of a career in music. She had started in high school singing with Just Us, a makeshift quartet. At 17, she joined The Relatives, an aptly named band consisting of two of her cousins and drummer-cum-actor Gary Burghoff (“Radar” O’Reilly in the television series M*A*S*H). The group performed at the Sahara Hotel and Casino lounge in Las Vegas for three months, during all of which time Lynda had to enter through the kitchen; after all, she wasn’t 21.

Yet.

After a short stint at Arizona State University, Lynda dropped out to sing with a group called The Garfin Gathering with Lynda Carter. Good news: for their first performance the group got booked into a brand new San Francisco hotel. Bad news: the place was so new it didn’t have a sidewalk entrance. Result: they became part of the underground music movement…literally. Their audience consisted mainly of janitors and hotel guests whose cars were parked in the underground garage. She returned to Arizona in 1972, the year she turned 21.

Then things started to happen quickly. Lynda entered a local beauty contest, won, and kept winning until she had become Miss World USA representing the U.S. and reaching the semi-finals of the 1972 Miss World pageant. That’s when most of us first became aware of Lynda Carter.

We started seeing Lynda again, this time on TV in Starsky and Hutch, Cos, and Nakia and in several B-movies. The next time we saw Lynda, 1975, she had become Diana Prince, the alter ego of the title character in the TV series The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, a role that many continue to identify her with. And while that’s a good thing, it presents a most incomplete picture of the depth of artistic talent Lynda actually possesses on so many levels.

Besides the hit TV show, her acting credits span 8 movie and 27 television roles. And that’s just Lynda the actress. There’s also Lynda the singer/musician.

And the body of work she has amassed in that field is equally as impressive.

In the late ‘70s, Lynda recorded Portrait, an album on which she shares credit as co-writer on several numbers. In her appearances on five CBS TV variety specials, she worked with such musical stars as Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, George Benson, Eddie Rabbit, and Kenny Rogers. In the ‘80s, she made singing appearances on the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City. In 2005, Lynda appeared as Mama Morton in the West End London production of the musical Chicago. The Chicago: 10th Anniversary Edition CD box set contains her rendition of the song When You’re Good to Mama. In 2007, Lynda began touring the country with An Evening with Lynda Carter, a one-woman musical cabaret show. In 2009, she released her second album At Last; it climbed to tenth on Billboard’s Jazz Album Chart.

Not bad for someone who began her musical career taking singing lessons from a practitioner of homeopathic medicine who lived on an Indian reservation. And therein lays a clue to how Lynda not only developed her musical talent, but also the strength to handle the physical demands of her career.

By her own admission, Wonder Woman “is not a one-note samba.”

In an interview in the April, 2011 issue of Energy Times, Lynda spelled out details of the personal, natural health regimen that has helped her keep her stomach flat, her voice clear, and her strength at optimal levels. It involves taking blood tests to determine a treatment starting point and boosting her immune system with fish oil, vitamin D3, bee pollen, wheatgrass, and herbal teas. Dietary measures include consuming organic berries, almonds, walnuts, pecans, and honey with almond milk for breakfast; noshing favorites include homemade soups, cucumber slices mixed with hummus, salmon, and grass-fed meat and chicken.

And weight-bearing exercise, rowing (on the Potomac River) in a scull, yoga, stretching, and walking comprise her exercise regimen.

She needs to do all this, to keep in shape for her musical career and to keep up a schedule that involves many hours devoted to promoting breast cancer awareness. A stout supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Lynda has testified before Congress to raise attention to the need for early detection of lung cancer. Her mother had suffered from the need for constant removal of cysts from her breasts, and a friend has died of lung cancer. To debunk the myth that you need to be a smoker to contract lung cancer, Lynda points to the fact that they very air we breathe can be a source of infection. We’ve all read of the dangers of secondary smoke, but Lynda believes that such things as aerosols and pesticides can also be dangerous. And she takes every opportunity she has to warn people of the dangers and enlist support for early detection.

Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5 at 8pm in the Schuster Center, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra presents Lynda Carter: The Wonder of Song. There you can see and hear an artist of not only great beauty and talent, but also of great content and character.

Lynda Carter: The Wonder of Song

November 4 & 5, 2011 at 8 pm

Location: Mead Theatre – Schuster Center

Click for Tickets

Jane’s Best Bets (10/26 – 10/30)

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Pumpkins Courtesy of My Mom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Specters Of The Past Revealed

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Paravizionz Locks Down Ohio’s “Sleepy Hollow”

The Joinery In Bellbrook

Illicit affairs, money, greed, envy…the deadliest of sins prove to be just that, extinguishing lives like a sudden gust of autumn wind douses the flickering light of a candle, creating a haunting lore that seemingly breathes with a murmuring life of its own. While every locale around the world has their own ghost stories and legends, Bellbrook, Ohio has their fair share as well, most of which reach back into the dim mists of a century gone by.

There is the story of a servant girl who involved herself with the town’s very influential Mayor and managed to get herself pregnant in the process. The Mayor refused to acknowledge her anymore and had her removed from the premises. The young lady took to a life of prostitution to get by, quickly becoming the subject of gossip and ridicule. When her baby was born, she would only take it outside with it’s face covered, as it was whispered that the child bore a striking resemblance to the father. It was thought that the young woman had fallen into a downward spiral of madness as she was often seen walking along with her baby safely bundled up from the prying eyes of the townsfolk, singing and talking to the bundle of tattered fabric that shrouded her little one. One night, the weight of her plight must have been too much to bear and she plunged herself and her baby into the cold, swirling depths of Possum Run Creek or, as it is known now, the Little Sugar Creek. A week later, her body was found by two local youths, washed up upon the creek’s bank. Her icy, lifeless arms still clasped the tattered rags that were once wrapped around her child, but the baby itself was never found. It is said that on certain nights, especially those peculiarly still nights in June when the mists rise up into the ebony darkness, you can see her glowing form stumble along the sides of the creek, a lilting singsong sigh being sung to the bundle of rags that she carries.

I grew up in Bellbrook, long before it became the lush suburb that it is today. When I lived there, it was still mostly a bucolically rural town. Carpenter Rd. still had a hair pin turn where, legend has it, that on certain nights, you could see the silhouette of a hanged man…just another person who had decided to end it all when they came to the end of their rope. Back when you would walk along Little Sugarcreek Rd., quickly succumbing to a whistling bravery as you passed Fallis Cemetery after dark. A time when, out of the corner of your eye, you would see skittering shadows and the out of tune tinkling of a piano coming from the music room of the Elementary School. You would hear whispered legends about the creaking madness held within the walls of several of the towns original homes. Stories of the strange behavior exhibited by the living as they face the heady unknown of death, like the undertaker who could not bear the loss of his wife and kept her embalmed body in the front window of his establishment for over a year before singing into the downward spiral of lunacy.

These memories came back to me in a rush as I met up with two gentlemen, Lee Allen and Davis Jones, the founder and co-founder, respectively, of ParaVizionz. ParaVizionz is a paranormal investigation and research team that has completed over 180 paranormal investigation since their inception in 2008. Lee and Jones met in early 2008 when TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to investigate paranormal activity there for their wildly popular television show on SyFy called Ghost Hunters. Jones had managed to weasel his way into the event with little more than an ID on a lanyard and, after befriending the film crew and being allowed to jump to the front of the line, he ran into Lee, who was trying to assemble a team of local paranormal investigators. Since that time, a team of investigators, technicians and mediums have been assembled and the group has gelled into one incredibly in-tune entity who have compiled a list of completed investigations, an archive of EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and a slew of stories that would make most people cringe.

Paravizionz Investigates The Joinery

There are those that are dismissive of paranormal investigations and make light of others beliefs in otherworldly events…right up to the point when they are standing in the murmuring darkness and feel a cold finger trace the line of their spine. Jones came to believe in supernatural activities while still very young while living in Michigan. He had just moved into an old farmhouse in the woods with his sister, father and his new stepmom. It had been said that one of the previous owners had hung themselves from the apple tree outside the kitchen window, but this barely registered with the young Jones…until the noises began. Creaking footsteps and rocking chairs that were invisibly animated made he and his sister believers in very short order. Another memory he held of that time was his new stepmother’s use of a Ouija board, but he gave it little credence. It was just a Parker Brother’s game, after all.

Conversely, Lee’s induction into the world of the unknown came about through personal loss. He and his wife lost one son, Austin, in infancy and then another older child, a daughter named Caitlyn, some time later. Lee said that after these two incidents, he would hear voices in the children’s rooms and sense their presences from time to time. While I didn’t press Lee as to the association between these events and his sudden passion for the paranormal, one can infer that it would almost become a necessity for one who had suffered such a tragic loss. Even separated by a wall of sleep, a father needs to know that his children are alright and to know what kind of world that they exist in.

This past summer, ParaVizionz has been doing a series of investigations in Bellbrook, Ohio. They have investigated everything from private residences to my old Elementary School and have come away with many personal stories as well as EVPs, which they have posted on their website. Paravizionz has shared their stories online and created the Jonathan Winters Ghost Walk and Historical Tour that ran the weekend of September 30th through October 1st. All of their activities has even garnered them a proclamation from the Mayor of Bellbrook, Mary Graves. All of these goings-on will culminate with the Bellbrook On Lockdown event slated for Halloween weekend, starting at noon on Friday, October 28th and ending at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 30th.

The Bellbrook On Lockdown event will have lectures, celebrities, tours, information, vendors, activities and entertainment. The Master of Ceremonies, a Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow look-alike, Captain “Larry” Sparrows, will kick off the festivities at noon on Friday at Sugarcreek Plaza, located at 6124 Wilmington Pike in Bellbrook. There are a ton of guest speakers, including Keith Age (a paranormal investigator who founded the Louisville Ghost Hunter’s Society and is the star of Spooked TV), Patrick Burns (star of TruTV’s Haunting Evidence), author Marley Harbuck-Gibson, international medium Robyn Marie, radio personality and comedian Scotty Rorek, paranormal mediums Deborah and Nicholas Lantz, John Brightman (founder of New England Paranormal Research), cryptozoologist Joedy Cook and paranormal filmmakers and stars of the SyFy, Chiller and Spooked TV networks, The Booth Brothers. Entertainment will come in the form of bagpiper Wulf, D.J. Tre and a special guest appearance by escape artist and magician Aron Houdini. A celebrity guided tour of all the haunted areas in Bellbrook is also on the itinerary, including the Dart Construction Building (formerly Penewit Hardware), The Shepherd House, Magee Park and others. The Joinery, which was one of the locations that Paravizionz investigated over the summer, was once a stop on the underground railroad. Their investigation revealed a slew of EVPs, which say things from a whispered voice decalring, “I’m right behind you” to the plaintive plea of a woman saying, “Hide me!”

One of the highlights of the tour has to do with one of the oldest legends of the area. Back in the 1800’s, there was an Englishman named James Buckley whose sawmill was located alongside what is now known as the Little Sugar Creek. He became very wealthy from this enterprise and, as is common as seen through the eyes of avarice, envied by many of the townspeople. One morning, his cabin was forced into and he was robbed and then brutally murdered…decapitated, in fact. His body was found, sans head, outside, covered in blood and mud, but the money…along with his head…were, by some accounts, never found. Other versions of this story state that his head was found some distance away and that the robbers never retrieved any of the money because Mr. Buckley had buried it somewhere near the creek. ParaVizionz is going to have a live, televised treasure hunt utilizing a medium to communicate with the long deceased entrepreneur to try and find the place in which the money was buried. Hopefully they find the money…and only the money. Priorities may change somewhat when a spirit is made to choose between earthly wealth and a part of themselves that was most cruelly taken from them…

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejQTCfpjhe4′]

We all have had experiences. We have all had that unexplainable feeling of being watched as the hairs on the nape of neck stand up. We have all felt the trickling fear, absolutely feeling alone in the dark tide of one of eternity’s moments. We have all seen the spectral movements of light and shadow that we are unable to explain, but which we rationalize when dawn arises. Regardless of how stalwartly pragmatic we feel that we may be and how we may deride the beliefs of those who embrace the spirit world, there are moments in our lives when our depths of spirit are overtaken by the icy isolation of a nameless dread. We have all had experiences. This is a time to share those experiences and to hear those who have had similar occurrences happen within their lives. This is a time to ask the questions that cannot be answered by religions or sciences. This is a time to reflect on what is beyond this realm.

Paravizionz Bellbrook On Lockdown runs from Friday, October 28th through Sunday, October 30th. There are various tiers of payment for admission, ranging from $30 to $150 for the VIP/Ghost Hunt pass. For more information, check out their website for the event at http://bellbrookonlockdown.webs.com/ and make sure to check out the group’s main website at http://www.paravizionz.net to watch video and hear EVPs from their past investigations.

Yuengling Comes To Dayton Bars First, Stores Later

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Many Dayton beer lovers have had Oct 31st circled on their calendar as the day Yuengling debuts in Dayton.  The billboards and bus signs have been hyping the arrival for months.  And for draught lovers, many local bars and restaurants will be  treating folks to a glass of beer on Mon, Oct 31st.  But there is a trick to the debut as well, according to Kathryn Oakes, Director of Marketing for Heidelberg Distributing, the demand has been far bigger than we expected.  We’ll have enough kegs on hand to service our market, but the retail packages will be delayed until Nov. 14th.”

“I thought that this launch was going to make history for Yuengling and set the standard for future state launches, and Ohioans are going to make that happen,” said Patrick Noone, the brewery business development manager overseeing the move into Ohio. “It’s crazy. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The family-owned brewery, which promotes itself as “America’s Oldest Brewery,” is based in Pottsville, Pa. Despite being in a neighboring state, Yuengling had never sold its brands in Ohio, blaming the reason on a lack of production.

Yuengling recently expanded one of its breweries to make the push into Ohio.

The beer has a major cult-like following, and there are plenty of stories about Ohioans making special trips to Pennsylvania to stock up. Its arrival has elicited comparisons to Coors, which for years wasn’t sold on the East Coast.

Rob VanMetre, the local Yuengling brand manager, shared with us that the Lager, Light Lager and Black & Tan ( a mixture of Yuengling Premium Beer and Dark-Brewed Porter) will be available at the roll out.  Other Yuengling brands, such as Porter and Lord Chesterfield Ale, are expected to arrive sometime next year.

He goes on share that “Yuengling is a fantastic beer with a great following and moving the release date back for retail and convenience stores is really so we can service all our customers and be fair.”

Many local bars will be opening early to host special tasting parties.  The Dublin Pub is opening at 5:30am to our $3 pints to Yuengling fans. Stop in for kegs and eggs and get a great start to your week!  Archer’s Tavern in Centerville will open up at 6am and TJ Chumps is promoting $2.50 22oz Yuenglings the entire month of November.

If you know of other special events, feel free to add them in the comments below.

And then two weeks later look for the stores to roll out a round of welcome parties. Cheers!

“

Get Your Spook On at Spinoza’s

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

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

This is Glen ↑

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This menu and more can be found at spinozas.com

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

937.426.7799

spinozas.com

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

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

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

Jane’s Best Bets (10/19 – 10/23)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the movies?

Because he had no body to go with.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Horrorama 2011 Q&A Session w/ Matt Brassfield & Andy Copp

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In anticipation for Halloween, a tried and true Dayton tradition is attending the horror film marathon, Horrorama. As they prepare for the 15th anniversary of Horrorama, moderators Matt Brassfield and Andy Copp discuss topics including their plans for the upcoming event, their opinions concerning the current climate of the horror genre, and the obstacles that they’ve faced in lieu of the untimely passing of Horrorama creator, Dr. Creep.

DaytonMostMetro.com: What’s your favorite horror movie? Why?

Matt Brassfield: Technically, I have two favorite horror films: as far as a classic its 1941’s The Wolf Man and for a more modern pick, John Carpenter’s Halloween from 1978. The Wolf Man is a favorite because of the character development. You’re made to care about Larry Talbot as a man and a beast. As a director, it made me pay attention to developing my character, and it inspired my very first film, Werewolf of Ohio. Characters were also a factor in Halloween. Michael Myers is fascinating to me, this slow, silent hulking evil, and then in contrast Dr. Loomis is a great, smart hero. The first Halloween film is evidence that you can do a lot with a smaller budget.

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Andy Copp: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is my favorite horror film of all time, the original of course (I still hate that I have to make that distinction). After several dozen viewings, it’s still a scary and effective movie. There is true madness in the film captured in the hot Texas summer from a rookie crew suffering from heat exhaustion and a lot of frustration. No one involved has made anything even remotely as good since. It is one of the horror films that made me realize I wanted to direct movies myself. It also helped change the way the genre worked, helping to really push it towards a new uncharted territory in the 70’s.

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DMM: How did you become involved with Horrorama?

MB: I started out just attending Horrorama and occasionally helping hand out prizes. I was already friends with Rick Martin, Andy Copp, and Dr. Creep (the three creators of the event). Later I called upon some of my connections in both the horror and business communities when there were needs for event sponsors. After awhile, Rick, Andy and Dr. Creep considered me a part of the event and began inviting me to help with planning. I’ve been heavily involved for the last five years and am really committed to this event. It’s great to be able to give back to the community through the charity we help each year and to create something fun for horror fans. Now that Dr. Creep has passed, this event has become even more important for me because we’re continuing something that mattered to him – both the event itself and the fact that it was helping people out in our community.

AC: Fifteen years ago myself, Rick Martin and Dr. Creep wanted Dayton to have their own horror movie marathon. Columbus has theirs and that was the only one in the immediate area at the time. No one else was doing it. There was no other way to see these movies on 35mm prints in a theater at that point in our area. So we scraped our funds and just did it. We also decided that it was a good idea to do it for charity. At the time, Dr Creep was heavily involved with a charity that helped children during the holidays. That charity eventually folded about six or seven years ago, but we’ve continued to pursue other worthwhile charities with our event. That is another thing that sets us apart from other marathons as we are giving back to our community with what we do. Yes we are doing this because we love horror films and want to watch vintage prints of hard to find horror films on the big screen. But we also want to give something back. We have raised a lot of money for families over the years. Last year we gave a very nice chunk to the Susan G. Komen Cure Foundation. This year we intend to give our earnings to the St. Jude Hospital.

A lot has changed over the years though. We have changed venues several times until we landed at the Englewood Cinema which has been our home now since 2002. Rick Martin has stepped down this year for personal reasons, Matthew Brassfield has become a partner in our event for the last few marathons which has been a huge help. Of course the most unfortunate passing of Dr. Creep this past year has left us all very saddened and without our closest friend.

DMM: What obscure/underrated horror movie would you like to recommend to the horror community?

MB: One of my favorite obscure horror films is Trick or Treat from 1986. It combines my love of horror and 80’s metal (Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osborne both have cameos). The film’s about a metal head who’s picked on and inadvertently summons the spirit of his dead idol, rock star Sammi Curr, by playing one of his records backwards. Then usual horror film mayhem ensues. Sammi Curr, is one of my favorite lesser known horror villains.

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AC: This is something that I sort of live to do. I spend a lot of time recommending obscure movies to people. In fact, at Horrorama I have always tried to program at least one unknown or obscure movie every year that people can walk away feeling like they have “discovered” on their own. Movies like The Candy Snatchers, The Unseen, Satan’s Children, or Night Warning have all played to great audience reaction. There is a book called Nightmare USA by Stephen Thrower that is devoted to American Horror from 1972 to 1985 and only covers unknown or underrated films and filmmakers. That book is a like a bible for this sort of stuff. I highly recommend a filmmaker named Fredrick Freidel and his films; Axe and Kidnapped Co-ed both of which are super poetic rural tone movies. Another one called, The Child, is a very unusual sideways look at zombies being controlled by a telekinetic kid. There are hundreds I could rattle off.

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DMM: What/ if any difficulties have you faced organizing the first Horrorama since Dr. Creep’s passing?

MB: Planning the event itself has gone on as usual. The biggest thing for me is the heavy responsibility of honoring Dr. Creep’s legacy and his relationship with his fans. He meant so much to so many people (myself included), and we don’t want to let anyone down. Although in recent years, he hasn’t always been able to make it due to his health problems. It’s still really hard imagining the event without him.

AC: Besides the fact that we just miss him terribly? Putting this together without him is difficult because the media in Dayton knows Dr. Creep, but they do not know Andy Copp or Matt Brassfield. Even though this event is a decade and a half old, getting the mass media to pay attention without Dr. Creep at the masthead is proving to be difficult. We are also going to hold some auctions during the evening to raise some money for a proper tombstone for Dr. Creep, as for whatever reasons not enough money was available for him to get one.

DMM: What influenced the choice of films screening at this year’s Horrorama?

MB: We always try to have a good variety of films, and this year, since it’s the 15th anniversary, we were hoping to be able to offer some premieres. We were very lucky to end up with two films making their debut at Horrorama: Witch’s Brew (making its Ohio premiere) and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (making its area premiere).

AC: This is another “behind the scenes” element most people do not always understand. Sometimes it comes down to what 35mm prints are available, and make no mistake we take a lot of pride in the fact that we screen most of our films on 35mm. We have titles we want to get, usually spend some time throwing those around, and try to chase them down. We were lucky this year as we got a couple of those, but a lot of times we are looking for certain films and they are not available, or prints have deteriorated over the years, and we have to find alternatives. Sometimes that can be very heartbreaking or very difficult. We have made a lot of friends over the years doing this though and that helps a lot.

DMM: What additions/changes do you have planned for this year’s Horrorama?

MB: Usually at Horrorama we have several costume contests and a few other games. This year we’re introducing a Miss Horrorama mini-pageant that will be judged by Baron Von Porkchop, Todd the Fox (a local musician), David J. Getz (actor) and another guest judge yet to be announced. The winner gets a $100 prize and the illustrious title of Miss Horrorama.

DMM: Do you have any tributes planned in memory of Dr. Creep?

AC: Yes of course. This year since he is no longer with us we are opening the show with an episode of the New Shock Theater from the late 90’s that I directed and co-produced with Rick Martin. The episode is the Filipino horror film, The Killing of Satan. The film itself is totally insane, but I think it is one of the best episodes of The New Shock Theater. Hopefully it will feel like Dr. Creep is still there with us for a little while. Of course he is there is spirit.

DMM: What’s your opinion of the current state of the horror genre?

MB: There are some really solid original films coming out, especially out of the indie/DIY horror community. If you look outside Hollywood, you can find some amazing films. Hollywood is certainly not ignoring the genre either, but I’m not wild about all of the remakes of classic horror films. I prefer to see how some of the classic franchises are being continued with sequels/additional chapters.

AC: Horror fans love nothing more than to sit and talk about how awful the genre is. They seem to be in a perpetual state of complaining sometimes. They say there are too many remakes (and there are), or if something they have not heard of comes out then the fans pile up on it and rip it apart for other reasons. The truth is that there are more horror movies being made now than maybe ever before. At least since the heyday of the 70’s and a lot of them are quite good. Some are just cash-ins to be sure, but on the edges of the mainstream, the genre is alive and well. We have great indie films like Stake Land, Red White and Blue, and Ratline, as well as intense foreign horror films that are constantly redefining what can be accessible such as The Dead, I Saw the Devil or The Horde. Every once in a while the current homegrown product will get it right. The genre is alive and well, new media has given older films a way to constantly be rediscovered and the horror film is not going away any time soon.

Horrorama 2011 is on Friday, October 28th at 6:30pm – October 29th at 9:00am. The event is located at the Englewood Cinema on 320 West National Rd.

This year’s screenings include From Beyond, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Blacula, The Killing of Satan, Witch’s Brew, and Demons.

Abie’s Irish Rose at The Dayton Playhouse (TICKET CONTEST)

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Dayton Playhouse Cast of "Abie's Irish Rose"

American playwright Anne Nichols wrote several successful Broadway plays in the 1920’s and 30’s, beginning with her first and most famous play called Abie’s Irish Rose.  The story is about an Irish Catholic girl who marries a young Jewish man despite the objections of their families.  The basic story premise was copied several times, and Anne Nichols actually sued one imitator (Universal Pictures) over its movie The Cohens and the Kellys.  The judge in the appeal case found in favor of the defendant, and summarized the plot as follows:

Abie’s Irish Rose presents a Jewish family living in prosperous circumstances in New York. The father, a widower, is in business as a merchant, in which his son and only child helps him. The boy has philandered with young women, who to his father’s great disgust have always been Gentiles, for he is obsessed with a passion that his daughter-in-law shall be an orthodox Jewess. When the play opens the son, who has been courting a young Irish Catholic girl, has already married her secretly before a Protestant minister, and is concerned to soften the blow for his father, by securing a favorable impression of his bride, while concealing her faith and race. To accomplish this he introduces her to his father at his home as a Jewess, and lets it appear that he is interested in her, though he conceals the marriage. The girl somewhat reluctantly falls in with the plan; the father takes the bait, becomes infatuated with the girl, concludes that they must marry, and assumes that of course they will, if he so decides. He calls in a rabbi, and prepares for the wedding according to the Jewish rite.

Meanwhile the girl’s father, also a widower, who lives in California, and is as intense in his own religious antagonism as the Jew, has been called to New York, supposing that his daughter is to marry an Irishman and a Catholic. Accompanied by a priest, he arrives at the house at the moment when the marriage is being celebrated, but too late to prevent it, and the two fathers, each infuriated by the proposed union of his child to a heretic, fall into unseemly and grotesque antics. The priest and the rabbi become friendly, exchange trite sentiments about religion, and agree that the match is good. Apparently out of abundant caution, the priest celebrates the marriage for a third time, while the girl’s father is inveigled away. The second act closes with each father, still outraged, seeking to find some way by which the union, thus trebly insured, may be dissolved.

The last act takes place about a year later, the young couple having meanwhile been abjured by each father, and left to their own resources. They have had twins, a boy and a girl, but their fathers know no more than that a child has been born…

The Dayton Playhouse is presenting this play under the direction of Richard Brock, beginning Friday October 14th through October 23rd.  Click the link for more info and ticket information, or call the box office at 937-424-8477.

Win Tickets!!!

DaytonMostMetro.com and The Dayton Playhouse are giving away THREE PAIRS of tickets to the Saturday October 15th show at 8pm.  Simply fill out the form below to be entered to win (winners will be selected randomly at 3pm on Friday October 14th).  Also, be sure to like our On Stage Dayton Facebook page for up-to-date information, reviews and ticket giveaways in local theatre!  GOOD LUCK!

Ticket Contest Closed

Congratulations to our winners – enjoy the show!

Jacqueline W. (Piqua)
Lindsay S. (Beavercreek)
Lynn K. (Dayton)

Jane’s Best Bets (10/12 – 10/16)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!