Community

New Logo & Website for City of Dayton

September 26, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The city of Dayton has just revealed their new branding, created by The Ohlmann Group, a Dayton based advertising agency. The blue and green logo plays homage to our flight history in a modern way. The contract for the new look and branding was for $25,000.

Along with a new logo, a brand new website was also introduced.The new site features a much-improved search function, electronic forms, sections for business, residents and an easy navigate “I Want To” section that guides you contacts, forms, volunteer opportunities and more.

You can also sign up for notifications about, construction, job openings, city meetings and more through text message or email using Thunderclap, a social meadia crowdspeaking platform. During the week of September 26, the city will randomly select 10 Thunderclap participants to receive a “swag bag” of tech goodies that will show off your Dayton pride.

The website was created by a Manhattan, KS firm, CivicPlus, which specializes in government website design. The contract with CivicPlus was just under $60,000 for the new website.

Something Old Dayton – An Interview With Owners Kyle + Mari

September 22, 2016 By Shana Lloyd

If you have an Instagram account and live in Dayton, I am fairly certain you’ve seen the awesomeness of this city’s newest startup, Something Old Dayton. Haven’t yet? Go follow them now @somethingolddayton. Now let me share a little about this couple who I fell in love with over plush vintage furniture and fabulous antique finds.

Originally from Springfield, Virginia and Virginia Beach, Mari + Kyle met while attending college in Richmond. From Virginia, the couple moved to D.C. before making their final stop here in Dayton just two years ago. Kyle continues to work for the government as a computer engineer contractor, but his entrepreneurial spirit, Mari’s artistic eye and both of their love of vintage treasures would inevitably fuse to create something magical.

A year and a half ago, Mari was reading an article online about a company that offered vintage furniture rentals. Having a degree in Craft and Material studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, experience as a Visual Display intern at Anthropologie, a life-time’s worth of experience crafting and art-making, a love of vintage furniture and assisting behind-the scenes at the weddings of friends, Mari always wanted to find a way to use her skills professionally. It was after reading that article that she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could finally evolve a long-time hobby into a business.

The Fosters, like many, have always dreamed of a “family business.” Something unique to them that would grow along with their family. When Mari shared the idea with Kyle, his logistical mind went into high gear, planning and moving forward. Mari laughed as she told me she immediately had regrets, being pregnant with their second child and in no position to start a business. It wasn’t until a spontaneous request to style a vow renewal reception that these two, on a complete whim, were to plan essentially a whole wedding in a week. Well, they did it. It was amazing and as Mari adorably said, “I dug it!” You would never know there were doubts when you see what they have created, and the community they are building around what they do. I dig it too, Mari.

In the infancy of their business, Mari and Kyle ran the operation out of their basement but with wedding and photographer clients growing rapidly the small vintage rental business quickly out grew their home. They looked for a while at spaces for storage, and though toured several nothing seemed to work with their style / brand and few were in their budget. It wasn’t until a call to the Davis Linden building that the pieces fell into place. It was perfect, and just like that Something Old Dayton had a new home on Linden Ave. An opportunity for a full photography studio with vintage furniture, antique treasures and Mari’s styling expertise, Something Old Dayton has quickly become a destination for photographers, wedding planners and Dayton’s biggest brands for commercial shoots and events.

Like many business owners in Dayton, Kyle and Mari definitely know and value the importance of community and working together in this city. Their marketing efforts consist of a mix of cold calls and emails, but social media and engaging online with photographers, wedding planners, florists and more is really driving their business. They work hard to add unique and hard to find items to their inventory for their clients, whether by hunting for or making them from scratch, like their collection of handmade wooden farm tables.

As members of the Rising Tide Society and the Dayton Tuesdays Together group, both said it is key to have a support system of like minded business owners supporting each other. Creating connections and building long term relationships is a major part of their growth strategy as they continue to evolve their business. The Fosters are Linden Heights residents and LOVE Dayton. When I asked if they were here to stay both smiled and said, “Yes, this is home.” We talked candidly about Dayton, “I see a city on the rise, driven by artistic endeavors” said Mari. She talked about how much Dayton reminded her of Richmond and how creatives reshaped that city and the same is happening here. From giving purpose to old structures, to food and art culture Dayton continue to grow breathing new life into the region. So, it’s Dayton to stay. Dayton to stay.

I enjoyed our conversation so much, and as a client I have to say they are amazing to work with as well and I look forward to many more collaborations this and next year. As a self proclaimed “junker” I also had to ask where they find all of their amazing rentals. Mari graciously offered up her secret. “Craigslist, flea markets, estate sales, personal connections, FB Buy Sell Trade groups, Goodwill, pretty much anywhere and I’m always looking!” she laughed. If you’re a photographer, wedding planner, or company that wants to host a unique event in a creative and stylized space, check out Something Old Dayton. Curious about them? Attend their open house on September 30th to meet these two and tour their space. Also, be prepared for their two little cuties to be crawling around. It’s kind of a perk of working with them. Welcome to Dayton Kyle + Mari, I personally am super excited to watch your business and family grow!

Signing Off

September 21, 2016 By Jason Harrison

Today’s will be my last regular column for Dayton Most Metro, though I hope to contribute from time to time if I have something meaningful to say. Thank you, fearless reader, for putting up with a column that was supposed to be about fitness but quite often was about whatever I couldn’t stop thinking about.

I came back to the Dayton area somewhat grudgingly last year. I think it’s important for me to admit that. I came back for family considerations. I didn’t come back because this is the place I would have chosen. And yet I’ve already managed to form deep and meaningful friendships that I’ll have for a lifetime. I’ve been able to build a business here in a manner for which I don’t have to compromise my values. I’ve been able to live and work downtown in exactly the type of urban, diverse, and textured neighborhood I’ve always craved. Maybe I came back to town grudgingly, and maybe there are times when I crave even more diversity, even more density, and even more texture. But Dayton has been great to me and this column has played a significant role in that.

I’m making the difficult decision to walk away from regular weekly contributions because of time. My gym is getting busier and my ability to write for my business–I largely neglect my newsletter for sometimes months at a time–has waned. I owe it to Present Tense Fitness to devote more of my finite energy to ensuring that it and the messaging surrounding it survives and thrives.

Every week as I’ve sat down to write in this space, I’ve tried in part to write for the people who are sitting on the sidelines of fitness. I’ve tried to write in a way that’s accessible and that ties together the seemingly disparate threads of life that come together to form a healthy body and soul. Often what you’ve read here is me thinking out loud. So many millions of Americans–and the vast majority of those who live in our region–don’t get enough exercise or eat well enough to avoid the utterly preventable lifestyle diseases that plague this country. My guess is I’ll still be trying to figure out the messaging around fitness for people who avoid it for many years to come. But this column was a public platform for me to try my hardest to push that boulder up the hill. Though you won’t see me here nearly as often, I promise you that every day in the Oregon District I’ll continue to figure out how to get more people to do a thing that will measurably enhance their quality of life. That’s my work.

This column has allowed me, forced me even, to look at Dayton through a different lens. Because fitness is my business and my life, I tend to take a wellness view of a community. So even when I ventured into socio-political topics like Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ rights, I wasn’t consciously doing so in order to push any particular agenda. These issues are in fact wellness issues. I hope I’ve persuaded at least some of you to see them that way too. This week has been an unfortunate reminder of how unwell we are as a country in so many ways. The solutions, like the problems, will be complex. But they will involve first a thorough understanding of our shared humanity.

I’ve coached enough people over the last ten years that I’ve seen patterns, and I recognize them here in Dayton. People tend to be incredibly unforgiving of their own shortfalls, and that extends into the larger community such that we refer reflexively to certain people as thugs or white trash. When we use terms like this we’re inherently engaging in a form of dehumanization. This needs to stop. I push my clients all the time to analyze and evaluate rather than judge their own behavior. This mindfulness is what we’ll need to see the multi-dimensional humanity of all of our neighbors. Mindfulness and empathy are practices that you can start on your own, and I think you’ll find that the better you get at removing judgment of your own actions, the more likely you’ll be able to see your neighbors and their actions with empathy.

Thank you to Lisa Grigsby for giving me this platform for so long and for being so encouraging of how I’ve chosen to use it. And thank you especially to Teri Lussier, a local real estate agent and Dayton Most Metro contributor who introduced Lisa and I and first suggested the column.

Be well, Dayton. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need encouragement around fitness.

Yours very truly,

Jason

Dayton Big Quiet is back on September 21st

September 20, 2016 By LIbby Ballengee

September 21st is the United Nation’s International Day of Peace, and is the last official day of summer. The cusp of the Autumnal Equinox and a worldwide celebration of peace is the perfect day for Dayton’s 2nd annual Dayton Big Quiet.

Organizers from Heartfulness Dayton and Venus Child Productions have come together once again to host this free community event, to demonstrate the inner peace that comes from yoga and meditation. At 5:30pm, there is a free yoga 45 minute yoga class hosted by three area instructors: Melissa Ledinsky of Real Deal Yoga, Jeanine Parisi of Day Yoga, and Alex Keller of Do Yoga Dayton. Please bring a mat if you participate in the portion of the program.

Immediate following the yoga session, meditation trainers from the Natural Path Meditation Center in Beavercreek will do a brief introduction to the silent, heart-based meditation style known as “Heartfulness.” It’s non-denominational, and can be practiced by all faiths. Some chairs will be available, however if you can, please bring a blanket or pillow to ensure you are comfortable. The event will wrap up by 7pm.

Remember world peace starts with each of us individually!

Time For The Ronald McDonald House Mix 107.7 Radiothon

September 20, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton is partnering with iHeart Radio’s Mix 107.7 to present the 8th Annual Mix 107.7 Radiothon on September 22, 2016 from 6 am to 6 pm. Your favorite on-air personalities Jeff, Gina, and Dave and afternoon hosts Kristi Leigh, Shaun Vincent and Doreen will broadcast live from the Ronald McDonald House lobby to help raise funds to support RMHC Dayton’s mission and the efforts that improve children’s health within our region.

Hundreds of families are overnight guests at the Ronald McDonald House each year, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Dayton Children’s serves nearly 60 families each day. We invite YOU to tune in to Mix 107.7 this day to support RMHC guest families during a time when they need it most.

Here’s how you can help:

Tune in September 22
MIX 107.7 (online or on your radio)

Volunteer
Hundreds of families are overnight guests at the Ronald McDonald House each year, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Dayton Children’s serves nearly 60 families each day. We’re in need of volunteers to help us during out Mix 107.7 Radiothon, a day of fun and fundraising to support RMHC guest families. Sign up here to volunteer.

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Call up & Give to Support Families
By phone at 937-535-CARE or 937-535-227 or online at www.RMHCDayton.org.
Fund a night of stay for a guest family! 100% of your donations stay local and help families of hospitalized children.

AFP Announces Honorees For National Philanthropy Day

September 18, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Greater Dayton Region Chapter just announced the honorees to be celebrated at the 2016 National Philanthropy Day (NPD) Annual Awards Luncheon.

s the day that thousands of people around the world come together to both (1) put that word into action and (2) recognize the change that word has brought to our communities.

NPD is a celebration of philanthropy—giving, volunteering and charitable engagement—that highlights the accomplishments, large and small, that philanthropy—and all those involved in the philanthropic process—makes to our society and our world.

Outstanding Philanthropist: The Mills Family
As hosts of the Gala of Hope at their home in Beavercreek, The Mills hope to set cancer in the sunset. This event this year raised a record breaking $1.3 million dollars. Bob was named Man of the Year in 2011 for raising the most money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Barbara has led trips to Mexico with the charity Youth With a Mission. Just a glimpse at the generosity the Mills family shares with our community

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Lisa Orr
A Dayton native and CJ Alum, Lisa has spent her career in banking, and much of her leisure time volunteering for her church, Aullwood, the Red Cross, Vandalia Butler Schools, the Vandalia Food Pantry and sits on the board of Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Board and the Goodwill Easter seals Development Committee. She also chaired CJ’s 40th Reunion.

Outstanding Fundraising Executive: Jena Pado
Since moving back to Dayton 11 years ago, Jena has been dedicated to help Dayton Children’s raise millions of dollars to improve children’s health in the region. As the Chief Development Office she is leading the $25 million “Reaching New Heights” campaign, the largest in the hospital’s history.

Outstanding Foundation: Yellow Springs Community Foundation
Founded in 1974 to benefit the citizens and community of Yellow Springs and Miami Township. They do so by helping the elderly, the young, the sick, and the socially disadvantaged; promoting the arts and other cultural activities; promoting scientific research; providing scholarships; supporting public recreation, conservation, and environmental improvement.

Outstanding Large Corporation: Heidelberg Distributing
From one man and one truck, this family owned Ohio business has grown through mergers, acquisitions and industry consolidation to now employing over 1600. They live their motto “When you celebrate . . . we’re there!” by supporting our communities not-for-profit organizations that work hard to bring services, arts, education, research and hope to our neighbors.

*Tie* Outstanding Small Corporation:
The Cornell/Nicholson Team at USB Financial Services

Over forty years ago, Tim Cornell launched his financial services career and in 1980, he convinced his cousin, Shaun Nicholson, to join his growing practice. Today, their team has grown to 17 members. Each year they partner with a charity of choice and dedicate a year of philanthropy to that organization. They’ve helped raise over $20,000 for A Special Wish Foundation and created the Catch A Rising Star gala for WDPR Classical Radio.

C-3 Group

This small but mighty team (their words) is passionate about driving results and over the years, they’ve helped brands of all sorts, from local and international to corporate and non-profit, find success. In October 2013, they introduced the “C-3 Cares” initiative – a program to serve non-profits in the Dayton area by producing marketing materials such as websites, print pieces, social media training and consulting, branding, and more. Each year they sponsoring a pro bono project for a deserving and qualified Miami Valley charitable organization.To date, they have donated over $40,000 in award-winning projects and services under this program.

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy

(18-23): Jessica Waters

(5-17): Owen Mockabee

Special Service Award: Lt. Gen (ret) Richard VanFleet Reynolds

The Dayton Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will celebrate the winners during the annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center (444 W 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45402)

Tickets can be purchased starting the week of September 19th at www.afpdayton.org/npd.html.

Sponsorships and tables are available as well. For sponsorship information, please contact Luke Dennis at [email protected] or Michelle Cella at [email protected]. You can also visit the AFP Dayton website.

About the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Dayton Region Chapter

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), an association of professionals throughout the world, advances philanthropy by enabling people and organizations to practice ethical and effective fundraising. The core activities through which AFP fulfills this mission include education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing and advocacy. Since 1989, development professionals, consultants, board members and nonprofit executives alike have joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Dayton Region Chapter in order to share best practices and stay up-to-date with current fundraising tactics, trends and strategies. AFP provides both local fundraisers and local funders the opportunity to connect and learn from each other as they work to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives, works and plays in the Greater Dayton Region.

TIFF 2016 – Day #8

September 17, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Loyal TIFF Followers,

Unfortunately, MostMetro has been experiencing quite a bit of trouble with their website…and that’s why you haven’t heard from me for a couple days. They’re working hard to iron out all the kinks, and I appreciate you coming back for more (some of you with multiple attempts).

My first film on Thursday was John Butler’s HANDSOME DEVIL. Though a little light, there’s certainly an audience for this crowd-pleasing film about an outcast with bright red hair at a boarding school in Ireland. The unlikely friendship he strikes up with his handsome roommate has them eventually entered in a talent night where they’ll sing and play guitar together…and it’s really charming. However, the focus at this school is rugby, and the behaviors of the new guy don’t fit in with the agenda of his rugby coach. DEAD POETS’ SOCIETY meets SCHOOL TIES meets SING STREET. If it doesn’t get released sooner, you can certainly look for this film at next year’s PRIDE screening in June. There is no trailer for this film, so you only get a still at this time.

Next up was THE UNKOWN GIRL – a film by the Dardenne Brothers (KID WITH A BIKE, TWO DAYS ONE NIGHT). The Dardennes are known for this social-realist style of filmmaking. Always commenting on class as well as economic and social justice, this film still fills that role…but goes in a bit of different direction. This is the story of a doctor who doesn’t answer the buzzer at her office door. It’s after hours, and she figures a person would buzz multiple times if it was an emergency. The next day, she finds out that the girl who buzzed has been found dead across the street…she was a prostitute who buzzed the door in a panic – looking for help. Driven by guilt, the doctor begins her own investigation to find the name of the unknown girl. Without any scoring to trigger emotions, this mystery feels all the more real. Though not embraced by critics like their previous two films, I found it very satisfying.

SOUVENIR, starring Isabelle Huppert and directed by Babo Defurne, this is the story of a woman who works in a pate factory. She used to be a famous singer, but her star faded early after coming in 2nd place during a televised European singing contest (ABBA took home first place that year). The opening titles for the film are beautiful bubbles floating through water. Bubbles, bubbles, more bubbles. It’s pretty and hypnotizing. It’s light, it’s airy, it’s effervescent…it’s alka-seltzer. Thus we get a joke right from the opening credits. This French gem – which becomes a December/May romance, won’t be embraced by everyone. But I really like it! There’s no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip.

After my three films, I met up with an old friend for dinner. Then I met up with a few more friends (film programmers, PR folks, etc.) for cocktails. This was by far the latest I stayed out…and I paid for it the next morning. (But it was worth it.)

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Dayton Wolfpack Arena FootballTryouts

September 15, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Jerome and Jesse Clark are bringing an Arena Football team to Dayton. Bringing fast paced, hard hitting football to the Miami Valley, the team will be known as the Dayton Wolfpack.
“We are extremely excited to bring Arena style football back home to Dayton,” stated Wolf Pack Co-Owner Jesse Clark. “You can’t ask for a better area in terms of the football landscape to place a team, and we can’t wait to compete against many other proven arena teams the Arena Developmental League is set to have.”

The Arena Developmental League is set for initial kick off in March of 2017. With a playing style resembling traditional Arena rules, the ADL will be announcing member league teams in the coming weeks. This new competitive league will include the Columbus (GA) Lions, Lehigh Valley (PA) Steelhawks and the High County (NC) Grizzlies with 3 more to be announced next week and more down the road. This will be a great and exciting journey and a chance to bring the game of football back to the arena in Dayton! Negotiation are currently under way with the venue they will be playing at, look for that announcement very soon.

Do you think you have what it takes to play for the Dayton Wolfpack? If so, you can showcase your talents at the very first Dayton Wolfpack tryout. Participants will be tested in the 40 yard dash and short shuttle. Also, you will be participating in position drills and 1 on 1’s. Try-out are $50 if you pre-register and $60 at the door. Register at www.daytonwolfpack.com.

Finalists Announce for Dayton Literary Peace Prize

September 15, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Recognizing the power of literature to promote peace and reconciliation, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation today announced the finalists for the 2016 Dayton Literary Peace Prize in fiction and nonfiction.

Inspired by the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in Bosnia, The Dayton Literary Peace Prize is the only international literary peace prize awarded in the United States. The Prize celebrates the power of literature to promote peace, social justice, and global understanding. This year’s winners will be honored at a gala ceremony hosted by award-winning journalist Nick Clooney in Dayton on November 20th to be held at the Schuster Center.

Organizers announced in August that novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping, Gilead) will be the recipient of the 2016 Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, named in honor of the celebrated U.S. diplomat who helped negotiate the Dayton Peace Accords.

The shortlist includes “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen, “Nagasaki”i by Susan Southard, “Find Me Unafraid” by Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner, and “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara.

The 2016 Dayton Literary Peace Prize fiction finalists are:

• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara: Four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition — seek fame and fortune in New York city in this hymn to brotherly bonds. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into and those that we make for ourselves.

• Delicious Foods by James Hannaham: Held captive on a mysterious farm and under the sway of an overpowering addiction, a widow struggles to reunite with her young son. Hannaham’s daring and shape-shifting prose infuses his characters with grace and humor while wrestling with timeless questions of forgiveness, redemption, and the will to survive.

• Green on Blue by Elliot Ackerman: A young Afghan orphan is forced to join a US-funded militia in order to save his brother, who is hospitalized after an attack on their village, in this morally complex debut novel about the harrowing, intractable nature of war and the sacrifices we make for love.

• Orhan’s Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian: Drawing on her own family history, Ohanesian pulls back the curtain on a devastating chapter of the Armenian Holocaust, moving between the 1990s and the 1915 Ottoman Empire in this remarkable debut novel about war and recovery, crimes and reparations.

• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen: This profound, startling, and beautifully crafted debut novel tells the story of a man of two minds whose lofty ideals necessitate his betrayal of the people closest to him. Both gripping spy yarn and astute exploration of extreme politics, The Sympathizer examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.

• Youngblood by Matt Gallagher: During the final dark days of the War in Iraq, newly minted lieutenant Jack Porter struggles with the preparations for withdrawal from the country, especially the alliances with warlords who have Arab and American blood on their hands.

The 2016 nonfiction finalists are

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: Masterfully weaving together lyrical personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally-charged reportage, Coates shares the story of his awakening to the truth about history and his place in the world, in the process mapping a winding path from fear and confusion to a full and honest understanding of this country, this world, and how we can all get free.

• Find Me Unafraid by Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner: An African man and an American woman share their love story and recount their efforts to empower young people – including founding the first tuition-free school for girls – in Odede’s hometown of Kibera, the largest slum in Africa.

• Nagasaki by Susan Southard: Narrative journalist Southard spent over a decade interviewing survivors, historians, physicians, psychologists, and archivists to take readers from the morning the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki to the modern-day city, offering an intimate, immediate account of one of the most controversial wartime acts in history.

• Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America by Wil Haygood: Using the framework of the contentious five-day Senate hearing to confirm Marshall as the first African-American Supreme Court justice, Haygood creates a provocative look at Marshall’s life as well as the politicians, lawyers, activists, and others who shaped the early civil rights movement.

• The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew: After learning that his father, an accomplished but distant aboriginal Canadian, has cancer, his son spends a year reconnecting with him. By turns lighthearted and solemn, Kinew gives us an inspiring vision for family and cross-cultural reconciliation, and a wider conversation about the future of aboriginal peoples.

• The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell: This dramatic, never-before-told story of a secret FDR-approved WWII Texas internment camp reveals the war-time hysteria against the Japanese and Germans in America, the secrets of FDR’s tactics to rescue high-profile POWs in Germany and Japan, and how the definition of American citizenship changed under the pressure of war.

A winner and runner-up in fiction and nonfiction will be announced on October 11. Winners receive a $10,000 honorarium and runners-up receive $2,500. Finalists will be reviewed by a judging panel of prominent writers including Alexander Chee (Edinburgh, Queen of the Night), Christine Schutt (Florida, All Souls), Ruben Martinez (Desert America: A Journey Across Our Most Divided Landscape, Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail), and Evelyn McDonnell (Rock She Wrote: Women Write about Rock, Pop and Rap, Queens of Noise: The Real Story of the Runaways).

To be eligible for the 2016 awards, English-language books must be published or translated into English in 2015 and address the theme of peace on a variety of levels, such as between individuals, among families and communities, or between nations, religions, or ethnic groups.

TIFF 2016 – Day #7

September 15, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for coming back! Today was my last day during this trip when I have to wake up before 6am! I saw three more films (which takes me to 24 total), and I had a nice dinner. Though there was an invitation to meet up for late drinks, I had to turn it down. I’m simply too tired and getting more than 4 hours of sleep sounds much better.

My first film of the day was PATERSON, by Jim Jarmusch – who has a cult-like following. This film stars Adam Driver as “a working-class poet in a small New Jersey town who practices his craft amidst the quiet magic of everyday life.” (TIFF on-line catalog) As always, Jarmusch finds both humor and pathos in the idiosyncrasies and mundane routines of his characters. That said, I think this film is his most accessible. And though not a lot “happens,” I was engaged and liked peeking in on these rather charming characters. (There is not trailer available, but here’s a clip.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWHA1lcjUt4

JACKIE, the new film about Jackie O’ starring Natalie Portman, was next on my list. Directed by Pablo Larrain (who also has a film about Pablo Neruda at the festival), this film takes a look at the assassination of JFK through the point of view of Jackie. The film opens with Jackie greeting a journalist just a few days after the assassination. As she answers questions, we get her version of the story – both anecdotes about the making of the TV special when she led press through the White House as well as her account of what happened in Texas and preparing for the funeral. She is very candid, but she also makes quite clear that she’ll have the final edit on the piece that is written. When the journalist says that he just wants the truth, it is finally said that “I will settle for a story that’s believable.” That sentiment is the film in a nutshell. It took me a little while to buy Portman as Jackie, but eventually she won me over. Fox Searchlight picked up this film within the last 48 hours, and they plan to have it released in time for Oscar season.

My final film of the day was UNA – a new film based on the play BLACKBIRD, directed by Benedict Andrews and starring Rooney Mara & Ben Mendelsohn. This is the story of a young woman in her mid-20’s confronting a middle-aged man at his place of work. It’s been 12 years since they’ve seen each other…and that was when she was 13 and he sexually abused her. It’s my understanding that the play is just two characters…and adapting it for the screen seemed a bit forced to me. From ducking behind boxes and into bathroom stalls to hide from other workers, it seemed a bit of a stretch to buy the actions of the characters. I ultimately had really mixed feelings. The material is intriguing and bold, but I didn’t buy the set-up (trouble with the man’s position at work is a tangent that seems oddly tacked on). In addition, I feel like the material didn’t ring with honesty. SPOILER ALERT…don’t read more if you don’t want to know too much! The director spoke of each character having “unfinished desire” for one another. I’d be anxious to hear a true feminist read of this material/adaptation. By the end, I didn’t hate it, but I also can’t recommend it. There is no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip:

I’ve got three films tomorrow and I get to sleep in until 7:30! I also plan to meet an old friend for dinner – someone I met in line for Almodovar’s TALK TO HER back at the festival in 2002.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #6

September 14, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

maudie-movie-poster-lg Hello!

Today’s schedule had me down for 5 films…and though I got into the fifth, I just wasn’t loving it enough to stick around (thus I won’t review it). Instead, I’ll go over the four films I screened in their entirety.

THEIR FINEST was my first screening at 9:30am, and it was packed in one of Scotiabank’s biggest venues. Lone Scherfig (AN EDUCATION) delivers a very solid film about the film industry in England during WWII. The story centers around a female writer who is initially hired to help write and flesh out the female voices just as the industry is also realizing that they need to make a picture that boosts morale on the homefront. Bill Nighy, who plays an egotistical old pro actor, is a scene-stealer…and the film will be an crowd-pleaser. Full of nostalgic winks and nods as well as colorful characters, this is an “acquisition title,” and I believe it will get picked up. There’s no trailer yet for THEIR FINEST…so a photo will have to do at this point.

Their Finest Hour and A Half
Directed by Lone Sherfig

MAUDIE, a biopic about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, was next on my list. With an outstanding performance by Sally Hawkins which is touching, physically demanding and full of hysterical funny moments that make Maud all the more endearing, the film is about Lewis’s relationship with her husband (played by Ethan Hawke) and her rise to fame in the art world. Challenged by childhood rheumatoid arthritis, everything from daily chores to even holding a brush look painful for Maud – but we fall in love with her desire to paint on just about any stationary object. Directed by Aisling Walsh (she’s done a lot of television work including FINGERSMITH with Hawkins), this is a slower character piece – but I think it could easily find an audience with Neon patrons. There’s no trailer for this film yet, but here’s a clip.

Once in a while at TIFF, I let myself see a big, splashy Hollywood movie. One that clearly won’t be coming to THE NEON, but one that’s receiving some critical buzz. A couple years ago, it was GRAVITY…this year, it was another sci-fi film – ARRIVAL, directed by Denis Villeneuve. Though I can rattle off a handful of sci-fi films that I greatly admire, this isn’t a genre that usually attracts my attention, and this alien film intrigued me because it wasn’t going to be full of explosions and battle scenes. Amy Adams plays a linguist who is hired by the government to attempt communicating with aliens who have landed 12 ships around the world. There’s some really lovely work happening in this film – from the central performance to terrific special effects. But there’s also some clunky ideas (especially in the third act) that keep me from embracing the film. I realize that many, many people will love this one…but it’s not for me.

My last full film of the day was THE SALESMAN, directed by Asghar Farhadi (A SEPARATION and THE PAST). The film opens with people needing to evacuate their building as it is beginning to crack and may soon crash. We follow a young theatrical couple (who are mounting a production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN) as they are displaced and soon find a new apartment that was formerly inhabited by a prostitute (though they don’t know that immediately). An incident in the new place leaves the couple forever changed, and the film then becomes a subtle thriller. With narrative elements and themes that I greatly admire, this film is well-done and solid – though not quite up to par with his previous two films due to a somewhat strained final act. There is no trailer yet for this film, but here’s a clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VcfinMasfw

I wrapped up the night by attending a low-key party for lgbt industry folks. I was glad to meet a few new people, and I’m crawling into bed before 2:00…so glad tomorrow is the last day I have to get up before 7:00.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

J Crew, Stretchy Jeans, and Donuts

September 14, 2016 By Jason Harrison

I dress pretty much like a child on most days. Take a look at a school bus stop near you, and then take a look at what I wear to work every day. You’ll struggle to notice a difference (other than the balding hair line and aging face). Despite my propensity for dressing like an adolescent, somewhere along the line I got subscribed to the J Crew catalogue for men. Maybe they felt sorry for me.

Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset

I was flipping through the catalogue and I happened upon this bit of copy that I haven’t been able to get out of my head:

Stretch Jeans That Don’t Look Stretchy

That’s the title. And there’s a thin looking model dude bounding down some urban steps on his way probably to jump on a bike to grab some organic sushi or something.

“Thanks to top-quality Japanese fabric we source from one of that country’s original denim mills, they look just like all of our famous jeans. Which means now you can wear slim denim and eat doughnuts.” (emphasis in the original quote)

This copy bothers me on three fronts.

1.) The Settling

You know what? Forget it. Just wear stretchy jeans. You’ll never fit into regular jeans anyway. So here’s some stretchy fabric that might look decent for your fat butt and fat thighs and fat stomach. Fatty.

That’s what I read in this ad. Juxtaposed with the skinny dude accompanying the copy, I just find this offensive.

2.) Overeating = Only Reason Skinny Jeans Don’t Fit

The second thing that bothers me about this ad is the idea that eating to excess would be the only reason that someone can’t fit into some skinny jeans. Let me tell you something. Try to imagine an octopus on dry land riding a unicycle. That’s what I look like trying to put on a pair of skinny jeans. My ass and thighs just simply refuse to be associated with skinny jeans. They don’t want to be in the same room with them. They’re offended by the idea of skinny jeans.

And it ain’t the donuts.

It’s the squats, deadlifts, lunges, good mornings, Romanian deadlifts, and kettlebell swings. Don’t get me wrong, I can put away some donuts. But these thighs just ain’t ever gonna fit into skinny jeans. So why condescend to the people you’re selling to by suggesting that the only reason one might not fit into skinny jeans is that they overeat? I get it. It’s supposed to be funny. But, no. That’s a swing and a miss.

3.) It’s Just Bad Marketing

The thing I can’t shake about this copy is that it’s just bad marketing. It doesn’t fit the brand. J Crew usually seems to be marketing to a relatively sophisticated group of people who care a little about the fabric, the aesthetic, the origin of the clothes they’re wearing. Right? So why would you wink and nod to a guy sitting on the couch with his hand down his pants mainlining powdered donuts? It’s just the wrong audience.

Sometimes when you’re selling something, especially an aesthetic, cute just isn’t the way to go. And if you’re going to wade into what I think are the much needed waters of sizing clothing for a diverse group of bodies, don’t insult the very people to which you’re ostensibly marketing. I don’t know much. But I know that.

TIFF 2016 – Day #5

September 13, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone.

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

TIFF 2016 – Day #3

September 12, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

OPA! Dancing, Music, Gyro’s and Pastries

September 9, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The 2015 Greek Festi val is here. The families of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church welcome you to the annual Greek Festival, Friday-Sunday Sep- tember 11, 12 and 13. The church and festival grounds are located at 500 Belmonte Park North, next to the Dayton Art Institute.!

Hours: FridayandSaturday,11a.m.to11p.m.,andSunday11a.m.to6p.m.

Admission is: Free on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the rest of the weekend, admission is $2 per person; children under 12 are free. Folks who wish to beat the crowds will want to visit the festival in the afternoon hours of any of its 3 days.

!Free Parking and Bus Shuttle Service: Parking is available on the streets surrounding the church. Take advantage of the FREE parking and bus shuttle service which begins on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Grandview Hospital Employee Lot on Shaw Avenue or top 2 floors of hospital’s in- door parking garage; Grafton Medical Center Lot, Forest & Grand; or Schrimpf Eye Center Lot at 330 Forest.– shuttles will run during festival hours every hour on the half hour and drop you off at the door.

!What to do at the Festival? For starters – you’ll enjoy traditional foods from the treasured recipes of our parishioners: pastitsio (the Greek version of lasagna), moussaka (eggplant casse- role), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), lamb and chicken dinners slow-roasted in a flavorful sauce, and delicious gyro pita-wrapped sandwiches. If meatless dishes are preferred, try our vegetarian pastitsio, spinach and cheese pies in phyllo dough, veggie gyros, Greek salads topped with feta cheese and Kalamata olives. Always a hit with the kids are Skyline Chili Coneys, Greek fries and Greek Pizza. Enjoy craft beers, imported beers and wines with a va- riety of hors d’oeuvres. For dessert, numerous pastries, including the always-popular baklava and honey puffs are available.

Take a tour of our beautiful Byzantine-style church which includes a short presentation on the Eastern Orthodox faith. Our Grecian Boutique carries jewelry and other imported items including coin skirts, headbands and wristbands.

Cooking demonstrations are held throughout the weekend. The Zorba Zone will entertain children beginning at 5pm on Friday, throughout the weekend.

!It’s all about the Music..The “Greek Tycoons” and dancers in traditional costumes will entertain all weekend and encourage YOU to join in on the fun.

!We are pleased and honored to bring our culture, heritage and traditions to the Miami Valley. Come be a Greek for a day! OPA!

!Visit: www.DaytonGreekFestival.com,ourFacebookpageorcallchurchoffice937/224-0601.

TedXDayton Speakers Announced

September 8, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

TEDxDayton organizers have released the speaker lineup for the 2016 signature event, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton. As in previous years, organizers anticipate a fast sell-out. Only 16 percent of unsold tickets remain.

“There’s a lot of energy building in our community,” said TEDxDayton co-chair Ron Rollins. “People want to have challenging conversations about where we’re headed, and they’re looking for new ideas. This event brings new perspectives to the table and asks questions we haven’t thought to ask.”

Nineteen speakers will present on this year’s theme—SEARCH. “This year’s theme really captures the spirit of TED,” said TEDxDayton chair Diane Farrell. “We attract an active audience. They inquire. They investigate. When they enter the theatre on Oct. 14, they won’t just be expecting entertainment, they’ll be seeking information, inspiration, and connection—and with this year’s powerful speakers, that’s what they’re going to find.”

Speakers include:
Salma Albezreh, Student, Morton Middle School
Tyler Back, CEO, Mitosis & Meiosis
Joe Deer, Professor and Musical Theatre Initiative Director, Wright State University
Neenah Ellis, General Manager, WYSO
Scot Ganow, Attorney, Faruki Ireland & Cox P.L.L.
Cassie Guard, Owner and CEO, Femme Fatale Fitness
Ambassador Tony Hall, Executive Director, Alliance to End Hunger
Ryan Ireland, Publicity and Marketing Coordinator, Greene County Public Library
Moriba Jah, Director, University of Arizona Space Object Behavioral Sciences
Linda Jones, Vice President of Finance and Administration, Software Solutions, Inc.
Darren Kall, Co-founder, Specific Clarity
Heidi Landes, Parent Coach, Courage for Parents.com
Deanna Murphy, Co-founder, Brigid’s Path
Robert Owens, Educational Consultant, Signature Educational Solutions
Lance Salyers, Senior Director, LexisNexis Legal & Professional
Jo’el Thomas-Jones, Community Support Coordinator and Co-founder, Neighborhoods Over Politics
David Webb, President and CEO, The Funk Music Hall of Fame & Exhibition Center
Brenden Wynn, Operations Manager, Providence Medical Group
Jonah Yokoyama, Executive Director, Heartland Trans Wellness Group

TEDx is a global program of independently organized events licensed by TED. Visit www.tedxdayton.com or follow TEDxDayton on Facebook or Twitter for more information.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)