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Sing it Strong, Sing it Loud

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Altar Boyz

ENCORE THEATER COMPANY

The quintessential Boy Bands: upbeat (and often emotional) music… slick choreography… the perfect individual and group images… slightly-too-perfect rhymes… the Soul Sensor DX-12? Well, maybe not for any other boy band, but for the Altar Boyz, it’s key! During the final concert of their “Raise the Praise” tour, the Boyz seek to reduce the number of burdened souls in the audience (indicated by the number on the Sensor) to zero.

“Jesus called me on my cell phone / No roaming charges were incurred / He told me that I should go out in the world / And spread His glorious word”

Altar Boyz, presented in real time as that concert, is a satirical, “foot-stomping, rafter-raising musical comedy,” and the fictitious Christian boy band includes five Ohio members: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan, and Abraham (who, actually, is Jewish). Some of the Boyz’ signature hits include “Rhythm in Me,” “The Calling,” and “I Believe.” Directed and choreographed by Lauren Morgan and musically directed by Mark Barnhill, this Dayton premiere kicks off Encore Theater Company’s summer season, and runs for one weekend only, June 16 – 18.

“We think that church is super fine / We are the Altar Boyz / We love the wafers and the wine / We are the Altar Boyz / And I think / You’ll find….. We’re gonna altar your mind!”

This show is unique in that each cast member must be a triple-strength performer, because everyone is acting, singing, and dancing for nearly the entire show! Therefore, learning the show has been hard work, but the actors I spoke with were excited about the challenges they’ve faced and the strides they’ve taken as performers. The cast includes students and/or Dayton residents Drew Bown, Andrew Koslow, Korey Harlow, Zack Steele, and Zach King, with a special appearance by local Muse Machine alumnus and Broadway performer Tyler Maynard as “the Voice of God.”

“When I hold your body next to mine / it feels so good / and feels so right / and it also makes my Levis feel real tight… / and I know that there is something about you, baby…/ Girl, you make me want to wait.”

Not only does the cast play a great team onstage, but everyone has an excellent collaboration as well. Each of the cast members are or have studied some type of theatre at the collegiate level, and most are new to Encore Theater Company’s mainstage; however, they’ve all contributed unique talents and abilities to make this show strong and fluid, to refine timing of the show’s extensive humor and rehearse even the most difficult 5-part harmonies. Koslow, who plays Mark, explained in an interview with onStageDayton,

Andrew Koslow, "Mark"

“The most rewarding thing for me about this show is how much we’ve truly banded together (pardon the pun) to make this show happen. We’ve run into a thousand road blocks, from losing cast members to sometimes only having two Boyz available for certain rehearsals due to commitments to other shows. Despite all that, we’ve put together an incredible and entertaining show… I truly couldn’t be prouder of our entire cast and production team.”

That commitment and collaboration have paid off: Zack Steele, who plays Juan, praises,

Zach Steele, "Juan"

“[Altar Boyz] will have [audience members] crying from laughing so hard. The script is bulletproof and the Boyz’ chemistry on stage will carry you on a journey all the way through curtain call. The singing is great and the satire is ever-present.”

Koslow added,

“I truly believe there is something for everyone in this show, and no one can prove me wrong unless they come and see for themselves.”

“You know The Bible tells you God’s the one that made you / So get out on the dance floor And shake what He gave you!”

So, whether you’re holding onto music of the early ‘90s or just love to make fun of boy bands, Altar Boyz is the perfect show for you. Don’t miss it!

Tickets & Performance Information

Altar Boyz – June 16 – 18, 8:00 pm

Encore Theater Company

Performances will be held at Sinclair Community College’s Blair Hall Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved through http://brushfire.e-vent.info/Events/Sinclair/Default.aspx, by contacting (937) 512-2808 (be sure to leave a message) or box.office@sinclair.edu

For more information, check out the Altar Boyz blog or Encore Theater Company.

~KN

The Independent Shadow Cinema – Underground No More

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Zombies, Lesbian Vampires and Mexican Wrestlers..Oh My!


Having grown up nurtured by Dr. Creep on Shock Theater, fighting sleep while watching the dusk to dawn horror fests at the Captain Kidd and Belmont Drive-In Theaters and relishing the peculiarities found at the bottom of bargain bins full of obscure DVDs, I felt an immediate understanding of what he is trying to create with the Independent Shadow Cinema. Andy himself is quite an accomplished aficionado within  the world of the weird, having worked with Dr. Creep, being one of the people behind the annual Horrorama charity film festival and directing six of his own horror genre films, including The Mutilation Man, The Atrocity Circle and Black Sun.

While other people may look down their collective noses at people like us for being drawn towards entertainment that they would deem sophomorically disgusting or visual training manuals for psychopaths, we know that those kind of people are eaten first by the zombie hordes, usually in a humorous manner, thus stripping them not only of their flesh, but also their self deluded decorum.

What Andy Copp is trying to bring to the screen, as well as to the darkened streets of Dayton, is a world unseen by the masses. A world of the uncanny, the unbridled, the uninhibited. A world shown is a series of stroboscopic scenes splashed with copious amounts of arterial red. With the Independent Shadow Cinema, Andy is trying to breathe life into the self indulgently dying corpse of local cinema and allowing it, for a moment, to live within the minds of an audience hungering for visions of the weird and wonderful.

J.T.: I guess the first question would be: What was the impetus to start the Independent Shadow Cinema?
Andy: Well, the idea came out of me wanting to do the old school midnight movies that I grew up going to. The ones like Flicker Palace had years ago and Page Manor had back in my college days. There hasn’t been anything like that in a long time and back in the nineties, I worked at the Neon Movies as one of the managers back before the switchover and I brought in a lot of movies from Hong Kong and things like that and they were really successful. I realized that there was an audience for it here in town, but there was nothing catering to that right now and there hasn’t been since I had done it in the nineties. I’m also one of the guys that run Horrorama (Horrorama is a charity movie marathon that has been active since 1997) and we have a dedicated audience here in town that comes to that event every year. Since I had worked with Englewood Cinema with Horrorama, I approached Mike who runs things there and presented the idea of running underground midnight movies and he said, “Well, let’s try to do this then” and so we went ahead and launched it. So we went for it, trying to bring more interesting movies that you’re not going to see anywhere else, like the old midnight pulp movie shows, and to give the people something interesting to do on Friday nights.

J.T.: Are you targeting more of the grind house/horror show genre?
Andy: A little bit. Right now, what I’m doing is I’m bringing in a lot of the really obscure, indie/underground stuff, but the people who are interested in that type of thing are also going to be interested in the grind house/exploitation films and people who like that are going to like the stuff that we’re currently playing. The stuff that we’re playing right now is pretty obscure and relatively unknown, but definitely, that’s the crowd we’re going for.

J.T.: What do you have coming up for the next show?
Andy: On Friday, we have a movie that was made in 2000 called Meatmarket and it’s a zombie flick…actually, it’s a really wild zombie flick. It’s got everything. It’s got zombies, lesbian vampires, Mexican wrestlers and things blowing up. It’s a movie that aims to please. It was made in Canada for just under $2,000. It’s incredibly low budget, but you wouldn’t know that by watching it because the production values are really high. That’s the kind of stuff that we’ve been showing: the stuff that’s made for peanuts, but that are incredibly ambitious.

J.T.: What’s the main message that you want to get out?
Andy: That we’re here and that we’re doing something different. In Dayton, there’s always this grumbling that there’s nothing interesting going on; “Oh, Dayton doesn’t have anything cool or different!” but here we are on Friday nights with these kick ass, interesting movies that you probably haven’t heard of that are definitely satisfying. For five bucks, you can see some wicked ass movie that will leave you feeling satisfied. Also, the way I have structured it, there’s always a free movie, a second feature, and I never say what it is so it’s always going to be a surprise. So, from 11:30pm until 2:30am, you get two crazy movies for five bucks.

J.T.: Now, with most people’s experiences of midnight movies is limited to Rocky Horror Picture Show, are there people that show up with a certain amount of misconceptions?
Andy: Right! This isn’t Mystery Science Theater 3K or Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’m not inviting people to come and yell and throw things and make fun of these films…that’s not our thing. This is to come and appreciate something unusual and have a good time. I don’t want this to be Troll 2. These are genuinely interesting movies, so if people are coming to make fun of them, I’m not so interested in them being there, but if they are there to find something that they have never seen or experienced, then those are the people we are looking for. Also, with the more people that we can get to come out, the more crazier and bigger movies that we’ll be able to bring in. There’s a whole world of these types of movies that just don’t make it to Dayton. The Gateway in Columbus plays new movies like this every Saturday night. If we raised our audience numbers, we’d be able to get movies like Hobo With A Shotgun or The Troll Hunter…we just can’t afford those right now.

The next Independent Shadow Cinema event is scheduled for Friday June 17th at 11:00pm at the Englewood Cinemas, 320 West National Rd, Englewood, Ohio and will feature the zombie movie Meatmarket along with an as yet to be announced second feature.

Jane’s Best Bets (6/15 – 6/19)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

After two weeks free of Jane’s Best Bets, you may have thought that you had successfully gotten rid of me (and my dumb jokes).  Sorry to burst your bubble, but that is not the case.  Here is a listing of some events going on this week, including the opening of The Lion King. Speaking of lions, let’s go ahead and get to the “mane” events!

On Wednesday, bring out your creative side with Creative Card Making at the Dayton Art Institute.  For those of you thinking of starting your own business, make your way to The Entrepreneurs Center for their New Business Information Session.  At the Fraze, enjoy the Austrian Festival Spass Nacht…which is absolutely free!  Listen to Jazz on the Green at Yankee Trace Golf Club.  And finally, I’m not “lion” to you when I tell you that you don’t want to miss Disney’s The Lion King, which is being performed at the Schuster Center.  (It is being performed through July 10th, so even if you don’t get to see it this week, you’ll still have an opportunity!)

On Thursday, all you gardening gurus can put your talents to good use at Riverscape as part of RiverScape Gardeners.  I’m definitely not in that crop.  Instead of planting my own garden, I’d prefer to get vegetables at the grocery or at a place like Centerville Farmers Market, located at Centerville Shopping Center.  If you are all about networking and live up north (or don’t mind making your way up there), attend ‘Be An Exceptional Presenter’, which is a free networking event featuring Gary Mull as the guest speaker at Club 55.  At the Dayton Art Institute, attend the Twilight Concert (not to be confused with that Twilight vampire series, which I am still clueless about).  Let your hair down (or put your hair back) and head to La Comedia to see the popular musical Hair Spray.  Or go to Veteran’s Park Amphitheater for Annie Get Your Gun.  And if you feel like singing yourself, make your way to Champps for Karaoke Thursdays.

The Fabulous Menus!

On Friday, all live music lovers will want to attend the Ole’ Tyme Music Festival at Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village.  If you’re not there, then I order you to catch one of my favorite bands, The Menus, as they play at Sharkey’s.  Beer lovers should make plans to attend the 6th International Beer Fest at Jungle Jim’s.  At Fifth Third Field, watch as the Dragons take on the Lansing Lugnuts.  And if you want to experience theater, be sure to get your tickets to see Hair Spray at La Comedia, Annie Get Your Gun at Veterans Memorial Park, Disney’s The Lion King at the Schuster Center, or The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show at The Loft Theatre

On Saturday, visit Practice Yoga on Fifth for their Birthday Party/Open House, which will include FREE classes, live music, mini-massages, and much more!  Don’t know how to bake but love to decorate?  Consider heading to Ele Cake Company and decorate a cake for your dad for their Father’s Day DYO Cake.  It’s picnicking season, so find out about Healthy Picnic Foods at PNC 2nd Street Market.  While downtown, you’ll also be able to participate in the Kayak Float/Ride the River Rentals at RiverScape and then later listen to the sounds of Bonneville as part of the Free Summer Concert Series.  All you 80s music lovers should go go to the Fraze to catch the GoGo’s and the B-52’s as part of Mix 107.7 Summerfest.  I just couldn’t keep my lips sealed about that one.  If you would prefer to stay inside, then catch one of these shows:  Disney’s The Lion King (Schuster Center), Hair Spray (La Comedia), or Annie Get Your Gun (Veterans Memorial Park).  And if you want to get groovin’, head to Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village for the Ole’ Tyme Music Festival.

On Sunday, be sure to wish the fathers you know a Happy Father’s Day.  Several places will be offering brunch, including the Dayton Woman’s Club (I find that kind of ironic), Boulevard Haus, Blind Bob’s, or the Dublin Pub.  Afterwards, take your dad to watch the Dragons play the Lansing Lugnuts at Fifth-Third Field.  And if he likes doing outdoor activities, take him to RiverScape where there will be Ride the River Rentals.

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

What do you call a show full of lions?

The mane event.

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!

Olive An Urban Dive Sets Opening!

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If you’ve been following the saga of Olive, An Urban Dive,  which owner Kimberly Collett has bloggesd about honestly and openly on facebook,  has finally set an opening date.  And while that date is about 6 months later than predicted, Collett has used that time to create a legion of fans  (close to 1100 at last look) and supporters that have never even tasted their food.  Pretty amazing use of facebook, huh?  And credit Collett with another brilliant business move- she put tickets on sale for a week of preview dinners a couple of months ago and sold out every ticket for a then undetermined date.

local over import, labor over convenience and service over everything else.

And now after building and rebuilding, fighting one zoning issue after another, Dive into Olive week has been set for the last week of June for those who hold those sold out tickets.  The general public will get their first chance to dine at the new eatery for lunch the week of July 5th. The former Wympee diner will seat 30 or so inside and has added a patio in the back for another 15.  Menu’s will include vegan and gluten-free items and their facebook has promised Olive will have nary a can in the kitchen.  They’ve spent the spring sourcing local foods and and making friends, and now we wish them the best of luck as they start feeding all the friends they’ve cultivated!

Summer of Love “Sizzling Hot Ideas for Date Night”

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Tis the season for love or a summer fling or a really hot date. Hopefully I will get to experience one of the above before the leaves start changing colors.  It’s this time of year that I am reminded why I love Dayton so much. From festivals to concerts to some of the best bar patios around, this city is filled with great things to do. This week I bring to you the best spots in Dayton for a great night out with that special person but if you’re into self love like myself you can also take yourself out to one of these places.

Play Ball!

What’s better than peanuts, cold beer and baseball on a Summer day or night? Not much really. If you haven’t been to a Dayton Dragon’s game, I suggest you do. It really is the perfect setting for a date, especially a first one. A relaxed setting and sports tends to make it easier on the guys. So if he doesn’t suggest it, you should. If you’re a planner, here’s their season schedule. I’ve always found that my favorite dates are those at sports events. They’re fun and simple.

Patio Perfect.

On a summer night, what’s better than an outdoor patio? There are a lot of great places in Dayton to sit outside and enjoy conversation under starlit sky. Some of the places listed in my last column on dating by mood would apply here. Locally, Sidebar if you’re looking for fine dining, Blind Bob’s if you’re looking to just relax and have a cold one but there are more. Since I spend enough time there though, for a date there are other place I would suggest. I love Yellow Springs, especially this time of year and there is a little place I visit at least a few times in the summer, Ye Olde Trail Tavern. Nothing fancy about it, but the patio is great and if you’re a people watch you’re right on the street and can stare at passerbys. This maybe convenient if your date is a real dud. Also for a great patio experience and a great margarita there’s always Elsa’s on Linden in Kettering, though sip Bad Jauns gingerly. Being a drunk hot mess on a date could effect the chances of being asked out again, or not. While we’re on latin food, El Meson is one of my favorites and the patio, also great.

Wine Tasting. Outdoor Excursions. Dairy.

Back to Yellow Springs, The Winds Cafe. If you have not been here yet I suggest you really take a drive and do so.  Seasonal menu with wines to fit. It’s a great little place, casual yet a fine dining experience. I’d like to also add that it’s very close to local bike trails. If you’re into that sort of thing, cycling that it, bike paths and hiking in Glen Helen and John Bryan State Park would be a great way idea as well. I once rode a 30 mile trail on a date, it was great. If wine is not something you’re looking for after exercise .. cool off with ice cream. Young’s Dairy is close by. What’s better than a good old fashioned date over an ice cream cone? I was born in the wrong time, I think or just enjoy the simple things either way it still works.  I also hear Peach’s Grill is great, it’s on my list to try.

Music and More.

Feel like keeping it indoors and staying cool. Tis the season for great shows! The Lion King is coming to town along with many other productions. The Victoria Theater Association has events listed on their site. Riverscape downtown always has something going on as well and really is one of my favorite spots downtown, especially this time of year. Sitting on bench for a few hours talking at times can be better than anything else you’d do on a date.  Check out their Summer Concert Series as well. Also, if you’re into music I would also check out Gilly’s and Blind Bob’s for there upcoming shows as well.

Festivals.

I saved the best for last. One of the things I love most about Dayton in the summer time are the festivals.  Music. Food. Art. Three staples in my life. This list below are some of my favorites, but if I’ve missed something feel free to add one in comments.  I’m sure I’ve missed plenty, being a transplant and all. These are upcoming.

CityFolk

Celtic Festival

Alefest

Americana Festival

It’s sometimes hard to come up with ideas for a date because usually the first ones can be pretty awkward. I always like to go with anything that involves having fun, is simple, in a comfortable setting and local for a few reasons.  The more comfortable and fun what you plan is the less it feels like a date, the part that makes you nervous. If that doesn’t work and the date sucks, if you’re local it’s easier to plan your getaway by meeting friend close by. Yes, I’ve done this. It is what it is. If you’re in a loving relationship, these ideas also apply to you. Mix it up and have a little fun.

Till next time, thanks for reading!

An Interview In Five Easy Pieces

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Dave Dugan: Corporate Comic, Stand-Up Comedian And Voice Over Talent

When you see Dave Dugan perform, you may be reminded of some of those well meaning television dads who mete out their sage wisdom in a fumblingly laconic manner, usually with horrific results. His stand up comedy hinges on eloquent misdirection and an ironic demeanor that is somewhat incongruous with the situations he finds himself in. Having done hundreds upon hundreds of voice over gigs, from Midas Mufflers to Microsoft, it’s a good bet that you have heard of Dave Dugan before and just don’t know it. Having seen him perform several times, I wanted to talk with him in more depth about his voice over talents…

J.T.: Since you do so much voice over work, do you have a ritual to prepare for the particular mood or emotion you need to convey?
Dave: Sure, if they want a manly, gritty read, I chop some kindlin’ and gargle some Jack Daniels. If they want me to be all sensitive, I crank up the Tori Amos and shave with a Daisy Razor.

J.T.: Do you ever have to perform a series of intentional “outtakes” just to get some of the funny stuff out of your head so you can do a serious take?
Dave: Recently, I voiced fun facts about California for anyone renting a car in the state to hear on their navigation system. The script was of record length …took 8 days to record! Outtakes were plentiful just to keep from going stir crazy.

J.T.: What is probably the most difficult voice over that you have had to so?
Dave: I auditioned for roles in an Italian animated series that was sold to an American (broadcaster) and therefore needing English speaking voices to translate the original lines. I ended up getting the roles of two characters. One voice was a very screechy, evil bird character and for the audition I went way out of my voice range. Then when it came time to do the actual read for the show, the character had tons of lines. I strained myself big time. Pretty sure I may have collapsed a lung…

J.T.: With your comedy, your approach is so deadpan…do some audiences have difficulty in picking up on the subtleties of your act?
Dave: Sometimes a few audience members just don’t get it… and they are always asked to leave. No, not really…I’m just kidding. I usually try and play off their not following me with a series of random audience involvement comments. After doing standup comedy this long, I know I may have to make adjustments from time to time to please all audiences.

J.T.: What is your ultimate Spinal Tap moment?
Dave: A booker once scheduled me to headline ‘ a club’ in Napa Valley, California. I had visions of smart, jaded audiences sipping fine wine and appreciating my most obscure comments. Turned out to be a biker bar. Before the show was over a biker chick came up on stage and tried to wrestle me to the ground.
To save face, I made cracks about the absurdity of it all, which only seemed to make her angrier. Fortunately, her 300 pound boyfriend found that part of the show amusing and I was allowed to settle up and leave without being maimed or beheaded.

You can check out Dave Dugan live at Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub at 101 Pine St. on Thursday June 9th at 8:00pm, Friday June 10th at 9:00pm and June 11th at 8:00pm and 10:30pm. Tickets range from $5 to $12, but for our DaytonMostMetro.com readers, you can mention you read this article when you make your reservations and receive a two for one admission price.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDIRm_u8p-g’]

The People in my Neighborhood

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Who are the people in your neighborhood?
…in your neighborhood?
…in your neighborhood?
Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood?
The people that you meet on the bus…

As I’m wrapping up my week on the bus and bike routes, I’m thinking about the people. Some people I had conversations with. Some people I overheard conversations. Some people I avoided. Here are some of the highlights.

  • First things first – the driver sets the mood, and the drivers all had a great attitude. Every time I got on or off a bus – the driver was welcoming and friendly and always wished people well when they left the bus.
  • Good start to my week: Conversation with dude on my first bus when we got off at the same transfer stop. Guess what – new to town! Moved here from Baltimore two weeks ago to start a new job, and RTA is his main source of transportation. He wasn’t a fan of the B-more mass transit; he considers the Dayton system to be comprehensive and easy to use. Already he’s a pro and was totally helping me and giving me advice on how to catch the right bus and not to get stuck in “alternating routes.” Super nice.
  • When I climbed onto my first really full bus, I slid to the back and tried to get out of the aisle. A gentleman offered me his seat. Now, I’m not limping or on crutches or with multiple bags, but I am a girl in heels who’s trying to hold on. And he offered me his seat. Not turning this into a ‘Giving Tree’ moment – I know it was just a seat on a bus – but I was grateful for the simple demonstration of courtesy. Three cheers for Midwestern politeness, because you don’t always get that.
  • On one ride, I decide to be a snoop; I’m wondering what people are doing on the bus. Lots just sitting, lots reading, multiple ipod buds in ears. Right in front of me is a lady reviewing her daughter’s writing assignment (yeah, I looked) and there’s woman with a toddler playing across the aisle. People just doing their thing and getting where they’re going. As an older guy got on, a 20-something girl proactively moved to the back to give him her seat. He passed it by and wandered toward the back where someone else made the move and stood for him.
  • You already know that the grocery shopping wasn’t an easy experience for me. But what made it better was help from the people who were waiting at the stop with me. As I started to pick up my bags, the young guy waiting offered to help carry them. Then, a woman (who already had her hands full) said she could rearrange and take a bag or two. It wasn’t necessary, but it was so incredibly nice.
  • When the intention is good, but the delivery fails, those acts of kindness can be tougher to see. That’s when it becomes a challenge to give someone the benefit of the doubt. I got off the bus at the hub downtown, and I got hit on with the fancy line: “You make me wish I was taller. You’re real pretty.” I’m an independent woman, don’t hit on me, you can’t demean me like that way, I want to say, “of course, because the only reason we’re not dating is because I’m taller than you.”  But I resist the urge to be a big jerk and I say, “Thank you.” That simple acknowledgement solicited “It’s hot today, you be careful and have a nice day.”  And he walked on…  He wasn’t aggressive. He didn’t want money, he just wanted to (politely, albeit awkwardly) compliment a girl who was walking by.
  • Of course, sometimes what could be uncomfortable turns into something slightly humorous when you’re sharing it with other people. On one crowded bus, a rider was speaking loudly into his phone. He was explaining that he had purchased food (“a fish sandwich and fries… and it smells good”) with his paycheck and not drugs. A little weird? Yup. Kinda funny? Yup – especially if you consider the woman across the aisle from me who was offering commentary under her breath.  He wasn’t threatening anyone; he wasn’t even addressing anyone on the bus. He was having his own conversation and we just happened to be present. It was one of those events that bonds you to other people who are experiencing it.
  • There was also the woman at the bus stop who really, really wanted to talk to me. She shared personal tidbits about her medication and conversations she has with her doctor. She talked about her family. She talked about which bus she was going to take. And she talked about a few other things that I couldn’t catch. My response? I listened and talked with her for a bit and then decided that I was done, so I picked up my cell phone and excused myself b/c I had to make a call.

    Those friendly bikers! (Photo from Five Rivers Metroparks Web site)

  • I also got to enjoy a handful of musical interpretations. Hanging out at the hub, there are plenty of people listening to music via earbuds. One particularly boisterous teenager included some dancing and singing as he was enjoying his music. He was doing it for himself – perfectly content to feel the music and let it come out. We just happened to be honored and/or annoyed to witness it.
  • AND bike related: I don’t know if cyclists follow the rules of the sea, but everyone I passed who was on a bike when I was on my bike either nodded or said hello or somehow acknowledged that we share a common bond. I almost felt like a fake (“I’m not really one of you”), until I embraced it and decided that regardless of what comes tomorrow – I’m a cyclist today!

So, what am I getting at? I think when my car is my main source of transportation, I lose that personal interaction. And some of that interaction is creepy. And some of it makes you uncomfortable or compels you to hold your purse closer.  But some of it is just someone wishing you a nice day and wanting to offer a smile. Some of it is a person offering a total stranger a seat. But, even when it was weird, it was okay. For good or bad, those are the people in my neighborhood.

“Excuse me, sir – what is your job in the neighborhood?”
“You’re kidding me.”
“No, really – what’s your job?”
“I’m an elephant trainer…  Look at me – I’m driving a bus!”
“Then you must be a bus driver.”
“Oh, you’re brilliant.”

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRi92cH3V7w&feature=related’]

Yellow Springs Street Fair is Coming!

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Street Fair is Coming!

Plans for summer events are really brewing around Yellow Springs.  The Chamber is full of signs ready to go out and huge maps of booth positions.  Artists are dropping in with questions.  You can feel the energy in the air.  Street Fair is coming June 11th 9 a.m.-5 p.m.! Everywhere I turn, artists are working feverishly to get a booth full of pottery, sculpture, paintings, hand-crafted clothes, bags or unique jewelry ready for you.

One of my favorites is Jennifer Float’s booth with her colorful and whimsical paintings.  Jenny is a happy painter.  She has a very high “Awww” factor.  Everyone smiles when they see her work.   For the last 2 months, every time I see Jenny shop sitting at Village Artisans (an artist co-op in Yellow Springs) she has half-done canvases stacked on every surface and a brush in hand.  Jenny doesn’t do much sitting when she shop-sits.

So, you probably know about Street Fair, but do you know about some of the other cool events being planned for this summer?  On June 17th, the Friday after Street Fair, is Yellow Springs’ Art Stroll from 6-9 p.m.  One of my favorite shows is happening that night.  Every 2 years is the Miniature Show at “would you could you In A Frame,” at 113 Corry Street. This year, fifty-two artists have created over 100 pieces of fabulous, tiny art. Included are 3-D works, paintings, embroideries, encaustics and more, all no larger than 3 inches x 2 inches.

Art by Lance Rudegeair

The new gallery in town is Springs Gallery in King’s Yard, 220 Xenia Avenue. It will have its Grand Opening celebration during Art Stroll.  I’ve already had a peek inside and  loved the art.  Many of their artists will be present at the opening.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery, 309 Xenia Ave. is having a great reception that will include art, live music and belly dancing.

Also on Art Stroll night, the Art’s Council in partnership with the Jafagirls is going to have a truly disgusting, Interactive Public Art Project at the Art Park at 100 Corry Street. The world’s first Traveling Gum Wall will be there. This summer and fall the Traveling Gum Wall is going to be popping up all over town, serving as a fundraiser for the Arts Council.  Gum is sold for a buck a piece.  You buy the gum, chew, chew some more, squish it onto the Gum Wall, and then sign the back.

Whoops, almost forgot, the Gum Wall will be at Street Fair too at the Arts Council’s Oasis,  309 Xenia Ave.

Much more is going on during Art Stroll, Art Sale at Village Artisans, live music, beer making demo, wine tasting, Free Art Friday,….

Maybe I better explain Free Art Friday.  It’s a movement around the world to leave art on the streets for anyone to find and take home. It’s been a while since the Jafagirls of Yellow Springs have done a Free Art Friday. But the word is out, Friday the 17th there will be art for the finding.  (Check the trees!)

Quick run down of other offerings for the summer:  Twice a month, 1st and 3rd Saturdays, will be “Dance Piazza” with DJ Juju at the Art Park, 100 Corry Street.

From 7-8 p.m. there are dance instructors to show steps to anyone who wants to join in.  From 8-10 p.m. It’s an international Dance Party with DJ Juju.

Here is a list of the styles of Dance taught for the first hour of each Dance Piazza. The last  two hours dance any which way you please!

  • JUNE 18 – International Folk Dances with Miami Valley Folk Dancers
  • JULY 2 – Bhangra (Punjabi Folk Dance) with Karanvir Singh
  • JULY 16 – Swing Dance with Jill Christie of the Dayton Ballroom Dance Club
  • AUGUST 6 – Mexican Folk Dance with Nuestro Orgullo youth dance troupe
  • AUGUST 20 – Flamenco Dance & Guitar with Mariya Tarakanova & Brent Del Bianco of Flamencotalk
  • SEPTEMBER 3 – West African Drum & Dance with BabaaRitah Clark
  • SEPTEMBER 17 – Appalachian Clogging & Old Time Music with Rick Good (formerly of Rhythm in Shoes) & Friends

July brings : The Cotton Club” a YS Kids Playhouse jazz musical and  the “Yellow Springs Experience.” July 15th –17th three days and nights filled with the “Cirque Carnival,” Live music and Dance, Wellness and Spa Sessions, Nature Hikes and Art Workshops.  Woo hoo!  Tell you more about that later.

See you in the Springs!

You had me at “hello” (and lost me at “goodbye”)

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You can’t escape karma. It’s true. I’m guilty of trying.

We’re all busy people; we all have volunteer organizations, meetings and committees to attend on top of work requirements. But when I first starting planning for this little adventure, I conveniently planned all my “extra-curriculars” outside of this week.

Until karma slapped me with an 8 AM meeting, the need to drop off some files at a satellite location, and a couple additional errands. So much for just going to work and home.

But you know what – that’s life. And this week is my life on the bus.

So, I woke up earlier than I like to catch the pre-7 AM bus from my home in the ‘burbs to get downtown.  Got off at my transfer site right on time, and after a short wait, jumped on the second bus to arrive at my meeting by 7:40. Good start! Unfortunately, due to an “alternating route,” I couldn’t use the same stop when heading back into the city, but I had prepared for that (thanks to the nice dude on the bus who gave me the warning) and I packed the flip-flops just in case a little walking was required.

Things got a little more tricky once I got back downtown. I took a quick jaunt over to Kettering Tower from the Wright Plaza hub to deliver some files. A slight change in the schedule makes a major difference; now my timing was off. I made it back to the hub and realized that I had just missed the bus that would take me to work. Thought process: I can sit for 25 minutes and wait or I can walk the mile to the office. Thank God for the flip-flops. I was hoping to see a yellow bike, but alas – no relief. So, I walked until I made it back to the office. Just then I started to realize that, although comfy, flip-flops are not the walking shoes of choice.

Waiting for the bus, your mind can wander. After this stop I had Feist's "One, Two, Three, Four..." on my mind for a while.

Overall, I was really pleased with my morning. Safe, reliable transportation. Friendly people. Good times. However, at lunch I had to run an errand which was about 3/4 mile from work – not so far that the bus is needed, but I really didn’t want to walk it.  My boss (thanks, boss!) kindly offered to “carpool” to help me out, but I’m trying to stick with the spirit of the adventure and see if I can make it happen. Not in a walking mood (although Kristen is inspiring me*), I grabbed the bus right outside my office for the short trip. Errand done, I had time to kill and lunch to eat. So – I headed into Yummy Burger. And what did I have?

Thai food, of course (and it was yummy). Here, friends, is a benefit of going car-less. If I had run my errand with my car, I most likely would have gone to a more familiar (and further away) place for lunch. But being that convenience was key, I tried something new and it paid off. Plus – I killed just the right amount of time to grab my bus back to the office for a less than 60 minute lunch hour. Sweet!

All is sunshine and roses. Good travel day, good work day. Time to pack up a bit after 5 PM. I shut down and head out to the ever-so-convenient bus stop right outside work, and I notice that I’m walking out 1 minute after the bus is supposed to be there. Please, God, let it be 2 minutes late. It wasn’t.

I know, I know – you warned me that I need to be early for the bus. But here’s the catch. In the morning – that’s okay – I’m only cheating myself out of sleep. But at lunch or in the evening, there’s not as much flexibility. Because for every extra minute I get to the bus stop early, that’s a minute I’m taking away from something else.

Patience is a virtue, but it’s not one of mine. I sit at my bus stop and review all my little maps to determine if there’s a different bus or different route near by I could still catch. I call the RTA line, but no one answers after 5:30 PM. Finally, the next bus came (after I’ve walked a good long way to find a bus stop with a bench).  This bus takes me to my transfer stop, but the schedule is off now and I just missed my bus home and have to wait another 45 minutes. AUGH!

After all my crazy planning, THESE are my shoe options for Day 1?!?

Luckily, there’s a bar with a fine patio down from the stop. But my once-smart idea to pack some flip-flops proves not good enough and I’m wishing I had some better walking shoes. So, after a drink and flipping through a

couple local newspapers, I make my way out and wait the final 15 minutes for the bus. Which takes me 4 blocks from my house – a convenience I was really excited about early in the day, but had lost its luster after the end of the day. I make it into the house 1 hour and 50 minutes after walking out of work (usually a 15 minute drive).

So – what did I learn after one day? If you can work within the time schedules – the people are nice, the routes are convenient, and the bus can work out pretty well. But as soon you miss that one bus, plans go out the window and it’s tough to get back on track. I’ll also claim some “user error” on this one. But that’s why it’s a week adventure and I’m not giving up after a day.

Up next, my bike is coming with me on the bus. I am *hoping* that this results in the best of both worlds – convenient rides for the distances and quick trips for the errands. Famous last words…

* Reference to the lovely Kristen Wicker and her piece on walking as a primary means of Dayton travel. Check it out!

That Crêpe Place opens at The Greene

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“Fresh, Authentic, Hand-held
Savory and Sweet Crepes
made Right in Front of Your Eyes!”

Celebrating it’s soft opening today, That Crêpe Place is “an original concept and the first of many, I hope,” laughs owner Rodney Long as I spoke with him by phone this morning.  Long, originally from Philly owned a BBQ restaurant and spent 15 years in marketing for Proctor & Gamble before taking the leap into crepes.

Long describes crepes as the perfect ubiquitous food, similar to a wrap, it’s versatile and can be filled with savory or sweet and perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.  Their menu leads you through savory choices like the Pesto Shrimp crepe with a pesto aioli and the Mediterranean featuring Chicken Breast, Feta Cheese, Sweet Grilled Piquillo Peppers, Fresh Baby Spinach, with Balsamic Glaze; Sweet Crepes like the  Tahitian – a Vanilla Buttered Crepe sprinkled with Cinnamon and Powdered Sugar, and Sweet & Fruity options  like the Funky Monkey with Bananas, Chocolate Chips, with Creamy Peanut Butter or the Strawberry Cheesecake  made with Fresh Strawberries topped with Homemade Vanilla Cream Sauce.  Also on the menu are a couple of salad options and kids sandwiches.

Long suggested that a grand opening will be planned in a few weeks, once they’ve worked all the kinks out. He  thinks  his crepes are perfect for the casual outdoor shopping environment at The Greene, and thinks guests will enjoy watching a ladle full of batter poured on a crêpe griddle, spun into a circle, flipped and filled with your fresh ingredients will make his concept a big hit.  He says that “crepes are a perfect portable feast and can’t wait for everyone to try them.”  Be sure and check out the reward club, as each purchase will help earn you free food.

That Crêpe Place will share a patio with Cold Stone Creamery and is located at 4474 Glengarry Drive in Beavercreek, diagonally across from the movie theater.

Once Upon a Time – Where the Unrealistic Expectations Began.

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Over the years I’ve held onto some pretty intense grandiose expectations of love and relationships. The hopeless romantic in me has sent me on voyage of unmet fantasies. Now, with most things I would tend to feel that I am unique and that others aren’t as delusional as me but fortunately I have friends who are just as misguided about love as I am.  How can this be? When did it all begin? I didn’t grow up with June and Ward Cleaver that’s for sure so my parents or upbringing had nothing to do with it. I’m sure my mother will read this and be ecstatic that I’m not blaming them for this too. No it wasn’t my family or watching my parents marriage so what really lead to my thinking that “Happily Ever After” involved a night shining armor and lifetime of singing birds, candy and roses?  

I wondered about this for a few days as I found myself once again with a head riddled with wild fantasies.  Then started to think about the movies I’ve loved throughout the years, the books that have had me enthralled for weeks, the shows on TV that turn me into a wishy washy mess. The sugar coating from otherwise sources of entertainment that really have just filled my head with a bunch of bullshit that doesn’t apply to the reality I am living in. The Real World.

With that said, I thought it would be interesting to examine some of the rubbish I grew up on, read and even watch today.

Fairy Tale Princesses – What a Crock.

I admit it, I dressed up and pranced around like a magical fairy tale princess when I was kid. Who didn’t?  With movies like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White heck even Aladdin it was very easy at a young age to let my imagination run wild, problem is I still tend to do it. Let’s look at Sleeping Beauty for example.  Asleep for 100 hundreds years waiting on a kiss to bring her back to life?  So, there is a man out there that has the capability of wakening her from a curse and with one kiss she finds herself awake from death and living happily ever after?  Hmm. This to me would mean that no matter what has happened in the past, out there is a man who is so remarkable he has the ability to lift a gal out of years of endless bullshit from one guy after the other, or sadness, or just plain boredom in my case. Who knows, but I just don’t think it happens that way. Which is probably why I started watching Horror movies at such a young age, perhaps at a young age I knew Disney was nothing but BS.

Molly Ringwald – Hope For Awkward Girls.

I loved every single one of her movies.  Why?  Because for some reason they made me think that awkward and somewhat socially inept gals could find themselves in the arms of a hunk.  With the exception of the rather creepy Andrew McCarthy,  Molly kind of managed to land the awesome guy all the time. I have to tell you, I spent four years in high school, a red head even at times and never once seemed to pull off being somewhat geeky, awkward and also attractive.  The weird girl in high school doesn’t have allure and never once did I actually end up with some boy I had a crush on. Great movies and I still to this day love them but they kind of gave me false hope.  I think my parents even forgot my 16th Birthday and frankly I would have rather ended up with Bryce (John Cusak) anyway. High school was far from any John Hughes movie frankly.

Nicholas Sparks

I won’t lie. I own and have watched The Notebook over a hundred times I’m sure. I’ve read it and several of his books. He’s become my nemesis of sorts because I think he, more than anyone contributes to my twisted contorted views of love and romance. I can’t help but get sucked into to any story that involves people growing old together though. I cry like a baby and then I walk away wanting that very thing, which really I do. Don’t get me wrong it’s a goal of mine to be that old couple you see holding hands in the park. I still believe that true love lasts forever, I just wish he wasn’t so damn good at painting that picture because sometimes it doesn’t exactly happen that way. It doesn’t help that close friends have often compared me to Rachel McAdams in that movie, either. Though I’ve yet to stumble across a guy who finds my irrational temper tantrums cute enough to fall in love with me, not one that looks like Ryan Gosling anyway. Side note, his beard in that movie is marvelous.

Even Vampires Find Love

Am I wrong for being a little bitter that even a corpse and an allbeit nerd find their way to love?  The Twilight Series, maybe you’ve heard of it?  Another awkwardly clumsy dork “Bella” ends of up with this GQ looking vampire and they live happily ever after. If you haven’t read the books, please do though.  They’re great. Thing about it however is that love sometimes doesn’t conquer all. I know couples that can’t even get passed the guy not putting the toilet seat down yet these two manage to stick together  one obstacle  after another. I also know couples that have been through hell and back and are still together, but the numbers are diminishing.  Life is hard and it’s difficult to find a person that will still hold your hand through all of life’s trials and tribulations, really difficult.

The Truth

I think life is more like romantic comedies where the weirdest situations sometimes land you in love. I am a bookworm which means I will more than likely not stop reading this nonsense, a girl has to have some guilty pleasures. The “love” in my life has lessoned my belief in finding “the one” though. Nowadays I’m just hoping one out of five guys I meet is half way decent. I have crushes but I try not be unrealistic about them, I mean whatever happens happens. I don’t think I am going to end up with some guy who I’ve been pining over for months anymore then the possibility of meeting someone while spilling coffee on myself at Starbucks. However, I’m more inclined to think that some random moment of awkwardness will lead me to this guy I’m supposed to end up holding hands in the park with, because if he likes me after that we’re meant to be.  My point here is that sometimes the things we see on tv, movies or read in books can leave us hoping for unrealistic things or worse, doubt our current situation and wanting more. I remember after reading Twilight  and thinking that my boyfriend at the time wasn’t being romantic enough, that he should be more like that pasty Cullen kid. Sad right?  But we do it..well, ladies do anyways.

I’ve probably lessoned my chances of love after this rant.

I wonder what guys read or watch that gives them false expectations, I bet Weird Science would be on the list. I guess I’ll have to wait on my rival columnist Jason Webber from The Dayton City Paper to see what he thinks about all this.

Till next week, thanks for reading.

MV Pride Week – Thank You For Being A Friend

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The Miami Valley Pride Partnership is planning a weeklong celebration of Pride for 2011. According to their website:  “As we celebrate pride we are ever mindful of our friends and allies that have helped us to achieve the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. It is to our friends and allies that we offer our theme for our 2011 pride celebration: Thank You For Being A Friend”.

The 2011 Dayton Pride Festivities will begin on Memorial Day, May 30th, with a celebration at The Stage Door.  On Tuesday May 31st the party moves to The Right Corner. On Wednesday June 1st the fun and frivolity extends to Club Masque for a night of exciting Drag. Thursday the celebration continues at MJ’s Cafe for an exhilarating evening of fun and entertainment.  And as the weekend approaches the events get bigger:

Fri, June 3rd 6:30pm  RoofTop Rubi

This dynamic, close-knit troupe of professional men has been performing since the late 1980’s. Comprised of elementary school teachers, an occupational therapist, a clinical counselor and business owners, the group began performing for one another in an attic during college.  Now over 20 some years later, the Rubi Girls have  traveled the country raising over $300,000 for HIV research and education.

Join Ann Roberts & John Smith as they host RoofTop Rubi  benefit for The Miami Valley LGBT Pride Partnership.   The evening will begin with drinks and food provided by The Dayton Women’s Club. Throughout the evening enjoy our fun filled Monte Carlo games and bid on our array of fabulous items during the silent auction.

$15.00 General Admission
$100.00 VIP Admission (Includes Admission for 2, Swap Bag and Sponsorship Listing)
For Ticket Information email: contact@mvgaypride.com or call (937) 697-1190

Sat, June 4th

Breakfast at 9am at MJ’s Cafe with the parade line up at 11AM.
10am: Rededication of Natalie Barney Historical Marker

Noon: The Parade:
The Dayton chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has been selected as Grand Marshalls of the 2011 LGBT Pride Parade and Festival on June 4th 2011. PFLAG will feature, in the grand marshall’s car, the family of Mary and Kevin Kirkendall along with their daughter Lillie and Elizabeth Gillespie, a proud PFLAG family who support their gay son and big brother, Noah. PFLAG Dayton has been active in the Miami Valley since 1989 offering support, education and advocacy. PFLAG seeks to promote health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families. They offer support to help families cope with an adverse society. PFLAG offers education to enlighten an ill-informed public all the while advocating to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.


If you would like to walk in the parade, please download and fill out the Parade Application. Once complete email to: logistics@mvgaypride.com

Sat, June 4th , HIV Testing, Dayton Library 12-5pm

AIDS Resource Center Ohio is proud to offer an orally administered,
rapid result HIV test.  The test is free, painless, and quick!  The test is administered confidentially and anonymously by request and requires only a swab of cheek cells from inside your mouth.  Twenty minutes later and under normal circumstances, you will be presented with preliminary positive results about your current HIV status.   And did we mention that the test is free?

Sat June 4th Courthouse Square Entertainment Line-Up

12:30 – 1:00 Parade arrives at Courthouse Square

1:00 – 1:30  BLESSING OF THE DAY: Liz Stutzman
1:00 – 1:30 READING OF THE PROCLAMATION: Josh West and Bret Wendell
1:30 – 1:45 Ohio Royalty: Alexis O’Hara, Brent Fabian, Sinthia D’Meanor, Rob Austin
1:45 – 2:00 Sashay Lorez, Elegance Black Lourdes, Aleksandra Grimm, Summer Day, Daray Lorez
2:00 – 2:15 MJ’s Café
2:15 – 2:30 MJ’s Café
2:30 – 2:45 AWARDS: Kris Jackson

The 2011 Theme Award Recipient is The Honorable Rhine McLin

The 2011 Frontier Award: Recipient is The Honorable Lt. Wendy Stivers.
2:45 – 3:00 Host: Amaya Sexton, Macy Kirkland, Justin Pryde, Endurance, Queen B, Claudia Cruiz

3:00 – 3:30 TBA

3:30 – 3:45 Cherry Poppins, Jenni Hoag, Foxxie Lane, Tasha Salad, Tramp Towers

3:45 – 4:00 Sky Black and The Kings of Dayton

4:00 – 4:15 Delta Blake, Shampaine Lopez, Maqualia Jaa, Arykah Alvarez, Howard Wayne

4:15 – 4:30 Jackie O’Toole, JJ Lopez, Rachel Torrez Kolbe, Niomi Necoll Onassis,

4:30 – 4:45 Diamond Black, Daray Lorez, Ashton Brooke, Patterson Michaels

4:45 – 5:00 TBA

Sat, June 4th Prdeapoloza 1-6pm Masque Parking Lot

Special appearance by  recording artist Pepper Mashay! A family friendly event with entertainment, food, games, and more!! Plus Pepper and the Masque Hostess show that night!!!

Sat, June 4th 8pm  Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus @ Victoria

THE ULTIMATE BOY BAND REVIEW
Get ready to scream and faint with excitement as the DGMC thrills fans of all generations with a musical look at America’s singing heartthrobs – the boy bands! The chorus has scanned the decades from the ’50s to the ’00s and everything in between to find your favorite songs; you know, the songs you crank up and sing along to while you’re in the car. They are all here for you from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to the Beatles, the Osmonds, Crosby Still Nash & Young, the Village People, the Bee Gees, the Temptations.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased through  www.ticketcenterstage.com or from a chorus member.

Pride Night At The Neon

Sun, June 5th  2- 6pm Family Potluck Picnic

Ernst Park at 1030 E David Road will be the location for the family friendly cookout.  Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided.  Bring along a side dish or dessert. Fun and games will be planned for all ages to have a blast.

Thurs, June 16th  Pride Night at the Neon 7pm

We Were Here is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.

Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jCb68ZkwG0&feature=player_embedded’]

Sat, June 25th  Pride Dinner 7pm, Sinclair

The Greater Dayton LGBT Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary by hosting the annual Pride Dinner.   Featuring bawdy comic Suzanne Westenhoefer and  Dayton Police LGBT liaison Sgt. Wendy Stiver to act as key note speaker.  In both serious and light hearted ways, these two women will help the Pride Dinner celebrate Pride 2011. The evening begins at 5 PM with an impressive business and non-profit exposition with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. At 7 PM dinner begins and is followed by awards and recognitions, Sgt. Wendy Stiver’s keynote speech, and Suzanne comedy show. The evening ends with the annual Big Gay raffle drawing for many prizes.
Tickets are $45.00 with an early bird special of $40 per person or $400.00 per table of 10 if purchased by May 1, 2011.  Contact the Center for more info at 274-1776


Coming Up in Dayton Theatre: 05/26 – 06/08

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Thursday, May 26 – Wednesday, June 8, 2011

DTG: Mauritius

Dayton Theatre Guild: Mauritius

Yesterday, when friends asked about having a picnic on Monday, I returned the question with a confused stare until they prompted me that it was Memorial Day. Wow! The holiday seems like it has completely snuck up on me. And with it has come some break in the rain (just some) and the beginning of summer.
Even in the midst of cookouts and vacations, there’s still the opportunity to see shows in the Dayton area this summer and these next few weeks. This can be a great time to celebrate school letting out and the warmer weather, and what better way than by doing something creative? A few shows are closing this weekend, so make sure to catch them before they do!

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

right next to me

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

The Story: A war widow, attempting to cope with her Marine husband’s death in Iraq, goes with her brother-in-law on a quest to scatter her husband’s ashes where he required, remembering and seeing flashbacks along the way in an emotionally moving and uplifting journey. This show premiered in an earlier and very different version as part of the Human Race Musical Theatre Workshops in 2009.
The Dates: May 21 – June 12, 2011
Tickets & More Information: Human Race Theatre Company

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

La Cage aux Folles

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

The Story: George (a glitzy nightclub owner) and his partner Albin (also the glamorous changeuse Zaza)’s son is getting married… and in this musical, he brings his fiancee’s conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair. “The bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly [in this] tuneful and touching tale of one family’s struggle to stay together… stay fabulous… and above all else, stay true to themselves!”

Date: May 13 – 29, 2011

Tickets and More Information: Dayton Playhouse, DMM Review, DMM Preview

Mauritius

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Only together after the death of their mother, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare-and potentially extremely valuable – stamps. One sister embraces the stamp collecting, the other resists – but both are targets of three seedy, high-stakes collectors who are willing to do anything to claim a particularly rare find as their own.

Dates: May 13 – 29, 2011

Tickets & More Information: Dayton Theatre Guild, DMM Preview

One Short Day

…SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE THEATRICALLY MINDED


First Annual Talent Show

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

The Basics: The talent pool in this area is great and diverse… and Playhouse South has selected 21 people of various ages, from singers and dancers to comics and beat-boxers, to show off their skills and compete for a $250 Grand Prize. Part of the contest is the audience’s ranking, so get ready to cheer for your favorite act!
The Date: Friday, May 27, 8:00 pm
More Information: Playhouse South

~KN

Jane’s Best Bets (5/25 – 5/30)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Can you believe Memorial Day weekend is almost here?!?!  That means summer is right around the corner!  Be sure to make the most of these last few days in May!

On Wednesday, make your way to the Fraze Pavilion (I LOVE the Fraze!) for the Kettering Block Party.  If you want to sort of meet a former president, then head over to the Dayton Woman’s Club for the Abraham Lincoln Social & Luncheon.  Beer lovers should plan to be at Archer’s as they’ll feature a new craft beer.  Not only will you be able to think green, but you will also be able to “drink green” as part of Green Drinks May at Norton’s in Kettering.  And if you love listening to adorable kids singing their hearts out, be sure to attend the Kettering Children’s Choir 25th Anniversary Concert at the Schuster Center.

On Thursday, check out 42nd Street at WSU’s Festival Playhouse.  On the other side of town, you will be able to see the premiere of the documentary The Other Side at The Neon.  And if you want to be close to somebody, come to Right Next to Me at The Loft Theatre.  The only problem is, you really don’t know who “me” is.  If you are in the Oregon District, walk over to Dayton Theology on Tap at Oregon Express.  For all you old-fashioned book readers, check out a new option, The Nook, at Books & Co. at The Greene as part of their Nook Nights.  “Hungary?”  Make your way to Boston’s Bistro for their Hungarian Wine Tasting, which includes pizza, cheese, and chocolate!  And finally, over at the Metropolitan Arts Center, check out A Wine and Yoga Practice…which I of course think is an awesome idea!

On Friday, celebrate the weekend with Fiesta Friday at Bar Louie.  Or check out Trumpet Studio.  You may be asking, “What may ‘trump’ that?”  I’m not sure, but if you are looking to experience theater, there are several opportunities available, including  42nd Street at WSU’s Festival Playhouse, Right Next to Me at The Loft Theatre, and Mauritius at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  Then, go to bed early so you can enjoy the rest of Memorial Day weekend!

On Saturday, make your way to Dorothy Lane Market for Lobstermania.  If you’re downtown, be sure to participate in the Bike United Tour at Fifth Third Field and support the Dayton Dutch Lions’ campaign for healthy living with a fun downtown bike ride.  Plus, you will receive a ticket to the Dutch Lions’ first ever game at Fifth Third Field, and a Bike United T-shirt.  Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend by attending The Patriot Freedom Festival.  If you’re like me and love summer concerts, be sure to listen to the sounds of The Highway Junkies at RiverScape as part of the Free Summer Concert Series.  And finally, theater options for Saturday include Mauritius at Dayton Theatre Guild, 42nd Street at WSU’s Festival Playhouse, and Right Next to Me at The Loft Theatre.

On Sunday, make plans to attend the 2011 Dayton Heritage Festival at Carillon Historical Park.  It is FREE!  You will be able to enjoy exhibit buildings, special activities, and live music.  You can make it an all-day affair, as there will also be food and drinks from a variety of local vendors.  Plus, there will be fireworks following the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance featuring Live Americana music!  If there isn’t something there that suits your fancy, then too bad!  Just kidding (although that’s all I’m talking about for Sunday)!   Also, if you want to give back and volunteer there, please shoot me an email!

My Team Last Year at the "Spike Out Blood Cancer" Sand Volleyball Tournament!

Usually I don’t talk about Mondays in Jane’s Best Bets, but this week I’m making an exception with it being Memorial Day.  If you’re not having a cookout, then there are a couple options.  Start the day off early by attending the ‘Spike Out Blood Cancer’ Memorial Day Sand Volleyball Tournament at J.D. Legends.  I played in it last year and had a blast!  Even if you don’t like volleyball or can’t attend, I encourage you to support Steve VanGorder’s Fight for a Cure, which supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  There are many ways to help, including making a donation, attending the Beatles Tribute Concert by Ticket to Ride, or purchasing a raffle ticket to win a brand new Camaro!  And if you don’t feel like sweating all day long or listening to Beatles music, consider staying inside for trivia!  There will be live trivia at the Pour Haus as well as trivia at Beef O’Brady’s.

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

At first the man didn’t like his haircut, but then it started to grow on him.

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!

Data Collecting, Dating and Relationships – Has the Internet Changed the Game?

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We see it in the headlines all the time, “Facebook Affecting Relationships.” For social utilities designed to bring people together there are many who have found themselves in relationship turmoil because of Facebook or things in general that they find on the internet and other sites. Dating is hard enough without the eruption of instantaneous data and information in our faces but is the internet to blame or is it us?

140 or 420 – Who Knew?

The characters that destroy. Seems a bit dramatic wouldn’t you say? Perhaps but with the ability to voice your emotions so freely and openly these days there is always the chance that what you say could hurt another. We all have our own ideas and perceptions and things said on social networks have a tendency to lack tonality but who’s at fault here? Social networks though seemingly appear as a platform to convey the trials and tribulations of our lives, where is the line? I don’t view Facebook as the diary I kept under my pillow and there are details of my life that I would never put out there but others do and I think that may be where the problem lies.

Offline Engagement – A Thing of the Past?

The great thing about social networking is conversation. This morning I asked a question on Facebook to gather the thoughts of others for this very column. It took less than a few minutes for me to really understand how several others felt about the topic of researching mates on the internet or pre-date screening on the web. I learned a lot and it was valuable, however it was planned and purposed to identify specific data. Meaning, I asked for it. Conversation is how we learn about one another and in the olden days offline conversation was the thing that carried us through the “getting to know you phase” in dating. Are people still embracing this or have we become a society that weighs what we learn on the internet more heavily than what we learn in the real world?

Data Collecting and Dating

Online dating is an interesting phenomenon, something I discuss often and not something I personally embrace. It has it’s perks and it’s dangers. I’ve recently starting wondering however that if essentially you are meeting someone online and those initial conversations are in text that you unintentionally may develop damaging patterns early on. I’m no psychologist, but based on my own experience in one relationship where I met the person online I can tell you that this theory of mine is spot on.  We had absolutely no problem communicating in text, whether instant message or email or sms..it was all good. It’s how we started and how we went through 3 years. In person, however .. I had a strong discomfort with really saying what was on my mind, that was never the case until this relationship. I found myself more and more searching for things online rather than just asking him questions face to face.  The assumptions made based on my perceptions of what I found, inevitably lead to turmoil in the relationship and it wasn’t Facebook it was me. Facebook and Myspace just became the catalyst for stalking or information gathering, which is a nice way to call myself a creep. That experience however changed me, I really don’t engage in personal conversations online when dating. I know that if there is anything I am curious about or want to know .. asking the questions in person allow for a better and more meaningful connection between myself and that person. Sure texting back and forth is great but it shouldn’t replace communication in a relationship.  Neither should comments on a Facebook wall or other, replace offline affection. I’ve found that most of that we see is sometimes blanketing what’s going on real life. If you have a person right next to you, tell them how you feel right then and there..it’s a more valuable share.

Pre-Screening

Safety is always a concern when it comes to online dating. You never know what you’re going to get come face time. I think it’s  natural to want to do a little pre-screening prior to but there is a line and crossing it could be damaging. Predators exist and being naive about that can be damaging as well, but unless you find something criminal in nature then it’s best to just rely on initial conversations and questions while on a date or in person meeting…a “non-date” they call these days. If you want to know something, ask and if the time isn’t right to ask, hold off and wait before searching on your own. Prejudging someone based on something you see on the internet could really lead to missed opportunities based on false assumptions you may make. Listen, just because it’s easy to do these days doesn’t make it right. I could sit on the internet all day looking for dirt on someone but again assumptions sometimes lead down a not so great path.

Remember Trust?

Last I checked it was the whole basis for any relationship. If you’re starting out in a relationship on an endless fishing expedition for dirt how is that trust? Things will happen no matter what and I firmly believe that no relationship or date is a waste, it’s all a learning experience so using the excuse that you’d rather know right away than later down the line is a cop out. Social Networks are intended to be fun, engaging and informative but should not be a  threat to a relationship or your dating life.  I don’t believe they were intended to be an analytic dating tool or a platform for dealing with your relationship issues.

“A spokesperson for Facebook said: “It’s ridiculous to suggest that Facebook leads to divorce. Whether you’re breaking up or just getting together, Facebook is just a way to communicate, like letters, phone calls and emails. Facebook doesn’t cause divorces, people do.” – I have to agree.

Open for Discussion..

This topic presented a lot of great thoughts online earlier and I’ve asked a few questions in this column that I would love to hear from you on. Has the internet changed the game for you? Are you more of a creep these days? Do we know more from keywords and search engines then we would after 5 or 6 dates now..and is that the problem?

Cycling Sells Cities – 2011 Miami Valley Cycling Summit

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Portland (OR), Boulder (CO), Madison (WI), Austin (TX), Ann Arbor (MI) – these cities have often been included in lists of the most livable cities in the U.S.  But they have something else in common – they are all recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as Bicycle Friendly Communities, and there is certainly a correlation between these two lists.  Dayton made the latter list last year as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community, and local advocates continue to plan and organize efforts that will move us up on that list.  This Friday on May 20, you can learn more about some of these efforts as well as how the power of cycling drives economic development in communities both large and small.

The 2011 Miami Valley Cycling Summit, hosted by the City of Dayton at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center, will bring together over 400 cycling enthusiasts from across the Miami Valley, the state, and the nation.

The cycling summit was last held in 2009 and was one of the largest in the nation reaching bike enthusiasts and community leaders from across the region.  350 people attended the day-long event that was free and open to the public.  This year’s focus is on the economic development opportunities that bike friendly regions create.  Other break-out session examples will include advocacy advice for creating bike friendly communities, as well as how bike communities combat obesity and promote healthy communities.

Over the past year communities and organizations spanning 4 counties have joined forces to ensure our region continues to move closer to a more connected and collaborative biking community. This level of engagement crosses jurisdictional lines and is sure to facilitate and even greater impact.  Planning Committee Partners include representatives from the City of Dayton, City of Miamisburg, Clark County-Springfield, Five Rivers MetroParks, Greene County Parks, Miami Conservancy District, Miami County Parks, MVRPC, Yellow Springs Chamber, City of Troy

The summit actually begins on Thursday with a screening of the movie Veer at Downtown Dayton’s Neon Theater at 7:30pm, followed by Bike to Work Day Breakfast at Riverscape Friday morning from 6 to 9:30am.  From there, the group will do a mass ride to the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center where the rest of the summit will be held.

The opening keynote at 10am will be Bruno Maier – Vice President of Bikes belong, a national coalition of bicycle retailers and suppliers working to get more folks on bikes more often. Bruno is a Miami Valley native who will speak about how cycling infrastructure supports economic development and increases vitality throughout the US.

From there, four different breakout sessions will happen throughout the day:

  • Session One (10:35am – 11:30am)
    • Track One: Alternative Transportation and Impacts on Economic Development -Bruno (Bikes Belong)
    • Track Two: Supersized Kids: What can be done? – Bruce Barcelo CTTS, Dayton, OH (Creating Healthy Communities Coordinator)
  • Lunch (11:30am – 1:00pm)
    • Kroc Center Tours and Miami Valley Community Showcase
  • Session 2 (1:00pm – 1:55pm)
    • Track One: Panel Discussion – Completing the Bike Friendly Community Application – Riverside, Troy, Dayton
    • Track Two: Upping your Bike Engagement & Education; organizing events and programs -Tom Helbig (Five Rivers MetroParks) and Jeff Sorrell (Life Enrichment Center)
  • Session 3 (2:00pm – 2:55pm)
    • Track One:  Engaging Local Businesses in Bike Friendly Efforts – Jeff Stephens (Consider Biking, Columbus)
    • Track Two: Regional Bikeway Master Plan Reports: What Is Next? – Matt Lindsey (Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission)
  • Session 4 (3:00pm – 3:55pm)
    • Track One: Federal/State Funding Left On The Table – Jeff Peel (League of American Bicyclists)
    • Track Two: Relaunching Bike Miami Valley; Fulfilling the needs of Miami Valley cyclists – Bike Miami Valley Board Members
  • Summit Closing

Then after the summit, the action continues at Brixx Ice Co. with a Bike Miami Valley Grassroots Social Happy Hour!

If you are into biking and want to learn more about the biking community here in Dayton as well as the exciting things yet to come, you’ll want to come to this summit.  Don’t forget your bike!