The Featured Articles

Out of Fifth Returns

March 29, 2024 By Dayton937

Out on 5th is the street closure of Fifth Street in the Oregon District of downtown Dayton on weekends. Closing down Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue every Friday night through Sunday evening allows the business district to open up the street for guests to shop – dine – and relax in the open air.

Out on 5th gives restaurants and bars in the district room to expand patio seating into the streets.
Fifth Street is filled with public seating to allow guests room to spread out and enjoy the outdoors.

Retail shops can use extra sidewalk space in front of their business for sales.
Local entertainment will be in the district every weekend to enhance the atmosphere.

When

Fridays 5 -10 pm/ Saturdays noon – 10 pm / Sundays noon – 10 pm

Where

In the Oregon District – Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue

During Out on 5th, please use the detour map at the bottom of this page to navigate around the street closures and into the parking lots.

Our Oregon District businesses kindly ask you to park in these lots, garages or public street spaces, and not in the residential neighborhood.

Young’s Annual Ice Cream Pint Sale is Happening Now

March 28, 2024 By Dayton937

Young’s Jersey Dairy’s delicious homemade ice cream annual pint sales starts today and runs through March 31st. Save 30% on pints, get a pair of eclipse glasses for every 5 pints you buy and get one FREE pint when you buy 10!

All you care to buy, while supplies last, just $3.49 a pint!

Flavors that will be ready for pick-up:

Vanilla	French Vanilla
Chocolate	Mint Chocolate Chip
Cookie Dough	Chocolate Peanut Butter
P-Nut Butter Cup	Strawberry
Cotton Candy	Cookies & Cream
Black Raspberry	Butter Pecan
Cow Patty	Black Walnut
No Sugar Added Vanilla	Sea Salty Double Caramel
Caramel Chocolate Toffee	Coffee Chocolate Chunk
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake	Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Peaches & Cream	S’Mores Cookie Dough Mashup
Orange Sherbet	No Sugar Added Raspberry
Total Eclipse	Lemon & Lavender Raspberry Swirl
Strawberry Cheesecake	Snickerdoodle

Young’s Jersey Dairy
6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd
Yellow Springs, OH 45387

(937) 325-0629

Mon – Thu 11AM – 9PM
Fri 11AM – 10PM
Sat 9AM – 10PM
Sun 9AM – 9PM

Boosalis Baking Reopens After Remodel

March 27, 2024 By Lisa Grigsby

Last fall the husband/ wife team of Xiaxing Lin and Ryan Chen bought the Cross Pointe location of Boosalis Baking and Cafe from Matt Boosalis in a quiet transaction. They got all the recipes and said they would keep baking all the customer favorites. Matt is currently running the Kenwood location.

They just reopened this week from a three week shutdown for some remodeling and new equipment. The dining room has been newly painted and new lighting has been installed as well as additional seating. Bakery manager Mindy told us there are still some more changes to come in the dining room.

The biggest changes have been made behind the scenes. They’ve added some new equipment that includes a Polin Proofer/ Retarder which allows them to automate the cycle of fermentation set the prooving cycle to follow the times of day when they are the busiest. They also added a Polin Oven, which automatically rotates the pans to keep temperature even so baker Xiaxing doesn’t have to keep bending down and manually to rotate the product.

They also brought in a World Champion Chef to teach them how to make some new European holiday pastries, including galette des rois (French King Cake), Italian Panettone, German Kuglof, Stollen. They will slowly be debuting on the baker shelves.

Here’s the pastry menu that had at the shop yesterday:

The Current Pastry and Sandwich/Breakfast Menu:

Boosalis Baking and Cafe

175 E Alex Bell Rd. Ste 280
Centerville, OH 45459

(937) 424-0636

Hours:
Tues – Fri 7am – 4pm
Sat 8am – 3pm

Stray Cats To Strut Their Stuff at The Rose

March 26, 2024 By Dayton937

STRAY CATS – original members Brian Setzer (guitar, vocals), Lee Rocker (upright bass, vocals) and Slim Jim Phantom (drums, vocals) – will rock their way across America this summer when they return to the road for a three-week tour. The multi-million selling band’s trek will include a stop in Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center on Monday, August 12. They’ll be joined by The Midnight Cowgirls as the support act.

These shows will mark the STRAY CATS’ first performances since the release of their critically acclaimed 2019 album 40 and subsequent reunion tour, which they followed with a live album ROCKED THIS TOWN: FROM LA TO LONDON in 2020. Concertgoers can expect to hear the band’s signature unparalleled virtuosity and red-hot rock & roll spirit via their classic tunes alongside their most recent material. Their setlists will include massive hits such as “Stray Cat Strut,” “Rock This Town,” “Runaway Boys,” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” “I Won’t Stand in Your Way” and more.

BRIAN SETZER: “I’ve always said that we all grew up in the same neighborhood, so there’s an instant feeling between us when we play. It allows us to be confident and spontaneous. Man, that’s priceless.”

LEE ROCKER: “With just a string bass, a guitar and a drum, we have always had less instruments and gear, but more rumble, more twang, more shake, and more bang than anyone else. Now’s the right time to bring it back!”

SLIM JIM PHANTOM: “I’m thrilled to be doing shows in 2024 with Stray Cats in the U.S.A.! Playing drums with Brian and Lee in our rockabilly band is the best possible way to spend a summer!”

Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, March 29 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.

RAVE REVIEWS FROM THE STRAY CATS 2019 TOUR AND 40 ALBUM:

“It’s was definitely a swingin’, rockin’, and shoutin’ of a good time as the sensational, iconic and legendary band the Stray Cats prowled their way to the Greek Theatre…In no way, shape or form are the Stray Cats showing any signs of slowing down…” -DANIEL SEYUM, Music Connection

“All three are now virtuosos on their instruments, with Rocker and Phantom weaving together intricate rhythms while Setzer delivers wild guitar solos…The simplicity of their setup makes what they do with songs like “Rock This Town,” which becomes an epic anthem live with solos from Setzer and Rocker, all the more stunning.” -Glenn Gamboa, Newsday (New York)

“The beauty of this band is, even their new songs sound old. That’s always been by design. So those brand new tracks fit right into the set with ease.” -Brett Callwood, LA Weekly

“Thanks to Setzer’s wide-ranging guitar vocabulary, the trio has added more “abillies” — jazzabilly, bluesabilly, twangabilly, punkabilly, boogieabilly, surfabilly, swingabilly, even bluegrassabilly. At times Setzer, like Chuck Berry, would switch styles of music in mid-solo Sunday. He truly cut loose on the extended ‘Fishnet Stockings,’ fingers going full speed up and down the fretboard, downshifting to descending lines, jamming in any direction he wanted and, of course, giving Rocker and Phantom moments to solo…” -Jon Bream, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

ABOUT STRAY CATS

The STRAY CATS, the band that put Rockabilly music back on the record charts in the early ’80s, scored several big hits on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a striking visual 1950’s style brought “up to date” with exaggerated pompadours and colorful tattoos and as well as genuine musical chops that evoked the best players of rockabilly’s original heyday. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, NY, in 1979, the trio shared a love for Rockabilly music. After banging around New York for a few months, in the summer of 1980, and seeing a pompadoured kid on the cover of UK magazine NME, they hopped a plane to London where a rockabilly revival movement was just beginning to emerge. Their massive hits and videos include “Runaway Boys,” “Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” and “I Won’t Stand in Your Way.”

“Rediscovered Radio: Women’s Voices, Women’s Music in the WYSO Archives.”

March 26, 2024 By Dayton937

In this new, 6-episode podcast series, WYSO Music Director Juliet Fromholt and WYSO Director of Radio Preservation and Archives Jocelyn Robinson celebrate the work of women musicians and radio hosts in different stages of WYSO’s history. They also critically examine the role those voices played in the local & national music scenes.

In one episode, you’ll hear excerpts
of broadcasts from the Living Arts Center in Dayton, hosted by a local band whose frontwoman was a
major voice in the local roots
music movement.

In another, you’ll learn about the profound effect that Cityfolk founder Phyllis Brzozowska and her WYSO show “A Touch of Gael” had on Dayton’s musical community.

The treasures you’ll discover also include the story of how the station’s long-running “Women in Music” created a space for women musicians in a variety of genres and from diverse backgrounds.

Late filmmaker Julia Reichert credited WYSO with starting her on a media making path. Hear her story on “Making Change,” Episode 1 of the podcast Rediscovered Radio: Women’s Voices, Women’s Music in the WYSO Archives. Subscribe today wherever you get your podcasts!

Let the Music PLAY! TheatreLab’s Popular Trivia Returns 4/2/24!!

March 25, 2024 By Y. K. Cuts

You know music? You know singers? You Know Broadway? You know lyrics? Well, if so, you know you’;re going to win Trivia Night at TheatreLab!

The popular event returns on Tuesday 4/2/24 starting at 6:00pm. It will be the usual set-up….beverages, snacks and all you need to play trivia. What makes this trivia unique is it’s FREE and the theater company merely asks for donations as support. The last trivia event ‘Merry Quizmas‘ was packed to the gills and this one looks no different. The rules are much the same as trivia in the area….no more than 6 to a team, the quizziteer has final say, there will be some sing-along moments, and other mayhem. The trivia night has 3 rounds and will again provide winners with outstanding prizes. (Not sure what they have this time around, but last time there were gift certificates for spa services at Square One Salon, a basket of bottles, complimentary tickets to the next TheatreLab Production and other goodies!)

The idea behind using the space for trivia grows from the fact that theater companies around the country are looking at tougher financial times. Still reeling from COVID and the changes that came from folks choosing to ‘stay in’ vs. supporting local theater, can be felt everywhere. TheatreLab decided to make their space one of fun, where folks can laugh, relax and find ways to connect with audiences in various ways. So far, the approach has been successful!

The trivia night takes place at:

TheatreLab Dayton Studio. 116 North Jefferson Street. Dayton, Ohio 45402. The event is hosted by the ‘Queen‘ of trivia, Josh Stucky. Suggested donation $10, reserve your seat here.

TheatreLab‘s Mission is to be a place where artists come together to cultivate ideas into works of art. Focusing on music-based live theater, The Lab takes an ensemble approach to its process, letting each artist have a voice while the piece grows organically. The Lab prides itself on visually stunning works that examine the experiment of life in a way our audiences have not seen before.

Sonic’s New Blackout Slush Float & Free Eclipse Glasses

March 25, 2024 By Dayton937

Gear up for the eclipse with a cosmic treat! Sonic Drive-In is celebrating next month’s total solar eclipse with a limited-edition beverage – the Blackout Slush Float.

This out-of-this-world drink features a black-colored slush that blends sweet cotton candy and exotic dragon fruit flavors.

It’s a taste sensation that evokes the darkness of the eclipse, topped with a swirl of creamy white soft serve and a sprinkling of galaxy-themed sprinkles in blue and purple.

The Blackout Slush Float will be available nationwide at participating Sonic location starting March 25 through May 5 or while supplies last.

With every purchase of the new drink, Sonic will be giving out free solar eclipse viewing glasses, while supplies last, to ensure customers “safely watch the eclipse and create fun memories.”

To find a Sonic location near you, visit the restaurant’s website

Magnolia Theatre Company Serves Up ‘5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche!’

March 24, 2024 By Joshua Stucky

Gina Handy Minyard is ready to share ‘5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche‘ with the Dayton audience….the tale is ‘beautiful,’ ‘uplifting’ and ‘interactive.’ I was so excited to catch up with her to get more about Magnolia Theatre Company‘s latest production!

JS: Hi Gina. Thank you for taking time to chat. about your upcoming production! First, why did you choose this show in particluar?

GM: Hi Josh. Well, MTC loves a theme! The 2023-24 season focuses on joy, love, and belonging. ‘Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche’ is a perfect way to show these things. Although the show has a funny title, it really tells a beautiful story about these 5 women and how they work together in good times- a quiche breakfast, and bad times- the threat of an atomic bomb. We wanted audiences to be able to laugh this year. Also, we are committed to uplifting underrepresented groups and lesbians are a group that are often missing from the theatrical stage. We are proud to bring this to Dayton audiences.

JS: True….and it’s something I never really considered. So, what should audiences expect from this production?

GM: This show is interactive! Audience members will be attending the 1956 Annual Quiche Breakfast. They become an active participant in our world. They can expect to be taken back to a simpler time, and they will laugh a lot. The show was written with an improvisation element, so no two shows will be the same.

JS: Love that! It definitely makes things fresh…for you and for your viewers. I guess, I really am interested in what this show centers around. The title certainly catches your attention!

GM: It’s 1956 and The Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein are having their annual quiche breakfast. As the assembled five women await the announcement of the society’s prize-winning quiche, the atomic bomb sirens sound! Has the Communist threat come to pass? How will the women respond as their idyllic town and lifestyle faces attacks?

JS: Ummmmmm….that is not at all where I thought this story was heading. WOW. Intrigued!! Good for the Magnolia Theatre Company for reaching toward such a unique play. (The MTC has quite a history. It was founded in 2012 by Gina Handy Minyard. MTC quickly became one of the most talked about theatres in Pennsylvania. Minyard, a professional actor, had become more aware of the gender disparities in the theatre, and research proved there was a lack of female leadership and opportunities for women. Inspired by change, she decided to start a professional theatre company dedicated to women. The company moved to Dayton, OH in 2014 where the need for professional theatre for women was bigger than ever. MTC joined the ImPACt program at the Victoria Theatre Association. Their first show, Parallel Lives, was produced with 100% local, female talent. MTC has continued in its quest, producing the fundraiser Broadway Beveled, an evening of male songs and monologues gender flipped. Magnolia Theatre Company also started Femme Artisan, a staged reading series dedicated to new and under produced work. In 2022, with the help of the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, MTC became a 501(c)3 organization. They have become a producing partner with the University of Dayton’s Theatre, Dance and Performance Technology program for the 2023-24 season and is a new member of Dayton Live’s Community Spotlight Program.)

JS: So, Gina, I know you are directing the show. Who are the 5 cast members?

GM: It’s a great cast. Sarah Gomes, Emma Massey, Skye Hodgkin, Cydnie Hampton, and Vera Allen. Our stage manager is Alyssa Jenkins.

JS: Stellar group. How do people see the show?

GM: It runs April 4,5 and 6 at 7:30 pm. April 6 and 7 at 2pm. We are performing at the PNC Arts Annex 56 W. 2nd St. Dayton, OH 45402. The show runs 70-75 min. No intermission.

JS: To you and all the cast, BREAK LEGS!! Thank Gina!

For more info, go to http://www.daytonlive.org/events/five-lesbians-eating-quiche/

10 Q’s with Miami Valley Meals Chef Angela Abnett & Laura Cotton

March 24, 2024 By Dayton937

Miami Valley Meals began feeding food insecure Dayton area residents early in the pandemic. The nonprofit sources most of its ingredients from donated and reclaimed foods from commercial food distributors and organizations like the Dayton Foodbank.

Executive Chef Angie Abnett

Lead by a team of two talented executive chefs, Angie Abnett and Laura Cotton transform recovered (a.k.a. “rescued”) foods into hearty and nutritious prepared meals that are then distributed to a network of about 50 nonprofit partners serving the hungry in the Miami Valley—free of charge.

As they celebrate their 4th anniversary this month Miami Valley Meals have provided over 800,00 meals to 116 partners in 36 zip codes in the Greater Dayton region. They have used over 560,000 pounds of recovered food to create those meals.

Executive Chef Laura Cotton

The chefs plan meals using the received ingredients and send them packaged to other nonprofits distribution. As they explain, each day is like an episode of the TV showChopped. We never know what ingredients will be donated and each day they have to figure out how to create a nutritious meal from the assorted food components on hand.

Their model aims to reduce food waste in the supply chain and also in our own facility. Chefs Laura and Angie lead their team to create nourishing meals made with love that honor the dignity of people in need.

We asked both executive Chefs to take on our 10 Question interview and here’s how they answered:

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

AA: I love cooking with cabbage. It is so versatile- you can make a slaw, sauerkraut, kimchi, salad for a sandwich or add it to a meal.

MV Meals chefs created 3 spice blends as a fundraiser.

LC: I love experimenting with herbs and spices; when it’s all said and done, I can add whatever Iwant to it and go from there. By experimenting with different herbs and spices, I’ve gotten to create my own special blend with Miami Valley Meals, The Give Back Garlic Blast. We have three spices in total that are available for sale at Dot’s, Gem City Market, The Co, Kettering Hospital gift shops, Amazon, and are adding more shops.

What ingredient do you dread?
AA: Deboning cooked Turkey Legs because the pin bones are so sharp and dangerous.
Plus, it grosses me out!

LC: I detest lamb. I can deal with anything else, but I really don’t like the smell or gaminess of lamb.

Chef Angie supervising mals about to go through the packaging machine.

What’s your favorite dish to make?

AA: Cabbage rolls hold a special place in my heart. The crafting process reflects generations of culinary expertise and family tradition. I particularly enjoy adding a vegan twist to a culinary classic.

LC: Seafood jambalaya – it brings me back to my New Orleans roots and one of my favorite places in the whole world.

What’s your favorite pig out food?
AA: Mashed potatoes are one of my favorites. I have wonderful memories of having mashed potatoes on Sundays at Grandma Shirley’s. It is my comfort food for sure.

LC: My favorite salty food to pig out on are potato chips. Nothing fancy, but if I want something more I make a homemade onion dip. As for something sweet to pig out on, it would be ice cream, specifically dutch chocolate almond or anything with coffee. On a really good day, I might do both.

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

AA: Amar India is my favorite, I’m vegan and they always accommodate my allergies and have a lot of plant based options. I always receive great service and a beautiful meal every time.

LC: Disappointing everyone here, but my guilty pleasure is Waffle House – it’s always there for me and it’s open 24/7. My favorite location would be the one across from The Greene on Indian Ripple Road where our server knows us and our order. My boyfriend and I go there often.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?
AA: Always try something new with a recipe or ingredient. If you fail it’s okay, try again. Practice makes the perfect meal.

LC: A few pieces of advice: have fun, relax and don’t be afraid to try something new because it could come out wonderful and if it doesn’t, no worries, you’re at home and can hide the evidence.

Chef Lauara accepting a donation.

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?
AA: My 4 guests would be: Mary Locke (my great grandmother), Eula Myers (my grandmother), Anthony Bourdain and Julia Child. They are a few of my favorite culinary influences. I would love to prepare them a vegan spin on their own culinary classics. I enjoy the challenge.

LC: My favorite dining experiences involve chaotic family functions. Food is love and I can’t think of anything better than a busy home with all my favorite people and some of the best meals I’ve ever had.

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
AA: I have always admired Julia Child. As a hardworking and driven chef, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to pushing culinary boundaries. At Miami Valley Meals I have to embrace new challenges daily with creativity. Working with donated food can be a challenge, constantly learning and testing different dishes with the ingredients given. Pushing culinary boundaries is a must in the food rescue industry.

LC: Honestly, I look up to anyone and everyone who has worked in this industry for any length of time. It takes a certain special person to be able to do this job.

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?
AA: I’m always trying out different vegan dishes at home. Crafting my own vegan proteins, fermenting something, or baking breads. I am in two Local bands in Dayton, Ohio. Somersault is an educational rock band, driven by our passions and life experiences. Radar is an indie rock band, with punk rock influences, poetry and rock n roll. I am a drummer in both bands. I add vocal support to Somersault giving me the courage to sing lead songs in the band Radar. On a day I’m free from musical projects, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, gardening and reading a good book.

LC: When the weather is nice, I love to explore any of the wonderful parks around the Dayton area, whether it be with my boyfriend or a good friend. If the weather is bad, I love to sit on the couch and read a good book with my cat in my lap.

The team preparing thanksgiving meals to give away.

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:
AA: When I was 11 or 12 years old, my mom had a work trip so I stayed with our close family friends. I asked if I could make dinner and they said “sure”, assuming I knew my way around the kitchen. Confidently, I prepared the pork chops, frying them in a skillet for over 45 minutes or so until they were very golden brown. I even prepared instant mashed potatoes and canned vegetables.

During dinner I realized Carl was having a hard time eating the pork chop. I asked him if it was good? He replied yes, “didn’t know you could make pork chop jerky.” He said he was really enjoying it. In reality, the pork chops were burnt and dried out completely. A few days later, after my mom returned home, they told her about the meal, “We let her make dinner, didn’t realize she didn’t know how to cook.”

LC: On an incredibly busy day about 12 years ago, our small team was prepping for four events in our very small kitchen. I was focused on a traditional English high tea meal, while my sous chef was across the kitchen running the hot side.

Unbeknownst to me, some dried pasta had fallen under one of the burners he was working on. I paused to ask if anyone wanted to try some smoked cheese that was part of my dish. My sous replied, “No, I want this fire to go out,” which alerted me to the flames quickly growing from our stove. Realizing salt was no match for this fire, we quickly pulled all the pots and pans and conquered it with a fire extinguisher.

My son, who was on his first server shift ever, witnessed the fire debacle with a shocked face and asked, “does this happen a lot?” to which my Geoff, my sous replied, “first time.”

Being the head chef means you are often putting out fires, both figuratively and literally – and thankfully on this day, we were still able to get out all of our dishes, clean up the mess and even snack on some of that smoked cheese.

Miami Valley Meals

937-938-7141

Volunteering at MVM:

Join the scoop squad! The culinary team can always use an extra hand in the kitchen. Weekly, monthly, twice-a-year, whatever works for you.
More info here.

With your support, MV Meals can continue providing thousands of meals per month to families and individuals in need across the Miami Valley, providing convenience, comfort, and dignity to those experiencing food insecurity. Donate here.

McCoy on Movies: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

March 23, 2024 By Tabari McCoy

“Frozen Empire” shows latest “Ghostbusters” adventure not completely thawed out as much as it should be.

The teaser poster for GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE. Credit: Sony Pictures Publicity.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Alyn Lind, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, Annie Potts, Kumail Nanjiani, James Acaster, Dan Akroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray with William Atherton

DIRECTOR: Gil Kenan

THE BACK STORY: Picking up after the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE finds Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) now living with his girlfriend Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), her now 18 and clamoring to be an adult son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and daughter Phoebe (McKenna Grace). Gone is the family house in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma, however, as the quartet is now living inside the Ghostbusters’ old firehouse in New York City.

It’s a good thing, too, because it seems that something strange is always popping up, much to the chagrin of now Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton). The organization’s longstanding oldest human nemesis, Mayor Peck is tired of the Ghostbusters’ constant destruction despite their work to constantly save the city, which is why he’s always looking for a way to shut them down.

Phoebe, however, is dealing with her own problems. Informed she can’t be out working due to only being 15, Phoebe feels extremely out of place not being able to do anything, especially since it seems no one truly understands her. That’s why when she is greeted by a teenage spectre in the form of Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), she is happy for a newfound friend, even if they exists on two literally different astral planes.

There is something Phoebe, Gary, nor the rest of her family know, however … For while Raymond Stantz has been keeping up his fascinations with his occult book store and Peter Venkman is off doing Peter things, Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) has been using his company to study ghosts up close and personal. The research has brought about many revelations in ghost containment, which is good given that the old firehouse unit may be reaching capacity.

But what does any of that have to do with Nadeem Razmaadi (Kumail Nanjiani) and the strange brass ball that used to belong to his grandmother that he just sold to Ray? Let’s just say whatever is inside definitely wants to get out and turn the world into its own frozen empire …

THE REVIEW: After the maligned release that was 2016’s Ghostbusters installment, 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a refreshing installment that honored the past films while carving out its own niche. In short, it felt like a new chapter in a story that enhanced it, capturing the sentimental and sweet with the funny and sarcastic.

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE, however, by and large mostly just feels like a sequel. Save for the teenage coming of age elements of Grace’s character’s story – Is she out of place because she’s smarter than most of the adults? Is her relationship with Melody one that would be romantic if possible? – the story moves along, but lacks anything that makes it feel like other than what it is: A sequel that is okay but not on par with its predecessor.

Many of the jokes feel like heavy-handed, well worn gags, the villain is almost an afterthought up until the last 20 minutes and Nanjiani feels a little out of place. The film’s narrative is also guilty of doing a lot of telling versus showing to keep things moving along and Murray dare I say feels like he’s just going through the motions when he’s onscreen. Then again, the visuals are nice, Grace does a lot of heavy lifting to give the film some sort of emotional center and the aforementioned last 20 minutes is an entertaining climax.

That all being said, unless you are a diehard Ghostbusters fan (note: the author would include himself in that mix), you won’t really feel like you’re missing anything if you don’t catch FROZEN EMPIRE on the big screen. It’s a perfect Saturday afternoon movie for when you’re at home cleaning the house or not doing anything else, but if you’re worried whether or not you need to rush out to catch the latest installment, the answer sadly is no.

I ain’t afraid of no ghost, but I am afraid that the latest installment is more “okay” than it is spell-binding.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

This Must Be the Party — A Tribute to the Talking Heads

March 23, 2024 By Brandon Berry

This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around — except it is a party, it is a disco, and there is a fair amount of fooling around.

This Must Be the Party — a Dayton, Ohio all-stars celebration of the music of Talking Heads — is on Saturday, March 30 at The Brightside Music & Event Venue.

From its impetus at the now-defunct Oddbody’s in 2017 to the Brightside ballroom in recent years, this annual stage show recreates the frenetic mannerisms of David Byrne and the rest of the Heads from Jonathan Demme’s 1984 concert film, Stop Making Sense.

Then again, This Must Be The Party might be closer to a Heads’ show than Demme’s documentary since the Dayton stage show also includes “Cities” and the mashup of “Big Business/I Zimbra”: songs that were part of the Heads’ 1983 performance but not the theatrical release.

From setlist to wardrobe to props to choreography, This Must Be The Party is as faithful to the show as Byrne was to (allegedly) snorting stimulants. But filling the many big suits of David Byrne takes a certain level of commitment.

“Nobody wanted to be David Byrne all night,” said Libby Ballengee, booker for The Brightside and owner-operator at Venus Child Productions. “That’s when we cooked up the idea of having multiple David Byrnes, literally just for stamina because there’s so much running on stage.”

Donning the loose-fitting gray Byrne suits this year are Nathan Peters (Turboslacker), Eric Cassidy (Human Cannonball), Matt Byanski (Nasty Bingo), and Asche Pooler (Abertooth Lincoln) as the newest member of the group, graciously taking the place of the late Brian Spirk who passed away unexpectedly in October.

“Brian was an immensely talented and beautiful soul,” said Brian Hoeflich, drummer for This Must Be The Party. “We hope to honor him by continuing this show and spreading the joy that he spent so many years bringing to everyone.”

Here are a few David Byrnes on being David Byrnes:

Eric Cassidy: “I think that being David Byrne for the night is the most fun you can possibly have entertaining people. Just like actual David Byrne, the crowd will follow you to some weird places. And the more you give, the more you get back from the crowd. Walking out in front of one of the best bands that you have ever heard is so empowering. They got the crowd moving. They got ME moving. And I can ride that wave and use it to explore the stage with dance that is partly inspired by the original show, and also kind of my own thing. And the songs are just so good and well-known. It’s a blast!”

Matt Byanski: “It’s an honor and a challenge. The coat is great — the pants need to stay on! Suspenders are your friend!”

Asche Pooler: “I can’t tell you honestly in context just yet (because it is my first year) but I can tell you this: the rehearsals alone are so incredible to be a part of and watch, so I have an immense feeling that the actual show will be something to behold as well. I’m realizing that David and I have more in common as “weird” sort of musicians while doing it. So, in short, it feels good, man.”

Another addition to this year’s show is keyboardist Damien Dennis, alongside the return of backup singer Mykal who was an integral part of past performances.

Alongside the musicians mentioned above, the cast for This Must Be The Party includes Khrys Blank, Nathan Lewis, Patrick Himes, Chris Corn, and Erich Reith.

“We hope to eventually develop a theater stage version of the show,” Hoeflich said. “With projection screens and mobile instrument risers — just like Talking Heads did originally.”

Every year, the show grows nearly indistinguishable from Byrne’s original concept. So even if this is not your beautiful house and this is not your beautiful wife, This Must Be The Party. It’s once in a lifetime and it happens once a year.

This Must Be the Party — A Tribute to the Talking Heads, a Venus Child Production, is on Saturday, March 30 at the Brightside Music & Event Venue (905 E 3rd St, Dayton, Ohio 45402). Doors are at 8 p.m. Funky esoteric post-rock trio The Social Q opens the show at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and available at VenuePilot.

$5 Breakfast Bundles At Burger King

March 22, 2024 By Dayton937

Available exclusively on the BK App and at bk.com during regular breakfast hours, here’s a closer look at the new $5 Breakfast Bundles:

Awesome A.M. Bundle: Single Biscuit (Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Ham Egg & Cheese Biscuit or Egg & Cheese Biscuit) and Simply Orange Juice.
Morning Grindset Bundle: Choice of Double Croissan’wich (Double Sausage Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich or Bacon, Sausage Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich) and Large Hot Coffee
Best of BK Bundle: Choice of Croissan’wich (Sausage Egg Cheese Croissan’wich, Bacon Egg Cheese Croissan’wich, Ham Egg Cheese Croissan’wich or Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich), 3 Pc. French Toast Sticks and Small hash browns.

Pettibone Coffee’s New Spring Menu

March 20, 2024 By Lisa Grigsby

Pettibone Coffee on Woodman Drive launches their spring menu on 3/21/24. Here’s a little preview of some of the hightlights:

Up first we have two well known Pettibone original drinks. Purple Haze and Lake Views!

Lake Views // Espresso | Blood Orange & Grapefruit Oleo Saccharum | Grapefruit La Croix | Rosemary & Dehydrated Citrus Garnish | Served Cold – 9oz

For food we have the Smoked Salmon Bagel, which is a reimagined bagel and Lox, and the Chicken Bahn Mi! The smoked salmon we use, just like everything, is of the highest quality and is ridiculously tasty!

Smoked Salmon Bagel // Smoked Salmon | Roasted Garlic & Shallot Cream Cheese | House Pickled Veggies | Dill & Black Pepper Foam | Everything Bagel | GF bagel +$1.50

* We politely decline substitutions and modifications for this item

Pettibone Coffee Roastery & Cafe
215 Woodman Drive
Riverside, OH 45431

Mon-Fri 6am-7pm
Sat-Sun 7am-7pm
Kitchen is open until 3pm daily

New Seasonal Menu at The Winds

March 19, 2024 By Dayton937

Now in their 45th year, this Yellow Springs eatery was the area’s first independently owned casual farm-to-table restaurant. Their menu changes seasonly and the Winds Cafe welcomes spring with a new menu.

Stop in or make a reservation for your place at the table, or bar! Resy.com

The Winds Cafe

215 Xenia Ave,
Yellow Springs, OH,

937-767-1144

LUNCH 12:00PM-3:00PM TUESDAYS – SATURDAYS
DINNER 4:00PM – 9:00PM TUESDAYS – SATURDAYS

Domino’s March Madness- 50% off all Online Pizza Orders Through March 24th

March 18, 2024 By Dayton937

Domino’s Pizza is celebrating March Madness by offering customers 50 percent off all menu-priced pizzas ordered online today through March 24, 2024.

Domino's Offers 50% Off All Menu-Priced Pizzas Ordered Online Through March 24, 2024

The 50% off deal is available on menu-priced pizzas ordered through Domino’s online ordering channels, including online at dominos.com and the Domino’s mobile app.

Interesting Fun Facts – Domino’s and Basketball

Domino’s sold more than 3 million pizzas during the men’s 2023 national semifinals and championship game nights combined – enough to give more than 45 pizzas to each person attending the final game in Arizona this year.
During the 2023 men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, Domino’s produced enough dough to match the weight of more than 22 million basketballs.
It takes 69 Domino’s pizza boxes stacked from the floor of a basketball court to reach the hoop.
It takes more than 4,500 Domino’s pizza boxes to cover a 4,600-square-foot basketball court.

Heart-Warming ‘One Life’ is a Beacon of Hope for the Modern World.

March 18, 2024 By Joshua Stucky

We need heroes these days. People to take us from this incessant era of anger, heart-ache and the fake bliss that is social media. We need people who think beyond themselves. People who look to help others in the face of evil and terror. Our time, this time in the world is not anything new or out of the ordinary. There will always be poverty, war, homeless and HATE. We have those in check, and so, what we need are heroes like the one depicted in ‘One Life,’ a film now showing at the Neon Movies.

It is rare I think to write about film. It’s always ‘iffy’ to go there. But, if you like a recommendation, here it is. Sitting at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, ‘One Life’ is proving to be that little film with a big heart, and a big consensus “You should see it…”

Anthony Hopkins (the perfect pick) stars in the film, along with Helena Bonham-Carter (a role made for her) and Johnny Flynn (such a strong, staid performance.) Flynn plays the younger Nicky Winton. the hero of our story. Winton was instrumental in saving lives during the occupation of Czechoslovakia. His focus was on the children, who needed an escape from the oncoming Nazi regime. 5 decades later, Hopkins, the elder Winton, reflects on, and is haunted by, what became of those children. And we are in for an emotional roller-coaster, as the story unfolds, almost told too conventionally….Here is what happened, and here is why it mattered. But within that conventional style, we are given the facts, and the faces of heroes. (Bring your Kleenex) It all comes together with the film’s defining moments, and our hearts are, alas, FULL!

Though there will be times when you want to push the needle forward more quickly and with more finesses in the film, it’s the beauty of the actors’ performances that keep us engaged. The children in the film alone seem like seasoned performers, tugging at our heart-strings, yet never letting us forget the horror they are facing. The atmosphere, both in flashbacks and in the later years, is well-executed….there are definite ‘moods’ to both.

The film is directed by James Hawes, (the Challenger Disaster, 2013). His modest story-telling in ‘One Life‘ again retains his desire to get the story right…and let the reality in that, do the work. The movie is based on the book ‘ If It’s Not Impossible…: The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton.’ by Barbara Winton.

For Winton, it was always about doing what’s right by people. Within the hour and 45 minute film, you cannot help but think about our world….anti-semitism, invasion, refugees, and of course, the misplaced children. Injustice…I mean isn’t that what always brings about rising heroes…in film and in life. You will leave the theater, teary-eyed and wondering who will save us from ourselves…in our ‘One Life?’

Catch ‘One Life’ at the Neon until 3/28! Info Below:

https://www.neonmovies.com/home