August 18, 2012
A Byrd’s Eye View N
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ABOUT FILMS, TV, ARTS AND EVENTS IN THE VALLEY
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The Bourne Legacy Has Same Thrill Ride as Other Bourne Movies By Art Byrd Whenever there’s a successful movie, a sequel usually follows. With the Bourne series, there have been two sequels with Matt Damon. Now producers and the writer of the series have gone in a very different direction, replacing its main character with another character and actor. Often when another actor takes over wellestablished character it spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. Not in this case. Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) takes over for Matt Damon, not as Jason Bourne but a new character, Aaron Cross, who is in the same super spy program as Bourne. The Bourne Legacy has all the elements that have made the series work -- impossible situations, shady backdoor U.S government activities and cool action sequences. In the storyline, Bourne is still out there somewhere. A different agency is now trying to eliminate the super spies around the world, including Cross. Known as number 5, Cross is in the middle of a training exercise when he realizes that he’s being targeted for elimination.
“It’s no secret what a massive search we had to find this character ... You also needed someone who is just bad ass. He just has to be that guy. There has to be a high level of integrity in it and in an interesting way. Jeremy had all those things.” Director Tony Gilroy, (Michael Clayton) has his latest movie, The Bourne Legacy, in theaters now.
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The super spies have been given certain pills for an undisclosed reason. Cross is running out of his pills after an explosion destroyed a supply house he was supposed to be killed in. Meanwhile, in a research laboratory, a scientist goes on a shooting rampage, killing scientists involved with the super spies. One scientist escapes, Dr. Marta Shearing, played by Oscar winner Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener), a biochemist who is employed by the drug company that supplied super spies with pills and monitors them. After the rampage, some people posing as CIA agents try to kill Dr. Marta at her house. Of course, who comes in at the last moment to save her; Cross and the fake agents have a great hide-and-seek game in the house with deadly endings. Then Cross and Dr. Marta are on the run from the U.S. government bad guys, led by Eric Byer (Edward Norton). the director of a secret secret agency that wants to eliminate the super spies. Cross is determined to find out why the super spies are being killed. The Bourne Legacy has everything you want in a Bourne movie: excessive hand-to-hand fighting, smart outwitting by the main character and great chase scenes. The motorcycle chase scene was topnotch and may you squirm in your seat as Cross and the bad guy weave in and out of traffic. All in all, The Bourne Legacy is very good. Renner’s portrayal of the super spy is good enough to set him apart from Damon's. You don't forget Damon's Bourne, but you're having the same fun with someone else. It is like the changing-of-the-guards with James Bond. You know in the first few minutes of the movie if you will like the new guy. You'll like Jeremy Renner as his own Bourne-like character. Tony Gilroy, who has written all the Bourne films and directed this one, knows what the audience wants and gives it to us. Who knows, could there be a future film with both Damon and Renner together. That would be worth a concert-ticket price to see.
August 18, 2012
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Delivers Laughs for Kids and Adults By Michele Ristich Gatts Take a teeny-bopper movie with boys as the main characters and you know you’re guaranteed lots of grossout moments and scatological humor. Such is the case with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, the third installment in the popular movie series based on a wildly popular series of kids’ books. All the favorite characters/actors are back from the other two installments, with some new ones, for an adventure that centers on now teenage Greg Hefley (Zachary Gordon) and his misadventures as he pursues his crush, Holly Hills (Peyton List of Disney’s Hey Jesse), over summer vacation. Nothing has changed about the characters’ personalities or relationship dynamics in this installment. As usual, Greg is not the best friend to his best friend, Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron), or the best son to his parents, Frank and Susan (Steve Zahn and Rachel Harris). But somehow he manages to be a better brother than his older sibling, Rodrick (Devin Bostick), is to him. But that’s the formula that’s made it popular, and I can tell you that the kids in the theater I attended loved it, and we parents were laughing-out-loud at quite a few things. Sure, we mom’s had to hide our eyes at some of the grosser moments, and try to hide our kids’ eyes (unsuccessfully!) at some things (why do we need to see a teenager sitting on a toilet??!!), but such is a kids’ movie in the 21st century.
Scene for Shutterbugs The photography project ''MYTOWN'' opens Saturday at the McDonough Museum of Art. The exhibition is a joint project between the McDonough and participants in an Ursuline Sisters’ program. Thirteen middle school and high school students worked with an experienced photographer, educators and others as they went on photo shoots to 14 different locations in the Mahoning Valley to capture what they saw. The exhibition features 70 images selected from more than 2,000 photographs taken. Photographs from the show also will be featured on four billboards on South Avenue in Youngstown. The project was supported by a grant from The Raymond John Wean Foundation, and it is the first of several ''Living as Form'' projects planned this year. ''MYTOWN'' will be on display Saturday through Aug. 25 at the McDonough, 411 Wick Ave., Youngstown. An opening reception is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 330-941-1400.
August 18, 2012
Main Street Grille Brews up Good Eats, Drinks By Monnie Ryan To read the full version of this review, visit http://mahoningvalleyeats.blogspot.com
Tooling around Garrettsville is always a treat for my husband Jack and I, and we love to stop at the old Garrett's Mill grist mill in the heart of downtown. The mill building has been transformed into a restaurant with various owners, but for the past six years it's been Main Street Grille and Brewing Co. The list of eight ales brewed on the premises (diners can see the equipment, vats and such on the restaurant's upper level) range from Garrett's Gold (a traditional German Kolsch-style ale that's closest to "regular" brand-name beer) to Three Scots Ale, a very malty concoction brewed with English hops and a hint of smoke from traditional Scottish peated malt. As you might expect, the exterior of the building is rustic old wood. The interior looks much newer, but the tables (high ones with barstools on the bar side) are a beautifully polished dark wood. There's a separate dining room, and if weather permits, it's nice to sit outdoors on one of decks that overlook Eagle Creek. If you're like us, you may need a second round of ale before you settle on what you want to eat. There are a number of appetizers that sound wonderful, from Won Ton Jalapeno Poppers with sweet and sour dipping sauce ($4.95) to the one I really wanted to try, Ahi Tuna coated with sesame seeds served with seaweed salad, soy reduction, mango relish, wasabi aioli and crispy won ton. But alas, it goes for $12.59, and I didn't want to blow my entire budget on a single item. One of three flatbreads on the menu - lobster meat, spinach and sun dried tomato with a garlic and herb cream for $11.99 - stopped Jack dead in his tracks. I took a bit more time, although I quickly scanned the long list great-sounding entrees, because they were just too much for lunch. Sandwiches come with a dill pickle spear and hand-cut kettle chips, and I finally settled on the Caribbean Spiced Mahi with mango relish, shaved lettuce and mayonnaise on an onion roll for $8.99. Since Jack was getting chips, I spent $2 more to upgrade to the hand-cut fries. As it turned out, the chips were quite tasty – Jack really loved them. The fries were exceptionally good, too, and we managed to polish off most of them. Jack was pleased with the flatbread, cut in six triangles. I took a taste and liked it too, but the sauce was quite rich, and I'd never be able to eat more than a triangle or two. My Mahi sandwich was wonderful as well; it was a decent-sized chunk of fish and the Caribbean spices weren’t overwhelming. Although I love onion buns, I usually discard sandwich buns because my interest is in what’s inside – and especially since this one got quite soggy early on, it bit the dust almost from the getgo. If you go: Main Street Grille and Brewing Co., 8148 Main St., Garrettsville, Ohio 44231; 330- 527-3663; http://www.msg-brew.com. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.
August 18, 2012
Arts and Entertainment Roundtable Proves There Are Diamonds in the Valley By Art Byrd The story of Acres of Diamonds tells the tale of people overlooking the riches in their own backyard, only to spend their time and money looking somewhere else. According to a recent roundtable of local Arts and Entertainment (A&E) organizations and venues, we have diamonds in our backyard. The roundtable was hosted by The Business Journal for an upcoming edition and held at the Holiday Inn in Boardman. Business Journal Copy Editor and Senior Reporter Dennis LaRue (a friend of ABEV) moderated. Participants included the Youngstown Playhouse, the Youngstown Symphony, the Victorian Players, the Butler Institute of American Art, Ballet Western Reserve, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, and the OH WOW! Roger and Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science & Technology, all of Youngstown, the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Packard, Warren, and the Hoyt Center of the Arts from New Castle, Pa. I was invited to observe. LaRue asked the participants to give a brief description of their organizations. During these, the participants talk about their audience. Mary Ruth Lynn, the Youngstown Playhouse’s executive director, said, “We have a high percentage of seniors for audience attendance. We are trying to target a younger demographic with our programming choices with productions, like Legally Blonde.” Many of the organizations noted they’re changing focus, engaging the community, and being aware of social change. Kimberly Kollor-Jones, Executive Director of the Hoyt Center for the Arts, said, “If we are going to change the future of our community, it is going to be through young people.” All the participants agreed on the importance of educating the community. Mary Ann Pornichak, the National Packard Museums' executive director, said their focus is to educate current and future generations about the transportation system, its history and contributions in technological advancements. She said, “We are more than car museum, we are a history center for local history and the Packard family history.” The participants have different approaches in what they do. The McDonough Museum’s director, Leslie A. Brothers, spoke about a unique approach towards culture with emphasis on research. Brothers said, “We are constantly asking questions around what matters to people in our community and what the value is of contemporary art in our time.” Many organizations are not going it alone but partnering with others. Bill Lawson. executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, talked about a recent partnership with the Idora Neighborhood Association and Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. for a tour of the Idora Park and Volney neighborhoods. He reported that over 140 people came out for the tour. Lawson observed, “They learned about that neighborhood’s history, but also learned how organizations are working to stabilize and bring it back.”
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LaRue asked the participants about what they provide that public television, radio, DVDs and CDs cannot. J.E Ballantyne, the Victorian Players’ theater manager, says his organization does a “down stage” dialogue in which the audience can interact with actors, the playwright and the technical people about the show and its content. Barry Dunaway, the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra’s executive director, talked about a photograph of a third grade girl touching one of the music instruments. He said she may have never had heard live music before. He added that the photo pulls on the heartstrings of donors. The topic of the schools cutting back on arts education was addressed. Ballantyne said of the arts, “It is a springboard to learning in other areas and improve the comprehension to learn.” Others agreed. The A&E roundtable provided great insights into the amazing arts and entertainment organizations and venues providing the diamonds in the acres of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. As the great announcer Earl Nightingale wrote, “Opportunity does not just come along, it is there all the time -- we just have to see it.” Be sure to read the Business Journal’s article on the Culture District Roundtable for many more gems and insights. It publishes Aug. 14.
The YSU Jazz Quartet Takes Part in Wine, Culinary & Art Event Lake Milton State Park’s Waterfront Amphitheater is the site Saturday for an evening under the stars featuring The YSU Jazz Quartet. The Jazz Quartet will highlight songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett. Fine wine and great food will be available for purchase. A variety of wine from around the world will be offered. Also, artists will display their works for purchase or looking. Gates for the concert open at 6:30 p.m. at $10 a person. The Amphitheater is at Lake Milton, 16801 Mahoning Avenue; follow the signs to the swim beach. The first 200 paid participants through the door will receive a "Wine a Little...at Lake Milton!" wine glass.
August 18, 2012
What’s Happening Around The Valley: Aug. 17th – 21st Ongoing Northside Farmers Market First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1105 Elm St., Youngstown; 330-518-6971. Every Saturday through the fall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This organization also offers a downtown farmers market every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Central Square. Both feature fresh local produce, baked goods and small vendors. Accepts WIC and EBT. Free. Irish Music Irish music enthusiasts from the area get together every third Sunday of the month to play. Open to the public. 6-8 p.m. Free. Quinlan’s Irish Pub, 5154 Youngstown-Warren Rd., Niles; for more information call 330-757-9057 or 330-349-4500. Lowellville Cruisin’ the River Car Show This car show occurs every Monday night through mid-October in downtown Lowellville. Features classic cars, hot rods, street rods, motorcycle and choppers. Registration is optional at $2 per vehicle. 6-9 p.m. Free. For more information, call 330-536-6811.
Saturday, Aug. 18th Youngstown Spanish Heritage Festival Saturday, August 18th 12 p.m.- 12 am & Sunday, August 19th 12 p.m-8 p.m. The festival will feature food, music, crafts and dance. Festival will happen on Central Square, Downtown Youngstown.
Sunday, Aug. 19th The Butler Institute of American Art: Who's Who in Art - Series #4 Lecture with Dr. Lou Zona at 2 p.m. in the Beecher Center Auditorium. Dr. Zona will speak on A Survey of American Art: Pre-Colonial to the Present, beginning with Native American craft, through the Federal Period to the present day. 524 Wick Ave. in Youngstown. For more information, call 330-743-1107. Firestone Park Free Concert Featuring Little Rock playing country music at 2 p.m. at the park gazebo. 347 East Park Ave., Columbiana For more information, call 330-482-3822.
Monday, Aug. 20th The Universal Cafe Arts and Lecture Series Lecture U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan will speak on Mindfulness, A Paradigm Shift, at 7 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1105 Elm St., on the corner of Elm and Illinois, across from Wick Park) in Youngstown. For more information, call 330-743-3067.
Wednesday, Aug. 21st Mill Creek MetroParks Summerfest Spectacular: Evil Ways A Santana Tribute Band in a free concert on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Judge Morley Pavilion. For more information, call 330-702-3000.
August 18, 2012
On Stage Mill Creek MetroParks: Twelfth Night Friday, August 17 and Saturday, August 18 at 6 p.m. each evening at the Judge Morley Pavilion, located at Rocky Ridge on Youngstown’s west side. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 330-702-3000.
Pierce Opera House: Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein…A Musical Revue August 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. Musical direction by Edgar Groves; Stage direction by Abbey Alter. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 or reserved by calling 724-815-4388. 100 N. Mercer Ave., Sharpsville, Pa. 16150.
New Castle Playhouse: 5th of July The scene is a sprawling farmhouse in rural Missouri, home to Ken, a legless Vietnam veteran, and his lover, Jed, a horticulturist, as they entertain guests. The conversation is promised as sharp, funny deeply revealing. The play runs Aug. 10-26. Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2p.m. For Tickets call 724-654-3437. NCP is located at 202 East Long Ave., New Castle, Pa., 16101
Brier Hill Italian Fest Enters Its 21st Year The Brier Hill Italian Fest, which opened Thursday, is considered the longest continuously running Italian Fest in the city of Youngstown. The festival is located on the hilly brick streets in a residential neighborhood at the corner of Victoria and Calvin in the Brier Hill section of the city’s North Side. Great events are happening during the festival. A morra tournament will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the deck across from the ITAM. The Hot Pepper Contest will start at 5:30 p.m. A wine-tasting contest is planned at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Live entertainment is scheduled for all four days. The festival concludes on Sunday, Aug 19.
Festival in the Woods Offers Fun The 30th Annual Shaker Woods Festival will take place on Aug 15 through Aug 26 in Columbiana. There will be 200 crafters and artisians offering such items as Shaker brooms, hand-thrown pottery, blown glass, custom jewelry, florals, handmade furniture, hand dipped candles, custom made knives, herbs and spices, hand made baskets. The Shaker Woods Festival can be found at 44337 County Line Rd, Columbiana. For more information, visit: www.shakerwoods.com
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Art Byrd Jr. has won awards as a filmmaker and journalist. After working many years as a videographer and director for WFMJ TV News, he retired from broadcasting to share his experience and insight with students as an instructor at Youngstown State University. Art has written and produced numerous Indie films, which have been shown at prestigious film festivals. In addition to teaching and writing/ producing A Byrd’s Eye View newsletter, Art also does freelance media work. He is based in Youngstown, Ohio. Michele Ristich Gatts began her full-time career in journalism with WKBN TV News, where she worked closely with radio news as well. After a decade in broadcasting, she branched into print, working five years for The Business Journal in various reporting and editorial capacities. Michele was fortunate to be recognized with a few prestigious journalism awards along the way, and has done a little teaching for YSU. She currently works as a freelance writer, editor and media consultant, and is based in Youngstown, Ohio. Contact her at michelegatts@yahoo.com. Monnie Ryan retired in 2003 after 14 years as managing editor of The Business Journal in Youngstown, where she continues to contribute to the print and online editions. Articles she has written have appeared in more than 20 national publications and at several travelrelated Web sites, and she has won numerous awards for photography. Contact her at mryan62692@aol.com.