February 22, 2013
A Byrd Eye View N
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ABOUT MOVIES, TV, ARTS AND EVENTS IN THE VALLEY
A Good Day To Die Hard Was Not A Good Day At The Movies by Art Byrd
A Quote By
There is an expression going to the well, too many times. A lot of movie sequels happen do this. Now, it is the Die Hard series’ turn at the well. I am huge fan of the Die Hard series. Bruce Willis as John McClane character is one of my favorite characters in movies. The bad guys always figure they will win. Most of the Die Hard villains starting with Hans Gruber really have good and have well thought out plans until John McClane stumbles into the mix. McClane doesn't know what is going to happen next, but he always does what the situation calls for. The formula has worked in Die Hard movie after Die Hard movie.
In A Good Day To Die Hard, the formula tries but doesn’t work. The only thing I don't like about the Die Hard movies is that we don't know much about the McClane family except some dysfunction. Whatever happened to John's wife, Holly. In Live Free or Die Hard, we learned about Lucy, McClane’s daughter who is as much of a bad butt as her dad. Now, it is, McClane's son, Jack’s turn. Jack is played by Jai Courtney (Jack Reacher). The movie starts with Jack walking into a Russian club with a gun and shooting someone and lands in prison. Jack's action comes to the attention of his dad who books a flight to Moscow.
“I have zero interest in performing in films to try to convey any kind of message. My job is to be entertaining. There's a very different point of view about messages in films in Europe than there is in the States. Audiences rebel because they feel that they are being preached to.” Actor, Bruce Willis reprising his role as John McClane in A Good Day To Die Hard in theaters now.
February 22, 2013
The movie tries to have some international intrigue by having a political prisoner, Yuri Komarov played by Sebastian Koch who says he has a file with incriminating evidence against government officials. He set to go to court to testify. Now, here's where the ridiculous starts to creep in. If Yuri is so important why is he being transported with Jack, an American to court. I guess the Russians were trying to save transportation costs. After an interesting ride with a singing Russian cabbie (comic relief), McClane arrives to see Jack and Yuri being led into the front of the courthouse in a wide open space with a huge crowd surrounding them. Anyone in the crowd could have taken a shot at Yuri. In movies, we are consistently suspending disbelief. A Good Day To Die Hard takes that to the max. Three cars checked out by security are allowed to park near the courthouse. Of course, they have bombs and blow up parts of the courthouse. The reason to get Yuri. Gunmen come into the courthouse looking for him but he and Jack have escaped and are on the run. They find a van that was put there for their escape. While driving the van, Jack is talking to the CIA. Jack is a spy. There are men with guns looking for Jack and Yuri but who finds them in no time flat. Yep, John McClane. Jack is surprised to see his dad standing in front of the van. There's tension between the two, Jack tells McClane to get out of the way who doesn't. So, Jack drives past him. Now, the bad guys see Jack and Yuri in the van and a car chase in the streets of Russia is on. McClane cannot be left out of the chase as he snatches a vehicle and is in hot pursuit. I'm a big fan of the movie car chases but this one was ridiculous with so much destruction with cars being run over, smashed and ran through. The chase was confusing. After the massive car chase scene, Yuri, Jack and McClane find a safe place. Yuri wants to have his daughter with him before he turns over the file. Irina (Yulia Snigir), Yuri’s daughter shows up with concern for her father. Then the bad guys show up and how did they know exactly where they were. That question is answered right away. Irina betrays her father. He is taken away to get the file. The leftover bad guys have Jack and McClane tied up and do the classic bad guy movie thing and talk to them instead of just killing them. This gives Jack and McClane enough time to escape and kill them. The ridiculous continues as we find out that Yuri has hidden the file at a Chernobyl site. Remember, Chernobyl, where there was radiation fallout from a nuclear meltdown. Later, we find out that Yuri and Irina are actually working together. At the site, they have oxygen suits on to avoid the radiation. Yet, later they are able to take the suits off because a machine tells them there is no radiation. So, when Jack and McClane arrived they don't need suits and are perfectly fine. There is total destruction as the bad guys are wiped out. Jack and McClane come out as the winning father and son duo. Yes, there is a tough guy tender moment between the two. A Good Day To Die Hard feels like a bad B movie that has one of the biggest action stars in it. I like the element of the father-son team up, both are alike except Jack is serious where McClane is still wisecracking. A Good Day To Die Hard was not a good day for me to go to the movies.
February 22, 2013
Guy’s BBQ Hits Flavor Bullseye Editor's note: To read the full version of this review, visit http://mahoningvalleyeats.blogspot.com By Monnie Ryan When someone offers a tip on a great place to eat, I pay attention. When it comes from the editor of this newsletter - who named Guy's Award-Winning BBQ as his favorite place for barbecue - I get there as fast as I can. So in short order after learning that, my husband Jack and I, accompanied by a couple of hungry friends, got in the car and headed to the place. At the outset, I'll point out that Guy's primarily is a take-out place. There are a couple of tables - it's located in a shopping plaza - but hardly anyone actually eats there. Like most folks, we placed our orders and hurried back home to chow down. The emphasis here is on ribs, but chicken dinners are available as well (and fish dinners like catfish and talapia are sold on Fridays). Three of us ordered the five-rib dinners ($12.99 each), which come with two sides and Texas toast, while Jack opted for a boneless rib sandwich with one side ($6.99). Since our ribs are all alike (ribs and chicken meals are done in a very tasty sweet BBQ sauce), we made sure to try various sides: Mac and cheese (Jack), greens and potato salad (our friends Jerry and Barb) and potato salad and baked beans (me). Then, just so we could try sauces other than the sweet BBQ, we ordered a dozen wings (12 for $7.80) and chose Hot BBQ and sugarless Smokey Garlic. Everything is neatly packaged in take-out containers with lids, so there's no fuss, no muss -- that is, until you start to eat. I dare anyone to dig into either ribs or wings here without ending up with reddish spots all over your face and fingers. After a single bite, all three of us ribsters proclaimed - almost in unison - that these are the best we've ever had, bar none. They're not only among the biggest and most tender (the meat almost falls off the bones), but the thick, sweet sauce is absolutely delectable. We groaned - in a good way - and licked our fingers all the way to done. As for the sides, the mac and cheese was singularly unimpressive, but we all liked the potato salad and baked beans. Barb really liked the greens - Southern-style turnip greens with a touch of zing. The Texas toast made a perfect accompaniment. I expected a Hot BBQ sauce with a bit more of a kick, but this one is delicious. And the flavor of the smoky garlic comes through loud and clear -- you'd never suspect it's sugarless. If You Go: Guy's Award-Winning BBQ 2545 Belmont Ave. Youngstown, Ohio 44505 (330) 743-4897 http://www.guysbbq.com
February 22, 2013
Graham’s Passport to Success Goes Down Familiar Path 4 stars (out of 5) By Monnie Ryan Partly because my undergraduate degree is in psychology, partly because in another life I conducted more than a few employee development workshops that focused on motivation, I've always had an interest in selfhelp books - or at least that was the case back when I had full-time jobs and always looking at the next rung up on the career ladder. Zig Ziglar, Steven R. Covey, John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard and their ilk always had a place on my bookshelves. And once, I read one by Stedman Graham, chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates perhaps more universally known as Oprah Winfrey's significant other. In fact, he's penned something like 10 books including this one. Although I'm far less inclined to read books like this now that I'm mostly retired and my legs are a bit too old to tackle that ladder, I enjoyed the one I read so many years ago, and this one sounded like a good bet as well (and it didn't hurt that I was able to snag the Kindle version free at Amazon). This one emphasizes a familiar theme: It's your life, and if you want to get anywhere (however you choose to define "anywhere"), you've got to take charge of yourself, from thoughts to values to actions. As such, he's developed a Nine-Step Success Process - sort of a variation on the "Conceive, Believe, Achieve" espoused by another biggie in the motivational market, Napoleon Hill. And therein lies one of the first truths about motivation: There's nothing really new to speak of in the world or on the horizon. The difference between any two of these well-known speakers and writers is mostly in the packaging: You might say each has developed an "identity." In this book, Graham encourages readers to do the same - and that's not a bad thing. The book is put together concisely and well; each chapter offers insights from Graham as well as success stories from well-known people who have made it big, like the late Steve Jobs and Sen. John McCain. The core idea, Graham says, is this: "Your happiness and success in life flow from becoming clear about who you are and establishing your authentic identity - first inside yourself and then externally in the world." Or, put another way, "I've learned that, for the most part, extraordinary people are simply ordinary people doing extraordinary things that matter to them." The point of this book, then, is to show you how to stop thinking of yourself as a victim of your circumstances and become "extraordinary," starting with becoming self-aware. In that regard, it is a bit reminiscent of Pastor Rick Warren's book “The Purpose Driven Life.” The nine steps, for the record, are appropriately titled for a journey, such as "Develop Your Travel Plan" and "Master the Rules of the Road." But as you might expect, the devil is in the details; success stories of Graham and others round out each chapter and are followed at the end with questions to answer that will help you uncover, with the goal of eventually living, your true "identity." If nothing else, if you walk Graham's talk and spend some quality time with those questions, you'll learn a lot about yourself. And that's not a bad thing, either.
February 22, 2013
What’s Happening Around The Valley: Feb 22 - March 7 Saturday, February 23 Mill Creek MetroParks: Orchid Walk-About Mill Creek MetroParks presents an Orchid Walk-About on Saturday, 10 a.m. at the D.D. and Velma Davis Education and Visitor Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens. Dave Miller from the Greater Akron Orchid Society will lead the walk highlighting the many varieties of orchids displayed throughout the center. Registration and more information about this event is available at (330) 740-7116. Fellows Riverside Gardens is located at 123 McKinley Avenue in Youngstown.
Monday, February 25th
The Dana School of Music: The Dana Symphony Orchestra The Dana School of Music will present the Dana Symphony Orchestra Concert at 8 p.m. at the Edward W. Powers Auditorium in the DeYor Performing Arts Center. DeYor is at 260 West Federal Street in Downtown Youngstown. Tickets and more information are available at (330) 744-0264.
Friday, March 1 Youngstown State University:Learning In Retirement Series Youngstown State University continues its Learning In Retirement Series with a Lecture at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Meeting Room (Room 105) in Tod Hall, on the campus of YSU. Dr. Mary Beth Earnheardt and Ms. Alyssa Lenhoff will speak on the YSU Jambar, its History, Famous Student Writers, and its Role in Shaping Student Opinion. More information about this lecture or the series is available at (330) 941-2469.
The Ward Beecher Planetarium: Seasonal Skywatch The Ward Beecher Planetarium presents Seasonal Skywatch on Friday and Saturday, March 2nd at 8 p.m.both nights. Seasonal Skywatch deals with locating planets and constellations, constellation lore and current space events. More information about this program is available at (330) 941-1370. The Planetarium is on the campus of Youngstown State University.
Saturday, March 2 Christ Episcopal Church: 1st Annual Craft Show Christ Episcopal Church will have its 1st Annual Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be over 40 crafters/vendors to showcase their unique items and products. They will have soy candles, wreaths, florals, goats milk soaps, stained glass items, embroidery and crochet crafts, infinity scarves, homemade can- dies, glass block lights, coats, cards, A Chinese Auction will be held with baskets full of goodies to give away every hour. Hot food will also be available. Admission and parking is free. Christ Episcopal Church is at 2627 Atlantic St. NE, Warren, OH 44483 (located between Lincoln Elem. School and the Greek Social Hall).
February 22, 2013
What’s Happening Around The Valley: Feb 22 - March 7 (cont’d) Thursday, March 7 Packard Music Hall: Hooray For Hollywood Warren Civic Music presents Hooray for Hollywood with spectacular singing and dance choreography, This musical experience takes the audience on a nostalgic journey spanning 50 years of the most popular Hollywood musical films of our time. Enjoy film clips of your favorite movies and then watch the action unfold live on stage as 12 dancers and singers with numerous costume changes recreate over 40 hit songs. The concert, which is part of the 2012-13 Warren Civic Music Association season, starts at 7:30 p.m. (open seating) Packard Music Hall. Single tickets are $35 and can be ordered by calling 330-399-4885 or purchased at Packard Music Hall the day of the show. For more information visit www.warrencivicmusic.com. Packard Music Hall is located at 1703 Mahoning Avenue, NW, Warren.
McDonough Museum of Art: Powers of the Arts The Youngstown State University College of Fine and Performing Arts and Power of the Arts present the Lecture, What the Heck is an LLC? at 5:30 p.m. at the McDonough Museum of Art. What the Heck is an LLC? will address the basics of the business structure of a Limited Liability Company and how it can be beneficial to artists. Registration and more information about this lecture or the lecture series is available at www.powerofthearts.org McDonough Museum of Art is on the YSU campus at 525 Wick Avenue, Youngstown.
Cedars Annual Oscar Party The Cedars new location will host the Annual Oscar Party starting 7 p.m to 2 a.m. Sit down and watch the Oscars at Cedars West End. You can bring food, if you are so inclined. DJ Martini will entertain after the awards. Cedars West End will not have a tap system or a credit card machine installed. The cash only bar. Have a your Oscar ballot ready. Cedars West End, is located at 706 Steel St., Youngstown
February 22, 2013
2013 Black History Month Events Around the Valley Saturday, Feb 23 Salute to Black Educators Luncheon, 11 a.m., McGuffey Centre, 1649 Jacobs Road, Youngstown. Tickets are $25. For tickets, call 330-740-4005, ext. 4161. Historical African-American Wax Museum, hosted by Horizon Academy third-graders, 11 a.m. to noon, Horizon Science Academy, 3403 Southern Blvd., Youngstown. Sports Hall of Fame member Ted Toles Jr. will discuss his time as pitcher in the Negro Baseball League, noon to 4 p.m., Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, East Branch, 430 Early Road, Youngstown. African Musical Extravaganza, an assortment of jazz, rock, pop and “Afrijam” music, 7 p.m., Chestnut Room, Kilcawley Center, YSU.
Sunday. Feb 24 Behold the Dreamer Cometh, a black history service with a speech by Pastor Chris McKee of Tabernacle Baptist Church, music by Voices of Zion, and a spiritual tribute by Deacon John Jemison, 3:30 p.m., Mount Zion Baptist Church, 827 Wilson Ave., Youngstown. A Black History event with skits on famous black Americans, flag dancers and spiritual readings, 4 p.m., Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., Youngstown. Topic: Do You Hear the Word or Just Words? A discussion with Elder Christ Moorer of the Pavilion of Praise Church of God in Christ, Akron, 6 p.m., Bethel Church of God in Christ, 3147 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown. The Warren Civic League celebrate its annual Black History Month program at 4 p.m. at Grace AME Church, 1137 Main Ave. SW. The theme is Black Theatre and Performance. Featured speaker will be Mike Forney Jr. of Youngstown, a writer, promoter, director and CEO of Hot Topix Productions. He works to teach understanding and appreciation of black theater and performance. He will teach three classes — an interactive workshop on play analysis and two topics associated with a live performance of the play “I Was Fine Before I Met You.” Monday, Feb 25 Black Faculty Research Showcase, presenters include Frank Akpadock and Victor Wan- Tatah, 7:30 p.m., Jones Room, Kilcawley Center, YSU. Martin Luther King Jr.: The Revolutionary, a discussion by Kent State professor Dr. George Garrison, 6 p.m., administration building lower commons, Kent State University at Trumbull. Garrison will explore the evolution and growth of King’s beliefs in the years after he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in August 1963 in Washington, D.C.
February 22, 2013
On Stage The Youngstown Playhouse: Avenue Q, The Musical Avenue Q, The Musical, is a coming-of-age story addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. The production will run weekends through Sunday, February 24th. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Tickets and more information about this show are available at (330) 788-8739. The Playhouse is located at 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown.
Oakland Center for the Arts: For The Record and Rain Delay The Oakland Center for the Arts will showcase two locally-written plays about baseball: Bernie Appugliese’s FOR THE RECORD and Cheryl Lilko Games’s RAIN DELAY. Both plays bring together two separate but lovely pieces about strangers searching for acceptance, forgiveness, and validation – people who all share the love of a very special game, Baseball. Performances will be February 22 – March 9, 2013, performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Call 330-746-0404 for reservations. The Oakland Center for the Arts is located at 220 West Boardman Street in Youngstown.
Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater: Broke-ology YSU’s University Theater presents BROKE-OLOGY, a drama by Nathan Louis Jackson in Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater. BROKE-OLOGY revolves around the King family whose members have weathered life's hardships,
surviving with their love for each other intact. William King lives in the house his two sons grew up in. He's alone, but he maintains his allegiance with their mother in his own way. When the brothers are called home to take care of him, they find themselves strangely at odds. The show will run two weekends, February 21-24 and March 1-3. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while the Sunday matinee performances are at 3:00 p.m. Advance tickets are necessary; no event tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets may be purchased by calling 330-941-3105 or online at www.ysu.edu/givetoysu keyword BROKE-OLOGY. Show tickets may be purchased by calling the University Theater Box Office at 330-941-3105. Ticket prices are free for YSU students with ID; $10 for adults; $5 for senior citizens, YSU faculty and staff and high school and college students from other universities, Penguin Club members and YSU alumni. Parking is available in the M1 Wick Avenue parking deck for all shows for a nominal fee.
February 22, 2013
On Stage (cont’d) Upcoming New Castle Playhouse: The Main Event New Castle Playhouse is presenting the comedy The Main Event, a look inside the relationship of a boxer and a dancer and all of the trials and tribulations that come along with it. The play begins on Friday, March 1st and Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30 P.M. both nights in the Annex Theatre. Tickets and more information about this event are available at (724) 654-3437. New Castle Playhouse is 212 East Long Avenue in New Castle, PA.
The Garage Theater: Just Like Us Just Like Us is a family friendly drama teaches a critical lesson about prejudice in a simplistic, non-preachy manner. The play begins its run at The Garage Theater on March 1-2 at 7 p.m. Tickets: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors & students, 4 and under FREE. Reservations: 330-518-4064 with credit card or available at the Box Office 30 minutes prior to showtime. The Garage Theater is located behind the Odyssey Center, across from Cocca’s Pizza7206 Market Street in Boardman.
A New Toastmasters Club Started In Warren. The new Toastmasters club will meet on Saturday, Feb 23 from 9:00-11:00 am at The Etna Freight office 2527 Youngstown Road S.E., Warren. The club will get together the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. For more information, contact Ken Shellito at 330 373-6113. Toastmasters is an international organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.
February 22, 2013
From Yo to Z: Favorite Things Around the Valley by Stacy Adger, YSU
Walks through Wick and Mill Creek Park..two real assets to the community.
Love taking the niece and nephew to the various shows and activities at Ward Beecher Planetarium on the YSU campus.
Exploring the rich and varied history of people and places in this region.
Heading into Downtown Youngstown and seeing the activity and life returning.
Finding opportunities to reach out and help others by taking part in volunteer efforts where ever they are.
February 22, 2013
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Excerpts from A Byrd’s Eye View can be read in The Review, Newspaper, available throughout the Valley and online at http://www.thereviewnewspapers.com/
Movie reivews from A Byrd’s Eye View can be read in The Buckeye Review Newspaper, available throughout the Valley at various newstands.
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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.
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.
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