Toledo Free Press STAR – March 9, 2011 by Toledo Free Press

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Godzilla returns to comics • B. Jones: Travelin’ Man • ANDY COONEY: FOREVER IRISH • DEREK WESTERMAN: ‘BAD DADS’ MARCH 9, 2011 • Episode 2 Chapter 10 • Toledo Free Press Star, Toledo, OH: “Both your friend and your enemy think you will never die. ” — Irish saying

Red Molly brings bluegrass to Grounds for Thought By Joel Sensenig Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Female bluegrass trio Red Molly will bring the sounds of the Appalachian Mountains to the farmlands of Bowling Green on March 10 for a free show at Grounds for Thought coffee shop. The 8 p.m. show will allow the band to display tunes from its latest album, “James,” (No. 23 on the Americana Charts Top 100 Albums of 2010) as well as its newest member, Molly Venter. Venter, who has found some success as a solo roots artist (she has two songs in rotation on all in-store Apple computers), joins founding members Abbie Gardner and Laurie MacAllister to round out Red Molly, now in its sixth year of touring. Prior to the upstate New York’s band’s swing through the East Coast and Ohio, Gardner checked in with Toledo Free Press Star to talk about the tour, and how the three women find the road more structured than home. “The shows have been really well lately,” she said. “We’ve been lucky enough to see big crowds come out as we travel all across the country! We have been invited back to MerleFest and have a great tour schedule lined up, with lots of exciting venues and festivals. We’re also busy working up new songs while on tour for a record we plan to release at the end of this summer.” Fans at Red Molly’s shows have the opportunity to buy “James” at whatever price they deem appropriate. “Pay what you like,” the band tells live audiences.

“It’s a bit radical, I know, but helps build such a nice relationship between us and our audiences,” Gardner said. Red Molly originated from a late-night harmonizing session at a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival campsite, as the members discovered a mutual love of the likes of Gillian Welch and Patty Griffin. Its 2008 release, “Love and Other Tragedies,” spent 10 weeks in the Top 15 of the Americana Top 40. Gardner, who is also releasing a solo album this spring, says having another outlet for the songs in her head helps keep her focused. “If I write a song that isn’t right for Red Molly, it can still have a life of its own in my solo career,” she said. “And rather than trying to get too experimental with other genres in the band, I can do that at my solo gigs. It keeps me focused on what is truly Red Molly, while being able to have an outlet for other musical ideas that come up.” Although the band has crisscrossed the country on this tour, Gardner said Red Molly’s road lifestyle is less hectic than one may expect. “Being on the road with these girls is amazing,” she said. “We have been eating really healthy stuff by stopping at grocery stores, making sure to exercise on the road and get in time for rest. Sometimes our tours are less stressful than being home because our time is so structured out on the road. The hardest part is probably packing!” Red Molly will play two free sets at the March 10 show, beginning at 8 p.m. Grounds for Thought is located at 174 S. Main St., Bowling Green, (419) 354-3266. O

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Red Molly, from left, Molly Venter, Abbie Gardner and Laurie MacAllister. PHOTO BY CHRIS CHIN

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”Your feet will bring you where your heart is.” — IRISH SAYING

Affordable boutique By Sarah Ottney Toledo Free Press Special Sections Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com

Woodville Surplus in Oregon, with its creaking wood floors and utilitarian stock of workwear, military and outdoor gear, has long catered to the region’s outdoorspeople and bluecollar workers. When the 26-year-old grandson of the founder noticed the fashion world trending toward an “American workwear aesthetic,” he saw an opportunity to expand the store’s demographic while remaining true to his family’s mission. Neal Felstein recently debuted a new department consisting of “affordable boutique clothing” in styles aimed at a 20- to 30-something audience while keeping the emphasis on the durability and affordability his family has promoted for more than 60 years. Think skinny jeans, work boots, vintage tees, fitted flannel shirts, denim work shirts, Vietnamissue combat shirts and woven pearl-snap shirts, as well as accessories like kafia scarves, bags, bandanas and more than 100 styles of sunglasses. “I’m trying to keep things in line with a working man’s store,” Felstein said. “Woodville Surplus is locally owned, not pretentious, only the essentials. I’m focusing on fit and fashion and keeping prices as low as possible, in line with the rest of the store.” Most of the clothing will be menswear or unisex, but Felstein hopes to offer more women’s clothing in the future. Display fixtures include pipes and hand-built wooden shelves, as well as vintage posters, vintage cash registers and ammunition cans. Eventually, he hopes to add a lounge area with a rug, chairs and vintage magazines. “I’m going to try to make it a boutique experience,” Felstein said. “Like a store within a store.” Felstein plans to stock different styles of brands currently sold at the store, as well as bring in new pieces.

As an example, Felstein pointed to a flannel shirt hanging in the store. “This is nice stuff, but it’s for lumberjacks,” Felstein said. “It’s good, warm, thick and inexpensive, but I’m looking for a fashion cut.” Felstein recently attended MAGIC, an international fashion trade show, in Las Vegas. “That’s where you go to see cutting-edge fashion for spring and fall 2011,” Felstein said. “That’s where I got most of my vendors.” The new department will include pants from Levi’s and Dickies, shirts from Alternative Apparel, Original Penguin, Ames Bros, Slow Loris and Urban Outfitters’ brand BDG as well as Toledo company Devicious, boots from Georgia Boot; and possibly shoes from PF Flyers and TOMS, Felstein said. The Levi’s are already in and Felstein expects other shipments by mid-March. Felstein applied for and received $3,000 in startup money from Dickies. “Dickies’ philosophy of durability, value and urban youth fashion is in line with our store,” Felstein said. The money will be put toward buying merchandise, as well as toward a celebration he plans to host outside at the Ottawa Tavern in June, which will include live music, food and drink specials, giveaways and coupons for Woodville Surplus. Felstein, who recently graduated from The Ohio State University, doesn’t have formal training in business or fashion, but said retail is in his blood. “I grew up around this,” Felstein said. “It’s frustrating when I walk in my family’s store and don’t really want to buy anything.” Felstein is quick to reassure the store’s current demographics that nothing they love about Woodville Surplus will change. “Nothing is being eliminated; we’re just moving things around and adding more,” Felstein said. “I’m just trying to keep it fresh. The reason we’ve been in business so long is we are able to adapt, evolve.”

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Neal Felstein is debuting a fashion section at Woodville Surplus in Oregon. PHOTO BY SARAH OTTNEY

One of those he had to reassure was his father. Neal’s grandfather, Harry Felstein, founded Woodville Surplus in 1949 when he returned from World War II and his father, Michael Felstein, currently owns it. “Dad wasn’t sold on it right away,” Neal said. “He doesn’t come out to bars and see the potential. I’m slowly but surely selling him on it.” Devicious co-owner Micah Lindenberger said the shirts the company is designing for Woodville Surplus will be muted colors and have an aged, vintage look. “We’re designing them to appeal toward what we would think is cool and what Neal thinks is cool

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and we’re hoping other people agree and want to buy them,” Lindenberger said. “Neal’s heading up the idea and the direction behind them and we’re just kind of adding to it and making them look cool. Neal’s really passionate about this. I feel like Toledo is lacking some fashion culture and with this we’ll have more unique, interesting fashion. We’re on board with that and I’m excited about what’s going to happen.” Woodville Surplus, 2172 Woodville Road, is open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit the website www.woodville-surplus. com or call (419) 691-4636. O

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Keeping up with B. Jones Producer travels coast to coast but retains high hopes for cooperation in Toledo’s music scene. By Mighty Wyte TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

With production credits including Glasses Malone (Cash Money Records) and The Dirtball (Kottonmouth Kings), Toledo’s B. Jones is producing music that straight bangs. “I love doing this,” Jones said, “but I have to move around a lot.” The 24-year-old producer recently returned from LA to hammer out the details of an upcoming placement and is on his way to Miami. “I don’t want to speak on the travel too much, just because you never know how things are going to work out,” he laughed. Jones said that after graduating high school in 2005, he spent four years in Chicago and LA, producing for local talent there. “I moved back to Toledo for family reasons,” he said, “but since then I’ve linked up with Clemmye and Rah-Rah who are Freeway artists,

B. Jones has produced beats for Cash Money and Kottonmouth Kings. PHOTO by Mighty Wyte

and local rapper Du$to.” Jones grew up in a musical home and said, “This is who I am, this is all I know. I’ve been around music all my life. My dad was in a band, and my room doubled as the studio. They were always recording and writing there.” Jones, who describes himself as “self-driven,” said, “Even when I was a kid I was producing. Not so much sitting in a studio writing, but I was singing, dancing or whatever. It just finally got to

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the point where I could go professional with it.” Jones produces original music as well as classic sample-based beats. “I have to shout out to Dilla,” Jones said. “He’s the reason I sample at all.” The MPC-2000 and Battery-reliant producer said his sampling technique is different because, “I keep in mind the original artist. I don’t want to make anything they wouldn’t like. I don’t take their melody. I use their elements to create a new

melody. I think of myself as a band member.” Jones spends a considerable amount of time working out of town, but said he would like to see Toledo’s music community cooperate more. “The only way we’re going to have an impact on music is to work together. We don’t have to love and hug each other, but we need to keep the big picture in mind and that’s my personal mission,” he said. “I’m really happy to work with anybody that’s passionate about what they do.” O

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”LIFE IS LIKE A CUP OF TEA — IT’S ALL IN HOW YOU MAKE IT.” — IRISH SAYING

Latta announces 2011 Congressional Art Competition High school students who reside in Ohio Congressman Bob Latta’s 5th Congressional District are invited to submit artwork for the 2011 Congressional Art Competition. Artwork categories are: paintings (oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.); drawings (pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers); collage (must be 2-D); prints (lithographs, silkscreen, block prints); mixed media (use of more than two mediums, such as LATTA pencil, ink, etc.); computergenerated art; and photography. Artwork must be submitted by March 25 to one of Latta’s three district offices: 1045 N. Main St., Suite 6, Bowling Green; 101 Clinton St., Suite 1200, Defiance; or 11 E. Main St., Norwalk. Pieces cannot be larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide and 4 inches deep when framed and cannot weigh more than 15 pounds. They cannot be gruesome, sensationalistic or depict subjects of contemporary political controversy. Winners will be announced April 16 at Owens Community College’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Walter E. Terhune Gallery in Perrysburg, and will be chosen by art professors from colleges within Latta’s 5th district, said Deputy Communications Director Tim Schneider.

The selected artwork will be displayed in the Capitol for one year, starting in June. “The Congressional Art Competition is an excellent opportunity for high school students to showcase their artistic ability,” Latta said in a news release. “I look forward to seeing our district’s creative talent represented in our Congressional hallway.” For more information, visit www.latta.house. gov or call the Defiance district office at (419) 782-1996. O — Sarah Ottney

Jacuzzi Boys to play at Woodchuck’s Jacuzzi Boys will bring its brand of tropical and death metal to Woodchuck’s Bar & Grill. The band, from Miami, recently recorded a live CD as part of Jack White’s, of the White Stripes, Third Man Records. Jacuzzi Boys also participated in this year’s Bruise Cruise Festival, a three day rock ‘n’ roll cruise. The group will play at Woodchuck’s on March 20. Cover is $5 for those older than 21 and $7 for those younger than 21. Doors open at 8 p.m. Woodchuck’s is located at 224 Erie St. Jacuzzi Boys is comprised of Gabriel Alcala on guitar and vocals, Diego Monasteri on

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drums and vocals and Danny Rojas on bass. For more information about the group, visit www. myspace.com/jacuzziboys. O — Kristen Criswell

Croswell summer auditions planned The Croswell Opera House in Adrian will be hosting auditions this month for four summer productions. Shows to be cast include: “Ring of Fire” (May 13-15 and 20-22), a jukebox musical revue featuring 33 Johnny Cash tunes; “Hairspray” (June 17-19 and 24-26); “Annie” (July 15-17 and 22-24); and “Singin’ in the Rain” (Aug. 5-7 and 12-14). Audition times are March 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; March 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and March 19 from noon to 4 p.m. Auditions are drop-in and people should expect to stay about two hours, said Artistic Director Jere Righter. “The lineup of shows is really pretty exciting,” Righter said. “We’re expecting a pretty sizable turnout because we’re doing so many shows at one time.” There are speaking and ensemble roles for children, teens and adults. A full list of roles and descriptions can be found online at www.croswell.org. Scripts can be viewed by appointment at the Croswell office. All auditioners will be required to sing a vocal selection 16 to 32 bars in length, and should bring their own sheet music to the provided accompanist. The audition will also involve learning a dance combination, including a tap routine for those interested in “Singin’ in the Rain.” For “Ring of Fire,” it is helpful, but not required to be able to play the guitar, fiddle or keyboard. “Everyone gets a level of nerves about something like this, but we try to keep it as painless as possible,” Righter said. “This year for the first time we’re making all the vocal auditions private, so that’s kind of a nice thing.” The Croswell is located at 129 E. Maumee St. For more information, visit www.croswell.org or call (517) 263-6868. O — Sarah Ottney

Garden architect to cultivate lecture Gardens are no longer just a place to stroll. “As we live in bigger houses on smaller lots, we begin to see the garden areas around our house as extensions of the rooms inside,” said Gordon Hayward. Hayward is a nationally recognized landscape architect and garden designer who has written several gardening books. He is scheduled to give a public lecture in Perrysburg on March 14 at the Carranor Hunt & Polo Club, 502 E. Second St. The Country Garden Club of Perrysburg will host the special presentation, “Fine Paintings as Inspiration for Garden Design.” Hayward’s lecture is followed by a book signing and luncheon. Hayward also will lead an afternoon workshop “Your House, Your Garden… A Foolproof Approach to Good Garden Design.” “I may be showing art and fine gardens, but I may as well have work boots on and a shovel in my hand,” Hayward said. “The goal of both of my lectures is to enable people to make realistic changes to their existing or new gardens.” Hayward said many of the principals used in painting can be applied to garden design. “Art teaches us to see consciously. This is a lecture about how to look at your garden and see your garden in a very new way,” he said. “I’m illustrating widely accepted design principles in a very new way to help people assess their garden. For example how to shape lawn in relation to beds; where to have straight paths and where to curve them; how to frame views how to prune trees; where to lay paths and why.” Those in attendance are encouraged to take notes on how they can make changes in their own gardens. The morning presentation is at 10 a.m. and the afternoon workshop is at 1:30 p.m. Entrance to the event is $30 for the morning presentation, $10 for the afternoon, or $40 for both. The event is open to the public, but seating is limited. For tickets, visit www.cgcperrysburg. com or call (419) 873-0703. O — Kristen Criswell

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From the office

‘The Water Coolers’ laugh at work culture. See Page 20 for details on winning a night out for your office. By Kristen Criswell TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER krapin@toledofreepress.com

“The Water Coolers” takes a humorous look at the workplace and everyday life. “People say [the show] is relatable ... they think ‘It’s my world, but so funny,’” said Sally Allen, executive producer of the production. “It’s just a comedy about stuff we all go through.” The New York-based show was created in 2000 by husband and wife team Tom and Sally Allen, who were looking to merge their work together. Tom, a comic actor and writer, took stories that Sally, a management consultant, experienced and made it into a comedic show. Some material also came from friends who work in the business world as sales representatives and investment bankers, said Tom, who is head writer and artistic director for “The Water Coolers.” “I think we approach it authentically. Some shows and stand-ups make fun of having a job and getting up and going to work… We look at what do people talk about; what are the issues; in a certain situation what really happens?” he said. “What I’ve found is most people really like their jobs and this is a way celebrate getting up and getting it done.” The show is comprised of skits and song parodies focusing on people in the office, or issues that would be discussed around a water cooler. “We’re the comedy group that sings,” Sally said. The show spoofs personalities that might appear in every office, such as The Great Pretender — someone who always looks busy, but you don’t

know what he’s doing — and the person who’s completely addicted to his BlackBerry, Sally said. It also has song parodies about flying economy, or getting co-worker to buy wrapping paper and cookies their kids are selling, she said. “During the show you’ll see people elbow each other and whisper to each other and say ‘That’s you,’ or “That’s so and so.’ It’s the classic personalities you see all the time,” she said. The show adds and changes skits and songs on a continually, making the performance current. “I read all the time. I like to see what people are talking about. I talk to my friends about what’s hot where they work. That’s how we update the show,” Tom said. “It’s not necessarily what’s on TV, but how we’re reacting to what’s on TV, how we’re reacting to new technology.” “The Water Coolers” performs for both business groups as well as the general public. In 2002, “The Water Coolers” was an off-Broadway production. “I think we’re very fortunate to live in New York area because this and LA are where people come to make it as actor, and more importantly make it in the musical theater. As a result our show has really talented actors,” Tom said. While the show can be enjoyed by couples, Sally suggests making it a night out with friends or co-workers. “The Water Coolers” is scheduled to perform at Tecumseh Center for the Arts on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. The performance is 90 minutes long with a short intermission. Tickets are $24 for adults and $21 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, visit the website www.thetca.org. O

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”IF YOU LIE DOWN WITH DOGS YOU’LL RISE WITH FLEAS.” — IRISH SAYING

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MARCH 9-16, 2011

What’s what, where and when in NW Ohio

Compiled by Whitney Meschke Events are subject to change.

MUSIC The Ark

This small venue offers a showcase for lesserknown acts. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. (734) 761-1451, (734) 761-1800 or www.theark.org. O Marcy Playground: 8 p.m. March 9, $17.50. O Corey Harris & the Rasta Blues Experience: 8 p.m. March 10, $20. O Theo Katzman, Love Massive, Hannah Winkler: 8 p.m. March 11, $15. O Eilen Jewell: 8 p.m. March 12, $15. O Blackthorn: 7:30 p.m. March 13, $20. O He Said, She Said: 8 p.m. March 14, $15. O Abigail Stauffer: 8 p.m. March 15, $12.50. O Richard Shindell: 8 p.m. March 16, $20. O Sonya Kitchell: 8 p.m. March 17, $15. O Scythian: 8 p.m. March 18, $15.

The Blarney Irish Pub

O A Bomb, Charles Trees, Josef Deas, LO5, Mogi Grumbles, Nunca Duerma, Kolorblind, Nickie P.: 9:30 p.m. March 17. O Mustard Plug, Al & the Black Cats, the Pinstripes: 9 p.m. March 18.

Bretz Bar

2012 Adams St. (419) 243-1900. O Deja D’Delatarro and Felaciana Thunderpussy: Thursdays-Saturdays.

Bronze Boar

Be sure to check out this Warehouse District tavern’s namesake, overhead near the entrance. 20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www.bronzeboar. com. O Jerod: Wednesdays and Thursdays. O Open mic night with Chris Knopp: Mondays. O Karaoke: Tuesdays. O Kingston Dread: March 11. O Gin Bunny: March 12. O Swamp Kings: March 18.

Catch local acts while taking in the pub’s modern Irish and American fare. 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www.theblarneyirishpub.com. O Jeff Stewart: March 10. O Grain of Salt: March 11. O Ben Barefoot & the Hand Shakes: March 12. O The Bloody Tinth: March 17. O MAS FiNA: March 18, Bullpen.

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Blind Pig

Cheetah’s Den

A variety of rock, soul, pop and alternative acts perform at this bar. 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor. $3-$20 unless noted. (734) 996-8555 or blindpigmusic.com. O Twista, Probcause: 9 p.m. March 9. O Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band: 9 p.m. March 10. O March 11: John Lefler, Frank Allison, 7 p.m.; BMM, Living Dead: 10 p.m. O The Bang! 9:30 p.m. March 12. O Whigville, Shadwick Wilde, From Zero to Deth, Hopeless Saints: 9:30 p.m. March 15. O The Coronas, the Mighty Regis: 9 p.m. March 16.

Consider hopping the Detroit River for this casino’s entertainment offerings. Ticket prices, in Canadian dollars, are for the cheapest seats; attendees must be 19 or older. Caesars Windsor Colosseum, 377 Riverside Dr. E., Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com. O Cheech and Chong: 9 p.m. March 12, $29. A different band performs each week. 702 E. Broadway St. (419) 754-1903. O DJ Lamont: Tuesdays. O Devious: Thursdays (also open mic night)Saturdays.

Club Soda

This university hot spot from back in the day hosts entertainment Fridays and Saturdays. 3922 Secor Road. www.toledoclubsoda.com. O The Bridges: March 11-12. O East River Drive: March 18-19.

Degage Jazz Cafe

Signature drinks, such as pumpkin martinis, plus live local jazz performers. 301 River Road, Maumee. $5 weekends for cafe seating. (419) 794-8205 or www.degagejazzcafe.com. O Gene Parker & Friends: 7-10 p.m. March 9 and 16. O Michael Peslikis: 7-10 p.m. March 10. O The Quick Trio: 7:30-11:30 p.m. March 11-12. O Eric Dickey with Zoar Lutheran Choir of Perrysburg: 6-9 p.m. March 15. O Ragtime Rick, Wes Linenkugel: 7:30-10:30 p.m. March 17. O The Silverbacks: 7:30-11:30 p.m. March 18-19.

The Distillery

Karaoke is offered Tuesdays, but paid entertainers rock out Wednesdays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www. thedistilleryonline.com. O Kyle White: March 9. O Ben Barefoot & the Hand Shakes: March 10. O Swagg: March 11. O Good Stuff Maynard: March 12. O Nathan Cogan: March 16. O The Bridges: March 17-19.

Toledo’s venue for rock. 308 Main St. Tickets vary between $5 and $15, unless noted. (419) 6935300 or www.FrankiesInnerCity.com. O Auto Tune karaoke hosted by Ian Thomas: 9 p.m. Mondays, free. O Open mic night hosted by Larry Love: 9 p.m. Tuesdays, free. O I Am Alaska, the Fragile Season, Action Madison, Hearts Above Phase: 6 p.m. March 9. O I Call Fives, Kid Liberty, Rust Belt Lights, This Is a Lifetime, Summerfield: 6 p.m. March 10. O Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Stealin’ Patsy: 9 p.m. March 12. O The Gay Blades, Little Black Mess, Words After: 9 p.m. March 13.

French Quarter J. Pat’s Pub

Live entertainment after 9:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg. (419) 874-3111 or www. hifq.com. O Soul Fissh: March 11-12. O The Late Show: March 18-19.

Ice Restaurant & Bar

Named in honor of the owners’ forefather, this bar and restaurant serves a variety of dishes and entertainment. 1515 S. Byrne Road. (419) 389-6003 or docwatsonstoledo.com. O Name This Tune: 8 p.m. March 10. O Andrew Ellis: 10 p.m. March 11. O The Eight Fifteens: 9:30 p.m. March 12. O Jeff Stewart: 9:30 p.m. March 18.

This local, family-owned enterprise offers food, drinks and music in a sleek atmosphere. 405 Madison Ave. (419) 246-3339 or icerestaurantandbar.com. O Herbie Russ: 5 p.m. March 10. O Dan and Don: 8 p.m. March 11. O Jeff Tucker: 7 p.m. March 12. O Nelson Rangell: 5 p.m. March 17. O Berlin Brothers: 8 p.m. March 18.

Fat Fish Blue

Kerrytown Concert House

Doc Watson’s

Serving blues and similar sounds as well as bayou-style grub. Levis Commons, 6140 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg. (419) 931-3474 or fatfishfunnybonetoledo.com. O Tantric Soul: 9:30 p.m. March 11 and 9 p.m. March 12. O Tom Turner & Slow Burn: 9:30 p.m. March 18.

ST. PADDY’S DAY SPECIAL

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Frankie’s

1/2 Grille d p up cu cu Rueben & a cup of Jigg So up w/fries and a pickle Jiggs Dinner (after 5pm)

This venue focuses on classical, jazz and opera artists and music. 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. $5-$30, unless noted. (734) 769-2999 or www. kerrytownconcerthouse.com. O Ellen Rowe Trio: 8 p.m. March 9. O Ibrahim Aminou: 8 p.m. March 11. O A Tribute to Louis Smith: 4 p.m. March 13. O Alicia Doudna: 7:30 p.m. March 13.

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Ronn Daniels performs weekly at this pub. 8-11 p.m. Thursdays, 141 Main St. (419) 697-6297 or www.toledomainstreet.com. O East River Drive: 10 p.m. March 12, $5.

Manhattan’s

This “slice of the Big Apple” in the Glass City provides entertainment most weekends. 1516 Adams St. (419) 243-6675 or www.manhattanstoledo.com. O Vytas and Steve: 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays. O Open mic with Bread and Butter: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays. O Inland Traveler: 6 p.m. March 10. O Frostbite: March 11. O Quartet Bernadette: March 12.

Mickey Finn’s

A variety of genres to wash your drinks down with. Open mic nights, 9 p.m. Wednesdays, no cover; $5-$7 cover other nights. 602 Lagrange St. (419) 246-3466 or www.mickeyfinnspub.com. O Local music and film nights: 8 p.m. March 10 and 24, no cover. O Violent Stars, Phantom Limb Syndrome, A. Micha Adams: 8:30 p.m. March 11. O Bike Tuff, FDA, 10 Bars North, Lance Murdock, Meadower: 8:30 p.m. March 12. O Ringworm, Poison Tongues, NRR, Retribution, the Great Reversals, Under Anchor: 6 p.m. March 13. O The Mighty Regis: 9 p.m. March 14. O Live music, including Paddy Murphy, Don Binkley, Barefoot Fred and Boogie Matrix, starting at 3 p.m. March 17. O Vytas Nagisetty & The Eclectic Outfit, Fairly Handsome Dan, the ’Leles: 9 p.m. March 18.

M.T. Loonies

Last Born Sons Band performs at 9 p.m. Thursdays; DJs take over on Fridays and Saturdays. 6648 Lewis Ave., Temperance, Mich. (734) 8477222 or mtloonies.net.

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / MARCH 9, 2011 n 11

Murphy’s Place

Jazz — straight, smooth, bebop or traditional —all kinds are played here. 151 Water St. (419) 241-7732 or www.murphysplacejazz.com. O Anna Givens: 8 p.m. March 9 and 16. O Kim Buehler: 9 p.m. March 11. O Glenda Biddlestone: 9 p.m. March 12. O Ellie Martin: 9 p.m. March 18.

Omni

This club is a venue for music (and music lovers) of all types. 2567 W. Bancroft St. (419) 535-6664 or omnimidwest.com. O Battery, Fire: 8 p.m. March 11. O Appetite for Destruction, 13: 8 p.m. March 18.

Ottawa Tavern

Casual meals with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com. O Slothpop, Pollens: 10 p.m. March 13. O Pomegranates, Great Uncle: 10 p.m. March 17. O So So Radio: 10 p.m. March 18.

Spicy Tuna

This sushi bar offers occasional entertainment to accompany the fishy dishes. 7130 Airport Hwy. (419) 720-9333 or spicytunasushi.com. O DJ Jimmy James: 10 p.m. Fridays. O Karaoke: 10 p.m. Saturdays. O Kyle White: 6-10 p.m. March 10. O Brian Bocian: 6-10 p.m. March 17.

Tequila Sheila’s

A corner bar-type hangout with DJ-provided tunes on Saturday nights. 702 Monroe St. (419) 241-1118. O Amateur comedy contest: Thursdays through March 17. O Hip-hop night: 9 p.m. Fridays. O Open mic: 8-11 p.m. March 17.

Loretta Lynn announces birthday opening act: Joey + Rory The Wolf Welcomes Country Music Legend Loretta Lynn with special guest Joey + Rory at 7:30 p.m. April 14 at The Stranahan Theater. Tickets now on sale at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone 1-800745-3000, or the Stranahan Theater box office (419) 381-8851. A Lone Wolf Production. Win a pair of tickets to Loretta Lynn with special guest Joey + Rory by e-mailing: thewolf@toledoradiogroup.com!

N GREER! E BE

St Patricks Day Party

GR JEL EEN SHO LOTS!

March 17, 2011

Doors open at 10 a.m. • D.J.-Glass City Sounds from 2 p.m. – 2 a.m. • Corned Beef Sandwiches

• T-Shirts & Novelties elties • Free Beads & Leis (while they lastt

Delaney’s Lounge Food Served Daily

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”GOD IS GOOD, BUT NEVER DANCE IN A SMALL BOAT. “ — IRISH SAYING

12 n MARCH 9, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

King of the Monsters returns to comics By Jim Beard TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

The word is out: Despite numerous attempts over the years to rid the world of the King of Monsters, Godzilla will return in this month’s “Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters” No. 1, from IDW Publishing. As comic fans prepare to batten down the hatches, it’s also expected that Blue Oyster Cult downloads will hit record highs. The Big G has a spotty record with comic books. There was the Marvel Comics series in the 1970s, which featured a more dinosaur-looking Godzilla battling everything from giant Yetis to the Avengers — maybe the less said about it the better. In the 1990s, Dark Horse secured the license from Toho Studios and produced a short-lived series that hewed closer to the Big G’s films, but that didn’t last long enough to warrant a blast of radioactive breath (one infamous issue featured Godzilla’s scales as the iceberg that struck and sunk Titanic). So, what is it about Godzilla translated into comics that just

never seems to work well? IDW appears to be heading down the right path: It has locked in permission to use other Toho giant monsters beyond Godzilla, such as Anguirus, Mothra and Rodan. That may seem simplistic, but fans of the films have come to embrace Godzilla’s entire world, not just the main monster; without his supporting cast, there’s no one to challenge him. Marvel had to cook up its own opponents for the Big G when readers just wanted him to throw down with, you know, King Ghidorah. Is that too much to ask for? The initial news on “Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters” from IDW looks promising. The company has pulled in big-name talent for the book — Alex Ross, Eric Powell and Phil Hester — and reports that it understands what makes the source material, the films themselves, tick. It’s all about balancing the monster-mashing with the human element — there’ll be no super -heroes here, just regular people struggling to survive in a world that they share with Godzilla and his cronies. Should be fun ... “Go, go, Godzilla!” O

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â&#x20AC;?A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; IRISH SAYING

Forever Irish

Singer Andy Cooney in Maumee on March 16. By Sarah Ottney Toledo Free Press Special SectioNS Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com

Irish-American crooner Andy Cooney is ready to put area residents in the St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day spirit. Cooney, who has performed across the U.S., twice selling out Carnegie Hall, is bringing his Forever Irish tour to Maumee for a one-day performance at 2 p.m. March 16. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are a fun-filled, family-friendly, high-energy Irish music show,â&#x20AC;? said Cooney, who has been singing his whole life and touring for about 15 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have dancers with us, a great family comedian from Ireland. We have a lovely female folk artist from Ireland, and then I show up with my band and we do some of the songs I made popular and then we do some of the old standards as well.â&#x20AC;? The show, which runs about 100 minutes, is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a real variety show,â&#x20AC;? Cooney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It constantly changes. The evening goes by very, very quick.â&#x20AC;? Comedian George Casey, who has opened for Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Vinton, The Osmond Brothers and others, is family-friendly and hilarious, Cooney said. Folk artist Kate Purcell plays acoustic guitar and sings.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;She has a beautiful pure Irish folk voice. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really something else,â&#x20AC;? Cooney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been with me for about five years. I bring her on all my tours. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just phenomenal. People just fall in love with her.â&#x20AC;? Irish dancers from New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Darrah Carr Dance perform a unique blend of traditional Irish step and contemporary modern dance, according to its website. The company calls its style ModERIN, referencing the common American term of endearment for Ireland. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are tremendous; the routines they put together are phenomenal,â&#x20AC;? Cooney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People really, really love that part of the show.â&#x20AC;? Cooney grew up on Long Island and started singing Irish tunes at a young age, taught by his Dublin-born grandfather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The music was ingrown, very deep-rooted in our family,â&#x20AC;? Cooney said. The show will take place at Maumee High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Performing Arts Center, 1147 Saco St. Tickets are $28 in Section One, and two tickets for $40 in Section Two. Tickets can be purchased by calling Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Enterprises Theater Services at (419) 535-9100. For more information, visit www.andycooney.com. O

Andy Cooney has twice sold out New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carnegie Hall. PHOTO COURTESY ANDY COONEY

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”There is often the look of an angel on the Devil himself.” — IRISH SAYING

Irish eyes turn to local festivit TFP Star’s KATE McCOMB shamROCKS!

Bedecked in our greenest finery, fashion reporter Kate McComb and I hit the town for a pre-St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl to find out what Toledo has to offer for the upcoming holiday. Along the way, we met with fellow Toledoans as well as a host of out-of-towners, including a group of U.S. Coast Guard servicemen from Cleveland and first-time

Walleye gamers from Michigan, all enjoying the food, drinks, live music and dancing at local bars. On March 17, everyone will be Irish, so get ready to paint the town green! Below is a list of area St. Patrick’s parties, music, food and drink specials to point you to the location that best draws out your inner Irish. Cheers! O — Sarah Ottney

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Kate with Erik Matusky at Blarney

STAR PHOTOS BY LISA STANG

Irish Pub.

Cabs offer safe drives home Remember to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day. Area driving and cab services are available to make sure it’s easy for you and your friends to get home after going out to celebrate. Locally owned Black & White Transportation offers a free iPhone application that can calculate your blood alcohol content and book you a cab ride home 24 hours a day. The app, B4UDRIVE, is exclusive to iPhone, BlackBerry and Droid, but the company’s mobile online reservation system is accessible by any Web-enabled phone. You can also call the company at (419) 536-TAXI. For more information, visit www.blackandwhitecab.com.

Another company, BeMyDD, offers a professionally dressed designated driver at an hourly rate. The driver will act as a personal chauffer, driving you and your friends where you want to go, waiting for you and then driving you home. You can also call after you are already out and the company will send two drivers, one to drive you home and one to drive your car home. The service is available 24 hours a day, but reservations must be placed by 11 p.m. by calling (877) 823-6933 (877-UBEMYDD). For more information, visit www.bemydd.com. O — Sarah Ottney

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The Blarney Irish Pub

601 Monroe St. • (419) 418-2339 O Open: Three-day Blarney Madness: 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. March 17; 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. March 18; 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. March 19 O Drinks: 19 beers on tap, including Guinness, Killian’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, Harp, Smithwick’s O Bands: March 17: Bagpipers in morning, noon to 3 p.m.; Joe Woods, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Dave Pfenning, 8:30 p.m. to midnight; Cincinnati Irish rockers Bloody Tinth, March 18: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (in Bullpen): MAS FiNA; March 19: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (in Bullpen): Homewreckers; 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (in Pub): Toast & Jam O $5 suggested donation to benefit Toledo/Sylvania firefighters, Imagination Station

Four Horsemen

4452 Lewis Ave. • (419) 476-3900 O Open: 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: $9 Jiggs Dinner, Dine-in or carry-out available O Drinks: $1 Green Demon shot, beer specials

Manhattan’s

1516 Adams St. • (419) 243-6675 O Open: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: Jiggs dinner O Drinks: Green beer, Irish car bombs, Guinness, Killian’s, Harp O Bands: 6 to 10:30 p.m.: Green Haggis

Chuck’s on Monroe

4477 Monroe St. • (419) 720-3370 O Open: 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: Jiggs dinner O Drinks: Green beer, Irish car bomb station, drink and shot specials O Bands: Disc jockey Sean David

Delaney’s Lounge

Bunker

Doc Watson’s

1515 S. Byrne Road (419) 389-6003 O Open: 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: $2.95 Green eggs and ham 5:30 a.m. until it’s gone; $8.95 Jiggs Dinner O Drinks: Green beer, Green jello shots, Killian’s, Guinness, Harp, Great Lake’s Conways Irish Ale, Smithwick’s Guinness, Killian’s, Harp O Cost: $1 after 8 p.m. Giveaways all day

309 West Alexis Road (419) 476-2883 O Open: 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: Corned beef sandwiches O Drink Specials: Jello shots, green beer, Killian’s O Bands: Disc jockey, 2 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

“Time is a good storyteller.’ — IRISH SAYING

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / MARCH 9, 2011 n 15

ties Kate with a group of U.S. Coast Guard servicemen at The Blarney. L-R: Markiel Perkins, Scott Blacknall . and Jake Redden

wers and Gelacek, Kevin Po h Pubpatrons.

Kate with Justin Watson, Ashley Zigmund and Keith Zigmund at Doc Watson’s.

Kate with Bunk Emily Maxwel er bartenders Kim William l and Aubrey s, Beaston

M.T. Loonies

Kate on the dance floor at Mulvaney’s Bunker Irish Pub Mickey Finn’s Pub

602 Lagrange St. (419) 246-3466 O Open: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. — $5 cover O Food: $10 Jiggs dinner, corned beef sandwiches O Drinks: $5 pitchers of PBR/Miller Lite/High Life O Bands: Starting at 3 p.m.: Paddy Murphy, Don Binkley, Barefoot Fred, Boogie Matrix

Mulvaney’s Bunker Irish Pub

4945 Dorr St. • (419) 534-9830 O Open: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. O Food: 9 to 11 a.m. breakfast brunch buffet; Jiggs Dinner; various Irish food, appetizers O Drinks: Green beer on tap O Bands: Noon to 4 p.m.: Kyle White; 5 to 9 p.m.: THe jUNK?; 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.: DJ O $5 cover charge starting at noon promo girls throughout the day

6648 Lewis Ave. (734) 847-7222 O Open: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. O Food: $10 Jiggs Dinner $7 Corned beef sandwiches To-go orders welcome until 7 p.m. Kitchen closes at 2 a.m. Drinks :Green beer, Irish shots, $4 Irish margaritas, $6 20-ounce Guinness, $6.50 Irish car bomb O Bands: 5 to 9 p.m.: Extra Stout; 10 p.m.: DJ Free beads and hats

Shawn’s Irish Tavern

4400 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 381-1281 and 105 S. 3rd St. (419) 441-1081 O Open: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: $8 Jiggs Dinner; $6.75 hot shredded beef sandwiches; $6.75 corned beef sandwiches; $6.75 chicken breasts O Drinks: $2 green beers, Irish car bombs, Guinness, Killian’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, Smithwick’s O Bands: 9 p.m.: Johnny Rodriquez (Toledo), Common Creed (Waterville)

Village Inn

4984 N. Holland Sylvania Road (419) 882-0338 O Open: 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: $7.99 Jiggs Dinner O Drinks: Green draft beer, Guinness, Killian’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, $2.90 Dundee Irish Red Lager Shots: Mini Guinie, Baby Guinness O Bands: 4 to 7 p.m.: Shane Piasecki; 7 p.m.: Mt. O’Fuji and the Eruptions

Claddagh Irish Pub

5001 Monroe St. • (419) 472-1414 O Open: 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. O Food: 8 to 11 a.m., $9.95 Irish breakfast (corned beef hash, Irish omelet, Irish breakfast roll or Irish Monte Cristo); food specials in tent O Drinks: Bomb specials, draft specials, Jello shots, Bud Light alum bottles O Bands: Inside: Noon to 3 p.m.: Extra Stout; 4 to 7 p.m.: The Bridges; 7 p.m.: DJ. In Tent: 1 p.m.: DJ Simplicity and Adam; 8:30 p.m.: Danger Brothers O Cost: $5 cover starts at 3 p.m.; $10 VIP passes – no cover, no waiting in lines, St. Patty’s shirts, hats and Clauddagh coupons; 21 and up only after 8 p.m. — 2,200 square foot heated tent from 1 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Bagpipers, Irish dancers, Guinness girls, giveaways

Irish Dance Family Day at Sanger Library March 12 Have you ever wondered why Irish dancers dance with their arms down by their sides? Find out the answer to that question and more at the hourlong Irish Dance Family Day program to be held at Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave., set for 10 a.m. March 12. Molly Kujawa, dance instructor at the Perrysburg Academy of the Performing Arts, will educate participants on Irish dance history, music, special dances and dance costumes as well as teach attendees a group dance, called a Ceili, according to a news release. Kujawa, a certified Ceili instructor who has been Irish dancing since she was 8, has performed at the World Irish Dance Championships, at Epcot, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and more, according to the release. Space is limited. To register, call the library at (419) 2595370. O — Sarah Ottney

16 n MARCH 9, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

”A lock is better than suspicion.’ — IRISH SAYING

Celtic blaze brings Irish musical fire to Owens By John Dorsey Toledo Free Press STAR Staff Writer jdorsey@toledofreepress.com

Canadian sensations Celtic Blaze will take the stage at the Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts at 8 p.m. March 11. “This delightful group draws from its experience with traditional Celtic music and dance and adds a contemporary edge that is unique and innovative. Attendees will be amazed by the group’s impressive musicianship and joyous blend of Celtic influences and contemporary sensibilities,” said Barbara Barkan, Owens director of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. Celtic Blaze was established in 2006 by renowned step dancer and fiddler Stephanie Cadman. The group also features singing and fiddling by Miranda Mulholland, guitar by James Quinn, bass by Devin Hornby, percussion by Kirk White, and piano and marching snare drum by Brad Fremlin. Its latest album was released in 2009 and is available at numerous outlets, including www.cdbaby.com. “I think there are probably a lot of great Celtic bands that come through the area, but this is more of a theatrical experience, it’s very visual,” Cadman said. “It’s very high energy and intimate at the same time, with good storytelling. Our show is still relatively new and we’re definitely learning through our connection with the audience.” The Ottawa native is known throughout

CELTIC BLAZE Canada as a member of the Country Music Television super group Belle Starr, which also features Miranda Mulholland, as well as Kendel Carson. She also spent a number of years with Bowfire. Cadman has shared the stage with Ashley MacIsaac, The Chieftains, Colin James, Jason McCoy, Lara St. John, Amy Sky and opened ‘NYE 2010’ for Frankie Valli and The Eagles in Houston. She also starred in Sir Sean Connery’s 2009 “Dress to Kilt” benefit concert in NYC. Her extensive professional background in dancing includes tap, Celtic step dancing, ballet and jazz. She has appeared as a dance soloist and fiddler with symphonies

throughout North America, highlighted by appearances with the Kennedy Center’s National Symphony Orchestra. “I grew up in a musical family. From a very early age, my mom couldn’t keep me off the stage and I started going to fiddling contests throughout Ontario. I think it’s something that touches a lot us, it’s just part of the culture here.” Tickets for Celtic Blaze are $23. They may be purchased by contacting the college box office or by visiting www.owens.edu. All seating is general admission. For information, call (567) 661-2787. O

Irish Rovers to play Tecumseh The Irish Rovers will play at Tecumseh Center for the Arts (TCA) on March 13. The show is sold out, but there’s still room that night at TCA’s Stew & Brew fundraiser, where the Rovers will be after its show, said Executive Director Johanna Walker. The event, which will feature beer tasting, Irish pub food and a silent auction, is set for 6 to 8 p.m. March 13 at Evans Street Station, 110 S. Evans St. “Guinness is providing the beer tasting and it’s going to be very fun and tasty,” Walker said. “Come raise your glass with the Rovers and raise funds for the TCA!” Fare will include Irish stew, shepherd’s pie and homemade bread, Walker said. Each person will get three glasses of beer from a special selection of Irish brews. Among the silent auction items are three days at a cottage in South Haven; a wine tasting at Pentamere Winery; a 14karat yellow gold, four-leaf clover from Hacker Jewelers; and a football signed by University of Michigan coach Brady Hoke. Cost is $45 or $35 with your Rovers tickets. Call TCA at (517) 423-6617 or stop by the box office, 400 N. Maumee St. For more information, visit www.thetca.org. O — Sarah Ottney

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theater closed, the movie series moved to its current home inside the Rave Theater. Upcoming films include: n March 14: “A Farewell To Arms,” a 1932 war drama with Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper and Adolphe Menjou. n March 21: “Made for Each Other,” a 1939 comedy with James Stewart, Carole Lombard and Charles Coburn. n March 28: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” a 1949 comedy starring Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming and Cedric Hardwicke. n April 4: “Nancy Drew Reporter,” a 1939 mystery with Bonita Granville, John Litel and Frankie Thomas. For more information, call Rave at Levis Commons at (419) 874-5963. O — Staff Reports

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Rave Motion Pictures at Levis Commons is offering a regular classic film series at 1 p.m. Mondays. Admission is $2. “This area has always asked for something like that. It doesn’t just draw seniors, it draws across the ages,” said Kathy Petz, assistant manager and coordinator of the Rave Cinema Classics at Levis Commons, which is co-sponsored by Toledo Free Press. Petz said that audiences enjoy the familiarity of these films, especially now. “It’s back when times were easier. It’s nice to go in to see something like that and forget life for a while,” Petz said. “They were always enjoyable. They don’t make movies like them anymore.” Petz was involved in the classic and art movies at the SuperCinemas off Airport Highway. After that

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“TWO SHORTEN THE ROAD.” — IRISH SAYING

Que Cera, Cera By Jeff McGinnis Toledo Free Press STAR Staff Writer PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

Filmmaker Derek Westerman would like to make something clear: He has an incredibly supportive and loving family. He speaks with affection and gratitude for all of them, his mother, his brother and — importantly — his father. The last part is especially significant, lest people think his new project, the CollegeHumor.com Internet series “Bad Dads,” is autobiographical. Far from it. But for Westerman, it’s a culmination of years of training, hoping and dreaming — all of which he endured with his family by his side. “They were always extremely supportive of what I wanted in my life,” Westerman said in an interview with Toledo Free Press Star. Born and raised in Sylvania, Westerman had a passion for movies from an early age. “Just certain films, just watching a lot of films late at night, renting a lot of VHS tapes,” he said. “I dunno, it was just really, really exciting at that age. I mean, I’m still discovering stuff with film. There’s no limit to what exists out there. And that was really exciting when I was a teenager.” As a child, he also dabbled in making his own

movies — well, more like dove in with both feet. In grade school, Westerman would make smallscale epics with his friends and a handheld video camera. By high school, he had made a film that won a tristate film festival. He attended film school at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Westerman attended graduate school at NYU, graduating in May. It was there that the seed of an idea took root, one that would eventually grow into “Bad Dads.” He had been living with three other displaced Toledoans in the Big Apple. While kidding around in the apartment, “somehow, we kept gravitating to jokes about really bad fathers. And my father’s, like, amazing, so it definitely doesn’t come from that,” Westerman said. “It just kinda was based from that, to make these improv-based sketches — they’d be like two minutes long, three minutes long, depending — and each one would have a different character.” He made about 20 of these sketches during his final year of NYU. While he was working on them, he considered getting an old friend from the LA days involved. “I thought, oh, I should contact Michael Cera,” Westerman said. n WESTERMAN CONTINUES ON 19

Local filmmaker’s Internet series features star of ‘Arrested Development,’ ‘Juno,’ ‘Superbad.’

Sylvania’s Derek Westerman attended NYU. PHOTO BY TAYLOR DeLUCA

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“PRAISE THE CHILD AND YOU PRAISE THE MOTHER.” — IRISH SAYING n WESTERMAN CONTINUED FROM 18 In 2005, he had been hanging out with Clark Duke (“Hot Tub Time Machine”) when he learned that Cera, then known for “Arrested Development,” was living in the same apartment complex. “We met just pretty randomly and became pretty good friends, wrote a lot of comedy together and played music together. It was nice, and we hung out for a couple years,” Westerman said. Cera had appeared in a few of Westerman’s films as an undergrad, including his senior thesis. In the years since Westerman left LA, Cera had exploded onto Hollywood’s A-List thanks to films like “Superbad” and “Juno.” Now, as Derek ramped up his “Bad Dads” project, he thought of enlisting his old friend. “So, I sent him a bunch of scripts — each script is like a page long, these little sketches — and he liked it and he said yes. So that was a pretty exciting day for me,” Westerman said. “I’m still pretty shocked, and I’m still pretty grateful that he took a risk on ‘Bad Dads.’” Last summer, Westerman flew to LA with his girlfriend (the producer of the project), Will Hines (Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre veteran and “Bad Dads” other lead actor) and his director of photography. The price of the plane tickets is “still pretty much the biggest production cost of the whole thing,” Westerman joked. They arrived two days before the shoot, but it was hardly fun in the sun for Westerman. He still was working feverishly on the script. “I was kinda going crazy, trying to figure out the best way to utilize the situation. So I just did a lot of writing in two days, and I kinda arrived at

something that I liked a lot,” he said. “And I knew that when we started shooting the next morning, there’d be a lot to work with.” The production took place all in one fastpaced 12-hour session. His crew was largely made up of friends from his undergrad days. Each take was full of improvisation and inventiveness from his lead actors. Westerman said the production was probably his favorite day of the year. “The amount of jokes we had, they could have run 10 minutes each,” he said of the wealth of material Cera and Hines gave him. “But basically, with these sketches, because each sketch has like one scenario, or one problem or whatever, if it had lasted 10 minutes — which it could have, with the amount of jokes that I had — it would just feel really strange and drawn out.” The films, five short films running about three minutes each, came together in one marathon editing session, finished before Westerman left LA. “I didn’t expect it to happen this way, in terms of being released online. My plan was for it to get into film festivals, and then eventually online. But CollegeHumor.com stepped in.” One of his “Bad Dads” actors, Elaine Carroll, was watching the sketches one day when her boyfriend, who happened to also be in charge of original content for CollegeHumor, caught a glimpse of the films and liked what he saw. A deal soon followed, giving the website four-week exclusivity to show the sketches. And the future holds a look at even more “Bad Dads.” “After the four weeks on CollegeHumor, it would be disseminated online — YouTube, Vimeo, Funny or Die. And then, I am planning with CollegeHumor to do more ‘Bad Dads,’ with, like, different comedians and stuff like that.” O

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / MARCH 9, 2011 n 19

A crew member passes by Michael Cera and Derek Westerman on the set. PHOTO COURTESY DEREK WESTERMAN

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The Scarlett Secor Mansion and the Jamil Lewis Multicultural Center for the Arts are partnering to host a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Celebration of Creative Womenâ&#x20AC;? open house reception at the historic North Toledo mansion on March 12. The event, in honor of Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History Month, is set for 3 to 6 p.m. and will include a display of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artwork as well as a ceremony honoring 13 Women of Distinction for their â&#x20AC;&#x153;distinctive contributions to making our world better,â&#x20AC;? said Toni Gaines, co-owner of Scarlett Secor Mansion. The event is free and open to the public. A portion of proceeds from art sales will benefit the Jamil Lewis Multicultural Center for the Arts as well as the restoration of the Scarlett Secor Mansion, Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea came about because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m partnering with a nonprofit to raise money to renovate Scarlett and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s raising money for youth programming, so we just thought of putting together an event to raise money for our two causes,â&#x20AC;? Gaines said. The multicultural center, which has a mission of promoting the creativity of all cultures, is working to bring a summer 4-H youth art program to Toledo, said founder and executive director Audrey Johnson. Artists will include Barbara Richardson, Samantha Barton, Nicole Tarver, Bonnie Dillard, Mary Pat Peltier, Shelly Fank and Martini Rox, who contributes a column to Toledo Free Press Star. Most are from the Toledo area, although some now live elsewhere, Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have access to a lot of great artists and talented people in Toledo,â&#x20AC;? Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we started to put this together, our list kept growing.â&#x20AC;? The diverse showing will include works in

mixed media, acrylics, film, photography, fiber, puppets, comic books and more, Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women are kind of phenomenal beings; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of the theme. They make art that speaks to their souls,â&#x20AC;? Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing the things we have to do, we find time to do creative things.â&#x20AC;? The women to be honored include a mix of local residents and celebrities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so many great women in Toledo,â&#x20AC;? Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to honor women and tell them we think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fabulous.â&#x20AC;? Women of Distinction honorees will include Beth Collins, co-creator of Elizabethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House; the late Alice Mosiniak, founder of Toledo Seagate Food Bank; Joyce Perrin, founder of Any Wednesday; Joanne Menefee, TPS educator and entrepreneur; Linda Detrick-Jaegly, community development champion; E. Genevieve Dale, funeral director and community activist; the late Ella P. Stewart, one of the first African-American pharmacists; Dorothy I. Height, educator and social activist; Jennifer Blakeman, artist and owner of Dragonfly Artisan Tea Cottage; Jennifer Jarrett, deputy director of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo; author Zora Neale Hurston; talk show host Oprah Winfrey; and First Lady and attorney Michelle Obama. Guests can enjoy appetizers and beverages while magician Dorian Strange, who calls himself a â&#x20AC;&#x153;dream mentalist,â&#x20AC;? circulates, Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an intelligent illusionist, not a kiddie type of magician,â&#x20AC;? Gaines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had him before and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very good.â&#x20AC;? Gaines and her husband have been fixing up the Scarlett Secor Mansion, at 311 Bush St. across from the Summit Street YMCA, since 2004 and hope to use it as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;business incubatorâ&#x20AC;? and a place to host art shows and community events. For information, call Gaines at (419) 8103244 or Audrey Johnson at (419) 870-9977. O

“I’M AN IRISH CATHOLIC AND I HAVE A LONG ICEBERG OF GUILT.” — EDNA O’BRIEN

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / MARCH 9, 2011 n 21

Nom de plume popped BGSU professor’s Sci-Fi writer identity revealed on Facebook. By Matt Liasse Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Science fiction writer James Enge once had everyone fooled. But after becoming friends with his two college-aged children on Facebook, he was outed as James Pfundstein, a Bowling Green State University lecturer. The author’s identity was discovered when his children linked to his profile. He was on Facebook as his pen name, while his children were using his biological last name. “As a human being, I have no use for Facebook,” Pfundstein said. “But as a writer, you have to be plugged into social media.” Pfundstein said he didn’t know how his colleagues in the BGSU Romance and Classical Studies Department would feel about being associated with his novels surrounding “swords and sorcery.” That is why he published the novels “Blood of Ambrose” and “This Crooked Way” as James Enge. After his identity was discovered, he said he

had been worried for nothing. “It was no big deal,” Pfundstein said. “It was a paper-thin alias.” The biographies on his novels included a picture and said he was from Northwest Ohio. He said he also chose to use a pen name because his real name is hard to spell. He chose “Enge” simply because it has four letters. Now that he is a known writer, he said he thinks differently. “I used to think having a pen name was kind of like being a spy,” Pfundstein said. “Now that everyone knows, I think of it more like a mental illness ... it’s like I have a double personality.” Pfundstein said he has been writing his entire life. He failed his high school trigonometry class because he was writing instead of paying attention in class. Department Chair of Romance and Classical Studies Nathan Richardson said he is “absolutely blown away” by the work Pfundstein has done. “He’s done it very well ... his double life,” Richardson said. Richardson found out about Pfundstein from

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another colleague and when he had to go out of town because he was a finalist for a World Fantasy Award at the World Fantasy Convention. Pfundstein did not win, but gained fame in his department. Richardson said he has not read any of Pfundstein’s work, but plans to this summer. Pfundstein’s first work was published six years ago. He has since published three fantasy novels as well as some short stories. All of his novels are fantasy adventures and follow the character Morlock Ambrosius. In “The Wolf Age,” the reader is taken to Wuruyaaria, a city of werewolves. “I try to write a story that means something,” Pfundstein said. “Reality is weird ... fantasy describes personal reality.” Being a lecturer helps him with storytelling techniques, he said. He said the two are “related in sneaky ways.” He has future projects planned, some involving Morlock Ambrosius. He said he sometimes stays awake late just to write. “There’s always a story trying to chew its way out of my brain,” Pfundstein said. O

JAMES PFUNDSTEIN/ENGE

22 n MARCH 9, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

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retend our current economy and the structure of society has crashed and burned (surprise!). We need to rebuild it. It would not make sense to create something similar to what we lost, knowing it would again sink. The New Economy Working Group says “the Empire model of dominator hierarchy” creates an uneven division between the elite and those in service and thus perSTACY petuates violence, competition, materialism and isolated individualism. This is evident all around us with global unrest, war, environmental destruction and those in power taking away more and more of the people’s rights. We can do better than that. It is said that “psychologically and morally, mature humans are naturally generous, caring, nonviolent and capable of extraordinary acts of cooperative self-organization in the service of a larger common good.” So instead of wishing and hoping for those at the top to make changes for the greater good, let us start a new story and consider an economic system created from the bottom up, where power and resources are people and are rooted in our community and shared equally by all. The NEWGroup online forum proposes that “societies that share wealth and work equitably among all their members enjoy greater physical and emotional health, stronger families and communities, less violence, and healthier natural environments ... are more democratic and more resilient in the face of crisis.” This is the beginning of a somewhat loosely structured series of columns I will write on components of the New Economy, what some call a “local living economy,” and what that could look like for Toledo. The New Economy values people versus money, shared prosperity versus individual or private profit, and a sustainable community and vibrant ecosystem versus destructive and limiting processes. The components include but are not limited to: O Locally owned, independent businesses: More reliable, more accountable, with a higher economic multiplier and more stable than national or international companies. O Sustainable local food system: Increase demand for local food production, genetic diversity, non-GMO foods, healthy soil and healthy community. Includes community supported agriculture, farmers markets, farm to restaurant, community meals, community kitchens. O Renewable Energy: End senseless pollution and life-threatening industrial practices. Renewables create jobs and are long-term safe alternatives. Also includes zero-waste manufac-

turing and green building and transportation. O Public Services: Health and emergency care, education, transportation, independent media, access to healthy water, air, food and shelter. O New Currency: An exchange and/or giving system based on equal value of people’s time and skills instead of a piece of paper and an invisible banking system backed by debt, the equivalent of absolutely nothing. O Shared Prosperity: All people, regardless of race, nationality, gender and financial means have a voice in the system (political and economic, local, national and international scale). Money is equally distributed from systems of corrupt hierarchical patriarchal corporations (governments) to all people. O Art and Culture: Inspires creativity and appreciates artistic intelligence. A unifying identity, spirituality and connection to place. O Ecological Balance: Reduce consumption and pollution while consciously allowing nature’s systems to regenerate. Focus locally on threats facing Maumee River, Lake Erie, the Western Lake Erie Watershed and greater Oak Openings region. A local living economy places an emphasis on local and regional community self-reliance, a more sustainable and dependable model for long-term well-being and happiness of the community at large. In the New Economy, happiness and success are measured by indicators other than job creation, changes in Gross Domestic Product and Wall Street number games. Real wealth can be measured by Gross National Happiness (GNH) like the country of Bhutan. The four pillars of GNH are: promotion of equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development; preservation and promotion of cultural values; conservation of the natural environment; and establishment of good governance. This may sound utopian and far-fetched, but as David Korten, co-founder of the New Economy Working Group, points out, “Ultimately, it comes down to a question of the values we believe the economy should serve. Should it give priority to money, or to life? To the fortunes of the few, or the well-being of all?” The shift to a values-based life-generating economy requires a shift in mental models, a new way of thinking. A shift has already begun and momentum is under way. Especially in Toledo, where the economy could use a makeover and the people are equipped with talent. Revolutions may not happen overnight, but lifechanging decisions can be made in an instant, at every moment. O

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Rising star I

t is a popular misconception that the stars are the entertainers when in fact it is photographers who capture the moments that inspire the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.” On his way to being one of those stars is Toledo-area native Christian Aziz Bishop. The son of Rev. Raymond G. Bishop Jr. of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church and a graduate of Springfield High School, Christian entered the University of Toledo as a graffiti artist looking to broaden his scope. As with most college students, when he entered UT’s art department, he was unsure about his field of study. After dabbling in painting and sculpting, it was photography that captured his interest in spite of the “F” he received in his digital photography class. Taking a few snap shots of his own graffiti with a disposable camera, he went on MySpace and contacted his favorite photographer, Pieter

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / MARCH 9, 2011 n 23

Christian Aziz Bishop is on his way to becoming a top Hip-Hop photographer.

Henket, who was responsible for Lady Gaga’s debut album cover. Henket could see the eye Christian had for photography and invited him to New York for an internship, proving you don’t always have to know where you are going to go somewhere. It was his first time out of Toledo, on his own paying dues by assisting professional photographers in an atmosphere surrounded by stars. It was this lifechanging experience that opened Bishop’s eyes to the possibility that taking pictures could be more than a hobby. This does not “just happen,” said Bishop, who is on his grind and is a certified “go-getter.” He has photographed some of Toledo’s hottest DJs and aspiring Hip-Hop and R&B artists. His eye for photography adds class to his subjects and projects an ethereal quality. A year ago, Bishop moved to Atlanta, found a community of fellow Toledo artists and quickly

Martini

ON THE

ROX

got to work. His first day was a scheduled shoot with rap artist MempHitz. From there he moved on to subjects like Barack Obama, Jermaine Dupri, Grammy-winning songwriter BryanMichael Cox, rappers Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, Jim Jones and has appeared on BET’s “Tiny & Toya.” Bishop’s work has appeared in XXL, The Source, Vibe, Hip Hop Weekly and Ozone. Refusing to be put in a box, Bishop is exploring the world of video, recently working with Kanye West’s new artist, rapper CyHi The Prynce. Bishop’s experience has been overwhelming, but you can still hear the excitement in his voice. “I really get my inspiration from other mediums, not necessarily other photographers. I’m really inspired by painters, a lot of sculptors and the way they form their composition, because they kind of create it and I try to do the same thing in my image and my video,” he said. Bishop sees himself as an artist finding new ways to express his artistic approach. After all of his accomplishments at just 25 years old, what does he dream about? “A really big dream of mine is to come home and set up a gallery of what I’ve done,” he said. Simple, and a testament to a humble charm he is unaware he possesses. Like his work, it is refreshing. See more at Christianaziz.com. As we continue on ... O

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CATCH “JEDI OF POP CULTURE” JEFF McGINNIS TUESDAY MORNINGS ON 92.5 KISS-FM.

Empty scandal A

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 2, No. 10. Established 2010. Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com EDITORIAL

Mary Ann Stearns, Design Editor mastearns@toledofreepress.com James A. Molnar, Lead Designer jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Brandi Barhite, Associate Editor bbarhite@toledofreepress.com Emily Gibb, News Editor egibb@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Special Sections Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Chris Schmidbauer, Sports Editor cschmidbauer@toledofreepress.com Andrew Farr, Bowling Green Editor afarr@toledofreepress.com Lisa Renee Ward, Web Editor star@toledofreepress.com ADMINISTRATION

Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com CONTRIBUTORS star@toledofreepress.com Jim Beard • John Dorsey • Matt Feher • Jerry Gray Dustin Hostetler • Stacy Jurich • Vicki L. Kroll lilD • Martini • Jeff McGinnis • Whitney Meschke Rachel Richardson • Julie Webster • Don Zellers

Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Lisa Renee Ward, Darcy Irons Sarah Ottney, Proofreaders ADVERTISING SALES

Renee Bergmooser, Sales Manager rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com Casey Fischer cfischer@toledofreepress.com Matt Mackowiak mmackowiak@toledofreepress.com Chick Reid creid@toledofreepress.com DISTRIBUTION

Charles Campos (419) 241-1700, Ext. 227 ccampos@toledofreepress.com

Toledo Free Press Star is published every Wednesday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604 • (419) 241-1700 Fax: (419) 241-8828 www.toledofreepress.com. Subscription rate: $100 /year. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved. Publication of ads does not imply endorsement of goods or services.

few weeks ago, I decided to purchase a PlayStation Portable. I bought the system used, because frankly the salary of a movie theater employee does not exactly leave one rolling in the lap of luxury. (Don’t even ask about the salary of a journalist/radio personality.) Upon making my purchase, JEFF the employee who sold me the system asked if I wanted to buy a memory stick to accompany it. I declined, because when I’m buying anything my goal is to leave the store with as little accumulated debt as possible. When I got home, I discovered, to my dismay, that the memory stick was not an optional accessory but a practical necessity. You needed a stick if you wanted to save your place in games, download new ones, store movies or music on the device and more. It would still play games, but unless you were planning on beating everything you played in one shot without turning the console off, the lack of a memory stick turned my purchase into a $100 paperweight. I was enraged, furious and frustrated ... at myself. So intent was I on getting out of the store with the most money possible remaining, it had never occurred to me to simply ask the clerk, “A memory stick, you say? What does that do? Is it necessary?” I just continued to play the dumb consumer who hadn’t bothered to do any research on the accessories for the device I was dropping a C-note on. So, I went back to the store and bought a memory stick. The sum total of my (self-inflicted) anguish was one day of not being able to use my new system the way I wanted to. But if the recent lawsuits being brought against national gaming retailer GameStop are any indication, my problems may be actionable. A couple of suits aimed at the store are alleging that the store is being “deceptive” in selling customers used games that require codes to unlock the games’ online features. For anyone who doesn’t speak geek, many games now come with online capabilities so you can play on the Web and so forth. Gaming companies claim the cost of maintaining servers is too high to let people play the used games without paying something — and more crucially, the companies are growing tired of stores like GameStop selling its wares secondhand. Their solution, instead of maybe lowering the cost of their overpriced products and making new games more appealing to the consumer, is to include a one-time-use code that the gamer has to enter to play online. Thus, if the game

Lawsuits against GameStop are silly.

gets sold back, anyone who buys it used will have to pay a fee directly to the gaming companies to get online — eliminating the middleman and sending profit directly to the company. Now, consumers who were apparently unaware of this change seem to be taking their frustrations out on GameStop. According to an article on IGN.com, the most recent lawsuit says the retailer misleads customers “to believe that the games which are originally sold with free downloadable content are also included when consumers purchase the same games used, when in fact the free downloadable content is no longer available.” The problems with this claim are myriad. First of all, if customers asked anyone who worked for the store, they would almost certainly be informed about the situation. I know —

mCGINNIS

POP GOES THE

CULTURE

I’ve been told the same thing myself. Second is the nifty way GameStop has responded to the gaming companies’ code policies. It has reduced the cost of used games that require a code, so that once you factor the cost of a code in, the price of the game used is still lower than new. Third, most crucially, the store has this wonderful, revolutionary thing called a “return policy” — you can bring used games back for a refund, for any reason, within a week. If the lack of a code was that big a deal, bringing the game back seems a much more reasonable response than calling a lawyer. Perhaps there’s more to the story beyond what can be read in the lawsuit. (Store employees would not comment, as the retailer is fairly tightlipped toward the media.) I can only speak for GameStop as a customer who has found the retailer to have excellent and understanding customer service. At face value, this claim blames GameStop for a problem it didn’t create and has done everything it can to deal with fairly. And it seems to relieve the customers from any responsibility they had to educate themselves — or even the ability to just ask a question or two. O E-mail Jeff at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.

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“You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.” — IRISH SAYING