Toledo Free Press STAR – June 29, 2011

INSIDE: McGinnis on ‘Weird Al’ n lilD on UGE n Miller on poetry n Kroll on lang

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”I said, ‘Hey, mom, what’s with all the sauerkraut?’” — Weird Al, “Albuquerque”

HAVE YOU HERD THE NEWS? The pitter-patter of pachyderm feet can be heard at the Toledo Zoo. Come meet our elephant calf -- he’s a trunk full of fun!

He’s growing fast, so plan your visit to see the “little” guy today. I love my Zoo!

toledozoo.org

POETRY: Upcoming events 5 ON THE ROX: Martini on the Summer Jam 8 Galleries: Bozarts’ second anniversary 9 VIDEO GAMES: ‘MX vs. ATV Alive’ 10 TOLEDO PRIDE: Artisans use T-shirts for messages 12 THE PULSE: Calendar of events 14 FOOD: Veggie U Food and Wine Celebration 18 THE WORD I HEARD: lilD on UGE 20

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k.d. lang in Ann Arbor • McGinnis reviews Weird AL • Kate on summer fashion • DC: Jonah Hex in Gotham JUNE 29, 2011 • Episode 2 Chapter 26 • Toledo Free Press Star: “Oh, this is a story ‘bout a guy named Al/And he lived in a sewer with his hamster pal/But the sanitation workers really didn’t approve/So he packed up his accordion and had to move/To a city in Ohio where he lived in a tree/And he worked in a nasal decongestant factory” — “The Weird Al Show Theme”

Plain Jane Automobile rolls into town

By Mike Bauman Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

While Duke Crider of Plain Jane Automobile takes being compared to one of the most successful rock bands on the planet as a compliment, he also wants the world to know that he and his band mates are not trying to duplicate anyone’s sound.

“The main thing to know about this band is that we don’t fake anything,” Crider said in a phone interview with Toledo Free Press Star.

“This is a real band. Every night that we play, we want people to get something out of the music.”

The Orlando-based indie pop rock quartet comprised of Crider (vocals/guitars), Luis Mejia (guitars/keys/backing vocals), Paul McCorkell (bass/backing vocals) and James Dickens (drums) will perform in Toledo for the first time ever July 14 at Frankie’s Inner City to promote “Your Tomorrow,” the band’s second full-length album which was released on May 9.

After Plain Jane Automobile’s show at Bowery Electric in New York City last month, the New York Daily News compared the band to U2, while MTV’s Nic Harcourt — formerly of KCRW in Los Angeles — said the band has “musical influences ranging from the Oxford intelligent rock scene and the sonic wall of Muse. Marry this with Crider’s unpretentious voice and lyrics, and you have the remnants of an early U2.”

“We never sit down and say, ‘We want to sound like this,’” Crider said. “We just play what we play; we write what we write. It comes out the way it comes out. I can’t change my voice. My

voice sounds the way it sounds. There’s nothing I can do about it, but on the other side of that, hey — if we gain new fans because people are fans of U2 and they see something in us that reminds them of their favorite band, awesome.”

Fan support has not been an issue for Plain Jane Automobile. To help fund “Your Tomorrow” the band turned to Kickstarter.com, a website dedicated to helping creators of mediums such as music, technology, art and film launch their respective projects. If the creators raise the amount needed for their project in the time allotted, they get to keep all the funding. If not, then it all goes back to the people who donated.

On June 20, 2010, Plain Jane Automobile successfully raised $12,910 from supporters, surpassing its goal of $12,000 to help fund “Your Tomorrow” and land producer Rick Beato (Shinedown, NeedToBreathe) for the record.

“I would say, hands down, it’s probably one of the most incredible things that’s happened to the band,” Crider said. “Our fans are really passionate and really supportive, and they have always been willing to stand by the band and we thought, ‘Well, what better way to find out if people actually give a s--t than to do this?’ And it turns out they really did. I would go as far as to say we couldn’t have made the record without the support of the fans. There’s no way.”

Much of the inspiration for the songs on “Your Tomorrow” came from Crider’s fascination with World War II. His grandfather was a Polish Jew living in Germany during that time period, and Crider’s parents met each other in Germany. “We Live In The Dark Pt. 1” and “We Live In The Dark Pt. 2” and the title track were all songs inspired by

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Plain Jane Automobile raised funds from supporters to produce its latest album.

PHOTO courtesy Tipping Point Entertainment

the story of the Bielski partisans.

“The idea of war and the sort of things that happen, what goes on and the things that come out of it, and the fact that it never stops, it’s intriguing,” Crider said. “It’s hard not to be inspired by it — by the sadness, by the rebuilding process. I just think there’s so many stories in there that you can reach into.”

Doors open at 8 p.m. for the July 14 show at Frankie’s, located at 308 Main St. Tickets are $5 for 21 and over and $7 for those under 21.

All ages are welcome. For more information on Plain Jane Automobile, visit the website www. plainjaneautomobile.com or check out the band’s Myspace page at www.myspace.com/ plainjaneautomobile. O

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“I just can’t believe it ... they forgot the onions!” — Weird Al, “Trapped in the Drive-Thru”

‘Siss boom bang’ lang k.d. lang to play Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

By Vicki L. Kroll Toledo Free Press Staff Writer vkroll@toledofreepress.com

The five guys in k.d. lang’s new band aren’t afraid to bare it all. Each shares his most embarrassing musical moment on kdlang.com.

Joe Pisapia, a multi-instrumentalist and former member of Guster, may be the winner: “When I used to have hair, one time in a moment of pure spirited rocking, a tendril of hair went into my mouth and stuck to my gum,” he wrote on the site. “I had sweaty hair and gum hitting me in the face for the rest of that song.”

Seems fair to ask lang, right?

During a phone interview from Los Angeles, the four-time Grammy winner confessed.

“I’ve had a couple, but my biggest mistake I think I ever made was on live television in London on the Jools Holland show. I just completely spaced on the entire first verse of ‘Constant Craving,’ like the entire first verse,” she said and laughed. “And I had no way of coming out of it except to just wait until the second verse.

“The other one was, I was also in London, I was on the ‘Drag’ promotion tour,” she recalled.

“I was playing for all the media and critics, and I was singing ‘My Old Addiction.’ I was sitting on a stool and I closed my eyes and I just completely lost my orientation and just felt like I had been catapulted out of the chair to the edge of the stage and slipped off the edge of the stage.

“Fortunately, the stage was maybe only 6 to 8 inches tall, but that was pretty embarrassing, too.”

So much for the consequences of falling. lang was calling to talk about her new disc, “Sing It Loud,” which was released in April.

k.d. lang has won four Grammys during her career.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

“This is kind of a rock record,” the singer-songwriter said. “I definitely worked with kind of a joyful abandon approach to this record, just following my instincts, willing to step out of my comfort zone, and just seeing what was out there in the world.”

What she found was a creative kindred spirit: Pisapia. They decided to put together a band. lang invited guitarist Joshua Grange and keyboardist Daniel Clarke, who both played on her tour for 2008’s “Watershed,” and Pisapia brought in bassist Lex Price. Clarke suggested drummer Fred Eltringham of The Wallflowers.

At Pisapia’s home in Nashville, the six lit up the studio, recording eight explosive songs live in three days last summer.

“It was really spontaneous and really rewarding, and at the end of a day’s work — we didn’t even stop to eat — we would have a beer and listen back and we were all so happy and

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dancing,” lang said.

“Sing It Loud” features 10 tracks, including eight co-written by lang and band members, one song by Pisapia, and a cover of the Talking Heads’ “Heaven.”

The disc opens with the soaring single, “I Confess.”

“Josh and Daniel came over to write, and we were sitting around and I said, I really want to write like a Roy Orbison tune,” said the native of Alberta, Canada, who won a Grammy for her duet with Orbison for “Crying.” “I think I was the only one who had the full picture in my head when we went into the sessions later on, and the band brought it alive precisely, better than my dreams, and it was the first song we tackled as a band, so it was pretty indicative of what was to come.”

After the recording session, lang shared the songs with her girlfriend.

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“I called her up ready for my critique and she said, ‘Well, it starts off like a k.d. lang record.

You’re sitting there and it’s really beautiful, and then the band kicks in, and siss boom bang.’

And I started laughing because I had spent days lying awake in bed coming up with names and looking on the Internet — every band name ever is taken,” lang said. “And I started laughing and went, ‘That’s the band name.’

“It just seemed to fit because we recorded it on July 1, 2, 3 and 4th, which is Canada Day and Independence Day, lots of fireworks going on, and it certainly felt very much like that.” k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang will play the Ann Arbor Summer Festival at 8 p.m. July 1 at the University of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium.

Tickets range from $35 to $75. The Belle Brigade will open. See the complete schedule at annarborsummerfestival.org. O

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”I’m strange, weird, shocking, odd, bizarre/I’m Frankenstein, I’m Avatar” — Weird Al, “Perform This Way”

Motion in poetry A

bonfire of Hallmark greeting cards, bellowing sickeningly sweet drifts of smoke. Cleveland Indians mascot Chief Wahoo lying in drifts of snow, staring at the great wide sky for the last time. Silent stares of contempt and derision aimed at an unhoused man as he walks the Toledo streets.

These and scores of other images were part of a June 16 poetry reading that featured more poets than audience members.

Toledo Free Press sponsored a stop on the June 16 Art Walk, a signature event of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. We opened our warehouse on Huron Street, set up chairs and a makeshift podium and invited a group of local poets to read their works. Michael Grover led an outstanding line-up of poets — Arnold Koester, Jonie McIntire, Greg Peters and Bob Phillips.

With the cluster of activity on St. Clair and Adams streets, there was a dearth of passersby on Huron Street to look in and see the reading, but each of the poets gave it his or her best, reading original material that inspired laughter and reflection to the few people who joined us.

There is a thriving poetry scene in Toledo, but it seems like a backburner element compared to music and gallery arts. Most of my exposure to the scene comes from the published works of longtime Toledo Free Press arts writer John

Dorsey, who is producing a body of work that is growing in size and national acclaim.

It’s a tougher challenge at home in Toledo.

Phillips told Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer Patrick Timmis, “Poetry’s like the poor uncle of the arts.”

Grover is keenly aware of how some people view his art. He said many people stereotype poetry as bad and boring — epithets he thinks many poets deserve.

He said he wants to make MichaeL S. poetry fun again, although many of his pieces are dark and questioning.

Grover read a number of his “American Outlaw” poems, making each piece a compelling performance.

Peters read an epic poem about being unhoused in Toledo. After working nearly 30 years for Chrysler, he is waiting for news on his pension while he gets by the best he can. Peters told Timmis he has written 800

Toledo Free Press Star to co-sponsor poetry Art Walks, ‘Zygote in My Fez Poetry Festival.’ poems in the past three years. Reading live, the words tumble out of him in a cascade of alternating anger and amusement.

“Poetry is to make a point and make a difference for someone’s life,” he said.

Phillips, with his shock of Einstein-like white hair, read poetry about his backyard observations and baseball memories. His work is specific and intimate yet universal in its wise evocation of the larger gears at work in life. Phillips told Timmis he started writing poetry as a child.

He grew up in Toledo.

“Most everything I learned was at the public library — the poor people’s university,” Phillips said.

His first poems were humorous, but puberty made his poems angsty and depressing, he said with a smile.

When he discovered the Beats at age 11, he felt liberated by their style.

“You always thought a poem had to rhyme and be about flowers or autumn or something

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like that,” he said.

Poetry has always resided just outside my grasp, not as impactful as music but just as mysterious in its creative process. Words are fluid, live building blocks, but the way a poet shapes them isn’t the way I push them around or the way a songwriter manipulates them.

And while many people believe they can be writers (I work just a few blocks from some of the region’s most high-profile failures), truly inspiring works of poetry and songwriting (the two are not the same thing, although some lyrics read like poetry) are intimidating.

In an effort to promote this special art, Toledo Free Press Star is co-sponsoring the Aug. 6 “Zygote in My Fez Poetry Festival,” from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Collingwood Arts Center. Red Fez and Zygote in my Coffee are the primary forces behind the event, which will feature nearly two dozen poets reading their works. We are also looking to find a more high-profile location for our remaining ACGT Art Walk poetry readings, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15.

Let’s take the poor uncle and show him a few special nights on the town. O Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at mmiller@ toledofreepress.com.

6 n JUNE 29, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Put your Viking helmet on/Spread that mayonaisse on the lawn” — Weird Al, “Weasel-Stomping Day”

Summertime trends I

t’s time to step out in summer’s trends. There are many options to choose from that will warm up your wardrobe.

One of the hottest trends of the summer is ’70s fashion. Being a child of the ’80s, I turned to my mother for her take on the original inspirations.

“I used to wiggle into my hip-hugging bell bottoms, then dip into a bathtub of water,” she said.

“The jeans dried like a second skin.”

Makes me thankful for the wonderful stretchiness of jeggings. Mom’s jeans have made a major return, however, there is no water necessary.

The updated fit avoids an exaggerated bell Kate shape and has a higher waist. To those who have invested in a collection of skinny pants, don’t worry; they’re here to stay. What was first thought of as a fad has become embraced as a staple.

For more inspiration I went to Sophie’s Sister at 133 N. Michigan St. in Toledo, where Tierney Wiles helped me pick out some trendy ensembles. Wiles, who has worked at the contemporary women’s boutique for three years, showed me the perfect pair of flared jeans from James Jean and a groovy black-and-white midi dress by Diane Von Furstenberg.

Check out the spring shows of Emilio Pucci and Marc Jacobs for more ideas of today’s updated twist on the ’70s. Freespirited gals, look for crochet, macramé, bohemian and floral prints and lace-up clothing. Fans of the mirrored ball will be drawn to shimmering fabrics, frill details and deep halter tops. Other key items include off-the-shoulder tops, flowy dresses and rompers.

Priceless piece of style trivia: bell bottoms were first created for the U.S. Navy uniform, which turns our attention to another current trend — nautical-themed clothing. The focus is on tops with wide horizontal stripes in red, white and blue, but for variety consider different colors, directions and widths or striped bottoms.

Other elements include rope-like textures and oversized link jewelry. I recommend shopping for sailor pieces at consignment stores, like Plato’s Closet, as this is a recurring classic.

From florals to stripes, prints will be

everywhere! Expect to see polka dots, plaids, graphics, animal prints and tribal patterns. Some of the prettiest prints of fashion week were found at Emilio Pucci, which presented retro scrolls of blues, browns and black and Christopher Kane, who was inspired by Japanese tattoos and neon hues. Locally, Sophie’s Sister offers plenty of options, including a dress by Leifsdottir with an eclectic mixed print.

To add prints to your wardrobe on a budget take inspiration from Katy Perry’s nail art and look online for tutorials.

Bright colors will be another big trend this summer.

If you’re timid about embracing bold colors, begin with a pop from an accessory such as a belt or handbag, like the yellow purse by Diane Von Furstenberg. When you’ve gained confidence turning heads, Wiles recommends pairing vibrant apparel with a neutral, like the yellow Diane Von Furstenberg blouse and white Milly skirt. Add some edge by accessorizing with a different striking color.

The perfect escape from brights is clean and simple: try white. To maximize this look, wear a shade of white from head to toe like an ivory sundress or a white tank with white eyelet shorts. Dolce & Gabbana embraced all white wholeheartedly with its spring line. A spin on this trend is to wear white and black, a timeless combination that continues to look classic and sexy.

“The white trend is best with some sort of slouchy element,” Wiles said. “Wear white looser or with fitted white pants, pair a more relaxed top, like the beautiful black lattice blouse from Leifsdottir.”

Before you know it, summer will end and the fall clothing lineup will be hitting racks. Many of today’s trends will continue into fall including patterns, brights, shine and lace.

To prepare for what’s new ahead, I asked Wiles for her prediction.

“The ’20s and ’30s are coming back, which features longer and looser shapes, jewel tones, beaded gowns,” Wiles said.

“Also, menswear à la Katherine Hepburn, high-waisted pants and clean and feminine silhouettes will return.” O

Warm up your wardrobe with hot summer trends.

mcCOMB FASHIONABLY

KATE

Kate McComb in a blouse from Diane Von Furstenburg and Milly skirt from Sophie’s Sister.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR PHOTO BY LISA STANG

“Just a handclap, finger snap/Even if it’s mindless pap” — Weird Al, “It’s Still Billy Joel to Me”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 7

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”Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1699” — Weird Al, “Amish Paradise”

Summer Jam

O

n July 8 the Huntington Center will feature a Hip-Hop tour and there is no question that Summer Jam 2011 is the hottest ticket in town. Major Hip-Hop acts like Young Jeezy, Plies, Travis Porter, Gorilla Zoe and R&B crooner Lloyd are confirmed and on board with bringing this major tour to the city. This raises the question, is Toledo’s urban music community big enough to carry such a tour? Sure, we have had big shows brought to us by the city’s urban-based stations, but a tour is different. Shows are booked in clubs or small venues with one or two major artists and a lot of local acts.

Tours have several major artists, fewer local acts and appear in larger venues and/or arenas.

Toledo’s hesitation to accept the news of a major tour is understandable considering past inadequate or “janky” promoters who have sold tickets to shows that never materialized. Unfortunately, the constant excuses and finger-pointing left people angry, in financial distress and skeptical about urban events. Availability and ticket costs starting at $60 raised some concern, but throughout the years I have seen a number of Toledoans spend more on a concert ticket and gas for a show in Detroit, Cleveland or Columbus.

There is no denying the job crisis affecting all, especially the urban youth. Because an event of this magnitude is usually promoted two months in advance, it makes the four-week window seem small in terms of providing enough time for potential concertgoers to hear about and prepare for it. However, all stations that play the featured acts are giving away tickets daily to listeners, incorporating contests and club nights. The buzz has been constant and positive with the knowl-

edge that the success of one major tour could open the city up for consideration by other bigtime promoters organizing national urban events.

The possibilities are endless in terms of revenue passing through Toledo — providing entertainment, business and the opportunity for local artists to share the stage with national acts.

Confirmed concert openers include Rapper Lady Te from Detroit and local rappers B. Wills, Cuntry and R&B singer Jay Rush. The three local slots were filled with careful consideration by the events production team Global Event Marketing, based on street buzz and proactive promotion by the individual artists.

Global Event Marketing is responsible for bringing Summer Jam to Toledo.

The company is based out of Chicago and is well known among music industry professionals for producing major events across the country. Radio and television advertisements for Summer Jam can be seen and heard in Detroit, Toledo and surrounding areas. Local street teams and the local artists performing have been enlisted to promote and spread the word. Tickets can only be purchased at official Ticketmaster outlets, the Huntington Center and Ticketmaster.com. Beware of scalpers selling fake VIP and backstage passes.

Security will not be an issue and, with the ground support across the city, Summer Jam is on track to becoming a success.

I urge all to support the event and the local artists as this will be a great look for the city and a good way to prove Toledo is capable of handling Hip-Hop on a large scale. If we do not help create these opportunities for our own area talent no one else will.

As we continue on ... O

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“My my this here Anakin guy/May be Vader someday later, now he’s just a small fry” — Weird Al, “The Saga Begins”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 9

Bozarts to celebrate second anniversary

By Zach Davis Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

In celebration of its two-year anniversary, Bozarts Fine Art and Music Gallery is calling for all artists and citizens to come celebrate on July 2 from 11 a.m. to midnight at its location on S. St. Clair Street.

“This is as much a celebration of two years in business as it is a celebration of you,” Bozarts Owner Jerry Gray said.

“There are so many skilled and spirited people in this city that I have come to know as passionate comrades — it’s over whelming.

GRAY Please come down and participate, spectate and enjoy each other with one another.”

Gray said Bozarts hopes to have a large contingent of Toledo’s art community present to show off or sell their work. Artists are asked to bring anything suitable for outdoor display.

Filmmakers will have a DVD projector provided to share their work and photographers

can bring their prints.

Also encouraged to attend are live performances from musicians, poets and performance artists. Musicians are to play acoustic only and may bring down CDs and merchandise to distribute and sell.

Gray is also encouraging cooks to come down to share or sell food. A charcoal grill will be available for public use.

The celebration will have a picnic feel, so canopy tents for shade are welcome along with blankets, pillows, coolers and small tables.

Gray has asked however to not bring chairs or large tables. If you don’t plan on attending to perform or display your work, Bozarts encourages the public to come view some of what the artistic community has to offer in Toledo.

“If you do not have anything to sell or distribute you are just going to have to enjoy yourself and check out a very organic collection of culture in Toledo,” Gray said. “Make no mistake, this will be a sincerely awesome day.”

CAC yard sale

The Collingwood Arts Center is hosting a yard sale in support of local artists from July 9-10.

Among available items at the nonprofit arts facility will be artwork, books and clothing.

The sale will take place at the Parkwood entrance of the facility from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit the website www.CollingwoodArtsCenter.org or call (419) 244-ARTS. O

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Track variety spices up ‘MX vs. ATV Alive’

By Michael Siebenaler Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

“MX vs. ATV Alive,” the fifth installment in this game series, offers multiplayer offline and online modes as well as the single-player mode where players can unlock several items and more powerful vehicles. Players can tear through several realistic environments in this professional motocross sport simulation game featuring motorcycles and all terrain vehicles.

Track variety spices up races along with different grades and hills. The cycles make driving easier as players must quickly adjust to the terrain.

Thankfully, the simple, responsive control scheme works perfectly.

Players work up from “Weekend Warriors” status and can shove rival drivers as they ride.

Novices will have more difficulty performing special moves, so they should definitely practice in the free mode.

This PlayStation 3 game has a ower price ($39.99 instead of a $59.99) with enough replay value to be worth the higher price. Affordable

downloadable content packs add even more replay value. Lots of merchandising spots, scantily clad “card girls” and some mild language in a few songs.

No character development among the racers here. Developers just feature 25-year-old AMA Supercross Champion James “Bubba” Stewart on the cover and within the in-game tutorial hints (***, available on Xbox 360, the ONLive game service recently added the first MX vs. ATV game), rated E for mild language, mild suggestive themes and mild violence). O

Recent review: ‘Homefront’ This first-person shooter game, developed by Kaos Studios (“Frontlines: Fuel of War”) and published by THQ, centers on a poignant invasion story written by screenwriter John Milius (“Red Dawn,” “Apocalypse Now”).

Some violent content is overly manipulative, like a passing scene where a child sees his parents murdered. The visual textures blend well into the environment, but the character animation is still a bit rubbery. The Golden Gate Bridge action sequence represents a great graphic highlight. (***, rated M for blood, strong language and violence, also available on OnLive (North America), PC and Xbox 360). O

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Glass Art Pieces

Memorial Glass by Glass Whispers Art Incorporate your lost loved one or pets cremains into a hand sculpted glass creation to honor and memorialize them forever.

You are involved in the creation / design with the artist Please call to discuss in detail the ordering of your commissioned piece.

Contact:

Glass Whispers, LLC 5625 Parkwood Sylvania, OH 43560

Gretchen Brell-Schroeder Artist gretchenzientek@hotmail.com 419-265-9639 Rich Schroeder Business Manager rschroeder@bex.net 419-290-4303

Toledo, It’s Finally Here!

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“I’m fluent in Java Script as well as Klingon” — Weird Al, “White & Nerdy”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 11

12 n JUNE 29, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

”It’s hard to bargle nawdle zouss” — Weird Al, “Smells Like Nirvana”

From left, Max Reddish, Joshua Kulpa, John Amato, Matt Crouse and Rachel Richardson.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR PHOTO BY JASON MACK

Hearts on their sleeves

By Sarah Ottney

TOLEDO FREE PRESS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

They are proud to live in Toledo and want everyone to know it.

They also want to give others a chance to show it.

At least half a dozen entrepreneurs in the Toledo area have independently created pro-Toledo T-shirts, which have been popping up on everyone from local festival-goers to Mayor Mike Bell and members of City Council.

John Amato, founder and president of local clothing company JUPMODE, said the mainly grassroots effort was unplanned.

“I’ve never really seen it as a movement, but recently it has been more noticeable, and you could probably call it that,” Amato said.

“We all kind of did it independently. I think it shows there are a lot of people out there realizing the same thing — that they really like Toledo and they want to showcase that and let other people know.”

Amato said the designers are supportive of each other.

“Even though we’re technically competing because we’re making similar T-shirts, we want each other to do well,” Amato said. “I want all those other people selling shirts to sell a lot of shirts because it’s good for Toledo. I think they all share the sentiment of the more shirts like this out there, the better it is for Toledo and Toledoans. It’s all the same message. It’s all about Toledo pride.”

Shirts range from $10 to $26 and are sold at local businesses, including Bozarts, 151 S. St. Clair St.; Downtown Latte, 44 S. St. Clair St.; Glass City Café, 1107 Jackson St.; and Loonar Station, 3142 Markway Road or 5801 Telegraph Road.

Designers channel love for the city into T-shirts.

Amato’s designs are online at www.jupmode.com.

One of JUPMODE’s 10 Toledo designs features the slogan “You will do better in Toledo.” Mayor Bell has worn the shirt to several recent events.

“For me that was really neat,” said Amato, who grew up in Sylvania and counts himself among those who chose to counteract Toledo’s “brain drain.”

“We aren’t here by default; we’re here because we like Toledo and see opportunities here,” Amato said. “I think the shirts like ‘You will do better in Toledo’ speak to a lot of people because it’s a positive message. These are people who are proud of Toledo and are happy to be here. They want a shirt that says that. You can’t show your pride for Toledo in any better way.” n T-SHIRTS CONTINUES ON 13

“I’m afraid those things’ll harm me/‘Cause they sure don’t act like Barney” — Weird Al, “Jurassic Park”

n T-SHIRTS CONTINUED FROM 12 Other JUPMODE designs feature references to Toledo history, including Buckeye Beer, the Lion Store, former NFL team the Toledo Maroons and UT football legend Chuck Ealey.

“There are a lot of really neat things that happened here that people may not be aware of,” Amato said. “I like to showcase that history. It gives people from Toledo a reason to be proud because our history really is significant.”

One of the earliest pro-Toledo shirts was actually made as a joke, said Jules Webster, a Toledo native and owner of Shine Ceramics.

Webster, a Toledo Free Press Star contributor, designed a shirt reading “Chicago doesn’t need you” for Ryan Bunch’s [performing and literary arts coordinator at the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo] birthday party last year only to get orders from members of City Council.

“They debuted as a joke and they sold out instantly,” said Webster, who later made a Portland version as well as a “Team Toledo” design.

Webster and Dana Syrek are opening The Art Supply Depo at 29 S. St. Clair St. on July 21.

Designer Matt Crouse is excited to see proToledo sentiment growing.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the first Toledo shirts; now there’s so many of them,” Crouse said. “It’s a pretty cool thing.”

Crouse’s family, who owns Erd Specialty Graphics and the Glass City Café, has designed seven Toledo shirts, most recently a depiction of the carousel at Walbridge Park.

The café sells shirts from several designers,

including Jemma Hostetler, whose shirt reads “I chose Toledo over your bulls--t city.”

Crouse said the shirts get plenty of attention, especially when he wears one while working.

“If I’m wearing someone’s shirt, I sell at least one, two, three shirts a night just by wearing it,” Crouse said.

Crouse said he sees Toledo pride spreading beyond Downtown and Old West End to all corners of the city.

“Years ago, it was embarrassing to say you were from Detroit; now people from Farmington Hills are proud to be from Detroit. I feel like that same thing is happening here,” Crouse said. “I think it’s started to spread. I think people are not as ashamed anymore. It’s becoming cool and kind of accepted to be from here.”

Max Reddish quit his factory job last year to open Reddish Printing, a screen printing shop he operates out of Reddish Sporting Goods, his family’s store in East Toledo.

He has since designed six Toledo T-shirts, including one stating “Boring people hate Toledo,” one with the word “Explore” above a map of Toledo and one depicting the Skyway Memorial Bridge that asks, “Does yours change color?”

Reddish, who sold his shirts out of a backpack until setting up shop at the Erie Street Market on Saturdays, said the shirts offer a Toledo pride alternative to Mud Hens gear.

“The only Toledo swag around for years has been Mud Hens stuff,” Reddish said. “That’s one of the main things I was hearing from people.

People love the area and they want to support it and they want to show their support, but there

5131 Heatherdowns Toledo, Ohio 419-381-2079

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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 13

hasn’t been anything around.”

Detroit native Joshua Kulpa came to the same realization. After moving to Toledo for work more than a year ago, Kulpa has fully embraced his adopted home.

“I just started to realize, wow, this was a city I’ve always wanted to live in,’” said Kulpa, citing nice people, gorgeous Metroparks, urban agriculture, a thriving art scene and “a real sense of community spirit.” “The city, just by every measure, is just one of the best cities I’ve ever been in, period.”

He wanted to buy a Toledo shirt to show his support; not finding one, he decided to make his own.

Kulpa’s design, which reads “Toledo Love” in stacked block letters, was inspired by New York City’s iconic “I (heart) NY” shirt.

“I know it’s become cliché now, but the original was a very real and genuine statement people felt and connected with,” Kulpa said. “I think we’re kind of at the same place where New York was when that shirt was made, when it still had the stigma of the ’70s on it. People were like ‘Why would you go to New York?’ But people were like ‘No, it’s fantastic.’ You might have to look a little deeper, but they realized it’s awesome.”

Lifelong Toledo resident Rachel Richardson, founder of Art Corner Toledo and co-founder and co-director of Independent Advocates, recently designed a shirt that reads, “When you’re famous ... tell them Toledo sent you.”

“I just feel like everyone in Toledo is so talented,” Richardson said. “I just feel like I personally am a product of Toledo and I hope everyone

Jules Webster

STAR PHOTO BY LISA STANG

else feels the same way. I hope we give Toledo and the surrounding area thanks for helping us achieve what we are achieving right now.”

Richardson, a Toledo Free Press Star contributor, said she is excited more people are embracing Toledo.

“I’m thrilled,” Richardson said. “I’ve got a whole drawer of Toledo T-shirts. It’s like my entire wardrobe, There’s so many unique messages, but they’re all basically saying the same thing, which is that Toledo is a really great place to live.” O

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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 Stewart Francke: 8 p.m. June 30, $15.

O Andre Williams & the Goldstars, Jon Langford and Skull Orchard: 8 p.m. July 1, $20.

O Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones: 8 p.m.

July 2, $22.

O Boulder Acoustic Society: 8 p.m. July 6, $15.

O Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers: 8 p.m.

July 7, $13.50.

O Gandalf Murphy & Slambovian Circus of Dreams: 8 p.m. July 8, $20.

Bar 145

This new venue features burgers, bands and bourbon, if its slogan is to be believed. 5304 Monroe St. bar145toledo.com.

O DJ J Wayne: Sundays.

O Mike and Ty: June 29.

O The Brave Youngsters: June 30.

O Swagg: July 1.

O The Brave Youngsters: July 2.

O Splendid Chaos: July 7.

Bitter End Restaurant & Bar

If you like your entertainment with a lake view, this may be your spot. 900 Anchor Pointe Road, Curtice. (419) 836-7044 or www.bitterendbar.com.

O Doug Allen, Becca Nease: July 8.

The Blarney Irish Pub

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 Kyle White: June 30.

Wino Wednesday s

Patio Now Open!

All Day Bar Specials Bar Top Only.

“Maple syrup and snow’s what they export” — Weird Al, “Canadian Idiot”

O Tru Brew: July 2.

O Rick Whited: July 7.

O The Bridges: July 8.

Blind Pig

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 Kaki King: 8 p.m. June 29.

O The Boys Themselves, the Kickstand Band, Jesse and the Gnome, Mick Bassett: 7 p.m.

June 30.

O Ann Arbor Soul Club, Robert Wells, Brad Hales: 9:30 p.m. July 1.

O Crazy Straws, the Mutt & the Man, Indigo, Vernon Tonges: 9:30 p.m. July 5.

O Celsius Electronics, D Squeeze x Man in Charge, Nickie P., Hir-o & Friends, Clavius Crates, Prhyme Rhyme Boss, DJ Cataclysmic: 9:30 p.m. July 7.

O Chris Webby, Ajax & the Midwest Connoisseurs: 8 p.m. July 8.

sino’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. East, Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www. caesarswindsor.com.

O Diana Krall: 9 p.m. July 1, $55.

O The Tragically Hip: 9 p.m. July 2, $50.

Centennial Terrace

This venue next to a quarry hosts dance parties, swing bands and rockers. 5773 Centennial Road, Sylvania. (419) 882-1500 or www. ticketmaster.com.

O Swingmania: 7-10:30 p.m. June 29, $8.

O The Johnny Knorr Orchestra: 7:30-11 p.m.

July 2, $10.

O Sylvania Star Spangled Celebration: July 3 (rain date July 4), $3-$5.

O Sheryl Crow: 8 p.m. July 5, $35.50-$60.50.

O Umphrey’s McGee: 8 p.m. July 7, $20.

Cheetah’s Den

2012 Adams St. (419) 243-1900.

O Deja Dellataro and Felaciana Thunderpussy: Thursdays-Saturdays.

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.

Bronze Boar

Dégagé Jazz Café

Bretz Bar

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 Open mic night with Chris Knopp: Mondays.

O Luke James: Tuesdays.

O Jerod: Wednesdays and Thursdays.

O Beg to Differ: July 1.

O Crucial 420: July 2.

O Stonehouse: July 8.

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. June 29 and July 6.

O Michael Peslikis: June 30.

O The B-Charmers: 7:30-11:30 p.m. July 1-2.

O Paul Vornhagen: 7:30-11:30 p.m. July 8-9.

Caesars Windsor

Karaoke is offered Tuesdays, but paid entertainers rock out Wednesdays-Saturdays. 4311

Consider hopping the Detroit River for this ca-

The Distillery

$5 or $10 OFF any bottle of wine!

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Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www. thedistilleryonline.com.

O Gregg Aranda: Tuesdays.

O Kyle White: June 29.

O DJ Brandon: June 30.

O Venyx: July 1-2.

O Ryan Dunlap: July 6.

O Calen Savidge: July 7.

O Booyah: July 8.

Fat Fish Blue

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 Arctic Clam: 9:30 p.m. July 8.

French Quarter J. Pat’s Pub

Live entertainment after 9:30 p.m. FridaysSaturdays. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg. (419) 874-3111 or www.hifq.com.

O Green Eyed Soul: July 1-2.

O The Late Show: July 8-9.

ICE Restaurant & Bar

This local, family-owned enterprise offers food, drinks and music in a sleek atmosphere. 405 Madison Ave. (419) 246-3339 or icerestaurantandbar.com.

O Thornetta Davis: 6 and 9 p.m. June 30, $20-$25.

O Dan and Don: 7 p.m. July 1.

O Berlin Brothers: 8 p.m. July 2 and 7 p.m. July 8.

JJ’s Pub

Live music is on Saturday’s menu; the genre varies, along with the cover charge. Karaoke is on tap 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, and a DJ starts spinning at 9 p.m. Fridays. 26611 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg. (419) 874-9058 or jjsperrysburg.com.

O John Barile and Bobby May: 8 p.m. June 28 and July 5.

Relax all Spring and Summer on our Patio.

Perfect for private parties, meetings and showers!

Seafood, flown in fresh from the Florida Keys Open for lunch and dinner For reservations call: Chicago Stockyard steaks, New Zealand baby lamb chops 419-866-5007 The Famous Margherita Pizza (Voted best by our guests) www.rosiesitaliangrille.com Judge’s Choice Award 2011 Chocolate Soirée 606 North McCord Rd.

Sunday through Thursday – All Appetizers Half Price! Bar Top Only.

Sunday through Thursday – All Gourmet Pizza Half Off! Bar Top Only.

Toledo, Ohio 43615

Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Friday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Saturday 12–11 p.m. Sunday 4 –9 p.m. *Subject to change

“Paying the bribes like yeah/plugging the leaks like yeah” — Weird Al, “Party in the CIA” Kerrytown Concert House

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 Louis Nagel: 8 p.m. July 6-7, 4 p.m. July 9-10.

Mainstreet Bar and Grill

Ronn Daniels performs weekly at this pub. 8-11 p.m. Thursdays, 141 Main St. (419) 697-6297 or www.toledomainstreet.com.

O Rock showcases: July 2 and 9.

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 The Eight Fifteens: 7 p.m. June 29.

O Quick Trio: 6 p.m. June 30 and July 7.

O Skip Turner Band: July 1.

O The Good, the Bad & the Blues: July 2.

O Sarah Cohen & Friends: July 8.

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 Justajunkie Films: 8 p.m. Thursdays.

O Josh Boyd: 8:30 p.m. July 1-2.

Mutz @ The Oliver House

This pub offers handcrafted brews … and live

entertainment. 27 Broadway. (419) 243-1302 or www.oh-maumeebaybrewingco.com.

O Open mic hosted by Breaking Ground: 10 p.m.

Wednesdays.

O Karaoke: 10 p.m. Thursdays.

O DJs Dirty Baby, APB, Russell Jones: Saturdays.

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 Jack’s Mannequin, Steel Train, Lady Danville: 6 p.m. July 6, $20.50.

One2 Lounge at Treo

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 15

Howling Summer of Fun on 107.7 the Wolf and 1077wolf.com!

The Howling Summer of Fun continues on 107.7 The Wolf brought to you by FOX Toledo!

Raceway Park is our next stop for the

Robinwood Concert House

Live music starts at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com.

O The Staving Chain: July 1.

O MightHaveBen: July 2.

A home for the avant garde and untraditional, this Old West End venue hosts artists on the experimental end of the musical rainbow. 9 p.m., 2564 Robinwood Ave. $5 donation. www.toledobellows.wordpress.com.

O Trevor Watts, Veryan Weston: June 29, $10.

Ottawa Tavern

Spicy Tuna

Casual meals with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com.

O Little Black Mess: 10 p.m. July 1.

O Black Irish, Frank & Jesse: 10 p.m. July 2.

O Album, Superpredator: 10 p.m. July 7.

O Way Yes: 10 p.m. July 8.

Pizza Papalis

Get slices with a topping of entertainment. 519 Monroe St. (419) 244-7722 or www.pizzapapalis.com.

O Kyle White: July 1.

O Brynn & Emma: July 2.

O Zak Shafer: July 8.

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 Brian Bocian: 7-11 p.m. June 30.

Stella’s

Nouveau cuisine gets a helping of music Thursdays through Saturdays. 104 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 873-8360 or www.stellasrestaurantandbar.com.

O C.J. Manning, Charlene Ransom: June 30.

Texaco Country Showdown! Check out live racing and the final qualifying round this Saturday at 6 p.m.! Live entertainment from Hoozier Daddy too! O

O Eddie Molina, Karen Harris: July 1, 8.

O CJ Manning, Marcia Jones: July 2.

O Eddie Molina, Charlene Ransom: July 7.

Tequila Sheila’s

A corner bar-type hangout with DJ-provided tunes on Saturday nights. 702 Monroe St. (419) 241-1118.

O Open mic with Jason Kelley: 9 p.m. Thursdays.

O Hip-hop night: 9 p.m. Fridays.

The Village Idiot

Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281, (419) 740-2395 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com.

O Old West End Productions: Wednesdays.

O Bob Rex: Sunday afternoons.

O The Eight Fifteens: Sunday evenings.

O Frank May, Ben Barefoot: Mondays.

O Mark Mikel Band: Tuesdays.

O Whitey Morgan and the 78s: July 29.

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Patio Now Open

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Gay Galvin Trio

419-794-8205

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16 n JUNE 29, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

” Use it for spackle or bathroom grout” — Weird Al, “Spam”

Raceway Park is Summer’s Best Bet for Entertainment!

July 2nd Party @ The Park

featuring

Come to 107.7 The Wolf Texaco Country Showdown Preliminaries at Raceway Park Saturday, July 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Hoozier Daddy The fun begins at 5 p.m.

Upcoming Shows July 9: Hoozier Daddy July 16: The Chris Brown Band July 23: Hoozier Daddy

5700 Telegraph Road

419.476.7751

www.racewayparktoledo.com

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM THE MANGO TREE!

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The Village Idiot (cont).

O Wilbur Shaw, Saint Bernadette: June 30.

O Wilbur Shaw: July 1.

O Bobby May & Dry Bones Revival: July 8.

Webber’s Waterfront Restaurant

This Point Place eatery hosts weekly entertainment on its patio with a river view. 6339 Edgewater Drive (734) 723-7411 or www. webbersrestaurant.samsbiz.com.

O Elixer: July 3.

Wesley’s Bar & Grill

A huge variety of beers helps wash down the entertainment. 1201 Adams St. (419) 255-3333 or wesleysbar.com.

O DJs Folk, Mattimoe and Perrine: Fridays.

O Todd Perrine and guests: July 2.

Woodchucks

The place to go for an eclectic mix of people and music. 224 S. Erie St. (419) 241-3045.

O Karaoke: Wednesdays.

Zia’s

This Italian restaurant hosts magician Andrew Martin on Sunday nights. The restaurant is open 4-9 p.m. Sundays, The Docks, 20 Main St. (419) 697-7138, (888) 456-3463 or www. ziasrestaurant.com.

Brown Bag Summer Concert Series

Grab your ham (or veggie) sandwiches and listen to some tunes while you digest. Vendors will be on hand for those who forget to pack! 12:15-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays, north lawn of Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

O Deep Water: June 29.

O Stephen Woolley: July 6.

Top of the Park

Part of Ann Arbor’s Summer Festival, these events feature lots of music and the occasional movie. Additional activities for kids (and their adults) are held at nearby locations. 5 p.m. (unless noted), University of Michigan’s Ingalls Mall, East Washington Street near Fletcher Street, Ann Arbor. (734) 994-5999 or www.annarborsummerfestival.org.

O Los Gatos, Zap Toro: 6:30 p.m. June 29.

O Nervous but Excited, Chris Bathgate: 6:30 p.m. June 30.

O Hannah Winkler, Dave Boutette & John Latini, Lady Sunshine & the X-Band, Third Coast Kings, DJ Special K: July 1.

O Hana Malhas, Joe Summers Gypsy Jazz Trio, Rusty Wright Band, Thornetta Davis, powdrblu: July 2.

O Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too; Recess Monkey, the Ultrasounds: 4:30 p.m. July 3.

O Tree City and the ContraBand, the Terraplanes: 6:30 p.m. July 5.

O One Love Reggae Band, Rupa & the April Fishes: 6:30 p.m. July 6.

O Carolyn Striho Group, the Juliets: 6:30 p.m. July 7.

O Dixon’s Violin, Timothy Monger, Nadir, Foundation of Funk with Valerie Barrymore Teddy Ruck-Spin: July 8.

Lunch at Levis Square concert series Downtown

Toledo

Improvement

District

conspires to set lunch to music. Noon-1:30 Thursdays through Aug. 25, Levis Square, North St. Clair Street and Madison Avenue.

(419) 249-5494.

O Barcode Band: June 30.

O Johnny Reed & the Houserockers: July 7.

Music at the Market

Weekly concerts will pierce the summer heat. 7 p.m. Thursdays, Commodore Park, Louisiana and E. Indiana avenues. (419) 873-2787 or www. perrysburgarts.org.

O Hepcat Revival: July 7.

Jazz in the Garden

Take in some swing and smooth tunes among the swaying flowers. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, July 7-Sept. 8, Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Dr. $6-$8; $48-$64 for season pass. (419) 536-5566 or toledogarden.org.

O Toledo Jazz Orchestra: July 7.

Party at the Park

The track hosts concerts before the evening’s harness races. 5 p.m. Saturdays, Raceway Park, 5700 Telegraph Rd. $2. (419) 476-7751 or www. racewayparktoledo.com.

Ann Arbor Summer Festival mainstage events

Where other events at this seasonal soiree are free, these shows require ducats. Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. (734) 764-2538, (734) 994-5999 or www. annarborsummerfestival.org.

O k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang, the Belle Brigade: 8 p.m. July 1, Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor. $35-$75.

O Taylor Mac’s “Comparison Is Violence, or The Ziggy Stardust Meets Tiny Tim Songbook”: 8 p.m. July 2, Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor. $25.

Swingmania

With its focus on swing music, Jeff McDonald’s group of musicians provides a peek into another era, with music from bandleaders such as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, the Dorseys and more. With combos from trio to full orchestra, the performers provide music for all occasions. (419) 708-0265, (419) 8740290 or www.swingmania.org.

O Swing Revival Party: 8 p.m. Thursdays, South Briar Restaurant, 5147 S. Main St., Sylvania.

(419) 517-1111 or (419) 708-0265.

O Big Band All Stars: Dancing is encouraged.

8-10:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Trotter’s Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 381-2079 or (419) 708-0265.

O Prefireworks show: 8-9:30 p.m. July 3, Fort Meigs, Perrysburg.

O Dinner/dance: 8-11 p.m. July 8, Maumee Elks lodge.

Kevin Devine

This award-winning singer-songwriter will lead a family singalong program called “Great Lakes, Great Songs.” www.toledolibrary.org.

O 1:30 p.m. June 29, McMaster Center, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207.

O 4 p.m. June 29, Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave. (419) 259-5370.

“I’ve got more chins than Chinatown” — Weird Al, “Fat”

Club Friday

Some of the city’s most talented performers entertain museum-goers during TMA’s It’s Friday events. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Cloister, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

O Blind Bobby Smith & Princess Tiona: July 1.

O The Handshakes: July 8.

Red, White, Kaboom

A series of shows by acts of varied genres will get crowds in the patriotic mood. Admission is free before 4 p.m., $3 after. Promenade Park, 1 Water St., west bank of the Maumee River.

O Frontiers (Journey) tribute: 9-11 p.m. July 1.

O U.S. Navy Cruisers: 12:30-2 p.m. July 2.

O Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: 9:45-11 p.m. July 2.

O Steel Heads: 3:30-5 p.m. July 3.

O Universal Expression: 5:30-6:30 p.m. July 3.

O Alexander Zonjic: 7-8:30 p.m. July 3.

Boomfest

Verandah Concerts

The Glass City Dixieland Band will perform along the stately porch of the presidential center. 6:45-8 p.m. July 6, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Spiegel Grove, Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. (419) 332-2081, (800) 998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

Sunset Serenades: Bob Wurst

A summer series that capitalizes on Olander Park’s lake views and natural accompaniment (geese and ducks are known to sing backup).

7 p.m.-dusk July 6, Nederhouser Community Hall, Olander Park, 6930 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. $3 parking for non-Sylvania School District residents (or park at nearby Tam-oShanter and walk in). (419) 882-8313 or www. olanderpark.com.

Noon Tunes: Jeff Tucker and On the Beach

Entertainment will kickstart Oregon’s patriotic celebration. July 3, Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Road, Oregon.

O Kentucky Chrome: 3-5:30 p.m.

O Mustang Sally: 6-8:30.

O The Websters: 9-midnight.

Nature and the Toledo Metroparks’ stately manor house provide the backdrops for this series of outdoor concerts. Picnickers are welcome. Noon July 8, Wildwood Preserve Metropark, gazebo on the manor house lawn, 5100 W. Central Ave. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Independence Day concert

Summer Jam

The Toledo Symphony Concert Band will perform in honor of America’s 235th birthday.

2-3:30 p.m. July 4, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Spiegel Grove, Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. (419) 332-2081, (800) 998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

Some of hip-hop and rap’s hottest acts — Young Jeezy, Plies, Travis Porter, Gorilla Zoe and Lloyd — will hit the Huntington Center stage. 7:30 p.m. July 8, 500 Jefferson Ave. $89.50-$100. (419) 321-5007, (800) 745-3000 or www.huntingtoncentertoledo.com.

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 17

BG & MORE

BOWLING GREEN

The Happy Badger

This shop features fair trade foods and natural products, including talent, which will be featured in a series of musical brunches and dinnertime entertainment. 331 N. Main St., Bowling Green.

(419) 352-0706 or www.happybadger.com.

O INDIEpenDANCE Day: 3 p.m. July 2.

Wood County Historical Center & Museum

Check out this rural jewel’s exhibits and tour the buildings to see demonstrations using historic equipment. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 1-4 p.m. weekends through Oct. 30 (closed holidays), Wood County Historical Center & Museum, 13360 County Home Road, Bowling Green. $1-$4. (419) 352-0967 or www.woodcountyhistory.org.

Butterflies

Visitors will learn about and look for summer’s light flyers. 2 p.m. July 2, W.W. Knight Nature Center, 29530 White Road, Perrysburg. Register: (419) 6611697 or reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org.

Paddle the Pond

Beginners to experienced canoers are invited to give the pond a try with provided equipment. 4-8 p.m.

July 5, W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, 29530 White Road, Perrysburg. (419) 661-1697 or wcparks.org.

Wildflower Wednesdays

Native bloomers color the season, inviting but-

terflies and us to explore the fields and prairies.

6:30 p.m. July 6, Cricket Frog Cove, Slippery Elm Trail, Freyman Road, west of Rudolph Road, Cygnet. Register: (419) 661-1697 or reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org.

Sorbet Soirée

Get a taste of something icy, smooth … and herbed. Visitors will get hints on how to make their own scrumptious scoops. 7 p.m. July 7, Summer Kitchen Interiors, 4702 W. Route 6, Helena. $12. Register: (419) 638-4205 or www.summerkitcheninteriors.com.

Breeding Birds

Visitors will learn which birds are left after the spring migrants have passed through.

7 p.m. July 7, Cricket Frog Cove, Slippery Elm Trail, Freyman Road, west of Rudolph Road, Cygnet. Register: (419) 661-1697 or reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org.

Lunch in the Park

A local restaurant will offer nibbles while performers do their thing. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, Martin and Kiwanis shelters, Bowling Green City Park, 417 City Park Dr., Bowling Green. (419) 354-6223 or www.bgohio.org/ departments/parks-and-recreation.

O Tapestry: July 8.

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Veggie U Food and Wine Celebration brings celebrity chefs to rural Ohio.

By Amy Campbell

FRENCH QUARTER

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Foodie fantasy

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Toledo Free Press Star Food Editor star@toledofreepress.com

Many people, even your average foodie, might be surprised that the Culinary Vegetable Institute (CVI) exists at all, much less that it exists in Milan, Ohio, population 1,300 give-ortake, four miles and a world away from the Ohio Turnpike. Ordinarily one could drive right by without even noticing it, except for one Saturday in July, when the Veggie U Food and Wine Celebration turns the CVI into a culinary hot spot glittering with star chefs.

The CVI is the research and development arm of The Chef ’s Garden, a family farm just a few miles south that has provided naturally grown vegetables, herbs and microgreens to chefs all over the world for nearly 30 years.

In 2003 it established Veggie U, a science curriculum that provides a hands-on, seed-toharvest experience to fourth-grade and special needs classrooms, which encourages healthy food choices by making the connection between what we eat and how it’s grown. The annual Food and Wine Celebration raises money to support Veggie U, and calls on some of The Chef ’s Garden’s most faithful — and famous — customers to do it.

July 16, 2011 marks the ninth Food and Wine Celebration, and the list of guest gourmets is a foodie fantasy come to life. It includes TV regulars Aaron Sanchez (“Chopped,” “The Next Iron Chef,” “Top Chef Masters”) and Amanda Freitag (“Chopped,” “Iron Chef America,” “The Next Iron Chef ”); industry insider and recent “Top Chef Masters” judge Ruth Reichl; Chipotle founder Steve Ells; and ice cream innovator Jeni Britton Bauer, founder of Columbus-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

In addition to the celebrities, who will participate in or preside over demonstrations and cook-offs, 44 chefs from around the country will ensure that guests enjoy fresh, creative and beautiful dishes at the event’s grand tasting. Thirty stations will serve small plate specialties, from soups to desserts and everything in between, using produce donated by The Chef ’s Garden. Wines from a variety of vintners will also be available to taste, and those interested in expanding their wine knowledge couldn’t do better than attending the wine-tasting class taught by Serafin Alvarado, master sommelier.

The Food and Wine Celebration is the only fundraiser for the Veggie U program, which has delivered more than 1,800 classroom kits in 26 states. The goal is to provide the curriculum to all 93,000 fouth-grade classrooms in the U.S. It’s a goal the guest chefs wholeheartedly support, as evidenced by the fact that they donate their appearances at the Food and

Inside the Institute, dozens of sous chefs prepare the celebration’s offerings.

STAR PHOTO BY AMY CAMPBELL

Wine Celebration. Jeni Britton Bauer, known for her unique ice cream flavors that are as likely to feature vegetables and herbs as fruit or confections, believes Veggie U is reaching children the right way.

“There’s always a lot of talk and preaching geared toward kids when it comes to healthful eating,” Britton Bauer said. “But with the Veggie U program, kids actually get to grow and eat alternatives to chips and nacho cheese. Veggie U walks the walk.”

All profits from ticket sales go to Veggie U, and additional opportunities to support the program will be available throughout the evening, including a silent auction, followed by a live auction offering exotic trips and culinary experiences to the highest bidders. The Veggie U Food and Wine Celebration runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $145 per person, or $125 each for blocks of 10. The event’s VIP pre-party, an opportunity for just 50 ticket holders to mingle with the celebrity chefs, takes place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the pre-party are $500 per person or $400 each for blocks of 10, and include the grand tasting.

For more information on the celebration, visit www.VeggieUFoodandWine.com. O

Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

The time is swiftly approaching when comic shop owners must decide what to buy — and how many — from among DC Comics’ linewide September relaunch. You can help your favorite shop by letting them know which titles you’d like to sample, for most factor in their customers’ feedback when making those ohso-important monthly inventory purchases.

Some of DC’s new books are no-brainers, standard superhero fare that pleases across the reader spectrum, while others are, let’s say, more eclectic. Here are a few examples of some of the DC square pegs that may fail to find their place on the board.

O Batwing — Basically, a black Batman in Africa. Culled from a one-page appearance in a 1970s issue, this hero’s going to have to fight an uphill battle to win his spurs. Minority headliner characters rarely find their niche in today’s market, and the exotic locale of the Dark Continent might look good on paper but might not speak to Westerners. It’s superhero hijinks with a good chance of pretension.

O Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. — A monstrous protagonist, who works for a strange government agency, investigates and battles weird forces. Sounds like Hellboy, doesn’t it?

Pretty sure it does to DC, too, but that’s not stopping the publisher from attempting to carve out

its own version of the famous monster investigator. There are several horror books on DC’s new schedule, but this one seems to be treading more familiar ground.

O Demon Knights — A medieval romp with eldritch energies to spare. DC has had a tiny stable of medieval-era characters that stretches back to the 1950s — when better to throw them against the wall to see if they’ll stick? Without a doubt, this book has to be one of the true long-shots of the relaunch, but fortunately it has British writer Paul Cornell holding the reins and guiding its magicked suits of armor across the thorny fields.

O Blackhawks — An international team of soldiers use cutting-edge weapons to wage war against terrorists — in other words, DC’s version of G.I. Joe. The original Blackhawks were creatures of the 1940s and ’50s, but this new group will probably be even more diverse in terms of race, gender and creed, along with what sounds like “home-grown” terrorist opponents. That’s so much “safer” than the pesky problem of foreign extremists, of course.

O All-Star Western — Horror, War, Knights and now ... a Western. Yep, DC’s pulled out all stops to insure its new line has a bit of everything that once made up the comics industry’s bread-and-butter. This one’s got Jonah Hex in the saddle and a Gotham City milieu; hey, maybe that could actually work ... O

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“Mercury” Hayes and LaVale “Adonis” Stewart, they have good reason.

The people who run the UGE label do everything they can to ensure the success of their artists. They understand that perception is reality, so their outward appearance is immaculate. On June 18, rapper and UGE signee T Diamond celebrated his birthday at The Listening.

The room was packed, lots of different kinds of artists performed and there was never a dull moment.

T Diamond showed up fashionably late (fashion included), and was immediately shouted-out.

The thing that’s most impressive about UGE as a label is that it listen. Yes, the Listening is ultimately a platform to practice and showcase UGE artists, but the heads of the label aren’t afraid to ask questions, gather information, research their markets and remain inquisitive about the business in which they’re trying to succeed. After some of their performances, I’ve even been asked “What can I improve on?”

So often, artists, managers or labels as a whole acquire a little local fame and forget that they don’t know everything that it takes to be successful on a larger scale. This is not the case with UGE; it hosts special listening sessions with esteemed people who can constructively critique its work, and they have no problem implementing the changes it has to take place.

Are there some areas that need work? Of course. But the Listening is the perfect place to fix them before the artists perform in front of an audience that won’t be as polite. A lot of people, not just artists, could learn a lot from the example that UGE is setting. When an avenue is not opened for what you are trying to do, open it up yourself. O

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ho would’ve thought it possible to allow a roomful of unknown artists to hone their skills without the fear of criticism?

UGE thought so.

The Toledo label is home to some of the most talented artists in the area, and instead of hosting club nights, it decided to kill two birds with one stone, by introducing its artists to people who can get them ahead while giving its artists a chance to practice its performances.

LIL One thing UGE prides itself on is standing out from the cliché of rappers and R&B artists who have no real meaning in their music. Some people may be turned off by this, but the people who can put them in better positions hear them loud and clear.

With all the production for the artists done in-house, and a lot of the artists writing their own music, UGE has the components for a winning formula.

Every Saturday, the Truth Gallery provides an eclectic atmosphere filled with poets, HipHop artists, singers, dancers and anyone else with talent. The people in the crowd are mature enough to understand that while some artists are polished, others are just getting started, so there is no judgment (unless you really deserve to be laughed at). But the audience is also loosened up enough to laugh and have a good time. They call it “The Listening.”

When people expect excellence, others looking in can assume the group is stuck-up, but the artists on UGE are probably some of the most down-to-earth people in the business.

They work full-time jobs, take care of their families and never give up on their dreams. And with a support group like the label’s CEOs Michael

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Catch “Jedi of Pop Culture” Jeff McGinnis Tuesday mornings on 92.5 KISS-FM.

Alpocalypse Now I

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 2, No. 26 Established 2010.

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n a world where the expiration date on pop artists is just a hair longer than Andy Warhol’s proverbial 15 minutes, Weird Al Yankovic’s 30-year longevity is remarkable. It’s also simple to understand: He’s very, very good at what he does. Maybe the best.

For fans of “novelty” music, a passion for Weird Al seems to be common ground. Al’s JEFF ability to digest and emulate a wide variety of styles and artists, from a wide variety of eras, means that no matter what kind of music you love, Al has you covered.

Consider his new album, “Alpocalypse.” The CD’s parodies include the usual smattering of takeoffs on modern performers, from Taylor Swift to T.I., from Miley Cyrus to, of course, Lady Gaga. But then consider his original songs, which most Al connoisseurs consider his best work. Here, Yankovic’s musical stylings emulate such diverse influences as Jim Morrison, Weezer, Queen, Meat Loaf and more.

Each of these songs can be enjoyed on its own merits, for the inventiveness of Al’s lyrics and music. But once you catch on to what he’s doing, and how each song throws in small digs at and tributes to the artists he is needling, a whole new level of appreciation opens up. Yankovic’s work appeals greatly to young audiences, but the adults listening can get even more out of it, as long as they are paying attention.

Like “Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me,” his epic album-closer inspired by the works of Jim Steinman. On a surface level, the song is a tremendous piece of observational humor digging at all sorts of obnoxious email forwards (“your quotes from George Carlin aren’t really George Carlin”), one which anyone can relate to. Then you notice how pitch-perfect his emulation of Steinman’s musical stylings are, up to and including overpowering piano backups and endlessly repeated refrains. (After the title has been sung ten times in a row, Al adds, “At the risk of being slightly repetitious ... ”) But the needling is never mean-spirited or cruel, which explains Al’s popularity among his fellow musicians. Most consider it a great honor to be the target of a Yankovic parody.

(Some, like Kurt Cobain, said they knew they had made it when they were featured.) “Craigslist,” this album’s lovingly styled parody of The Doors, even features keyboard work from original member Ray Manzarek.

Oddly, the least successful song on the album is the one which has drawn the most attention —the Lady Gaga parody “Perform This Way.”

Despite the quasi-controversy about the track leading up to its release, the song itself doesn’t have a lot of insight into the Gaga phenomenon beyond the fact that she dresses funny. I kept expecting a verse to address how much the track sounds like Madonna’s “Express Yourself ” or something. Nothing on the level of Al’s hilarious and biting “(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long” or even “Smells Like Nirvana.”

But the rest of the parodies more than pick up the slack. The Swift satire “TMZ” takes hilarious aim at the culture of celebrity trashdigging, while not letting the stars themselves entirely off the hook. (“It’s getting to the point where a famous person can’t/Get a DUI or go on a racist rant.”) Cyrus parody “Party in the CIA” marries its artist’s youthful naivete with a delightfully incongruous subject. And Al’s version of T.I.’s

mCGINNIS

POP GOES THE

CULTURE

New Yankovic album another chapter of hilarity.

“Whatever You Want” takes aim at pretending to live large when “our economy is in the toilet.”

If there’s a problem with the album, it’s only that we’ve heard some of these tracks before, as five of the songs were released two years ago on the web-only EP “Internet Leaks.” Al fans who picked that up will get only seven new songs, but when the quality of said tracks is so high, that’s not a major problem — especially if one springs for the album’s deluxe version, which features full animated music videos for ten of the songs. And I don’t mind having the older songs again, now that they’ve been put in their proper place as a whole release. (As a theater major, “Skipper Dan” is a big and disquietingly on-target favorite.)

Yankovic is an artist — yes, an artist — who deserves more respect than he gets from a lot of pop culture sources. Many feel they can write him off as a novelty, but novelties don’t get three decades of staying power. His fans remain loyal, with new ones added each musical generation.

And it’s undeniable that many of his parodies — stylistic and otherwise — age much better than the songs they emulate. “Alpocalypse” is another fun chapter in one of the most unfairly unsung musical careers in modern history. O Email Jeff at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.

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“I sure hope I do better next weekend on ‘The Price is Right’.” — Weird Al, “I Lost on Jeopardy”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 29, 2011 n 23

24 n JUNE 29, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“You better chow down or it’s gonna get cold, so eat it, just eat it!” — Weird Al, “Eat It”