Toledo Free Press STAR – Oct. 12, 2011

INSIDE: 1Matters n Miss USA n Poetry Page

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OCT. 12, 2011

The Haunting Tour the region’s scariest haunted houses ... if you dare.

2 n OCT. 12, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

Exceptionally tall parents tend to have shorter children! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”

CONCERTS: 1Matters benefit planned 4 SPEAKERS: Everyone is gay speakers 6 FOOD: Restaurant Week returns 7 Halloween: Adrian’s The Haunting 8 Halloween: Leaders in Napoleon 10 THE PULSE: Calendar of events 14 Poetry: Dorsey and Lipman 18 COOKING: All in the timing 20

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Dimensions of Darkness in Maumee • Robert Ripley of ‘Believe it or not’ • Miss USA, Alyssa campanella oct. 12, 2011 • Episode 2 Chapter 41 • Toledo Free Press Star, Toledo, OH: Barnaby Marmaduke Aloysius Benjy Cobweb Dartagnan Egbert Felix Gaspar Humbert Ignatius Jayden Kasper Leroy Maximilian Neddy Obiajulu Pepin Quilliam Rosencrantz Sexton Teddy Upwood Vivatma Wayland Xylon Yardley Zachary Usansky is a resident of Scotland! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

Walleye use social networking to ice competition

By Brigitta Burks TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

As the Toledo Walleye practiced for the upcoming hockey season, Nathan Steinmetz was busy getting the word out via Twitter, Facebook and smartphone applications.

Steinmetz, manager of online marketing and ticket sales for the Walleye, said the team has become an industry leader for social media usage.

With more than 28,000 Facebook fans, the Walleye have the most fans of any team in the ECHL. With about 2,900 Twitter followers, they come in second behind the Cincinnati Cyclones.

“It seems like I get a couple calls a month from different minor league teams asking where we are and what our strategy is,” Steinmetz said.

More than 1,000 fans have downloaded the free Walleye application for iPhones, released in January, which features stats, a roster and promotional info, Steinmetz said. WCWA 1230 is also a part of the iheartradio app, allowing fans to listen to games on their smartphones. Steinmetz is currently working on an application for Droid phones, although it won’t be ready for the start of the season. He expects a mobile version of the Walleye website to be available by the time the first puck drops.

“The one thing we’re looking to release by start of season is the mobile version of the site.

So basically, when people visit the Walleye on mobile it’s formatted for their device and allows for easier navigation,” Steinmetz said.

Steinmetz is also in the process of planning a Social Media Night, slated for March 23. At last year’s event, fans were able to see their tweets displayed on the screen overhead and participate in trivia games and contests.

“It was neat last year. We had hundreds and hundreds of posts on our Twitter and Facebook page,” Steinmetz said.

Steinmetz typically crafts about three to four Facebook posts per day, including promotional offers, questions for fans and videos, such as recent time-lapse footage of the ice rink being filled.

“A lot of thought goes into what goes in there and what goes out there,” Steinmetz said.

During games, the Walleye rely more on Twitter than Facebook. Typically, Jason Griffin, director of public and media relations for the Walleye, or a member of his team tweet from the press box. Facebook and Twitter have also become a means for fans to express their opinions, whether it’s about a play or a song or a food item at the game.

“It can be positive and it can be negative, but we’re just happy they’re talking about the team,” Steinmetz said. “In the past, we have taken fans’ opinions into account in terms of promotion and music played at the game.”

Joe Napoli, president and general manager of the Walleye, agreed, saying the team welcomes comments from fans.

“Social media has certainly changed the way we are able to communicate with our fans and maybe, more importantly, how they can communicate with us,” Napoli said in an email. “We thoroughly enjoy that unique interaction with our fans and some of their suggestions have been implemented in order to enrich the experience of coming to a game.”

Social media also allows the front office team to notify fans of changes in events when there’s no time to put out an advertisement.

Social media has become a major part of both the Walleye and the Mud Hens’ promotions.

“Compared to other teams, we were pretty

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Nathan Steinmetz is manager of online marketing and ticket sales for the Walleye.

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early to adopt the technology,” Steinmetz said, noting the Walleye Twitter and Facebook pages went up around late 2008. “It’s hard to believe it’s only been a few years and how big a chunk of the marketing efforts it has become.”

The Mud Hens have nearly 45,000 Facebook fans and almost 7,000 Twitter followers, Steinmetz said. More than 11 million fans viewed the Mud Hens’ Facebook page in 2010, while about 6 million viewed the Walleye page. However, Steinmetz and Griffin noted hockey fans are more interactive with social

media even though they’re outnumbered.

“Given the intensity of hockey, a lot of our fans are a little more vocal on social media,” Griffin said. “The nature of the game of baseball is a little more laid-back with a longer season.”

Steinmetz agreed.

“With Walleye, there’s a lot more passion,” he said. “The fans are more invested in the teams and organization and they really like to talk about it.

We’ve even seen some fans who have kind of met each other through social media and now they go to games together and hang out together.” O

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A corn kernel bursts at 132 pounds per inch, making popcorn! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

Musicians unite for 1Matters concert

Pat Lewandowski has served organization for the unhoused since 1990.

By Jason Mack Toledo Free Press Star Web Editor jmack@toledofreepress.com

Toledo blues guitarist Pat Lewandowski is increasing his involvement with 1Matters with a performance Oct. 14 in the “Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party.”

His love for the blues began in 1967 when he first heard the album “Raw Blues.”

“It was all people out in Great Britain like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, back when they all used to play the blues still, and John Mayall,” Lewandowski said. “I heard that and I really liked it. The stuff knocked me out the first day I heard it. I started looking at the credits on the record label. I started going back and looking for records from those guys. Everybody in my neighborhood played Beatles music, so if you wanted to play with cats in the neighborhood you had to play The Beatles. I shied away from that as much as possible. I wanted to play loud and played blues all through high school.”

Lewandowski has spent much of his career bouncing between bands and performing solo, but in the ’70s and ’80s he played with his brother for a few years in the Snooz Blues Band.

“We had a ball,” Lewandowski said. “My brother Jake played stand-up bass and Don Hayward played guitar and harmonica with us. We did that for quite some time. We used to play at the old Soup Kitchen Saloon in Detroit. We played together six or seven years. It was just fun. It was guys I liked whose musicianship I admired. That was basically it. We’d just show up, drink beer, flirt with girls and play the blues.”

The highest-profile performance for the Snooz Blues Band came in 1980 when it played at the Republican National Convention in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena.

“We didn’t really fit in, as you might suspect,” Lewandowski said. “Never having been a registered Republican, I had some things to

say from the stage that probably were not wellreceived. It was fun. As people do at conventions, they were drinking heavily and carrying on and eventually we pulled them over to our side, musically if not ideologically.”

Lewandowski has also pulled the Black Swamp Blues Society over to his side musically, with six wins in the 14 years of the Black Swamp Battle of the Bands.

“It’s good exposure for the Black Swamp Blues Society, and it’s good for the musicians,” Lewandowski said. “A lot of the musicians have, not a cutthroat attitude, but an attitude of, ‘Hey, you’re poaching my gig.’ To bring them all together and play, have a group of independent judges mostly from out of town to judge people strictly on blues content and talent, it gives everybody a look at themselves that they wouldn’t normally take. You look in the mirror and see a handsome guy. Somebody else doesn’t see you as quite so handsome. It’s good for the blues society and LaVonne Kujawa. She’s been the president for the last few years. She just works her ass off for it. She does a great job.”

The winner of the Black Swamp Battle of the Bands advances to represent Toledo in the International Blues Talent Competition in Memphis, Tenn.

“Going to Memphis is always fun,” Lewandowski said. “I’ve never won in Memphis, but it’s a paid vacation basically. It’s kind of hard to go wrong. I don’t do the networking and stuff like that. I’m not really concerned about my future as a money-making musician. Hell, I’m 58-yearsold. I just go down there and have some fun and play what I like. I’ve gone down there and played all original music. I’ve gone down there and done slide work. It’s whatever pops into my head at any given moment. I always tell people, ‘I’m driving the bus. You can get on it, fine. If you don’t want to get on it, that’s OK, too.’”

Plenty of people have been getting on the bus

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Pat Lewandowski at a Tent City concert.

PHOTO COURTESY 1MATTERS

including the Toledo Rock Rhythm and Blues Festival, which honored Lewandowski with the Little Walter Mitchell Award in 2000.

“That was truly special,” Lewandowski said.

“I met Walter years ago down at the old Peacock Café. I was sitting in with The Griswolds, and I was not doing well with them. They had their own idiosyncratic way of counting measures.

I was getting pretty frustrated. Walter came up and said, ‘Why don’t you just back me up?’ I did.

He was a delightful little guy. He made me feel a whole lot better about my playing. To have the award named after him is an honor in itself because he was sweet. He said, ‘Come on, let’s go to South Carolina and make $10 a night.’ I was like, ‘Sure, let’s go.’ It was very nice of the people who give out that award to consider me for it, let alone give it to me. I guess it mostly shows I’ve just been

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around a long time and I’m not going away.”

Lewandowski is also not going away from 1Matters. He has served as the musical director for Tent City since 1990.

“I’ve been involved with them a long time,” Lewandowski said. “It’s something that I wish we didn’t have to do. I keep telling [1Matters founder Ken Leslie] every year, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to do Tent City again?’ It’s a grassroots organization. You certainly can’t count on the government assistance for the people who need it. It’s up to us to take care of each other and that’s what 1Matters does. That’s why I admire them.”

“Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party” is Oct. 14 at The Blarney Bullpen from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $5. The Blarney Bullpen is located at 601 Monroe St. O

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Musician Candice Coleman: ‘1Matters is an amazing organization.’

By Jason Mack Toledo Free Press Star Web Editor jmack@toledofreepress.com

Candice Coleman has made a point of helping others with her music since leaving the second season of “American Idol” in 2003. In addition to her involvement with the 1Matters event Tent City, Coleman is performing Oct. 14 in the “Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party.”

“1Matters is an amazing organization,” Coleman said. “The thing about them that is really awesome is they are actually out there walking the walk. They aren’t just talking the talk. Everything is volunteer. Anything that comes in goes to the actual program. It’s not like they are paying people and nobody is pulling any money. Not too many nonprofits do that. They are truly a nonprofit.”

Coleman auditioned in Detroit for the second season of “American Idol” after her friend Brookelynn Meyers talked her into going.

The Start High School graduate advanced with her performance of “At Last” by Etta James and made it to the top 32.

“It was very stressful and also very fun,” Coleman said. “It’s a unique experience. You get to know who you’re competing with. You build relationships and come to like them a lot because you are spending every waking moment with them.”

After leaving “American Idol,” Coleman returned home to her son and continued writing songs and playing music.

“I play on average two or three times

a week at local places with Chris Brown,” Coleman said. “I’m also in a blues band here in town called Buck69. I do stuff at Tent City every year, usually playing on Friday or Saturday night. I lead my praise band at church.

Incidentally, we also do the worship service on Sunday at Tent City every year.”

Buck69 is a seven-piece blues rock band formed by the father and son duo of Tom and Alex Clawson. Coleman has been friends with the Clawson family since she was 15 years old. In 2008, the band’s album “When She Whispers Your Name” was a Grammy finalist in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category. The band was also a nominee for the Texas Roots Music Association Entertainer of the Year in 2008.

Coleman is playing Oct. 14 with local musician Chris Brown. They will play what she described as an “eclectic mix” of blues, classic rock, New Orleans music and ballads, and the performance will be mostly cover songs.

“Toledo Streets Birthday Benefit and Pub Party” is Oct. 14 at The Blarney Bullpen from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $5. The Blarney Bullpen is located at 601 Monroe St. “The thing that’s really cool about having the gift of music is there is so much you can do with it to help people,” Coleman said. “You don’t realize how impactful and how important it is until you see people get lost in it and sing along with it. Music really does encourage people, lifts people up and brings them to a better place, at least for the time being. That’s the most powerful thing about it.” O

Candice Coleman plays music with Buck69 and Chris Brown.

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The co-founders of a website that offers customized advice to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied (LGBTQA) youth are coming to the University of Toledo as part of their interactive, multi-state 12-stop tour.

Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid of Everyone is Gay (EIG) will visit UT’s Student Union Auditorium on Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.

The two women founded the website in April 2010, with the goal of using humor and honesty to keep youth laughing while providing them with advice and answers to questions, according to a news release.

The site prides itself on being more relaxed and less formal.

“I know that sounds ridiculous, but most advice columns push a lot of psychological terminology and logical reasoning on people, and at Everyone Is Gay we’re like, ‘Dude, I’ve been there and you probably won’t listen, but here is how to keep from exploding’,” Owens-Reid said in the release. “It’s like having a best friend give you advice, instead of a therapist.”

Kelly Staufer, a senior at UT and president of UT’s Panhellenic Council, contacted EIG after she was approached by Dean of Students Michele Martinez about confronting issues between the Greek and LGBTQA communities.

Staufer had come across the website during her own coming-out process and appreciated its use of humor to tackle problems.

“Magically, around the same time, they were doing this tour,” she said.

Visitors to the website can submit questions for Owens-Reid and Russo to answer and Staufer said seeing other people’s similar questions and concerns helped her not to feel so alone.

“I’d hear questions and be like ‘Oh my gosh, someone else is thinking like this’,” Staufer said.

Staufer said she values the duo’s unique approach to advice.

“They’re maybe a couple steps ahead of you.

It’s almost like a big sister-type thing,” Staufer said. She said she hopes area residents come to the presentation as well as students and she has invited University of Findlay and Bowling Green State University LGBTQA groups as well.

Russo and Owens-Reid began their fall tour Sept. 19 at Drew University in Madison, N.J., and will finish Oct. 27 at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. They decided to tour after witnessing tragedy in the LGBTQA community.

“After the recent onslaught of teen suicides related to LGBTQA bullying, we felt compelled to connect with our readers in a more personal, intimate format,” Russo said in the news release.

At UT, part of the problem between the Greek and LGBTQA communities could be the common usage of “gay” to mean something negative, Staufer said, adding, “It’s not just the Greek

Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid PHOTO COURTESY EVERYONE IS GAY

community, it’s nationwide.”

“I just think most people who are showing opposition or saying ‘That’s so gay’ are uneducated about the effect it has on people,” she said.

However, since coming out, Staufer said the Greek community has been very supportive of her.

“I had felt as though this was my last year and I didn’t want to leave my university without their knowing who I am,” she said.

For more information, visit the website www. everyoneisgay.com. O

Also this week: Oct. 15: “Doing It All For Our Baby”: Panel discussion presented by Equality Toledo on deciding to become a parent as a member of the LGBT community. University of Toledo Main Campus, College of Health and Human Services Building Multipurpose Room, 2801 Bancroft St., 10 a.m. to noon. Contact: Equality Toledo Executive Director Sherry Tripepi, info@ equalitytoledo.org. O

The European country of San Marino has had its constitution since 1600! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

Restaurant Week returns Leadership Toledo event kicks off Jan. 29.

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Leadership Toledo is once again teaming with Toledo Free Press and other media sponsors to organize a Restaurant Week to benefit the local nonprofit as well as showcase the area’s diverse culinary options.

The second annual Restaurant Week Toledo is set for Jan. 29 through Feb. 4.

“Toledo has so many fantastic restaurants and we want to make sure people are aware of them,” said Margot Estes, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo. “This event gives us the opportunity to highlight them.”

Participating eateries create special menus feaDIPPOLD turing meal choices for lunch, dinner or both at price points of $10, $20 or $30. Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included in the price.

A portion of each meal purchased will benefit the youth programs at Leadership Toledo, a nonprofit organization established in 1980 that fosters leadership and involvement in the greater Toledo area.

Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo, said Restaurant Week is something that’s been done successfully in most midsize and larger cities nationwide.

“We wanted to give Toledo the same opportunity,” Gorman said. “Our inaugural event was a success and we’re looking to build in 2012. We

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have a number of restaurants that participated in last year’s event and wanted to participate again this year as well as new restaurants that felt they missed out and wanted to make sure to be a part of it.”

Last year’s inaugural event featured 16 local restaurants. Organizers are looking to expand this year, with a goal of 25 restaurants signed up

by Dec. 1.

Cory Dippold, associate executive director for Leadership Toledo, said the goal of Restaurant Week Toledo is in line with Leadership Toledo’s mission to lead community involvement.

“Promoting local is exactly what Leadership Toledo is all about,” Dippold said. “Last year’s funds that were raised allowed us to bring more students into our youth program.”

Gorman said Leadership Toledo received positive feedback from community members about Restaurant Week Toledo.

“Some people tried new restaurants they’d never tried before or new dishes that were highlighted rather than their old standbys,” Gorman said “Some who don’t eat out much ate out during the week, supporting local restaurants and our organization.”

For more information, visit the website www.restaurantweektoledo.org or contact Leadership Toledo at (419) 241-7371. O

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The can opener came 50 years after the tin can! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

The Haunting Lenawee County haunted house offers 3-D Fear Fest.

By Jason Mack Toledo Free Press Star Web Editor jmack@toledofreepress.com

Vanishing rooms, murderous butchers and giant spiders are a few of the many thrills available at The Haunting, a mainstay in the local Halloween scene. Owner Stuart MacDonald said he is proud of the progress the attraction has made since it first opened.

“Just like any business, you look at how far you’ve come and think, ‘Why did anybody come the first year?’” he said. “People had faith in us.

I come from a show business background, so I know how to listen to my crowd. I know how to write a show that makes sense and has fun. By doing that, each year the show grows exponentially in quality because we can do that.”

MacDonald opened The Haunting 17 years ago and has been a professional magician even longer under the name The Magic Stu. He put his illusionist skills to good use in the design of his haunted house.

“There’s a room in The Haunting called The Vanishing Room where you go into an elevator,

you come out and where you were isn’t there anymore,” MacDonald said. “We have a 12by-12 room that completely vanishes and ends up being a 100-foot-long room. Nobody knows how we do it. That’s a trade secret. We’re the only ones that do that. We have a little bit of magic involved in that.”

Another returning attraction is the 3-D Fear Fest. Guests are provided 3-D glasses, and the specially painted walls produce an added dimension of fear. New to the haunted house this year is Nightmares, an exhibit designed to make your nightmares a reality. MacDonald said it has some of the best twists they have ever come up with.

“You can go into The Haunting every year and it’s a completely different house,” MacDonald said. “We break it down to the ground and rebuild it from the grave up. If people come to The Haunting two years in a row, they won’t see the same show. It’s completely different.”

One aspect of The Haunting that is familiar is the actors. For the first time in 17 years, MacDonald decided to forgo the audition process and bring back what he is calling the alumni cast. n HAUNTING CONTINUES ON 9

Stuart MacDonald works on a cast member’s makeup.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR PHOTO BY JASON MACK

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The Bumblebee Bat weighs less than a penny! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” n HAUNTING CONTINUED FROM 8 “If you’ve done The Haunting before, then you get to do The Haunting this year if you have the time,” MacDonald said. “So the cast is 100 percent alumni this year. We usually have an audition process and have auditioned 75 people for 20-30 positions. Some people have been here for nine years, and a couple people have gone from The Haunting into the Hollywood makeup effects industry.”

The alumni cast is one of several steps taken this year aimed at improving cost efficiency and increasing the quality of the haunted house.

MacDonald did away with the side attractions to focus solely on the haunted house.

“We don’t have an indoor lobby anymore, so we don’t have to decorate that,” he said. “We don’t have a store, so we don’t have to stock that. We don’t have a concession stand, so we don’t have to man that or stock that. So now we focus 100 percent on just the haunted house, which is what we’re here for anyway.

“By doing that, we’ve allowed ourselves to put more time and decoration in. The production value went up by scaling all of that back. People are going to find themselves enjoying Halloween like they used to.”

These steps have also allowed MacDonald to cut the cost of tickets to $10, with a coupon available for $5 tickets on Friday nights.

“People were finding that it was too difficult to handle paying $15-20 for a haunted house,” MacDonald said. “When we first started this 17 years ago, people would come to as many as 10 haunted houses in a season. Now they can only pick one, because some of the ticket prices are

$30. With us having a coupon where you can get in for only $5 on Friday, it’s allowing people to go to more than one haunted house.”

The Haunting is located at the Lenawee County Fair & Event Grounds, 602 N. Dean St. in Adrian, Mich. General admission is $10 with a coupon available at MyHaunting.com for $5 admission on Fridays. The discounted admission is available all nights for groups of 20 or more. The attraction is open every Friday and Saturday in October from 7 p.m. to midnight. It will also be open Oct. 30-31 from 7-10 p.m.

“We’ve been here 17 years, so we’re not a flash in the pan,” MacDonald said. “There have been a lot of haunted houses that come and go because they don’t get it. They are getrich-quick. I have a show business background, a theater background and a business background. I’m also a paid on-call firefighter. All the elements come together to promote a house that is not only safe but fun, enjoyable and family-friendly. It’s scary enough for a college student, but we keep it on a tasteful level.” O

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Don Gorske has eaten a Big Mac every day since 1972! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

Down on the farm

Leaders Farms in Napoleon offers a-maze-ing frights.

By Mighty Wyte TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

Leaders Family Farms in Napoleon is a destination for families and hardcore thrill-seekers alike, perfect for those who have kids but still want to experience some high-quality scares.

“The maze is different each year,” said Kristin Leaders. “The average person takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get through.”

This year’s maze is in the shape of a camel and is so large that its full design can only be seen from a bird’s-eye view.

“We have ‘corn cops’ walking through the maze helping people find their way out if they get lost or need to use the bathroom,” Leaders said. “There are also other really fun things associated with the maze. We have passports with questions on them. If you answer the questions correctly, you’ll find areas within the maze that will point you in the right direction. If you answer the questions incorrectly, you’ll be sent in the wrong direction.”

If the full 7-acre maze is too much for you or your kids, Leaders offers a “Munchkin Maze.”

“There are different animal-related questions throughout,” Leaders said. “We have a lot of kids come from the city that get to learn about ani-

mals and farming. They have fun learning about where their food comes from.”

Leaders isn’t just about corn mazes. This family destination also boasts a kids’ area.

“We have straw tunnels, a zip line, straw jump and a corn box. There’s an area for kids 5 and under so they don’t have to worry about playing with bigger kids.”

There’s also a very large “jumping pillow,” Leaders said. “For $3 a person you can get on the jumping pillow all day. Parents love it too, because there’s no size or age limit for it so they can get on with their kids. No single kid walks on this farm and doesn’t get to play.”

Also free with admission is a petting zoo.

“There’s feed available if the kids want to feed the animals,” Leaders said. “We also have something called ‘Close Encounters of The Bird Kind’.

You can walk into a cage full of birds and if you take a feed stick in with you, the birds will land on your arm and eat. It’s a lot of fun.”

In addition, Leaders offers hayrides, gem mining, a “coop shoot,” a live DJ every night and plenty of food options.

“There’s so much for the kids to do, the average family will spend three to four hours here,” Leaders said. “There’s tons of free stuff to do and lots of kids, so they can play while adults can sit back and enjoy their time, per-

These ladies would like to hold your heart in their hands.

PHOTO BY MIGHTY WYTE

haps go through one of the haunts.”

While Leaders is family-friendly, its two haunts, ScreamAcres and The PanDEMONium Project, are not for the faint of heart.

Scream Acres takes victims through a combination of haunted buildings and unlit, eerie paths through tall corn that spans nearly three acres.

It is safe to say that there are things at ScreamAcres that you will not see or experience at any other haunt within an hour of Toledo. The Pan DEMONium Project is smaller but just as intense as its larger cousin.

Ticket information, pricing and directions can be found online at leadersfamilyfarms.com. O

The average U.S. supermarket carries nearly 50,000 items! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 12, 2011 n 11

5 1 S T A N N I V E R S A RY

SALE

A denizen of Dimensions of Darkness would like to have a word with you.

PHOTO BY MIGHTY WYTE

Dimensions of Darkness Maumee haunted house doubles the scares.

By Mighty Wyte TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

Dimensions of Darkness, located at Parkway Plaza in Maumee, opened its doors for the first time last Halloween season. While last year’s walkthrough was well-produced and loads of fun, this year’s updates have made it one of the most hardcore haunts in our area.

Co-owner Mike Stiles said the walkthrough is 50 percent longer this year.

“We were able to almost double the walkthrough time,” he said, “while using the same space.” Thanks to one season of experience and a new walkthrough design, the 15-20 minute tour is intense.

“How long it takes you to walk through depends on the person,” Stiles said. “It all depends on whether you run through or take your time and soak it in.”

While many walkthroughs still rely on blackwalled, dimly lit rooms to build tension, Dimensions of Darkness has paid remarkable attention to detail. Each room, hallway and prop is so wellcrafted that if you’re not being stalked by one of the resident ghouls, your focus is on how real everything feels.

“We shrunk the hallways down by 12 inches this year,” said co-owner and walkthrough designer Matt Thierry. “That gave us a lot more space for more hallways and extra rooms.”

“With the extra hallways we’re able to rebuild tension after each scare,” Stiles said. “A lot of places leave too much space between rooms, but that’s not the case here.”

With narrow hallways and cleverly designed shortcuts for the actors to use, the intensity of the walkthrough never subsides. Pitch-black corridors and unexpected “attacks” keep visitors on their toes and ultimately misdirected.

“The hallways amp people up and they get scared,” Stiles said. “Then ‘boom,’ it happens and it’s over. We designed the hallways to be a reset button to build the tension for the next scare.”

“Last year was about invading personal space,” Thierry said. “The energy is the same as last year and your comfort zone is still challenged but the production value and attention to detail is higher this year.”

Thierry and Stiles said operating a haunted attraction isn’t so much a sound business decision as a labor of love.

“You leave here with money in your pocket,” Thierry said. “This isn’t something we do to make money. We have fun with this.”

Stiles added, “It’s a fun show at a low price.

It’s old-school, haunt-style screams and scares.

The real payment is when people come out laughing or screaming in terror, that’s what makes this worthwhile.”

“This year we have a sponsorship deal with Signature and Toledo Harley Davidson,” Stiles said. “Anyone wearing any Harley shirt will get $1 off their admission. Anyone wearing a Signature or Toledo Harley Davidson shirt will get $1 off their ticket and they’ll get to use the VIP line to cut to the front of the line.”

Dimensions of Darkness is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight and from 7-11 p.m. on Sundays.

“We don’t actually close until everyone has gone through the line,” Stiles said.

Dimensions of Darkness will also be open from 7 to 10 p.m. on Halloween night.

“If you’re aren’t looking for candy on Halloween night, we have the scares,” Stiles said.

Tickets for Dimensions of Darkness are $10 but discount tickets can be purchased at 1217 S. Reynolds Road, at The Loonar Station at Cricket West and Mr. E’s Smokin’ Gift Shop for $8. O

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Coming home Alyssa Campanella talks about competing in Miss USA, Miss

By Jeff McGinnis Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

When Alyssa Campanella — the reigning Miss USA — came home after nearly a month in Brazil, where she competed in the Miss Universe pageant, her body decided it needed rest.

A lot of rest.

“Like any girl after a pageant, we kinda go through, I call it post-pageant depression,” Campanella said in an interview with Toledo Free Press Star. “After being around so many awesome girls for three weeks, and after being through all that excitement, suddenly you come back home and it’s just crash time. When I first got back in New York, I fell asleep and I slept for, like, 20 hours straight.”

Not that she’s complaining. Campanella’s enthusiasm for her accomplishments in the pageant system come through with every word she utters. But now, it’s all over. The 21-yearold New Jersey native’s pageant career ended with her elimination from competition at Miss Universe, where she placed in the top 16.

“That whole entire four-year journey was so rewarding and humbling, and something that I had never imagined doing 10 years ago.

So it really changed my life, in that it’s helping me discover new passions and it’s helping me become a voice for different organizations and charities that I’ve always supported,” she said.

Her experience began when she was approached by representatives of Miss New Jersey Teen USA, a pageant affiliated with the Miss USA program. “I really didn’t look much into Miss America because, I’m not gonna lie, I don’t really have a talent,” she said with a laugh. “I started watching the Miss USA pageant, and no offense, I happened to find it very sexy and very modern, so I just was drawn to that one.”

She quickly won Miss New Jersey Teen USA in 2007, and went on to become runner-up in that year’s Miss Teen USA pageant. For the next few years, she competed in the main Miss USA system before being crowned Miss California in November of 2010, earning her a spot at the 2011 Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas in June.

Campanella said that it was a surreal moment when it was announced she had been chosen as Miss USA. “Obviously, my jaw fell to the floor. Because deep down, I hoped it was me, but you never know when you get to the final two, you don’t know how it’s gonna go or who the judges went for. And I’ve been a first runner-up twice before, so I’m used to being an ‘almost, but not quite.’

“It was like this deafening moment. I couldn’t really hear anything. My body just went completely numb, which is why I was standing there with my mouth open. And all I could think was, ‘How am I gonna get my car back to L.A. if I’m going to New York tomorrow’?”

Of course, New York was just the first stop in a much larger journey for Campanella — next came Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Miss Universe 2011 would be crowned. Though the pageant took place Sept. 12, the contestants spent during three weeks in the city, registering for competition, organizing their rooms, events all over the area and more in the weeks leading up to the show.

“As the pageant got closer, the number of events began to dwindle down, because it was crunch time in rehearsals,” Campanella said.

“And we would spend hours and hours and hours in rehearsals. You have 89 contestants, not all of them speak the same language. So when you have rehearsals, you always have to have translators. So it takes a little bit of time, with the stage and everything.”

The weeks spent with her fellow competitors led to the beginning of a number of friendships, she said. “I got close with several of the girls, and I miss them so much. It’s not like Miss USA where it’s just all those girls in different states, and I could easily just hop on over and go and visit them. There’s girls all across the globe. So it’s not fun, knowing you are separated like that,” Campanella said. “I became really close with Australia, and she’s halfway around the world.”

In the end, Campanella finished in the Top 16 at the pageant, but was eliminated before the Top 10 and the crowning of eventual winner Leila Lopes of Angola. Campanella said she wouldn’t change anything about her performance, despite the results.

“I don’t think I would have done anything differently, that’s just always how it was always meant to be. I was always meant to just be top 16 at Miss Universe. And you know what?

I’m perfectly OK with that. I made the cut, I went there and I did what I wanted to do, I wanted to at least make top 16, and I did, so I’m very proud of myself for that.”

She also bristles at the criticisms leveled at her from some individuals online, who have insinuated Campanella deliberately lost weight to decrease her chances of winning.

“I was pretty upset when I saw that. I thought, They would really think that I would be that low to do that? That’s not me, at all, and I was

pretty insul worked rea would I giv to continue Despite upon her r in the wee USA, after she’ll be tra in support Susan G. breast canc “I have cancer awa mother was a year ago, ficially a su health. So, with breast ness organi Susan G. because of because I w to share story, an raise aware ness and f u n d research.”

O

e Universe pageants.

lted by that, because obviously I had ally hard to become Miss USA. Why ve up right then and there? I wanted e on and kick butt at Miss Universe.” e her long snooze in New York return, no rest awaits Campanella eks to come. She’s still Miss r all, and in October alone aveling all over the country t of the USO, as well as Komen For the Cure for cer awareness. a personal story with breast areness, because my grands diagnosed with breast cancer , but three weeks ago, she’s ofurvivor. She got the clean bill of I’m excited to participate more t cancer awareizations like Komen f that, want my nd ed d

14 n OCT. 12, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

Compiled by Whitney Meschke Events are subject to change.

MUSIC

Senegal’s Lake Retba turns bright pink from its microbes! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”

Donate unwrapped toys

Coleman and Pat Lewandowski, 6 p.m. Oct. 14, Bullpen, $5. > MAS FiNA: Oct. 14-15.

Blind Pig

The Ark This small venue offers a showcase for lesser-known acts.

316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. (734) 761-1451, (734) 7611800 or www.theark.org.

O Karan Casey, Joe Doyle: 8 p.m. Oct. 12, $20.

O Tony Furtado, Aunt Martha: 8 p.m. Oct. 13, $15.

O Nervous but Excited, Jim Roll: 8 p.m. Oct. 14, $15.

O Misty Lyn, Timothy Monger: 8 p.m. Oct. 15, $15.

O Cairn to Cairn: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16, $15.

O Baaba Maal: 8 p.m. Oct. 17, $35.

O Trevor Hall, Cas Haley: 8 p.m. Oct. 19, $15.

Bar 145 This new venue features burgers, bands and bourbon, if its slogan is to be believed. 5304 Monroe St. bar145toledo. com.

O Dueling pianos: Wednesdays.

O Killer Flamingos: Thursdays.

O Jeff Stewart: Tuesdays.

O The Bridges: Oct. 14-15.

Basin St. Grille

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 Zola Jesus, Xanopticon: 9 p.m. Oct. 13.

O Ella Riot: 8 p.m. Oct. 14.

O Mustard Plug, Obi Fernandez, Green Room Rockers, the Pinstripes, Gunday Monday, Something to Do: 8 p.m. Oct. 15.

O The Deans List, OnCue: 8 p.m. Oct. 16.

O Dopapod & the Kinetix: 9 p.m. Oct. 18.

O Matthew Sweet, the Shadowboxers: 9 p.m. Oct. 19.

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 Open mic night with Chris Knopp: Mondays.

O Luke James: Tuesdays.

O DJ Jerod: Wednesdays and Thursdays.

O Stonehouse: Oct. 14.

O Swampkings: Oct. 15.

Caesars Windsor

Support the Marines’ Toys for Tots!

Midas Auto Service & Tire and the Marines have teamed up for Toys for Tots and you can help! This Sunday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Monroe Street Midas in Sylvania, bring a new unwrapped toy

Cheetah’s Den 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 O Raq the Casbah — World Music Cabaret Thursdays (Oct. 13, 20 & 27 + through the end of the year) 7 - 11 p.m. (Three shows nightly at 8, 9 and 10) Facebook.com/RaqtheCasbahToledoOhio A fresh, live mixture of French, German, Russian, Greek, African, Arabic (and more!) live music and dance. This is Toledo’s most intoxicating, entertaining live band.

or make a cash donation of $10 or more and you will receive a coupon for a FREE oil change.

Free pizza provided by Vito’s Pizza and Subs.

107.7 the Wolf will be there too with Wolf Stash from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.! O O Chris Knopp, Chris Shutters: Oct. 13.

O 56 Daze: Oct. 14.

O The Menus: Oct. 15.

O Kyle White: Oct. 19.

Doc Watson’s 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 Shawn Sanders: 10 p.m. Oct. 14.

O John Barile & Bobby May: 10 p.m. Oct. 15.

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 Double Dare: Oct. 14-15.

This Toledo standby has been revived with more than 20 different flavors of martinis and live, local music. 5201 Monroe St. (419) 843-5660.

O Don Binkly: Oct. 12.

O Scot Binkly: Oct. 13.

O The Dan & Don Show: Oct. 14.

O Andrew Ellis, Lucky Lemont: Oct. 15.

O Jeff Stewart: Oct. 19.

If you have your passport, 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 Drive East, Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com.

O Battle of the Blues bands: 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 9.

O Howie Mandel: 9 p.m. Oct. 15, $35.

The Blarney Irish Pub

Cheers Sports Eatery

The Distillery

ICE Restaurant & Bar

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: Oct. 13.

O1Matters Toledo Streets benefit concert featuring Candice

This family-friendly eatery dishes up live performances … and Chicago-style pizza. 7131 Orchard Centre Dr., Holland.

(419) 491-0990.

O Scott Ballard Band: 9 p.m. Oct. 15.

Karaoke is offered Tuesdays, but paid entertainers rock out Wednesdays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www.thedistilleryonline.com.

O Gregg Aranda: Tuesdays.

O Nicole and Mic: Oct. 12.

This local, family-owned enterprise offers food, drinks and music in a sleek atmosphere. 405 Madison Ave. (419) 2463339 or icerestaurantandbar.com.

O Ron Otis & Friends: 6 p.m. Oct. 13.

O Berlin Brothers: 7 p.m. Oct. 14.

OSU

Carlos Hyde, the Buckeyes’ sophomore starting tailback ,led the Buckeye offense with 13 carries for 113 yards and two TDs in a 34-27 loss to Nebraska. The Buckeyes are now 3-3 and travel to undefeated Illinois this Saturday.

We congratulate Carlos Hyde and The Ohio State Buckeyes for their outstanding performance.

Dégagé Jazz Café 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. Oct. 12 and 19.

O Jason Quick: Oct. 13 and 18.

O Skip Turner Band: Oct. 14.

O Mark Williams Group: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

Doc Watson’s

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

1515 South Byrne Road ✧ (419) 389-6003

UofM

Griffin’s Hines Farm Blues Club What started as house parties in a farmhouse basement evolved into Northwest Ohio’s legendary blues mecca.

E.C. Scott, 7 p.m. Oct. 15, 3750 S. Berkey Southern Road, Swanton. $12. www.hinesfarm.com.

Denard Robinson, UM starting junior quarterback, helped lead the Wolverines to a 42-24 road victory over Big Ten rival Northwestern.

Robinson threw for 290 yards and two TDs and also added 177 yards and two TDs rushing. The undefeated Wolverines travel to Michigan State this Saturday. We congratulate Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines for their outstanding performance.

Men are four times more likely to be struck by lightning than women! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” ICE Restaurant & Bar (cont).

2567 W. Bancroft St. (419) 535-6664 or omnimidwest.com.

O Dan and Don: 7 p.m. Oct. 15 and 21.

O Toledo School for the Arts jazz sets: 7 p.m. Oct. 18, $6.

O Mac Miller, Casey Veggies, the Come Up: 8 p.m. Oct. 15, $20.

(419) 246-8732 or www.ts4arts.org.

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. Oct. 18.

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

O Mr. Gnome, Fangs Out, 33 1/3: 10 p.m. Oct. 12.

O Height With Friends: 10 p.m. Oct. 17.

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. Oct. 12.

O Quique Sinesi: 8 p.m. Oct. 14.

O Alfredo Rodriguez Trio: 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 15.

Take in a movie with margaritas on Mondays, or laugh at Thursday comedy nights … but music takes center stage most nights. 233 N. Huron St. www. ourbrothersplace.com.

O Wayne: Wednesdays.

O DJ Keith Success: Fridays.

O C.J. Manning & Friends: Saturdays.

O Karaoke with Walt McNeal: 4 p.m. Sundays.

O Andre Wright, Soul Creation: Tuesdays.

Manhattan’s

Pizza Papalis

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 Open mic: 9 p.m. Monday nights.

O Jam session hosted by Tom Turner & Slow Burn: 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

O Dick Lange Trio: 6 p.m. Oct. 13 and 20.

O Drew Z Band: 9 p.m. Oct. 14.

O It’s Essential: Oct. 15.

O Cynthia Kaay Bennett: 6 p.m. Oct. 17.

O Cliff Millimen: 7 p.m. Oct. 19.

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

O Jaime Mills: Oct. 14.

Kerrytown Concert House

Mickey Finn’s A variety of genres to wash your drinks down with. Open mic nights, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, no cover; $5-$7 cover other nights. 602 Lagrange St. (419) 246-3466 or www.mickeyfinnspub.com. O Rock the Stage, featuring local bands: 9 p.m. Thursdays, free.

O Dragon Wagon, Minglewood Labor Camp: 9:30 p.m. Oct. 14.

O Jeremy Porter & the Tucos, David Picco: 9:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

O Tribute to Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams: 6 and 8 p.m. Oct. 16, $15.

Mutz @ The Oliver House This pub offers handcrafted brews … and live entertainment. 27 Broadway St. (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 Aaron Brown and Nate Mattimoe: Saturdays.

O The Eight-Fifteens: 10 p.m. Oct. 14.

Omni This club is a venue for music (and music lovers) of all types.

®

Jazz Café & Fine Dining Restaurant

LIVEE MUSIC: THIS WEEK AT THE BLARNEY

Ottawa Tavern

Our Brothers Place

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 12, 2011 n 15

NOW ! p pen OPEN Blarney Bullpen

n Kitchete on a l open kends! wee

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Friday, FFri riday O Oct. ctt 114th 4th andd SSaturday, atturdday O Oct. ctt 115th 5th

MAS FiNA Happy Hour Live Entertainment RRight Ri Rig ight Ac Across cro rosss ss ffro from rom FiFFif Fifth iftfth Th Thi Third i Field Mon-Fri 4-7 pm Thurs - Fri - Sat

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For Fo or m music usic listin listings, ngs, gs drink d k spe specials, & weekly dining specials, go to:

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Robinwood Concert House 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, unless noted. www.toledobellows. wordpress.com.

O Dino Felipe, Aaron Dilloway: Oct. 16.

O Travis Bird & Jaap Pieters, Matthew De Gennaro: Oct. 19.

Spicy Tuna This sushi bar offers occasional entertainment to accompany the fishy dishes. 7130 Airport Hwy. (419) 720-9333 or spicytunasushi.com.

O Karaoke: 10 p.m. Saturdays.

O Meaghan Roberts: 6-10 p.m. Oct. 13.

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: Oct. 13.

O Lesli Lane, Eddie Molina: Oct. 14.

O Alvin Jones, Marsha Jones: Oct. 15.

Table Forty 4 Upscale dining plus live entertainment is a welcome combination. Bands start at 6 p.m. Fridays and 9 p.m. Saturdays.

610 Monroe St. (419) 725-0044 or www.tableforty4.com.

O John Barile and Bobby May, Jeff Stewart: Oct. 14.

O Arctic Clam: Oct. 15.

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The Japanese have an organized sport of snowball fighting! — “Ripley’s Beleive It or Not”

Table Forty 4 (cont.)

Zia’s

2452 or www.utoledo.edu/as/music.

A branch has opened at the previous Chop House Maumee, 1430 Holland Road, Maumee. (419) 897-6811 or www. maumee-chophouse.com.

O Kyle White: 7 p.m. Oct. 12.

O Calen Savidge: 9 p.m. Oct. 14 and 7 p.m. Oct. 19.

O Joe Woods: 9 p.m. Oct. 15.

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.

O Symphony Orchestra: 7 p.m. Oct. 13, Doermann Theater,

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

O DJ Ghost or DJ MZ Ghost: Saturdays.

O Concrete Muzik: Oct. 14.

The Village Idiot Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 8937281, (419) 740-2395 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com.

O Mojo Flow: Oct. 14.

O Kentucky Chrome: Oct. 15.

Night Session Big Band This premier dance band plays bossa novas, tangos, mambos, waltzes, polkas and fox trots. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 27, South Briar Restaurant, 5147 S. Main St., Sylvania. $3-$5.

(419) 517-1111, (419) 471-1560 or www.southbriar.biz.

Ragtime Rick and the Chefs of Dixieland

These performers will kick off Lourdes’ Cabaret Series with a slate of ’50s rock, country and folk. 8 p.m. Oct. 14, Franciscan Theatre & Conference Center, Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. $10-$48. (419) 824-3999 or lourdes.edu.

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) 7080265, (419) 874-0290 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.

Country and rock with a little “Coyote Ugly” style. 3150 Navarre Ave., Oregon. (419) 691-8880 or www.yeehas.com.

O Venyx: Oct. 14.

O My Sister Sarah: Oct. 15.

Visual and audible arts combine for a new experience.

Great Gallery (unless noted), 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

O Academy Brass Quartet: 7 p.m. Oct. 14.

O BGSU Voice Faculty: 3 p.m. Oct. 16.

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

O These area legends will the Monroe Street United Methodist Church’s concert series with some jazz, blues, ragtime and few hymns. 3-5 p.m. Oct. 16, Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe St. (419) 473-1167 or www.monroestumc.com.

Swingmania

Yeeha’s

TMA concerts

The USSR State Chamber Choir and the State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR merged about 20 years ago with this vocal group as the result, one that focuses on the lyrical and technical aspects of song choices. Works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and more are on the program. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor. $30-$40. (734) 764-2538 or ums.org.

Bob Wurst and Eddie Boggs

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 Jeff Stewart: Oct. 15.

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

O The Ruiners: Oct. 15.

State Symphony Capella of Russia

O These Toledo jazz legends perform weekly gigs.

Wesley’s Bar & Grill

Woodchucks

University Hall, 2801 W. Bancroft St. (419) 530-2452.

will open. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14, Maumee Indoor Theatre, 601 Conant St.,Maumee.$10-$12.(419) 897-8902 or www.great easterntheatres.com/maumeehome.asp.

UT concerts The university’s music students and friends will perform the pieces they’ve been perfecting. (419) 530-

Bachtoberfest

Wee Rock concert series While the little ones dance, sing and get something special to take home, Mom and Dad can relax. 4-6 p.m. Saturdays, Westfield Franklin Park food court, 5001 Monroe St. (419) 473-3317 or westfield.com/franklinpark.

O Kevin Devine: Oct. 15.

ArtRock Music Festival

Beer, brats and Bach are on tap, with music by the SonoNovo Chamber and Canticum Novuum Choral ensembles. Dinner, 6 p.m.

Oct. 14; concert, 7, Trinity Episcopal Church, 1 Trinity Plaza. $15, concert; $30, dinner and show. (419) 243-1231 or www.trinitytoledo.org.

Sarah and Ben Cohen, GoLab, Gold, Ind’ Grass, Matthew James, Jack & the Bear will perform (with a few more acts to come), and an afterparty at the Ottawa Tavern is planned. 4 p.m.-midnight Oct. 15, Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Blvd. $5. (419) 244-2787 or www.collingwoodartscenter.org.

Dueling Divas

Wicked Divas

Billed as “the smartest, campiest twist on opera” — tall order given the genre’s somewhat inherent exaggeration.

8 p.m. Oct. 14, Owens Community College, Center for Fine and Performing Arts’ Mainstage Theatre, 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg. $15-$24. (567) 661-2787 or (800) 4669367, ext. 2787, or www.owens.edu/arts.

Julia Murney and Erin Mackey will sing favorites from the Oz-ian show, plus others from Broadway. 8 p.m. Oct. 15, Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. $21-$67. (419) 246-8000, (800) 348-1253 or www.toledosymphony.com.

The Undeserving A favorite of television programmers, this band’s tunes, such as “There for You” and “Something to Hope For,” have been heard on many shows. Christian Kaiser and Nathan Robert

The Jayhawks Whether you call them alt-country, Americana, folk or just rock, the Jayhawks produce modern music that harkens the past. 8 p.m. Oct. 15, Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. $27.50-$35. (734) 768-8397, (734) 668-8463 or www.michtheater.org.

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The world’s Antarctic krill shrimp outweigh the entire human population! — Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra

With a brass band, classical string ensemble, all-male choir and two Bulgarian female singers, “Bregovic blends raucous Gypsy dance tunes with traditional Eastern European Orthodox choral music, spinning it all through a rock-and-roll cycle.” 8 p.m. Oct. 15, University of Michigan, Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor. $10-$48. (734) 764-2538 or ums.org.

John Cleveland This singer and pianist will entertain the whole family with novelty songs by Allan Sherman, Ray Stevens and Mac Davis, plus jazz and ragtime selections. 7 p.m. Oct. 17, Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2089 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Scholars of a Different Note This concert series features BGSU vocal and instrumental music students. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, Wildwood Preserve Metropark Manor House, 5100 W. Central Ave. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Edgefest This 15th annual festival, with its theme of “Blending Out” aims to combine jazz and classical music in intriguing and unique ways. 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. $5-$30 per show, $50-$235 passes. (734) 7692999 or www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com. Oct. 19-22.

STAR @ the movies ‘The Ides of March’

”There is an insider feel to ‘Ides.’ As director and screenplay co-writer, George Clooney aimed for a powerful and serious film, not a lighthearted take on politics. Votes are traded with appointments. Staffers are blackmailed.

Whether or not the political machine works like the plot suggests, it is intriguing to think it does. …

The movie is powerful, but it could have packed a little more punch.”

Read the full review and watch the trailer: STAR is looking for movie reviews, 50 words or less. Send them to star@ toledofreepress.com or via Twitter @toledofreepress.

Bowling Green

The university’s ensembles, choirs, quartets and more — and their friends — will present the music they’ve been perfecting.

Halls are located in Moore Musical Arts Center, Willard Drive and Ridge Street, Bowling Green. (419) 372-8171, (800) 589-2224, (419) 372-8888 or www.bgsu.edu/colleges/music.

O New Music Festival: Oct. 12-15, $7-$10.

O Music Discovery Day concert featuring Wind Symphony, Chorale and Bowling Green Philharmonia: 2:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Kobacker Hall.

O Chamber jazz ensembles: 8 p.m. Oct. 18, Cla-Zel Theater, 127 N. Main St., Bowling Green.

O Guest artist Duo Gelland, violin: 8 p.m. Oct. 19, Bryan Recital Hall.

screenings of international and arthouse movies and matinees of popular films of the past. BGSU’s Hanna Hall, East Wooster Street, Bowling Green. Free. (419) 372-4474 or www.bgsu.edu/gish.

O Sunday matinees: “Prix de Beaute,” 3 p.m. Oct. 16.

O Tuesdays at the Gish: “Charade,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18.

Grumpy Dave’s Pub This venue offers humor-fests (maybe to make up for the crankiness) on Tuesdays, and the occasional musical diversion. Above the Easy Street Cafe, 104 S. Main St., Bowling Green. $3-$5, unless noted. www.grumpydavespub.com.

O Mark Hutchins, Black Swamp Rats, the Half Hearts: 9 p.m. Oct. 14.

O Bill Bushart, Laura Sanders: 9 p.m. Oct. 18.

BGSU football

Howard’s Club H

The Falcons will use their talons on their gridiron opponents. Doyt Perry Stadium, Wooster St., Bowling Green. $13-$18; season tickets, $80-$150. (877) 247-8842 or www.bgsufalcons.com.

O University of Toledo: Noon Oct. 15.

Bowling Green comes alive at this venue for rock and more.

Doors typically open at 9 p.m., with the show starting an hour later. 210 N. Main St., Bowling Green. (419) 352-3195 or www.howardsclubh.com.

O Bathhouse Betty, Mobile Deathcamp: Oct. 13.

O Killbot, Monstrosadus, Calveris, Tree No Leaves: Oct. 14.

O Limelightz: Oct. 15.

Gish Film Theater Named in memory of Dorothy and Lillian Gish, this theater hosts

This week’s trivia question:

Ohio State’s first national title came in 1942, led by what legendary coach?

TRIVIA

Email your answer to contests@toledofreepress.com

Brought to you all season by your friends at

Weekly Winners will receive a $25.00 Gift Certificate to We’ll Frame It!

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Also mention “Buckeye Trivia” and receive 10% off your next picture framing at We’ll Frame It! Weekly OSU trivia questions will also be posted on Toledo Free Press Facebook and Twitter every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Memorabilia is our “thing”

James A. Molnar, TFP Movie critic:

BOWLING GREEN

BGSU concerts

BUCKEYE

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The Palestinian Territory of the Gaza Strip has nearly 50% unemployment! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”

The rise of female poets

G

o to your local bookstore and thumb through every poetry magazine they have. Chances are you will probably notice one all-too-common thread — there are almost no women represented. Head out to your local poetry reading and the story is much the same. This isn’t merely a Toledo phenomenon, it isn’t even a new story, but it seems like poets here are doing something to change it.

Yes, the University of Toledo has long had its Women’s Studies programs and we have thankfully been home to one of the country’s few feminist bookstores, People Called Women, for a number JOHN of years now. But I’m talking about more than just small groups of the same people, I’m talking about new blood, a fresh crop of female poets that gives me a sense of hope for the future of our literary community.

Just who am I talking about? Poets like Kayla Marie Williams, Cherie Bullock, Jonie McIntire, Kerry Trautman and Caroline Gauger. Of course there are others too, like Star Bowers, Lynne Walker and Nicol A. Kostic, who have been at it for decades.

Just how can we keep things moving in a positive direction? Well, we can let it be known that there are both reading and publishing opportunities out there for female writers and I’m not just talking about specialty publishers like dancing girl (www.dancinggirlpress.com) or the Belladonna* series in New York (www.belladon naserties.org), but any publisher or reading series you come across.

I deal with publishers and reading promoters almost every day, and the one complaint they all seem to have is that there are simply not enough women involved in the poetry community as a whole. Men are partly to blame for turning the world of modern verse into a boys club, but not

entirely. Case in point: Before Michael Grover and I took over hosting duties at the Collingwood Arts Center’s long-running open mic series, there were a number of women in attendance, and then the audience shifted dramatically. As Michael said, “When you have a female host, more women will come out.” That definitely seems to be true for the most part. What can we do to change it? Maybe nothing, but we can start by letting women know that they are not alone.

On the national level, I know several female poets who are blazing a trail for the next generation, women like Amanda Oaks, Rebecca Schumejda, Erica Kaufman, Ellyn Maybe, Misti Rainwater-Lites, Sam Ledger, Jenni Fagan, Cheryl Rice, Heather Bell, April Michelle Bratten, Lara Konesky, Leah Angstman and Aleathia Drehmer.

These women and countless others are standing next to you, even though you can’t see them. They’re doing more than that; they’re standing up for you as a woman. They’re screaming out, letting you know that it’s not only OK to tell your story, but that it’s vital.

Poetry is a record of our history and when we only experience it through the eyes and words of one particular gender, we’re only really getting half the story.

That, and I just like to read everything that’s out there. The poetry community is small enough, there’s no reason to cheat ourselves out of knowledge. In the future, I plan on putting my money where my mouth is by running an allfemale edition of Star Poetry; I know it’s a drop in the bucket, but every little bit helps.

Until next time ... keep your pencil sharp.

DORSEY

Glass City

MUSE

John Dorsey resides in Toledo’s Old West End. His work is widely published and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. O

TOLEDO

GOING BACK IN TIME

By A.D. Winans, San Francisco When I was young I drove to Salinas And ran through the bean fields Pretending I was James Dean in East of Eden And stopped off in Monterey walking Cannery Row Imagining myself packing sardines in between Midnight conversations with Doc and the boys Driving to Carmel I scribbled a poem on a cocktail napkin That later became the Title for my first book of poems But the rents were high and the job pay too low So in 1964 I took my first full time job in Modesto Driving on weekends to Stockton’s public square park To drink with the wino’s In Crow’s Landing I drank with unemployed Mexicans At run-down cantinas In North Beach and the Mission District I hung out with deadbeats and losers street people fighting junkie tremors and cirrhosis of the liver In the Fillmore I cut my teeth on jazz Let Billie Holiday patch up my bleeding heart In the Portrero I saw the last of the factory workers Growing thinner like their paychecks fearing for their jobs In the Tenderloin I drank with whores and prostitutes Who opened their pocketbooks as freely as their legs On Market Street I witnessed panhandlers crouched Like criminals in open doorways A short distance from the Jesus freaks With God’s billboards pointing the way to heaven At the old Southern Pacific Railway Yard I saw the last brakeman smoking a cigarette With eyes vacant as an empty satchel While on the other side of town High on top of Nob Hill society ladies sat In chauffeured limousines White poodle dogs nestled between their piano legs Unaware of the dredges of humanity Walking third and Howard Street Drinking cheap port from brown paper bags Starving cold disheveled as the homeless today Waiting on god or pneumonia to walk them To the grave

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about that nightclub table chicago 1959 the tiki room, this instant Editor’s Note

For this edition I decided to include one of Toledo’s finest poets, with one of San Francisco’s most renowned, to give readers a little taste of poetry on a more national level. As always, please send any questions or concerns to glasscitymuse1@yahoo.com Our next edition will be an all-ladies poetry page. We are currently seeking submissions.

— John Dorsey

The White House has five full-time chefs! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”

‘Notebooks’ offers mixed takes on Williams

By Becky Beard Special to Toledo Free Press

When country music legend Hank Williams died en route to a New Year’s Day 1953 gig in Canton, Ohio, he was 29 years old.

Williams left behind a battered satchel filled with notebooks containing some 60 unrecorded songs and song fragments.

“The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams” brings to the public for the first time a dozen of these, finished, set to music and recorded by a mix of performers ranging from Alan Jackson and Vince Gill to Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow ... with mixed results.

The instrumentation on these numbers is delightfully old-school, the exception being the strange and sour-sounding horns on Crow’s selection “Angel Mine.” The vocal work is where this album falls short.

Though one can almost hear Williams in Jackson’s “You’ve Been Lonesome, Too” and Patty Loveless is practically a female Williams on “You’re Through Fooling Me,” Jack White’s vocals

on “You Know That I Know” are peculiar and “caterwauling” is the term that comes to mind while listening to Lucinda Williams (no relation) on “I’m So Happy I Found You.” Jones, daughter of renowned sitar player Ravi Shankar, acquits herself well on “How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart.” Merle Haggard sings “The Sermon on the Mount,” the album’s only gospel number. Williams’ granddaughter Holly sings “Blue Is My Heart” with a backing vocal by her father Hank Jr., aka Bocephus, but Williams’ grandson Hank III is not here.

“The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams” is the second project to come from Bob Dylan’s Egyptian Records, after 1997’s “The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers,” and Dylan and his son Jakob have featured tracks.

Hank Williams was a barroom brawler who smoked and drank and was addicted to painkillers; those indulgences contributed to his early demise. Glamorizing that lifestyle with a tribute album on which several of the singers sound inebriated might not have been the best way to honor him. O

‘Nicktoons MLB’: SpongeBob at the plate

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

Major League Baseball players from every team combine with 25 popular Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Fanboy, and Ren and Stimpy in “Nicktoons MLB” (2K Play).

Each playable character has its own strengths and weaknesses while players can also create their own lineups. This Wii version of the baseball game has three control schemes: nunchuk and remote, remote only or classic controller for up to two players.

The ball mechanics and pitching controls are very strong, but timing on the batting takes some adjustment.

At times, it feels like a delay in reaction time, so fast pitches often overwhelm the batting, especially when playing against the com-

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puter. Successful gameplay unlocks special turbo powers and special actions including shaking the remote to make fielders jump to catch a potential home run. There is no automatic fielding, but the options are very intuitive based on the directional pad (right is first base, up is second base, etc.).

Pitching requires a target choice in the rectangular strike zone, then various motions/ control choices.

The strong graphics feature 12 different stadiums (six MLB and six Nick).

Younger players will need help with the complicated, text-heavy menus.

Choice confirmations should have been added to avoid frustrating menu navigation (e.g., accidently losing information when backing out with the B button).

The virtual trading cards and character dialogue quips are a nice touch, but the overall mechanics need improvement (**1/2, rated E for comic mischief, also available on Xbox 360 (Kinect motion controller) and Nintendo DS). O

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The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum holds 2,400 varieties of barbed wire! — “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”

GEAR HEADS WANTED: 21st Annual Toledo Swap Meet is back at the Lucas County Rec Center!

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All in the timing Getting dishes to the table hot … at the same time.

I

’m not the only one who has trouble having the whole meal ready at the same time, am I? Can I get an “amen”? I continue to be amazed by cooks who can get all the dishes to the table hot, at the same time, and when it’s all tasty, too — well, then they’re just showoffs.

I have a long way to go on this score, and I never correctly anticipate which item will trip me up. The other AMy night I made seared scallops and rice — Rice-A-Roni, to be precise, because that’s the slapdash way — and I, of course, thought the delicate and expensive scallops would be the tricky part, even though I had cooked them successfully once before. But no. I messed up the Rice-A-Roni.

“Messed up” may be too strong a term, but it was definitely not the loose, saucy side dish that my mom used to make. Probably because I have a big, honkin’ professional stove — from the days of the resident chef, you know — the recommended cooking time on the package had no bearing on the results at my house. It turns out “cover and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes” will yield a sauceless, somewhat sticky pan of rice even when the heat is as low as it goes. So, the rice was ready too early, already dry and had to wait on the stove. Oh, and did I mention that, except for the green salad my 10-year-old made, it was the only side dish? But it wasn’t inedible, so we ate it. My daughter even had seconds. I should probably focus on that.

The scallops, on the other hand, were wonderful. I found these flash-frozen sea scallops on

sale a month or so ago and I’ve been really impressed. I know there are people who scoff at frozen scallops, and I’ll use fresh ingredients whenever time and money will allow, but we don’t live at Fisherman’s Wharf and cooking isn’t my only job, so I was glad to find these.

One bag equals one meal for me and my daughter, or two for me when she’s not home, and I paid $9.99.

Considering I paid $11plus for the two of us on a rare visit to McDonald’s recently, that seems like a pretty good value and it sure is a nice change from chicken.

Anyway, I seared the scallops in butter, and here’s the part that sort of redeemed the rice: I watch enough cooking shows to know that when you cook protein you’ll leave a lot of flavor in the pan if you don’t deglaze it and make a little sauce. So, when I took the scallops out of the pan I immediately poured in the liquor from the scallops plus some chicken stock, scraped the brown bits loose, and when the liquid had reduced a little I stirred in a pat of butter.

It was like a textbook example of a pan sauce, and it tasted great!

So, overall, dinner was a success. The rice was ready too early, and overdone, but the scallops were as perfectly done as I could have hoped for and really delicious.

Maybe I should give myself points for choosing a side that doesn’t make you want to cry when it comes out a little dry. Ruining the scallops would have been a lot worse than sticky Rice-A-Roni. O

Campbell

Slapdash

GOURMET

The horse Man O’ War won all but one of his races, losing to a horse named Upset! —“Ripley’s Believe It or Not”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 12, 2011 n 21

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2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT

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2008 FORD FOCUS S

2006 FORD F150 XLT

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2010 CHEV MALIBU LT

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2010 FORD FOCUS S

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2008 FORD TAURUS X SEL

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2007 FORD F150 FX4

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2007 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER

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Plus tax, title and license. Vehicle may not be represented exactly as pictured.

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MONROE STREET LOCATION

FWD – REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE! – STK# 118957A – WAS $18,995 ........................... NOW $16,995*

4x4 – V6 – SUN ROOF – STK# P4684A – WAS $14,995...................................................NOW $13,995*

30 Mo. Lease

S/CAB – 4x4 – ONLY 50,000 MILES! – STK# P4805 – WAS $20,995 .............................. NOW $19,995*

2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS GS

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2004 FORD FREESTAR LIMITED

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2003 FORD F150 XLT

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2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT

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2000 HONDA CIVIC LX Runs Good 5/spd, Burgundy .....................Was $4,450 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA LE Auto, Black......................................Was $5,525 1998 FORD MUSTANG Equipped, Maroon ....................................Was $7,450 2002 DODGE DURANGO SXT Loaded, Burgundy.........................Was $8,995 2004 CHRYSLER 300M Loaded, Merlot......................................Was $10,475 2004 CHEVY MALIBU LT Fully Loaded, Black/Black ...................Was $10,075 2005 ACURA MDX TOURING W/NAVIGATION Black/Black.......Was $13,650 2007 PONTIAC G6 GT “Hot” and Loaded, Deep Bronze ..............Was $15,950 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY LE Well-Equipped, Silver.........................Was $16,250 2009 TOYOTA CAROLLA LE Loaded, “RED”...............................Was $17,600

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22 . n OCT. 12, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

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

Strikingly true A A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 2, No. 41 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 Sarah Ottney, Special Sections Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jason Mack, Web Editor jmack@toledofreepress.com ADMINISTRATION

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

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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.

sking Edward Meyer for his favorite piece in the “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” archive is a little like asking a songwriter to name a favorite song — it changes from day to day. Right now, he’s exceedingly proud of a two-trunked elephant on display in San Antonio. But ask him again next week.

“The easy answer is, whatJEFF ever I just bought. I get excited about the latest thing. And it’s certainly true to say that I’ve seen a little bit of everything, and some things that amaze me may not amaze others,” Meyer said in a phone interview with Toledo Free Press Star.

Meyer has much to be amazed about. He is the vice president of exhibits and archives for Ripley Entertainment, the worldwide brand which arose from Robert Ripley’s work on the famous “Believe It or Not!” comic strip. A collection of interesting and amazing facts accompanied by Ripley’s arresting illustrations, the comic led to a full franchise, featuring museums, several TV series, games and books — the latest of which, “Strikingly True,” was released in September.

“Basically, I look after the history of the company and buy the things that are currently in our museums. I’m the closest thing that we’ve got to Mr. Ripley, but I don’t draw the cartoon, which was his strong point,” Meyer said. “But I’m sort of the guy who makes the decisions, what goes in the museums, what goes in our books, and I’m involved in every aspect of the company to make sure we’re keeping the brand honest.”

Meyer was first exposed to Ripley’s as a child, growing up in his native Toronto.

“I can remember reading Ripley’s in the Toronto Star from probably age 6 or 7, and always wondering why my newspaper didn’t get it, because I thought it was the best thing in the comics page,” Meyer said.

He remained a fan into adulthood, though he said getting his first job at Ripley’s was a fluke.

Meyer had trained in college to be a librarian, and when he applied for an associate position at a company listed as “Ripley’s International,” he didn’t make the connection to his childhood passion.

“As a librarian, cataloging the weird and wonderful, getting what I call the renaissance education — learning a little bit of everything — I thought was a pretty good fit for me, and I was very excited about the opportunity,” Meyer said.

He eventually rose to his current position, which he’s worked at for more than three decades — still bringing the same childlike glee he had when he first read the comic all those years ago.

Meyer’s primary job is acquiring new items for

‘Believe it or Not’: Ripley’s VP discusses new book.

the company’s vast collection — more than 30,000 pieces and growing.

“It boils down to, either they find us or we find them. We have a research team here in Orlando and in London, England, and we are just constantly searching for oddities, both for our books and for our museums,” Meyer said.

“I’ve never really had a vacation, because wherever I go, wherever I am, I’m always thinking about ‘Believe It or Not!,’ and say, ‘Hey, that’d be a pretty good thing for our museums,’ or ‘That’s a pretty interesting story for our cartoon or our books.’”

Books bearing Ripley’s name have been published ever since the strip launched in 1918, and a museum bearing his distinctive signature first appeared in 1933. Today, more than 30 exhibits of the strange and amazing exist all over the world — and the acquisition of virtu-

mCGINNIS

POP GOES THE

CULTURE

ally every piece is overseen

by Meyer.

“If I don’t like it, it probably isn’t going to be seen by too many other people, because all the interesting mail generally lands on my desk first,” Meyer said.

He also plays a big role MEYER in organizing the content of each book bearing the company name, “Strikingly True” included.

“At the end of the day, I feel very much a part of a team that has put together some great content,” Meyer said of the new tome. “I’ve got input in every facet of the book, but it’s very, very much a team effort. There’s 10, 15 people who work a full year to put that book together.”

And whatever form they take, Robert Ripley’s tales of the amazing will probably live on as long as human nature does.

“Human curiosity has not changed one bit,” Meyer said. “People are still going to it for the same, absolute reason — they want to be amazed, they can’t get enough of it, and they want to turn around and tell somebody else about it.” O Email Jeff at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.

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Archey’s frog, an endangered frog in New Zealand, doesn’t croak! — “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 12, 2011 n 23

24 n OCT. 12, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

The chirping sound of crickets is made only by males, with their legs! — “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”

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