Toledo Free Press STAR - Nov. 20, 2013

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NOV. 20, 2013

Yesterday’s

window

MARK MIKEL celebrates a life in music.

2 n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

”I might have stayed too long” Mark Mikel, “The Ride You’re On”

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“You’re the guy with the look in your eye” — Mark Mikel, “Dark Ages”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 3

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each year for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, Toledo Free Press Star is printed with the Sunday Toledo Free Press as a combined issue.

The response from new readers discovering Star — and from allied advertisers who appreciate the much larger circulation — has inspired a change.

Beginning with the Dec. 1 Thanksgiving issue, Star will be distributed inside the Sunday Toledo Free Press every week. This means greater exposure for the arts in Toledo in the same weekly format.Thank you for your continuing support, and see you on Sunday!

Aspiring actress

By Holly Tuey Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Anne Van den Heuvel (stage name Anne Bex) is an 8-year-old with big dreams. Although she spends most of her time with her family in Helena, Ohio, Anne and her mother Miranda go to Los Angeles each year for pilot season (February and March), and Anne has acted in two independent or student films.

It started three years ago, Miranda said, when Anne was about 5. After having family photos taken, Anne was constantly asking her mother to take her picture again. Miranda asked Anne if she wanted to be a model, and when Anne said yes, she was enrolled at the acting and modeling school in Toledo, Starbound Entertainment Group — the same school credited with discovering Katie Holmes.

“I tried out for modeling in Toledo, but [the instructor] saw something in me that I needed to be an actor,” Anne explained.

She took acting classes and fell in love.

Her teacher suggested she go to California, and that’s where she met her acting coach Marnie Cooper, who coached a young Miley Cyrus for “Hannah Montana.” Her agent, Susan Duff, is the mother of actress and singer Hilary Duff.

Anne may want to follow in Duff ’s footsteps. She said in addition to acting, she likes to dance and sing. She took hip-hop dance lessons in LA, and said she wants to see her name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame someday.

“Anne loves it. She handles her own phone calls, leaves her own messages,” Miranda said. “As parents, you’ve got to support them, especially in the Midwest. You

Eight-year-old Anne Van den Heuvel has big dreams for a career in acting.

have to give them the opportunity to go to New York or LA.” When they travel to LA or Boston, where they spent three weeks filming an upcoming feature-length project called “Mary Loss of Soul,” Anne is homeschooled to keep up with her class.

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Although “Mary Loss of Soul” has not been released yet, it will likely be shown in film festivals first. Anne plays Mary’s sister in the film and said she really liked shooting on location.

Anne has also acted in a short student film called “The 5 Rules to Being an Imaginary Friend.” In it, the protagonist is teaching a class on how to be an imaginary friend. For each rule, he recalls his time spent with a little girl, played by Anne.

The film has been nominated for a spot in a film festival.

“When you do it, it’s like you step into another suit for a character and it’s just really fun to be someone else,” she said.

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“Monsters in the sea/living happily” — Mark Mikel, “Monsters In The Sea”

35 at 52

Mark Mikel to play 35th anniversary show Nov. 23.

By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

When Toledo musician Mark Mikel’s parents gave him a four-track reel-to-reel machine for his 17th birthday, it was the beginning of a lifelong passion for recording.

“I would write songs and want to hear how it would sound with a band playing it so I’d do the whole thing — guitar, drums, bass, piano, vocals,” Mikel, 52, said. “A lot of it was finished so I could get [my bandmates] to like the song so they would want to learn it and perform it.”

Thirty-five years later, Mikel is marking the anniversary of that pivotal event by playing his first Toledo-area concert in almost a year. The show is set for 8 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Maumee Indoor Theatre, 601 Conant St. The show will feature music from Mikel’s former bands Marikesh, The Mark Mikel Hallucination and The Pillbugs as well as tunes from his solo projects and current project Dark Ocean Colors.

General admission tickets are $25 and available at www.popcycleisland.com, the Maumee Indoor Theatre box office, RamaLama Records, Culture Clash Records and Heights Guitars.

Mikel said he assembled a group of some of the best musicians he knows to play with him, including guitarist Jeff Kollman, bassist and former bandmate Ian McCormack, keyboardist Bill Hubauer, drummer Brad Babcock, keyboardist/guitarist Zak Freed and the Monclovian 1st Irrational String Quartet. Several other artists will step in for certain songs, Mikel said.

“I’m excited to be playing with the quality of musicians I’ll be playing with that night,” he said.

“These are top-notch guys and I got to hand pick the band.”

A self-described “studio hermit,” Mikel rarely performs live in Toledo anymore. The Maumee show will be his first and last local show this year.

He said he stopped after growing frustrated with the bar scene.

“You want to play for an audience, but they’ve got televisions on and they are serving dinner, so it’s a whole different dynamic,” Mikel said. “I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I didn’t like the role I was playing and it was keeping me from doing what I really wanted to do with music. I wanted to do my own music and I wanted to make and sell records. I want to play places where people really love music.”

Earlier this year, he completed a small solo acoustic tour of the United Kingdom, including a few performances at The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

“The Beatles made that famous,” Mikel said.

“What cooler place to play could there be? I’m such a Beatles freak, so to go to the town where The Beatles grew up was so cool.” n MIKEL CONTINUES ON 5

Mark Mikel will play a 35th anniversary show Nov. 23 at Maumee Indoor Theatre.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR PHOTO AND COVER PHOTO BY Christie Materni

“Must be intuition” — Mark Mikel, “It Looks Like Rain” n MIKEL CONTINUED FROM 4

‘Yesterday’s Window’

Mikel recently released a four-disc digital set of early recordings. The set, called “Yesterday’s Window,” features songs written from September 1978 to July 1979 and is the first of several planned box sets.

“I have mass amounts of music from over the years that really hasn’t seen the light of day,” Mikel said. “My first album came out in 1985, so I’m going to keep doing boxes until I reach that point.”

Mikel went through all his old reels, transferred them to his computer, cleaned up the tracks and assembled definitive versions from several variations of the same songs.

“You think, 17, it’s going to be a bunch of little kid crap on there, but no, it’s good stuff,” Mikel said. “If it wasn’t any good I’d leave it alone, but it’s good. They really stand up. Some people might like it better than the stuff I do now because who knows? It’s just fun.”

Mikel was born and raised in Toledo, graduating from Bowsher High School. As a kid, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a musician or a cartoonist.

“Then probably around the age of 11, with the purchase of a drum set, that was it,” Mikel said.

“I was a little more into making music than my friends. They were excited about it and having fun, but I was obsessed with it. I’d want to stay home and stay in my basement and write and record. That was all I wanted to do. I was like a mole person.”

Mikel spends nearly every free minute in his studio in Arrowhead Park in Maumee, which is crammed full of instruments and recording equipment, including some of the same equip-

ment he used as a teen.

“I’m very into analog and I try to stay as analog as possible and use vintage equipment,” Mikel said.

He is obsessed with the music of the mid-60s to mid-70s, which he calls “the golden period.”

“Music was able to live and grow as an art before computers took over,” Mikel said. “Today all music sounds the same, but back then music could change sometimes within the same year. You could differentiate between early 1966 and late 1966. I can’t tell the difference between 2003 and 2013.”

Mikel describes himself as “a perfectionist who hates perfection.” One of his earliest inspirations was drummer Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. He also loves The Beatles, The Kinks and The Who. “Perfect music bores the hell out of me,” Mikel said. “It’s knowing when to leave the mistakes, knowing when to not fix your off-key notes, knowing when maybe it’s not the best executed part, but something feels fun about it. The best rock music — The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Hendrix — they all have rough edges. That’s essential for any kind of art.”

In May, Mikel and Dark Ocean Colors recording partner Scott Hunt released a new album, “Close Enough to See.” “The biggest thing Mark taught me would be how to finish tunes, how to make it as good as you hoped it would be,” Hunt said. “It’s the art of listening to the big picture. If you were to strip it apart and only listen to one thing at a time, it might sound shitty, but when you put it all together it sounds great.”

For more information, visit the web site www. markmikel.com.O

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 5

Mark Mikel has released ‘Yesterday’s Window,’ a four-CD collection of early music.

PHOTO BY Christie Materni

HeRe CoMeS THe Fun

E y E on y ou r W E E k E n d

with Toledo Free Press Pop Culture Roundtable: James A. Molnar | Jeff McGinnis | Jim Beard | Michael S. Miller | Fridays at 6 p.m.

6 n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Don’t say much” — Mark Mikel, “Stung By The Bee”

‘Forbidden’ favorites parodied Classic and current Broadway shows are parodied in “Forbidden Broadway,” which is making its way to Toledo. The curtains will rise at the Valentine Theatre at 8 p.m. Nov. 22. The musical comedy pokes fun at popular shows like “The Book of Mormon,” “Jersey Boys,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Lion King,” “Les Misérables,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Chicago,” “Annie” and “Wicked.”

Producer John Freedson said it’s the “‘Saturday Night Live’ of Broadway.” It consists of sketches making fun of the shows and famous actors who starred in them.

“Anyone that watches ‘Glee’ or ‘Smash’ or occasionally watches the Tony Awards … knows this stuff. They know the songs, they know the music,” Freedson said. “All we’re really doing is taking the songs they know.”

Freedson said “Forbidden Broadway” is still enjoyable for people who don’t go to shows often.

“I like that we’re making audiences laugh and we’re bringing the best of Broadway around the country and getting a good laugh,” Freedson said. “We also bring a spectacular cast of a caliber that’s rarely seen on tours around the country.

They’re true triple-threat performers with fabulous voices and are funny at the same time. We hope we are bringing something that people aren’t accustomed to seeing around the country.”

The show was written by Gerard Alessandrini and recently closed in New York. The script is rewritten every year to stay current and numbers are tested in New York to see which ones get the biggest laughs.

A Small High School with Big Advantages

‘Forbidden Broadway’ Freedson enjoys the number parodying “Les Misérables.” “[It’s] such a serious show. It’s so tragic that it’s just begging to be [parodied],” he said.

Tickets for the show range from $36-$56 and can be purchased through the Valentine theatre Box Office at (419) 242-2787 or online at the web site www.valentinetheatre.com. O — Matt Liasse

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36th Annual Christmas Dinner & Dance

Holiday with Heart Sunday, Charity Gayla Dec. 8th, 2013

THE GLASS CITY ARTS DIRECTIVE PRESENTS

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Come peruse our eclectic selection, including large framed art — many from local artisans — and our unique, vintage merchandise.

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Holiday Dining

Hollywood Casino Toledo’s Final Cut Steak & Seafood offers panoramic views of the Maumee River through its floor-to-ceiling windows and an experience that is luxurious but not pretentious, said Food and Beverage Director Stephen Greer. The venue offers an array of prime steaks, including American Wagyu, seasonal fresh seafood

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 7

and an extensive list of wines and signature cocktails. Final Cut earned a four-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide earlier this year — the only restaurant in Ohio, Michigan or Indiana to receive that distinction. O Hours: 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Open all holidays.

Loma Linda

10400 Airport Hwy., Swanton (419) 865-5455 toledostripletreat.com/loma

Black Pearl

4630 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo (419) 380-1616 blackpearltoledo.com Located across from the Stranahan Theater, The Black Pearl offers a casual yet upscale dining experience perfect for catching a meal before a show, said general manager Brad Holler. The menu features a diverse variety of quality, affordable dishes, including fresh seafood, prime rib, poultry and pasta as well as weekly specials and a wine list. Catering and a private room is available O Hours: 3:30-9 p.m. Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday; Wednesday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. ThursdaySaturday. Open 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thanksgiving, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and 11:30 to 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Family-owned Loma Linda has been in business since 1955 and was the first Mexican restaurant in Toledo, said manager Jeanie Kunzer. The casual eatery features authentic Mexican and American cuisine, daily lunch specials and a fun party atmosphere, including a magician on Wednesdays and a mariachi band on Fridays. O

Final Cut Steak & Seafood At Hollywood Casino Toledo, 777 Hollywood Blvd.

(419) 661-5200

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Holiday Dining

Manhattan’s brings the taste of New York to Toledo with menu items like Manhattan Clam Chowder and Brooklyn Baked Scallops.

The family-run restaurant features live jazz and blues music Monday through Saturday and a relaxed, eclectic atmosphere that’s popular for dining before or after shows, said owner Marty Lahey. Free Wi-Fi is available O

Manhattan’s

1516 Adams St., Toledo (419) 243-6675, manhattanstoledo.com

Hours: Lunch starts at 11 a.m. MondaySaturday; Dinner, 5-10 p.m. MondaySaturday; Brunch, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve party 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. will feature The Good The Bad and the Blues. Reservations strongly encouraged.

Brad Holler, owner of The Black Pearl, opened a second restaurant, The Memphis Pearl, on Nov. 15. The menu features “Memphis-style” dishes, like short ribs, spare ribs and pulled pork, in addition to the steaks and seafood patrons enjoy at The Black Pearl, Holler said. Among some of the venue’s more unique dishes are barbecued spaghetti and meatballs and Cajun catfish bites.

Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily and features drink specials. A lounge area, where Holler plans to feature entertainment, has “a Memphis vibe” and a large banquet hall that can seat up to 150 people and three private dining rooms will be available soon, he said. O Hours: 3:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 3:30-11 p.m. ThursdaySaturday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, closed Mondays except for private parties. Open 3:30-7 p.m. Christmas Eve and 3:30-11 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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27 Broadway St., Toledo (419) 243-1302, theoliverhousetoledo.com The historic Oliver House offers multiple dining experiences under one roof. Upscale Rockwell’s, known for its USDA prime steak, also offers fresh seafood, chops, chicken, pasta and custom-made desserts along with a great view of the river and city skyline, said Neal Kovacik, general manager of Oliver House operations.

Petit-Fours Patisserie serves specialty pastries and coffees as well as special occasion orders, while The Café offers a unique, eclectic lunch menu, featuring made-from-scratch soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches, woodfired pizzas and more. Mutz is a casual sports bar featuring pub food, Maumee Bay Brewing Co. beers, bar games, NFL and NHL Ticket games

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and live entertainment WednesdaySaturday, including karaoke and open-mic nights. Maumee Bay Brew Pub offers a view of the Maumee Bay Brewing Co.’s brewing floor and serves handcrafted beers, wood-fired pizzas, steaks, burgers, pasta and sandwiches. O Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. MondaySaturday (The Cafe); 3-10 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, 3-11 p.m. FridaySaturday (Maumee Bay Brew Pub); 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday (Mutz); 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday (Rockwell’s). All closed Sunday.

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Open regular hours on New Year’s Eve.

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Holiday Dining

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 9

10 n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

Holiday Dining

Rosie’s Italian Grille 606 N. McCord Road, Toledo (419) 866-5007 rosiesitaliangrille.com

Rosie’s takes Old World Italian family recipes, gives them creative modern twists and serves them in a romantically lit, Tuscan-themed atmosphere. The family-run eatery offers a private four-season patio, half-off food and drink specials during happy hour from 4:30-7 p.m. daily, $5-10 off wine bottles on Wednesdays, live music Wednesday through Saturday and catering. A new food truck, The Rolling Chef, is open 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (ProMedica Toledo Hospital on Mondays, Levis Square Downtown on Tuesdays and Thursdays, St. Luke’s Hospital on Wednesdays and Executive Parkway near Westgate on Fridays). A holiday gift card special offers patrons a free $10 gift card with the purchase of a $50 gift card. O Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, closed SaturdaySunday; Dinner: 4:30-9 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 4:30-10 p.m. WednesdayThursday, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, 4-10:30 p.m. Saturday and 4-9 p.m.

Sunday. Open 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and 3-10:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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The Seafood

5504 Alexis Road, Sylvania (419) 882-9920 theseafoodrestaurant.net

Celebrating its 60th year in business, The Seafood’s menu features dinner favorites like Lake Erie yellow perch, New England clam chowder, Ahi tuna, blackened mahi, bourbon-glazed salmon and hand-battered onion rings, said owner Candy Boardman. The venue offers a comfy, casual dining atmosphere with daily lunch and dinner specials, including happy hour from 2-6 p.m. daily, $2.50 margaritas on Tuesdays,

$4.95 Manhattans on Wednesdays and $4 martinis on Thursdays. A private room seating up to 24 is available. O Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. MondayThursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, 1-9 p.m. Sunday. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Holiday Dining

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 11

Ventura’s

7742 W. Bancroft St., Toledo (419) 841-7523 toledostripletreat.com/ventura

Ventura’s has grown to be a true Toledo tradition during the past 29 years, said general manager Valerie Mundt-Scott, adding that diners love to explore the variety of Mexican specialties, including fajitas, chimichangas, queso blanco, botana and Cajun chicken nachos. American food is also served with a large variety of burgers, homemade soups, steak, barbecue ribs and salads. Ventura’s also offers a daily cocktail hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., a Tuesday margarita special for $2.60, including 10 different flavors until 9 p.m., and a 99-cent

con queso special from 3-6 p.m. MondayThursday. A private dining room for special events of up to 50 people is available during the afternoon hours. A holiday gift card special will give patrons a free $5 gift card with the purchase of a $25 gift card. O Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday, closed Sunday and all major holidays. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The Seafood Restaurant

Neighborhood favorite for over 50 years

Taste, Tradition, Toledo!

Stop p by y for g good times and great food

Join us for an evening of relaxed elegance, exceptional service and fine cuisine. Rockwell’s Steakhouse offers guests the finest cuts of aged USDA Prime & Choice beef, fresh seafood and features dessert selections from Petit Fours Patisserie.

Our menu offers a variety of fish and shell fish, USDA choice aged steaks, fresh chicken entrées, fettuccini alfredo dishes, sandwiches, a wide array of appetizers, and the best New England Clam Chowder you’ll ever try.

5504 Alexis Road

Sylvania, OH 43560, (419) 882-9920 S theseafoodrestaurant.net Facebook.com/TheSeafoodRestaurant Hours: Mon Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm Friday 11am-11pm | Saturday 12pm-11pm |Sunday 1pm-9pm

Rockwell’s Steakhouse Monday - Saturday 5-10 p.m.

For Reservations call 419.243.1302 27 Broadway Toledo, Oh 43604

www. OH-Rockwells .com

friend us on

12 . n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

Holiday Dining

Take a swig of this.Try a swig of that.

We have 21 micros on tap! Keep Swigging!

Named “Best Place for a Brat and a Brew in Ohio” by Ohio Magazine Charcuterie C i and S Suds for the Curious

Not your typical gastropub. Hand crafted franks, No sausages, ham, bacon and everything else on the menu …

219 Louisiana Avenue • Perrysburg, Ohio • 419-873-6224

www.swigrestaurantandbar.com

Call us today for all your catering needs!

“What makes you so strange?” — Mark Mikel, “I’m Laughing”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 13

((((((((((((( THE PULSE

NOV. 20-26, 2013

What’s what, where and when in NW Ohio

Compiled by Matt Liasse Events are subject to change.

MUSIC The Ark

This intimate venue showcases acts from the A-list to the lesser known. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor.

(734) 761-1451, (734) 761-1800 or www.theark.org. ✯ The Ark’s Open Stage: Nov. 20. 8 p.m. ✯ Birds of Chicago & Chicago Farmer: Nov. 21. ✯ Willy Porter & Anne Heaton: Nov. 22. ✯ Jeremy Kittel and Friends: Nov. 23. ✯ Caravan of Thieves & Dustbowl Revival: Nov. 24. ✯ Annual Meeting: Nov. 25. ✯ Take a Chance Tuesday with Dragon Wagon: Nov. 26.

Bar 145º

This venue features burgers, bands and bourbon, if its slogan is to be believed. $5 cover. 5304 Monroe St. (419) 593-0073 or bar145toledo.com. ✯ Rock Capitol Karaoke: Nov. 21. ✯ Neon Black: Nov. 22. ✯ Arctic Clam: Nov. 23.

Barr’s Public House

“Our House, Your Pub” focuses on craft beer, hand-crafted specialty drinks and martinis, a wellrounded wine selection and an eclectic food menu.

3355 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee. (419) 866-8466. ✯ Andrew Ellis: Nov. 21. ✯ Jason LaPorte: Nov. 22. ✯ Jeff Stewart: Nov. 23.

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. ✯Michael Fisher: Nov. 21. ✯ Toast & Jam: Nov. 22. ✯ Kentucky Chrome: Nov. 23.

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. ✯ Open mic: Thursdays and Mondays. ✯ Billy P. & Karaoke Night: Nov. 20. ✯ Steve Kennedy: Nov. 21. ✯ Joe Woods Trio: Nov. 22. ✯ Crucial 420: Nov. 23. ✯ Steve Finelli: Nov. 25.

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. ✯ Sporcle live trivia: Nov. 21. ✯ Shawn Sanders: Nov. 22. ✯ Slim: Nov. 23. hamwaysonthemain.com. ✯ Jason LaPorte: Nov. 23.

Evolution

This family-friendly eatery dishes up live performances … and Chicago-style pizza. 7131 Orchard Centre Dr., Holland. (419) 491-0990. ✯ Chris Shutters Band: Nov. 22.

A club “for the mature crowd,” Evolution offers $5 martinis on Thursdays and the occasional live musical performance. 519 S. Reynolds Road.

(419) 725-6277 or clubevolutiontol.com. ✯ Feel Good Fridays: Fridays. ✯ Sensational Saturdays: Saturdays.

Chuck’s on Monroe

Frankie’s Inner-City

Cheers Sports Eatery

Started as Nick’s Hungry I years ago, this venue has taken a twist into a new era. The bar is open until 2:30 a.m. daily. 4477 Monroe Street. (419) 720-3370 or chucksonmonroe.com. ✯ Steve Woolley: Nov. 21. ✯ Greg Aranda: Nov. 26.

Clazel Theatre

This venue has been rocking BGSU students (and others) for years. 127 N. Main St., Bowling Green. (419) 353-5000 or www.clazel.net. ✯ Club Kiss: Fridays and Saturdays. ✯ 365: Saturdays

The Distillery

The mic is open on Sundays, but paid entertainers rock out Fridays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www. thedistilleryonline.com. ✯ Live Trivia with DJ Brandon: Tuesdays. ✯ Nathan Cogan: Wednesdays. ✯ DJ Rob Sample: Thursdays. ✯ Guitar-eoke with Zack Ward: Sundays. ✯ My Sister Sarah: Nov. 22. ✯ Johnny Rocker & The Hitman: Nov. 23.

Toledo’s venue for rock. Tickets vary between $5 and $14, unless otherwise noted. 308 Main St. (419) 693-5300 or www.FrankiesInnerCity.com. ✯ Myke Vegas’ MIXOLOGY: Nov. 22. ✯ Our Last Night: Nov. 25.

French Quarter J. Patrick’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. ✯ Nine Lives: Nov. 22-23.

H Lounge

The Hollywood Casino Toledo offers musical distractions from all the lights, noise and jackpots. 777 Hollywood Blvd. (419) 661-5200 or www.hollywoodcasinotoledo.com. ✯ Persuasion: Nov. 22. ✯ The Rock Show: Nov. 23.

Hamway’s on the Main

Live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights gets a side order of steak, seafood and prime rib at this 30-year area institution.

5577 Monroe St., Sylvania. (419) 885-0290 or

HALF OFF BREAKFAST

Every day until 11 a.m.

3 Toledo locations to serve you! www.CharliesofToledo.com

6945 W. Central Ave. Toledo, OH

26555 Dixie Hwy. Perrysburg, OH

Sponsored by:

@ CharliesRestaurants antss @ charliestoledo

12407 Airport Hwy. Swanton, OH

Kerrytown Concert House

This venue focuses on classical, jazz and opera artists and music. 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. $5-$30, unless noted. (734) 769-2999 or www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com. ✯ The Diego Rivera Sextet: Nov. 22. ✯ All About The Trio: Nov. 24. ✯ Mad About Chamber Music: Nov. 25.

MGM Grand Detroit

Live music rings out over the slots and croupiers on the weekends in the INT ICE lounge.

1777 Third St., Detroit. (877) 888-2121 or www. mgmgranddetroit.com. ✯ Double Vision Fridays: Fridays. ✯ Volume Saturdays: Saturdays.

Motor City Casino/Hotel

This casino’s Sound Board offers big names, big sounds and a big experience. 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Guests must be 21 or older. (866) 782-9622 or www.motorcitycasino.com. The casino’s Chromatics Lounge also features live performances.

Chromatics ✯ Dueling Pianos: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20. ✯ Killer Flamingo’s: 9 p.m. Nov. 20. ✯ Bomb Squad: 7 p.m. Nov. 21. ✯ Simone Vitale: 5:15 p.m. Nov. 22. ✯ Dal Bouey: 10 p.m. Nov. 22. ✯ Nightline: 5:15 p.m. Nov. 23. ✯ Serieux: 10 p.m. Nov. 23.

WETry ou SP E r EC KLY IA LS

14 n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

STAR @ the movies ‘The Best Man Holiday’

James A. Molnar, TFP film editor:

”A surprisingly good look at friendship that will make audiences laugh and cry. This sequel took more than a decade to get made and it’s better for it. The screenplay is trivial at times, but it’s the characters that really shine here.”

One2 Lounge at Treo

A full bar featuring frozen drinks and multiple happy hours (4-7) on weekdays, plus salads, soups and sandwiches, accompany live entertainment four nights a week. 2 S. St. Clair St. (419) 243-2473 or www.yeoldedurtybird.com. ✯ Open mic: 7 p.m. Tuesdays. ✯ Don Binkley: Nov. 20. ✯ John Barile: Nov. 21. ✯ Kyle White: Nov. 22. ✯ Chris Knopp: Nov. 23.

Casual meals and bingo and trivia nights with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com. ✯ Smartypants Trivia: Toledo’s Favorite Pub Quiz: 9 p.m., Wednesdays. ✯ She Keeps Bees, Last Good Tooth (Team Love): 10 p.m. Nov. 26.

”A fantastic film about a heartbreaking true story of a free black man from New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 1840s. This is hard to watch but important to see.

The South is filled with natural beauty where unnatural and inhumane acts were the norm. It is a reminder of how far we have come as a society in the U.S. and elsewhere, and how far we have yet to go.”

The Palace of Auburn Hills

When the Detroit Pistons take a break from the court, the biggest names in music rock the arena.

6 Champion Drive, Auburn Hills, MI. (248) 3770100 or palacenet.com. ✯ Paramore: Nov. 21. ✯ Brad Paisley: Nov. 23.

Watch James discuss movies on FOX Toledo around 8:45 a.m. and WTOL -11 around 9:15 a.m. on Fridays. Also, listen to James discuss movies on “Eye on Your Weekend” on 1370 WSPD every Friday at 6 p.m.

✯ Cancel Mondays: 3:30 p.m. Nov. 24. ✯ Nouveaunte: 7 p.m. Nov. 25. ✯ Marc Joseph: 7 p.m. Nov. 26.

Radio Bar ✯ Paul Martindale: 4 p.m. Nov. 20. ✯ Surab Deb: 8 p.m. Nov. 20. ✯ Paul Martindale: 4 p.m. Nov. 21. ✯ Kim James: 8 p.m. Nov. 21. ✯ Earl: 2 p.m. Nov. 22. ✯ Linda Lexy: 6 p.m. Nov. 22. ✯ Kim James: 10 p.m. Nov. 22. ✯ Earl: 2 p.m. Nov. 23.

The Village Idiot

Ottawa Tavern

James A. Molnar, TFP film editor:

Motor City Casino/Hotel (cont.)

✯ Linda Lexy: 6 p.m. Nov. 23. ✯ DJ Short Stop: 10 p.m. Nov. 23. ✯ Lutalo: 8 p.m. Nov. 24. ✯ DJ Short Stop: 4 p.m. Nov. 25. ✯ Lutalo: 8 p.m. Nov. 25. ✯ Earl: 4 p.m. Nov. 26. ✯ Surab Deb: 8 p.m. Nov. 26.

Sound Board ✯ Cedric the Entertainment: 8 p.m. Nov. 21. ✯ Red Wings Viewing Party: 5 p.m. Nov. 24.

Live music starts at 7:30 p.m. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com. ✯ Straight Up! Trio: Nov. 22. ✯ Jack and the Bear: Nov. 23.

‘12 Years A Slave’

For more: toledofreepress.com/movies

“Sleeping on yesterday’s pillow, dreaming yesterday’s dreams” — Mark Mikel, “Yesterday’s Window”

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

What began as an antique store in Chicago turned into a string of more than 200 eateries nationwide, including Toledo. All of the shops feature live music. 4038 Talmadge Road. (419) 725-5037 or www.potbelly.com. ✯ Jaime Mills: Noon-2 p.m. Fridays.

Stella’s

Nouveau cuisine gets a helping of music Thursdays through Saturdays. 104 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 873-8360 or www. stellasrestaurantandbar.com. ✯ Eddie Molina: Nov. 21. ✯ Elixer: Nov. 22. ✯ Kelly Broadway and Mike Lorenz: Nov. 23.

Stranahan Theater

4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 381-8851 or www.stranahantheater.com. ✯ Jerry Seinfeld: 7-10 p.m. Nov. 22.

NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA 419-724-7437 EVERY TUESDAY

LARGE PIZZA • $6 1 TOPPING DINE IN ONLY

28 South Saint Clair DOWNTOWN TOLEDO

INCREDIBLE SELECTION OF SPICES, VEGGIES AND MEATS PLUS …

WAIT FOR IT … BACON VODKA!

Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281 or www. villageidiotmaumee.com. ✯ Old West End Records: 8 p.m. Wednesdays. ✯ Bob Rex Trio: 6 p.m. Sundays. ✯ Frankie May and friends: 10 p.m. Mondays. ✯ John Barile & Bobby May: 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

Ye Olde Durty Bird

EVENTS

The Art Supply Depo

29 S. St. Clair Street. (419) 720-6462. ✯ Golden Acrylic Demo Lecture: 1-3:15 p.m.

Nov. 24.

The GOLDEN Acrylic Lecture Demo is a fun, fastpaced informative lecture covering a technical review of acrylics and their varied application possibilities. Space is limited, so give us a ring and secure your spot: (419) 720 6462. ✯ Drink and Draw 7-10 p.m. Nov. 26. $10 / $7 with a friend, ages: 18 and over only It’s simple: we provide you with a model and music, you bring your own drinks, ideas and drawing tools.

Get together and draw, have creative dialogue, drink and collaborate. All media welcome.

Broadway Confidential

The Broadway Confidential Project mixes cabaret and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The group meets every Monday in November at Manhattan’s Restaurant, 1516 Adams Street. Tickets are $12 with a two-drink minimum. Proceeds from ticket sales are donated to local charities.

Seating is limited so reservations are strongly suggested. Reservations can be made by calling 419-243-6675. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/groups/broadwayconfidential.

Elixer

This two-man band (consisting of Dave Rybaczewski and Walter Guy) performs Beatles songs acoustically. www.beatlesebooks.com/elixir. ✯ Quimby’s Food & Spirits, 3536 Sterns Road, Lambertville. 7-10 p.m. Nov. 21. ✯ Stella’s Restaurant & Bar, 104 Louisianna Ave., Perrysburg, 8 to midnight. Nov. 22. ✯ River Café & Marina, 6215 Edgewater Drive, Erie, 8-11 p.m. Nov. 23.

Firenation Blow Your Own Bulb

Locals are allowed to blow their own bulbs every Saturday, Nov. 23 to Dec. 21. from 10 a.m. to noon. Firenation Glass Studio and Gallery, 7166 Front Street, Holland. (419) 866-6288 or www.firenation.com.

Forbidden Broadway

The production will parody classic and current Broadway shows. The curtains will go up at the Valentine Theatre at 8 p.m. on Nov. 22. Lead

Producer John Freedson said it’s “the ‘Saturday Night Live’ of Broadway.” Tickets for the show range from $36 to $56 and can be purchased through the Valentine Box Office at 419-2422787 or online at valentinetheatre.com.

Jazz on the Maumee

The Art Tatum Jazz Society will provide smooth, cool “Twilight Jazz” along the river, appetizers included. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Best Western Premier Grand Plaza Hotel’s Aqua Lounge, 444 N. Summit St. $5-$15. (419) 241141 or www.arttatumsociety.com. ✯ Clifford Murphy & Friends: Nov. 20.

New Hope Christian Church

Breakfast will be served. 2457 Holloway Road, Holland. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 23. Adults are $7 and children under the age of 10 are $4. (419) 867-1535.

Southern Fried Chicks

They have busted out of the hen house for their “Cage-Free Comedy Tour” starring Eta May, Sonya White, Karen Mills and Trish Suhr. 7-9:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St. (419) 242-2787 or www.valentinetheatre.com.

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 group provides music for all occasions. (419) 708-0265, (419) 874-0290 or www.swingmania.org. ✯ Trotters Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns, (419) 381-2079: 8 p.m. Tuesdays. ✯ Park Inn/Radisson Hotel, 101 North Summit, (419) 241-3000: 7 p.m. Nov. 21. ✯ Stranahan Great Hall, 4645 Heatherdowns, (888) 891-0707: 7 p.m. Nov. 22.

Ready, Set, Skate at the Toledo Zoo

The zoo’s new outdoor ice rink. Skate rental is available for a fee and your own skates are welcome. 5-7p.m. Nov. 20. 2700 Broadway. (419) 474-1333 or ticketmaster.com.

Two Buck Yuks

Keith Bergman has brought his comedy showcase “Two Bucks Yuks” to The Blarney Event Center every Wednesday night. There will be a $2-cover for the shows and open to anyone ages 21 and older.

The shows will be 90 minutes. . 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www.theblarneyirishpub.com. ✯ Robert Morgan, Joe Saleem, Shannon Owens, David Williams, Nate Washington, Anthony Martinez, Aaron Kozbial, Jay Kasprzyk, Jerry Jaffe: Nov. 20.

Holiday

Levis Commons

Levis Commons has some holiday treats planned.

Tree-lighting Ceremony: 6 p.m. Nov. 23. “The Nutcracker All Jazzed Up”: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23. Carriage rides, Santa visits: 5-8 p.m. Saturdays. Nov. 23 – Dec. 28. Play It Forward toy drive: Donations will be collected in front of Rave Motion Pictures from noon to 6 p.m. until Saturday Jan. 11. ✯ If you would like your event in The Pulse, contact Matt at mattliasse@gmail.com.

“I’ll take my chances” — Mark Mikel, “Hit The Road”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 15

Rodney’s 25 random acts of kindness I

’ve heard that your personality is a mixture of the five people closest to you that you hang out with. These could be your parents, friends at school or work or just people that you spend your time with. I think you should choose these people wisely.

I was recently approached by Rodney — one of our interns on “The Morning Rush” — with a challenge he wanted to talk about on the air. He said that since he would be turning 25 this past Saturday, he didn’t want to celebrate his birthday until he completed a list of “25 acts of kindness.” I was intrigued, so I asked him to elaborate on-air.

Rodney told our audience that there are a lot of people putting down the city and taking it for granted, and being the guy he is (which is really awesome), he wasn’t going to let that continue.

He put together — and asked our audience for ideas about 25 things he could do that would be considered kind.

The list included the simple “Tell someone to have a good day when they look like they’re in need,” to the surprising “Tape a free Redbox movie rental to the machine for someone.”

To see a few pictures of Rodney completing his acts of kindness, check out our website: www.925kissfm.com/pages/themorningrush. html?article=11826707.

There weren’t really many rules to Rodney’s

challenge; just complete all 25 acts before his birthday and then he’d be able to celebrate it. He also wanted an opportunity to be on the air for an entire show for the first time since he’s been with us.

We made the deal and let him go on his way.

As Rodney’s challenge continued, it appeared that he was making a difference — albeit a small one.

Sid Little kids’ faces lit up when they went up to Sandy, the horse at Meijer and some kind person (Rodney) had left a pile of pennies for them to ride. Another co-worker moaned after a hard night’s work when he realized it had snowed, only to turn around and smile because Rodney had cleaned the snow off his car for him.

Those are just a fewof the 25 acts of kindness brought on the city by Rodney.

My point to this story is that no matter how small of a difference you’re making, you need to

Kelly

THE MORNING

RUSH

realize that you’re making a difference.

That matters.

You don’t have to move millions of homeless people into mansions and provide their families with jobs and their kids an education to the best college in the world.

Lending a simple hand to a complete stranger is really where it’s all at.

Rodney did complete his mission, and he will get to sit in and co-host an entire show with us.

But that’s not his prize.

His prize is the fact that he showed that all you have to do is give a little bit of yourself to make life a little better for someone else. When you start the ball rolling there really is no

stopping it.

Rodney is in my group of five people I hang around the most, and I can only hope that the statement I made at the beginning of my column is true.

We all can use someone like him in our circle of friends.

Rodney’s list

1. Put pennies on the children’s riding horse at a Meijer store.

2. Leave a free Redbox rental ticket on the machine for a stranger.

3. Drop off supplies at Cherry Street Mission.

4. Drop off donation at Mustard Seed.

5. Leave quarters taped on machine at the laundry.

6. Fill all the gumball machines at a store with quarters.

7. Donate to the Ronald McDonald House.

8. Thank a veteran for his or her service to our country.

9. Hold a door for someone who needs it.

10. Clean the snow of someone’s car .

11. Clean the KISS studio.

12. Clean the WSPD studio.

13. Drop off donation at women’s shelter.

14.-19. Buy five people coffee.

20. Make a donation to the St. Louis shelter.

21. Pick up litter.

22. Donate books to the library.

23. Donate old newspaper to an animal shelter.

24. Tell a stranger to have a good day.

25. Make a donation to LifeBridge. O Sid Kelly is host of “The Morning Rush,” weekday mornings on 92.5 KISS FM.

Premium Comedy, Great Food and the Best in Live Music

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Thursday: Happy Hour 3-Close, Live Music 8-11 Nov. 21 - Dave Carpenter Nov. 22 - Calen Savage Nov. 23 - Captain Sweet Shoes Nov. 29 - 815’s Nov. 30 - Distant Cousinz Dec. 5 - Cliff Millimen Dec. 6 - Kyle White

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Banquet Room on the (Steps from Fifth Third Field and Huntington Center) 2nd floor

610 Monroe St.

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Gotham Comedy Live, Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Nov. 21-24

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16 . n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Time is money and it ain’t funny” — Mark Mikel, “Simplicity”

Two Buck Yuks: Riding the storm out

By Keith Bergman

$20 for a deck of “FoodieCards”

Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Over $540 in value!

THIS WEEK’S

DEAL

FoodieCards F oodieCards are are a playable playable deck of cards each one is worth $10 off at great local restaurants.

Also available in Franklin Park Mall’s Food Court.

PARTNERING WITH:

I’m writing this in a hotel room in Grand Rapids, Mich., waiting for the weather to clear before I drive home. It’s close to midnight, and I have to get my kids to school in the morning. The storms that rolled through Nov. 17 did their fair share of damage, though we were largely spared the horrors that befell Kokomo, Peoria and other cities to the west. All I’ll be dealing with on my journey is high winds, some leftover rain squalls and the overcaffeinated thoughts in my head.

So was it worth being away from my family when a potential natural disaster hit? Did the risks I took driving from last night’s gig in Lansing, through horizontal rain and hail, outweigh the rewards? These are the big-picture questions that bubble under the surface for anyone who sacrifices time and resources to pursue what is ultimately a selfish endeavor. My kids didn’t have a better day today because I had a good set in a hotel bar. I blew the doors off the club in Lansing before an audience of 250 last night, but after gas and meals, the trip was financially a net loss. What does that say about me as a father and spouse?

I made a joke tonight onstage that my iPhone now tells me, when I’m away from home, how much time it will take to drive back.

My wallpaper photo is a picture of my children. All I need now is a “Cat’s in the Cradle” ringtone when my son calls and I’ll have the

crappy-parenting hat trick. I wonder how much Verizon charges for that?

It got a laugh, but it’s not so funny as I pack my bag to drive home in bad weather. The idea behind pursuing a creative muse is to wring as much as you can out of a finite life. I want to show my children by example that you should pursue the things you love in life with passion and gusto. But I also don’t want to be an empty spot in their childhood memories.

Most of the time, I keep that nagging voice of self-doubt at bay — I know the time I spend with my kids is meaningful, and they know they are loved.

But when you’re white-knuckling the steering wheel at 1 a.m. trying to keep the car on the road, the radio station’s been simulcasting the local StormTrack DopplerPanic 97000 Team for the past two hours, and your brain is replaying photos of leveled houses in an endless loop, those primal pack-leader instincts come to the surface and you feel like you’ve let down generations of alpha males.

Once the sun’s out tomorrow, this feeling will fade and I’ll be itching to hit the road again. It’s a weird, uneasy truce you make, fitting all the pieces of a life together. I’m starting to realize I’ll never have it all figured out, and that I’m not supposed to. We do our best, we swing for the fences, and when the world gets ugly, we ride the storm out until we get home. Wish me luck. O Keith Bergman hosts the Two Buck Yuks comedy showcase at The Blarney Event Center, 601 Monroe St., at 8 p.m. every Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Support Your LocaL reStaurantS

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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 17

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18 n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

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

Toledoan cooks up ‘Chicken Soup’ F A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol.4, No. 47 Established 2010.

Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com EDITORIAL

James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com ADMINISTRATION

Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com CONTRIBUTORS star@toledofreepress.com Jim Beard • Amy Campbell • John Dorsey Matt Feher • Dustin Hostetler • Stacy Jurich Vicki L. Kroll • lilD • Martini • Rachel Richardson

Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Lisa Renee Ward, Staff Writer Emeritus Darcy Irons, Marisha Pietrowski Proofreaders ADVERTISING SALES

Brent Long, Sales Manager blong@toledofreepress.com • (419) 346-9983 Renee Bergmooser rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com • (419) 266-0254 Chick Reid creid@toledofreepress.com • (419) 705-5396 Grant Grisier ggrisier@toledofreepress.com • (419) 574-2856

DISTRIBUTION

(419) 241-1700 news@toledofreepress.com

Toledo Free Press Star is published every Wednesday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604 • (419) 241-1700 Fax: (419) 241-8828 www.toledofreepress.com. Subscription rate: $100 /year.

Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2013 with all rights reserved.

Publication of ads does not imply endorsement of goods or services.

or years, Jill Kemerer has written stories, hoping to bring a little more light into the world. In addition to being a full-time mom, the Toledo resident has worked as a self-described “inspirational romance novelist.”

“I write Christian romance novels. I’m not published yet,” Kemerer said in an interview with Toledo Free JEFF Press Star. “I’ve been writing full-time for about six years now. I just really enjoy it, and am hoping to break in.”

Now, after years of work honing her skills, Kemerer’s writing will soon be in front of more readers than ever before — her story “Operation Christmas Puppy” appears in the new “Chicken Soup for the Soul” collection, titled “It’s Christmas!”

“I actually had a critique partner who actually had published through ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul,’ and she was really pleased with how the process went. And I thought, ‘Well, I might as well try it, too,’” Kemerer said.

The process of submitting a story for inclusion in the series is surprisingly simple, Kemerer noted. The official website for the long-running series — chickensoup.com — has directions for prospective contributors, notes on upcoming books in the franchise, deadlines and more.

“And you actually just submit it through an online form — so it’s just very painless,” she said.

Kemerer realized she had a subject that fit perfectly into the new holiday-themed collection.

A story that took place four years ago, while the family lived in Monroe, telling how Kemerer and her husband surprised their two children with the gift of a new puppy on Christmas Eve. “We had told our friends and family about it, obviously, when we got the dog — how we did it. But this was the first time I really put it into writing,” she said. “It’s really a fun little story. My husband and I wanted to get our kids a dog, and he had a friend who happens to breed little miniature dachshunds. And they were going to be ready right before Christmas.

“So we ended up giving it to them for Christmas, and making it a surprise for them.”

Given the trials involved in making the actual Operation Christmas Puppy a success — as detailed in her writing — Kemerer said that actually putting the story down on paper was the easy part.

“It was actually really fun. I did it more as a diversion. I’ve always liked the books, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ll try this.’ It was actually a really easy process for me. I mean, I feel really blessed, it didn’t take long to write,” she said.

“I have a blog, and I tend to write very personal things on there, too. So the story itself felt like an extension of that, I guess.”

Kemerer said she’s happy her tale will be part of a franchise as good-hearted as “Chicken Soup.”

“I think they’re really warm, nice publications. You can read them and always have a smile on your face when you’re done, you know?

If you’re looking for just a quick, happy moment in your day, they’re the perfect book to pick up.”

Kemerer also takes joy in being part of a project that celebrates a time of year that’s dear to her heart, and to the hearts of many — though even during the holidays some hearts need a bit of healing.

“Christmas is a really special time for a lot of people, and I think it can be a really painful time for a lot of people, too — because it does bring up memories that maybe weren’t really so pleasent. So, when you can read about a situation where some kids really did get a dream come true, it kind of maybe, in some way, makes you feel better,” she said.

mCGINNIS

POP GOES THE

CULTURE

KEMERER “Christmas is that magical time where something really special can happen.”

And as an epilogue to her “Chicken Soup” tale, Sophie — the mini-dachshund at the center of “Operation Christmas Puppy” — may no longer be a puppy, but she is still a part of Kemerer’s family.

“Sophie is curled up right next to me, under a blanket, because that’s her favorite spot,” Kemerer said. “And the kids are still — they’re just getting older, and still love her.

She’s just been a really fun addition to our family. She’s a good dog.” O

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“Baby, I want no more” — Mark Mikel, “I Want No More”

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / NOV. 20, 2013 n 19

A Night in Bethlehem December 7 & 8, 2013

Come between 1 and 6 p.m., and experience rst century Bethlehem. Take in the sights, smells and sounds of the bustling marketplace, complete with authentic shops staffed with artisans, a synagogue and live animals. And, did you hear the exciting news? A baby has been born!

Come and receive the greatest gift of all …

Jesus Christ! Itʼs free. No strings attached.

Special Presentations: Saturday, Dec. 7th 2:00

Bowsher High School Orchestra

Saturday, Dec. 7th 3:00

Collaboration — a vocal ensemble performing in the community for the past six years

Sunday, Dec. 8th 2:00 Ottawa Hills Choraliers

Sponsored by:

Sunday, Dec. 8th 4:00

Central Catholic Glee Club

Our Mission: To Be A Living Example of the Love of Jesus Christ We Are UT Friendly Since 1929

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20 n NOV. 20, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“This was no fun house” — Mark Mikel, “Cosmic Surprise”