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“Never underestimate the powers of the handicapped.” — Handi-Man
MUSIC: Toledo’s We Are The Fury 4 THEATER: ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ 6 TV: Jon Benjamin beyond cartoons 7 THE PULSE: Calendar of events 12 COMICS: Superman’s new look 14 FASHION: Local clothing line John Dough 15 EXHIBITS: ACGT Art Walk 16 McGINNIS: E3 gaming event in review 18
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Lily LejEune surviving against the odds • We are the fury at frankie’s inner city • locals co-host ‘The art you missed’ podcast JUNE 15, 2011 • Episode 2 Chapter 24 • Toledo Free Press Star, Toledo, OH: “There’s a dead witch under the house and everything’s in Technicolor!” — Jim Carrey, “In Living Color”
‘Pop-Aganda’ features artist’s comedy
Stars of the Week
By Vicki L. Kroll TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER vkroll@toledofreepress.com
Arturo Rodriguez uses comedic artwork to convey his message. PHOTO BY DANIEL MILLER
5th Annual
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There’s a cartoon dog sitting on a rock in Arturo Rodriguez’s painting titled “The Lonesome West,” which gives a tip of the hat to Frederic Remington’s “The Cowboy.” Another painting borrows and shares the name of Winslow Homer’s “The Gulf Stream,” with Rodriguez adding a smiling vulture watching the boater who is riding on rough, shark-infested waters. The University of Toledo associate professor of art uses comedic creations to convey his message. “Making art that has humor allows more people to access the work,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of dialogue and thought can be had through introspective humor if it’s layered so people can access the different levels. “If they like it and think about the image enough, they’ll make connections.” Rodriguez’s work will be on display this month in an exhibition titled “Pop-Aganda” in the Madhouse Gallery, 1215 Jackson St., in Toledo. The free, public exhibit can be seen Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through June 30. Rodriguez connected with cartoons after leaving Cuba with his parents in the Mariel boatlift in 1980. He was 7 years old then and watched Betty Boop and vintage animation from the early 1930s in the family’s new home in Miami. “I don’t refer to myself as a Cuban, and it’s not accurate to say I’m American or Cuban-American either,” he said. His artwork — paintings, prints and mixed media — explore exile.
“The Gulf Stream” by Arturo Rodriguez “I like to take paintings you might see in a typical American home and add some of my earliest memories of U.S. life: cartoons,” Rodriguez said. “I try to integrate imported influences into the culture that is my surrounding reality.” Sometimes inspirations are more literal. During a visit to Cuba in 2004, he was struck by his cousin’s reaction to watching a child play with a remote-control boat at a hotel. “My cousin said, ‘If only I could shrink,’” Rodriguez recalled. Moved by the memory, Rodriguez put together an installation piece, “Sueños” (“Dreams”), which features a video of a boat and a fish tank to create a surreal aura. “I want them to think about the impact of other cultures, take away a sense that we’re all immigrants except for native peoples, and become more aware of the rest of the world,” Rodriguez said. O
On the web
visit www.madmadmad.com/gallery for more information.
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4 n JUNE 15, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM
“Hated it!” — Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier
Older and wiser
We Are The Fury reunites to headline show at Frankie’s Inner City on June 18
By Mike Bauman
TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com
Four years ago, singer Jeremy Lublin and Toledo’s own We Are The Fury were on the ride of their lives. Rolling Stone magazine named the band an “Artist to Watch” in April 2007, which was followed by We Are The Fury doing an East Coast headlining tour and releasing its first full-length album “Venus” the next month, then playing the Warped Tour that June. A year later, both the band and the record deal it had through PureVolume.com and Warner Bros. had fallen apart. “A lot of, I guess, the reason we were really sold on the label kind of dissipated,” Lublin said. “So we toured, and it was basically like being on a really small Indie label. PureVolume didn’t have a lot of money to put into us, so we were financially responsible for everything, and we got some great tours and stuff out of it. We did a ton of stuff in a few years and got a great response from press. We were signed for about five years, but at the end of it, it was just kind of like, ‘What to do now?’” After the fallout, Lublin and close friend and We Are The Fury band mate Chris Hatfield were living in Los Angeles and started a new project called The New Romans. However, the two stayed in touch with former We Are The Fury members, even doing a show together in December 2009. “I still don’t understand why a lot of bands just break up,” Lublin said. “You don’t have to play shows, but you can when you want. For us, yeah, we had some internal issues and stuff like that, but we still liked playing. It was just [that] we also wanted to do other things.” During the past year and a half, they have tried to figure out a way to play more gigs. When Lublin came back to town two months ago and started working with Verso Group — a company he first started doing work for when he was a member of Hearsay TAO — it opened the door for We Are The Fury to do another concert in Toledo.
We Are The Fury will headline a June 18 show at Frankie’s Inner City along with Tropic Bombs, Mind Fish and The Strong Talk. PHOTO COURTESY OF WE ARE THE FURY
On June 18 at Frankie’s Inner City, We Are The Fury will headline a show that features Tropic Bombs, Mind Fish and The Strong Talk. Original members Lublin (vocals), Hatfield (guitar), Stephan Lublin (drums), Alan Hoffar (bass) and Brady Leffler (keys) will all be performing. When We Are The Fury first signed with One Big Spark/East West Records (owned by Warner Bros.), Lublin said it seemed great at the time since PureVolume.com was one of the top music sites, but that all changed by the time the band’s first album came out. After two Warped Tour appearances, being featured at SXSW, CMJ, Bamboozle and playing with the likes of Jack’s Mannequin, Head Automatica,
TOLEDO
Silverchair and the New York Dolls, seeing it all dissipate in 2008 was tough for Lublin. “It’s definitely like a drug because once you get there you want to stay there, and when it recedes a bit you’re like, ‘All right. How do I get it back?’” Lublin said. “So you end up chasing the dragon. That’s the only way you can really equate it.” Having experienced both the highs and lows of the music business, Lublin said he is always willing to give advice to bands and wants to help make Toledo a haven for artists. While Lublin cited positives such as the cheap cost of living in Toledo and being within a few hours of larger cities to play shows, he also added that there needs to be better camaraderie between local bands of different
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
genres in order to improve the city’s music scene. “Speaking from the position of having been in two of the biggest bands in Toledo at one point, it doesn’t get you anywhere being the biggest band in Toledo — other than having a lot of supportive fans, and that’s a good thing,” Lublin said. “But if people think, ‘Oh, I’ll be the biggest band in Toledo and then next step the world,’ it doesn’t really matter. You’re going to get there by being the best at what you’re doing.” Doors open at 9 p.m. for the June 18 show at Frankie’s Inner City, 308 Main St. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. All ages are welcome. For more information, call (419) 693-5300 or visit www.frankiesinnercity.com. O
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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 15, 2011 n 5
Surviving against all odds By Brandi Barhite Toledo Free Press Associate Editor bbarhite@toledofreepress.com
Kristen LeJeune was told her unborn child would die shortly after birth. If she survived as an infant, she might live a year or two. LeJeune couldn’t accept that. She wanted to at least hope her daughter would survive. So, on the advice of a doctor, she found hope in waiting to see how her daughter did after birth. On June 25, Lily’s family will celebrate the 5-year-old’s life and the help and hope they have received through Easter Seals Northern Ohio. The family will participate in the 9th annual Walk With Me event and fundraiser. The two-mile fitness walk will take place at The Toledo Zoo to raise funds for Easter Seals, which helps individuals and families with children like Lily. “I was 20 weeks pregnant when I found out she had hydrocephalus, which is water on the brain. With this condition, it doesn’t properly drain,” LeJeune said. “When she was born, she had encephalocele, a skull deformation, which caused a hole in the back of her skull.” Easter Seals got involved with Lily’s family immediately. It provided Lily with a special needs car
Lily LeJeune and her mother Kristen LeJeune STAR PHOTO BY JOHN POLLOCK
bed because she could not support her head. As she grew, Easter Seals bought a replacement bed. LeJeune said this is appreciated. The beds are expensive and not something that can be bought at a local store. She estimates one bed as costing more than $500, which is a huge expense for her family, which includes husband, Jeff, and sons, Lucas, 10 and Logan, 7. While Lily has had surgeries on her skull to close the hole, the water on the brain will be a
lifelong problem. She has a shunt to help drain the fluid and it has only malfunctioned once. The biggest struggles these days are visual delays and keeping her epilepsy under control. She can walk on her own, “but you can tell she has a different type of walk,” LeJeune said. “She speaks clearly and makes good sense of things,” she said. “She is 5, but it is like talking to a littler kid. If you ask her to go get something, she will say, ‘Sure,’ but if you ask what is outside, she just looks at you.” Patti Lee, events manager for Easter Seals Northern Ohio, said fundraisers like the zoo walk help fill the gap in the government money that funds most of its programs. Among those programs are services for adults and children with special needs and disabilities and home care for senior citizens. The nonprofit also provides disability awareness workshops for schoolchildren, offers medical equipment loans on a short-term and long-term basis and sends children to special needs camps. Last year’s zoo walk attracted 130 people with the goal for this year at 150 to 200. Lee said the registration cost of $35 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger includes a T-shirt, lunch and ticket
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5-year-old among those to benefit from Easter Seals walk to the zoo after the walk. Lily’s family raised $1,300 for the walk last year. “We feel like it is a great opportunity to have it at the zoo and have a scavenger hunt, eat lunch and then they get a wristband to go back to the zoo. We are usually done by 12:30 p.m., so they can make a day of it,” Lee said. LeJeune said Lily looks forward to the walk every year. Just attending is a miracle because when she was first born, doctors said she could be in a vegetative state. “She is definitely not that. She is pretty happy where she is at. She is a social girl. When there is attention on her, she eats it up. She has fun being around people.” O
Easter Seals Walk With Me O June 25 at The Toledo Zoo O 9 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. walk start $35 for adults, $5 for children 12 and younger O Registration includes T-shirt, lunch and one admission ticket to return to the zoo after completion of the event. To register, go to www.walkwithme.org or call (888) 710-3020. O
6 n JUNE 15, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM
“I got chu. I got chu.” — Wanda Jackson
Rebel Life Media
GIVE GLASS: HOT GLASS MAKES COOL GIFTS
Art Walk @ Firenation Thursday, June 16th 5-9 p.m. Featuring Ahava Salon
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Lately, I have received videos made by local artists. Most want feedback, but I wanted them to have something more to celebrate their hard work so I contacted an old college buddy in Columbus. Gezus Zaire is a Cleveland native, 2001 graduate of the University of Toledo and heavy into independent media in Ohio. A passionate maker of films about Hip-Hop and politics, he is also the founder of Rebel Life Media. A known advocate for great local music, his company is responsible for Rebel Army Radio (www.rebelarmyradio.t83.net), an online radio program dedicated solely to Cleveland artists, and newly launched RTV, an online music video show for all Ohio artists. His background in college and independent radio, professional journalism and film combined with his knowledge of and passion for Hip-Hop helped influence Zaire’s choice to give Ohio music a voice. “It’s a network, sort of like MTV for Ohio,” Zaire said. “It’s for Ohio artists. There are multiple shows and there are multiple programs for people to go and watch.” Located at www.rtvnation.com, RTV is the very outlet Toledo Hip-Hop music videos need to showcase the artists and filmmakers. For rappers trying to find ways to gain exposure for their music, making a video provides another option. The quality of local videos has improved greatly over the last few years with the availability of affordable HD cameras and software. A clean professional look is achievable and quite a few artists are working behind the camera, adding filmmaker to their resume. Currently, RTV is prepping for its awards show, sponsored by the Ohio Hip-Hop Awards, taking place this fall the same
weekend as the Ohio Hip-Hop Awards in Cleveland. Fourteen different awards will be given, with several artists from the Glass City garnering multiple nominations. Rapper Johnnie Mae is representing for the ladies in the Best Performance category for her video “Talking to myself,” Best Female Video Artist and Best Female Video for her song “TKO.” P. Sweety is nominated in three categories, including Best Concept for his song, “Why tell a lie,” Best Directing and Best Male Video. Big J is nominated for the Fans Choice Award for his video, “Almost,” featuring Caine and Nico the Beast. Winners are set to be announced in early August. Understanding that all any artist wants is to be validated and authorized by an institution, Zaire wants that institution in Ohio to be RTV. And according to him, “The main point is to just give artists from the state who maybe can’t afford to get on MTV, BET or any other outlet considered mainstream an opportunity or an outlet to have their music heard, to have their music respected [and] have their videos respected.” The show is already in its second season. Therefore, new submissions may have to wait to be played, but Zaire promises the show is dedicated to providing the opportunity to see quality music videos. To submit and gain exposure at the same time, Zaire suggests the music video be uploaded to YouTube for two reasons: RTV’s easy access to the link and so artists can gain a buzz while waiting to be included in the season’s lineup. Artists can email their YouTube music video link to rebellifemedia@yahoo.com As we continue on… O
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“All was calm … All was bright. Bright like that damn light that cop shone in my face.” — Homey Claus
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Jon Benjamin stars in the new Comedy Central series “Jon Benjamin Has a Van.” PHOTO BY JASON NOCITO
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Jon Benjamin expands beyond cartoons in new show By Jason Mack Toledo Free Press Star Staff writer jmack@toledofreepress.com
After years of hiding behind cartoon characters, Emmy-nominated voice actor Jon Benjamin is putting his face on display with the debut of Comedy Central’s “Jon Benjamin Has a Van.” “It’s humiliating,” Benjamin said. “You’re looking at me now. It’s a mess. I’m unhappy about it, but I’ll do my best to make my face look better.” The show is a fake news magazine built around scripted segments, but it also features real interactions. Benjamin is joined by his news crew featuring Nathan Fielder, Gary Wilmes and co-writer and producer Leo Allen. He has more than just his face to worry about with the show’s revealing logo displayed on the sides of the van. “I don’t know what’s up with that,” he said. “It is a little stupid. I knew I wanted to take my shirt off in a photo shoot. When I saw the photo, I realized I’m really out of shape. I have to work on that.” Benjamin earned an Emmy nomination for his voice work on FX’s “Archer” and also voices the main character on Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers.” “It’s grueling,” he said. “I’m working about two hours a week every other week. It’s pretty bad.” All three of Benjamin’s leading characters are egotistical and take pleasure in the suffering of others. “It is how I am in real life,” he said. “I guess you could say the secret is out. I’m not a good actor.” He was more comfortable exchanging acting for ad-libbing during the real interactions on “Jon Benjamin Has a Van.” The premiere episode introduces the game show “Ca$h Stall,” which is “Cash Cab” for the men’s room. When someone occupied the stall next to his, Benjamin knocked and offered them a chance to win $100. Most “contestants” walked away or threatened
violence, but one person earned the cash. “Somebody won, but we didn’t show it,” Benjamin said. “We had ridiculously long trivia questions. They were not easy. But it was stupid because we aren’t shooting a half-hour game show.” He has been surprised at how willing people have been to interact on camera. “People are pretty reasonable,” Benjamin said. “I’m almost shocked I haven’t been punched in the face. I’m always pleasantly surprised. I’ve deserved it millions of times.” Benjamin nearly received what he deserves while walking around New York City in a giant pigeon costume. “I was in it and being mean to people,” Benjamin said. “I was walking around New York and telling people to f--- off. I was being really mean. I was in this sort of pigeon tank, so I felt really powerful. I like being protected and insulting people at the same time. There was this guy where I said ‘Nice hat, a--hole,’ or some lame insult. He came right at me, but he went after the pigeon’s head way above mine.” Each episode features one developing scripted story. Benjamin is confident in his writing, but his resolve was tested early when some balked at his bold ideas. When the sound operator was kidnapped during the main segment in the fourth episode, the show went several minutes without audio. “I don’t think it was bold, I just thought it was funny,” Benjamin said. “I like that people think of it that way. I was just hoping it caught on. If it didn’t, I would have to write something else. It would have been time-consuming. So part of it was laziness. Don’t make me write another bit. Comedy Central was a little wary about it, but they fully supported it.” The two-episode season premiere begins at 10:30 p.m. June 14 on Comedy Central. The 10-episode season begins its regular Wednesday slot June 15 at 10:30 p.m. O
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8 n JUNE 15, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM
“Richard Simmons was an astronaut!” — Drunk in restaurant
Newfound humor By Mighty Wyte
TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com
We have all met people in our lives that should be comedians. Whether it’s your co-worker or a cousin, we have all undoubtedly run into a natural jokester. Detroit’s Glenn Kynard Jr. is certainly one of the funniest “regular guys” you’ll meet. “Believe it or not, I started doing stand-up in July of 2010,” Kynard said in a recent interview. “People were always telling me I should do standup, and I finally did it.” For many, the road to stardom in comedy is paved with years of open mic events and scavenging for time in front of an audience. However, Kynard’s style and material were well-received from the beginning. “I’ve always had the gift, but I needed an outlet,” Kynard said. “Stand-up is fun, but it’s also an outlet for my frustrations. As a comedian, I see what I do as an art. I’m able to relate to people in the most elemental way. I take experiences we all share and twist them so we can see the humor.” As a result of his early success, Kynard was able to connect with other local and regional talent to develop something of a comedic bomb squad. “In December of 2010, I came to a couple of comics with the idea that if we pool our resources
we could set up our own shows,” Kynard said. “This idea spawned the L.O.L. Comedy Group.” The L.O.L. Comedy Group holds a 12-comedian roster with talent from Detroit, Columbus and, of course, Toledo. “We’ll have five or six comedians at every show, depending on who is available for each event, so you’ll always get a good mix of comedic styles from show to show,” Kynard said. The group’s first show was at the Hill Street Blues Café and was sold out with standing-room only, Kynard said. “Since then, we’ve continued to expand and have done shows in Michigan, here in Toledo and most recently at the Collingwood Arts Center,” Kynard said. “Our goal is to put on a show every month here in Toledo.” Kynard said performing stand-up is the best feeling in the world. “You have the power to affect what people think,” Kynard said. “People may have certain expectations when they first see you, but the words you leave them with can change their thought process on things. That’s very powerful.” L.O.L.’s next scheduled show is June 18 at the Collingwood Arts Center at 2413 Collingwood Blvd. Seating for the show begins at 7:30 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 online from CACToledo.org or $15 at the door. O
Detroit comedian bringing L.O.L. Comedy Group to Collingwood Arts Center June 18
Detroit’s Glenn Kynard Jr. is performing stand-up comedy June 18 at the CAC. PHOTO COURTESY OF GLENN KYNARD JR.
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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 15, 2011 n 9
Raceway Park is Summer’s Best Bet for Entertainment!
June 18th Party @ The Park
featuring
56 Daze Fritz Byers, left, and Sam Melden co-host ‘The Art You Missed.’ TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR PHOTO BY SARAH OTTNEY
Art over airwaves
New weekly podcast features ‘The Art You Missed’ By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com
“The Art You Missed” is the focus of a new locally produced weekly podcast. Co-hosts Fritz Byers and Sam Melden aim to draw attention to music, poetry, film and other art in danger of being overlooked due to the sheer volume available in the Internet age, Byers said. “Because of this proliferation and the excitement of the new, there’s a danger that meritorious works of art will be forgotten or even current works of art will be missed just because there’s so much art to consume,” Byers said. “There’s at the same time a sense that what is current is unique and untethered from history and uninfluenced by art that has come before and our show is an effort to correct that misperception.” A better understanding of art from the past can increase the enjoyment of present-day art, Byers said. “We might like a great current English alt-folk group, but we believe that knowing about earlier iterations of English folk music — whether it’s the English folk revival of the '70s or the post-World War I boom of folk music in Great Britain — it just provides more context and more understanding,” Byers said. “You might encounter art you really love that you’ve never seen before. That’s true for visual art and music and fiction and so forth.” The pair started posting episodes online at artyoumissed.com in early May and are up to about 600 downloads per episode, including some overseas listeners, Melden said. The episodes, posted each Tuesday, are also available on iTunes. “Here’s the beautiful thing about the Internet: It makes the international local and it makes the local international,” Melden said. “It’s really, really exciting in that regard. It’s coming out of Toledo but talking about the world.” Byers and Melden are co-workers at Sylvania-based company Vintage Aerial, where Byers is president and CEO. Byers is also the
longtime host and producer of Jazz Spectrum 91, WGTE’s weekly radio jazz anthology. However, “The Art You Missed” is a personal side project the pair pursues on their own time. “We get togethe–r when we can find time, turn on the tape recorder and have a conversation,” Byers said. “It is intended as a live, spontaneous, unscripted conversation.” The pair has organized a Kickstarter fundraising campaign that runs through June 30. So far, $2,705 has been pledged toward their $3,500 goal. If the goal is reached, the money would be used for better recording equipment and editing software with the goal of being able to record shows in coffee shops, schools or other community locations. Melden, who is 27, said he hopes the show introduces younger listeners to art from before their time. “I feel like my generation feels like we really know all there is to know about art, but the truth is we only know what we’ve been exposed to and there’s so much that comes before us that we might have missed,” Melden said. “Not even just our parents’ art, but our grandparents’ and our greatgrandparents’, because that’s the foundation of the art that we enjoy and it’s naïve for us to ignore it.” He also hopes older generations will learn something about present-day art as well as renew an interest in the art from their formative years. “So a discovery and a rediscovery,” Melden said. “If that happens, then that’s fantastic.” Byers said he hopes “The Art You Missed” helps listeners engage in art they love or are curious about. “We hope our shows convey the vast diversity of art, the inexhaustible supply of intriguing art,” Byers said. “We hope people engage with us in an ongoing, free-form exploration of art and its meaning for us individually and its meaning for the culture.” To listen to the podcast, donate to the Kickstarter campaign or learn more, visit artyoumissed.com. O
Father’s Day BBQ
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Upcoming U pcoming Shows June 25: MAS FiNA July 2: Hoozier Daddy July 9: Hoozier Daddy
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10 n JUNE 15, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM
“You’re under arrest.”— Officer. “I guess I’m black.” — Michael Jackson
Living the Dream
For Tommy Davidson, stand-up comes first
By Jeff McGinnis
Toledo surgeon volunteers in Germany treating American soldiers
TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER PopGoesJeff@gmail.com
Tommy Davidson may have crashed into the public spotlight on the classic sketch comedy show “In Living Color” in 1990, but like all overnight sensations, he had worked for years to get there. Davidson first began in comedy in the mid’80s, working clubs as a stand-up comic. He’s getting perilously close to 30 years in show business. And as he reflected upon all that time onstage and touring the world, he said he’s grown as a person — which, in turn, has helped him grow as a comic. “Individually, I can do more,” Davidson said in an interview with Toledo Free Press Star. “I have more skills, you know. And my mind — I guess my material base is broadening with me. Whereas I was traveling around the country, now I’m traveling around the world. So, anything that I experience, my stand-up experiences, you know? Where that way, I’ve just grown, as a human.” Davidson will be bringing all such experiences to his upcoming shows at Fat Fish Blue Home of the Funny Bone, in Perrysburg, on June 24 and 25. Beyond how he’s evolved, however, the veteran comic also has some pointed thoughts about how his business has changed in the past few decades. “Stand-up is dumbing down. It takes less. People can have less and do more. In other words, you can do a little, and it can be seen by more people, because of the Internet and things like that. And the comedy specials are far between, whereas before — 10 years ago, maybe 15 years ago — the comedy business was driven on specials.” Davidson, one of the most insightful and intelligent conversationalists one could hope for on the subject of comedy, said the rise of the Web hasn’t changed the way he does stand-up, but it has changed the way audiences experience it. “I approach it the same, it’s just that I get seen more. I can show up, just randomly at some small club, and the next thing you know, it’s on the Internet. So, you know, there’s no comedy secrets. I’ll be seen, no matter what,” he said. “People will say, ‘Man, I saw you last night at the Improv in Oxnard.’
Surgery overseas
Davidson will perform at Fat Fish Blue in Perrysburg on June 24 and 25. PHOTO BY Staff Sgt. Nathan Bevier/U.S. Air Force
I’m like, How did you see that?” Davidson added that another challenge lies in developing new material. “It’s harder, because I’m an actual working comedian, so time to work on new stuff is hard, because I work on my new stuff from the stage. If I just wrote everything, there’d be no problem — I’d just write everything and go and do it. But you know, you have to work at it, you know? Work, perfect the bits. That takes work onstage. How you perfect a bit, and work it onstage, while you’re entertaining at the same time.” Most of Davidson’s fame has come from his television and film appearances, which can’t really showcase his remarkable versatility. He stated that, for him, it’s all about being onstage. “That is the thrill. That’s the thrill over everything else. Because it’s the ultimate freedom. No one tells you what to do; it all comes from you. You’re the originator, the generator. So that’s cool.” That’s not to say Davidson has completely forsaken other media, of course. He garnered many positive notices for his work on the satire “Black
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Dynamite,” and is currently working on a new film as well. He expressed disappointment at not having made more headway in movies. “You always want to be able to do what you do. And basically, I’m working on getting my own projects going. And if you’re not a movie star and you’re not in movies, then, you know — it’s like being an NBA star and not being able to get into the game,” he said. “So, you just keep on shooting the ball, you’ll get in there.” Davidson also still gives full credit to “In Living Color,” the many fond memories of which help inspire the continued visibility he has among comedy fans. “It’s everything,” he said. “That’s what brings people out to see me. That’s what feeds the whole machine, you know?” But Davidson is keen on forging new memories among fans, especially a club stage like Fat Fish Blue. Because stand-up is what it’s all about. “It’s the ultimate self-expression. There’s no editing. Nobody else has the final say. That’s what it means to me.” O
Vascular surgeon Ralph Whalen of Toledo recently spent two weeks treating wounded American soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq at the U.S. Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany. Whalen, who volunteered last year as well, was in Germany from April 16 to May 1. He is scheduled to return for a two-week rotation in May 2012. “I was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the care of our soldiers,” Whalen said. “My first experience at LRMC last year was very humbling. The injuries sustained were severe. LRMC has some of the finest trauma physicians I have ever worked with.” Since 2004, 66,000 military personnel have been treated at LRMC, the largest American hospital outside the United States. Whalen, a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery (SVS), is one of 72 members to volunteer at LRMC since September 2007, after SVS member and retired U.S. Army Col. David Gillespie of the U.S. Army Surgeon General’s Office asked members to volunteer at LRMC. There is now a waiting list for SVS surgeons willing to volunteer this year. “Speaking on behalf of SVS leadership and all of its members, we are extremely proud of the vascular surgeons who donate their time to help treat war injuries,” SVS President Dr. Robert Zwolak said. O — Zach Davis
“Why don’t you go outside and be the victim of a drive-by shooting?” — Wanda Jackson
TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 15, 2011 n 11
Show is fun for all ages SRP to perform ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ By Kathryn Milstein TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER kmilstein@toledofreepress.com
Stella’s Restaurant has a monthly themed buffet and wine tasting. PHOTO COURTESY OF STELLA’S RESTAURANT
Wine and dine
Stella’s Restaurant offers monthly wine tasting and buffet By Joel Sensenig TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com
Those believing the only thing that could make a wine taste better is by pairing it with a buffet full of food may want to be at Stella’s Restaurant in Perrysburg the first Monday of each month. For $20, attendees get to sample five “themed” wines along with a buffet of food offerings that complement the beverages. Because next month’s first Monday is July 4, the July tasting will be July 11. The theme will be “Wines of Summer,” featuring a variety of unusual wines that people “probably haven’t heard of before, which are especially suited for drinking outside on a hot day,” said Eli Ewing, manager at Stella’s. The tasting begins at 6 p.m. The monthly effort by Stella’s is an attempt to introduce people to wine they may not be
Patio Now Open
familiar with, as well as offer an affordable drinking and dining experience, Ewing said. “In the past, we’ve done some wine dinners with five-course meals, and they were fun, but we felt like they’re not accessible to some people who don’t want to spend $70-80,” Ewing said. “We decided to do it like this so more people could afford it and also because a lot of times we’ll have a distributor or a winemaker come and while he’s pouring his own wine, he’ll also be able to talk to people about it,” he said. While Stella’s hopes some of the winetasting customers stay to enjoy a meal or drink afterward, the $20 tasting will give them plenty to enjoy, Ewing said. “One time the chef put out corned duck breast topped with quail legs,” he said. “While I don’t know if we’ll do quail legs again, that’s just an example that it’s not just fruit and cheese.” For more information, call Stella’s Restaurant, 104 Louisiana Ave., at (419) 873-8360. O
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You grew up with it. Your parents grew up with it. Your children are growing up with it. From June 17-19, Charlie Brown and the classic “Peanuts” group will be in Whitehouse. Staged Right Productions Inc. (SRP) will put on “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at 8 p.m. June 17 and 18, and at 2:30 p.m. June 19. The play will be staged at Hope United Methodist Church, 10610 Waterville St., which can fit about 90 chairs. Matt Richardson, director of the play and an SRP board member, said he hopes to fill every seat. “I’m trying to keep the family that people will recognize, that people will know, that people will remember,” he said. “That’s kind of my main goal, to bring the members of TV — as much of that — into it.” He said he modified the ’60s script to include more of the cartoon, since the script was based on the comic strips. However, he said he could not add the football-punting scene to the play. “There’s no easy way to cheat that without hurting the actors,” he said. For Richardson, who said he is both the oldest and “youngest” member of the board, directing the show came naturally. “I grew up on ‘Peanuts,’ so I kind of know the material the best,” he said. Ben McGilvery will play the role of Charlie Brown. Although he said he has acted with almost everyone in the cast before, this will be his first time with SRP. “I had never done this show before so it has been a great experience, both learning the story and reacquainting myself with the Peanuts’ characters,” he wrote in an email from Chicago where he is installing equipment in a steel plant. “In my opinion, Peanuts is one of the few iconic comics that has established itself to be inter-generational,” McGilvery wrote. “Whereas my parents loved it when it first came out, I loved it as a kid growing up, and my 4-year-old daughter loves
BLOODY MARY BAR SUNDAYS! STARTING AT 2 P.M.
The cast of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” PHOTO BY KATE LANKEY
it now. It’s so easy to relate to the characters as they go through the awkwardness of growing up and meeting all the crazy individuals you’ll encounter along the way.” Kate Lankey, publicity and marketing trustee for SRP, said the play was picked because it is an excellent show with a small cast, perfect for the small company. “We’re still new; we’re still building and getting information out there,” she said. “When you have a very small budget, it limits you quite a bit, so we wanted to do a family show and get the word out.” SRP was started in 2009 to avoid the drama and politics of community theater, Lankey said. “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” will be the fourth show the group has put on. Tickets cost $8 for adults, $7 for students and $5 for ages 12 and younger. Call (419) 270-1204 or visit www. StagedRightProductionsInc.Mfbiz.com. O
®
Jazz Café & Fine F in nee D Di Dining in nin ngg R Re Restaurant estaau urra an ntt
THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY:
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301 River Road at The Historic Commercial Building Maumee
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Join us for Sunday Brunch S
Upcoming June U Jazz Schedule
June 24th & 25th:
Jeff McDonald
July 1st & 2nd:
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419-794-8205
degagejazzcafe.com
12 n JUNE 15, 2011 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM
Compiled by Whitney Meschke Events are subject to change.
MUSIC The Ark This small venue offers a showcase for lesser-known acts. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. (734) 761-1451, (734) 761-1800 or www.theark.org. O The Boxcars: 8 p.m. June 15, $17.50. O Ivan & Alyosha: 8 p.m. June 16, $13.50. O Paul Thorn: 8 p.m. June 17, $22.50. O Christine Lavin, Don White: 8 p.m. June 18, $25. O The Deanna Bogart Band: 7:30 p.m. June 19, $15. O Guitar Shorty: 8 p.m. June 20, $15. O Jimmie Dale Gilmore & the Wronglers: 8 p.m. June 22, $20.
“Hey Ms. Black Person USA, the finest in the lan’… like a sweet baked honey-glazed ham.” — Beauty contest host
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 Sean Mullady: June 15. O Jerod: June 16 and 22-23. O Al Smith & the All Stars: June 17.
Caesars Windsor Consider hopping the Detroit River for this casino’s entertainment offerings. Ticket prices, in Canadian dollars, are for the cheapest seats; attendees must be 19 or older. Caesars Windsor Colosseum, 377 Riverside Dr. East, Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com. O The Sounds of Motown 2.0: 3 and 9 p.m. June 17, $15.
The Blarney Irish Pub
Centennial Terrace
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 The Eight Fifteens: June 16. O Jeff Stewart & the 25s: June 17.
This venue next to a quarry hosts dance parties, swing bands and rockers. 5773 Centennial Road, Sylvania. (419) 882-1500 or www.ticketmaster.com. O Eric Church, Jon Pardi: 8 p.m. June 17, $27. O The Johnny Knorr Orchestra: 7:30-11 p.m. June 18, $10. O Hiroshima: June 20, $30.
Blind Pig A variety of rock, soul, pop and alternative acts perform at this bar. 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor. $3-$20 unless noted. (734) 996-8555 or blindpigmusic.com. O Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program, Ashleys, Mister, Woodman: 9:30 p.m. June 16. O Secret Twins, Prussia, Long Whisker, Bad Indians: 9 p.m. June 17. O The Appleseed Collective, Small Houses, Petal Shop: 9:30 p.m. June 18. O Waynesboro, Slayton, Seth Patrick, Obscure History: 9:30 p.m. June 21.
Bretz Bar 2012 Adams St. (419) 243-1900. O Deja Dellataro and Felaciana Thunderpussy: Thursdays-Saturdays.
Howling Summer of Fun
Bronze Boar
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.
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. June 15 and 22. O David Lux: June 16 and 21. O BGSU Jazz Faculty Band: 7:30-11:30 p.m. June 17-18.
The Distillery Karaoke is offered Tuesdays, but paid entertainers rock
on 107.7 the Wolf and 1077wolf.com! The Howling Summer of Fun continues on 107.7 The Wolf, brought to you by Fox Toledo! The Texaco Country Showdown qualifying round is this Saturday at Yeeha’s Bar out Wednesdays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www.thedistilleryonline.com. O Kyle White: June 15. O Neon Black Unplugged: June 16. O Neon Black: June 17. O Hangover: June 18. O Gregg Aranda: June 21.
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 John Barile, Bobby May: 10 p.m. June 17. O Tom Turner & Slow Burn: 10 p.m. June 18.
Fat Fish Blue Serving blues and similar sounds, as well as bayoustyle grub. Levis Commons, 6140 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg. (419) 931-3474 or fatfishfunnybonetoledo.com. O Andrew Ellis & the Setting Sons: 9:30 p.m. June 17. O Johnny Reed & the House Rockers: 8:30 p.m. June 18.
Frankie’s Toledo’s venue for rock. 308 Main St. Tickets vary between $5 and $15, unless noted. (419) 693-5300 or www. FrankiesInnerCity.com. O Auto Tune karaoke: 9 p.m. Mondays, free. O Empires, Say This Once: 7 p.m. June 15. O Dragon Wagon, Severe Weather: 9 p.m. June 16. O The Grubs, I of Radio, First Degree Arson, Violent Stars, the Shame Game: 9 p.m. June 17.
Famo us White Chicken Chili New England Clam Chow der Ho mema de So ups Panini Grille d Sandwiches 7723 Airport Highway • Holland 419.491.0098
and Grill from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. See the Wolf Touring Studio and Wolf Staff this weekend at Holland’s Strawberry Festival! O O We Are the Fury, Tropic Bombs, Mindfish, the Strong Talk: 9 p.m. June 18.
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: June 17-18.
ICE Restaurant & Bar This local, family-owned enterprise offers food, drinks and music in a sleek atmosphere. 405 Madison Ave. (419) 2463339 or icerestaurantandbar.com. O Brent Stanley: 6 p.m. June 16. O Dan and Don: 7 p.m. June 17 and 24. O Calen Savidge: 8 p.m. June 18.
Kerrytown Concert House This venue focuses on classical, jazz and opera artists and music. 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. $5$30, unless noted. (734) 769-2999 or www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com. O Patrick Donley’s Full Moon Series: 8 p.m. June 15. O Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival: 8 p.m. June 17 and 24; 2 p.m. June 26. O Watts-Weston Duo: 8 p.m. June 20.
Lair Lounge Live music is offered on Saturdays. 3332 Glendale Ave. (419) 385-7850. O Laurie Swyers & Blue Sun: June 18.
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Ottawa Tavern
Ronn Daniels performs weekly at this pub. 8-11 p.m. Thursdays, 141 Main St. (419) 697-6297 or www.toledomainstreet.com.
Casual meals with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com. O Sleeping in the Aviary: 10 p.m. June 16. O Hound, the Boss Mustangs: 10 p.m. June 17. O 33 1/3, the Forest: 10 p.m. June 18. O Brontosaurus: 10 p.m. June 20.
Manhattan’s This “slice of the Big Apple” in the Glass City provides entertainment most weekends. 1516 Adams St. (419) 243-6675 or www.manhattanstoledo.com. O Vytas and Steve: 7-10 p.m. Wednesdays. O Open mic with Bread and Butter: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays. O Frostbite: June 18. O Cynthia Kaay Bennett: 6 p.m. June 20.
Mickey Finn’s
Pizza Papalis Get slices with a topping of entertainment. 519 Monroe St. (419) 244-7722 or www.pizzapapalis.com. O Arctic Clam: June 17. O Kyle White: June 18.
A variety of genres to wash your drinks down with. Open mic nights, 9 p.m. Wednesdays, no cover; $5-$7 cover other nights. 602 Lagrange St. (419) 246-3466 or www. mickeyfinnspub.com. O Justajunkie Films: 8 p.m. Thursdays. O As Good as Dead, Disconnected, Wind of Death, Break, Cloudrat: 8:30 p.m. June 17. O Stonehouse: 8:30 p.m. June 18.
Spicy Tuna
Mutz @ The Oliver House
A corner bar-type hangout with DJ-provided tunes on Saturday nights. 702 Monroe St. (419) 241-1118. O Open mic with Jason Kelley: 9 p.m. Thursdays. O Hip-hop night: 9 p.m. Fridays.
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 Dirty Baby, APB, Russell Jones: Saturdays. O Breaking Ground: June 17.
One2 Lounge at Treo Live music starts at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com. O Scott Potter Trio: June 17. O Hero String Quartet: June 18.
This sushi bar offers occasional entertainment to accompany the fishy dishes. 7130 Airport Hwy. (419) 720-9333 or spicytunasushi.com. O DJ Jimmy James: 10 p.m. Fridays. O Karaoke: 10 p.m. Saturdays. O Kyle White: 7-11 p.m. June 16.
Missing: June 18.
O Old West End Records: June 15. O Stereofidelics: June 16. O The Nu-Tones: June 17. O Kentucky Chrome: June 18.
O The Lele’s, Space Goonz, Snarly: June 19.
Yeeha’s
Wesley’s Bar & Grill A huge variety of beers helps wash down the entertainment. 1201 Adams St. (419) 255-3333 or wesleysbar.com. O DJs Folk, Mattimoe and Perrine: Fridays. O Crucial 420: June 18.
Country and rock with a little “Coyote Ugly” style. 3150 Navarre Ave., Oregon. (419) 691-8880 or www.yeehas.com. O 9 Lives: June 17. O Texaco Country Music Showdown battle of the bands. Eight will perform, only three go on to finals. June 18, $5.
Check out the expanded calendar at www.toledofreepress.com
Woodchucks The place to go for an eclectic mix of people and music. 224 S. Erie St. (419) 241-3045. O Karaoke: Wednesdays. O The Fallout: June 16. O Argus, Ugly Tribe Revival, PBR: June 17. O Secret Stones, Sworn Secrecy, Ruin Your Life, the
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The Village Idiot Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281, (419) 740-2395 or www. villageidiotmaumee.com. O Bob Rex: Sunday afternoons. O The Eight Fifteens: Sunday evenings. O Frank May, Ben Barefoot: Mondays. O Mark Mikel: Tuesdays.
TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / JUNE 15, 2011 n 13
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Superman loses shorts, gains new beginning By Jim Beard Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com
“He’s the hero that all others aspire to be,” says JC’s Comic Stop’s Jim Collins of the most famous of them all, Superman. “He’s the measuring stick. A noble, selfless, positive ray of hope and light. When all seems lost, he enables the ‘Never Say Die’ U.S. attitude and finds a solution.” So why is DC Comics — the Man of Steel’s owners — changing him this September? It’s all part of the oldest comic company’s relaunching of its entire line of titles and characters — and Superman appears to be on the receiving end of one of its more radical revisions. Advance word from DC seems to indicate that starting the Man of Steel over from the beginning — in a new “Action Comics” No. 1 — includes an attitude adjustment for the citizens of Earth concerning their hero. “This Superman seems not to be welcomed with open arms from the public,” Collins notes. “Their distrust, I would imagine, comes from their not understanding why he does what he does. What’s his motive? [Superman’s] surrounded by college sports stars, politicians, reality ‘stars’ who do things only if it benefits their interests — the “What Do I Get Out of It?” society — [but] his only motive is to protect
the planet and the people of the world he loves and calls his own.” Two pieces of art have been released by DC showing covers for “Action Comics” No. 1 and “Superman” No. 1; interestingly, they illustrate what appears to be two different versions of the hero, both departures from the look we’ve known for more than 70 years. “The new costume changes I’m most certain are a result of the ongoing lawsuit from the heirs of [Superman’s co-creator] Jerry Siegel,” speculates Collins. “It appears that some sort of ownership will revert to them. DC had to have a contingency plan ready to roll — what better time than now? The costume seems to ‘modernize’ him by getting rid of the silly shorts. It’ll seem more cool to kids these days, because they represent such a large portion of the comics-reading audience. I also question if this has anything to do with the new Superman film.” Though his words are laced with wry commentary, Collins manages to find a point of interest in what could be a make-or-break moment in comic book history. “All this being said, I will look forward to the new relaunches,” he explains. “Not so much because I’m excited about the changes, but more to see if the comics field I’ve been a part of for over 25 years now survives this risky experiment.” O
Please join us for the grand opening of our new post-acute rehabilitation unit and 2,900-square-foot therapy gym. See how our pulmonary rehabilitation enhances recovery outcomes for our patients. Tours • Hors d’oeuvres • Refreshments
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Kindly RSVP to 419-698-4521 by June 17th. Walk-ins also welcome.
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Toledo-grown fashion
Donney McMullin marketing ‘John Dough’ clothing line By Mighty Wyte TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com
Toledo-born and Toledo-raised Donney McMullin is building his empire right here at home. “I grew up here, went to school here,” McMullin said. “So it only made sense for me to stay rooted here and build McMullin something at home.” McMullin, who graduated from Bowsher High School and attended the University of Toledo for entrepreneurial studies and small business management, is the driving force and creative mind behind the John Dough brand of “premium street wear apparel and accessories.” McMullin refers to John Dough as a brand because “my business focus isn’t on one market or service. We’re introducing the brand with a clothing line. T-shirts are available already and soon we will be selling denim and a ladies line of clothing called Jane Dough.” McMullin, like any other entrepreneur, faces hurdles but is charging through with his vision. “Our biggest challenge is manufacturing,” he said. “Most manufacturers think 10,000 units is a small order, where we think 1,000 units of any one product is still large.”
Financing a start-up company is the other obvious challenge McMullin faces. “The average start-up cost for a small clothing company is 1 to 1.7 million dollars,” McMullin said. “If you don’t have ready access to those resources, you have to be very creative in the execution and delivery of your brand.” For John Dough, delivery of the new line of Toledo-grown fashion involves a simple-to-use website (DoughDynasty.com), plenty of festival appearances and a brick and mortar purchase point. Hot Kikx at 4550 Monroe St. sells John Dough and offers potential buyers a chance to feel and see the kind of shirts John Dough delivers. “We are going to be all over the city this summer,” McMullin said. “We had booths at the Old West End Festival on June 4 and 5. We have a booth at the African American Festival on July 9 and 10. John Dough will also have a booth at the Bash at The Bay from July 27 through the 31st.” While it will take some time for John Dough to be recognized as a fashionable name, the brand is being built. According to McMullin, goals are being reached and new goals set. “One of the things we would like to do this season is grow hometown recognition,” he said. “After that we’ll worry about getting the clothes onto entertainment figures like artists and musicians.” O
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Local artist’s work to be displayed in Mansfield Art Center By John Dorsey TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com
David Eichenberg is the very portrait of the successful working artist. The past year in particular has been a whirlwind of exhibitions and awards and his résumé just keeps getting bigger. Eichenberg was recently Eichenberg asked to display his work at the Mansfield Art Center as part of the highly anticipated group exhibition “As They See Us: 8 Ohio Artists.” The exhibit is set to kick off June 19 with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. “I’m really not sure where they had seen my work, but they just called and asked me to be in the show,” Eichenberg said. “I selected a group of pieces that are good examples of what I do, including a few brand-new ones like ‘Patrick,’ who is an artist that I met in England; he created 100 portraits of people who inspire him. I plan to send him the piece after the exhibition is over.” Other artists featured in “As They See Us” include Larry Hamill, Kristine Schramer, Ed Valentine, Chun Arthur Wang, Roger J. Williams, John
Yan Sun and Barbara Zimmerman. Eichenberg, who received an undergraduate degree in sculpture from the University of Toledo in 1998, only began painting professionally a few years ago. While at UT, he studied under Professor Thomas Lingeman, while also minoring in painting under Linda Ames-Bell. He was a finalist for the 2010 BP Artist Award and was also a finalist for the 2009 Boochever Portrait Competition, exhibiting in the National Portrait Gallery, located in the Smithsonian Institution. “The Mansfield Art Center is such a beautiful space; there’s really nothing like it here,” Eichenberg said. “As far as I know, I’m the only Toledo artist included in the exhibit. It was really hard to figure out what to show. It really came down to what was available at the time, as I was planning for two shows, and you’re always looking to display your best work.” Eichenberg has a number of shows coming up. “I’m exhibiting as part of the BP again this year, and I have a solo show in London in two months,” Eichenberg said. “My work is also being exhibited at the British Embassy in Paris, but it’s good to be busy.” “As They See Us” will be on display through July 24. Mansfield Art Center is located at 700 Marion Ave. in Mansfield. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. O
Art Walk on June 16 to feature poets This month’s Art Walk will be from 6 to 9 p.m. June 16 in the Uptown and Warehouse districts. The 25 participating venues make this the largest Art Walk in the four years the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) has sponsored the event. Ryan Bunch, ACGT’s performing and literary arts coordinator, said attendance peaked last year at about 750, and this year is already off to a better start. Venues will feature an eclectic display of local artwork and live music. The Art Walk will also showcase street performers, including Katie Komuniecki, Meaghan Roberts, Lucian Townes, Ian Welch and local band What’s Next. Michael Grover, who is helping coordinate the event, said local poets will perform at the Toledo Free Press warehouse, including Jonie McIntire, Bob Phillips, Gregory Peters, Craig Firston and himself. All participating venues will display a teal Live Work Create Toledo banner. Upcoming Art Walks, which are held on the third Thursdays of each month May through October, are July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15.
Arts Zone / Warehouse District
O Shared Lives Studios Gallery (20 N. St. Clair St.) O 20 North Gallery (18 N. St. Clair St.) O Sur Saint Clair (1 S. St. Clair St.) O Jack Wilson Gallery (19 S. St. Clair St.)
O The Office of Paul R. Sullivan (23 S. St. Clair St.) O Home Slice Pizza (28 S. St. Clair St.) O Ahava Spa & Wellness Center (34 S. St. Clair St.) O Downtown Latté (44 S. St. Clair St) O Swank Gifts (48 S. St. Clair St.) O T-Shirts by Max Reddish (Corner of St. Clair and Lafayette streets) O Bozarts Art & Music Gallery (151 S. St. Clair St.) O Olive Street Studios (252 Ottawa St.)
Uptown / Old West End
O Toledo Free Press warehouse (Corner of Huron and Washington streets) O Secor Studios (425 Jefferson Ave.) O Space 237 (237 N. Michigan St.) O Zyndorf Glass & Arts (320 N. Michigan St.) O Studio M Printmakers (320 N. Michigan St.) O Toledo City Paper offices (1120 Adams St.) O Glass City Cafe (1107 Jackson St.) O Madhouse Gallery (1215 Jackson St.) O Manos Garden Mural with Toledo Grows and Art Corner Toledo (1441 Jackson St.) O Gallerie 333 (333 14th St.) O The Lifetime Building (1505 Adams St.) O Truth Art Gallery and Event Center (1811 Adams St.) O Collingwood Arts Center (2413 Collingwood Blvd.) O
“Welcome to Men On Film. Where we look at movies. From a male point of view.� — Blaine Edwards, Antoine Merriweather
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“A mind is a terrible thing to develop without help.” — Narrator
E3 in Review
F A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 2, No. 24 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 Chris Schmidbauer, Sports Editor cschmidbauer@toledofreepress.com Lisa Renee Ward, Web Editor star@toledofreepress.com ADMINISTRATION
Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com CONTRIBUTORS star@toledofreepress.com
Jim Beard • Zach Davis John Dorsey • Matt Feher • Jerry Gray Dustin Hostetler • Stacy Jurich Vicki L. Kroll • lilD • Martini • Jason Mack Jeff McGinnis • Whitney Meschke Kathryn Milstein • Rachel Richardson Patrick Timmis Julie Webster • Don Zellers Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Lisa Renee Ward, Darcy Irons Sarah Ottney, Proofreaders ADVERTISING SALES
Renee Bergmooser, Sales Manager rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com Casey Fischer cfischer@toledofreepress.com Matt Mackowiak mmackowiak@toledofreepress.com Chick Reid creid@toledofreepress.com DISTRIBUTION
Charles Campos (419) 241-1700, Ext. 227 ccampos@toledofreepress.com
Toledo Free Press Star is published every Wednesday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604 • (419) 241-1700 Fax: (419) 241-8828 www.toledofreepress.com. Subscription rate: $100 /year. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved. Publication of ads does not imply endorsement of goods or services.
or video game fans, E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo) is the quintessential event of the year. Every June, game developers and console-makers come together to announce their latest wares. The main events are the press conferences from hardware giants Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Each company puts on a grandiose show, trying to convince the press and consumers that what they are presenting is the most important and significant. So, what do gamers have to look forward to? And who came out on top?
Microsoft
JEFF
mCGINNIS
POP GOES THE
CULTURE
The Biggest Deal: “Halo 4.” Microsoft confirmed an accidental website leak on its part and announced the next installment in its wildly popular action series would be released in 2012. According to the game’s official website, it will be the first in a new trilogy of games and will be developed by 343 Industries instead of Bungie, the company that made “Halo” 1-3. Other Stuff: Most of Microsoft’s conference seemed focused on announcing new games for, or content that could be used with, its popular Kinect motion-sensing peripheral. Onstage demos of games like “Dance Central 2” and “Star Wars Kinect” were prevalent, as were pointing out Kinect-specific features in franchises like “Gears of War” and “Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon.” Bottom Line: It’s hard to think of Microsoft’s conference as anything but lackluster. Unlike their competition, it didn’t have a new console to debut, and its one big surprise got spoiled. But even if “Halo” had stayed under wraps, most everyone could have predicted it was coming. And almost every other game they showed will also be available on the PlayStation 3. Microsoft needs to find new franchises to distinguish itself, and fast — and an over-reliance on the Kinect to do that might lead to disaster.
Sony
The Biggest Deal: Other than a public apology for the PlayStation Network debacle, Sony’s main focus was the reveal of the longdiscussed next-generation portable, officially named the “PlayStation Vita.” Yeah, the name is silly, but the device has some amazing potential. Onstage demos for games like “Uncharted” and “ModNation Racers” showed both graphical and gameplay sophistication, and demonstrated that touch screens could be more than just a gimmick. And then there was the price: $249 for a Wi-Fi Vita, $299 for a 3G compatible one, which makes it more than competitive with Nintendo’s hand-held console, the 3DS. It’ll be available this holiday season. Other Stuff: Plenty of trailers and demos for
Which of the ‘big three’ won the big gaming event?
much-anticipated games, including the eagerly awaited “Uncharted 3,” “Resistance 3” and more. Also announced was an official PlayStationbranded 3-D television. Bottom Line: Sony needed to deliver to wash the bad taste out of its customers’ mouths, and mostly, it did. Between some incredibly intriguing technical announcements, games that are highly anticipated and a new portable at a very competitive price, the company rebounded from a disastrous two months.
Nintendo
The Biggest Deal: The Wii U. Make your own jokes about that name. Technically, the specs on Nintendo’s next console are promising, and it may deliver graphics on par with Sony and Microsoft’s systems. But the biggest (and most
controversial) aspect of the new console is its controller — a large, flat beast with a 6-inch touch screen in the middle. Imagine a small iPad with buttons on the side, and you have the Wii U controller. No price details were available yet, as the console won’t release until sometime in 2012. Other Stuff: Nintendo showed off a new “Legend of Zelda” game to be released in time for the series’ 25th anniversary, which will double as the first Wii’s swan song, as it’s the last major title hardcore fans have to look forward to on the system. Also, a lot of games for the 3DS, as they’re really expecting that console to hold folks over until the new year. Bottom Line: What happened? Nintendo is currently ruling the roost, as far as hardware is concerned, and yet it offered virtually nothing that will make fans happy until after next year’s E3. Lots of games for the 3DS, a system that has been disappointing, to say the least. And almost no support for the Wii, underlining how that system is being left for dead. And a few technical demos for the new system, which may very well be a huge success, but is still a long way away. All in all, this is very much a transitional year for Nintendo, and the conference proved it. O Email Jeff at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.
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“Homey don’t play dat.” — Homey the Clown