Sights and Sounds of Saturday in Youngstown...Sunday is a day of rest for a reason

Saturday, July 26th was jam-packed with things to do. Art Youngstown along with Royal Oaks sponsored the first annual Youngstown Rocks the Arts Festival. The festival was on the grounds next to the Chevy Center in downtown. There were artists and vendors of all kinds, food and beer and two stages with eight hours of free entertainment. I got there just in time to watch the Tara Dance presented by Julie Thomas. The Tara Dance is a meditation that combines sound and movement with the Buddhist principles of wisdom, compassion, and skillful means. The dance involved simple, graceful, tai-chi like movements done in conjunction with Tara Mantras.

...and then there were the 5 Elements. The band does a fusion of rock, reggae, and hip hop music.


...and then it rained and it poured, and the wind blew and finally the sun came back out, and everyone had a grand time. The main stage in addition to the 5 Elements featured November Loop, Realtime Digimon, Starlight Darlings, First in Space, Luke and the Black Hand and Geo C. Brooke Slanina mastered the art of running back and forth between two stages and serving as MC at both. I noticed she started the day off in some really cute slingback shoes, and ended the day in flip flops.



...and then at 7:00 at the DeYor Center, after eight years in the works, "Fine-Tune" had its premier. Chris Rutushin a local filmmaker brings this touching and very funny story about a young married couple to the big screen. "Fine Tune" is about a guy who marries into an Italian Family in the 1970's. The young couple find that they must move back to Youngstown from Columbus, Ohio to take care of "her" family. The film was shot locally, and many of the scenes were filmed at a house near Lanterman's Mill on Canfield Road. There were also great shots of the Royal Oaks, and downtown Youngstown. Great movie! I can't wait for the soundtrack!


...and then there was the party at Cedars.



Matt Palka (also performing on the soundtrack of the film "Fine Tune") played at Cedars after the premier. He was followed by Pete Drivere and the Pretty Demons, and The Zou and Koebel. Great fun was had by all.


...and then, on Sunday I rested.

"The Cure for Boredom is Curiosity" Dorothy Parker

I have sometimes heard people in the Youngstown area complain about the lack of things to do. I've even heard people say they are bored. Well, as Dorothy Parker said, "The cure for boredom is curiosity..." Obviously, the bored folks around here merely need a good dose of it. I recommend they begin by reading the local blogs where they will undoubtedly find any number of events and happenings to peak their curiosity.(see sidebar for links). I then recommend they have an adventure. "But where?" you say.
"Downtown Youngstown," of course.

I,for one, have nary a moment to spare because there is so much to do. I won't begin to tell you about my hectic schedule for the week coming up. However, let me offer a suggestion or two for an adventure in Youngstown next Friday night, March 14th. Let's start the evening at 5:00 PM:

First Stop: The Core - Located at 35 Federal Plaza West, Youngstown, OH Ryan is the best martini shaker I know of; I recommend a martini called "the Core", or if you really want to be adventurous tell him what you're hankering for in terms of flavor and he'll give you a personal martini drink.
Second Stop: Dinner at the Rosetta Stone
Third Stop:
Art Youngstown Exhibition - You don't want to miss it this time. As you can see from the photo of the last exhibition everyone was there:
Exhibition in the Great Room
Friday, March 14, 2008
7:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Great Room at 25 E. Boardman Street, Downtown Youngstown
Courtesy of Ohio One Corporation
The public is invited free of charge and refreshments will be served.
Street parking is available. The gallery exhibition will be open
from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm from March 17 thru 20, 2008.
Please email joy@artyoungstown.org or call 330-788-5678 for further details.
Fourth Stop: The Oakland Theater: You absolutely must make it to the theater Friday or Saturday night to see Dog Sees God :Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead It should not to be missed! The show runs March 14,15,20,21,22,28 and 29 at 8:00 PM. This is an "unauthorized parody" that features the Peanuts gang - all grown up! Written by Bert V. Royal, this dark comedy takes place ten years after the events in the fifty- year-running comic strip. The Oakland is located at 220 West Boardman Street, in downtown Youngstown. Reservations can be made by calling (330)746-0404.
Fifth Stop: Top the night off rockin' out at the Cedars Lounge The Region's Home for Independent Music since 1981. Located on Hazel Street in downtown Youngstown.
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW OF OUR LOCAL STARS FROM DOG SEES GOD!

YouTube - 8 Balls at Cedars - Youngstown, Ohio

The holiday season in Y-town is the best,no question about it! The community in Youngstown is awesome! Every night from December 21 until January 1, 2008 something interesting and exciting was happening in our city. All of the events culminated in a celebration of First Night, December 31, in downtown. The holiday season's schedule of events had an upside which is evident as a good time was had by all, but it also had a downside, the inability to be in more than one place at a time. December 22, 2007 while I was hosting Nut Night, some good friends of mine were having a musical reunion of sorts at the Cedars Lounge. For those unfamiliar with Cedars Lounge it is located on Hazel Street in downtown and has served as the home of Youngstown's underground musical scene since 1981. Its walls are covered with local and regional art and the cafe serves Lebanese and American food. Many Y-towners believe that Cedars is a vortex that everyone should experience, preferably on a summer night when the patio is open, or on a winter's evening, when the place is so crowded everyone is warmed by body heat; or sweating because they have been dancing non-stop for hours. So here as a tribute, I have included video of my good friends the 8 Balls. I wish them all a Happy New Year, and many more band reunions!


YouTube - 8 Balls at Cedars - Youngstown, Ohio