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A Quote By

“You’re seeing multiple films with multiple strangers, discussing the films and possibly even making new friends. It’s more than just showing movies.”

Bill Guentzler, Cleveland International Film Festival’s Artistic Director talking about going to the CIFF.

N e w s l e t t e r

The Cleveland International Film Festival Is A Cinematic AdventureBy Art Byrd

Every year, I attend the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), it is a cinematic adventure. I feel like Indiana Jones from Raiders of the Lost Ark fame searching for cinema gems and finding them.

This is the 38th CIFF, which runs for two weeks ending Sunday, March 30th. There will be more than 350 films shown and along with 200 filmmakers in attendance at Tower City Cinemas in Downtown Cleveland and various off site venues.

My adventure in finding the films began by going online to the CIFF website. I like to start with films I have heard a buzz about. A few months ago, I saw the trailer for Ivory Tower and wanted to see it. Boom, CIFF is showing the film.

Ivory Tower, a documentary looking at the American higher education system and the huge amount of debt amassed by college students reaching 1.1 trillion dollars. One statistic really surprised me was the price of college has risen 1120% since 1978. The film was entertaining and educational.

Next, the shorts program, which usually is a roller-coaster of emotions from happy, sad and laugher in a strange mix. This particular shorts program started with a film called One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp, which is the story of a group of children dealing with the loss of loved ones. This one brought out emotions in the audience as I heard sniffles and people wiping their eyes including me.

A Byrd’s Eye View

ABOUT MOVIES, TV, ARTS AND EVENTS IN THE VALLEY

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Another short was Killing Vivian starring Missi Pyle, who is one of the best comedic actresses around. She plays an unstable person trying to help someone put their dog to sleep even though the dog is healthy. The film was laugh out loud funny.

The short, Young Americans was very clever as a young guy tries to prove his love for a girl by going along with a bank robbery planned by her. A great twist revealed at the end.

I finished the evening by seeing the film, Paris or Perish which is about a care-free Moroccan woman in the fashion industry who has been a 20 year resident of France. She has a run-in with the police that reveals she didn’t sign her yearly papers to remain in France, so she is deported and has to adjust to the non glamorous life of Morocco. This very funny French film was written and directed by the star of the film, Reem Kherici.

As I am heading back up to the CIFF for more films in the final weekend. I feel like CIFF brings the world to me. So, I can leave my fedora and whip at home, but I am keeping my hanky.

TrailersIvory Tower http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBo5Ert_JF8One Last Hug http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTTpCmMCLLEKilling Vivian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljV1yxdq0T0Young American http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_6b7imTtrYParis or Perish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arOF6wc2INs

Youngstown Native Brings His Jazz Band For A Great Opening

Boudins Bistro and Jazz Lounge, located inside the Brentford house will have its grand opening and will feature the straight ahead Jazz sounds of Milton Ruffin’s Basic Principle band Friday March 28th. Ruffin is a Youngstown native.

Doors open at 6 pm and band will perform 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. A full bar and a Soul Food Buffet will be available. For reservation info call Tony Ruffin at 614-507-1470. There will be a $5 cover charge and the buffet is sold separately.

The Brentford House is located at 737 Myron Street in Hubbard, Ohio

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Barry Dyngles is BBQ Delight

By Monnie Ryan

To read the full version of this review, visit http://mahoningvalleyeats.blogspot.com

If I had to describe my favorite type of place to eat, there's little question it would be one with a casual atmosphere and a bar. Barry Dyngles Restaurant & Pub in Austintown is that kind of place, and apparently other folks agree; according to a post on the Facebook page, the first two months of this year are the best in the restaurant's seven-year history.

There are plenty of on-tap beers, from standards to more trendy IPAs and crafts. The bar is sort of horseshoe-shaped and quite large; there's plenty of room to belly up and do some serious sipping while games on the large-screen TVs. Some of the walls are brick, and all are covered with all sizes of framed photos, mostly sports-related.

Our most recent visit happened after my husband Jack and I made a quick trip through Mill Creek Park just to get out of the house - the awful winter weather has had us suffering from cabin fever. We decided to treat ourselves to lunch to stretch our away time, and Barry Dyngles filled the bill perfectly. As is our custom, we sat on the bar side rather than the main dining area.

This place has racked up numerous awards for barbecue sauce, BTW (with good reason - it's absolutely delicious), and I absolutely love the loaded baked potato soup. So when I learned that one of the day's specials was a half rack of ribs with two sides for $10.99, it was a no-brainer. My sides were baked beans and that fabulous soup.

Jack ordered the beef brisket sandwich, also a daily special with one side for $7.99. He picked macaroni and cheese for his side and then paid a couple of bucks extra to get a cup of French onion soup. That potato soup, which is thick, creamy and topped with cheese, bacon bits and chives, is close to the No. 1 spot on my Top 5 list of favorite soups from any restaurant, and the baked beans, with a barbecue-flavor sauce and shredded beef, are quite different from the usual doctored-up Campbell's variety. Jack loved the brisket, which he took out of the bun and ate with a fork, dunking it in the container of barbecue sauce that came with it.

Wings are exceptionally good here as well, and there are plenty of sauces from which to choose. My personal favorite is butter garlic, but I've tried several others and liked them quite well. If you like your wings to stay crispy, you can order the sauce on the side.

If you go: Barry Dyngles Restaurant & Pub 1601 S. Raccoon Road ,Austintown, Ohio(330) 259-4788 www.barrydyngles.com

Kitchen open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

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Blood Sacrifice Well Worth the Price

By Monnie Ryan

5 stars (out of 5)

No doubt about it: Books are expensive. Even discounted versions of books for ebook readers like my Kindle Fire can get very costly when you read as many as I do. That's why I've signed up at websites that offer free and low-cost choices, like BookBub.com, BookGorilla.com, or Lendle.com.

More often than not, the selections are from lesser-known writers, and a number of the free offerings don't cost more than three or four bucks to begin with - sometimes for very good reason. So as I've said before, it's always a good idea to check customer reviews before you hit the download button (reviews with ratings of 3 stars and below get most of my attention, because I'm more interested in why someone didn't like the book than reading gushing comments.

Way more often than not, I've done well with my selections. And when I find a real gem, I want to tell the world. This one, a winner of a Florida Book Award (one of two for author Michael Lister), is one of those gems (as I write this, the Kindle edition is selling for $4.99 at Amazon). It was that award, in fact, that clinched the deal for me; at the time, this book had only nine reviews, mostly 5 stars - and even I have enough family and friends who would gladly award my book top honors in exchange for a six-pack of beer. Of course, the description didn't hurt; this is the fifth book in a series featuring prison chaplain and former cop John Jordan.

I'm always a bit leery, though, of not starting with the first in a series; will I be able to follow what's going on, and will the book stand alone? I'm happy to say yes to both those issues, and even happier to report that I plan to get my hands on the rest in the series as fast as I can.

Here, Jordan has come to retreat center St. Ann's Abbey in the Florida Panhandle to shore up his own emotions after a nasty previous case (which I assume happened in the previous book). It doesn't take long for strange things to happen - first the apparent murder of a young boy, followed by the ghastly death of a young woman who had been undergoing an exorcism at the hands of an elderly priest who is one of the Abbey's founders. When he becomes the prime suspect, one of the nuns asks Jordan, who is here to get counseling himself and is reluctant to get involved, to well, get involved.

There's no shortage of suspects as Jordan - who is Protestant, by the way - begins his investigation, including the chief of police, an attorney who represents a large corporation intent on getting the land on which the Abbey is located and a beautiful young novelist (you really didn't think there would be no potential love interest, did you)? Untangling the ties that bind all these folks together and finding the culprit doesn't do much to drive out Jordan's personal demons, but the process sure is a treat for readers.

Blood Sacrifice by Michael Lister (Pulpwood Press August 2012); 271 pp.

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Benefit Pasta Dinner For Local ManBenefit Pasta Dinner Fundraiser for Eddie Rivera and Family will take place at St. Christine's Gutman Hall on Sunday, April 6 from 12:00 p.m-5 p.m. There will be dinner that includes pasta, meatballs, salad, dessert and beverage. Tickets are $8.00 for Adults and $4.00 for Kids.Takeout will be available. Chinese Auction, Silent Auction, 50/50 & Beer will be available.For Tickets or any Donations Contact: Lou (330) 506-6902 and Joe (330) 506-7807

A PayPal account will also be set up for those who will not be able to attend but would like to contribute. Eddie who has been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer and has worked 25 years for the Youngstown Water Department. He has a wife of 22 years and two daughters.St. Christine's Gutman Hall is at 3125 S. Schenley Ave. Youngstown

Concert for The (2) Kelly’s Set For Saturday

Kelly McCracken & Kelly Noe lost most of their belongings in a house fire including their beloved cat this past February. Cedars is having a get together to show solidarity for the Kellys & fellow artists. Special performances by KTO: Courtney Waskin, Noll Hartman & Roger Lewis; Shiloh Hawkins & Paul Hill of Blue Through Branches, The Silver Larks: Chris Iacono-Rutushin (Radio Lark), Rick Deak (Barflies), Dylan Kollat (JD Eicher & the Goodnights) & Daniel Drummond; Nick Rossi & Matt Holko of The Kellys with guest vocalists.

The concert is starts at 9:00 p.m at Cedars at 706 Steel St in Youngstown.

YSU’s Summer Festival of the Arts Seeks Artist ApplicationsThe 16th Annual Youngstown State University Summer Festival of the Arts is seeking applications from artists for the festival. Applications for artists wishing to participate in the juried fine art show and have their works displayed at the festival are encouraged to apply by the early deadline of April 4th. Last year's festival featured over 80 artists who were accepted by a panel of professional jurors, along with an ethnic festival, jazz concert, and family activities.

Applications and more information about the festival scheduled for July 12th & July 13th are available at www.ysu.edu/sfa.  

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What’s Happening Around the The Valley: March 28-31This WeekendThe Great Youngstown Home Garden and Craft ShowThe Great Youngstown Home Garden and Craft Show signals the start of spring. There will be a mix of exhibitors and landscaping displays. Also, cooking demonstrations and seminars will add to the show which takes Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The event is free at the Austintown Expo Center at 6000 Mahoning Ave in Austintown is free.

The Maple Syrup FestivalThe Maple Syrup Festival takes place at Boardman Park on Saturday and Sunday. The annual event features old fashion mapling, demonstrations, free hayrides, plus the Boardman Rotary host a pancake breakfast in the Lariccia Family Community Center,

Boardman Park is at 375 Boardman-Poland Rd in Boardman.

Friday, March 28The Rocky Horror Picture ShowJames E. Winner Jr. Arts and Culture Center presents a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The $10 ticket includes a prop bag filled with everything need to part in the interactive fun. You can dress up in Rock Horror garb.

The Winner Center is located at 96 E.State S, Sharon, PA.

Book SocialDoLiv Publishing is having a book club social to discuss The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. There will be conversation and refreshments.The social begins at 6:30 p.m.DoLiv is located at 328 East State Street in Salem.

Burke School of Irish Dance Annual ShowcaseBurke School of Irish Dance is having its annual showcase at Ursuline High School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Ursuline High School is located 750 Wick Ave, Youngstown.

The Art of MagicThe Art of Magic with Magician Paul Gertner takes to the stage at The Butler Institute of American Art. World Champion Gertner takes a hilarious and magical look at new technology.

The show get starts at 7:30 p.m.

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What’s Happening Around the The Valley: March 28-31 (cont’d)Saturday, March 29Northside Farmers MarketNorthside Farmers Market continues at First Unitarian Universalist Church. There will be produce, baked goods and tastings. The market happens indoors in Channing Hall (the basement community room of the church) from 10 am- 1pm. The church is located at 1105 Elm St in Youngstown.

The Heart BallThe Heart Ball hosted by The American Heart Association takes place at Stambaugh Auditorium. The Ball will be from 6-11 pm.Reservations are $150 per person. For more information call 330-318-1003.

Stambaugh Auditorium is 1000 5th Avenue in Youngstown.

Wine, Chocolate, Treez and BeezWine, Chocolate, Treez and Beez is happening at First Unitarian Universalist Church. Treez Please is hosting its fourth annual fund raiser held in support of native habitat restoration in Youngstown and will feature a celebration of “Earth Hour,” a worldwide event that marks the quest for for a cleaner, greener planet. Music will be by the Jeff Bremer Duo and The Guilty Pleasures. Tickets are available in advance for $20 by emailing treezplease@gmail.com or by calling 330-518-2223. 7-10 p.m.  $25 for adults and $10 for students with current I.D.

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown is at 1105 Elm St., Youngstown;

Monday, March 31Mad Hot Monday Ballroom Boogie Mad Hot Monday Ballroom Boogie is moving across Kuzman’s floor. Ballroom, Latin, swing, hustle. 6-9 p.m. Free. For information call 330-545-8521/330-545-8995.

Kuzman’s is located at 1025 S. State, Girard.

Youngstown Executive ToastmastersYoungstown Executive Toastmasters 408 Meeting at Shepherd of the Valley in Poland. People can practice skills useful in public speaking, including giving speeches, speaking extemporaneously and listening. Includes peer feedback and evaluation. This nonprofit educational organization operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication skills. Meetings are free for guests; 6:45-8:45 p.m.For more information: http://www.speakingclub.org.

Shepherd of the Valley is at 301 W. Western Reserve Road, Poland.

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On StageYoungstown State University: Crazy Like Love-An Evening of Two One Act PlaysYoungstown State University Theater presents Crazy Like Love - An Evening Of Two One Act Plays running from Friday, March 28th through Sunday, March 30th in the Spotlight Theater. Crazy Like Love will feature Gendermat by Mark Dunn, that reveals the rejection, lost loves, and personal reflections at the end of relationships, and The New Mrs. Jones by James Armstrong, as Sam brings his fiancee, Elizabeth, to a dinner party with Mother, which has ended his previous relationships.

Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinee is at 2 p.m. Tickets and more information about these shows are available at (330) 941-3105.

Youngstown Playhouse: Arsenic and Old LaceThe Youngstown Playhouse presents the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace, running weekends from Friday, March 28th through Sunday, April 6th .Arsenic and Old Lace tells of spinster sisters Abby and Martha Brewster who are devoted to charity and family, but they have taken on another project as well.

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Tickets and more information about this show are available at (330) 788-8739. The Youngstown Playhouse is located at 600 Playhouse Lane in Youngstown.

The Victorian Players: Life With FatherThe Victorian Players brings tot the stage Life With Father running weekends from Friday, April 4th through Saturday, April 12th. Life With Father tells of a rambunctious, overburdened Wall Street Broker who demands that everything his family does should be just so, and the more he rails against their inability to live up to his impossible demands, the more comical and lovable he becomes to them.

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Tickets and more information about this show are available at (330) 746-5455.

The Victorian Players is at 702 Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown

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On The Wall

Ultra-Realistic Sculpture:

The Butler Institute of American Art presents an exhibition by Marc Sijan called Ultra-Realistic Sculpture, running through Sunday, March 30th. Marc Sijan's works can be seen all over the world. Ultra-Realistic Sculpture portrays lifelike sculptures of human forms in common situations. Museum hours and more information about this Exhibition are available at (330) 743-1107.

The Butler Institute of American Art is at 524 Wick Avenue in Youngstown

8th Annual Juried Student Art And Design Exhibition

The John J. McDonough Museum of Art presents the 78th Annual Juried Student Art And Design Exhibition running from Friday, March 28th through Friday, April 11th. This exhibition features works in various media by students currently enrolled in the Department of Art at Youngstown State University. Museum hours and more information about this exhibition are available at (330) 941-1400. 

The John J. McDonough Museum of Art at 525 Wick Avenue in Youngstown

Plant Spirals - Beauty You Can Count On

Mill Creek MetroParks presents the exhibition entitled Plant Spirals - Beauty You Can Count On, running from Friday, March 28th through Sunday, June 8th in the Weller Gallery of the D.D. and Velma Davis Education and Visitor Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens. Plant Spirals takes an up-close look at the world of Fibonacci numbers and their relationship to the world around us. Gallery hours and more information about this exhibition are available at (330) 740-7116.

Fellows Riverside Gardens is at123 McKinley Avenue in Youngstown.

Ongoing

Through The Lens

Mill Creek MetroParks presents the Exhibit called Through The Lens, running from Wednesday, January 1st through Wednesday, December 31st at the Melnick Museum (655 Wick Avenue) in Youngstown. Through The Lens shows the evolution of photography through a collection of glass and acetate film negatives, produced by two local photographers, which chronicle scenes of Mill Creek Park from 1907 through 1926. Museum hours and more information about this exhibit are available at (330) 702-3000.

The Melnick Museum is at 655 Wick Avenue in Youngstown.

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A Local Stageplay Is Set For Its DebutFamily Counseling is a stage play about a church family who has endured its share of pain and secrets, sadness and trauma. Their family bond continues to be tried and tested, will it prove how strong this church family is? The play takes to the Powers Auditorium stage on Saturday, March 29th at 7:30 p.m.

Powers Auditorium is located at 260 West Federal St., Youngstown.

Sunday Roller Skating Rolling Back On SundaysRoller Skating is back on Sundays nights. Bring It Back Sundays is happening on Sunday, April 6th at Youngstown Skate in Youngstown.The bash presented by YOHIO Skaters will be from 8 p.m to 11 p.m. D.J Stan The Man will play old school, new school, Hip Hop and R&B.Admission is $5.

Youngstown Skate is located at 7080 Tiffany Blvd in Youngstown

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Excerpts from A Byrd’s Eye View can be read in The Review,Newspaper, available throughout the Valley and online athttp://www.thereviewnewspapers.com/

PRIVACY POLICYSome of you on A Byrd’s Eye View newsletter mailing list came to us from other e-mails sent to us regarding stories about Arts events in the area.

We thought you would be interested in reading about additional Arts-related information of interest in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, and added you. However, if you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, simply send a blank e-mail to artbyrdagain@yahoo.com with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

The e-mail addresses we have are NEVER shared in any way with anyone, nor are they sold. All copies of the newsletter are sent as blind carbon copies, so that no one receiving the newsletter knows the addresses of anyone else receiving it.

If you have received this free newsletter as a forward and would like to subscribe, please send a blank e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to artbyrdagain@yahoo.com.

Art Byrd Jr. has won awards as a filmmaker and journalist. After working many years as a videographer and director for WFMJ TV News, he retired from broadcasting to share his experience and insight with students as an instructor at Youngstown State University. Art has written and produced numerous Indie films, which have been shown at prestigious film festivals. In addition to teaching and writing/producing A Byrd’s Eye View newsletter, Art also does freelance media work. He is based in Youngstown, Ohio.

Monnie Ryan retired in 2003 after 14 years as managing editor of The Business Journal in Youngstown, where she continues to contribute to the print and online editions. Articles she has written have appeared in more than 20 national publications and at several travel-related Web sites, and she has won numerous awards for photography. Contact her at mryan62692@aol.com.

Movie reivews from A Byrd’s Eye View can be read in The Buckeye Review Newspaper, available throughout the Valley at various newstands.