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A Quote By

“One of the nicest privileges as an actor is to know that you can move people in one moment, make them think about their lives, or make them laugh or make them cry or make them understand something. Or just make them feel something, because I think so many of us, including myself, spend too much time not feeling enough, you know?”

Actor Gerald Butler, who is starring in Olympus Has Fallen, in theaters now.

N e w s l e t t e r

Olympus Has Fallen Is A Great Hero Movie With Amazing Actionby Art Byrd

As an avid moviegoer, I get a certain feeling when I know a movie is going to be a great time. I got that feeling from Olympus Has Fallen (OHF). I liked the storyline of the White House being attacked by terrorists and the President being taken hostage. The military held at bay unable to do anything. The terrorists don’t bank on one lone person messing up their almost foolproof (I mean ‘fool’) plan. Is OHF like Die Hard at the White House? Yes. With OHF, there is a case of suspended belief.

The plot is actually very good but nothing we haven’t seen before. The hero is disgraced, yet when stuff goes down; he is there to save the day. The hero is Mike Banning played by Gerald Butler (300) who starts out as a well respected Secret Service agent for U.S President Asher played by Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight).

One fateful snowy night, the President’s limo carrying him and the First Lady played by Ashley Judd (Kiss The Girls) has a terrible crash on a bridge. Banning makes the choice of saving the President and not the First Lady. He is banished to a desk job at the Treasury Department. He is still friends with the head of the Secret Service, Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got To Do With It) who tries to encourage him to hang in there.

A Byrd’s Eye View

ABOUT MOVIES, TV, ARTS AND EVENTS IN THE VALLEY

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Months after the accident, the President is trying to move on with his life and young son. One day, he has a meeting with an official from North Korea. The North Korean official arrives with his security team to the White House. Later, they will become the terrorists.

Soon after, a huge plane flies into the no-fly zone around the White House. The plane attacks the White House and fires on citizens. The action sequences are amazing.

OHF’S director is Antoine Fuqua, one of my favorite directors who uses his music video background to make very stylish movies like Replacement Killers to Training Day. He does it again with OHF. There is a high body and damage count in the movie. The special effects made the movie seems real.

Banning sees the attack from his Treasury Department window. He goes over to help and becomes the last man standing in the partially destroyed White House.

In this type of movie, you need a good villain, Rick Yune (Die Another Day) is cold as ice as he kills people with no remorse as Kang. He has the President and other officials held as hostages.

OHF has a lot of working things out in the nick of time moments. Are there predicable moments? Yes. One of my pet peeves in movie moments happened in OHF. General Edward Clegg played by Robert Forster (Jackie Brown) orders helicopters to storm the White House to take out the terrorists. Banning, the hero, tells him not to do it because the terrorists are ready with a weapon to take out the helicopters.

General Clegg ignores Banning who knows what he is talking about. Of course, the helicopters get shot down. For once in a movie, I would like to hear the military official say to the hero say “Yes, you are right, Mr. Hero. I will do what you say to do.”

I am sure people can find holes in a terrorists attack the White House and hold the President hostage movie. Fiqua did a great job in filling those holes. OHF is just a great Saturday afternoon popcorn movie. The down and out hero gets a chance to show what he is really made of.

I am looking forward to the DVD because I want to hear Fiqua’s director commentary and see the behind the scenes on how they made this movie.

Olympus Has Fallen is a must see now and not wait for DVD movie.

Here is the trailer for Olympus Has Fallen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMZyJLcHwmo

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CAFE 422 Carries on ‘Strip’ Tradition

By Monnie Ryan

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

As longtime Valley residents, we well remember the bustling U.S. Route 422 "Strip" that was lined with wonderful places to eat. At the heart were Alberini's, El Rio, Cafe 422, Cherry's Top of the Mall and The Living Room, to name a few.

Sadly, these treasures are gone, with Alberini’s the most recent to close its doors. There’s one notable exception: Cafe 422 – a staple since 1939. The restaurant was sold a few years back, but the name remains. In 2012, a second location opened in the former Rusty's Southside Grille building in Boardman.

Our first visit for review purposes was at the original location with our usual friends Jerry and Barb from Niles - the first time we've been there since it changed hands. The interior configuration hasn't changed much from what we remember, but it's been updated. First, I had to try the hot peppers in oil as an appetizer for $3.50 (alas, the long-ago custom of a free dish on the table is no more). While they're different from the ones I remember, they’re quite tasty.

For entrees, Barb chose broiled salmon with lemon butter, one of the three-course dinners priced at $17.99 that come with soup or salad, one side and dessert. Jack picked Italian-style whitefish, sauteed with hot peppers, olives and onions in marinara sauce ($16.99), but he asked to substitute “regular” peppers for the hot. Jerry and I couldn't resist walleye over sauteed greens, one of the daily specials ($17.95). He chose Caesar salad, while I went with wedding soup.

The results? The wedding soup ranks among my all-time favorites. Barb's salmon was excellent, and Jack's whitefish was a goodly size with an abundance of veggies. Jerry and I loved the walleye, and on the whole, we agreed the meals and ambience were wonderful.

Not long afterward, we headed for Boardman - also with Jerry and Barb in tow - for lunch. Our server said the menu is virtually the same as Warren, but Boardman doesn't have the three-course specials. I settled on clam linguine with white sauce at $9.99; opting for soup over salad with pasta fagioli.

Jack was in a fishy mood as well, choosing parmesan crusted haddock with sauteed greens and tomato vinaigrette salsa plus a salad with sweet-and-sour dressing for $9.99. For Barb, it was eggplant parmesan with a salad (adding blue cheese dressing at a $1.25 upcharge). Jerry broke ranks with a sandwich - prime rib with sauteed onions, peppers and mozzarella on ciabatta bread ($9.99) and a salad with sweet-and-sour dressing.

Barb raved about the eggplant, mostly because it was an exceptionally thick chunk with a crispy coating. My linguine was especially tasty, with plenty of shredded clams. Jack deemed his fish excellent and said the greens were unexpectedly flavorful.

If you go: Cafe 422 4422 Youngstown Road S.E. Warren, Ohio 44484

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Season Ends Too Soon in A Week In Winter

5 stars (out of 5)

By Monnie Ryan

This New York Times best-seller is one of many books by Maeve Binchy, who, I'm sorry to say, passed away in July 2012 at age 72 not long after completing it. She lived in Ireland, the setting of this book (in Stoneybridge, a small town on the west coast).

It got off to a bit of a rocky start for me with the first sentence, though: "Everyone had their [sic] own job to do..." Ever in copy-editing mode, it was off-putting ("everyone" is a singular pronoun, after all). But within the next couple of sentences came redemption: The setting was on a farm owned by the Ryans - my last name since I got married more than 50 years ago - and all was forgiven.

The "week" is the grand opening of the renovated Stone House, a sort of hotel/bed-and-breakfast that once was a mansion overlooking the ocean. That's part of the story; the rest is about the people who come to visit.

And what a crew they are! It's almost amazing to read how each life has unfolded and resulted in the visit. There's John, a big motion picture star back in America who hopes he can go unrecognized this far away from home. There are doctors Nicola and Henry, both doctors who love their profession but not the death that too often accompanies it. There's Freda, a librarian who wants to be loved but isn't sure anyone can accept the fact that she's a psychic.

Several more sign up for the opening week, all of whom have intriguing backgrounds and special reasons for coming. And of course, there's Chicky Starr, the proprietor, and the other employees who are helping her - all of whom have come together for reasons all their own.

And those reasons form the reason for the book. It is a story that goes nowhere and everywhere, and that is its strength. Each chapter focuses on one -- or in the case of the doctors, a pair of -- characters, laying out in rich detail their worries, problems, successes and failures and how they're connected to each other (at least to the point of ending up at the same place for the same week). Some are likable, some less so; but each is facing some kind of life issue that may or may not be satisfactorily resolved after a week at the Stone House.

The bottom line is it's a study in people, and relationships, and survival. There's no high drama, mayhem or vampires going bump in the night. It's just a close look at people - written so expertly that every word is a treasure. What a joy to read!

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What’s Happening Around The Valley: April 6 - April 12

Saturday, April 6Pig Iron: We're Not Moving Sale, Save Pig Iron Press Fundraising CampaignWe're Not Moving Sale, Save Pig Iron Press Fundraising Campaign at The Pig Iron will featured sales like a “buy higher priced item, get second item free, storewide policy. A $5 donation for the campaign fund is being asked to attend the sales. Refreshments will be provided. The Pig Iron is located at 26 N. Phelps St, Youngstown. The event will be from 11 a.m to 9 p.m.

Eastwood Expo Center: Northeast Ohio Pet ExpoTrainers, retailers, groomers, pet-food manufacturers, pet resorts, service specialists, pet apparel, photographers and animal charities will be at The Northeast Ohio Pet Expo show and sale at the Eastwood Expo Center in Niles. The yearly event will take place all weekend 10 a.m to 6 p.m on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

There will be an exotic petting zoo, two authors and a pet-portrait artist. The popular Pet Fashion Show will be at 1 p.m. Sunday. Live animals will be on exhibit as well pets for sale and adoption by animal-rescue charities.

Admission is $5 (free for children under 12 and pets). For information, call 330-518-7794.

The Ford Family Recital Hall: The Joe Augustine TrioThe Joe Augustine Trio with special guest songstress Janet Opritza-Davis will showcase a musical evening of tunes from the Great American Songbook like "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Take the A Train," "What A Wonderful Life," and Streisand favorites. at the DeYor Performing Arts Center in the Ford Family Recital Hall.

The concert is Part Three of the Hometown Heroes II series presented by the Youngstown Symphony Society, which features some of the best performers in the country that call the Mahoning Valley home.

The Ford Family Recital Hall - DeYor Performing Arts Center is located at 260 W Federal St.Youngstown. For tickets call 330-744-0264.

Sunday, April 7Mill Creek MetroParks: Farm Animal Baby ShowerMill Creek MetroParks is presenting the Farm Animal Baby Shower from 10 a.m -4 p.m. Come out to the MetroParks farm and see the new arrivals and get some cake and punch. Call 330-533-7572 for more information. Mill Creek MetroParks Farm is located at 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd (Rt. 46), Canfield.

Warren Philharmonic Orchestra : Stories, Dramas, Heroes and Heronines!The dramatic power of the organ and Mozart are part of Stories, Dramas, Heroes and Heroines! which will be presented by Warren Philharmonic Orchestra at the Christ Episcopal Church in Warren. Mozart: The Impresario Overture, Poulenc: Concerto for Organ in E minor and Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Tales from Arabian Nights will be heard. The church is located at 2627 Atlantic Street, NE. The concert starts at 3 p.m.

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What’s Happening Around The Valley: April 6 - April 12 (cont’d)Sunday, April 7Stambaugh Auditorium: Organ Concert SeriesAs part of its Organ Concert Series, Stambaugh Auditorium presents Ken Cowan in a concert on Sunday, April 7th at 4 P.M. Ken Cowan, known as one of North America's finest concert organists will perform on the E.M. Skinner Pipe Organ, and has performed in major concert venues in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Tickets and more information about this concert are available at (330) 259-0555. Stambaugh Auditorium is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue, Youngstown.

The Dana School of Music: Faculty Artist RecitalThe Dana School of Music presents a free Faculty Artist Recital, featuring guitarist Francois Fowler and pianist Caroline Oltmanns at 3 p.m. in the Bliss Recital Hall, on the campus of Youngstown State University. More information about this recital is available at (330) 941-3636.

Monday, April 8The Dana School of Music: Flute RecitalThe Dana School of Music is having a free Recital featuring the students in Kathryn Thomas Umble's Flute Studio at 5:30 p.m. in the Bliss Recital Hall. More information about this recital is available at (330) 941-3636.

Antone’s Banquet Centre: The Mahoning Valley Civil War Round TableThe Mahoning Valley Civil War Round Table is bringing Brian Jordan in a lecture entitled When Billy Came Marching Home - Union Veterans and the Unending Civil War, at 6:30 p.m. Jordan is an Adjunct Professor of Civil War Era Studies at Gettysburg College.

Reservations and more information are available at (330) 726-7603. Antone's Banquet Centre is located at 8578 Market Street in Boardman.

East Branch Library: How to Research Your Family HistoryStacey Adger of the Mahoning County Genealogical Society will discuss how to explore family history at How To Research Your Family History at the East Branch Public Library. The discussion is presented by the Friends of the Library and starts at 4:30 p.m. The library is located at 430 Early Road, Youngstown.

The Dana Choral Ensembles: Spring Choral ConcertThe Dana Choral Ensembles from the Dana School of Music will perform in the annual Spring Choral Concert at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. Humanity And Deity In Choral Music will be the focus of the concert.  The Ensembles will perform a vocal arrangement of the Overture to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, a Medley from Phantom Of The Opera, and more. The concert starts a 8 p.m.

St. Columba Cathedral is at 159 West Rayen Avenue, Youngstown.  

YSU: Jazz Ensemble IYoungstown State University’s Jazz Ensemble I will perform at at 8 p.m in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center, on campus. More information about this performance is available at (330) 941-3636.

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What’s Happening Around The Valley: April 6 - April 12 (cont’d)Tuesday, April 9YSU’s Department of Art: The Power Animal Systems Project.YSU’s Department of Art and the Beecher Center for Art and Technology present a lecture by Jason Martin at 12:30 p.m in the Lecture Hall of the McDonough Museum of Art.

Martin has integrated his visions and dreams of trans-dimensional beings into his video project and photographic series entitled The Power Animal Systems Project. More information about this free lecture is available at (330) 941-3627.

McDonough Museum of Art is located at 525 Wick Avenue, Youngstown.

Friday, April 12YSU: History of Idora ParkThe Learning In Retirement Series at YSU will present a lecture with author Richard Scarsella. He will speak on the History of Idora Park at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Meeting Room (Room 105) in Tod Hall. Mr.Scarsella, an Idora Park preservationist and the author of Memories and Melancholy: Reflection on the Mahoning Valley and Youngstown. More information about this lecture or the series is available at (330) 941-2469.

2nd Annual Rookery Radio Benefit Bash Is On.

Rookery Radio, YSU’s Internet radio station is having a fundraiser on Saturday, April 6 at the Lemon Grove in Downtown Youngstown. $5 gives you a chance to listen to some cool bands like Runaway Dorothy, Neon Avenue, The River's Own, and Ivory Crutch. The show get underway at 7 p.m.

You can listen to Rookery Radio on iTunes by Open iTunes, select "Radio" then "Colleges and Universities." Scroll down under the R's and look for Rookery Radio.

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On StageYoungstown State University: GeminiUniversity Theater will present the dramatic comedy GEMINI. Set in the mid-1970’s, the play takes place in the backyard of adjoining houses in South Philadelphia.

The play opening Thursday, April 4. The show’s run is scheduled April 4 – 7, and April 12 – 14 in Spotlight Arena Theater. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while the Sunday matinee performances are at 3:00 p.m.

This production contains adult situations and coarse language and is not suitable for children.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the University Theater Box Office at 330-941-3105. Ticket prices are free for YSU students with ID; $10 for adults; $5 for senior citizens, YSU faculty and staff and high school and college students from other universities, Penguin Club members and YSU alumni. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue parking deck for all shows for a nominal fee.

The Oakland Center for the Arts:Prelude To A KissPrelude To A Kiss tells of a couple whose love and commitment to each other is tested by a supernatural event shortly after their wedding.

The play begins running weekends from Friday, April 5th through Saturday, April 20th. Evening performances are at 8 p.m. Reservations and more information is available at (330) 746-0404. The Oakland is located at 220 West Boardman Street. Youngstown.

The Rust Belt Theater Company: Family ReunionThe play is comedy about the mishaps that occur at a family gathering. It will run for two weekends starting on April 5th through April 12th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For reservations call 330-507-2359. The Rust Belt Theater is located at the Calvin Center on Mahoning Ave, Youngstown.

Trumbull New Theatre: Shakespeare in HollywoodThe mischievous magic of movies shines in this comical trip along with Shakespeare's most famous stories. The TNT production gets underway at 8 p.m. for its three weekend run beginning on April 6 and ending on April 21. Tickets are $12 Adults and $10 Students. For reservations call 330-652-1103.

TNT is located at 5883 Youngstown-Warren Road in Niles.

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On Stage (cont’d)The Victorian Players: Below The SurfaceThe Victorian Players is bringing to the stage Below The Surface. The story is Clarissa's sister is coming home from an extended hospital stay, but not to the happy welcome one would expect. A suspicious side to Clarissa's family begins to emerge that results in the bizarre murder of a visitor. The play begins this weekend. Apr 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20 at 7:30 p.m; Apr 7, 14, and 21 at 2:30 p.m.

The Victorian Players is located at 702 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown.

Crown Theater Productions: The Importance of Being EarnestThe Columbiana theatre company is presenting the classic Oscar Wile's comedy that takes place in the 1890's in London. Find out what happens when the two women discover the men that they are in love with are not being earnest.

The play is playing April 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 p.m - Sundays 2:00 p.m.For more information call 330-482-9915. The tickets are Adults $13   Children 10 and Under $10.

The theater is located at 5 North Main Street, Columbiana, Ohio.

The Penn State Shenanago Drama Club: You Have the Right To Remain DeadThe Penn State Shenango Drama Club will present the audience-participation, mystery-comedy You Have the Right to Remain Dead in the campus auditorium, corner of Silver Street and Shenango Avenue, downtown Sharon, Pa.

The play-within-a-play mystery features an outlandish Southern family in a comic crisis that sets up a murder. But the murder that actually happens isn’t in the script. The crime is solved with the help of audience members, who are invited to look over the evidence during intermission.

The mystery starts at 2:30 p.m. on April 7.

Admission is $9 at the door ($7 for students and senior citizens, $5 for children under 4; children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult).

Youngstown Film Festival Fundraiser Is Online Now

The Youngstown Film Festival is having an online fundraiser for money to complete their 501 c 3 status, cover printing, rental and numerous costs with putting together a film festival in the Valley.

They have a goal of $2000. Don’t wait the fundraiser is only for a limited time. There are some great packages for your support.

You can help at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/youngstown-film-festival.

YFF will happen on October 11-13, 2013.

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From Yo to the Z: Favorite Things Around the Valley by Rebecca Banks, Valley Resident

I love to go to YSU football practice.

Dancing at the Lemon Grove.

I love to volunteer on the weekend at St. Elizabeth hospital.

Taking daily walks on the YSUcampus/northside.

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From Yo to the Z: Favorite Things Around the Valley by Gerri Jenkins, Valley Resident

The things I like best to do in the Valley involve taking in theatrical productions. Within a few blocks of each other are: the Victorian Players, Oakland Center for the Arts, The Rust Belt Theater, Youngstown State University Theater and The Youngstown Playhouse.

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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.

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