The Free Press is bringing back a Reviews section after some absence. We hope to review plenty of events around town. Check back frequently and if what\'s going on is any good.
Arts & Culture
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If you are looking for some “paleo-vegan” comfort food (yes, Paleovegans exist!), the Crest Gastropub on Indianola has some of the best variety of vegan and gluten-free fare found in a non-vegan restaurant (although they don’t have a house-made decadent vegan dessert option, yet). The fall harvest squash casserole really hits the spot on a cold winter evening. Beyond delicious food, the Crest Gastropub has made considerable efforts to vanguard the way of socially just businesses; from community focused, on-site gardening or locally sourced produce for better nutrition and less oil consumption, and other sustainability practices such as re-salvaged and deconstructed architectural materials, reusing, recycling or composting what they can. Their water conservation and pollution prevention strategies include the installation of rain barrels. They source heirloom vegetables to help preserve their viability continues after centuries of cultivation.
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On Sunday, March 9th, it's Spring Forward for daylight savings, time to move our clocks forward one hour (2am becomes 3am). Spring begins officially with the Vernal Equinox on March 20th at 12:57PM Eastern Time.
Spring Fever isn't a myth or a disease, it encompasses psychological and physiological changes. Our bodies respond to the change in seasons and availability of sunlight. Our circadian rhythms are directly affected by bright light, especially in women. Internal timekeeping runs faster in some women, thus making them more affected by available sunlight. The rapid changes in the amount of sunlight from Vernal Equinox to the Summer Solstice, creates Spring Fever in most of us.
Many of us experiencing winter blues (especially with this harsh one) are just itching for it to be over. We want sunshine, longer days, warmth, and to get out of the house more often for longer periods of time. We get so excited from seeing grass, buds on plants and trees. Experiencing bare flesh again is also quite titillating. This excitement creates a release of endorphins.
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As you may have heard, Shadowbox Live canceled its production of Into the Woods last week after only one performance.
The problem: The licensing agency learned the troupe had cut music from the show without prior permission. Shadowbox was given the option of restoring the missing music, but it decided the resulting show would have been too long for its purposes. So, bye-bye, Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and all the other familiar characters who were Sondheimized for the offbeat fairy tale.
Are restrictive licensing agreements a bad thing? The theater community could get into a heated debate on that question. On the one hand, they curtail artists’ freedom; on the other, they protect the integrity of the original work. In this case, the licensing dispute closed a show that not only cut music but reimagined many of the characters and plot elements. It clearly was not what creators Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine had in mind.
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Amul India definitely has the exotic tandoori spices they claim and really know how to use them. I have been extremely squeamish of certain families of squash my entire life (which can be an interesting challenge to negotiate when adding that limiting factor of deciding to take a stand that violence towards sentient individuals is not “food” in American culture, where most people have never heard the word “ahimsa,” which is the Jain concept that is at the heart of vegan ethics). I just don’t like the general texture or taste of: eggplant, zucchini or yellow squash typically served American style. I’ve found that the Indian, Ethiopian and Mediterranean cultures have mastered these squash preparations, transforming them so dramatically that I now embrace (what I had long detested) with anticipation and mouthwatering delight. Whatever preparations Amul India does to the Bhartha (eggplant) is downright amazing! Instant savory vegan crack! My server was happy to verify and ensure there were no animal products (ghee/clarified butter, cream) added to any of the food pictured below Aloo Choley (chick peas and potatoes) or Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower).
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Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movie won’t be in theaters until August, but the recent release of a trailer for the movie already has everyone talking about the superhero movie-slash-offbeat space comedy.
Guardians of the Galaxy, slated for an August 1, 2014 release, is a team movie, but the trailer makes it clear these guys are no Avengers. Token human Star-Lord is more Han Solo than Captain America. Gamora and Drax are alien muscle, one seeking to redeem herself and the other on a mission of vengeance. And then there’s Rocket Raccoon and Groot, a trigger-happy raccoon enhanced through alien experiments and his simple-minded tree creature sidekick. Considering the trailer highlights the team being captured by Marvel’s space police, the Nova Corps, and then violently breaking out of jail, it’s safe to say this team is firmly in the realm of anti-heroes.
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I really wanted to write that Columbus band WV White got their name from the documentary the Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. But I just read an interview with band in Agit Reader that stated they took their name from a butterfly. I am using that as an intro just so we both know the first idea that comes to mind when you read their name, and new album title West Virginia White is a wrong assumption.
I also wanted to write they are a Dustin White tribute band but that is not true either. WV White’s self-titled album on Anyway Records starts off with “Angela Lapper, Pregnant,” the title of which does reference the Marc Quin Sculpture of the limbless British artist who was featured in the 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony.
But it is not an inspirational “Wind Beneath My Wings” type track, nor is it a strange acrotomophilia love song.
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An often overlooked ravage of age is the diminished capacity to attend late night musical events, especially those beginning past midnight. I can still pull it off, but usually pay for it with an episode of the yips the following morning, along with an inexplicable craving for Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and orange blossom tea. It's weird, frankly, and tends to creep out friends and family.
I was delighted, therefore, to learn that the John Turck Trio was playing a happy hour show at Woodlands Tavern Thursday night. A chance to see one of Columbus' best bands play for free in a venue that takes sound quality seriously is too good to pass up, especially with $2 drafts available. I headed over directly after work.
In a town of musical copycatting, the JT3 is singular -- they don't sound like anybody. An attempt to describe their music with adjectives invites disaster. The best I could come up with is “cosmic piano ballads,” which sounds like Billy Joel lurking in the back of a planetarium, waiting to spring “Uptown Girl” on a class of unsuspecting fifth graders.
I retreat, therefore, to a more functional description.
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Brian “Clash” Griffin has been writing songs since the age of 15 and performing in the central Ohio area since 2000. As an activist, he has passionately performed at many rallies, demonstrations and protests over the years promoting the causes of human and animal rights. He has recorded 3 albums of original music (Late Bloomer (2003), HomeFront and LoveLoss (both 2005)). Recently, Brian formed a new group, Brian Clash and the Coffee House Rebels and has been working with Columbus Rock and Blues Legend Willie Phoenix on a new album (Morning Soldiers) to be released in spring 2014. More information and samples of his music can be found at Band Camp and on FaceBook
FP: Put together your fantasy band, dead or alive.
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As we come to the close of Black History Month, may we add a special one-time Lifetime Cosmic Eternity award for Greatest Electric Psychedelic Black Man with Cherokee Blood, namely Mr. Sir Jimi Hendrix?
Inarguably Jimi's blackest album in the traditional Afro-American music stylings would be Band of Gypsies, with Jimi's super-soul power drummer Buddy Miles and Jimi's old army buddy on bass, the very supple and dependable Billy Cox. It was Jimi's psychedelic blues-funk-soul with the particularly tremendous song, “Message of Love,” carrying a gospel-like under-groove as well as message of positivity.
What his recent collection, Valleys of Neptune, made clear was Hendrix was indisputably the greatest funk guitarist who ever lived. The compilation of late period-Hendrix--mostly funk-meets-soul with his outer limits blues playing--is entirely of studio material and sound great. Band of Gypsies is Jimi playing similar material live and on fire, it was a special New Year's Eve/New Year's Day quartet of performances and the dvd of it is utterly, unbelievably, unfathomably amazing.
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I found out that a close (platonic) friend apparently has a foot fetish. Should I avoid being around him when I'm barefoot or wearing sandals or sexy high heels?
Dear Reader,
Thank you for writing in with your question.
Your friend shows that he trusts you, revealing his fetish towards feet. Your friend obviously trusts you enough to tell you about their fetishes and desires. He may not be coming on to you, just being forthright and honest.
I am curious to know why you would want to limit yourself regarding your footwear after hearing this confession. Why do you want to deny yourself the pleasure of being barefoot, wearing sandals or sexy high heels? Wear what pleases you, makes you feel good. Do you worry about what others will think, if you are turning them on? Do you feel shame or is it exciting?
I would like you to rephrase your question and ask me, “My friend loves boobs. Should I avoid being around him when I'm wearing a low-cut top with a push-up bra or a sexy dress?” Any part of the body can turn another person on – the back of the neck, lips, a haircut, hands, etc.