Local Christmas Events to Feed Your Christmas Spirit

Once again, the Christmas season has caught up with us, and we have been to ho-ho busy to go out for a nice dinner at a place that we have yet to grace with our omnipotent presence. BUT, the stuff we have been doing has been really great, so I thought I would write about that.

We are so fortunate to live in this area which has been blessed with an abundance of talent. I can’t think of any other metropolitan area of our size, or larger for that matter, that has such a variety of things to choose from in support of the arts. Rather than stuff our faces with rich food, my wife and I have made an effort to participate in some of these events, and we are the better for it.

The Butler Institute of American Art’s American Holiday Arts and Craft Show may have a politically correct name, but it is a classy event in spectacular surroundings offering hand made things to buy that are a major cut above what you will see in your high school gym, or anywhere else for that matter. This is classy event. It ran last weekend. If you missed it, mark your calendar for next year.

Both the Covelli Center and DeYor Center have brought numerous professional entertainment events to the area. Beginning at the end of November, you could have chosen from the Gaither Brothers reunion tour, the Kenny Rogers Christmas Show, the Trans Siberian Orchestra, and Mannheim Steamroller. We chose to see Mannheim Steamroller at Powers Auditorium, and weren’t disappointed. The show was just long enough, and offered most of their music which are now considered holiday classics. These guys were great.

But the true strength of the area is in our local productions, many of which equal or surpass professional productions. The Oakland Theater downtown is one of our favorite venues. It’s productions are edgy, oftentimes earthy, and maybe to everyone’s taste. But they are always outstanding in production values and presentation. Vocals are out of this world. Last week, we went to see their annually fundraising effort: How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas. This is a locally written re-telling of A Christmas Carol about a Scrooge of a drag queen. It is modified each year to take into account current events. Over the past four years, it has rapidly become a local tradition for those who are brave and open enough to view some appropriately irreverent material. The number of performances has grown from one to six, with an additional midnight show which pushes the envelope off of the table. Not for everyone’s taste, certainly not family friendly, but we are so lucky to have it.

Move Over Broadway’s annual production of Believe, this year based on White Christmas, once again packed the folks in for three performances at the newly built St. Michael’s Parish Hall. The choral vocals of the ensemble cast are Broadway quality, seriously. The solos are terrific, some better than others, but all are either top shelf or near top shelf. These guys are great. Producer and Director Marlene Strollo out does herself every year. If you haven’t seen this Christmas production, mark your calendar for next year.

In the category of one I should have seen but missed was the Stambaugh Auditorium Cocoa and Carols offering, featuring the Stambaugh Chorus, several high school choruses, and the Dana School of Music from YSU. I had practice myself that night so I had to bug out, but from those who both participated and attended, I understand it was a real barn burner of show, and packed to the rafters.

Things coming up as I write this include the Seraphim Concert (my organization of dedicated choral music aficionados) at Poland Methodist Church on Rt. 224 on Sunday, December 13 @ 3:00. The Youngstown Playhouse production of Miracle on 34th Street, also directed by Marlene Strollo, the beginning the weekend December 11 at the Playhouse. The Youngstown Symphony Christmas Spectacular on Saturday, December 12, at the DeYor Center. And the always popular Christmas on Easy Street, also at the DeYor Center, the weekend of December 18. If you haven’t seen an Easy Street production, you are missing a lot. Easy Street Productions is our local professional troupe, and it never disappoints.

I can’t even begin to list all of the church productions, many of which are spectacular in every sense of the word, especially if you get into the Victory Assembly stuff. Then there are the locals theater productions in Salem and New Castle, which can be just, plain fun.

Please patronize some of these outstanding local productions. From secular to sacred, the Holiday Season in Youngstown is something to celebrate.

4 and 5 Meatball Review

Hustle and bustle and no time to eat!!!! For some reason, this holiday season is “nuts.” We are so busy, we are actually eating at home…GOTCHA!!! Here’s the truth!!! The place I was going to review for this week was so awful I couldn’t do it to the owners. It was really, really bad. It was one of the worst meals out I have had in a long time. What’s the name? I don’t want to get sued. So instead, I thought it would be fun to review my four and five meatball choices over the past 2 years, with some updated comments where appropriate.

THE BEST OF THE BEST – FIVE MEATBALL CHOICES

THE IRON BRIDGE – Mercer, PA: My favorite all round restaurant. Better than its Springfield Grill cousins, the food is consistently good at reasonable prices in a great atmosphere. The drive there is part of the fun through beautiful country side. We go there often, and except for one dinner which was the exception that proved the rule, this is still my number one choice.

DISH OSTERIA – Pittsburgh, PA: Great Carson Street choice located in Pittsburgh’s Southside. It is modern chic to the max with a young and casually sophisticated crowd. Consistently listed as one of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants, everything about this place, including its innovative Italian oriented menu is top shelf without being stuffy.

HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE – Cleveland (Beachwood) as well as other locations in OH and PA: Cleveland based steakhouse chain that has made a big splash in the Midwest, and my steakhouse of choice. I prefer it to Ruth’s Chris and Morton’s of Chicago. Each Hyde Park has a unique design. The Beachwood entry is probably the closest and the least attractive of the bunch. The one in the Short North District of Columbus is an architectural knock out. Its steaks are always on the mark, with the best au gratin potatoes I have ever had in my life. Enough said!!

AQUEOUS – Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, PA: Bring lots of money to this Frank Lloyd Wright inspired stunner. The total experience is worth the iron you will shell out for great food in an outstanding atmosphere surrounded by the Laurel Highlands. Every detail is addressed right down to the silverware, dishes and table linens, which are steamed during table turnovers. The food is steak oriented, simple, and delicious. Maybe in a few years I will be able to afford to go there again. Until then, the memory lingers. (Closed seasonally)

SOME FOUR MEATBALL FAVORITES…or where we like to go!!!

Although the Youngstown area may lack white table cloth restaurants of the 5 star variety, we are truly blessed with a plethora of great places to eat which give big city quality for mid city prices in atmospheres us Youngstowners find comfortable.

SELAH – Struthers is a gritty town known for its fiercely proud “shot and a beer crowd”, and we love it. Selah brings some gentrification into the mix. The food is good in a sophisticated setting. You would think you were in New York. Service is spotty. But we love Struthers…and we love Selah.

ROYAL OAKS – People think I am nuts for touting an old school dirt bar. But it continues to have the best ribs around, which sometimes they run out of ! (Call my high school English teacher after that sentence!). Gird your loins and go forth…and if the place is a bit much for you, get takeout.

CAFÉ CAPRI – A long time Youngstown standard, if you love Rat Pack “guido” chic, this is the place to go. It is a beautiful facility and the food is good and reasonably priced. Service can be an issue occasionally, but have another drink and look for Dean Martin. Hey, do you think we qualify to be in The Jersey Shore?

CORKY AND LENNY’S (Beachwood) – Alright, so they had some cleanliness issues a few years back, but they fixed it up and it is still the best corned beef sandwich you will get anywhere. Surly service is the trademark of this typical deli. If you love Jewish food, this is the place. Pretend you are at the old Wolfie’s in Miami. We love it, and make it a point to stop there when we want to eat and chill when visiting Cleveland.

BRAVO CUCINA (Woodmere/Cranberry are the closest) – This is the only chain Italian restaurant I will visit, and I visit it as often as I can. The house salad is the best I have ever had anywhere, and I always order a double portion. The rest of the food is well prepared and reasonably priced served in faux Tuscan surroundings that are inviting and comfortable. This is the sister chain of Brio…Bravo is better.

CAFÉ 422 – An old favorite with a redo. The 422 is one of the last old Warren strip restaurants still in operation. The new owners have done a great job of revamping the menu while keeping old favorites. Prices are still more than fair…but the food has gone from consistently mediocre to consistently good. This is an old comfortable slipper that one likes to continually slip into.

There are several 4 meatball restaurants that are equally as good as the ones mentioned above, but these are the ones we go to on a regular basis, and hope will be there for a long time. Good eating!!!