Local films to precede ‘American Graffiti’

Local films to precede ‘American Graffiti’

YOUNGSTOWN — “Emotional Reload,” a short movie written and directed by Youngstown filmmaker Art Byrd, will be shown on the outdoor screen in front of Chevrolet Centre at 9 p.m. Monday, as part of the city’s free movie series.

It will be the local premiere of “Emotional Reload,” which Byrd made last year. After Byrd’s film, the 1973 film “American Graffiti” will be shown.

“Emotional Reload” is the story of two detectives, played by John Janacone of Poland and Andy Schofield of Cleveland, who target gun runners through a series of raids. The film, completed in 2007, was shot in the Mahoning Valley and uses local actors.

It has a running time of 35 minutes.

Oakland open house to offer peek at season

YOUNGSTOWN — The Oakland Center for the Arts will hold it annual open house and season preview party from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the theater, 220 W. Boardman St., downtown. The event is free.

Guests can mingle with Oakland board members, volunteers and performers in the Star Gallery, where food and beverages will be served. Posters and photos from the past 22 years of Oakland productions will decorate the gallery.

A performance with highlights of the upcoming season will begin at 7:30 p.m. Ellen Licitra will narrate the show, which will include segments from “Night of the Living Dead,” “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas,” “Bug,” “Reefer Madness” and “Rabbit Hole.”

Flexpasses will be available for sale. For more information, go to www.myspace.com/oaklandcenter.

Guy’s BBQ wins top prize

YOUNGSTOWN — Guy’s BBQ of Newton Falls won the Best Ribs prize at the National Rib Cook-Off last weekend in the Chevrolet Centre parking lot, beating a field of nine other contestants from across the country. Two Fat Guy’s BBQ of Massillon won the Best Sauce prize, and Texas Pit BBQ of Texas won Best Overall Presentation.

The winners were revealed Sunday at the Cook-Off. The winners were determined by a panel of judges in blind taste tests.

Akron museum pieces in major exhibitions

AKRON — The Akron Art Museum will lend three of its 1960s pop art masterpieces to major exhibitions across the continent.

One of the museum’s Andy Warhol “Brillo Box” paintings will go to a major survey of Warhol’s works in Columbus titled “Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms.” The painting will be on view at the Wexner Center for the Arts from Sept. 13 to Feb. 15.

Another Warhol piece, “Single Elvis,” will be on loan to the Warhol Live exhibition, a major yearlong tour organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. “Single Elvis” will be on view in Montreal from Sept. 25 to Jan. 1. The exhibition will then go to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco will display “Chair” by Yayoi Kusama, as part of its “Asian/American/Modern Art: Shifting Currents” exhibition. “Chair” will be on view from Oct. 25 to Jan. 18.