The Update | New Beers at Penguin City; Barrel 33 Changes Hands

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Penguin City Brewing’s newest beer, Midwest IPA, is now available in the downtown taproom and will also be distributed to bars, restaurants and retail outlets beginning next week. 

The hop-forward beer has a 7% ABV, and the can features a design by Penguin City brand manager Michael Pontikos. 

The brewery also has released its first seasonal beer of the year, Honey Dark Lager. It’s a dark lager with a hint of honey and a 5% ABV.

Barrel 33 Restaurant Gets New Owner

HOWLAND, Ohio – John Kouvas, owner of The Chophouse and The Red Plum restaurants in Howland, has purchased the original location of Barrel 33.

He will give the wine bar-restaurant, which is in the same plaza as The Red Plum, a brief remodel, he said in a Facebook post. The reopening date will be announced at barrel33.net.

New menu items that will be added include a fried bologna sandwich, short rib steak tacos and glazed salmon bites.

The previous owner, Brian Fry, opened a second location at Five Points, near Poland, last year. Bry retains ownership of the Poland location, which has been renamed The Barrel Room.

‘The Quiet Man’ Screening at Robins Theatre

WARREN, Ohio – The Robins Theatre will screen the classic 1952 movie “The Quiet Man” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 15, as part of its St. Patrick’s Day weekend programming.

Tickets are $7 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at robinstheatre.com and the box office, 160 E. Market St.

The film, which stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, is known for its lush cinematography of the Irish countryside.

Monday Night Writers Group to Meet

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The Monday Night Writers will meet at 5 p.m. Jan. 15 at  Leana’s Books & More, 4317 Kirk Road. Area writers, both published and unpublished, are invited to attend.

The group is led by author Nancy Christie. The meeting will provide an opportunity for members to get group feedback on works in progress.

For information, contact Christie at [email protected].

Auditions for ‘Shrek Jr.’ at Playhouse

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Auditions for The Youngstown Playhouse’s production of “Shrek Jr.” will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11. 

Call backs will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 17. 

Auditionees should be prepared to sing 16 bars of a song of their choice that showcases vocal ability. Do not audition with music from “Shrek the Musical.” Auditionees will also be asked to read from the script and to learn a small dance routine. 

Eight to 10 dancers are also needed for the production, as well as tumblers age 10 to 18 with a high level of dance ability. 

The musical is being directed by Shiloh Hart. Rehearsals will begin in late January. Performances will take place March 8-10 at The Playhouse.

Playhouse Receives $10K Grant

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Playhouse has received a $10,000 grant from the Walter E. and Caroline H. Watson Foundation that will be used to support its youth theater and educational programming, including the upcoming production of “Alice in Wonderland,” Jan. 19-21.

Friendly Squares Sets Monthly Dance

NILES, Ohio – The Friendly Squares’ monthly square dance will take place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Niles Scope Center, 14 E. State St. 

Gene Hammond will be the caller, and Frankie Hammond will cue the line dances. Admission is $6.

Pictured at top: Penguin City Brewing’s Honey Dark Lager is now available.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.