ARC Ohio

Equitas Associate Board Announces Masquerage 2018

December 31, 2017 By Lisa Grigsby

The Dayton Equitas Associate Board released the announcement today that Dayton Party of Parties will not skip a year, as originally planned. Instead it will return on Friday, Oct 26th at the Steam Plant.

According to Equitas Associate Board member Nick Warrington, “when we met in November to do the recap of Masquerage we all agreed that the excitement from the community was there for the event and the Equitas Board of Trustees agreed that it should go back to being an annual event.

So planning is underway for Masquerage 2018, contact the Associate Board to get involved.

Equitas also has announced they will move the RED Table Design event, which happens every two years, back to spring, so mark your calendars for April 13, 2019 for that one.

A Reason To Dine: World AIDS Day

November 30, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Dine Out & Help Fight HIV/AIDS.

A Reason to Dine is a three-city fundraising event in Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo to help raise critical funds and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS in Ohio. Participating local restaurants show their support by donating a percentage of Tuesday, December 1st proceeds to AIDS Resource Center Ohio to support direct services for those living with HIV/AIDS and to provide education and testing to stop the spread of HIV.

Participating restaurant include:

For more information, go to www.arcohio.org/areasontodine.

Get Married at Masquerage 2015

September 28, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Masquerage, an annual event that raises funds for AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio), is known for its incredible themes that raise the bar each year on décor and patron attire, and this year is no exception. Masquerage 2015 guests as well as the venue will be decked out Vegas-style to celebrate Sin City in the Gem City. This year, ARC Ohio and its Associate Board are “upping the stakes” and adding a new element to Dayton’s “parties of parties for a cause.”

This year couples attending Masquerage will be able to get married at the event. “Kitschy chapel weddings are one of the staples of the Las Vegas Strip,” said ARC Ohio Masquerage Committee Chair Lauren Williams. “Thanks to the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, we now have the opportunity to add an extra special element to this year’s Masquerage that is open to everyone.” Weddings may be added as a premium ticket package.

Masquerage attendees who wish to commit to their significant others during the event can purchase one of two ticket options: The Chapel of Love package ($200) includes two general admission tickets to Masquerage plus the ceremony and officiant, cupcakes, wedding photos, and champagne to toast. The High Roller package ($400) includes everything in the Chapel of Love package, with two special features: upgrades to the Red Ribbon Lounge and special guest officiant Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. “I am proud to celebrate marriage equality,” said Mayor Nan Whaley. “I appreciate the opportunity to marry couples and support ARC Ohio.”

Tickets to this year’s Masquerage, to be held Sat, October 17th at the Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fairground, are on sale now from ticket ambassadors or online at www.masquerage.org. Many more volunteers are needed to help the nonprofit throw the big bash; volunteer opportunities and online registration are also available at the website.

Since its inception, fundraising event Masquerage has raised more than $1.25 million in unrestricted funds in support of ARC Ohio’s life-saving services. More than 9,000 Masquerage attendees have enjoyed a unique and entertaining experience while supporting ARC Ohio.

Q &A With Food Network’s Ted Allen – In Dayton To Host AIDS Fundraiser

April 17, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The Food Network host of Chopped, Ted Allen, will return to his home state of Ohio this weekend to host a 3 city fundraiser for the AIDS Resource Center Ohio. In a recent phone interview with Mr Allen, he shared that “Too many peole mistakenly believe that AIDS isn’t anything to talk about anymore. We have too many young people, who didn’t see the deaths in the 80″s and 90’d and don’t know the disaster we’ve lived through.

It’s great that we have medicines and treatments and preventative options but too many of our youth need to realize that HIV is 100% preventable. Meds are expensive and have side affects, this isn’t something you just take a pill for and forget. Almost 1/2 of new infections are 13-24 years old. African American women are hugely impacted by HIV. ” He shared that it’s his honor to serve as the Chair of this statewide fundraiser.

Ted Allen first received national attention as on of the hosts of the 2003-2007 Bravo series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

We asked Ted to tell us about his times on that show:

It was the best times, filled with humor and raunchy rowdy, guys tooling all over town in that convertible. Thom Filicia is one of the funniest guys I know and the worst driver ever. I can’t even believe I’m still alive, he’d be speeding down the road, and telling a story and he’d turn around to look you directly in the eye and I was wearing this fake seatbelt, it’s a miracle we’re all still here.

What an honor it was to be a part of the first tv show ever to have 5 openly gay men being themselves. We’d get hundreds of letters from young gay kids talking about how great it was to be able to watch that show with their parents and laugh. Just getting one such letter would be an honor, but we got so many. We truly were so lucky…

Is it was a burden to be known as a gay role model?

Oh no it’s such a privilege, if we are making any difference, well just look at how times have changed. I am legally married in my state. But we’re not there yet, it’s 2 steps forward and one back – Indiana. Just last night I hosted a benefit for Baily House ( a who serve those who are homeless with HIV+, who and to be able to shine the light on a cause you believe in wholeheartedly, what an honor. And I got to meet Joel Gray and Jane Pauly, what great fringe benefits.

On Chopped we know you see tons of ingredients in those baskets. What would you like in your basket if you were a contestant?

How about just some cheese, eggs, mustard, mayo and lamb chops. I’s so sick of gummy bears and all the weird stuff. Think about it- it’s the hardest show there is. It’s set up for failure. Three of the 4 fail. Who can cook amazing things in 20 minutes when they start out as bone in 3 pound leg of lamb? It’s just hard. And the judges want you to succeed, they want to eat good food!

I asked him if there were any shows that went bad and couldn’t air:

We can’t afford not to complete a show, we work for 12 hours to get one episode. So luckily, knock on wood we haven’t had a disaster that we didn’t overcome..

As for a personal disaster, when I was writing for Chicago Magazine, I was having the Dining Editor Penny Pollack over to my house for brunch. I had made fresh cinnamon rolls and thought I’d leave them in the oven so they’d be warm and just as the doorbell rings I see a pool of butter and cinnamon pooling down the oven door onto my floor and my smoke alarm goes off. Welcome Penny….

Ted hosted another Food Network Show The Best Thing I Ever Ate, so of course we asked about those meals:

I’ve had so many, like at Minbar by Jose Andres, a tiny restaurant with 6 seats and more chefs than seats where they feed you one scrumptious morsel after another…. But I’ve also had a great burger at a neighborhood join in Brooklyn with hand ground beef and a perfectly cooked runny egg on top.

That’s the wonderful thing about food, there are so many great foods and international cuisines, you could have like 900 lifetimes of best meals …

That show was so much fun, I could be more of myself and have fun and go unscripted…

What’s your favorite pig out food?

Pepperoni Pizza= but only with good real peperoni- it it curls up and gets that puddle of grease on it it’s the good stuff – not that flat stuff that lays there

Or macaroni and cheese with kiolbassa- not so good for yo, but oh yum!

What food trend are you over?

Desserts with bacon- can we move on? Don’t get me wrong- I love bacon, but thick cut bacon is a mistake. It’s to hard to make crispy and ends up being chewy. Good bacon should be cooked slowly and served crispy

Food Trucks- it’s confusing. I don’t want to have to chase you all over town for a meal and I want to enjoy my food at a table with a bathroom nearby. I get that it’s a lower cost for some to get into than a bricks and mortar option and I respect that, so I get it.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Oh I’m too old to have one, I don’t know, maybe Neil Patrick Harris. He’s lovely and so is husband, as are their kids.

What else would you like to share?

As much as I enjoy hosting events and getting to meet people, I wish I didn’t have to.

New York City Councilmen Corey Johnson was a speaker on Gala I recently hosted and he has spent most of his life telling the story of coming out as gay in high school, as a captain of the football team. He’s spent his whole adult life talking about being out, gay rights, serving others. As long as we still need things like the Ohio AIDS Walk I’ll be there. It’s a privilege to get to talk to people about a cause I’m passionate about and we need to work together until this is conquered..

We are not done yet!!!

If you’d like to join Ted Allen Sunday, April 19th for the Dayton 5K AIDS Walk, which also has a 1K stroll and a 16 mile bikeride, you can sign up online until Saturday at 5pm, or just register at the even. On Sunday registration begins at 10am at UD River Campus (the old NCR Headquarters) at 1700 S Patterson Blvd. The Walk/Run/Ride steps off about noon. Help raise $1000 and you can join Ted Allen at a Grand Walker brunch at Coco’s Bistro. Check the AIDS Walk site for more info.

Tickets on Sale Saturday For Dayton’s Premier Wine & Gourmet Food Event!

March 11, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The original “Party in the Park” was the brain child of two friends, Vail Miller Sr. of Heidelberg and Mike Frank of Arrow Wine. With a mission of bringing wine out of just the wine cellars and to the general public, the idea of a wine festival was born. Now 24 years later, Fleurs et Vin is the most anticipated, talked about and attend wine event in the Miami Valley.

On Sunday May 17 from 1- 4pm, wine connoisseurs and novices alike will sample the best wines from around the world while enjoying culinary treats from 20 of the top independent restaurants in the region.

Last year there were over 420 wines for sampling, as well as a beer garden featuring Belgium brews. Wines and beer selections for this year are still being put together. And if that isn’t enough to keep you busy, J.t. Fedrick and his band will be in full swing, the dance floor open and wonderful baskets available for bidding in the silent auction. And come 4pm, the best entertainment of the day can often be found at the live auction, where thousands of dollars are raised in just minutes iwth the sale of wine collectibles, with proceeds benefiting AIDS Resource Center Ohio. If you’d like to support the even with a donation to the auction you can start that process with this online donation form.

Tickets for Fleurs et Vin run $70 in advance $75 at the door, but this Saturday only, Arrow Wine will host a Super Saturday tasting from 11am – 5pm at both the Far Hills and Centerville stores, and the ARC Ohio Associate Board members will be selling Fleurs et Vin tickets for just $60.

Bravo’s Chopped Host Named AIDS Walk Chair

February 18, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

AIDS Resource Center Ohio announced today that the Honorary Chair of their 2015 AIDS Walk/Run/Ride will be Ted Allen, host of the hit primetime Food Network series “Chopped.”

“Chopped” is a cooking competition series that pits four chefs against each other for a chance to win $10,000. Mr. Allen was previously a judge on the first four seasons of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and Food Network’s “Iron Chef of America,” and was the food and wine specialist on the groundbreaking Emmy® Award winning Bravo series “Queer Eye.”

“I am delighted to be named Honorary Chair of AIDS Walk Ohio and look forward to joining the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ohio,” said Mr. Allen. “We need to continue to strive to ensure that people with HIV have access to treatment and services so they can live long, healthy lives. We also need to remain vigilant in working to prevent new HIV infections here in Ohio and across the U.S.”

Off camera, Mr. Allen is a writer and a frequent contributor to Bon Appétit, Epicurious and the Food Network Magazine. Ted won a 2012 James Beard Award for his work hosting “Chopped” the show itself also received a Beard for best in-studio program. He was also a finalist for a National Magazine Award for an Esquire feature on the little-known phenomenon of male breast cancer.

Mr. Allen was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. To help raise pledges for AIDS Walk Ohio, Mr. Allen will join participants who raise $1,000 or more in the Grand Walker Breakfast in Columbus on Saturday, April 18 and the Grand Walker/Grand Rider Brunch in Dayton on Sunday, April 19. Eligible Toledo participants will be able to participate in the Dayton Brunch.

The 2015 AIDS Walk Greater Dayon will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2015 in Dayton. This year’s tri-city walk/run/ride is slated to be the largest HIV/AIDS awareness event in Ohio. The mission of AIDS Walk Greater Dayton is to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations through education and promotional activities leading up to the event and through the participation of corporations, walkers, runners, riders civic leaders and community members together in this annual event. Dayton AIDS Walk coordinator Jen Dean shared, “the goal for this year’s event is 500 participants and $115,000 in funds for HIV/AIDS services. To register and start fundraising today, please visit www.aidswalkohio.org.

A Newbi Rubi Will Be CROWNED!

January 22, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

The search for New Rubi Girls is on! Will they have what it takes?

This will be a show everyone will be talking about.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

The Rubi Girls have been entertaining Greater Dayton and raising money for non-profit organizations for over 25 years — including raising hundreds thousands of dollars for AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio).

And now, this fun-loving, talented, and glamorous bunch of girls is looking for a NEWBI RUBI to replace those girls who have moved away, those who have retired from the lavish lifestyle, or some who are (as Dana Sintell says) “just plain tired”.

You’ll see them walk the runway in the Parade of Nations, learn about the “girls” as they share a song from their favorite show, lip sync for their life, and finally strut their stuff in gowns and glamour for the final Q & A before we crown a brand new Rubi Girl!

And yes, The Rubi Girls will also be performing several numbers, too!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

Show at 8pm, Doors open at 7pm.

IUE-CWA Union Hall
313 South Jefferson Street Dayton, Ohio

General Admisson tickets are only $20, order yours online now.
VIP TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!

*As part of the competition, all Newbi Rubi contestants are asked to help raise funds for ARC Ohio. Some are hosting fundraisers — like using online tools like Everyday Hero to help support our life-saving services. Your support of the Newbi Rubi contestants helps us continue to provide our clients access to a comprehensive, coordinated, and cutting-edge response to HIV, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment.

THE LUNCHBOX and GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL at THE NEON

April 17, 2014 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is starting to fade..but it’s still performing well enough to stick around for another week. That said, this could be its last. Hurry down if you still need to see it (or see it again).

On Friday, we will open the charming, feature debut film from director Ritesh Batra – THE LUNCHBOX. T.T. Stern-Enzi of DAYTON CITY PAPER just gave the film an “A” review. He wrote, “A soulful performance by Irrfan Khan serves as the key ingredient in this marvelous dish.”

Synopsis for THE LUNCHBOX: Currently rated 96% FRESH on Rottentomatoes.com “Middle class housewife Ila is trying once again to add some spice to her marriage, this time through her cooking. She desperately hopes that this new recipe will finally arouse some kind of reaction from her neglectful husband. She prepares a special lunchbox to be delivered to him at work, but, unbeknownst to her, it is mistakenly delivered to another office worker – a lonely man on the verge of retirement. Curious about the lack of reaction from her husband, Ila puts a little note in the following day’s lunchbox, in the hopes of getting to the bottom of the mystery. This begins a series of lunchbox notes between the two, and the mere comfort of communicating with a stranger anonymously soon evolves into an unexpected friendship.” (taken from Sony Classics) Visit the film’s official website by clicking this LINK.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK3R0rvnlPs’]

The 2014 Dayton Jewish Film Festival is gearing up for next week’s Opening Night. With terrific films and all the extras that are being planned, this promises to be a truly exciting festival. Click this LINK to visit the festival’s official site…details for buying advanced tickets can be found there. Here are a list of films that are screening at THE NEON:

Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 – THE ZIG ZAG KID
Tuesday, April 29 at 7:15 – AFTERMATH
Thursday, May 1 at 7:15 – BETHLEHEM
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:20 – QUALITY BALLS: THE DAVID STEINBERG STORY
Thursday, May 8 at 7:15 – SUESKIND
Monday, May 12 at 7:15 – THE PRIME MINISTERS: THE PIONEERS
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:30am – ESTHER BRONER: A WEAVE OF WOMEN
Thursday, May 15 at 7:15 – WHITE PANTHER
Sunday, May 18 at 7:15 – THE THIRD HALF
Program guides are currently available in our lobby!

THE NEON is currently helping AIDS Resource Center Ohio sell tickets for a special raffle. Tickets are $25 each or 6 for $100. There will be 2 great prizes – one from the Red Rock Resort & Spa in Las Vegas and the other from Elizabeth Diamond Company. Each prize is valued at $4900. Raffle tickets are available at our box office…and will only be available through this weekend!

Thanks for your continued support of THE NEON!
We couldn’t do it without you!
All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, April 18 – Thursday, April 24:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30, 10:00
Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Wednesday: 2:45, 5:10, 7:30
Thursday: 2:45, 5:10

THE LUNCHBOX (PG) 1 Hr 44 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:40 2:50, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:40 2:50, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday: 2:50, 5:20, 7:40
Thursday: 2:50, 5:20

DAYTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
THE ZIGZAG KID (NR) 1 Hr 35 Min – Thursday at 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
April 25 – LE WEEK-END
May 2 – UNDER THE SKIN
May 2 – JODOROWSKI’S DUNE
May 16 – ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
May 16 – GOD’S POCKET
May 23 – BELLE
June 13 – FOR NO GOOD REASON
TBD – DOM HEMINGWAY

RED Table Design Gala Sold Out- Preview Party Added!

April 15, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

Every two years the AIDS Resource Center Ohio hosts a RED Table Design Gala. RED is an acronym for Reach, Empower, Dream of a world without AIDS. Over 40 interior designers, florists, artists and community volunteers will spend 3 days creating over the top center pieces based on a theme. For 2014 the table designs will embrace the spirit of rock music, the artists and rock and roll culture that make up the ROCK AND RED Hall of Fame!

The Gala, which will take place on Sat, April 26th at the Masonic Center, has officially sold out. Chair Sue Spiegel says, “The tables are truly works of art and we want to be able to share them with more than just our Gala Guests, so this year we are adding a preview party!” Check out pictures from RED 2010, The Silver Celebration and RED 2012, Ooh La Rouge.

Ryan Levin, Preview Party Chair, suggested “working with the ARC Ohio Associate board and making it a fun cocktail event featuring tasting elements.” For just a $25 donation to ARC Ohio, attendees can tour the tables and enjoy a bourbon tasting, led by Joseph Head of The Century Bar accompanied by a candied bacon praline or a Martini Tasting curated by DaytonMostMetro.com’s Mixologist Brian Petro. Passed hor d’oeuvres will be included in the price and a cash bar will also be available. Guests of both Friday & Saturday’s events will be able to bid on the silent auction.

Items include trips to Umbria, Italy, a Florida beach resort, Chef dinners from Coco’s, C’est Tout, Salar, Brio, Fleming’s and Bonefish, gift certificates to area shops, services, theater and sporting events. Guests may also purchase raffle tickets for a winner’s choice of a trip to the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas or a $4900 piece of jewelry from Elizabeth Diamond Company.

Auction and raffle winners will be announced during Saturday night’s festivities.
Tickets for the Preview Cocktail Party can be purchased online as well as RED Raffle tickets which are $25 each or six for $100. The RED Table Design Gala for 2012 raised a record breaking $505,000. With generous lead sponsorship from GDAHA, Marion’s Piazza, Westminster Financial, Square One Salon and Spa, Lexus of Dayton, Ameriprise Financial, and a myriad of other supporters, the 2014 Gala is on track to rock and roll right over the top for a new record!

Special DMM Reader Ticket Contest:

Like this post and then tell us why you should win a pair of tickets for the RED preview party and you might be the lucky winner drawn to win tickets. Winner to be announced Thurs, 4/24 at 9pm.

BUDAPEST HOTEL, TIM’S VERMEER and Other NEON News

April 10, 2014 By Jonathan McNeal Leave a Comment

Hello Everyone,

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL continues to hit milestones. In less than 3 weeks, the film is already at #4 on our “Highest Grossing Films” list. (The Top 3 are SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SIDEWAYS and MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING – each of these films played at least 12 weeks). This is really spectacular, and we truly appreciate your support and positive word-of-mouth.

This week, we are going to hold both current attractions. Though TIM’S VERMEER didn’t have record attendance, it did well enough to stick around. With all the kudos from audience members, we think it’s worth holding for a 2nd week. That said, we plan to move forward with THE LUNCHBOX on April 18. Hurry down if you need to see TIM’S VERMEER. Details and showtimes for each of our current films are available at www.neonmovies.com

If you haven’t already seen the trailer for this wonderful little movie, take a look at the website for THE LUNCHBOX by clicking this LINK.

The TAB Entertainment has rented one of our auditoriums this Sunday for a special, one-time screening of MY DREAM BESIDE ME. “MY DREAM BESIDE ME is a romantic dramedy based on the true love story of Paul Rich and Mary Kay Slesinger Rich. At 84 years young Paul lost his wife of 66 years – Mary Kay was married for 34 years and she was left a widow when she was in her mid 60’s. After a few years Paul and Mary Kay met and fell in love. This union of marriage is a testimony that people can be strong, vital and full of life at any age.” (taken from press notes) Tickets for this screening are $9 each. Advanced tickets are only available on the film’s official website (Click HERE to visit the official site). Remaining tickets will be sold at THE NEON’s box office on the day of the screening.

“The Massie Creek Paddlers will be hosting Rapid Media’s 9th annual REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL showcasing the world’s best paddling films to audiences in Canada, United States and around the world. The festival inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle. The Reel Paddling Film Festival is a film contest awarding winning films in 10 categories. The winners and other shortlisted films are then toured to more than 100 cities around the world, screening for an audience of more than 30,000 outdoor adventure enthusiasts and their friends and families.” Advance tickets, just $10 each, are available on the official site (click this LINK). This special, one-night screening will stop by THE NEON on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30.

The 2014 Dayton Jewish Film Festival has prepared an exciting line-up for this year’s festival. It kicks off on Thursday, April 24 at THE NEON, and the films look excellent. With all the extras that are being planned, this promises to be a truly exciting festival. Click this LINK to visit the festival’s official site…details for buying advanced tickets can be found there. Here are a list of films that are screening at THE NEON:

Take a look at the trailer from the opening film – THE ZIG ZAG KID. It looks like great fun:

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_JEZExGYmg’]

Thanks for your continued support of THE NEON!
We couldn’t do it without you!

All the best,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, April 11 – Thursday, April 17:

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (R) 1 Hr 39 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30, 10:00
Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:10, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:10, 7:30

TIM’S VERMEER (PG-13) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:15, 9:15
Sunday: 1:00, 5:30, 7:15
Monday, Tuesday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:15
Wednesday: 3:00, 5:15
Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

MY DREAM BESIDE ME (NR) 1 Hr 24 Min
Sunday: 3:00

REEL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL (NR) 2+ Hrs
Wednesday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change. In some rare cases, titles may disappear.

April 18 – THE LUNCHBOX
April 25 – LE WEKK-END
May 5 – JODOROWSKI’S DUNE
May 16 – ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE
May 16 – GOD’S POCKET
June 13 – FOR NO GOOD REASON
TBD – DOM HEMINGWAY
TBD – BELLE
TBD – UNDER THE SKIN