Friday Night LIVE on the Spinoza’s Patio with Nasty Bingo. Spinoza’s is offering a safe way to see some live music. They offer covered patio dining with Socially Distanced Table Seating. So come get your pizza and beer on while grooving to some Folkedelich Fun! Reservations required and Tips Encouraged. $5.00
Archives for August 2020
Kevin Myers Views of Dayton: VA Grotto Gardens
In 2012, The Dayton VA Medical Center (DVAMC) and The American Veterans Heritage Center initiated the current reclamation of the historic Grotto Gardens landscape. The Ohio State University Extension’s (OSUE) Greater Montgomery County Master Gardener Volunteers joined the team in 2013 to provide horticultural support and develop new gardens.
The Grotto Gardens are on the grounds of the Dayton VA Medical Center. Admission is free and open to the public. Open 24 hours a day.
Home Depot provided critical support both financially and through volunteer efforts to improve the infrastructure. Along the way, other volunteers have joined the team and there have been significant financial and in-kind donations by individual, organizations, garden clubs, and garden centers. While OSUE no longer is involved, the Grotto Gardens continue to be supported by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Address: Tennessee and Gettysburg Ave. Dayton, OH 45428
The Grotto’s water flows from natural underground springs, but the surrounding landscaping, rock walls and nearby lakes are all man-made. Seventy-five full-time Veteran gardeners planted and cared for magnificent gardens in the Grotto and adjacent areas, and it became a destination point for hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Some came by train and often stayed at a hotel located on the grounds just north of the Grotto.
You can download a map of the walking tour of the Grotto here.
Many of the trees have been planted to honor Veterans. Download a listing of those here.
Win Free McAlister’s for a Year for You and a Friend
For more than 30 years, McAlister’s Deli® has had incredibly devoted fans, and to reward its guests’ loyalty, McAlister’s Deli has announced more perks and promotions for its app and rewards members. To give its fans a reason to celebrate together, McAlister’s is introducing its “McAlister’s Deli Free for You & Me Sweepstakes” where ten lucky McAlister’s Deli app and rewards program members will have the chance to win free McAlister’s Deli meals for a year.* And, to reinforce McAlister’s commitment to creating quality mealtime memories with family and friends, the ten winners will have the opportunity to gift the same prize to a person of their choice.
“The McAlister’s app and rewards program were heavily influenced by customer input and feedback and aims to provide more convenience, ease of use and of course, rewards for their loyalty,” said Joe Guith, president of McAlister’s Deli. “And to thank our fans for their incredible support, we are excited to launch the Free for You & Me sweepstakes where the winners will get to enjoy their favorite McAlister’s meals all year long and share the fun with a loved one.”
McAlister’s Deli Free for You & Me Sweepstakes*
The McAlister’s Deli Free for You & Me Sweepstakes runs through August 31, 2020. To enter, fans simply need to take the following steps:
- Download the new McAlister’s app via the Apple Store or Google Play.
- Sign up for the rewards program from August 3-August 31, 2020 and automatically get entered for the chance to win.
- McAlister’s rewards members who already have the app downloaded can enter by referring a friend.* Referrals must sign up using the unique referrer code on the McAlister’s app in order to be eligible for entry into the sweepstakes.
McAlister’s Deli App and Rewards
The new McAlister’s Deli app and rewards program give fans even more reason to celebrate. The new McAlister’s rewards program is points-based and aims to give members more flexibility to enjoy the rewards they actually want. Members who use the app, will earn points for each purchase and as they collect points, they can redeem for any item they want within pre-set categories.
The new McAlister’s Rewards point system:
- Points: Earn 10 points for every $1 spent
- Reward Thresholds:
- 500 Points: Free Beverage or Kid’s Meal
- 1,000 Points: Free Side or Soup or Dessert
- 1,500 Points: Free Entrée (Spud, Sandwich, Choose 2, Salad)
- Bonus Member Benefits:
- Welcome Reward: Free tea just for downloading and signing up!
- Birthday Reward: Free cookie
- Exclusive promotions like double points, buy one get one free offers, and bonus rewards
Limited-time Bonus User Rewards for August:
- Back to School: Rewards members receive double points on all kid’s meals. Valid from 8/17/2020 through 8/23/2020 only.
- First-Time Delivery Orders: Receive members receive 1,000 bonus points on first-time McAlister’s Delivery orders through the app. Valid from 8/24/2020 – 8/30/2020 only.
With the new app, ordering is convenient, reliable, simple to use and timesaving, allowing for ease of customization plus guests can select how they would like to pick up their McAlister’s – inside at a pick-up station to avoid the lines, pull through to the pick-up window or park curbside to pick-up without having to leave their car. Contactless payment is also available. Guests can even have their order delivered to them through McAlister’s Delivery at serviceable locations.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older and McAlister’s Rewards members. See Official Rules at McAlister’s website including additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details. Many will enter, only 20 will win. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winners will be selected at random and notified the first week in September 2020. Void where prohibited.
Dayton Locations:
6685 Miller Ln,
Dayton, OH 45414
(937) 890-0026
3310 Pentagon Blvd Unit B,
Beavercreek, OH 45431
(937) 429-4880
Two for the Road Live at Dublin Pub
Two for the Road consists of Mike D Combs: Lead vocals, Lead & Rhythmn guitar, and harmonica. Tom Merritt: Lead vocals, Rhythmn guitar, and piano.
eLINK Bikes Are Back!
We are happy to announce that the eLink bikes are being put back out into service today! To celebrate add the promo code link to the Coupons and Credits screen on the app and you will receive 5 trips of 15 minutes FREE! Remember, you have to have the Link Dayton App to check out the bikes, be sure to get it HERE
What is an e-bike?
An e-bike is a bicycle with an integrated electric motor. Our e-bikes will assist a user up to 15mph. You must pedal to get a benefit from the motor. The e-bikes have a range of up to 30 miles on a full charge!
What is riding an e-bike like?
It’s just like riding a bicycle! But with a booster to keep you riding longer and farther.
How much does it cost to rent a bike?
They offer several different pricing options to meet your needs! You can always check our social media or sign up for our newsletter to learn about periodic special offers and discounts.
PayGo – $1 to unlock
eLink: 15¢ per minute
Green Link: 10¢ per minute
Day Pass
eLink: $15 for 4 hours of ride time (15¢ per minute > 4 hours)
GreenLink: $8 for 4 hours of ride time (10¢ per minute > 4 hours)
90 Day Membership – $26
eLink: 10¢ per minute
Green Link: for 80 minutes of ride time per day, 5¢ per minute over included time
Annual Membership – $90
eLinks: 10¢ per minute
Green Link: 80 minutes of ride time per day, 5¢ per minute over included time
Dayton at Work and Play: Erin Smith-Glenn
Erin Smith-Glenn is one of the artists participating in the exhibition “Unity: Creating a Better Tomorrow” sponsored by the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area. In this photo Erin is working in the studio where she teaches at Central State University. I asked Erin about the exhibition and about how she’s weathering the pandemic.
“I entered a painting in the exhibition inspired by my daughter. She’s a big fan of the Black Panther movie and her favorite character is Shuri, a princess of Wakanda. I started doing a painting of Shuri as a demonstration for my class, and fell in love with it.”
“The pandemic has been an interesting time for me as an artist. When I was told that Central State was shutting down, I saw that most people headed to the grocery store to stock up on food. I went to the art supply store and bought a lot. I went home and immediately went to work on a large piece and felt my stress going down as I worked. This has been a productive period for me, and a time of learning and growth.”
“Classes start again at Central State soon, and I’ve spent a lot of time getting ready. My art classes will be a combination of in person and online. When students are in the studio here I have things set up in a socially distanced way. Easels and supplies are labelled so we can keep track of which students use which items which can be important for contact tracing.”
You can bid on Erin’s work online starting August 26 at https://www.liveuniteddayton2020.org/.
Dayton Book Fair Cancelled
After much contemplation and discussion, the Book Fair Foundation, Inc. has opted to cancel their Book Fair for November 2020. This is the first year in 50 that there will not be an enormous Book Fair in Ohio, the second weekend in November.
Executive Director Larkin Vonalt posted the follow on the Dayton Book Fair Facebook page today:
“Please do not be too hard on us, we are heartbroken.
Donations are down due to the pandemic, and our volunteer ranks have been decimated by the loss of a great many helpful people who are simply too high-risk to come out. We could not figure out how to even manage social distancing, upholding mask protocols, and whatever other mandates the state may have bestowed by then. In addition, it is hard to know what the country is going to look like the week after the election.
The beneficiaries we chose for 2020— Community Voices at WYSO, the Dayton International Peace Museum, and X/ACT (Xenia Area Community Theatre) will be our beneficiaries for 2021.
We will still celebrate our 50th anniversary next year, featuring Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mark your calendars now for Friday, November 12, 2021, through Monday, November 15, 2021.
Donations are still being accepted at our 2181 Embury Park Road facility and at barrel and drop off points around the community.
We are ever more in need of volunteers to process and price books; if you love books and have some spare time, please come see us. Our offices remain open on Embury Park: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm and Wednesday from 1 pm until 7 pm.”
At the Neon: Ethan Hawke in TESLA and Jacki Weaver in STAGE MOTHER
Continuing in our Virtual Cinema:
Synopsis for REPRESENT – Virtual Cinema: “Equal parts personal and political, REPRESENT follows three women on both sides of the aisle who share the singular goal of improving their community through public service.” (Music Box Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12. (This film will be available starting Friday.)
Chuck a Buck for Charity:Water!
Eudora Brewing Company is inviting customers to give back—and testing their athletic ability—with a new philanthropic installation Chuck A Buck For charity:water.
Chuck A Buck For charity:water invites customers to toss spare dollars— perhaps those left over after paying for a beer—into one of three jerrycans mounted on the wall in order to help fund clean water projects across the globe. Since opening 2013, Eudora has donated a portion of every purchase made at the brewery to Charity: water, a world-renowned 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to bringing clean water to people in need. Once Eudora’s donations can fund an entire water project for a community, the money is put into action building and repairing water wells, filtration systems, rain catchments, and other essentials for reliable, clean water. The jerrycans will be checked every few months to be counted and added to the brewery’s total donations to charity:water.
Most recently in mid-2019 the brewery was able to fund the construction of new water points in Malawi, one of Africa’s most densely populated and least developed countries. The brewery will track donation progress on the water wall beneath the jerrycan game, alongside information about charity:water and current funded projects.
Guests are still asked to mind social distancing mandates and safety concerns while making their contributions during COVID-19. Guests are encouraged to try chucking their bucks on their way to their seat or while exiting the building. Why not go home with a win under your belt, right?
Eudora Brewing Company is located at 3022 Wilmington Pike and is open 4pm-10pm Tuesday-Friday, 12pm-10pm Saturday and 12pm-8pm Sunday with kitchen service ending 30 minutes before close.
Downtown Dayton Retail Lab Welcomes First Cohort
The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), along with its small business development partners, launched its first session of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab this week with a group of 11 small business owners.
For this 12-week program, the group of entrepreneurs were chosen out of a pool of 36 applicants to participate in a series of weekly workshops to launch and strengthen their first-floor businesses. The cohort of chosen entrepreneurs and businesses include:
- Vanessa Lloyd – A+ Cleaners – www.drycleandayton.com
- Vaniti Byrd – Baba Love Organics – www.babaloveorganics.com
- Mary Baldino – Connect E-Sports – www.connectesports.com
- Deborah Samuels – D. Bra Boutique
- Katie Hall- Fox in Socks Soapery – www.FoxinSocksSoapery.com
- Jennifer Herrera – Napales Mexican Street Food – www.napales.com
- Paula Willis – Now and Zen DIY Studio – www.shopnowandzen.com
- Dana Calhoun – Picture Perfect Paint Parties – www.PicturePerfectPaintParties.com
- Lindsey Deck – Space Three – www.spacethreedayton.com
- Kelsey Calderone – Two Social – www.gemcitysocialsports.com
- Davia Allen – Vidia’s Closet – www.vidiascloset.com
“To launch and run a small business takes resiliency and determination and the goal of the Retail Lab is to give these business owners the support they need to take their ideas to a new level,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the DDP. “The energy of the small business community is what makes our downtown shine and attracts shoppers, diners, adventurers and more to the heart of our city.”
The Retail Lab has two main goals: continue energizing downtown with vibrant storefronts and unique restaurants, and provide a supportive pathway into the downtown market for emerging first-floor entrepreneurs. In the selection process to choose the first cohort out of 36 applications, the committee was pleased with the number of woman- and minority-owned businesses who applied. Some of the chosen businesses already have brick-and-mortar storefronts in downtown Dayton, and others are just launching their enterprises. All wanted to be a part of this program to learn and grow from a network of other businesswomen and industry professionals.
Over the coming months, the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will lead the cohort through a series of workshops, experiences, and pilot opportunities that connect the business owners to the people, ideas, capital, and resources that will help them thrive and grow in downtown Dayton. The Retail Lab leverages support from many business resource partners including The Entrepreneurs Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, Five Rivers MetroParks – 2nd Street Market, Launch Dayton, CityWide Development, and The Hub at the Dayton Arcade.
Questions about the Retail Lab should be directed to AJ Ferguson, [email protected], or call (937) 681-9793.
Indoor Kids Play Space Now Open in Troy
Timber & Bow Play Studio, located on the southern end of the newly renovated Sherwood of Troy, is a modern indoor play space, now open and offering fresh, new fun for the Miami Valley. Owners and Troy residents, Autumn White and Jessica Gill have long known that opening a clean, inspiring space for children and parents to enjoy was a venture they wanted to pursue together.
“As moms of little ones, we quickly recognized the void in Troy for somewhere to take our kids that was fun and clean for them, while also relaxing and enjoyable for adults. So we decided to create just that space.” said co-owner Autumn White.
Children can come enjoy unlimited open play during the week and on weekend mornings, which includes access to the entire play facility. Parents can relax while children of all ages climb a large wooden play structure, zip down the curly slide, run through the plush grass turf, do some pretend gardening and cooking, or calmly enjoy the Montessori-inspired stacking and manipulative toys.
“Watching children and adults come into our space and enjoy our nature inspired play studio has been a dream come true,” said co-owner Jessica Gill.
Individual child and family memberships are now available, which allow unlimited access for one year. Timber & Bow offers private rental of the entire facility, along with special offerings from next door neighbor Midtown Coffee and Creamery.
Contact [email protected] for private event rental information. Admission is $8/child and children under one are free with a paid sibling.
Timber & Bow Play Studio
71 Foss Way
Troy, OH 45373
937.703.1330
Hours:
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Private party rentals after 5:00 PM)
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Private party rentals after 12:00 PM)
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Private party rentals after 12:00 PM)
Hook & Reel Now Serving Up Seafood!
Hook & Reel which originally opened in Maryland in 2015, now has over 30 locations across the U.S., opens it’s Dayton Mall location today. The menu features a variety of cajun country seafood boils, which are prepared in homemade signature sauces.
“Seafood boils in Louisiana were always a spot for great socialization,” said Ed O’Grady, regional director of operations. “The kind of thing where you create a big pot of seafood, invite all your friends over — just really focusing on hospitality, and we try to bring that experience to our guests in our restaurants. Our food is very shareable, it’s really fun to eat.”
Prefer a sandwich? Check out their Po’ Boys & Sliders:
Hook & Reel
2564 Miamisburg Centerville Road,
Dayton, OH 45459
Mon – Thurs: 11:30AM – 10PM
Fri – Sat: 11:30 AM – 11PM
Sun: 12PM – 10PM
(937)259-8586
Miami Valley Trails Construction Update
Taking this opportunity for a late-Summer update about the Miami Valley Trails to make everyone aware of the many projects and detours going on along and above the trails. The detours and projects right now are all centered on Dayton in Montgomery County and also the Creekside and Iron Horse Trails in Dayton and Riverside. Here’s a rundown of the major projects:
Third Street Bridge Replacement. The Third Street Bridge, also known as the Peace Bridge, spans the Great Miami River and the Great Miami River Trail on both banks. During the project the Great Miami River Trail is closed. It is actually missing in sections – so don’t try it! During the project, expected to last until Fall of 2021, there is a posted detour using the bikelanes and shared lanes through Downtown Dayton. Please see our trail alert for this detour for a downloadable map of the detour routes. Believe it or not, this detour even has a detour as Jefferson Street is being rebuilt at this time as well. Use Wilkinson as a north-bound alternative.
Creekside and Iron Horse Trails in Riverside and Dayton.
Five Rivers MetroParks has begun a monthlong project to re-hab these trails including crack sealing and tree root clearing. There will also be improvements made for safety at road crossings. The project will be done in sections, and detours are posted. See our alert on this project for downloadable maps of the suggested detours. Project work has begun as of August 17, 2020. The photo at the top is on the Iron Horse Trail at Linden Avenue.
Deeds Point Bridge. The bridge near RiverScape MetroPark across the Mad River to Deeds Point has been closed for over a year, but now the project work begins to replace it! The first stage will be the removal of the old bridge and that will result in closures needed from time to time on the Mad River Trail below the bridge. The current detour using the Webster Street Bridge will remain in place and signed (see the alert here). There will be a periodic need for a detour along Monument Avenue, and that detour is described and mapped at this alert. Please note, the detour along Monument Avenue has sections without sidewalks, and is not ideal for pedestrians.
These projects represent a significant investment in the long term maintenance of the Miami Valley Trails. They trade off current, temporary inconvenience for better safety and accessibility for many years to come.
All of the Miami Valley Trails alerts are posted on the Trail Information page on the Miami Valley Trails web site. Keep that link handy to check on future projects along other trails.
Dayton at Work and Play: Artist Morris T. Howard
The reaction to the postcards I’ve sent out has been positive, so I’ve decided to make more. As I make an abstract version of a portrait I am putting it on two postcards. One is sent to the subject and one stays with me to display in my office.
Yesterday I sent this postcard to Morris Howard, one of my favorite Dayton artists. Morris paints people, and as I look at his paintings I see more than just what the people look like. There’s also something about the essence of the person captured in the painting.
Before sending Morris his postcard I contacted him to see what he’s been doing. He said he just created a painting for an event called “Unity: Creating a Better Tomorrow.” It is sponsored by the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area and highlights the talent of local African American artists. The community will have a chance to bid on the artwork online. Then the art will be exhibited at Ebonia Gallery / Bing Davis Studio.
“The piece I’m painting for the exhibition is from the funeral of John Lewis,” Morris told me. “As part of the ceremony, his casket was taken on a horse-drawn carriage across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In my painting, the bridge is renamed as the John Robert Lewis Bridge. Artists get to do things like that.”
Morris gave me a list of the artists who will be exhibiting. I’ll try to get some photos of the artists and/or their artwork and post it before the online bidding opens.
Trolley Stop Celebrates With 25th Anniversary Deals!
As the Trolley Stop posted on their Facebook Page :We’d love to have a giant celebration but since that’s definitely not in the cards right now. So we are going to celebrate all week! We have Throw Back Menu items from 1995 (when we officially joined the Oregon District family) and we will have them available all week!”
Introducing A New Weekly DMM Monday Feature
Each Monday we’ll be presenting a look at the Miami Valley through the eyes of photographer Kevin Myers. We start with is favorite view of Dayton which inspired him to start his Facebook Page and group.
These were taken from the Miami Valley Hospital parking garage April/May 2020.
To see more of his photos’s join his Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DaytonOhioUSA