Archives for October 2022
Boot Camp with The Unit-Community Fitness
Join The Unit Mondays and Wednesdays from May thru October for an exciting boot camp workout that will take you through RiverScape in a whole new way. Whether you’re running the stairs, doing push ups near the reflecting pools, or stretching along the levee, this effective workout will keep you moving. Combined with the uplifting support of the community members that make up The Unit, this is a workout you will want to make part of your weekly routine. All fitness levels welcome and encouraged!
Jazz Supergroup Performs Exclusive Show at The Brightside
I first saw Jennifer Hartswick perform at a sold-out concert in New York City. She was playing trumpet for Trey Anastasio’s solo project. I was blown away by the entire horn section’s talent, which included trumpet, trombone, and sax players. It’s the kind of musical experience that truly removes you from your troubles, and delivers a true sense of joy. I longed to bring talent on that level to my friends in Dayton.
A few years later, I had just an opportunity. My friend Carli Dixon had opened The Brightside on East 3rd St downtown and allowed me to host concerts of my choosing. What a gift! And funny enough, Jennifer had a solo project that was touring through venues just like The Brightside. I had the pleasure of hosting Jennifer not once, but two times in our first year open, before the pandemic hit. In fact, Jennifer Hartswick was the last show we hosted, on March 10, 2020. Each time she’s brought her immense talent to our stage, the audience is enthralled, moved to actual tears of joy.
So now that things are getting back to “normal,” I leaped at the opportunity to host Jennifer again. However, this time there was a twist. She is visiting us with a full band, including her writing partner Nick Cassarino on guitar, Conor Elmes on drums, and fellow Trey Anastasio Band members Dezron Douglas on bass and James Casey on sax.
All of these musicians are superstars in their own right. Douglas is a protégé of the great Jackie McLean, and is currently a Jazz Studies professor at NYU Steinhardt. Elmes is a member of the YoungBlood Brass Band. Cassarino may look familiar as he’s performed multiple times at The Brightside, and this summer on the Levitt stage with his band The Nth Power.
Casey being in Dayton is particularly special because he is currently going through cancer treatment for Stage 3 colon cancer. This week he posted: “The amount of planning it takes for me to be able to come on the road these days is more than you could imagine, and along with my fam, team and docs, they made (and continue to make) it happen. Total appreciation!”
I compare this group to the Wrecking Crew, who were the subject of a recent documentary. The Wrecking Crew was a loose collective of studio musicians who were the actual musicians who recorded hundreds of Top 40 songs during the 1960s and 1970s. The group was not publicly recognized but was viewed with reverence by industry insiders.
The Jennifer Hartswick Band is a live music version of the Wrecking Crew. You’ve probably seen them backing bigger names, but this is their time to shine! As a music nerd myself, I’m one of the industry insiders who views this group in absolute awe.
A lot of times, we have the tendency to want to hear what we know. That’s why tribute bands and cover bands are so popular. That’s why seeing bands that were popular during high school is so appealing. And while all of that is great, I’m interested in what’s happening now. Instead of clinging to nostalgia only, I’m wanting to bring musicians that are on fire right now, whom you normally can only see in the biggest cities. In fact, this group is only performing a very limited tour, and they selected Dayton specifically to visit because they enjoy visiting here so much.
I truly hope Dayton audiences find some space in their lives for musical curiosity and check out this concert! Local blues musician, Steven Gregory, kicks off the show at 8 pm at The Brightside on Thursday, October 13th.
HOW TO GO?
- The Jennifer Hartswick Band
- The Brightside Music & Event Venue (905 E 3rd St, Dayton, OH)
- October 13, 2022. Doors open at 7:30pm. Concert starts at 8pm.
- All ages welcome
- Tickets advance: $20 (Click link here)
- Day of Show: $25
Tickets Now On Sale For Hauntfest on Fifth
Wine Festival in Troy
Stop in to purchase tickets.
Orders of 6 or more will receive a 10% discount!
Englewood Cinema Celebrates First Year Under New Ownership
Cory & Alyssa Floyd are celebrating their first anniversary of owning and operating the Englewood Cinema. They were living in Tennessee, and Cory had always dreamed of owning a movie theater. He was researching theaters, saw the Englewood location was for sale on a Monday night, called the owner on Tuesday and came to Dayton and bought the theater on Sunday. Alyssa shared that they bought a house in Dayton on the drive back to to Tennessee and put their house up for sale at the same time.
They officially took over on Oct 4, 2021. They are celebrating this weekend by hosting the 27th year of Horrorama:
We asked them what they have learned about running the theater in the last year. Alyssa shared that she’s learned to be cautious of the popcorn popper, having burned herself a lot.
She also shared that working with your best friend and husband is sometimes complicated, but there’s no one else she’d want to spend time with.
Cory shares that the community has been incredibly supportive of their efforts and that he loves how some of the moments he’s been able to share with their customers. He tells of a recent man who explained he’d seen his first movie at the theater as a youngster and he’d brought his young son to experience his first movie there as well. Alyssa loves how all the small businesses in their strip center stick together sharing how one weekend while showing Batman their popcorn machine broke down, and because she couldn’t leave the theater, her neighbor Brent from Home Sweet Home went out and bought them a popcorn maker.
The Floyds said things have been going well, and the theater which was originally a second run theater, but Covid has made the studio’s more willing to work with the independent theater’s and now, for the first time ever, Englewood Cinema is showing first run films. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be opening there in November. However when they get these first run movies, they have to commit to showing them exclusively for 2 or 3 weeks.
As owners, Alyssa and Cory work at the theater a lot. This weekend they anticipate 16-18 hour days, but both say they love the business and it’s their baby, so their are willing to work for what they call their dream, but it often means naps on the futon in the projector booth. Their long work days don’t leave them a lot of time to explore the Dayton region, but they’ve found some favorite restaurants like Stoney’s Munchie Bar and Cafe Terra Mediterranean Cuisine.
They told me they’d found the 937 event guide and have used it to help explore arts and craft fairs and look forward to visiting the Ohio RenFest next weekend.
Of course I had to ask them about their favorite movies, Cory’s is The Cameraman (Buster Keaton) and Halloween (John Carpenter). “Halloween I love and it was the first movie we got to play here at the cinema when we took over,” says Cory. Alyssa’s is Easy Livning- a 1937 black and white screwball comedy, but they both agree that Whiplash is another favorite. They even screened it for their guests after the 2017 wedding. The Floyd’s look forward to many more years together operating the theater and also hope to have more time to explore their Dayton region.
320 National Road #21
Englewood, Ohio 45322
(937) 998-8188
Pastrami Sandwich Returns at Potbelly
The pastrami sandwich, a delicatessen staple and one of the most iconic sandwiches in America, is back at Potbelly Sandwich Shops. The shop’s meatiest sandwich yet features mouthwatering pastrami, topped with Swiss cheese, a pickle and Potbelly mustard on toasty warm bread.
“We look forward to feeding our customers’ smiles with flavors and combinations that they crave, and we are excited to bring back the Pastrami sandwich to lead our lineup of limited-time menu items this fall,” said Mary Laube-Gale, Senior Director of Menu Innovation, Calendar Planning & Brand Insights.
To celebrate the return of the Pastrami Sandwich, Potbelly Perks members who buy one Original Pastrami Sandwich can get any Original-sized sandwich of equal or lesser value for free for one day only on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. If you’re not already a perks member, it’s not too late to sign up and receive the special offer.
You can find the Pastrami Sandwich at all Potbelly shops across the country for a limited time, while supplies last.
Area Potbelly Locations:
1200 Brown Street, Dayton, OH 45409
(937) 220-9510
(937) 426-5012
Nominate an Excellent City of Dayton Employee
The Joseph T. Cline Awards Fund was established in 1984 at The Dayton Foundation by Carolynne H. Cline, daughter of the late Joseph T. Cline, a longtime supporter of the City of Dayton and civic volunteer.
The awards honor current City of Dayton workers who display excellence and dedication in their career as a City employee, as well as civic and community involvement. Honorees receive recognition by the City Commission and a cash award from an endowment established by the Cline family through The Dayton Foundation.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
To be eligible, nominees must be a current full-time or permanent part-time employee with a minimum of two years of employment with the City of Dayton. Citizens and City of Dayton employees alike may nominate individuals for this award. Up to 10 winners will be selected by a team of reviewers representing The Dayton Foundation and the City of Dayton, plus a community volunteer and prior award winners.
NOMINATION DEADLINE
The nomination period for the 2022 Joseph T. Cline Awards is 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. Submit a nomination here or pick up a form at the City Hall ground floor lobby (101 W. Third St., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) Look for announcement of winners by mid-November.
Charlie Parker’s Yardbird
While the body of tormented bebop saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker lies unidentified in a New York City morgue, his spirit travels back to the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, where he struggles to complete his final masterpiece. Fusing classical and jazz styles into an intriguing mix, Charlie Parker’s Yardbird is a powerful expedition into the mind, heart, and personal purgatory of the jazz genius.
SKRT, No Balance, and Houseghost at Blind Bob’s
Music at 9pm
$10 21+
https://nobalancesux.bandcamp.com/
https://houseghostdyt.bandcamp.com/
City of Dayton Invests $800,000 in Two Local Organizations
The City of Dayton has announced the newest investments of Dayton Recovery Plan funds, following approval of contracts by the City Commission. Investments of $500,000 for the Ronald McDonald House and $300,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Dayton will support new or improved facilities crucial to the non-profits’ missions.
Funding for both awards will be provided through the Dayton Recovery Plan’s $7.3 million Aiding Community and Small Business Recovery component. This section of the plan focuses on supporting community health and wellness, assisting small businesses and organizations, and providing educational opportunities.
The Dayton Recovery Plan is a $138 million framework for community COVID relief and investment for the future, made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
“These two organizations have a demonstrated history of making a difference in the lives of families and children, and the City of Dayton is pleased to support them through the Dayton Recovery Plan,” said City Manager Shelley Dickstein. “Their renewed commitment to their missions through facility improvements will have a positive impact in Dayton neighborhoods as well.”
Earlier this year, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton announced plans to raise $25 million to build a new 42-room facility on Valley Street. Housing is a critical component of the continuum of care, but the current 14-room facility across from Dayton Children’s Hospital’s main campus is unable to meet the growing need for services.
Dayton has become a destination city for pediatric health care as a result of advancements in outpatient and specialty services and Shriners Children’s Ohio’s move to the city from Cincinnati in 2021.
“Last year Ronald McDonald House had to turn away 63% of the families that came to us for housing. Expanding our capacity is significant to the strategic growth of our region’s healthcare sector and necessary to support the hundreds of families who travel to Dayton each year for their child’s medical care,” said Rita Cyr, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton.
The Ronald McDonald House funding will support architecture and design fees as well as engineering fees (groundbreaking, foundation pouring, construction). In accordance with the City’s emphasis on the use of Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), there is a 15% aspirational MBE goal assigned to this contract.
The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton/West Dayton Community Recreation & Space Sharing Project will use the Dayton Recovery Plan funds for construction/renovation services at its West Stewart Street facility, including electrical, plumbing, and other trades services, as well as needed equipment upgrades. In accordance with the City’s focus on the use of MBE, there is a 25% aspirational MBE goal assigned to the contract.
Club members are children ranging from kindergarten to high school age, and 96% are African American.
“We know there are hundreds more young people in West Dayton who would benefit from our programs, but the condition of the facility is a barrier to recruitment and retention of families who can take advantage of our education and enrichment programs,” said Mica Goosby, Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Club. “West Dayton is a vibrant community with a rich cultural heritage and community assets, and the City of Dayton’s investment in the Boys & Girls Club will allow us to continue to help families and children succeed. We are grateful for the City’s leadership and their support of our mission to build a bright future for our youth.”
J.D. Vance/ Tim Ryan Debate To Air Mon, Oct 10th
Nexstar Media Inc announced today that it will host an exclusive multi-market live prime time telecast of a debate between the candidates running for the United States Senate from Ohio, Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Ryan.
The event is currently the only scheduled face-to-face meeting between the two candidates. The debate will take place on Monday, October 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. EDT, at the WJW-TV studios in Cleveland, OH, and will be telecast and live streamed throughout the state.
Your Local Election Headquarters: Ohio U.S. Senate Debate
Monday, October 10, 2022
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
The one-hour debate will bring together potentially five million viewers across Ohio and will air on five Nexstar television stations, including: WJW-TV FOX8 (FOX) in Cleveland, WCMH-TV NBC4 (NBC) in Columbus, WDTN-TV 2 (NBC) in Dayton, WYFX-TV (FOX) in Youngstown, and WTRF-TV (CBS) in Wheeling, WV/Steubenville, OH.
Local viewers may also access a livestream of the debate online by visiting the website of their local Nexstar station.
The debate will be moderated by WJW FOX8 anchor Joe Toohey and WCMH NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall, who will pose questions to the candidates focused on current local and regional issues impacting communities across the Ohio.
The election for U.S. Senator from Ohio is scheduled to take place on November 8.
For more information regarding the upcoming elections, including early voting dates, polling locations and voter identification requirements, please visit https://vote.gov/register/oh/.
Smashburger Introduces Chicken Wings
To celebrate the launch, Smashburger is running a special promotion from Tuesday, October 4 through Friday, October 7, 2022 where fans can score a free order of wings with any purchase over $25. The offer can be redeemed at participating locations in-store, online or through the Smashburger app by using the promo code “freewings.”
Dayton Area Smashburgers:
1200 Brown St, Dayton OH, 45409
2315 Miamisburg Centerville Rd., Dayton, OH 45459
6731 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH 45414
West Carrolton’s Rockin’ the River Features Garth Brooks Tribute Show
Blame it all on your roots, if you show up in boots on October 8th at Erie Park in West Carrollton to watch the Garth Brooks Tribute band at Rockin’ The River!
Local country favorite Ashley Martin Band will be opening the concert at 6p, known for her live performances with amazing vocals and great high energy! Just after Ashley Martin and before The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute featuring Shawn Gerhard, the crowd can look to the sky and watch as a tribute to America, the American Flag skydive, jumps in to the park from nationally recognized skydive team.
The event ends with a “bang” that includes an amazing pyrotechnic and fireworks show. All ticket and alcohol proceeds benefit the Montgomery County Police Memorial.
In addition to live music, there is a line up of mouth watering food trucks, exclusive bourbon and cigar area, cold brew and drinks for sale, all to benefit an outstanding local non-profit, the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial.
- Rolling Indulgence
- Rib N It
- El Meson
- Illy’s Pizza
- Pa Kettle Corn & Roadside Grille
- Momma’z Boyz
- IQuisines food truck
- Mother Clucking Chicken Coop
Cheryl Dillin, head of Dillin events said “West Carrollton challenged us to ‘up the game’ with their events this year, and we are doing our best to answer that challenge. We think this show is on the right track to leave a positive mark in the community of West Carrollton, as well as with the charity.”
We are looking forward to what we hope will be our biggest profit so far to help us get closer to building the memorial,” shares Dan Wessling, President of the Charity and a driving force to get the physical memorial built in honor of those whose ultimate sacrifice helped keep their communities safe. “We have a physical site and the plans, so we are working hard to drive the funding to make it possible.
Rockin’ The River
Erie Park
5641 Marina Drive
Dayton, OH 45449
- $10 entry – kids under 12 FREE
- Free Parking
- Lawn Chairs are encouraged
- No refunds, rain date scheduled for October 9th
Visit www.dillinevents.com for pre-sale tickets
Couch (the band)
Montgomery County to Provide $60,000 in Grants for Local Artists
The 2022–2023 Artist Opportunity Grant program will provide grants of up to $3,000 to Montgomery County artists to create new works and pursue imminent opportunities for professional development, such as residences, apprenticeships, and skill-building workshops. Funded projects must take place between March 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024.
The Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District (MCACD), which funds the program, is providing $60,000 for this grant cycle—a significant increase from previous years. “Montgomery County recognizes the role artists play in our quality of life, and for being a catalyst for healing and important community conversations,” said the MCACD’s Executive Director, Matt Dunn. “It is our pleasure to contribute to their work and to support their growth and careers as artists,” he said.
Since it began in 2016, the Artist Opportunity Grant program has supported the work of more than 70 local artists. Culture Works, the Dayton Region’s united arts fund and advocacy agency, which administers the grant, sees the program’s goal of elevating and empowering artists as essential to the health of the larger community.
“Art, in its many forms, is inspirational, influential, and can have long-term positive impacts on our community,” said Lisa Hanson, President & CEO of Culture Works. “It is amazing that we live in a community that cares about art and supports the artists who create it! We are grateful to the Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District for making this program possible and increasing the funding for the upcoming grant cycle.”
Montgomery County artists can apply through the Culture Works website, cultureworks.org, beginning October 3rd. The deadline to apply will be December 2nd. An independent panel of artists, arts administrators, and community leaders will review applications and make funding recommendations at a public meeting in January of next year.
Full program guidelines, key dates, and additional resources will be posted to the Culture Works website. Culture Works will also host a virtual info session for first-time applicants in late October.