Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Dayton937

Free Smoothie for National Flip Flop Day

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On Wednesday, May 28, Tropical Smoothie Cafe invites smoothie lovers nationwide to kick off summer and celebrate its annual National Flip Flop Day. Guests that come into a participating Tropical Smoothie Cafe location from 2 to 7 p.m. wearing flip flops will receive a refreshing 12 oz. Sunrise Sunset Smoothie for free*. No purchase is required – just flip flops and summer vibes.

National Flip Flop Day has become a beloved summer tradition and the unofficial start to smoothie season. The holiday sets the tone for the summer months ahead, inviting guests to sit back, relax and sip a while.

This year’s featured beverage is a fan favorite smoothie – the Sunrise Sunset Smoothie – a bold, tropical blend of orange juice, mango, pineapple and strawberries, crafted to deliver the feeling of a mini beachside getaway no matter where you’re based.

“We love giving our guests a reason to pause and enjoy a refreshing taste of the tropics to kick off their summer season,” said Deborah von Kutzleben, Chief Marketing Officer of Tropical Smoothie Café, LLC. “National Flip Flop Day is all about creating experiences that celebrate the joy, fun, and flavor our current guests have come to know and love at Tropical Smoothie Cafe and introduce new guests to Tropic Time.”

 

*One free 12 oz. Sunrise Sunset Smoothie per guest on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from 2 to 7 p.m. in-cafe at participating locations only. Free smoothie will be applied to lowest priced 12 oz. Sunrise Sunset Smoothie ordered. No modifications. While supplies last.

Burger King® Introduces New Menu Inspired By The How to Train Your Dragon Film

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Calling all Dragon Trainers! Burger King® – in co-promotion with the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon film from Universal Pictures – invites Guests to take a trip to the Isle of Berk with four dragon-inspired takes on fan-favorite menu items. Available starting Tuesday, May 27, the new lineup was developed to help BK and How to Train Your Dragon fans alike celebrate the release of the new film, which soars into theaters on Friday, June 13.

As home of the flame-grilled Whopper®, Burger King is no stranger to fire and reimagining America’s most iconic burger. That’s why BK is inviting Guests to take their tastebuds on a bold and flavorful journey with adventurous new menu offerings, including:

  • Dragon Flame-Grilled Whopper – The star of the show features a 1/4 lb* of flame-grilled beef served on a red-and-orange-marbled bun colored with natural spices and vegetables, topped with American cheese, crispy bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, ketchup and mayo.
  • Fiery Dragon Mozzarella Fries – In addition to bringing the flame, BK is bringing the heat with Fiery Dragon Mozzarella Fries, featuring melty mozzarella cheese, peppers and Fiery Calabrian chili pepper-breading for the perfect fiery snack served in a one-of-a-kind Toothless-inspired carton.
  • Soaring Strawberry Lemonade – Soar to new heights and quench your thirst for adventure with the all-new Soaring Strawberry Lemonade, made with real fruit juice**.
  • Viking’s Chocolate Sundae – Finish the adventure with Viking’s Chocolate Sundae, a delicious sweet treat featuring a vanilla soft-serve with HERSHEY’S® chocolate syrup and black & green cookie crumbles.

“At BK, we love to bring partnerships to life that create an awesome experience for families. Our new collaboration with How to Train Your Dragon is going to be fun for both kids and kids at heart,” says Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King US&C. “Our team has created a delicious menu inspired by the beloved characters and themes of this exciting new movie that brings that experience to Burger King restaurants.”

Additionally, Burger King will launch “Night Fury Flight” – a game inspired by the new film and available exclusively in the BK app and web. From May 27 through July 15, Royal Perks members can play daily to receive exclusive offers and be entered for a chance to win sweepstake prizes, including digital AMC Theatres® gift cards and a grand prize trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort to experience the all-new How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk attraction.

Jake Speed & The Freddies

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We are thrilled to welcome Jake Speed & The Freddies to The Brightside on Friday, May 30th! This fantastic Cincinnati-based band plays a mix of traditional & original folk, country blues, & ragtime tunes.

Known as the Woody Guthrie of Cincinnati, Jake Speed uses a traditional folksy delivery to compose timely and timeless songs that tell great stories with a bit of a lyrical edge. The band, built out of guitar, mandolin, fiddle, tenor guitar and upright bass (with hints of harmonica, kazoo, and washboard), has been hailed by CityBeat magazine as a “…a fixture of Cincinnati’s traditional Folk scene” since releasing its first of five albums, Queen City Rag, in 2002.

Story Slam Dayton

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This open mic event hosts some of Dayton’s best tellers. Storytellers are encouraged to prepare a five-minute story relating to the theme.
Tellers put their names in a hat, and 10 are drawn at random.
Bring a story, and bring a friend.
The best story of the night wins $50, 4 free tickets to a future slam, and a guaranteed spot in June’s Grand Slam
Our theme for May is “Chemistry
Doors open for seating at 6:30 PM, show starts at 7:00 PM.
The bar will be open, and there is a two-drink minimum. Tickets are $5.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door ( if available).
The venue does not sell food, you are welcome to bring snacks, if you clean up after yourself. 🙂
$5 Advance ticket sales end at 3:00 PM, the day of the event.

Roadtrip: Taste of Cincinnati

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Kicking off the summer season, Taste of Cincinnati takes to the streets of downtown Cincy on May 24-26 in 2025, serving up Italian, creole, vegetarian/vegan, Hawaiian, and Greek dishes and of course Cincy Region favorite – goetta!–and just about everything you can imagine in between.  So bring your appetites and prepare to dig into some of the tastiest treats from the Cincinnati Region. There will be 80 restaurants, food trucks, and Findlay Market vendors, plus an additional 12 beverage vendors including local breweries and wine.

Taste of Cincinnati  is the nation’s longest running food festival, and one of the largest street festivals in the country. There are 3 stages programed with live entertainment all weekend. Check out the lineup here.

Several downtown streets are closed for this event from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23, and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Taste of Cincinnati parking is available in several nearby parking garages and parking lots on Third, Fourth, and Sixth Streets are available. Street closures and parking info will be updated throughout the weekend.

The downtown streetcar, Cincinnati Connector, makes a 3.6-mile loop through the city. It can easily connect you to Taste of Cincinnati and it’s free! Cincy Red Bikes has 52 stations between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with more than 400 bikes available.  Ride sharing with Uber or Lyft is always available–although prices can rise during peak hours of this event. Parking in Northern Kentucky is another option. The Southbank Shuttle, AKA the trolley, serves Bellevue, Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati and runs every 15 minutes. To walk over The Taylor Southgate Bridge from Newport, or the Roebling Bridge from Covington is no more than 1.5 miles to the event.

Check out Taste of Cincinnati’s website, Facebook, or Instagram for the latest updates on parking, road closures, restaurants, entertainment, and other info. Event guides and maps are also available.

Taste of Cincinnati 2025 Hours & Schedule

Saturday, May 24, 2025 –11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Monday, May 26, 2025 – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

There is no admission for Taste of Cincinnati. Menu items range from $4 – $8.

Dayton’s RUBIGirls ready to entertain the WORLD!

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You may have noticed many businesses and organizations are taking a breather while NATO has its big meeting here in the Gem City. One of Dayton’s most prolific groups, The Rubi Girls, is looking forward to meeting the international folks as they perform Friday Night at MJ’s Cafe on Jefferson. We caught up with the group’s Executive Director, Dana Sintell, to get the scoop!

937: Hello Ms. Sintell. So, did you ever in a million years think you might perform in front of NATO as part of your 40 years in show business?

DS: Ha ha. Hell no. We have done some crazy stuff in our 40 years, but this one seems almost surreal. We have no idea if anyone from NATO will come or not….but they should!!  Of course, the show is really not the RubiGirls‘ typical outing. Cherry Poppins is having her popular ‘Cherry’s Playhouse‘ and asked us to join in the fun. We were excited to be asked. And a Friday Night show is always a great way to wind down the week. Especially this Memorial Day Weekend!!

937: And it is at MJ’s….not sure we have seen the RubiGirls there in some time.

DS: It has been a long time…we don’t do the number of bar shows we once did. I think all of us miss those greatly. This just seems right, too. Dayton has always been a welcoming place for people of all kinds and this show invites the world…literally, to see the fun we have in our city!

937: I understand it is sold out?

DS: Stop right there…..I HATE THOSE WORDS! Listen, come down, we will do our best to find you a seat, a table, or a lap to sit on.

937: How many RubiGirls will we see Friday Night? And can you clue us on on what to expect?

DS: We went round and round and round….and after talking through it all, we thought, let’s do what Rubi does. Don’t try to change it up. We work well doing what we do. As for the who’s who…you get Cherry, who has enough energy to go 2 hours alone! You get Tara Misu who really is a creative force in our organization. You get the cherished India Summer, who just has that welcoming feel and fabulous looks. And then, of course, I’ll be cuh-razy for those who like that sort of thing.

937: What about NATO security, etc….and what time will you kick it off?

DS: MJ’s is just outside NATO village, so can be assured security will be everywhere. The Dayton Police have always, I mean ALWAYS been a good friend to the RubiGirls!! The show starts at 9pm. We will have audience games, complete mayhem and cocktails throughout!

937: And I know, I think we all know, RubiGirls donate their time and dollars. Who will be the recipient this time around?

DS: We are helping the Dayton Pride Committee and the RubiGirls Scholarship Fund. 2 amazing organizations!

937: Thank you Dana.  Congratulations on 40 years, and the fact that this season for you ladies has received RAVE REVIEWS!! Keep it up!

For more info, click below!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cherrys-playhouse-presents-the-rubi-girls-followed-by-friday-night-cap-tickets-1339748697419?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

 

Esther Price’s New Candy Passport Trail

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Esther Price Candies is inviting chocolate lovers to embark on a sweet summer adventure with its new Candy Passport Trail. The three-month event, running from May through July, encourages customers to visit Esther Price retail locations in Cincinnati and Dayton to collect stickers and earn discounts.

Shoppers can pick up a Candy Passport booklet at any Esther Price store now. By visiting all participating stores in either Dayton or Cincinnati, customers can earn a 15% discount on their next purchase. Those who complete both trails will receive a 40% discount.

Doug Dressman, CEO of Esther Price, said, “At Esther Price, summer is the perfect time to slow down, share something sweet, and make memories that stick. For generations, our chocolates have marked life’s quiet celebrations. This season, we’re simply inviting fans to keep writing that story with us.”

Participants have until July 31, 2025, to complete the trail and claim their rewards by bringing their completed passports to any Esther Price retail location. Fans are also encouraged to share their journey on social media using the hashtag #EPCandyPassport for a chance to win additional prizes. A special Father’s Day giveaway is available on the Esther Price website until June 9, 2025.

Collect & Save

Complete the Dayton Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Dayton area to receive 15% off your next purchase.

Complete the Cincinnati Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Cincinnati area to receive 15% off your next purchase.

Conquer Both Trails: Visit all participating stores in both Dayton and Cincinnati areas to receive 40% off your next purchase.

Bring in your completed passport by July 31st, 2025, at any Esther Price retail location to claim your reward.

Locations: Dayton

  1. wayne
    1709 wayne ave., dayton
  2. centerville
    269 n. main st., centerville
  3. airway plaza
    194 woodman dr., dayton
  4. clayton
    4810 bolzano blvd., clayton

    Cincinnati Locations:

  5. west chester
    8621 n. pavilion dr., west chester
  6. kenwood
    7501 montgomery rd., cincinnati
  7. bridgetown
    5500 harrison ave., cincinnati

Applebee’s All You Can Eat is back: Here’s what is included for $15.99

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Applebee’s All You Can Eat is back – and better than ever! Now for a limited time, guests can enjoy an unlimited feast of Applebee’s savory Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders with NEW dipping sauces for only $15.99, when dining in.* Plus, all orders are served with endless fries!

Mix, match, and get saucy with Applebee’s All You Can Eat menu featuring a wide variety of flavors, sauces, and proteins including:

    • All You Can Eat Chicken Tenders: Crispy breaded chicken tenders, now dipped in guests’ choice of two savory sauces: Classic Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Sweet Asian Chile, Honey Dijon Mustard, Hot Honey Glaze, NEW Spicy Honey Mustard, House-made Buttermilk Ranch and Bleu Cheese. Dip, dunk, and devour! Served with signature coleslaw and endless classic fries.
    • All You Can Eat Riblets: Expertly cut from the most tender pork for delicious bone-in flavor, our riblets are slow cooked and come dripping in either Honey BBQ or Sweet Asian Chile sauce. Served with signature coleslaw and endless classic fries.
    • All You Can Eat Double Crunch Shrimp: Crispy battered Double Crunch Shrimp are fried golden brown. Served with cocktail sauce, signature coleslaw and endless classic fries.

“Every combination is a win when it comes to our All You Can Eat Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders,” said Reid Leslie, Vice President of Marketing, Applebee’s. “Whether starting with Riblets or Chicken Tenders paired with your favorite two sauces, followed by Double Crunch Shrimp, or sticking with your favorite – the combinations are endless!

But the abundance and variety doesn’t stop there. Guests can sip back and relax with Applebee’s Bacardi Buckets in three tasty tropical flavors including the NEW Strawberry Daq-A-Rita, Rum Breeze Bucket, and Party on the Beach Bucket or Applebee’s Cerveza & Sips, featuring the $6 Watermelon Mana Margarita featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ultra-premium Teremana Tequila Blanco, triple sec, watermelon, and lime.**

Plus, guests of all ages can enjoy Applebee’s NEW Dirty Fountain Sodas! Guests can “dirty up” their favorite soda with a swirl of cream, whipped cream, and a cherry for $1 more.

To find your local restaurant to dine in, visit Applebees.com/restaurants

Starbucks’ Summer Menu Just Dropped

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Starbucks announces the return of Summer Berry Refreshers, a line of berry-forward Refreshers with flavored popping pearls at the bottom of each drink, a brand-new Strawberries and Cream Cake Pop and the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso all available as of today at your favorite Starbucks location


-Returning Summer-Berry Refresher:: A sweet summer blend of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors mixed with water, lemonade or coconutmilk and shaken with ice. These beverages are poured over Raspberry Flavored Pearls.

-NEW Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso::Starbucks Blonde Espresso combined with new Horchata syrup that delivers a fusion of cinnamon, vanilla and rice flavors shaken together with ice and topped oatmilk.

-NEW Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop:: Strawberry Cream mixed with buttercream, dipped in chocolaty icing and finished with a strawberry design.

Country Music Legend Dwight Yoakam Coming to The Rose

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GRAMMY Award-winning country music legend Dwight Yoakam brings The Cosmic Roundup & Rodeo Tour with special guest The Mavericks to Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center on Saturday, September 27.

21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner and country superstar Dwight Yoakam’s first new album in nine years, Brighter Days, is out now on Via Records/Thirty Tigers. Listen HERE.

Written and recorded over the last three years, Brighter Days features 12 brand-new songs written/co-written by Yoakam, as well as three seemingly disparate covers—“Keeping On The Sunny Side” by the Carter Family, “Bound Away” by Cake and “Time Between” written by Chris Hillman of The Byrds—artfully woven into the same body of work in the unmistakable style that could only be Dwight Yoakam.

At once timeless and timely, Yoakam self-produced Brighter Days, infusing a modern appreciation for country music’s history with the trailblazing rock and roll spirit of California. The result is an album that reflects a sense of craftsmanship and immediacy, capturing the quintessential Dwight Yoakam “cool” that has set him apart from his country contemporaries since the beginning of his legendary career. As always, Yoakam’s lyrics throughout the album are both deceptively effortless and profoundly poignant. The album was mixed by world-class engineer Chris Lord-Alge.

Dwight Yoakam has sold over 26 million albums worldwide, with five reaching the #1 spot on Billboard. He is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner. He has 12 Gold albums and nine Platinum or multi-Platinum albums. Yoakam is the recipient of the Artist of the Year Award from the Americana Music Association, the prestigious BMI Country Awards’ President’s Award and has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received a Lifetime Achievement Honor at the 2024 Americana Music Awards. He has collaborated with everyone from Beck to Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack White. He has toured with the likes of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Hüsker Dü. Yoakam’s last album, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars…, was released in 2016. Rolling Stone Country raves, “Yoakam sounds right at home on these new versions,” while NPR Music praises, “You can hear Yoakam making masterful choices on every phrase.”

In addition to his musical career, Yoakam has appeared in more than 40 feature films including Sling Blade, Panic Room and Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky with Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig, as well as a role in the Amazon series “Goliath.” Over the course of his storied acting career he has worked with the likes of Jodie Foster, Tommy Lee Jones, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and more.

In 1977, Yoakam left Kentucky for Nashville to embark on a music career but found that the Music City was moving away from traditional country roots to more pop-country. He found himself better suited to the post-Bakersfield movement and became one of the founding fathers of the L.A. Cowpunk Scene influenced by second-wave rockabilly and punk alongside X, Los Lobos, The Knitters, Rank & File and The Blasters.

Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, May 23 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.

Director’s Cut Wine Dinner

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Immerse yourself in this sensory experience of authentic Italian cuisine

paired with the cinema-inspired wines from Francis Ford Coppola.

Much like a classic film, this four-course dinner unfolds with

anticipation, revealing layers of chef-cra‑ed flavors and thoughtful

wine pairings sure to leave you captivated.

Soul Express Plays Zinks

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Soul Express will be back at Zinks to get your weekend started right with the golden 1960s and ’70s hits of artists like the Temptations, the Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas and Sly and the Family Stone! It’s always a party at Zinks! See you there!

Sunset Yoga at the Mound

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Come join us for a relaxing evening of yoga at the Miamisburg Mound every 1st & 3rd Monday of the month, starting in May!
Unwind and stretch as the sun sets over this beautiful historic site. All levels are welcome, so whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just starting out, this event is perfect for you. Bring your mat, water, and positive energy to enjoy a peaceful session surrounded by nature. Don’t miss out on this unique experience to connect with yourself and the community.
This offering is donation based to keep it accessible to everyone. Suggested donation is $10-$15 and will allow us to continue offering these and other community offerings.
To help you cool down and rehydrate after our workout, we’ve got 16oz bottles of ORGANIC, cold-pressed juices available for you to grab for just $8/bottle. With just 4 simple ingredients—apples, pineapple, lemon, and ginger—this juice is sure to give your body the hydration it needs in the summer heat!

Local Residents Hold “People’s Town Hall” in Dayton, Highlighting Urgent Community Concerns

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With the absence of their elected representative, concerned citizens of Ohio’s 10th Congressional District gathered on Thursday evening for a grassroots “People’s Town Hall” at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. Organized to address pressing local and national issues, the event offered a platform for residents to voice their concerns directly, despite Congressman Mike Turner’s decision not to attend.

Rose Lounsbury emceed the People’s Town Hall. Photo by Libby Ballengee

An empty chair on stage symbolized the Congressman’s absence, underscoring what many attendees described as a lack of accessibility and accountability to constituents.

Speakers at the event covered a wide range of issues currently affecting District 10 residents, including the impact of recent state and federal policy changes on immigration, Social Security, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, and layoffs of government workers.

“This town hall is about people standing up for each other, especially when our leaders won’t show up to hear us,” said one local attendee. “These are life-or-death issues for many in our community. We deserve to be heard.”

Speakers from The People’s Town Hall. Photo by Libby Ballengee

The town hall drew attendees from across the district, including retirees, veterans, public workers, and families concerned about the direction of policy decisions that directly affect their lives. Several speakers called for more transparent and responsive representation in Congress, and urged community members to stay engaged and active.

While Congressman Turner declined the invitation to attend, organizers say the event marks only the beginning of ongoing efforts to bring constituent voices to the forefront.

The People’s Town Hall was coordinated by a coalition of grassroots advocates committed to elevating civic engagement and local accountability, including Melissa Rodriquez, Leslie Merry, Kim Senft-Paras, Rose Lounsbury, and Laurel Kerr. 

Attendees were encouraged to follow up with action items, including checking their voter registration status, signing the local petition against Ohio House Bill SB1, and contacting their representatives about their concerns.

Laura Sanders: Force of Nature Opening Reception

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Laura Sanders is a Columbus-based artist who also maintains a studio in New York City. Sanders’ lush figural paintings often feature women outdoors and deal with themes of survival, of both people and the environment. Another theme evident in this mid-career survey is the passage of time, as depicted in the portraits of her model, her daughter Elena, from a young girl to an adult woman.

Opening Reception: May 16, 2025; 6-8 pm

Win a Harley, Grant a Wish!

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A stunning 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Bob (1746cc Milwaukee-Eight Engine, 15,600 miles) has been donated to Breast Wishes for a special raffle! This bike has had just one owner, and she’s thrilled to support our mission—helping bring joy to those living with breast cancer.

She hopes this raffle gives someone the chance to ride a Harley who might not otherwise be able to afford one.

 Raffle Details: Tickets: Buy online: $50 each or 3 for $125
Only 200 tickets will be sold—incredible odds!
They must sell at least 100 tickets or all purchases will be refunded by 6/21 Sales close: 6/14

Winner drawn live at the 16th Annual Chrome Divas Ride on June 14th Don’t miss your chance to ride away for a cause!

chrome divas.jpg
Chrome Divas Ride for Breast Wishes

Saturday, June 14, 2025

This ride starts and ends at the Union VFW Post 5434. Registration starts at 10am and kickstands up at noon.

Breast Wishes Foundation was started to honor the memory of Kelli James, who lost her battle to breast cancer at the age of 40. We granted our first wish in 2017 and now average about 100 wishes per year. Each wish is $1,500 and we rely on the generosity of our community to make these wishes come true!