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Day of the Dead Celebration, Mural Unveiling, Holiday Gift Buying at November First Friday

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Pick up holiday items such as these festive ornaments at DVAC’s Art to Buy gift gallery, opening this First Friday.

Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2.

Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community program will host a Day of the Dead Community Ofrenda Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. with a parade in the Oregon District. The parade will begin on Wyandot Avenue, near Hauer Music, and will continue down East Fifth Street. The community is invited to participate in the parade, led by artist and musician Michael Bashaw and students from Chaminade-Julienne High School and Stivers School for the Arts. The parade will end around 6:30 p.m. at Missing Peace Art Space, 234 S. Dutoit St., just off East Fifth Street near Stivers School for the Arts. A reception will run until 10 p.m. at the art gallery with food provided by Taqueria Mixteca. The reception will feature an exhibit of community art created for the occasion.

Fair trade retail store Peace on Fifth will host its grand opening in its new location at 510 E. Fifth St., where it will share space with art studio and shop Gallery 510 Fine Art. Peace on Fifth will take over part of Gallery 510’s art gallery space at the front of the store, and the businesses will continue to operate as two separate stores coexisting in the same space. For First Friday, Peace on Fifth will host a fair trade food tasting in the store.

Peace on Fifth, a sucessful Pop Up Shop from the first round of Activated Spaces’ program, will move into a new space in Gallery 510 Fine Art and will host a grand opening during November First Friday.

With the holidays just around the corner, visit downtown retail stores and art galleries to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift.  The Dayton Visual Arts Center and CADC both will host openings of their holiday gift galleries, featuring unique gift items made by local artisans, and K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS will host a handmade arts and crafts event. Several other art galleries will host show openings, and retail stores will feature items for the holiday season.

A new series of murals along East Third Street will be unveiled, with a meet-and-greet reception with the artists held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the nearby studio of Hamilton Dixon, 811 E. Third St. This album of photos shows the mural project in progress. Look for the murals on East Third between Keowee and Webster streets.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

The Best Diner You Never Heard of: George’s

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On North Dixie, there is a restaurant that you may not have heard about.  In fact, Food Adventures agrees, it has some of the best casual food in the Miami Valley.  This no frills diner is called George’s Family Restaurant.  We say no frills because they concentrate on what is really important, great food and great service.  There are so many exceptional things to eat at George’s that it’s tough to decide where to begin.  From grits to Greek food, this menu is not quite your typical diner.  What is typical here is tasty entrees.

Let’s start with one of their specialties, Broasted Chicken.  This trademark cooking process involves placing marinated and breaded chicken in a pressure cooker.  Broasting uses less oil than conventional deep frying.   The chicken comes out cooked perfectly, with a taste that will leave you smiling.  George’s Family Restaurant also offers something we had never seen before, Broasted Fish !  In fact, they have a fish fry every Friday featuring broasted pollock.  The dinner includes fries and coleslaw for just $8.99.  You can even get broasted potatoes instead of fries.  Sometimes, there is nothing better than a good fish fry for a Friday Food Adventure.

George’s has also built its reputation on their burgers.  Fresh, handmade patties cooked just the way you like them.  We tried an incredible creation called the  Inside Out Mushroom Swiss Burger which has the swiss cheese and mushroom packed inside the burger patty itself.  The result is a juicy, cheesy beautiful burger that made us want to hug the cook.

A family run restaurant with Greek roots, George’s stays close to their heritage.  They offer a few Greek menu items including a Hot Greek Plate which includes Gyro meat, grilled chicken, pork slouvaki, spinach pie, peppers, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, pita bread and tzatziki sauce.  On the recommendation of the waitress, we tried the homemade spinach pie.  What we received was a fluffy, flaky, large slice of heaven.  We felt like Apollo after one taste.

Are you a breakfast food fan?  George’s Family Restaurant serves breakfast all day.  The breakfast menu is extensive and served up hot and fast, which are words sometimes used to describe our tastebuds  Lots of diners were eating breakfast during our dinner stint.  One young foodie even held up his pancake for us to compare it to Big Ragu’s head.

The desserts at George’s are seasonal.  That is because they are homemade and vary upon what the kitchen is preparing that day.   The menu has so many good items from golden fried onion rings, to Mac-n-Cheese, and hand dipped shakes.  So many good eats, so little time.

Our trip to George’s is yet another example of  why we seek Food Adventures.  It has all the hallmarks like family owned, relatively undiscovered, and unique, delicious food.  Even the waitresses were amazing.  Many of them had worked there for years, and were very accommodating.  So we ask our fellow foodies, do you want some fantastic diner style food? By George’s, you got it !

George’s Family Restaurant is located at  5216 N. Dixie Drive, you can take  exit 57  Wagner Ford Road off I 75, turn left on Wagner Ford and right on Dixie and the diner will be on the right.

Visit FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook and “like” the page by clicking HERE !

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Jesus Christ Superstar | Halloween | Cloud Atlas | Chasing Mavericks | Silent Hill 3d Revelation Special Showing

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Hello Dayton! Last week’s blog featured lots of scary movies just in time for Halloween. This week focuses on more special events as well as upcoming releases that should be sure to make a splash!

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR MONDAY OCTOBER 29TH & THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1ST @ 7:30PM

Experience Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newly staged rock opera sensation Jesus Christ Superstar in a whole new way, on the big screen. The theatrical production originally opened in the West End in 1972 and has been reimagined to capture today’s audiences with the classic musical numbers that you are sure to remember and love. The evening will begin with an exclusive historical retrospective on this iconic title including interviews with cast members from the past and present. This version features actor/singer Ben Forster as Jesus, Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, and Melanie Chisholm (aka Mel C from the Spice Girls) as Mary Magdalene.

Don’t miss this special event playing two nights only!

 

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HALLOWEEN TUESDAY OCTOBER 30TH @ 7:30PM

Celebrate the day before Halloween with one of Halloween’s best loved scary movies! The original movie from 1972 featuring Jamie Lee Curtis will be on the big screen for just one night at one time and it’s more terrifying than ever. A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets.

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CLOUD ATLAS- OPENING FRIDAY OCTOBER 26TH

An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution. Beginning as far back as an 1849 diary of an ocean voyage and going as far into the future during a post-apocalyptic, this movie, based off a novel, has a stellar cast featuring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, and Susan Serandon.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQFAPeaJOf8′]

CHASING MAVERICKS- OPENING FRIDAY OCTOBER 26TH

The inspirational true story of real life surfing phenomenon Jay Moriarty begins when 15 year old Jay discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home. He enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it. As Jay and Frosty embark on their quest to accomplish the impossible, they form a unique friendship that transforms both their lives, and their quest to tame Mavericks becomes as much about their bond as it is about surfing.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYc3jRoua8′]

SPECIAL SHOWING- SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D THURSDAY OCTOBER 25TH @ 10PM

Heather Mason and her father have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn’t fully understand, Now on the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she’s not who she thinks she is. The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever. This movie releases on Friday, October 26th but has a special early show Thursday at 10pm.

Click for showtimes…

ENTER TO WIN TWO MOVIE PASSES!

Complete the form and leave a Facebook comment telling us you want to WIN MOVIE PASSES from RAVE CINEMAS DAYTON SOUTH, we will randomly draw a winner and notify same. Contest closes 10/25/12. Passes awarded will be valid for 30 days from close date at Rave Cinemas Dayton South only and must be used by then or will be forfeited. Valid for any showing, except special events. Please bring ID to verify your name and just ask for a manager when attending informing them you won the Dayton Most Metro contest.

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to this week’s winner:

Brian Anzek

Entries Sought for Eighth Annual “Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays” Contest

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The Dayton Holiday Festival is looking for the area’s most creative confectionary decorators to compete in the eighth annual Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest on Friday, Nov. 23. Located inside the Old Court House at Third and Main streets in downtown Dayton, entries will be judged and displayed for public viewing that day only, during the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights from 4-9 p.m.

Visitors to the Dayton Holiday Festival check out a winning gingerbread house during last year’s competition.

Stir up your icing and your imagination! All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this free contest by entering a gingerbread house in the youth (12 and younger), teen (13-17), adult (18 and older) or professional category. Entry forms and a complete list of contest rules are available for download at www.daytonholidayfestival.org.  Forms may be submitted to the Downtown Dayton Partnership at 10 W. Second St., Suite 611, Dayton, OH 45402 or by e-mail to luketic@downtowndayton.org. Entry forms are due by Wednesday, Nov. 14.   

Get rolling and win dough! Traditional houses, replicas of buildings, a purchased kit or even cardboard entries are permitted (as long as all exposed surfaces are covered with edible materials). First place in each category will receive a prize package featuring a variety of items. Awards also will be given to second and third place winners in each category. In addition, one amateur and one professional house will be selected as the “Best Houses on the Block” and each will win a $500 cash prize.

The 2010 winner for “Best House on the Block.” The creator of the gingerbread house that wins this category will receive a $500 cash prize.

“The entries get more creative each year,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “The imagination and skill that goes into creating each of these gingerbread houses makes for a really special exhibit ― it’s always a fun part of our holiday season kickoff.”

Contest entries are to be delivered to the Old Court House between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, Nov. 23. They will be judged from 2-4 p.m., and the winners will be notified by telephone. All contest winners will have the opportunity to be recognized on the Main Stage in Courthouse Square before the Grande Illumination tree lighting ceremony at 7:45 p.m.

The Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest is supported by media sponsors Community News Group Dayton and Mix 107.7 FM, along with community sponsor the Downtown Priority Board. The contest is part of the month-long Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by OneMain Financial and sponsored by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, City of Dayton, Montgomery County and the Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund. For more information on the contest and other activities that are part of the Dayton Holiday Festival, which this year is marking 40 years of kicking off the holiday season in the Dayton region, call 937-224-1518 or visit www.daytonholidayfestival.org.

Giovanni’s: The Fairborn Legend

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With Halloween approaching, many people are stopping at the costume shops in Fairborn.  But The Big Ragu suggests you make another stop, Giovanni’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant.  Located at 215 W. Main Street, this place has been a Fairborn icon for decades.   Since 1953, this local favorite has been serving up pizzas and pasta dishes that will make your mouth water.  Originally owned by Giovanni DiPasquale, the restaurant was purchased by Tony Spaziani in 1994.  Soon after the menu and dining rooms were expanded and they even started a full in-house bakery.  This bakery allows for fresh bread, pasta and dough to be made on premises.  It also allows for homemade desserts that are nothing short of amazing.  Many things at Giovanni’s are made from scratch, the way they ought to be, to guarantee fresh tasting food.

The restaurant is always bustling and the servers are friendly and caring.  In fact, our waiter was the pastry chef, who waits tables on Sunday to stay in tune with customer feedback while making some extra dough .. pun intended.

During our Food Adventures, we have tried the sandwiches and the pastas.   We especially liked the Chicken Parmesan and the Gnocchi.   You can really tell the sandwich bread and pasta is made on site, the taste is amazing and homemade.  The same can be said about their homemade cheesecakes, cannoli, and tiramisu, all produced at the in-house bakery.

However, all the locals know that the main attraction at Giovanni’s is their pizza.  A semi-thin crust pizza with a unique tasting sauce makes each pie simply scrumptious.  The fresh, delicious toppings offered are plentiful on each pizza.  They even have anchovies for the true Italian style Food Adventurer in you.  Of course, all the dough for the pizzas are made on site, which is noticed on each bite into the crunchy crust.  The prices are reasonable and the product is good.  They even offer 7 inch personal pizzas with up to 3 toppings for less than 6 bucks during lunch time.

The food speaks for itself so check out the photos and click on them to get a larger, tastier view.  Visit this mom and pop restaurant in Fairborn, and find out for yourself what the legend is all about.

Please “like” Food Adventures and follow The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House on Facebook by clicking  HERE ! 

 

 

Midwest Fashion Week Kicks Off Wednesday

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According to a recent article from TIME Magazine Midwest Fashion Week is the innovator for Fashion in the Midwest.  Founded in 2006 by Haitian born designer Berny Martin of Catou Designs, Martin began designing clothes at the age of 8 and gone on to open several store front locations nationwide and has been showcased during BET’s RIP the Runway and New York Fashion Week.

Midwest Fashion Week kicks off on Wednesday October 17 in Indianapolis and according to Martin this will be one of the most diverse shows ever with designers coming in from Europe, Pakistan, India, South America, the Caribbean, and of course from all across the Midwest! “We are proud to present the designers; they come from various cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions, economical status, and more” said Martin in a statement.

Martin and Midwest Fashion Week has done it all from community work, helping small businesses, discovering Supermodels, and creating a connection between fashion and sports designing custom suites for players on the Indianapolis Colts, and yes even lending a helping hand right here in Dayton during the city’s first Fashion Week in July.

Here’s a look at Midwest Fashion Week line up and for ticket info please visit http://www.midwestfashionweek.com there will be no tickets sold at the door.

When: Wednesday October 17, 2012 doors open at 6pm

Where:  The Arts Garden, Indianapolis, 110 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Designers:  Ali Robbins & Josie Wharton, Catou by Berny Martin, Jhanelle Baker,Lanae Monique by Lanae Stovall, and Poppy Seeds by Danisha Brown & Krista Alter

 

When:  Thursday October 18, 2012 doors open at 6pm

Where:  The Arts Garden, Indianapolis, 110 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Designers: Ana Lyn by Carole Anne Housman, Electric Image by Carole Toole, Derek Hill, Gorgeous Ways by Parul Aneja, and Madame Couture by Securittee Brown

 

When: Friday October 19, 2012 doors open at 7pm

Where:  The Arts Garden, Indianapolis, 110 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Designers:  Pesévérer (PRSVR) by Brandon Williamson, Anton Alexander by Anton Babich Ayesha Ibrahim, Gidi by Taneasha Prunty, Zathan Marcs,Perfection by Francesca Alejo, and Replica by Sharon Evans

 

When: Saturday October 20, 2012

Where: The Blue Lounge, 240 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Event:  Fashion Industry VIP Reception

Story Of Levi Leipheimer + Frankenstein Double Feature + Rifftrax Live Birdemic + Poltergeist 30th Anniversary + Alex Cross + Paranormal Activity 4

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Hello Dayton! This week is jam packed with special events and new releases. It’s fall and Halloween is around the corner so Rave Dayton South is preparing by having some scary special events!

STORY OF LEVI LEIPHEIMER TUESDAY OCT 23RD @ 7:30PM

The first movie this week is not scary but inspiring. In the debut of his untold story, Levi Leipheimer, professional cyclist, will start with an introduction where he will set up the documentary. Immediately following the debut of this personal account, Levi will return with some of his friends for an in-depth panel discussion about the current state of professional cycling and what the future of the sport looks like. Panelists include actor Patrick Dempsey, filmmaker Frank Matson, and others. Professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer has been nearly silent in his efforts to impact the lives of those around him.

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FRANKENSTEIN DOUBLE FEATURE WEDNESDAY OCT 24TH @ 7PM

Just in time for Halloween, NCM Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Universal Pictures will present a Halloween Double Feature in movie theaters nationwide in celebration of Universal’s 100th Anniversary. Don’t miss seeing Boris Karloff on the big screen as the original “Frankenstein” (1931) followed by Karloff and Elsa Lanchester in “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935). Frankenstein, about an obsessed scientist who creates a living being composed of disentombed body parts, is a horror classic.

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 POLTERGEIST 30TH ANNIVERSARY WEDNESDAY OCT 24TH @ 2PM & 7PM – only $5 dollars!

 Another spooky movie will be showing as part of our Rave Retro Series, which brings back the classics on the big screen again! Poltergiest, which originally came out in 1982, features a family whose home becomes taken over by ghosts. At first the ghosts seem to be friendly and the family doesn’t mind, but things quickly go downhill as the ghosts begin to torment the family.

DID WE MENTION BOTH SHOWINGS ARE ONLY $5 AND IT’S BEEN RE-MASTERED IN HIGH DEFINITION?

 [yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ytjaMfoF2M’]

 RIFFTRAX LIVE! BIRDEMIC THURSDAY OCT 25 @ 8PM

From the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Birdemic is the story of Rod, a young software salesman on the brink of launching a solar panel business in Silicon Valley. Things really seem to be going Rod’s way, especially when he reconnects with beautiful high school classmate Nathalie. But their perfect world is shattered when murderous birds begin attacking the region, birds who mostly hover and shriek but can also explode like bombs. Rod and Nathalie find themselves on a terror-filled ride.

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PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4- SPECIAL SHOWING THURSDAY OCTOBER 18TH @ 9PM, 930pm, 10pm

The Paranormal Activity movies have thrilled and startled audiences for years, and again plans to terrify movie-goers in the newest installment of the movies. The fourth movie, which takes place five years after the original, takes place when strange and scary things begin happening to a family after a woman and a mysterious child move in close to them. The movie will have a full opening on Friday, October 19th with show times at  12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, and 10:35pm and a special preview on Thursday October 18th @ 9:00pm, 930pm and 10pm..

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Xn2JqH5ng’]

ALEX CROSS- SPECIAL SHOWING THURSDAY OCTOBER 18TH @ 9PM

For those people who aren’t looking to be scared, or for fans of James Patterson’s books, Alex Cross is the perfect movie. Based on a best-selling book series, Alex Cross is a detective who faces tragedy when he is told that one of his own family members has been murdered. Alex Cross then vows to get revenge on the killer. Featuring Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox, this mystery crime thriller takes audiences for a ride where they will discover things are not as they seem to be.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV_et8mrADI’]

For showtime click here

ENTER TO WIN TWO MOVIE PASSES!

Fill out the form below and leave a FB comment telling us you want to WIN MOVIE PASSES from RAVE CINEMAS DAYTON SOUTH – we will randomly draw a winner and notify same. Contest closes 10/18/12. Passes awarded will be valid for 30 days from close date at Rave Cinemas Dayton South only and must be used by then or will be forfeited. Valid for any showing, except special events. Please bring ID to verify your name and just ask for a manager when attending informing them you won the Dayton Most Metro contest.

Congratulations to this week’s movie pass winner: Carla Johnson!

Experience A Food Adventure with The Big Ragu & Crew: **CONTEST**

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Have you ever wanted to join The Big Ragu and the Crew on one of their Food Adventures?  Well, here is your chance !

You’ve seen all the mouth watering pictures, you’ve heard all the buzz.  Now be a part of the first ever DAYTON MOST METRO FOOD ADVENTURE.

This is an EXCLUSIVE opportunity, limited to 20 people picked at random who fill out the form below.

Come eat dinner with these larger than life personalities and mingle with other area foodies like yourself! Who knows, you may meet the love of your life, and if you do, we will sing at the wedding.

 

WHERE: Brixx Ice Company’s Private Party Room, 500 East 1st Street,  Dayton, OH 45402

WHEN: Saturday, November 3rd, 2012  at 7pm

All attendants of the event will have their name entered into a drawing that evening, and one lucky person will win  $25 gift certificate to Brixx Ice Company that they can use that evening or in the future.

Win a $25 Gift certificate to Brixx Ice Company !

GOOD LUCK in becoming one of the first 20 to signup this “Foodie Fest”, which promises to be memorable.

The Big Ragu will autograph all of the attendants napkins, garlic bread and underwear at no extra charge… as for food and drinks, you are on your own check!!

Please comment below on why we should choose YOU to attend our private Food Adventure !!

Want to schmooze us some more?  “Like” us on Facebook by clicking HERE !

 

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[form 46 “Contest Entry – Brixx Food Adventure”]

Led Zeppelin + Merchants of Bollywood + Atlas Shrugged Part 2 + Argo + TICKET CONTEST

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Hello Dayton! This week mainly focuses on new openings for the week. Lots of new movies as well of special events this week, be sure to check it out!

LED ZEPPELIN: CELEBRATION DAY- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH @ 7PM & 10PM

On December 10, 2007, Led Zeppelin took the stage at London’s O2 Arena to headline a tribute concert for dear friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. What followed was a two-hour-plus tour de force of the band’s signature blues-infused rock ’n’ roll that instantly became part of the legend of Led Zeppelin. Founding members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were joined by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham, to perform 16 songs from their celebrated catalog including landmark tracks “Whole Lotta Love,” “Rock And Roll,” “Kashmir,” and “Stairway To Heaven.”

Although 20 million people applied for tickets, the band’s first headline show in 27 years was seen only by the 18,000 ticket holders who were fortunate enough to have secured seats through the worldwide lottery.

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

MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18TH @ 9PM

Bollywood a special event comes to the big screen captured live on stage in Digital HD and Surround Sound at the Tivoli Theatre in Barcelona. This smash hit theatre production been seen by over two million people during the sell out International Tours in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Geneva.

A theatrical musical spectacular, now captured live on HD Digital, The Merchants of Bollywood charts the enchanting history of the world’s largest and most prolific film Industry, and a dynasty of stars that have lit its way over generations. A fictional story, yet based on real life, the Merchant Family.

Featuring a cast of 40 performers direct from the Film City Mumbai, the home of Bollywood Cinema, The Merchants of Bollywood will entertain with all of the extravagance, escapism, and romance that is Bollywood. Bangles and beads, swirling colours in costumes and sets and high energy music, will excite the senses.

The Merchants of Bollywood has captured the essence of India, its rich and diverse culture, and its people in the world of technicolour brilliance acclaimed by patrons and reviewers alike.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqYH2yTMhYs’]

 

ATLAS SHRUGGED II- OPENING OCTOBER 12TH

With the global economy on the brink of collapse, Dagny Taggart discovers what might be the answer to a mounting energy crisis and races against the clock to prevent the motor of the World from being stopped for good.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rKBubmlrjQ’]

ARGO- OPENING OCTOBER 12TH

As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA ‘exfiltration’ specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w918Eh3fij0′]

 

For showtimes click here

ENTER TO WIN TWO MOVIE PASSES!

Fill out the form below and leave a FB comment telling us that YOU want to win a pair of passes to Rave Cinemas Dayton South. We will randomly draw a winner and notify same. Contest closes 10/11/12. Passes awarded will be valid for 30 days from close date at Rave Cinemas Dayton South only and must be used by then or will be forfeited. Valid for any showing, except special events. Please bring ID to verify your name and just ask for a manager when attending informing them you won the Dayton Most Metro contest.

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our winner: Cheryl Miller

Volunteers for Dayton!: Opportunities Oct. 9-16

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Your weekly round-up of ways to get involved in Dayton’s urban revival!

Downtowners and others helping with the Litehouse Community Garden this weekend. A few learned about it through our group and helped make lighter work of a big project!

Train and fund your neighborhood!

  • Nonprofit training: Though not always necessary, some of our urban neighborhood associations and revitalization groups areincorporated as tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofits. On Oct. 19, the WSU Nonprofit Leadership Alliance will present a daylong workshop on more effectively managing your nonprofit, with a keynote by the director of the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Associations, and presentations by our local United Way and FilmDayton. Sign up to help your group run as smoothly as possible!

  • $$$ for your ‘hood: If you do have your 501(c)3 status, you can apply for the next round of discretionary grants from the Dayton Foundation, but you have to attend their November 7th orientation to do so. Register by November 1.
  • Speaking of neighborhood 501(c)3s, since not all neighborhoods have them and they can be a lot of work to set up and maintain, I’m curious if establishing a city-wide fund/fiscal agent would be helpful – it’s something I might like to organize as part of a larger effort. Share your feedback in our group.
  • Public Space $ Awards: Do you know a Dayton public space deserving of a considerable cash award? Nominate them for the Rudy Bruner Award.
  • Take your social media promotions to the next level: A few years back, DMM Publisher Bill Pote and I led a training at City Hall on using social media for community groups and projects. We’ve come a long way from the few Facebook pages that existed back then, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. Neighborhood marketing gurus and others can register now for the SummitUp “Social Media Confab” at Sinclair Community College on October 16. Brian Petro and I will report back for Dayton Most Metro.
  • Need ideas for bringing your community together? I was recently reminded of two of my favorite lists out there, a poster I used to have on my wall, “How to Build Community” has been circulating around Facebook. Another similarly helpful list has been compiled by the Harvard Kennedy School, “150 Things You Can Do to Build Social Capital.” Give ’em a read and share with your neighbors!

Other opportunities

  • The all-volunteer Yellow Cab community art space needs more volunteers to join them! Specifically, they need people to serve refreshments at the Day-Con hackers’ conference after-party on Oct. 13, and staff to help drivers park in their lot during Hauntfest on the 27th. E-mail Jeff Opt for more info.
  • The Day of the Dead celebration that we mentioned last week is now seeking donations of supplies for papier-mache parade puppets, and I’m thrilled that they’ve already received some from our group members! Bring extra newspaper, flour, jugs of Elmer’s glue and fabric pieces in bright blue, orange, purple and yellow. Goods can be dropped off at Missing Peace Art Space, on Dutoit behind Stivers. Contact Cityfolk’s Jean Howat Berry for more info.
  • updayton’s Streetvivial team will be doing some initial preparations for our pocket park at Xenia & McClure this weekend. We’ll prep/prime the mural wall & plant trees Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10am (and probably get lunch together at the market after) and then come back Sunday at 1 to apply chalkboard paint. E-mail me to sign up.
  • Show your art on downtown streets! The new deadline for the last round of Activated Spaces artists installations is this Friday. As an artist, you’re undoubtedly putting a lot of time into your work – get it seen out on the streets and help bring some color downtown in the process!

http://www.visualartillery.net

 

Fashion Changing Lives

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On Saturday, October 6th   WDTN Channel 2’s Marsha Bonhart will Emcee the We Care Arts local celebrity fashion show.  We Care Arts provides manual arts therapy workshop experiences for physically, mentally and emotionally handicapped individuals to enhance self-esteem and learn job skills.

Some of the local celebrities from the community will include, Judy Dodge, Ohio State Senator Peggy Lehner, and Kettering Mayor Don Patterson.  Also modeling will be some of the We Care Arts clients.

Tickets are $30 for the lunch and style show and the event kicks off at 10am at the Mandalay Banquet Center and the theme for this years show is “Fashion Changing Lives”.  The fashions for the runway will be provided by Kohl’s of Centerville and their will be venders from Dove Chocolates, Mary Kay Cosmetics, HandZenFeet, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Savona Restaurant, and Party Lite.

For more information on We Care Arts please visit their website at http://www.wecarearts.org.

Patterson Canal Parkway: Connecting Downtown Culture

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Image: MorrisTerra www.morristerra.com

For years, Dayton city planners and downtown advocates have heard the same remark over and over:  downtown has many individual assets, but they need to be better connected physically. If one parks for a Dragons game and then walks to bars in the Oregon District, or watches a movie at the Neon and goes for a stroll to Riverscape, the pedestrian experience tends to leave something to be desired.

Pylons to tell the story of the canal

That will soon change with the completion of the Patterson Boulevard Canal Parkway Project, a half-mile, $2 million complete overhaul of the pedestrian amenities between Second and Sixth Streets. Elements include new landscaping, lighting, historical signage, sidewalks and crosswalks.

“Through conversations and focus groups for the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan,” says Sandy Gudorf of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, “we heard a clear desire to make downtown more walkable and connected, and its eastern edge is our strongest residential area. We’re excited that the City of Dayton has acted so quickly on this critical infrastructure.”

Reinterpreting the Past

The Winters monument is currently being re-installed after many decades in storage.

The City of Dayton is implementing the project with funds from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, who helped define the project with a focus on the history of the Miami-Erie Canal. Its story will be interpreted through text and graphics on striped pylons.The canal ran from Toledo to Cincinnati and crossed Dayton through the path that is now Patterson Boulevard. Construction began in 1825 and lasted twenty years, providing physically demanding work for many Dayton residents and growing our size considerably. Though it was a key shipping artery, the canal struggled to compete with rail throughout its life and suffered a final death blow with the 1913 flood, yet wasn’t filled in for a quarter-century.

Another relic from Dayton’s past – a monument removed from the old library site – has been unearthed from a City of Dayton storage yard after fifty years. The former fountain is being installed at the eastern edge of Cooper Park, greeting pedestrians on the Canal Parkway. The monument was dedicated to Ambrose Winters, a lawyer credited with rallying support for much of Dayton’s early streetscape infrastructure. Project manager Amy Walbridge says, “As a citizen of Dayton, I am so very happy about this.  While it’s important to look forward, it’s good to look back and see what great work the citizens of Dayton who came before us did for this community.”

The new public sculpture ‘Fluid Dynamics’ will be installed in conjunction with the Canal Parkway Project.

Looking Forward to a Thriving Downtown Neighborhood

Even prior to construction, downtown residents began embracing Patterson Boulevard as the important center to their emerging neighborhood. Last year a group of volunteers made dramatic improvements to the triangular greenspace at Fourth Street, with new seating, landscaping, and art. That small park will see even more transformation with the upcoming installation of the major new public sculpture ‘Fluid Dynamics’ by local artist Jon Barlow Hudson. The sculpture was commissioned thanks to a $55,000 donation from the Pflaum family and its pedestal has already been constructed as part of the Canal Parkway infrastructure.

Some of the new lighting that will brighten the downtown landscape

Downtown resident, realtor, and Priority Board Chair Steve Seboldt senses new enthusiasm for downtown living. “I think the rapid sales of the townhouses by Simms [Patterson Square] shows that people are interested in the livability of downtown. The improved walkway on Patterson will encourage people to walk to Oregon and around Downtown.”

Construction for the Canal Parkway is scheduled to be completed in the first half of December 2012.

Taken 2 | Frankenweenie | Pitch Perfect at Rave Cinema Dayton South

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Hello Dayton! This week mainly focuses on new openings for the week. Opening the week of 10/05 there are some great new movies!

TAKEN 2

Liam Neeson is back for more in this sequel to 2008’s Taken. His family targeted by a vengeful crime boss in Istanbul, retired CIA agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) must fight an army of killers to ensure their safe return in this action sequel from director Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3) and producer/co-writer Luc Besson (who penned the screenplay alongside Taken scribe Robert Mark Kamen).

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FRANKENWEENIE

In this black-and-white short, director Tim Burton tells the story of Frankenstein’s monster in suburbia as a children’s fable about tolerance. Loving parents Ben (Daniel Stern) and Susan Frankenstein (Shelley Duvall) encourage their son Victor’s (Barret Oliver) home movies, starring their energetic bull terrier, Sparky. Following a terrible car accident, Sparky is dead and Victor is inconsolable. After an experiment with a frog in his science class, Victor gets the idea to make an electrical experiment of his own. After building a fantastic laboratory with only household items, he reanimates his beloved dog. Unfortunately, the family’s nosy neighbors become fearful of the monster, even though he has done no wrong. The climactic ending acts as an homage to James Whale’s original 1931 film and its sequel, The Bride of Frankenstein.

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PITCH PERFECT

A feisty coed joins a collegiate a cappella group and upgrades their song selection for the 21st century during the run-up to a major competition in this melodic comedy from Tony-nominated Avenue Q director Jason Moore. Drifting past the various cliques after arriving at college, Beca (Anna Kendrick) pays more attention to the jams pumping in her headphones than the people she passes on her way to class. But all that changes the moment she stumbles into the one place where every misfit has a voice — the campus a cappella group. Although the competition amongst the singers proves surprisingly fierce, there’s just one aspect of the group Beca can’t wrap her head around: All of the songs they perform are at least a decade old. Convinced that they can do better by adding
some contemporary tunes into the mix, Beca whips up an exciting new set list that will set the group apart and leave their rivals in the dust. Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, and Rebel Wilson co-star.

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DISCOUNT DAYS AT RAVE CINEMAS

Did you know Rave Cinemas offers a bunch of discount days for everyone? With today’s economy, everyone is looking to save wherever they can and Rave is providing ways for people to still catch the latest movie while keeping some cash in your wallet!

For the early risers, Rave Cinemas offers Early Bird specials. The shows before noon (on weekends and weekdays when available) are only $5 each ($8 3D)!

Not an early riser? Come to $5 Tuesday at Dayton South or Huber Heights or $5 Wednesday at the Greene. Any 2D movie all day long is only $5! For 3D it’s only $8. That’s a saving of over 50%! The Greene also has IMAX deals on Wednesday too!

If you have a student/military ID we offer you a lower pricing daily.

And finally…Senior Day! Any 2D movie is $5 for those patrons 55+ and $8 for any 3D movie on Wednesday at Dayton South only.

For showtimes click here

ENTER TO WIN TWO MOVIE PASSES!

Fill out the following form and then leave a comment below telling us that you want to win Rave Cinema Dayton South movie passes.  We will pick a random winner on Friday Oct. 5 after 3pm. Passes awarded will be valid for 30 days from close date at Rave Cinemas Dayton South only and must be used by then or will be forfeited. Valid for any showing, except special events. Please bring ID to verify your name and just ask for a manager when attending informing them you won the Dayton Most Metro contest.

Contest Closed – congratulations to our winner: Bethany Locklear!

Parade the District! el Dia de los Muertos!

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We are kicking off the holiday months with a whopper of a First Friday in November!  Celebrate with us! It’s all about family in all its forms, particularly those we have lost that remain lively in our memories and close to our hearts! On All Soul’s Day, November 2nd, we will honor SOULS with a bit of whimsy and lots of creativity, marching through the Oregon District (5th Street) with a family-festive Parade, all the way to Dutoit for a dance performance and reception! Imagine a cool, autumn evening, full of lights and the magic of memorial, drawn beautifully from the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead!

In Mexico, el Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) welcomes the souls of loved ones, who return each year on November 1 and 2 (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day) to enjoy for a few hours the pleasures they once knew in life. Elaborate ofrendas—altars—erected in cemeteries and private homes afford friends and family the opportunity to reunite and celebrate with the departed. What was once a pre-Hispanic religious tradition was transformed by the introduction of Catholicism in Colonial Mexico.

Once more, the tradition morphs itself as it becomes part of Dayton’s celebration of diversity emanating from the city’s Immigrant Friendly Initiative. Missing Peace Art Space and Culture Builds Community are hosting an all-inclusive celebration seeking to unite our diverse populations in the common theme of celebrating departed loved ones. Through this event, community members – including you – are invited to explore this long-held Hispanic tradition.

Join us on Saturday, October 13 from 1 – 5 pm to create items for the community ofrenda, guided by artist Gabriela Pickett. We are also accepting submissions that you make elsewhere for the non-juried, community exhibition. All works that fit the theme of the Mexican Day of the Dead will be accepted, unless there is a safety issue. The community ofrenda is family-oriented, so please refrain from inappropriate material and keep submissions in good taste.

The parade is free and open to all on November 2nd! Participants will line up on Wyandot, behind Arby’s and Hauer Music, for a 6:00pm start down 5th St. This parade will lead to the Reception Performance in the outdoor space at Missing Peace Art Space, featuring works in dance and prose created for this event by students from Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community residency. Schools/programs included: Stivers School for the Arts, Chaminade Julienne High School, St Albert’s School, East End Community Center and the Hispanic Catholic Ministries After-School teen program. The parade will include life-sized skeleton puppets, a rolling musical sculpture, parade lanterns, innovative musical instruments, written work and paintings on large, bamboo parade frames, dancers and more! The community altar will be on display inside Missing Peace Art Space through November.

Culture Builds Community residency artists are Michael Bashaw, Gabriela Pickett, Joy Levett, Rodney Veal and DeShona Pepper-Robertson. Many other artists from the Greater Dayton area will participate in the “ofrenda.” You can, too!!!!

Missing Peace Art Space is looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of this community-driven exhibition from now until November 2. Please contact them at (937) 241- 4353 if you’d like to volunteer. Also – supply donations for the large puppets would be gratefully accepted anytime: newspaper, flour and glue. Call for details on where to drop off donations!!

Food Adventures Gets Even Cheesier with Murray’s Cheeses

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Murray’s: Quality Cheeses

When we say the Muensters, we don’t mean a TV show.  We mean aged mold, or as you know it  .. cheese.

Gouda, Mozzarella, and Brie are just some of the dozens of varieties of Murray’s Cheeses available at your local Dayton Kroger stores.   The Big Ragu and Crew were lucky enough to be invited by local Cheese Master, Logan Class, to sample some of their premium cheeses.  How cool is that to be hanging out with a cheese master?   We Daytonians do not know how lucky we are to have Murray’s Cheese Shops, allowing for quality and hard to find cheeses at our fingertips!

Brie and Fig Spread Counter Samples at Murray’s

Murray’s Cheeses is a New York based company and has been making and distributing cheese since 1940.   There are 15 Dayton area Kroger’s that feature Murray’s.   What makes Murray’s Cheeses so special?  The answer is the products used in their cheeses.  For example their mozzarella is made with the same milk used in Ben and Jerry’s Vermont Ice Cream, so we are talking premium tasting milk.  They also carry cheeses from France, Italy, Ireland, England and more.

Cheese Master Logan explained to us that there is something for everyone at his store.   There is a $5 and under selection and cheeses that range from $5.99 to $30 a pound.   Other goodies are McClures Pickles, Bucheron 34 fig Spread, Merlot Salami and Olive Oils.   There is even a connecting buffet display of  peppers, olives, and more.  Food Adventures has previously enjoyed Murray’s favorites such as Jarlsberg Cheese, Javarti cheese with Caraway seeds, and Tabouli with Cilantro.  The Big Ragu had to be pulled away from the free cheese on the various counters so the cheese tasting could begin.

Your Food Adventurers were here to sample these unique and unforgettable Murray’s Cheeses as presented by Cheese Master:

1) Cremont – This was a soft, creamy Vermont cheese made from goats and cows milk.  It was simply divine and dreamy.

2) Cabot Clothbound Cheddar – Made in Vermont.  The wheels of this cheese are covered with cheesecloth and lard then aged for 10 months.  Almost like Big Ragu with a wet blanket.  This cheese is one of the tastier cheeses made with Pasteurized milk, as opposed to most high end cheeses which are made from raw milk.

3) Pleasant Ridge Reserve – A mountain style cheese similar to Gruyere.  This is a raw milk cheese and sells at 30 bucks a pound.   We found this cheese to be rich with flavor.  So flavorful that this cheese won the American Cheese Society and World’s Best Cheese Awards.

4) SarVecchio Parmesan:  Looked like your typical Parmesan cheese, but had an incredible fruity flavor to it.  Definitely an amazing tasting cheese that you won’t soon forget.

Rogue River Blue: One of the Most Complex Cheeses You Will Find

5) Rogue River Blue: Made in Oregon, this cheese won the 2006 award for best cow’s milk cheese.  It is the 1st ever raw milk cheese to be exported to Europe.  That’s right, it is so good, even Europeans want it!  The cheese is made through an incredible process, including scrubbing the outside of the cheese wheel with brine for a meaty flavor.  The cheese is then wrapped in Syrah Grape Leaves that have been soaked in a Pear Brandy. After wrapping, this cheese is aged for a year.  The product is perfection and the best bleu cheese we have ever tasted.  With preparation like this, we could understand the $30/pound price tag.

Hey Food Adventure Fans, here are some quick cheese facts:

— All cheese is made with milk, salt and rennet.

— Cheeses that are aged more than a year are typically the stronger tasting cheeses.

— Softer cheeses have a shorter the shelf life than harder cheeses

Who thought we could get any cheesier?  Well The Food Adventures Crew did, and you can too.  Visit your Cheese Master at your local Kroger grocery and look for the Murray’s Cheese Shop !

Visit FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook and “like” their page by clicking  HERE !!

Have you tried Murray’s Cheeses ?   Tell us your thoughts and comment below.

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Volunteers for Dayton!: Opportunities Oct. 2-9

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Your weekly round-up of ways to get involved in Dayton’s urban neighborhoods.

Give Back in the Halloween Spirit!

Volunteering for Hauntfest helps raise funds for the Oregon District!

  • The Oregon District Business Association needs volunteers to sell tickets and serve beer at its annual Hauntfest on Fifth, October 27, 7pm-1am. It’s a great way to meet people and see all the crazy costumes! E-mail Mike Martin to volunteer and ‘like’ their page to stay in the loop. There will be a special beer booth to fundraise for Garden Station – e-mail Lisa Helm to help there. And if you can’t help out, be sure to attend – $5 tickets will be available this First Friday in front of the old Boulevard Haus.
  • Dayton’s costumed Party of Parties, Masquerage, will be held at the Fairgrounds again this year and needs volunteers for everything from selling drinks to taking pictures to simply showing off your “hot body.” Masks required! Sign up at their VolunteerSpot page for this Oct. 20th event. Since 2002, over 10,000 Masquerage volunteer hours have helped raise $1 Million for the Aids Resource Center.
  • I normally don’t feature for-profit organizations here, but I think it’s cool that we have a haunted house downtown. So if you’re favorite pastime is scaring people, sign up to volunteer at the Wayne Avenue Haunted Butcher House on the eastern edge of the Oregon District.

    Step up to help Dayton celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Photo: www.tomascastelazo.com

  • Historic Huffman neighborhood volunteers will be dressing up their beautiful Victorian residences for a Halloween-themed Spirit of Huffman home tour, Oct. 13-14. Your admission will fund neighborhood activities and improvements throughout the year!
  • Not exactly Halloween, but similar – Dayton’s Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) organizers need volunteers for their Community Offrenda, First Friday, Nov. 2, 6-10pm. The Offrenda is organized by Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community program and Missing Peace Art Space in partnership with an array of Hispanic, school, and neighborhood groups as well as local artists. It will feature workshops, a parade, party, and exhibition. Please contact Missing Peace via e-mail or at (937) 241- 4353 if you’d like to volunteer. And if you would like awesome events like this to continue, please give to Cityfolk’s Post-Festival Campaign at their website.

 

Other opportunities:

  • Can you spare a few bucks to build a bocce court?

    Celebrate the Freedom to Read: The East Branch library in Dayton’s Walnut Hills neighborhood needs volunteers to read aloud for 30 minute or 1hr time slots during Banned Books Week (Oct 1-6). They have a collection of ‘challenged’ books to read from so all volunteers need bring with them is their voice and their enthusiasm for the freedom to read. They are hoping to have readers during all open library hours (MTTH 9:30-8:30; WSa 9:30-6). Contact Samantha or call the branch at 496-8930.

  • Deadline extended for St. Anne’s park fundraiser! St. Anne’s Hill residents hope to raise $1000 to match their City mini-grant for Terry park improvements, including an ornamental gate, bocce courts, and landscaping. Regardless of where you live, can you give $10? If we all give a little to neighborhoods outside our own, we’ll have some great parks! (Plus, you’ll feel entitled when you go there to play bocce.)

    Would this be helpful in Dayton? Image: timebanks.org

Discussions in our group

  • One topic of discussion I raised in our Facebook group is whether there is interest in starting a Time Bank for Dayton. This involves a network of people earning Time Dollars for every hour spent helping others in the network, which they can spend having someone else help them with a project. The exchanges are tracked using simple online software. It’s an incentive for volunteerism, can be helpful for anyone short on cash, and helps build community connections. Share your thoughts here.
  • Another topic that’s been debated in multiple spots this week is what to do with the recently-acquired Hughes Supply property that the City of Dayton recently acquired for development. Obviously it’s a sweet location, being right on the eastern end of the Oregon District at Fifth and Wayne. There are lots of good ideas out there, but the overwhelming majority of commenters on Dayton Most Metro, updayton, and our group hope it becomes a grocery store (BTW – If anyone’s interested in a downtown food co-op, I’ve got a group for that too). What do you think?

Don’t forget to e-mail me your items and report back your successes! And send pictures of your costumed volunteering!