Dayton Most Metro

Celebrating Olive-an urban dive!

April 5, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

In celebration of Eat Local Month we are sharing this post from Olive – an urban dive (originally posted on their Facebook page).

it’s a sunny day to share some stats! 2012 Olive financial report! Olive runs on a strictly cash basis, all our farmers/bakers/purveyors are paid COD, cash on delivery (or check) and our larger suppliers are paid once a week, also COD. We will be debt free by August if not before!!!!

we do local and here are some ballpark numbers to prove it!
of the $142,000 we spent on food/beverage products in 2012, $76,400 went directly to local farmers and purveyors pockets, that grew or made the product here, another $46,000 went to local, independent shops and purveyors that purchased import products (fish accounts for almost half of that, veggies and fruits we can’t get here, or produce grown by others that we can’t prove without a doubt was grown locally, though we know a good portion of it was)

we paid our staff over $170,000 (and another $42,000 in matching taxes) and since most of our staff buy and support local too, most of that went right back into our local economy! Over $4000 in donations of gift certificates, food or services were given to local charities and events, and we gave just under $4,000 in cash discounts back to our guests for not using credit cards! (we lost over $9,000 to credit card fees!)

we spent over $15,000 with local service companies (Morgans/MegaCity/Progressive Refrigeration/various local hood cleaning/etc.) and $12,000 with local, independent equipment and smallwares suppliers (Bushongs/Gem City Key Shop/Arrow Wine/Belmont Party Supply)

and… drumroll please… we paid off $22,000 in promissory notes, put $6,000 back into our building and made a 4.8% net return all told!

From our research, successful restaurants in Ohio from $100k-$1M in sales typically return 3-5% (and for us there’s no alcohol sales to save us any errors!!) so we’re really running tight (that profit would practically all be gone if we didn’t do all our own social media, marketing, website building, ad design, printing, accounting, farm wrangling, most of our own maintenance and spent more than we had to on anything or bought fun stuff before we had the cash and therefore added interest payments).

it’s a ‘by the seat of our pants and sweat of our brow’ win! Of course, Kimberly will now have to pay income taxes on that small net gain, and it never really leaves Olive so it’s a tight game! yes… think twice before opening a restaurant people! if you don’t love it, don’t do it! … but we do love it and we’re pretty proud of the amount we’ve been able to put into our farmer’s pockets, so they in turn could buy more cows, turn some more land over, buy some more chickens, or just buy something locally made for themselves or go out to dinner at a local restaurant… oh, and pay more taxes. 😉

so thank you!!! to everyone who has supported our little dive by dining with us, sharing posts, spreading the word, writing a nice blog or review on yelp, urbanspoon or trip advisor, for bringing new guests to experience our little dive, to every old and new independent business that chose downtown to plant their business, to all the employees that work and then play downtown, and to everyone that supports anything downtown or independent anywhere… it takes the impact of all of us dreaming, jumping, investing and spending our money here, separately and as a community, to make even one little 28 seat diner actually work! have an awesome day out there and remember it’s First Friday so enjoy downtown tonight!!! and thanks again!

Editors Note: You can visit Olive at the corner of Third and Wayne downtown, but you’ll want to make a reservation- this place is packed most of the time! Call 937-222-DIVE (3483). And yes, they offer gluten free, paleo, vegetarian and vegan meals!

Victoria Theatre Association Presents PSY + TICKET CONTEST

April 4, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

The Victoria Theatre Association invites you to tumble down the dark corridors of the human psyche on April 12 and 13 when it presents PSY, a wild commingling of acrobatics and psychology by the same company that brought last season’s successful Traces.

(NOTE: We’ll stop here and reiterate that this article is not about Psy, the Korean “Gangnam Style” superstar, nor will he be performing in Dayton this month.)

Written and staged by Shana Carroll (who also staged the Cirque du Soleil performance at the 2012 Academy Awards), PSY features an 11-member cast displaying inspired acts based on psychological disorders, beginning in therapy sessions that jump off the couch and into the air in a combination of acrobatics, circus acts, and street dance. House music, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trapeze work–PSY runs the whole gamut. The Boston Herald said, “Watching PSY is like having the front-row seat to someone’s fever dream. … [It] raises the bar on what cirque nouveau can do — not just physically but emotionally.”

An audience favorite on the show’s tour is Olga Kosova, who plays Suzi, a young woman with anger management issues and perform’s two of the evening’s most dangerous acts involving throwing knives and a dazzling aerial rope routine with no visible safety structures.

Kosova, born in Kiev and raised mostly in the U.S., began in rhythmic gymnastics before transitioning into aerial rope and Chinese acrobatics training with Master Lu Yi at San Francisco’s Circus Center, and performed with several circus and acrobatics groups before training at the National Circus School in Montreal.

“Suzi has intermittent explosive disorder,” Kosova said. “That disorder is characterized by anger management issues and are destructive, but after their rage episodes, they’re usually very apologetic and embarrassed. Suzi’s a little angry and hyperactive, and has a very strong personality. She’s not destructive in the show, but does get very, very angry. I try to find the humorous aspect of it too, and so she’s very giggly. The rope routine is the climax of her character’s anger explosion.”

“The throwing knife routine morphs out of a flashback to a birthday party where a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey kind of becomes something else,” she said. “I started working with knives first in dancing. I learned trapeze and aerial rope, and then picked up dancing knives because they’re very similar to dancing with clubs in rhythmic gymnastics, so I just transferred my knowledge. As far as throwing knives, a few years ago I saw a wonderful French film called The Girl on the Bridge, and it involved knife throwing. It looked exciting, so I contacted a friend who worked with them and started to train.”

Kosova, who will tour with PSY through spring, said, “I really love that when people watch the show, they find at least one character they can relate to, and I think there’s a little of us in every one of the characters. It really depends on what you read into the scenes. There’s a lot of commentary about the seriousness of what’s going on, but also the absurdity and the humor. And it’s awesome seeing how the circus aspect is worked in.”

PSY will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 12, and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. Tickets are $39 – $61. For tickets or discount information, call (937) 228-3630 or visit victoratheatre.com.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9pjK_qjlBA’]

TICKET CONTEST

Contest closed – congratulations to our winners!

Aja Delaney

Sarah Muench

Melisa Bissell

William Daniels Jr

Run with a Shelter Dog

April 4, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Paw Partners program connects shelter dogs in need of exercise with walkers and runners in our community.

How The Paw Partner Program Works

Go to 1 hour orientation:

Wed, April 10th from 7-8pm
Wednesday May 8th from 7-8pm

Run or walk with a shelter dog any day or time Mon-Sat 12-7pm, at your convenience. There is not a designated area you are required to run/walk in. There are several nearby options, the SICSA neighborhood is great (if you don’t want to drive anywhere) you can even run/walk to Delco Park from SICSA. According to SICSA, “you can also drive with the dog to any local area like Sugarcreek Reserve, WSU, Kettering, Centerville , but we want to keep it local. You will get a lot of info about this at the orientation. We are happy to have children run/walk with their parents. The adult must have completed the orientation. The dog must be one approved by staff as “kid-friendly”, as not all of the dogs are comfortable around children. In addition, the dog must remain under the adult’s control at all times.”

Run or walk 6 different days and receive a $25 gift card fromUp and Running Fitness Shoes & Apparel.
Free registration for SICSA’s 5K Lift Your Leg Run and Walk for Strays. Raise $100 and get a $25 gift card.

What’s Up With Jim Bucher?

April 3, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 3 Comments

Who do you send to interview a local celebrity? Who will give them the respect they deserve, not be intimidated in their presence and yet push to get the answers to the tough questions everyone wants to know? Well, how about having them interview themselves?We did and here goes, Dayton Most Metro presents Jim Bucher on Jim Bucher:

BUCH: so how have you been?

BUCH2: good, it was a bit of a surprise to be out of the TV biz after almost 30 years.

BUCH: really?

BUCH2: yes, it’s funny, I’ve seen many people come and go and guess it was my turn.

BUCH: so what have you been up to?

BUCH2: about 6.1! Lol No, really I’ve been reinventing myself. Launched a website buchtvguy.com that sells my unique services.

BUCH: and those services are?

BUCH2: well, TV spokesman, emcee, media consultant for businesses or events.

BUCH: sounds cool, but let me ask you Buch.

BUCH2: yes Buch shoot.

BUCH: so what’s changed and what is the most memorable moment or event of your career in broadcast news.

BUCH2: wow great questions.

BUCH: thanks

BUCH2: well, when I started there was cable TV and a few channels but now with satellite and Internet there are so many choices.

I think the biggest change is, it’s still commercial TV, so advertisers support it. The pie is the same, but now the pie is cut up in little teeny tiny slices so everything is sold.

Weather brought to you by, sports is sponsored by, etc.

I was waiting for ‘the following knife fight is courtesy of the knife show this weekend!’

But my worry is that everything is sold out.

For instance, way back a certain station’s investigative reporter reported on an alleged Used Car Lemon that was sold to a woman that wanted her money back.

So this certain reporter did his job and tried to get compensation from the local dealer.

Well the stories on problem used cars stopped when the dealer pulled his ads and money.

So what stories aren’t getting told?

Back when TV stations and investigative units went after everyone and everything if there was an injustice. That’s gone for the most part.

BUCH: and what about events you have covered?

BUCH2: wow, been so many. The Wire to Wire Reds run to the World Series in 1990.

The Oklahoma City bombing.

Miamisburg train derailment and the list goes on.

BUCH: a favorite?

BUCH2: without sounding corny…

BUCH: you made a career out if corny.

BUCH2: watch it, but I’ve met and interviewed many stars, Tony Randall, Carol Channing. Chris Rock, Phil Collins and tons of comics, but my favorite is talking to the people in my hometown about fairs, festivals, new local businesses or a charitable event to help someone or an organization raise money.

And the opportunity to tell those stories where I grew up and live and all the great local history here.

Stuff I didn’t know about.

One thing about the job that I’m forever grateful for is the opportunity and support channel 2 gave me and the TV platform in which to do it.

BUCH: bravo Buch!

BUCH2: you taking me to Bravo, cause I’m hungry.

BUCH: Buch!

BUCH2: Buch2!

BUCH: always a jokester.

BUCH2: wouldn’t have it any other way.

BUCH: say goodbye Buch.

BUCH2: goodbye Buch, but not so long.

Reinventing Daytonians

April 2, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Emily Evans, Shawndra Jones, Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert and Megan Hague at Urban Nights 2012/SheriWilliams

In the summer of 2012, I had the pleasure to join filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, along with about 15 other radio producers and filmmakers, as we hit the streets of Dayton asking the questions, “How is Dayton doing?” and “Have you had to reinvent yourself?” We focused on four neighborhoods, split into teams and started talking to anyone who would respond. The interaction was simple. If you see someone walking down the street, say hi, and try to start a conversation; If someone is out on their porch, same thing. Time after time I was surprised by how many people didn’t think their story applied, only for them to tell their experience and find out they were in the middle of reinventing themselves. Other times, it was like they were waiting for someone–anyone–to come along and ask them about their story. Hearing someone reflect on their own achievements, failures, and losses was a humbling and intimate experience, one that will stay with me throughout my life. After months of collecting audio and footage, and intensive editing, I am very proud the third act of the interactive website, ReinventionStories.org will go live on April 9th.

We are all very excited about Act Three. Unlike the previous acts, Act Three unlocks an interactive map of Dayton that contains lots more. There’s a place for you to participate in telling the story of reinventing Dayton by uploading your own story of reinvention. The process is easy. Simply click on the ‘share your story’ box located on the map. You’ll give your name, neighborhood, a title to your story and upload your own pictures. Next you’ll tell your story in three parts, prompted by three questions: “Who were you?” “What happened?” “Who are you now?” Your story will appear on the map in your given neighborhood.

While you wait for Act Three, explore Act One and Two of ReinventionStories.org now! There is plenty to watch. First the short films following seven individuals in various neighborhoods. Then there are several one-minute vignettes of events and activities happening around Dayton, located in the ‘Drive the Road’ page of each act. Every act ends in a question to which you can respond. The first questions prompt you to think about what you value in Dayton. The second set urges you to think about what gives you hope for the future. Each response appears on the ‘Speak You Mind’ page, and then is tweeted through our twitter @ReinventDayton. Follow us to see the responses.

Working on this project has completely changed my view of the city I have lived near for 22 years. I grew up thinking there was nothing going on in Dayton. I couldn’t have been more wrong and this site proves it. It’s all about how curious you are, and how much you’re willing to see and discover.

Come back on April 9th and add your story! How do you think Dayton is doing? Have you reinvented yourself?

Belmont Theater, Watervliet Ave, North side, 1949/Courtesy of Reggie Swickard

With the addition of the map, the full expression of the interactivity of the site is revealed. There are other categories: Participation, History, Happenings and Neighbors. The history category is really fun. It contains old photos from locations throughout Dayton. The photos from Belmont, Twin Towers and South Park are especially amazing. I helped collect the photos from Belmont and Twin Towers with the generous aid of Kay Wolff from St. Mary’s Church in Twin Towers and Reggie Swickard from Foot Focus in Belmont. We need your help to add more so we can continue to reveal our rich past. Send us your archival photos!

(Contributed by Emily Evans, Field Producer and Associate Producer of Reinvention Stories)

Zoot Theatre Company Presents “And a Child Shall Lead” + TICKET CONTEST

April 2, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Zoot Theatre Company, Dayton’s only professional puppetry and mask company will produce Michael Slade’s AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD at the Dayton Art Institute’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium April 5-14, 2013.

Michael Slade is no stranger to Dayton. He has been in the area twice in the past year, both times at The Human Race Theatre Company, which produced Slade’s UNDER A RED MOON and more recently a reading of GINGERBREAD CHILDREN. Michael was able to stop by the Zoot Studios to get a glimpse of Zoot’s puppets that will tell this moving and heart-wrenching story.

AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD is the true story of children coming of age in Terezin, the “Jewish city” established by the Nazis as a way station before the death camps. In the face of unspeakable horror, these children use their determination and creativity — playing, studying, making art, and writing an underground newspaper — all at the peril of being executed. Their actual poems and stories are woven into this fast-paced drama.

The Zoot Theatre Company brings its beautiful and amazing puppet artistry to life on the stage of the NCR Renaissance Auditorium as a new resident company of The DAI in 2012!

All Zoot MainStage performances are held on Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. in the museum’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium.

Season subscriptions for Zoot’s 2012-2013 MainStage Series are on sale now and priced at $45 for adults, $42 for seniors and students, $33 for children 12 & under. Individual tickets go on sale August 27, and will be priced at $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, $12 for children 12 & under.

Special Offer!
Combine with Arts Night Out for even better savings!
Zoot has partnered with The Dayton Art Institute for a special subscription package that combines the MainStage Series with DAI’s brand-new Arts Night Out series! The combined subscription package (6 shows) is just $110 for adults, $108 for seniors & students!

Human Race Theatre Company Presents RACE + TICKET CONTEST

March 28, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Human Race Theatre is taking its core mission—“to present universal themes that explore the human condition and startle us all into a renewed awareness of ourselves”—to heart with David Mamet’s Race. No stranger to divisive topics or candid conversation, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Mamet (American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross) takes on the explosive subject of race relations. When two cynical lawyers—one black and one white—prepare to defend a powerful white businessman accused of raping a young black woman, they must confront their own perceptions and prejudices. Legal and ethical lines are crossed as shocking revelations come to light. But when their client’s case takes a series of unexpected turns, they realize that not everyone is who they seem in this world of shame and guilt.

Filled with David Mamet’s signature “Mamet speak” true-to-life dialogue and his desire to press hot-button issues, Race has recently become a popular play for regional theatres across the country after its 2009 Broadway premiere, produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, JK Productions, Peggy Hill and Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, Scott M. Delman, Terry Allen Kramer/James L. Nederlander, Swinsky Deitch, Bat-Berry Productions, Ronald Frankel, James Fuld Jr., Kathleen K. Johnson, Terry Schnuck, The Weinstein Company, Marc Frankel and Jay and Cindy Gutterman/Stewart Mercer.

The Human Race Theatre’s production of Race is directed by Resident Artist Richard E. Hess (Doubt, Red, A Delicate Balance), Chair of Drama at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. In preparing for the task, Hess embraced Mamet’s exploration of a universal—though rarely admitted to—truth. “Racism exists in all of us. We are all prejudiced. We are all carefully taught,” he states. “David Mamet dares to point an unwavering finger at prejudice in Race. The story feels like it’s ripped from the headlines of tomorrow’s news.”

Producing Artistic Director Kevin Moore is just as excited about the script. “When I first read Race I could not put it down,” says Moore. “Similar to a good ‘who-done-it’, I loved the dramatic twists and turns. The collision of great theatre and compelling message made it a ‘must see’ for our audiences.”

The 4-member cast includes Human Race Resident Artists Bruce Cromer (Brother Wolf, I am My Own Wife), Alan Bomar Jones (Gem of the Ocean, Permanent Collection) and Michael Kenwood Lippert (Red, The Sunset Limited), plus actress Julia Pace Mitchell (“Sofia Dupre” on The Young and the Restless). “It is rare when we can pull together so many of our talented Resident Artists into one project. I am thrilled to have Alan, Bruce, Michael and Richard all working on this powerful script,” says Kevin Moore. “And the addition of Julia, the gifted newcomer, will add just the right spice to this ‘boys club’.”

The set design is by Mark Halpin, costume design by Charis Weible and lighting design by Resident Artist John Rensel. Kay Carver is the production stage manager and Kristin A. Sutter is the stage manager.

Race runs April 4 through 21, 2013. Opening night is Friday, April 5.

The production sponsor for Race is Morris Home Furnishings, with additional support from Maryann and Jack Bernstein, and Jon and Diana Sebaly and Sebaly Shillito + Dyer.

PERFORMANCE AND SPECIAL EVENT INFORMATION
Tickets for the preview performance of Race on April 4 are $31 for adults, $29 for seniors and $15.50 for students. For all performances April 5 – 21, single ticket prices are $36 and $40 for adults, $34 and $38 for seniors and $17.50 and $19.50 for students. Prices vary depending on the day of the week desired. Group discounts are available. The Human Race Theatre is offering a pair of discount ticket opportunities. Twenty-five special $25 tickets are available at most performances, on sale two weeks prior to that performance. The Sunday, April 7 7:00 p.m. performance is “Sawbuck Sunday”, when a limited number of available seats can be purchased in person for just $10 at The Loft Theatre box office two hours prior to the show. Discounts are subject to availability and some restrictions apply.

All performances are at the Metropolitan Art Center’s Loft Theatre, located at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio.

Show times for Race are 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday evenings and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday evenings. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. The Pay-What-You-CAN performance is Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. The “Inside Track” pre-show discussion begins at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, prior to the 8:00 p.m. preview performance. The opening night performance is Friday, April 5 at 8:00 p.m., followed by a free party with the cast in The Loft Lobby. “Lite Fare at the Loft” with food and drink provided by Citilites begins in The Loft Theatre lobby at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9. There is no “While We’re on the Subject” post-show talkback for this production.

Tickets and performance information on Race are available at http://www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630, and at the Schuster Center box office.

TICKET CONTEST

Contest Closed – Congratulations to our winners!

Julie Westwood

Christina Tomazinis

Mayliner Looking To Join Area Punk Rock Elite

March 27, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The elderly hate it. Some groups of people find it repulsive. People question whether or not it’s actually considered music. There are also those that would fight you for daring to speak out of line about what they are passionate about; those same individuals also say they have found something that makes them feel like they are part of a family. What I am talking about is punk rock.

Punk rock music is beloved by many around the world. The Ramones, The Clash, and Sex Pistols brought a brash, rebellious sound that was unapologetic and wild. Full of energy and emotion, catching a punk show is unpredictable. Expect a pit of people to start the intense participation of slamming into each other while forming a circle, a practice commonly known as moshing. There is also a pretty good chance that people will be either crowd surfing or the one of the band members will be stage diving. You never know what to expect, but you know that you are in for one crazy night. In Dayton, we are fortunate that we have a great collection of punk rock bands taking local stages. One band that should you should check out is Mayliner. Mayliner consists of three memembers-guitarist/vocals Josh Caperton, bassist/vocal Chris Barnett, and drummer Paige Beller (Beller is also the lead singer of band Jasper the Colossal).

(Photo Courtesy-Jennifer Taylor Clarke)

Caperton and Barnett have had Mayliner up and running a little over a year now, but the two have been playing and writing music since their high school days. The two took part in numerous battle of the bands around the local area and were even asked to be part of the bands that they were competing against. They have also been there for each other through thick and thin during their previous bands’ journeys. Mayliner alone has had their share of lineup changes, with drummers coming and going up to last year. However, both men agree that it doesn’t affect their progress. “As long as I see Josh next to me, and he sees me next to him-it is all good,” Barnett says.

That chemistry and bond are just part of why they are one of the good up and coming punk bands around town. Caperton and Barnett play with viciousness, with a rapid pace of play on each of their respective instruments. The drum play of each of their songs is fast and heavy. Mayliner wants to do one thing: play as loud as they possibly can, a staple in any punk rock band’s live sets.

“I have been told that we sound like The Who but faster”, Barnett says when asked how he would describe the band’s sound. The songwriting is shared by both Caperton and Barnett. They will go to each other and share what they have, keeping the process open and free. The lyrics songs center on experiences that have come and gone throughout their lives including songs about occurrences and encounters that weren’t delightful. However, those songs do go into how you overcome bad events and become better, and not let the bad define you as a person.

Mayliner and Jasper the Colossal are will be releasing an split EP from the local record company FM Records this Thursday. Each band will have about 4 songs on the release. So how was this idea brought up you wonder…

“The idea of doing the split EP was up and in the air for over a year”, Caperton explains. “We loved the idea of doing something with Jasper, maybe with recording one of their songs and they record one of ours. We heard that Paige (Beller) went in the studio and recorded, so we went and did our thing.”

Be expecting some fantastic punk rock that will downright be a crime if not played at a maximum level. After all, isn’t that what punk music is supposed to be played?!

This Thursday, Mayliner and Jasper the Colossal will be playing a split EP release party at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn, Ohio. Go out and see why Mayliner is truly one of the up and coming punk bands rocking around the Dayton area.

Pick up the Telephone Weekly – It’s For You

March 26, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

I am often looking at articles on other local sites to stay on top of things happening in the Dayton Region, and a few weeks ago I came across an Examiner.com article in which the author mentioned writing for a new weekly paper that was about to launch in Dayton – Telephone Weekly. What was this? I hadn’t heard about it, and this is something that I should have heard about – was I slipping? I followed the link to this brand new website and looked at the Contributors page to see who was behind it. Brian Johnson – hmm, I had heard that name before but wasn’t sure if I had ever met him. There wasn’t much info to go by, but it didn’t take long for me to find a friend who did know Brian (this being a small city, most of us are only one Kevin Bacon-degree away from each other). Soon, Lisa Grigsby and I were having coffee with Brian and his partner/editor Kerry D. Brown at our favorite coffee shop (and unofficial DMM headquarters) Ghostlight Coffee, and we heard all about this new venture. Soon, we were talking about collaborating together. But before I get to that, let me share more about the founders of Telephone Weekly and what their new paper is all about.

Brian Johnson had been helping small businesses, including doing screen-printing sales with Four Ambition and doing advertising and branding sales with Clay+Stan. Kerry D. Brown had done sales and even worked at a homeless shelter before fate connected these two entrepreneurs, and after a lot of convincing from Brian they decided to launch their idea for a new free weekly paper: Telephone Weekly.

Kerry D. Brown – Editor at Telephone Weekly

Dayton Most Metro: Welcome to the local Dayton media world, guys! We’re excited to be collaborating with you, and we’re looking forward to helping introduce you and Telephone Weekly to our readers. What is Telephone Weekly and what inspired you to start it?

Kerry Brown: A lot of different things, really. As far as what is Telephone – it is an independent free print weekly. A lot of cities have one or more, and we thought Dayton could use another. We wanted to put our take out there on what a free weekly could be.

Brian Johnson: We wanted a new voice in the Dayton area – something more interactive, more for the people. Another option… we were tired of reading the same things week in and week out with no options, while seeing other print medias dying off.

DMM: What can people expect when they pick it up and begin to read it?

KB: A lot of fun, interactivity… a lot of great images. We were inspired a bit by a magazine called Mental Floss – a mash-up of all kinds of things like science, art and humor. I believe we’re going to do a lot of that. A focus on the local DIY culture. And all locally created content – as in nothing syndicated.

BJ: Heavy on solid design, solid well-written content and a focus on local businesses.

DMM: Telephone Weekly is an interesting name – how did you choose it?

BJ: The name Telephone Weekly came from that old game “telephone” that people would play where somebody whispers something to somebody else, and that person repeats it to another, and so on. We’re building on that idea, where people will read something and talk to others about it. We also want it to be a two-way conversation.

KB: Our friend Bryan Brady actually came up with the name Telephone after we all brainstormed ideas, wanting a word that people don’t use anymore. We like the juxtaposition of telephone and magazine, two things that don’t normally go together.

DMM: Where will people be able to find Telephone Weekly?

BJ: People can find it in places like coffee shops, college campuses, restaurants, museums, etc. Our reach is Troy to the north, Springboro to the south, Springfield to the east and many places just west of Dayton.

….

So now that you know the story behind Telephone Weekly, look for it next time you’re out – and be sure to pick it up (and check out their website and Facebook page)! As for the collaboration between Telephone Weekly and Dayton Most Metro…

Telephone Weekly and Dayton Most Metro

(from the writers at Telephone Weekly)

When Brian and Kerry set out to develop the Dayton’s new independent weekly magazine they knew that providing information about all of the things to do in and around Dayton was going to be an important aspect of the magazine. It turns out that fate had another idea.

What Brian and Kerry had not yet realized was the overwhelming amount of information that would need to be gathered, formatted, checked for accuracy and ultimately published in order to be a source of information on local events. An entire publication could be filled with listings of community organizations, meetings, art events, restaurants, music, theatre, film, active lifestyles; the list goes on-and-on. After thinking on the issue they eventually remembered this little thing called the Internet. Kerry explains “ We were like; why, in-the-name-of-all-that-is-holy, would people turn to a weekly print publication to find out what was going down in their hometown when they could immediately look it up on one of the multiple electronic devices surrounding them?” Why indeed. Someone else was already doing this and doing it better, in a format better suited to it. It was at that point Brian and Kerry formulated their simple solution. Kerry describes the basic thought process behind it “We thought, let’s just pick a few cool events each week, events we think will connect with our readers and that fits with what Telephone is and leave the comprehensive listings to those that are already on it; why be redundant?”

That settled the issue for the time being. Kerry continues “It was like, a couple of weeks later when Brian called me saying that Bill Pote from Dayton Most Metro contacted him and that Bill had hinted at the idea of us working together. We were both, like ‘This is awesome dude!’ They are easily the biggest and best online, local events site there is!”

Jazzed for their meeting with Bill, the two conspired to present the most professional sounding proposal they could. Each knew that it would be great for Telephone to develop a relationship with Dayton Most Metro; having access to such a comprehensive events listing would save them a huge amount time, provide a source from which to curate Telephone’s event listings and avoid the annoying redundancy of pages of printed events listings. Not to mention an initial legitimizing force for the magazine.

But what of Dayton Most Metro; what was in it for them? Kerry explains their thoughts on this “We figured it was basically just a big weekly ad for Dayton Most Metro. We would post our listings and if people weren’t into what they were seeing or just wanted to know more about what was going on . . . Well, go online and check out Dayton Most Metro. Guaranteed you’ll find something there that you like.

So here we are Dayton’s freshest independent free weekly; Telephone Magazine and the most widely used online resource for information on what’s going down in your hometown, Dayton Most Metro, making sweet, sweet music together.

Look for the Dayton Most Metro page in Telephone Weekly where you can see a few featured upcoming events, and check out the DMM Event Calendar here to see 3,000 more!

The Great 1913 Flood Exhibit at Dayton History’s Carillon Park + TICKET CONTEST

March 22, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Dayton History is bringing together more flood related objects than any other exhibition has since the tragedy itself. Many of these relics will be interspersed with multi-media elements to surround our guests with sounds, original films, and firsthand accounts.

Learn about stories like Charles Adams Sr.’s desperate attempt to rescue his wife and children from the frigid waters or step into a recreated attic space and so much more only at Carillon Historical Park!

Exhibition funding provided by the Iddings Foundation, the Miami Conservancy District,
the Dayton Rotary Club Foundation, the Schiewetz Foundation,
and the Eckstein Family Fund of The Dayton Foundation.

Rain began to fall over the region on Sunday, March 23rd, and did not stop again for five days. During this period, nine to eleven inches of rain fell on saturated ground, and 90 percent of what fell became runoff, overflowing the rivers.

People had to get to the highest points in their homes to escape the rising water. This often meant camping out in the attic for days until a boat came by to rescue them. It was a cold, wet and thoroughly frightening time. Water cut off any avenue of escape; fires could be seen burning unchecked in downtown, and people could be heard crying in fear. Daytonians rose to the challenge that the flood had created. A Daytonian with a boat would often go out to rescue those stuck on rooftops. Neighbors, and frequently strangers, were invited into the upper reaches of homes to wait out the water.

Hours of Operation:
Mon – Sat, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Admission Prices:
$8 per adult (ages 18-59)
$7 per senior
$5 per child (3 -17) & students
children under 3 and
Dayton History members FREE

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine students to host 5K AIDS Benefit Walk/Run on April 14

March 21, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

While there have been significant advancements in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) research in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 50,000 people in the United States are newly infected with HIV each year. One in four new HIV infections occurs in youth, ages 13-24 years.

To raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) of the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, along with the Boonshoft School of Medicine and Five Rivers MetroParks, is sponsoring the annual 5K AIDS Benefit Walk/Run on Sunday, April 14, at 9 a.m., at Wegerzyn Gardens, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., in Dayton. The race check-in begins at 8 a.m.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the AIDS Resource Center Ohio in Dayton.

“A quarter of those living with HIV are unaware of it,” said Joey Resch, a second-year medical student who is part of WSU AMSA. “Thanks to resources like the AIDS Resource Center Ohio, people in Dayton who suffer from HIV and AIDS are able to find treatment help. Hosting a 5K to help raise awareness of HIV and AIDS is a way for us to give back to our local community.”

Pre-registration costs $20 before April 1. After April 1, registration costs $25. To register, go to http://www.med.wright.edu/clubs/aids5k.

The Great 1913 Flood

March 21, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

Downtown Dayton, March 1913. MS-128, Miami Conservancy District Records, Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University

A major natural disaster that tested, and proved, the courage, tenacity and foresight of the people of the Miami Valley

By Joe Aiello

I am a native Daytonian. As such, you might think it reasonable that I would know quite a bit about the Great 1913 Flood. And I do … now. But the first time I ever received any hard information about the flood was 1963, the year it celebrated its 50^th anniversary. And I my twenty-third birthday.

I had recently graduated college and had started working for a company whose offices were located on the north side of Monument Avenue across the street from where Fifth Third Field presently stands. My particular office was on the second floor. One day, while on a long-distance call, I looked at the wall across from my desk, and something about it just didn’t look right. The wall was painted all one color, but the bottom two-thirds of the wall were pronouncedly darker than the top third.

When I had finished the call, I asked a fellow employee if he knew why the color varied.

“Sure,” he replied. “The 1913 flood.”

Then he explained. The building we were in had been in the flood, and the water had reached as high as the third floor and then some. It took a moment, but it finally hit me; if we had been standing in that office during the flood, we two would most likely have drowned. Over fifteen feet above street level!

That day sparked a curiosity in me about the Great Flood. However, it would be another 25 years before I would make a serious, focused effort to satisfy it.

1988 was the 75^th anniversary of the flood. I spent a good part of that year researching and writing a script for a television documentary about it. What I learned in that process – about the flood itself, the effect it had on the people, the rescue and relief efforts and the steps undertaken to ensure that such a catastrophe would never again endanger the city or the valley in which it resides – is something that everyone living here today should know.

Employing the same research sources I used in 1988 plus some I have since uncovered, here is what I learned.

Courtesy of the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources

An Environmental Trap

Look at Dayton and the Miami Valley today, and the last thing you might ever imagine is that it had once been the scene of one of the greatest natural disasters North America has ever endured.

Water has always been with us. According to scientific estimates, 300 million years ago Ohio and most of North America existed beneath a saltwater sea. It took a series of lengthy geological stages before that sea gradually dried up and land rife with developmentally early plant and animal life emerged in Ohio.

But there was still water, in the form of a river geologists called Tayes, that started in the Appalachian plateau and flowed across Central Ohio, creating hills and a valley. The Miami Valley.

About 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, there came more water, but in the form of two glacier-like Ice Sheets (the Kansas and the Illinois) and the Wisconsin Glacier. Each in turn scraped its way through the area damning the Tayes with sand and gravel, cutting new streams through the valley and filling them with glacial drift. The result was the Miami Valley’s present river system, an environment just waiting for a natural disaster to happen.

And it had ample opportunities.

Since 1805, numerous floods had descended on the Miami Valley; the 1805 flood alone buried Dayton streets under eight feet of water. Communities abutting the Great Miami River built levees out of dirt to counter the flooding. Under normal circumstances that alone should have been enough to solve the problem. If only the way the streams joined one another around Dayton had been different ….

Picture this: you’re holding a large, clear-rubber tube in your hand. Other, smaller tubes connect with it in three different places. Pretend the large tube is the Great Miami River flowing through Dayton, and the smaller, connecting tubes are the Stillwater and Mad Rivers and Wolf Creek. Got the picture? Now try to visualize the large tube bent in the shape of the letter “S” with the lower half of it narrowing to a little more than half the size of the opening at the top.

That was the Great Miami River in March, 1913. Two rivers and a stream joined to a twisted, narrowing large river in a region with a long and well-documented history of floods, setting the stage for a disaster of monumental proportions.

A Time of Change

It was 1913. Jesse L. Lasky had founded the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company and later helped found Paramount Pictures. The Indian‑Head Nickel came into circulation. The Sixteenth Amendment established income taxes, and the Seventeenth regulated senatorial elections by popular vote. Woodrow Wilson of Virginia was inaugurated as the twenty‑eighth President. In Ohio, James M. Cox, who had been publisher of the major local newspaper, became the newly elected, staunchly pro-business Governor. And Dayton adopted the City Commission/City Manager form of government.

1913 Dayton’s neighborhoods were populated by African-Americans, Bavarians, Irish, New Englanders, Pennsylvanians, Slavs and Southerners. Neighbors all, they shared a love for parades – hardly needing much excuse for participating in, or watching – parades, many of which crossed in or out of downtown Dayton on bridges over the Miami River.

A Perfect Storm

The weather during the week of March 17, 1913 was dry and windy. Droppings from horses and horse-pulled buggies left city streets crying for a good washing. People were wishing for rain. And rain it did.

Huge air masses from Canada, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Plains converged on Ohio dropping between one and two inches of rain on Easter Sunday, March 23, and another two to five inches on Monday, March 24. The river began to rise … slowly … steadily.

An Apathetic Reaction

On River Street (today known as Riverview Avenue in the section of Dayton called Lower Riverdale) that Monday, the City of Dayton was having trouble at the storm sewer pumping station there and reported it to the Dayton Power and Light Company. Whenever the river was above the storm sewer outlet, the station’s function was to pump all the rain water that fell in Lower Riverdale directly into the river.

Two Dayton Power and Light Company service employees corrected the trouble, then walked back up the north levee to the Main Street Bridge. At that time the river was six to eight feet below the top of the levee and reportedly rising one foot an hour. Despite this, neither service employee thought that there was any danger of a flood.

Given the area’s flood history, most Daytonians were more curious than concerned; many gathered at the levees to watch the water rise. Few thought, or knew, they were actually risking their lives. They had seen high water before. They did what they had historically done; they returned home and waited for the water to subside.

However, this time was far different than anything that had gone before. Between nine and 11 inches of rain on ground saturated with melted ice and snow would become almost four trillion gallons of water, about the same amount as one month’s worth of water flow over Niagara Falls.

One reason why, perhaps, many people weren’t worried was that 1912 had seen the development of a flood control plan scheduled for implementation in 1913. The contract was completed, men hired, and equipment positioned. Had it been implemented, the plan would have controlled floods with a flow of up to 90,000 cubic‑feet‑per‑second. Had it been implemented ….

Next – A Titanic Terror (Continue reading…)

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Dayton Art Institute Commemorates 100 Year Anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood of 1913 with Three Exhibits + TICKET CONTEST

March 20, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

April Gornik, The Horizon, 2008

Next week will be the 100 year anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood, which was not only the biggest natural disaster to happen to Dayton and other communities along the Great Miami River – it was the worst natural disaster to happen in the entire country. Local media is covering this historic event, including here on Dayton Most Metro (check out our five-page feature by Joe Aiello), and several local organizations are recognizing this anniversary this month, including Dayton History, The Miami Conservancy District and Dayton Art Institute. The latter opened up a brand new three-part exhibit almost a month ago that runs through May 5 which I had the pleasure of previewing. (See our ticket contest at the end of this article!)

The first exhibit at DAI is called “Storm: Paintings by April Gornik“, with large-scale pieces that greet you and evoke the feeling one may have had watching those storms from a hundred years ago roll in over the Miami Valley. Gornik, an internationally renowned artist and Cleveland native, uses horizons, light and clouds to create an ominous atmosphere in each of her paintings that set the tone beautifully for the rest of the exhibit. She will be at DAI on Saturday 3/23 at 3pm to discuss the genesis and development of her work in the talk Landscape and Metaphor.

After you experience the larger-than-life paintings by April Gornik, you then begin “Watershed: 100 Years of Photography along the Great Miami River” and step back in time as you first view old photographic equipment that was used a century ago, putting into perspective the amount of work it took to carry these cameras around and capture those frightening scenes from the great flood. A far cry from today’s cameras that are simply part of our everyday smartphones that we slip into our pockets! From there you experience stunning historic photographs taken at all stages of the great flood, from the beginning rising waters to the height of the flood and desperation of those trying to escape, and finally to the mind-blowing aftermath that took an unprecedented community effort to not only rebuild, but rebuild in a way that avoided such a disaster for the next century and beyond.

Looking North on St. Clair St. in Downtown Dayton (1913)

The unique thing about the photos in this exhibit is that each is paired with a modern-day photo taken at each of the same locations by Dayton photographer Andy Snow. Andy painstakingly reviewed hundreds of historic photographs from the great flood and then went out and shot on-location over the course of several months to re-capture those moments in time one hundred years later. Andy happens to be a good friend of mine (his Downtown Dayton skyline image continues to serve as our social media profile backdrop) and I had a chance to ask him recently about his experience with this project.

Dayton Most Metro: The pictures you took for the Watershed exhibit at DAI are amazing. How long did this project take you?

Andy Snow: When the exhibition closes on May 5 it will be one year since I began the project. My mission was not necessarily to precisely match the old with the new, though you will see in the exhibition and the new book some images that are quite astonishingly close. The overarching concept that we (the MCD and I) worked on was to return to the sites of selected 1913 photos and create a representation of what exists at the site today in a fashion that resonates and informs not only how the Miami Conservancy District has helped us stay safe from a repeat of the disaster, but also how communities have returned with vibrancy and development along the Miami River without worry about such devastation happening again. Identifying exact locations is more of an art than science given that our only reference is the photos themselves. No GPS tagging back then. Often all I had to work with in the field was a small thumbnail of the 1913 image on my iPhone. I approached this as a documentarian. Record what was in front of the camera. No Photoshop post processing. I often made repeat visits to specific sites to get the light and the location just right. Having so many blue-sky days last summer and fall was an incredible bonus. I had many moments of serendipitous synchronicity.

Looking North on St. Clair St. in Downtown Dayton (2012) Photo by Andy Snow

DMM: Looking at the historic photos that were part of the exhibit, it doesn’t take much to imagine the horror that people went through during those terrifying days of the flood and the weeks and months that followed. Which historic photos had the biggest effect on you personally before you started shooting?

AS: The 1913 panorama view from hill where the The Dayton Art Institute was built in the 1920s, in my mind, one of the most iconic views. The glass transparency on display of this view is a treasure that we found in the MCD archive. It’s hand-tinted from the original B/W photo. I printed most of the prints in the exhibition; not just the new pictures but also the 1913 images from scans or high res digital photos I made of the postcards that were loaned from Historical Societies and collections.

Seeing photos of people standing on the remains of bridges to rescue poor souls clinging to pieces of houses coming downstream has impacted me for life.

DMM: And as you were photographing all of those same locations and vantage points, were there any that took on a new meaning once you stood in that spot?

AS: One favorite example would be how I was able to bring up more detail from the scan of the 1913 panorama (pictured below) so you can see more detail of the City of Dayton across what I have come to call “Lake Miami” which is what the Great Miami came to look like. The part of the picture that shows just how much McPherson Town was totally underwater is astonishing. The 2012 photo is now already an historic artifact because of the new work on I-75. The view has changed! As they rework the exits to downtown Dayton, the steel girders visible in this “new” photo have been removed. Lesson: nothing is permanent.

E. Third Street at St. Clair looking west 1913 & 2012 (Andy Snow) Click to enlarge

DMM: It is one thing to read about the flood, but it must be quite another to have studied those historic photos and then shoot modern-day photos in all of those same locations. What did you take away from your experience that you didn’t know or feel before you started?

AS: The big thing was how much the entire region was affected. Many Hamilton industries, for instance, along the Miami River were lost forever. Piqua was flooded first and the water traveled for several blocks to the downtown square. We knew about the impact here in Dayton. The revelation was how much wide-spread impact there was to other communities up and down the River, from farm lands to all kinds of businesses and neighborhoods.

Another big revelation came at the end of the photography process when I learned that a cousin of mine made some of the very photos from 1913 in West Carrollton that I referenced for the new photos there. We are descendants of a common ancestor that settled near the Great Miami along Bear Creek (north of Miamisburg) in 1804. Jacob Weaver was one of the region’s pioneers. His farm was a land grant received for fighting in the Revolutionary War for the Colony of Pennsylvania. (I love to say those last 3 words.) Noah Elwood Weaver was a photographer who worked for the West Carrollton Envelope Company as well as NCR. Yeah, his name was Noah. Photographing the Great Flood.

DMM: What do you hope people will take away after seeing the Watershed exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute?

AS: The Great Flood left a stamp, a watermark if you will, of caring and giving that makes living in this exceptional community such a joy and such a motivator of humanitarian deeds and great work for the good of all.

We have become stronger by evolving into a region of people that help their neighbors make a better place, a safer place for prosperity and growth. And I’m really proud to be a part of such a community.

The level of cooperation and collaboration between the cities and communities along the Great Miami is now at an all time high thanks to the anniversary of the Great Flood. It’s an historic moment and we can all benefit from the interaction and new growth possibilities and amenities that every community is working to complete. Fear of the River has subsided immeasurably. There’s really nothing quite like this return to the River anywhere else in the country.

Andy Snow will be at DAI on Saturday 3/23 at 4pm to present the talk Sherlock Holmes Meets Ansel Adams, a discussion of how he used cues and clues from 1913 photos of the flood to create new images that inform us about life and culture in the Miami River Valley, past, present, and future.

The last part of the exhibit is titled “Riverbank: Exploring Our River-Centered Development” and consists of images and information that capture development concepts and realities along the Great Miami River. You can revisit earlier concept plans for development of the area at the foot of The DAI’s grand staircase that runs along the northwest bank of the Great Miami, and current developments on the river are shown. Historical plans generate the basis of an interactive display that captures visitors’ ideas about ways in which The Dayton Art Institute might connect with kayak/canoe runs, bike and walking paths, public transportation routes and newly opened freeway access at their front door.

The three part exhibit at Dayton Art Institute is open now through May 5th. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, students and active military, $6 for youth (7-17) and free for DAI members and children under 7.

1913 panorama view from the hill where DAI now stands

TICKET CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our ticket winners!

Rachael Sizemore

Susan Steinmetz

Bettina Back

Matt Langdon

Experience The Beatles with RAIN

March 20, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Victoria Theatre Association presents the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, EXPERIENCE THE BEATLES WITH RAIN. Direct from their phenomenally successful Broadway engagement. RAIN returns to Dayton on March 26-27 at 8 p.m. at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online athttp://www.ticketcenterstage.com.

As “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!” (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. In addition, new songs are being included with the launch of the 2012 Tour. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics (“I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “Hard Day’s Night”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Let It Be”, “Come Together”, “Hey Jude” and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

Like The Beatles, the onstage members of RAIN are not only supreme musicians, but electrifying performers in their own right.

“Just turn off your mind, relax and float downstream for a quick fix of nostalgic cheer!”
– Entertainment Weekly

Single tickets for EXPERIENCE THE BEATLES WITH RAIN start at just $21 and are on sale now at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, by phone at (937) 228-3630, toll-free (888) 228-3630 or online at http://www.ticketcenterstage.com. Ticket Center Stage Box Office hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.
http://www.raintribute.com

First Day of Spring Italian Ice Giveaway!

March 18, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Rita’s Italian Ice, the nation’s largest Italian Ice concept with over 625 outlets in 20 states will celebrate their 21^st Annual First Day of Spring Free Ice Giveaway, Wednesday, March 20^th, 2013. Rita’s has hosted its annual Free Ice day for millions of fans of the cool treat since 1992, in fact, almost 10 million free cups of Ice have been given away over the years! In celebration of this 21^st annual milestone, all Guests who visit any Rita’s Italian Ice on Wednesday, March 20^th will receive a free Ice in a limited edition cup featuring Rita’s Rewards, a new loyalty club for smartphone users. Dayton’s only Rita’s is located just west of The Greene, on the corner of Stroop and Indian Ripple. The giveaway starts at noon and will run through 9pm.

“We are excited to celebrate our 21^st annual first day of spring and welcome our Guests to enjoy a Free Rita’s Ice,” said Jonathan Fornaci, Rita’s Chief Executive Officer. “We invite our fans to enjoy some happiness in a cup and to join our new Rita’s Rewards program to receive a free loyalty punch on the first day of spring!”

With its motto, “Ice, Custard, Happiness,” Rita’s has been dedicated to serving up a big dose of happiness with their freshly made, delicious Italian Ice for fans on the first day of spring for twenty-one years in a row. “Back in 1992 there were only a few Rita’s open on the first day of spring,” said Fornaci. “This year more than 600 outlets will be celebrating, now that’s a lot of Free Ice!” Guests can choose from over 60 flavors of Rita’s famous Italian Ice made fresh daily with real fruit, including the most popular Mango, Cherry, Alex’s Lemonade, Swedish Fish® and Cotton Candy, just to name a few!

In celebration of its 21^st Annual First Day of Spring Free Ice Giveaway, Rita’s has unveiled a new Mobile Loyalty Application, Rita’s Rewards. Rita’s Rewards allows Guests to earn rewards for their purchases, write reviews and share their happiness on social networks. Guests can download the Rita’s Ice Application on their smartphone and earn a Free Regular Italian Ice on their 8th visit. Rita’s Rewards smartphone application uses Punchh patent-pending technology and is available at all Rita’s Italian Ice outlets.

“Our Guests asked us to develop a fun Rita’s App so we built Rita’s Rewards for smartphone users and plan to continue enhancing it to include a Rita’s Italian Ice Factory game coming this spring,” said Fornaci. “Our new Rita’s Rewards loyalty program provides Guests the ability to Share their Happiness with their friends through social channels,” he said.

Guests can join Rita’s Rewards by scanning the QR code located on their first day of spring cup or by downloading the Rita’s Ice app via the App Store or Google Play. Once the app is installed, Guests are asked to login and join Rita’s Rewards. Rita’s Guests can earn a free punch by utilizing their Facebook login when signing up. Additionally, all members of Rita’s Rewards will receive a free punch on the first day of spring.

The popular chain offers a variety of frozen treats including its famous Italian Ice, made fresh daily with real fruit, available in over sixty flavors, Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard, Milkshakes, Sundaes with Unlimited Toppings, Light Custard, Frozen Custard Cakes, Custard Cookie Sandwiches made with OREO®, layered Gelati as well as its signature Misto® and Blendini® creations. Since 1984, “Ice, Custard, Happiness,” has been the brand’s motto, and almost thirty years later, Rita’s is still dedicated to serving up a big dose of happiness with their freshly made, delicious, custom treats, in a fun-filled atmosphere.

Rita’s topped the Zagat Survey for the #1 Best Quick Refreshment, Ice Cream/Custard for 2012, and was named one of the Top 25 Franchise High Performers by the Wall Street Journal’s “Startup Journal” and named Top 100 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 500 Franchise Rankings” in 2012.

Cityfolk Presents Dervish + TICKET CONTEST

March 18, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Cityfolk is proud to present the Dervish, the internationally heralded Irish music ensemble, in concert on Friday, March 22 at Stivers School for the Arts. The concert start at 8:00 pm and is reserved seating. Tickets are $25 and be ordered at www.cityfolk.org or be calling the Cityfolk box office at 937-496-3863.

Dervish has won considerable acclaim for its rare skill in “bringing music from the session to the stage,” in the words of co-founding band member Brian McDonagh. Fronted by the charismatic singer Cathy Jordan, the Irish septet is perhaps the only traditional Irish music group in the world to have inspired “tribute bands,” which are found in many countries, but especially so in Russia and Israel.

Inspired by such legendary County Sligo musicians as Michael Coleman and James Morrison (who recorded in the U.S. in the 1920s), Dervish has “truly absorbed the techniques and, more importantly, the soul that has driven Irish traditional musicians through the years and come out of it with all the freshness, verve and timeless appeal associated with the great Irish bands of the 1970s and early 1980s…They carry Irish history with them” (Irish Voice).

The roots of Dervish stretch back to 1989, when five Irish musicians who played together at weekly pub sessions—including Liam Kelly (flute, whistles), Shane Mitchell (accordion), Michael Holmes (bouzouki, mandolin) and Brian McDonagh (mandola, guitar)—recorded an album of traditional music from County Sligo as the Boys from Sligo.

Initially, there were no plans beyond making the album, but that went so well the quintet decided to become a real band—a working band—known as Dervish. Two years later, the band assumed its present format with the addition of singer Cathy Jordan from County Roscommon and All-Ireland Fiddle Champion Shane McAleer. Amazingly, this hard-working band has had only one significant personnel change in the ensuing 22 years, fiddler Tom Morrow (from County Leitrim and another All-Ireland Fiddle Champion) joining the ranks in 1998.

Dervish made its recording debut in 1993 with Harmony Hill and has made a total of 11 albums, all released on the band’s own Whirling Disc label.

“Irish music is one of the oldest forms of music, yet it is influenced an awful lot by other things,” explains Cathy Jordan. “It evolves and evolves. Our sound is very recognizable because of the bouzouki and mandola. And though we have a modern style within the Irish context, you might not say it’s really modern, because it blends in so well. But in actual fact there are a lot of modern influences in there.

“We experiment without straying too far from the roots. We give people something familiar, yet it’s in the genre of traditional music. It’s all the instrumentation of Irish music. But it plays with people’s perceptions a bit.”