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

DowntownPartnership

2nd Round of ArtWraps Now Around Town

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) and The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) have teamed together to enliven downtown streetscapes with ArtWraps, a project to “wrap” utility boxes with original designs by local artists of all ages.

ArtWraps takes commonplace objects, such as the “ugly” utility boxes on downtown streets, and transforms them into pieces of art by wrapping them with artistic designs printed on vinyl wraps.

The program debuted in 2022 with the first phase of ArtWraps, consisting of 15 utility boxes throughout downtown.

An additional 15 boxes were wrapped during the project’s second phase in 2023. See the map below for locations. The designs were chosen from more than 200 entries submitted by a diverse range of people from the Dayton area.

ArtWraps is an extension of the DDP’s Urban Art Intersections program, which seeks to use public art to enliven downtown and connect artists with the community while engaging downtown Dayton residents, workers and visitors. It is also a project from Place Lab, the DDP’s approach to prioritizing and implementing placemaking projects, making downtown locations more vibrant, inclusive, engaging and connected.

It’s First Friday – Check out all Dayton Has To Offer!

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It’s first Friday and the downtown merchants want to encourage you to shop downtown, so check out some of the specials and deals you’ll find this First Friday. Learn more at downtowndayton.org/things-to-do/first-frida

After5, 111 E. Third St.

• After5, 111 E. Third St.: Welcome After5 to downtown! Mention First Friday at checkout to save 20% on your purchase.
• Beaute Box 20 W. Monument Ave.: 30-minute Express Lash Extension sets are just $75!
• Choice Juice Boxx 937 31 S. St. Clair St.: Spend $50 at Varsity House to receive 10% off from your Choice Juice Boxx purchase.
• OMEGA MUSIC 318 E. Fifth St.: New release day! Explore the new releases on vinyl, CDs, and more. All day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Oregon District.
• Pedal Wagon Dayton: Hop around to some of Dayton’s best breweries on the Brewery Cruise! Seats are $32 for adults 21+ or rent a private ride for up to 15 people for $459! pedalwagon.com/dayton/brewery-cruise/
• Picture Perfect Paint Parties 123 N. Ludlow St.: Come and enjoy our grape tastings of the month and a mini-paint party canvas. Register at www.pictureperfectpaintparties.com or call 937-265-0691 for more information.
• Rabbit Hole Books 29 W. First St.: Open until 9 p.m. on First Friday! Visitors wearing Pride gear will receive a free gift.
• Sole Touchers 37 S. St. Clair St.: Mention First Friday to receive 25% off all shoes in store!
• Space Three 39 S. St. Clair St.: The Summer Class Pass Sale is on! Get 25 classes for $250 (valid now through August 31).
• Talbott Tower, 131 N. Ludlow St.: Visit the businesses of Tabott Tower! Enjoy live music, food, and beer while you shop special discounts at more than 20 businesses.
• Vidia’s Closet 27 S. St. Clair St.: When you shop this women’s clothing boutique in the St. Clair Lofts on First Friday, you can take 20% off your entire purchase! Shop in-store and enjoy a complementary glass of wine

May be an image of silo, drink and text

What’s for dinner? Start your First Friday with something delicious to eat or drink downtown!

• Deaf Monty’s Wine 22 Brown St.: It’s Rosé flight night! Enjoy a flight of 3 rosé wines for just $9 from 4 to 8 p.m.!
• Local Cantina Water Street, 501 E. First St: Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. with $6 Mustache Rides & Same Same Margaritas along with $4 drafts!
• Moeller Brew Barn – Dayton, Ohio 416 E. First St.: Enjoy $5 pints from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!
• Mudlick Tap House 135 E. Second St.: Join us for Happiness Hours from 4-6 p.m. with $2 off draft beers and $2 off shareables, ½ price bottles of wine, $8 Old Fashioned, and $9 Manhattans.
• Oregon Express Bar and Restaurant 336 E. Fifth St.: Every First Friday join us for Happy Hour deals from 5 to 8 p.m. Stop in for some of the best pizza in Dayton. Dine in, carryout and curbside pickup available.
• Salar Restaurant and Lounge 400 E. Fifth St.: Kick off your First Friday with happy hour at Salar from 4-6 p.m. with cocktail specials, $5 house wine pours, $1 off of all beers, and bar bites specials. Enjoy dinner, too, available for dine in or carryout.
• Table 33 130 W. Second St.: Fridays are wine night at Table 33, with $3.33 wine pairings with any entree.
• Troll Pub Dayton 216 Wayne Ave.: Every Friday at the Troll Pub is part of W.T.F Happy Hours: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 4-7 p.m. featuring 1/2 Priced Pints & 1/2 priced apps, and $4 Fireball Shots.
• Trolley Stop 530 E. Fifth St.: Enjoy Half-off Happy Hour every day 3-7pm! $3 wells and half off select appetizers.
• Two Social 123 E. Third St.: New menu launch, every first Friday! Try all 6 drinks on the new menu and get a free shirt! You have all month to collect all 6 drinks on the punch card.
• Zen Lounge 121 N. Ludlow St.: Friday: Enjoy 25% off all premium tequilas and cognacs and R&B/Hip Hop Industry Night with CandyBarz and Move Media featuring DJs Ron Hunter and DollaBill

There’s plenty of art and entertainment for you to enjoy on First Friday

May be art of 2 people

Edward A. Dixon Gallery

• The Black Box Improv Theater, 518 E. Third St.: Comedy from local improv group Low Hanging Fruit followed by a special show. Tickets & more info at DaytonBlackBoxImprov.com
• The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St.: Free Artist Talk at 6:30 p.m. Dayton-based artist Tyler Macko discusses his current exhibition on display, “A Voice From I Don’t Know Where”
• Corner Kitchen, 613 E. Fifth St.: Live music on the patio every First Friday!
• The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North: Visit “New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists in the West,” and “Pondering the Mystery of Late Life.” Open until 5 p.m. on Friday.
• Dayton Society of Artists – DSA, 48 High St.: The Dayton Society of Artists welcomes you from 6 to 9 p.m. to the opening reception for the 2023 annual spring juried exhibition “Inspire(d).”
• The Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., 937-224-7822: Stop by for a pint and live music for Irish First Fridays. Happy Hour from 3-6pm; Miami Valley Pipes & Drums performance at 7 p.m. and live music from Scully.
• Edward A. Dixon Gallery, 222 N. St. Clair St.: The Vintage Artwork & Décor Show opening reception is this First Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. The gallery has extended hours to be part of your First Friday Art Hop. See artwork from the Dayton area, around the U.S. and around the world. Light refreshments provided.
• Front Street, 1001 E. Second St.: Live music, food trucks, studio and gallery hopping, shopping, and more! It is always free to attend and park at our art hops. We are a family and pet-friendly community.
• The NEON, 130 E. Fifth St.: See “Chevalier,” “Showing Up,” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It” on First Friday! See the full schedule online: www.neonmovies.com.

Enjoy art and live entertainment on First Friday!

• The Black Box Improv Theater 518 E. Third St.: Local improv group Low Hanging Fruit followed by a special show. DaytonBlackBoxImprov.com
• The Contemporary Dayton 25 W. Fourth St.: Spoken word and vocal performance by Leroy Bean and Amanda Mikkel.
• Corner Kitchen 613 E. Fifth St.: Live music on the patio every First Friday!
• The Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park North: “Woodblock Prints of Saito Kiyoshi” and “Pondering the Mystery of Late Life” open until 5p.
• Greater Dayton LGBT Center LGBTQ+ Pride 2023: Pride kicks off on Courthouse Square at 6p with performances by the Rubi Girls, Springboro Community Theatre Spotlight Singers & more!
• Dayton Live Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 W. Second St.: Nate Bargatze: The Be Funny Tour comes to Dayton! Show at 7p. Tickets at daytonlive.org.
• Dayton Society of Artists – DSA 48 High St.: See the limited-time exhibition “Edy Martin: Retrospective Art Show & Sale” and the opening reception of “POP” from 6 to 9p
• The Dublin Pub 300 Wayne Ave.: Happy Hour from 3-6p; music by Khalil Nasar starting at 9p
• Edward A. Dixon Gallery 222 N. St. Clair St.: Opening reception for Cynthia Kukla’s “Separating the Earth from the Heavens” exhibit 6-9p
• Front Street 1001 E. Second St.: Art demos, workshops, and 250+ artists. Live music and food trucks in the courtyard. Our campus is family and pet-friendly. Free parking.
• Levitt Pavilion Dayton 134 S. Main St.: Garth feat. Yvette Diva Williams. All concerts in the 2023 Eichelberger Concert Season are free and open to the public. Music at 7p.
• Moeller Brew Barn – Dayton, Ohio 416 E. First St.: Music with Jenna Drees from 4:30 to 6:30p
• The NEON, 130 E. Fifth St.: See “Sanctuary” on First Friday! See the full schedule at neonmovies.com.
• RiverScape MetroPark 237 E. Monument Ave.: Music by The Shady Pine and The Repeating Arms 6 to 9p

Downtown Dollars Offering $25 bonus with $50 Purchase

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership is offering a special Bonus Buy deal for those who purchase Downtown Dollars for themselves or as a gift.  Starting Friday, August 19, at 12 noon, for every $50 Downtown Dollars purchased, an extra $25 of Downtown Dollars will be delivered in a separate e-gift card to the purchaser.

Downtown Dollars is one e-gift card that is redeemable at more than 80 participating businesses in downtown Dayton. Several restaurants, pubs, retailers, and service providers are included in the program. A full list of participating businesses and more information on the program, as well as instructions to purchase Downtown Dollars is available at www.downtowndayton.org/dollars.

“More than 80 of our downtown businesses are already taking part in the Downtown Dollars program, and the list continues to grow,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “This Bonus Buy provides an easy way to show extra support to your favorite downtown business while getting a great deal for yourself.”

Downtown Dollars Bonus Buy funds will be delivered to the purchaser in $25 gift vouchers separate from their original $50 purchase. The $50 Downtown Dollars e-gift card purchased by the customer does not expire, but $25 Bonus Buy cards will expire if not used by Monday, October 31, 2022. Each customer may earn a maximum of four $25 Bonus Buy cards.

Summer Bonus Buy cards are limited and only available while funds last, so be sure to get your Downtown Dollars before this special offer runs out!

When you purchase Downtown Dollars for yourself, or to give to others as a gift, the e-gift card is delivered via email or text message. Benefits of the Downtown Dollars e-gift cards include:

  • Downtown Dollars are accepted at more than 80 participating merchants in Downtown Dayton.
    •  No monthly inactivity fees.
    • Your Downtown Dollars balance is listed directly on the e-card and is updated as you use your card.
    •Purchasing e-cards is fast, personalized and instantaneous – great for gifts!
    • Monthly reminders are sent via email and/or text message to help customers remember they have the e-gift card available for use.

 

Fast Track Call for Art: ArtWraps

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) and The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) are teaming together to enliven downtown streetscapes with ArtWraps, a new project to “wrap” utility boxes with original designs by area artists. Selected designs will be commercially printed and installed by project partner, Digital Fringe. The goals of the project are to employ the utility boxes as bold, colorful, surprise works of art throughout the area and contribute to the appeal of a friendly, welcoming downtown; and to give local artists an opportunity to compete for commission and display of their work. Up to 15 designs will be chosen for this round of ArtWraps. Each selected design will be awarded $500.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: June 19, 2022

Design Guidelines:

  • Designs may be representational or abstract; and/or be an allover pattern like wallpaper or wrapping paper; and/or include words or phrases.
  • If designs are primarily representational (for example: a landscape, city-scene, figures in action), designs are encouraged to include multiple areas of interest so final display can be seen on all sides.
  • Overall, designs should be positive, original, and colorful and may (but are not required to) reflect the following: Downtown points of interest, scenes from community history, images of favorite activities (for example: canoeing on Dayton’s rivers, listening to a live band at Levitt Pavilion, watching a Dayton Dragons Game or a Broadway show at the Schuster) or scenes from pure imagination.
  • Utility boxes will vary in size. Selected artists acknowledge that printer may adjust designs to fit boxes properly including the possibility that some areas of artwork will need to be removed to allow for utility box function.
  • Artists shall retain intellectual property rights of design. Artists name should not be incorporated into the design; but will be reflected on recognition plaque, and print and digital marketing materials.
  • Full credit will be given to artist in print or digital marketing; in turn, if utilizing the proposal for future submissions, the artist shall give credit to the project.
  • Proposed artwork must be original and unique to the project.
  • Designs shall not contain any kind of advertisements.
  • Project organizers will match designs/box locations.Submission Requirements:
  • Any resident of Ohio within a 50-mile radius of downtown Dayton is eligible to submit.
  • All ages are welcome to apply. If artist is under 18 years of age, name and contact information of parent/guardian is required.
  • Designs may be hand-drawn or digitally-rendered, but must be submitted via email as a digital file, preferably a vector file or high-resolution jpeg (at least 300 dpi).*
  • Designs should be depicted in a horizontal rectangular format and color(s)/design should extend to all edges. See provided examples below.
  • Artists may submit up to 3 designs.
  • Email the following to Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at [email protected]; Subject Line:ArtWraps Submission
    1. Artist name, home address, preferred phone number (If under 18 years of age, please include name and contact information of parent/guardian
    2. Title(s) and brief description of the design(s) artist is submitting
    3. Up to 3 designs attached to the email: please save each jpeg as artistr last name andtitle (for example: King-Sunrise Over Riverscape)

    *if artist does not have means to upload and submit design(s) via email, please contact Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at [email protected] or 937/224.3822 Wed-Sat, 10am-4pm to arrange for assistance. Please note: if artists need assistance, they must request it before Friday, June 17, 2022, at 12noon.

First Friday- Chocked Full of Events Downtown

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It is officially fall in downtown Dayton, and there’s still plenty of time to get out and enjoy the crisp weather and small businesses in downtown Dayton for First Friday. This month there is a lot to celebrate in downtown, with a 50th business anniversary, a new sushi business, and the reopening of a beloved improv spot post-covid.

Art, Dance, Music and Film

  • ●  Black Box Improv Theater, 518 E. Third St: WE’RE BACK!!! The Black Box is ready to reopen, with its first show on First Friday, October 1st. The doors are back open to bring the funny to you with two shows, at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets on sale now at daytonblackboximprov.com/. And don’t forget…it’s BYOB! Disclaimer: Proof of vaccinations required upon entry for all patrons and performers. Masks will also be required while inside the theater, including on stage for the immediate future.
  • ●  The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St.: Open until 6 p.m., come to The CO to explore three installations, and a special night with a LIVE “Artist Talk” with the featured artist Mychaelyn Michalec at 6 p.m. to talk to the artist about her current installation at the gallery. On view now through Oct. 24, including Dayton-based Mychaelyn Michalec: From A Basement On A Hill; New Jersey artist Nina Chanel Abney; and Brooklyn-based artist Sara Cwynar. All exhibits open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on First Friday, and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find more information on the exhibits at. https://thecontemporarydayton.org/2020-2021-season-schedule/ or call 937-224-3822 for more information.
  • ●  Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N.: Visit the latest special exhibition open on Fridays until 5 p.m.: Photography Through Time, showing that since its invention in 1839, photography has taken many forms. In this exhibition, discover the range of photographic processes within the Dayton Art Institute’s photography collection.From early photographic processes to contemporary artworks that expand our notion of the medium, Photography Through Time includes examples of daguerreotype, cyanotype, albumen, gelatin silver, chromogenic, photogravure and inkjet photographs.
  • ●  Dayton Performing Arts Alliance – Dayton Philharmonic: 8:00 pm showing of Beethoven’s Eroica: A Salute to Heroes a Dayton Philharmonic Masterworks Series at the Schuster Center: Works by Austin Jaquith, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven. The DPO begins with a salute to the heroes of the pandemic—the first responders, medical personnel, delivery drivers, and all those whose jobs suddenly carried greater risk— with Austin Jaquith’s driving musical portrait Heldenleben 2020, or “Heroic Life 2020.” Heroism also marks the music of Beethoven’s Third Symphony, originally dedicated to Napoleon before he crowned himself emperor. Returning to the DPO is violinist Philippe Quint for Mendelssohn’s Violin Concert in E minor, a sparkling jewel of a concerto. DaytonLive.org for tickets.
  • ●  Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High St Dayton, OH 45403: The Dayton Society of Artists is pleased to welcome you to its gallery on the hill. Open on First Fridays from noon to 9 p.m. on First Fridays. Get info about the group by calling 937-228-4532. or visit https://daytondsa.org/
  • ●  Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., 937-224-7822: Live music at the Dublin Pub! Stop by for a pint and listen to live music for Irish First Fridays. Happy Hour from 3-6pm. Seating inside and on the extended patio.
  • ●  First Friday at Front Street, 1001 E. Second St.: Spend an inspiring evening with us at 1st Friday Art Hop – while you enjoy live music from The Flashback Band & dinner from Rolling Oasis. Check out more than 40 art studios and galleries across our campus, including the Opening Reception for “Between Realms” by artist Chip Williamson from 5-9 p.m. in Building 100, CD Hall! Art hops at Front Street are always free to attend and conveniently located in Dayton just off St. Route 35. Free, lit, onsite parking is available in surrounding lots.
  • ●  Flying Pizza, 223 N. Main St.: Celebrating 50 years in business on Oct. 1 – visit Flying Pizza open until 7 p.m. for New York style slices and pies. Serving up the best pizza in downtown Dayton since 1971. For the anniversary there will be giveaways at the store until 7 p.m. Find the menu online at: http://originalflyingpizza.com/menu.html or call 937-222-8031.
  • ●  iMadeThis DIY Art Studio, 411 E. Fifth St.: Stop by iMadeThis for Open Studio Crafting Fridays every Friday from 5-9 p.m., Saturdays 12-9 p.m., and Sunday 12-6 p.m. iMadeThis offers hundreds of design-your-own activities for children and adults. Find more information on their website: https://imadethis.art/
  • ●  K-12 Gallery and TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St.: First Friday will be the opening night for the latest K-12 exhibit “Artists in House” with a variety of pieces by K12 Gallery & TEJAS teachers, staff, and interns. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 2 for the chance to jump into the fall season with us at Scarecrow Market! We’ll have Hot Glass Pumpkins, an Artisan Market, Make-and-Take Artwork, and a professional Pumpkin Carving demo from Rock on Ice! Tickets: $20.00 per person Learn more about K-12 artists, events and classes at: https://k12tejasgallery.org/
  • ●  Picture Perfect Paint Parties, 123 N. Ludlow St., 937-265-0691: For First Friday, all Take Home Paint Party Kits are buy one get one 1/2 off. www.pictureperfectpaintparties.com
  • ●  Skeleton Dust Records, 133 E. Third St.: Join Skeleton Dust to explore new music with a variety of eclectic, yet curated selection of rock, punk, metal, r&b, hip hop, blues, jazz, electronic, experimental, reggae, and world music on vinyl, CD, and cassette format. Open until 6 p.m.
  • ●  Toxic Brew Company, 431 E. Fifth St.: Visit Toxic on First Friday for a pint of your favorite locally brewed beer or a craft cocktail and to enjoy a new art display inside the brewery by local artist Dylan Sage. You can see examples of his work at instagram.com/dylusionalartist/
  • ●  Out on Fifth in the Oregon District, Fifth Street: A pedestrian-only area as Fifth Street is closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends and turned into an entertainment destination, featuring live musicians and performers in the streets, extended patios at your favorite local restaurants and bars, and the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in the Oregon District.
  • ●  Wiley’s Comedy Club, 101 Pine St.: A special event with Heywood Banks, who is simply one-of-a-kind, almost impossible to describe, with a style his very own. Equal parts genius and buffoon, this songwriter- comic-singer-poet-musician has become a cult hero and a pop icon, with a show that appeals to college students, stoners, businessmen, yuppies, rednecks, punks, kids or your grandmother. Show starts at 8 p.m. 18+ show, and Due to COVID-19 restrictions, tickets are ONLY available online or by calling (937)224- JOKE. We are not currently selling tickets at the door.
  • ●  Yellow Cab Tavern Art Gallery, 700 E. Fourth St.: The Yellow Cab Gallery is BACK and hosting a monthly residency with local artists. Join for a gallery opening party from 5 – 8pm as part of every First Friday in Downtown Dayton! Also join for a special concert, Gulliver’s Travelling Medicine Show – who was was the jam band to see in Dayton in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. They routinely played to full houses in places like Gilly’s and Canal Street Tavern. Gulliver’s drew from classic influences like the Grateful Dead and the Band, as well as more esoteric acts like Talking Heads, Phish and Frank Zappa. Cover starts at 8:00pm on Oct 1st with performance starting around 9:00pm! Tickets are $7 presale and $10 at the doors. **Presale tickets end at Midnight on Sept 30th. Ticket info at https://www.facebook.com/events/324175512837811/

    Dining and Drinks

  • ●  Bozack’s Cocktail Lounge, 142 E. Third St: Bozack’s is a fun neighborhood, urban upscale cocktail lounge with a great positive, laid back vibe. Open for First Fridays, where you might just catch some live music. Stop in for a drink.
  • ●  Choice Juice Boxx, 31 S. St. Clair St.: Join us for a Friday Juice Happy Hour with a free wellness shot, available until supplies run out. Choice Juice Boxx offers healthy and natural alkaline juices and drinks that promote a healthy lifestyle.
  • Oct. 1 is a big celebration for Flying Pizza in downtown Dayton at 223 N. Main Street. The business is celebrating 50 years downtown, and Friday marks the final day of the celebration week for the Graci family, who opened the doors of Flying Pizza in 1971. The business is celebrating with giveaways of t-shirts, sweatshirts, treats and 16 big- screen televisions! “We do one thing, and we do one thing right: pizza,” Frank Graci said of their New York Style slices and pies. During the week-long celebration, Flying Pizza will invite guests and business regulars to sign a banner that will be given to John Graci to mark the momentous occasion.
  • ●  Jollity, 127 E. Third St: Open for dinner on Fridays until 10 p.m., Jollity also now serves Saturday brunch from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Jollity is a new restaurant in The Fire Blocks District with a full-service new American and Midwest cuisine with global influence.Find regular business hours and menus at: https://www.jollitydayton.com/
  • ●  Local Cantina, 501 E. First St: For First Friday specials you’ll find $5 Mustache Ride Margaritas and $3 Draft pints from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
  • ●  Lily’s Dayton, 329 E. Fifth St., 937-723-7637: Open for dine in, delivery with 937Delivers or carryout – join us for local food and hand-crafted tiki or traditional cocktails. Including two outdoors patios, and DORA drinks you can take to Out on Fifth.
  • ●  Mudlick Tap House, 135 E. Second St., (937) 895-4066: Join us to kick of First Friday for Happiness Hours, from 4-6 p.m. with $2 off glasses of wine, a $6 cocktail feature, $2 off draft beers and 1⁄2 off of shareables. Enjoy a night on our extended outdoor patio.
  • ●  Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St., 937-223-9205: Every First Friday join us for Happy Hour deals from 5-8 p.m. with music from the Linda Prevo Band. Stop in for some of the best pizza in Dayton. Happy hour specials and LIVE music. Dine in, carryout and curbside pickup available. Find our menu on our website here.
  • ●  Salar Restaurant and Lounge, 400 E. Fifth St., 937-203-3999: Kick off your First Friday with happy hour at Salar from 4-6 p.m. with cocktail specials, $5 house wine pours, $1 off of all beers, and bar bites specials. Enjoy dinner, too, available for dine in or carryout. And we have a special extended street patio set up for Out on 5th, the pedestrian promenade weekends in the Oregon District.
  • ●  Salt Block Biscuit Company, 115 E. Third St.: Biscuits aren’t just for breakfast! Salt Block has expanded dinner hours, with a special dinner menu for in-house dining, or your favorites to-go to enjoy at the Levitt Lawn. Find specials listed on the Salt Block Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/SaltBlockBiscuitCo. Or order for pickup on our website https://www.toasttab.com/salt-block-biscuit-company/v3/?mode=fulfillment.
  • ●  Third Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, 146 E. Third St.: Friday nights are Cigars, Cocktails and The Patio at Third Perk from 7 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy your favorite coffee drinks, or specialty cocktails with our full service bar. Saturday nights are Reggae Night from 8 p.m. to midnight.
  • ●  Troll Pub Dayton, 216 Wayne Ave.: Every Friday at the Troll Pub is part of W.T.F Happy Hours: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 4-7 p.m. featuring 1/2 Priced Pints & 1/2 priced apps, $4 Fireball Shots & $4 Wheatly Vodka specials.
  • ●  Table 33 Dayton, 130 W. Second St.: Fridays are wine night at Table 33, with $3.33 wine pairings with any entree.
  • ●  Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., 937-461-1101: Enjoy Half-off Happy Hour!
  • ●  Two Social Dayton, 123 E. Third St.: From drinking, to games, to drinking games, Two Social is the ideal hangout to meet new people, gain friendships and have a wonderful time in Dayton! Axe throwing, video games, bocce ball and more. Reserve your axe throwing lane today on our website. https://www.2socialdayton.com/
  • ●  Winans Chocolates and Coffee, 221 N. Patterson Blvd: Enjoy a First Friday at Winans with a special offer of $15 wine flights and a free piece of chocolate with the purchase of a latte (enjoy inside or on our patio). Open until 9:30 p.m. 937-732-1001.
  • ●  Zen Lounge and Sushi Bar, 121 N. Ludlow St.: NOW OPEN for a grand opening weekend, Zen Lounge and Sushi Bar is downtown Dayton’s newest restaurant, offering a full-service bar and a variety of fresh sushi options. Visit us at 121 N. Ludlow Street, open on Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

    Special Shopping Deals and Activities

  • ●  Choice Juice Boxx and Varsity House gallery, 31 S. St. Clair St.: Stop by the shop to grab a fresh juice or smoothie, or take a look at the offerings at Varsity House, which features local artists and makers. Start your Choice Juice punch card – buy 9 juices, get the 10th free. Free wellness shots while supplies last.
  • ●  Connect E-Sports, 212 Wayne Ave.: Stop by Connect E-Sports gaming in the Wheelhouse to play your favorite console or computer games in online tournaments or with your friends. A special First Friday deal for new guests: Any new account at Connect E-Sports will receive one free hour of gaming. Find info about the games you can play on the website: https://connectesports.com/
  • ●  Grace Lane Boutique, 133 E. Fourth St., 937-903-2729: Stop by this boutique toshop the latest in ethical fashion brands. Open until 6 p.m. on Fridays.
  • ●  Skeleton Dust Records, 133 E. Third St.: Join Skeleton Dust to explore new music with a variety of eclectic, yet curated selection of rock, punk, metal, r&b, hip hop, blues, jazz, electronic, experimental, reggae, and world music on vinyl, CD, and cassette format. Open until 6 p.m.
  • ●  Vidia’s Closet, 27 S. St. Clair St., 937-813-2144: Vidia’s Closet is having a First Friday Sale with 25% off of all in-store inventory, and a free bottle of wine with all purchases $100+. Shop fashion-forward trends for all in their online boutique at https://www.vidiascloset.com/.

Deadline Approaching for Entrepreneurs to Apply to Retail Lab

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), along with its small business development partners, is inviting business owners to apply to the third session of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab small business accelerator program. The Retail Lab is an intensive 12-week experience for business owners aiming to launch or grow their first-floor business in downtown Dayton. Applications will be accepted through July 22.

The Retail Lab has two main goals: To continue energizing downtown with vibrant storefronts, and to provide a supportive pathway into the downtown market for emerging first-floor entrepreneurs, especially woman-owned and minority-owned businesses.  The Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will provide a series of workshops, pitch opportunities, and services that connect the participating businesses to the people, ideas, capital, and resources that will help them thrive and grow in downtown Dayton. Weekly workshops will be held downtown.

Eligible businesses include boutiques, shops, cafes, studios, and restaurants – any consumer business that adds to the vibrancy of downtown’s sidewalks. Applicants should either be located in downtown Dayton or aiming to launch downtown in the next 6 to 12 months. Interested small business owners can find more information, including the program application, at DowntownDayton.org/retail-lab. Applications for the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will be accepted through July 22, with the program slated to begin in August.

 

The Retail Lab leverages support from many business resource partners including the Entrepreneurs’ Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, Five Rivers MetroParks – 2nd Street Market, Launch Dayton, and The Hub at the Dayton Arcade. “Building a successful business is full of challenges, but the Retail Lab equips participants with a network of peers and resources who can help them move forward faster,” said AJ Ferguson, director for entrepreneurship and innovation with the DDP and coordinator of the Retail Lab program.  “The Retail Lab was an amazing experience. Not only did I learn about areas of improvement for my business but I was able to make connections with fellow business owners,” said Lindsey Deck, a previous Retail Lab participant and owner of Space Three fitness studio in downtown Dayton.

 

Participation in the 12 week program is provided at no cost, and in addition to the support businesses receive through the workshops, each participant is eligible for up to $1,500 in services from creative, marketing, and operations consultants to implement a strategic improvement in their business.

July 2021 | Application & Selection Process
Deadline to apply: Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 11:59pm
August – October 2021 | Weekly Workshops (tentatively Tuesdays from 9am to 11am)
November – January 2021 | Capstone Project with Service Provider Support
February 2022 | Demo Day Presentations

Questions about the Retail Lab should be directed to AJ Ferguson, [email protected], or call (937) 681-9793.

 

Play Downtown Dayton Summer Bingo!

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) debuts a new feature of the DP&L Summer in the City lineup: Downtown Dayton Summer Bingo . The game will begin on Friday, July 3, and players can complete a bingo of challenges for the chance to win downtown Dayton prizes throughout the entire month of July.

Players will complete “challenges” that will have them exploring downtown Dayton dining, arts, culture, shopping and entertainment. The challenges include opportunities to explore in-person following social-distancing guidelines, or tasks that can be completed online from home. If they complete five challenges in a row on the game card to make a “bingo,” players can submit their card into the drawing to win prizes. Join in the fun at our Facebook event page here .

“Our goal is for players to explore downtown, support our small business community, learn about a new spot in downtown Dayton, and continue to safely visit downtown restaurants, shops, arts galleries and more throughout the summer,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

1.       Complete 5 squares in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to make a bingo.

2.        Snap a photo or take a screen grab to prove that you completed the task. All tasks                MUST be completed using a downtown Dayton business or location.

3.        Email your final completed bingo entry and supporting proof to [email protected] to be entered to win prizes from the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

● Weekly drawings – On Friday, July 10, 17 and 24, winners will be chosen for weekly prizes, including gift cards to downtown businesses. Weekly winners will be re-entered into the Grand Prize drawing.

● Grand Prizes – At the end of the month, five winners will be chosen to receive a Downtown Dayton Prize Pack, which includes more than $100 in gift cards to downtown restaurants, bars, and retailers.

RULES: How to submit your bingo:

  1. Following the rules below, email your submission to: [email protected] before Saturday, August 1, 2020.
  2. Only submit a full bingo (five completed tasks in a row).
  3. Only one entry per person.
  4. All bingo tasks should be submitted in one email. The email needs to include the following:
    1. A screen grab or photo of your bingo card with your 5 completed tasks marked off.
    2. Proof* of your completed tasks either in the body of the email, or as attachments to the

      email. Read on for Proof* of Completion rules.

    3. Your name, contact phone number, and email

*PROOF of bingo square task
Virtual (pink): Take a photo or screen grab of your completed social media or website task (example: screen grab the website you explored, or the new Facebook page you “like”). Include that picture as part of your final email submission.

Support Local (orange): Take a picture of yourself completing the task (example: snap a selfie while you’re at the local coffee shop). Include that picture as part of your final email submission.

Get Out & Explore (green): Take a picture while you’re completing the task. (example: snap a selfie in front of a downtown mural). Include that picture as part of your final email submission.

For more information, including helpful tips on places to visit to complete some of the bingo challenges, visit the Downtown Dayton Partnership website. Here you can find the pages for OPEN* downtown Dayton restaurants , OPEN* retail , OPEN* things to do , Find it Downtown guides and downtown Dayton self-guided tours .

Something wicked this way comes: Downtown Dayton’s Halloween Haunts

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With Halloween fast approaching, downtown is filled with spine-chilling festivities. From haunted houses to a spooky showing of the Bride of Frankenstein, there is plenty of eerie activities waiting.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Ghost N Goblin 5k, RiverScape MetroPark, 111 East Monument Ave.

Get ghoulish for a good cause with this 3.1-mile run around downtown that benefits The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costumes. The race will start at 6:30 p.m. For registration information and costs, click here.

Buildings decorate for the Hauntfest activities.

Thursday, Oct. 20: Halloween Pub Crawl 2011 starts at Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.

The Dayton Ballet Barre hosts this pub crawl that includes numerous bars in the Oregon Arts District. Each $10 ticket covers drink and food discounts. Locations include:

  • 6 p.m. Oregon Express
  • 7 p.m. Tumbleweed Connection
  • 8 p.m.  Lucky’s Taproom
  • 9 p.m. Trolley Stop
  • 10 p.m. Dublin Pub

Thursday, Oct. 20- Sunday, Oct. 23, Haunted Series, Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St.

The Dayton Ballet presents the haunting world premiere of Sleepy Hollow. The series also features the return of Hyding Inside, a depiction of man’s struggle between good and evil loosely based upon Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. For ticket information, call 449-5060.

Saturday, Oct. 29: Hauntfest on Fifth, Oregon Arts District on East Fifth Street

Dayton’s largest and longest-standing Halloween bash returns for another spooktacular night. It will feature a roundup of entertainment, including live music by such bands as Back Stabbath, a Black Sabbath cover band, and roving performers. The event also will include a chance to win cash prizes in a costume contest, food and drinks, and more.

Another Hauntfest highlight is the Third Annual Boo & Bruise pro wrestling contest. Rockstar pros will compete for the chance to become the first ever Cicero Cup winner. The contest will be held on Fifth and Jackson streets, next to the Cicero Law Office.

Costumed customers sit down for a drink at Hauntfest.

Join emcee Jim Bucher and the Bud Girls for the costume contest, which will be held on the main stage at 10 p.m. A crew of Bud Girls will roam Hauntfest and select partygoers with the best costumes in three categories and give them passes to participate in the contest, when a panel of celebrity judges will pick the winner in each category. First, second and third prizes will be given in the following categories: (1) best group costume, (2) best individual costume and (3) best witch costume.

In addition, many of the bars and taverns in the Oregon Arts District will host live bands and other entertainment the night of Hauntfest. Many will not charge a cover the night of the event. Tickets will be $5 in advance, available at most Oregon Arts District taverns and clubs, and $5 at the gate from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets purchased at the gate after 10 p.m. will be $10.

Hauntfest on Fifth is sponsored by Budweiser, Bud Light, Budweiser Select, Buckeye Vodka, 104.7 WTUE, 103.9 The X, 99.9 The Channel, Mix 107.7, WDTN Channel 2, Dayton City Paper and the Oregon District Business Association.

Saturday, Oct. 29: 1st Annual Tailgate of Terror, Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.

Get the Hauntfest party started with this Halloween fundraiser. Each $20 ticket guarantees a parking spot for Hauntfest and live music by The Fair Shakes at 5 p.m., The White Soots at 7 p.m. and C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks at 9 p.m. DJ Jay Madewell of Fab Gear also will spin tunes throughout the evening. The parking lot will be open from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Act fast — there are a limited number of tickets for parking spots. Walk-in tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets will be available at the following Oregon Arts District businesses: Feather’s Vintage Clothing (440 E. Fifth St.), ReCreate Music Store (438 E. Fifth St.) and Omega Music (318 E. Fifth St.). Tickets are also available through the Dayton Circus Creative Collective via email at [email protected] or by phone at 490-9268.

A smiling skeleton walks down Fith Street during Hauntfest.

Saturday, Oct. 29: Sidebar Spooktacular, 410 E. Fifth St.

Take a rest bit from Hauntfest and stop inside this Oregon Arts District bar for a drink. The costume party kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and will continue until 2:00 a.m. Each ticket is good for food all night, music provided by a DJ and one glass of Sidebar’s sangria. For ticket information, contact Tess Vella at 723-9415.

Saturday, Oct. 29: The Monster Hop at Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St.

Check out live music featuring rock Robthebank. The show will start at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $5.

Saturday, Oct. 29: PhilharMonster Halloween Concert, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St.

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Neal Gittleman leads this special performance of Peter and the Wolf. The performance will include scenes from Bride of Frankenstein. The concert is at 3 p.m., but come early at 2 p.m. for some pre-concert fun. A costume contest will award prizes to the most creative ensembles in three different categories. For ticket information and cost, click here.

Saturday, Oct. 29: “Bride of Frankenstein” with Orchestra, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second Street

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will provide live music alongside this Halloween classic in a performance that will send chills down your spine. The show will begin at 8 p.m. For tickets, click here.

Dayton’s Haunted Butcher House on Wayne Ave., 508 Wayne Ave.

Downtown Dayton’s newest and wildest haunted house attraction promises to make each scare “memorable and original by igniting all of the senses.” The haunted house will be open Thursday to Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight now through Nov. 1.

October First Friday to Bring Thrills and Chills

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Plan ahead for the next free monthly downtown art hop ― which will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 ― because there’s a frightening amount of fun to get into.

SMARmare's ghoulish performance in 2010.

A free outdoor performance of SMAGmare will be held in the Oregon Arts District next to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Set to popular music, SMAG Dance Collective, Zoot Theatre Company, Sandstorm Dance, musician Al Holbrook and local hip-hop dancers will present this tale of an evil woman luring her innocent sister to a moment of indiscretion between her mother and another man. The chance viewing causes the sister to lose touch with reality, and she creates a twisted vision of her mother and the lover as zombies controlled by her evil sister. Prepare for scares, surprises and even heartfelt moments as vampires, werewolves, the undead and the dead brought back to life, witches and warlocks, and fiendish ghouls manifest on stage.

First Friday also is a chance for visitors to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate from AAA Miami Valley by completing a First Friday Passport. Each month, AAA will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

Visitors can pick up a First Friday passport at participating locations (click here for a list). The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and once visitors have all four stamps, they fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Explore downtown with the First Friday Scavenger Hunt. Sponsored by updayton, participants should pick up a clue sheet in a First Friday Passport and be prepared to venture into the Oregon Arts District and along Wayne Avenue. Everyone who completed the hunt will end at a party at the Cannery Lofts, 500 E. Third St., featuring free beer, wine, snacks and a live DJ.

The First Friday Passport Program is a great way to explore downtown.

K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., will host Round 2 of Art-Off. The winners from Round 1 will battle new participants in this Iron Chef-like competition in which contestants compete with surprise materials. Audience members will vote for the artists, and Round 2 winners will compete for the Knot Award, a metal sculpture handmade by Hamilton Dixon, at a final event on Nov. 11. To sign up to participate, contact Kelly Sexton at 937-461-5149 or [email protected].

Steamroller Prints: Flat-Out Fun will be held on the street level of the Transportation Center garage on the corner of Fifth Street and Patterson Boulevard (near the former Greyhound Bus terminal) from 5 to 9 p.m. as part of the second annual statewide gathering of Ohio print cooperatives. Watch master printers from throughout Ohio create enormous images made by inking a 4-by-4 foot linoleum block, covering it with paper and rolling over it with a steamroller.

In addition, 45 smaller blocks carved by community members will be printed using this steamroller method. A limited number of blocks are available at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., which is hosting the event. Blocks are $10 each, which includes the opportunity to bring your block to the event, ink it and have it printed. Each participant will keep one print and the original carving; one signed print will be donated to DVAC.

Print co-op members from throughout Ohio also will participate in an open portfolio at ThinkTV, 110 S. Jefferson St., from 5-9 p.m. Many unframed prints will be exhibited and offered for sale for a very reasonable price.

Come taste Buckeye Vodka at the Victoria Theatre before the Projects Unlimited Variety Series presentation of The Flying Karamazov Brothers from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The tasting includes free appetizers. For more information and a special price for the show, call Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630.

Shakespeare for Life, a marathon relay reading of the Bard’s works, will start at 8 p.m. during First Friday. Free Shakespeare! and Optum Nurses for a Cure, a registered team with the Centerville chapter of Relay for Life, will present the relay 24 hours a day through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Blue Sky Gallery, 33 N. Main St. The event kicks off with a reading of Julius Caesar, with the goal of reading all 37 plays, 154 sonnets and five poems credited to William Shakespeare. The event is a fundraiser for Optum Nurses for a Cure and Free Shakespeare! To volunteer or make a conation, contact [email protected].


Each month, numerous downtown art galleries stay open late for the public.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours will host two tours highlighting local history. A tour of the Oregon Arts District will meet in the Jay’s Seafood parking lot at 5 p.m., and the Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will meet at Courthouse Square at 7 p.m. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact Leon Bey, tour guide, at 274-4749 or email [email protected].

A variety of roaming performers will provide entertainment (weather permitting). Courteous Mass, a community of bike-minded individuals, will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for an urban street cycling ride through the city and First Friday action.

Galleries and other venues throughout downtown will host exhibit openings, sales, live music and other special events, and restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, 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. Click here for a complete list of events.

Downtown’s Biggest Street Party Is Getting Bigger

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A child paints the street as part of an interactive component of Urban Nights.

If you are looking to take your weekend to new heights, look no further than downtown Dayton.

Urban Nights will be back with even more fun activities on Friday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 10 p.m. New this year is Over the Edge, a challenge that combines fundraising with adventure. Participants who raise at least $1,000 will be given the opportunity to rappel over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. Space is limited; for more information, call 220-6857.

Urban Nights has plenty of live entertainment. Check out the stage featuring Celtic and folk music, including performances by  Norman’s Conquest. Back by popular demand is the Community Stage. For the first part of the evening, local bands and performers will be allowed 10-minute slots on the stages. The second half will feature karaoke, when anyone can take a turn at the mic.

Urban Nights is filled with interactive activities. The public pianos that debuted

A street performer juggles fire.

during the fall 2010 Urban Nights are also back by popular demand. Hauer Music will provide four pianos to be placed on street corners throughout downtown, which pedestrians are invited to play. Other interactive activities will include an opportunity to help create a work of art with jelly beans, a chalk walk on the sidewalk, and a chance to learn how to break dance and juggle.

K12 Gallery for Young People, 510 E. Third St., will host Round 1 of Art-Off, a new fundraising event in which individuals battle to create the greatest art-making spectacle in an Iron Chef-like competition. Participants will receive materials (announced the night of the event) to create artwork within the theme “chaos vs. order.” Ten artists will compete during six 30-minute time slots from 6 to 9 p.m., and audience members will vote on each time slot’s winning artist based on the artists’ performances in crafting their pieces, as well as their finished products. To sign up to participate, contact Kelly Sexton at 461-5149 or [email protected].

Winning entries from the Downtown in Focus amateur and professional photography contest will be on display in the Kettering Tower lobby during Urban Nights. One amateur winner and one professional winner were selected in each of the following categories: My Downtown Favorite, Downtown at Night and Abstract Downtown. A panel of judges awarded a $250 cash prize to the Best in Show winner in each division. In addition, City of Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell selected one photo that best represents the City’s “Dayton Originals” motto.

The weekend-long Taste of Miami Valley will kick off during Urban Nights at RiverScape MetroPark. Guests can sample food from more than 30 area restaurants. Admission is free, and most tastes are $3 each.

A street painter illustrates the vibrant downtown atmosphere.

A map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, is available online at www.downtowndayton.org. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information.

The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event trolleys to help visitors get around. In addition, cyclists will gather at 5:15 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field for Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a community ride through the action hosted by Bike Miami Valley.

For more information, contact Krystal Luketic at 937-224-1518 ext. 227 or [email protected].

Urban Nights is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from WDTN-TV2, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Budweiser Select, the Downtown Priority Board, Clear Channel and Mix 107.7-FM, Wright Dunbar, Inc., Generation Dayton and the Ohio Arts Council.

Celebrate the start of September with First Friday

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Whether you are in the mood to explore downtown or you just want to kick back and listen to some live music, the Sept. 2 First Friday has all the entertainment you need from 5 to 10 p.m.

All summer the local bands have been rocking out at the RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave. This Friday, Human Cannonball will perform at the free First Friday @ 5 concert from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Beer will be sold from 5 to 7 p.m. and the concession will be open. Free bike parking provided.

First Friday also is a chance for visitors to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate from AAA Miami Valley by completing a First Friday Passport. Each month, AAA will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

Visitors can pick up a First Friday passport at participating locations (click here for a list). The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and once visitors have all four stamps, they fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Starting at 8 p.m., numerous First Friday locations will blast Rev. Cool’s Around the Fringe radio show, which features lively dance music from around the world and your own backyard and airs on WYSO-FM 91.3. A variety of roaming performers also will provide entertainment (weather permitting).

See the Sights

For those looking for a unique way to tour downtown, check out Courteous Mass. This community of bike-minded individuals will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for an urban street cycling ride through the city and First Friday action.

Another great way to stretch your legs while seeing the city is with Gem City Circle Walking Tours, which will host two tours highlighting local history. A tour of the Oregon Arts District will meet in the Jay’s Seafood parking lot at 5 p.m., and the Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton tour will meet at Courthouse Square at 7 p.m. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact Leon Bey, tour guide, at 274-4749 or email [email protected].

Channel Your Inner Artist

First Friday is a great chance to interact with art. Press, 257 Wayne Ave., will host a kids’ art event in which children ages 4 to 10 are invited to explore their creative side by creating works in a variety of mixed media.  SMAG Dance Collective will perform in front of Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St., at 7 p.m. with painter Mike Elsass and musician Al Holbrook. Elsass will apply paint to a canvas and four dancers, each representing a different color and mood, will spread the paint with their bodies. The group also will perform its Homeless Series, which features solo and duet performances, throughout the Fifth Street corridor.

Additionally, K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., will host its first “Collaborative First Fridays for Families” sculpture-making event. First Friday visitors are invited to stop by and help create a collaborative sculpture around the theme “Junk It, Funk It.” Work alongside artists Cindi Remm and Michele Devitt to turn recyclables and junk into a community sculpture.

Dayton is filled with a variety of art exhibits.  Open until 8 p.m., Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., will feature “Coming to a Waterway Near You.” This exhibit by Virginia Burroughs examines the effects of blue-green algae on waterways across the country, and includes demonstrations by Burroughs on applying mixed media to photographs.

In the Orgeon Arts District, Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., will display works of pastel artist Daniel Wise and a preview of the “Sedona Vortex” exhibit by Mike Elsass. Down the street, Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St., will feature a variety of gallery artists will demonstrating their techniques, including painting, drawing, beading and Zentangle. The Cannery Art and Design Center, 434 E. Third St, will feature the “crazy quilt” paintings of Carol Stoops and the oil paintings and printmaking of Kathryn Pitstick, along with live jazz and refreshments.

Here’s what’s cookin’
After you’ve visited the galleries, grab a bite to eat or stop to watch the entertainment at numerous restaurants downtown.  Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St., will offer $1 off tap beer for those who mention First Friday. Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St., will feature a discount on rose, $5 for a 6-ounce glass. Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, will tap a firkin tapping of Left Hand Brewery’s 400 Pound Monkey at 5:30 p.m.

Newly opened Olive, an urban dive, 416 E. Third St., will offer dessert and a beverage for $7 and will feature the art of Melinda A Esmond. De’Lish Cafe, 139 Main St., will feature live music and the “downtowner” specialty cocktail. Blind Bob’s, Dublin Pub, Garden Station, Jay’s Seafood, Omega Music, Oregon Express and Trolley Stop will feature live music.

. . .and there’s more!
District Antiques, 122 Van Buren St., will offer 15 percent off any purchase of new items and 10 percent off consigned items. Newly opened Clash Consignment Co., 113 E. Third St., will host live DJs and a raffle for store gift certificates.

Restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open during First Friday. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, 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. Click here for a complete list of events taking place downtown.

Seeing the City from New Eyes

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A native of Cincinnati, I didn’t really dip my toes into everything Dayton has to offer until my freshman year of college at the University of Dayton. While some of my classes exposed me to popular sites in the city, such as the Schuster Center, I took it upon myself to explore lesser-known pockets of downtown. After four years of living and working in Dayton, I am still finding interesting new places, but I am proud to say I definitely know more than I did when I was a freshman.

Making old new again

As a girl who perpetually has nothing to wear (yet a closet full of clothes), I’m always on the prowl for new additions to my wardrobe. In the past few years I have gained a huge appreciation for vintage clothing, although I am still learning how to filter through what’s gold and what’s just … old. The best place I’ve found to score some great finds? Feathers Vintage Clothing. Located in the Oregon Arts District, it’s the perfect place to browse before grabbing a stuffed burger at Blind Bob’s. Disclaimer: One glance at its front window, filled with the kinds of clothes you dream about stumbling across in such a store, and you will have no choice but to stop and see what’s inside.

Lights, Camera, Action

The best movie experiences are ones in which the whole audience connects over the film. While these occasions are rare, they make going to the movies special. At The Neon, one gets that sense of community during every film. Plus, the selection is awesome – way better than any other theater in the area. It offers everything from Oscar-nominated blockbusters to the lesser-known movies all the cool kids rave about. If you’re wary about seeing a movie that hasn’t been over-advertised, check out The Neon’s website. It provides great summaries, as well as a schedule for upcoming films.

Music to my ears

My inaugural trip to Omega Music was on a first date. After a delicious dinner at Thai 9, we went on a romantic walk down the brick-paved stretch of Fifth St. in the Oregon Arts District. While the night was awkward (Sorry I was more excited about buying that live concert CD than I was about being on that date with you), I still love going back and browsing the music selection. The staff also is really friendly, which I haven’t always encountered in music stores. I still think of that long-lost first date every time I walk into Omega, but at least there’s great music to make me forget it.

Get Lucky

As a lover of food (but by no means a connoisseur), my favorite places to eat are ones that have a unique, but not intimidating, menu. Enter Lucky’s Taproom. A descriptive beer menu for someone who knows nothing about beer (i.e., me) and a staff willing to make recommendations? Sign me up. The first time I went to Lucky’s I ordered the fish and got to choose the beer it was battered in. Awesome. Apparently quality is always Lucky’s standard, as the food is excellent every time I go.

Hit the pavement

A longtime runner before college, I saw my move to Dayton as a chance to get to know a new city – on foot. Confession: In high school I ran almost 10 miles daily with my cross-country team, but when left to my own devices, I am way too tempted to sit on the couch and watch reruns on E! instead of getting up and exercising. Having new, uncharted territory encouraged me to start running here, but it was the awesome routes that kept me going. I love cities, yet I love being in parks; lucky for me, downtown is a blend of both. Check out the Five Rivers MetroParks website for more information on all of the trails available.

This is by no means a complete list of things to do in downtown Dayton. Be sure to check out the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website for more information and other suggestions of great places in the city to visit.

Aug. 5 First Friday has everything from skatedecks to a scavenger hunt

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Looking for a different way to explore downtown? The Aug. 5 First Friday is rolling in with a night of live music, art shows and entertainment.

Broaden Your Horizons

First Friday will be the continuation of the First Friday Passport Program. Pick up a First Friday Passport at RiverScape and other participating locations (click here for a list) to win prizes from AAA Miami Valley, which each month will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and visitors can get all four stamps during one First Friday or complete it another month. Once completed, they simply fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Get a Clue

The Aug. 5 First Friday is also the premiere of the First Friday Scavenger Hunt, an event hosted by volunteers from the young professional organization updayton. Teams of friends and families are invited to enjoy an evening packed with clues that include stops at some of downtown’s swankiest restaurants, venues and art spaces. Follow the clues to the final destination ― the First Friday After Party, where complimentary beer, wine and light snacks await everyone who completes the hunt. Clue sheets also will be inside First Friday passports.

Skateboards, Sculptures and Still-Life

Another featured event is the “The Art of Skate,” an art exhibit featuring skate decks and paintings celebrating skating culture past and present. Held at the Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St, more than a dozen artists contributed to the project, including Amy Kollar Anderson, Rev. Chad Wells, Mike Guidone and Jason Goad, along with two California artists. The exhibit will be open until midnight, and the skate decks will be raffled later in August.

New to the city’s arts scene, the Dayton Arts Project will present local artists’ work, followed by a performance of choreography, dance and media at Sinclair Community College’s Blair Hall Theatre. Featured artists include Damon Sink, who will create new live music in a collaboration with choreographer Rodney Veal; choreographer Ashley Sass, who will present her work, Momentum; Tom Watson III, presenting his Stem/ReAssemblage series; and Ben Quinn, who will display five new large works in a mixed-media exhibit.

Additional art shows include:

  • The Blue Sky Project’s final exhibit will be showcased at 8 N. Main St. In this eight-week summer artist-in-residence program, five professional artists from throughout the world have worked with area teens in a collaborative art-making process that resulted in the new works of contemporary art that will be on display.
  • The Cannery Art and Design Center, , 434 E. Third St., will host Doug Benedict’s “Found Object Steel Sculpture,” along with live jazz, wine and hors d’œuvres.
  • Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., will present an introduction to the Record Gallery, a new store featuring collectible music items, along with new works by Mike Elsass and Bob Rhodes.
  • Color 2 Gallery, 519 E. Fifth St., will host Mike Elsass’ reception for the graduates of Stivers.
  • Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., will host its 20th Annual Open Members’ Show in the gallery. A selection of artists from the Members’ Show will give brief gallery talks about their work.
  • Elaine Balsley Fine Art, 523 E. Fifth St., will feature artwork by Stivers School for the Arts graduates.
  • Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St., will feature new figurative wood carvings by Marvin Olinsky and new still-life paintings by Nancy Hatton.
  • K12 Gallery, 510 E. Third St., will feature the work of TEJAS summer art camp students, as well as work by local painters in an exhibition centered on landscapes and showing films created by students throughout this year in K12’s first Film Fest.

Hitting the Right Note

In the Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., the Dayton Creative Circus Collective will host Free Music First Friday featuring a rare Dayton appearance by The Hiders from Cincinnati. After its 2006 debut, the band was named by NPR’s World Café as an “artist to watch.” Tim Pritchard of the local band Floods will open at 8 p.m.

More live music will be featured throughout the Oregon District. Check out the Trolley Stop, the Oregon Express, the Tumbleweed Connection and the Dublin Pub for a variety of performances all night. Additionally, Practice Yoga will be hosting the WYSO-FM Rev. Cool Around the Fringe Dance Party, and several participating First Friday locations will be playing the long-running radio show.

Rock Out

Local musicians Blind Karma will play the First Friday @ 5 show at RiverScape MetroPark. The concession will be open and beer will be sold during the performance from 5-7 p.m. The concert will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop.

…And There’s More!

Celebrating its grand opening will be Clash Consignment Co., 113 E. Third St., which features items for adult women and men, including an eclectic and funky mix of vintage to modern clothing, jewelry, shoes and other accessories. The store also carries original work by local artists, and will be hosting DJs during First Friday. New to First Friday is District Antiques, 122 Van Buren St., which specializes in antiques, collectibles, home furnishings and artwork. Patrons will receive 15 percent off new items and 10 percent off consignment items during First Friday. Martha Mellon Interior Design Studio also will offer free 30-minute in-store design consultations. Visitors are asked to bring their room measurements, photos, fabric samples, and toss pillows and other accessories to help with the design consultation. A variety of roaming performers will provide entertainment (weather permitting). This month, catch The Dropbacks juggling duo, the Circle Nerdz breakdance crew, solo saxophonist Tyrone Martin, and accordion and violin duet Nathan Rogers and Liz Landis.

From approximately 8 to 11 p.m., many of downtown’s buildings will be lit for amateur and professional photographers who would like to capture night shots of the city in preparation for this year’s Downtown in Focus photo contest, held in conjunction with the Sept. 16 Urban Nights. Visit DowntownDayton.org for contest details.

Visitors also can get outdoors during First Friday for Courteous Mass, which will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for a bike ride through the event action. Gem City Circle Walks will host two historical walking tours led by longtime local history buffs Leon Bey, Nancy Roach and Curt Dalton. An Oregon Arts District walk will begin at 5 p.m. and the “Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton” will begin at 7 p.m. Each walk is $10 and advance reservations are required by contacting Bey at 937-274-4749 or [email protected].

In addition, all the restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open during First Friday. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, Clear Channel Dayton, Heidelberg Distributing Co., Five Rivers MetroParks, Culture Works 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. Click here for a complete list of events taking place downtown.

Add address – also, check for addresses throughout. Since this doesn’t start with the list, as in the release and brochure, there may be other places the address needs to be included.

First Friday band likes pop, rock, ‘unexpected elements’

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When Greg Bell plays a show with his band, Blind Karma, he goes for impact.

“My first job is to do something that will astound my band mates to break that ice on stage,” he says. “Then we can address the audience as a unit.”

From Bell’s description of the band’s performances, it is clear it set out to entertain, no matter the cost.

“I don’t mind looking foolish if that opens the door to get the audience involved,” he says. “Generally, if I see someone shoe gazing, I will do something so ridiculous they can’t shoe-gaze anymore.”

Audiences can expect this outgoing presentation when Blind Karma performs at the Aug. 5 First Friday @ 5 summer concert at the RiverScape MetroPark pavilion .

Formed in 2008, Blind Karma is a trio of Daytonians who bring crowds to its feet with a variety of cover songs from as early as the 1960s. Bell says the band likes to play rock and pop music, but also tries to include unexpected elements in their concerts.

Although the band has original material, they are currently only playing covers. They pull their material from a variety of decades as to find something that appeals to everyone in the audience.

“I’m always hoping for that little extra something to remind the audience how special that song, that time period was,” Bell says.

Off the long list of songs on Blind Karma’s setlist, Bell declines to list a favorite to play live (“That’s like asking me to choose amongst my children!”) but admits “Time” by Pink Floyd is especially meaningful to him.

“It’s one of the most beautiful, moving songs,” he says. “I want to do it justice and play it with conviction. It has the potential to be an emotionally charged song.”

As far as venues go, Bell looks forward to playing in Dayton for a variety of reasons: playing downtown at RiverScape MetroPark, working with sound engineer Monika Shroyer and participating in a community event, such as First Friday.

Bell recognizes Dayton as a grounded place to perform — each venue has unique strong points and the and want to create the best experience possible for the audience.

“There is a direct connection here in town of people wanting to do the best we can with what they’ve got,” he says.

You can catch Blind Karma when they play the August 5 First Friday @ 5 concert from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark Pavilion, 111 E. Monument Ave. The concession will be open and beer will be sold from 5-7 p.m. The concerts will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop.


Get Gigs

Women in Jazz Festival draws female musicians from all over region

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Jazz singers from all over the country will be performing.

Downtown’s Summer Music Series kicks off with the 29th annual Michelob Women in Jazz Festival on June 26. The event will feature eight hours of soulful music, including performances by Teresa Hunt, Beverly Jackson with Audrey Whitaker, Elizabeth Hayes, April Aloisio, Patricia Berg, Sandra Rutledge, Linda Dachtyl and Brenda Flowers.

The festival, held at Dave Hall Plaza on Fourth St. between Jefferson and Main Streets is free. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and relax on the greenspace while they listen to the best female artists in the region. Food and merchandise vendors will also be present.

“We want crowds,” says headlining act Teresa Hunt from Atlanta. “Set up tents and bring your kids to hear both contemporary and traditional jazz all day.”

Hunt, a Dayton native, will be performing at the festival for the first time in five or six years. There’s one thing she’s most looking forward to about being in her hometown again.

“I’m excited to see my grandson, David,” she says. “He’s three and I’m hoping to have him front and center.”

The Michelob Women in Jazz Festival will be held from 1-9 p.m. No alcoholic beverages may be brought in (though beer will be sold at the festival), and no glass containers or pets are allowed.

The festival is presented by the City of Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services. The series is sponsored by Heidelberg Distributing Co., the Downtown Dayton Partnership, WROU, Martin Romie Talent, and the Crowne Plaza Dayton Hotel. For more information, call 333-8400.

Courthouse Square performers add entertainment to lunch hour

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Free pizza is served to the crowd in the square.

Now that the rain has finally stopped, Courthouse Square is the place to be weekdays at noontime.

Starting June 21 and lasting through Sept. 15, The Square is Where … will feature a variety of performers. Entertainment booked to date includes belly dancers, jugglers and a saxophonist.  The festivities will occur around noon on most Tuesdays through Fridays.

Spectators can enjoy the show while grabbing lunch served by food vendors. Additionally, the YMCA will be hosting practice yoga and Zumba classes, perfect for those looking to recharge during their lunch breaks.

The Square is Where … is inspired by Affair on the Square, an event that took place more than a decade ago.

Now the Downtown Dayton Partnership and Montgomery Country are presenting The Square is Where … is a part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan to encourage growth and development in the city center.

“We’re trying to show there is a thriving, vibrant downtown during the work day,” says Krystal Luketic, special event coordinator for the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

As details become available, a complete schedule will be posted on www.DowntownDayton.org and www.mcohio.org. Any local performers interesting in entertaining on the square should contact Ashleigh Nunamaker at 937-224-1518, ext. 235 or [email protected].