Dayton937

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

Greg Simms Jr.

Showcase Cinemas was Dayton’s Gen X Movie Theatre

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It’s your favorite neighborhood Culture Celebrator again. I’m back with another awesome trip down memory lane. If you’re like me, a Generation Xer, you have to remember the movie theatre where you saw all of your favorite movies from 1989 to 2009…Showcase Cinemas.  Did you go?

Showcase Cinemas was located at 7737 Waynetowne Blvd. in Huber Heights, Ohio. The exact opening date for the building was December 15th, 1989. Showcase boasted multiple theatres inside and a massive parking lot. It immediately became the place to be to watch movies for a large swath of the Miami Valley. It also was the number spot for Gen X to watch the latest blockbuster (later classic) flicks. I can vouch for this statement because I was one of those young people. Near every smash hit movie released from 1989 to 2005 I saw at Showcase, and so did most of my friends.

 

The Showcase party was over in 2010. That’s when Texas-based company Rave Motion Pictures bought the Huber Showcase Cinemas location. Two years later, Cinemark USA (also based in Texas) bought Rave, and now Cinemark Huber Heights 16 stands on Waynetowne Blvd.


I’ve recently been to Cinemark, and it’s an impressive movie house. But Showcase Cinemas has my memories and my heart. I’m sure you fellow (slightly) older folks feel the same way. Talk to me, did you go see your favorite films at Showcase? What were they? Let’s rap…and celebrate our culture.

 

Did You Rock Out To Z-93?

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If you belong to Generation X, or you’re a late-stage Baby Boomer and you lived in the Miami Valley in the 1980s and 90s, chances are, you did. Often. Z-93, otherwise known as WGTZ, was Dayton’s premier Top 40 radio station. If you wanted to hear the biggest pop music hits in America, you went to the 92.9 dial on your stereo. For many of us, Z-93 was the first time we ever heard Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, or Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name”. Or even Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Hell, you might even hear a Tupac song. Z-93 was the place for pop smashes.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, check out these awesome Z-93 signs and pics. You can also listen to old WGTZ broadcasts via the links below.


Talk to us. Did you love Z-93? What was your favorite Z-93 experience? What songs/artists did they play that you loved? What did you love about the station?

 

Bill Miller Jr., Dayton’s Coffee Man

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Dayton-area businessman Bill Miller is back with a new coffee shop. If you’re plugged into the culture of the Miami Valley, you know that Miller and his coffee endeavours have been a mainstay in this region for years now. He’s recently opened his newest coffee shop, Miller’s Grind, at West Social Tap & Table at 1100 West Third Street. I recently caught up with Miller and chopped it up (pun intended) with him about his latest venture.

Who is Bill Miller Jr., and what do you do?

“My name is Bill Miller Jr, and I am a serial entrepreneur, family man and an amputee.”

You are very well known in Dayton. Talk to me about your origins and history with the city.

“I grew up in West Dayton. My parents instilled in me that hard work will take you far in life. After attending Colonel White High School, I left to take my talents to NKU. I moved back to Dayton, after a few years, I worked as a manager at various retail companies around the city. Working my way up the corporate ladder. I held some high-profile positions and brought that experience back to Dayton. Eventually, my family decided to take that experience and pour it into something that we all knew about… COFFEE!”

You’ve been an entrepreneur for years. Tell me about your past endeavors.

“That list is too long!  My first business was in 1999, an ecommerce company called 911CdCare.com.  My first coffee shop was called Wired Cyber Café in 2001. Recently, I have taught my children the ins and outs of entrepreneurship.  Helping them to take the family coffee business to the next level.  Millers Grind and Brews is a family business completely run by my Wife (Sarah Miller) and my three kids. (Bill3, Kiarra and Olivia).”

You are re-opening your coffee shop Miller’s Grind in a new location. What’s the story behind this?

“Miller’s Grind and Brews is returning to West Dayton with a fresh start! The story behind this location is rooted in the desire to bring our signature blend of community and great coffee back to the vibrant Wright Dunbar District. After a brief closure to focus on a healthier lifestyle and fine-tune the menu, we wanted to come back to the West Social Tap and Table and offer our loyal customers a better coffee experience in the Dayton region.”

What started your love of coffee?

“My parents started us on this coffee journey when I was young.  From the first sip I fell in love with coffee.  I’ve passed that love and knowledge to my children that they will pass to their children.”

What are your future plans with Miller’s Grind?

“Speaking with my children about the future, they want to expand into franchising. Opening franchising opportunities will allow other families to achieve generational wealth.”

If you have any advice for aspiring business owners in the Miami Valley, what would it be?

“Where do I start? Never tell a small-minded person your big idea. Those people are dream killers. Move in silence as much as possible.  Don’t tell anyone anything! RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH.”

“You must take that leap of faith. It’s scary and the fear of failing will always be there.  But if you don’t try, then you have already failed. We all fail, learn from it. I bet you won’t do it again.”

Miller’s Grind & Brews

W. Social Tap & Table 
1100 W Third St, Dayton

11am – 3pm Mon – Thurs
9am – 3pm Sat

Peechee Does Braids and Locs…For Everybody

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One of the Miami Valley’s best kept secrets is Alexandria Di Nofa, aka Peechee Does It. She’s one of Dayton’s premier hair braiders and locticians, as well as being one of the more popular Millennials in the region. I recently spoke with her about her craft, her origins, and her life.

Tell us all about you.

Hello, I am Alexandrea a.k.a. Peechee does it. I am 33 years old and originally from California. I was raised in Columbus, Ohio for 15 years and then been in Dayton since.

What is your company and what is it that you do?

 My company is Peechee Does It ltd.  I am a Loctician and braider, with my own brick and mortar salon on Xenia Avenue. I have been in business for a total of six years with being at the shop for almost a year and a half. I also recently just got certified to do make up services as well.

How did you start your company?

I started my company as just a hired hand doing rides and cleaning houses residentially. I switched  and started doing treats and birthday cakes for a little while, and then during Covid I started doing hair. And thank you to our stimulus check! I was able to fully invest into myself and take the risk to go out on my own and start earning income full-time.

How did you get into your field?

I am 100% self taught. I got licensed with a braiding registration in 2020. I have utilized my social media tools such as YouTube, Facebook videos, TikTok, you name it. I just absorbed everything that I could possibly get my hands on that might send me in a more positive direction with doing hair. Now, I’m currently taking class with Chris McDread and Val_tuffcuts which are some of the most popular lock influencers in social media, to hone in on some of my other skills. As I have grown, I do things like reattachment and extensions and also do wicks along with a multitude of other skills other than just re-twisting.

Optically, you are a White woman who usually does Black hair. Is this an organic/natural choice? Have you gotten any pushback from people who know that you have clientele of color?

 For me it was a natural choice. I’ve always loved to do hair. I’ve always been the one to play in my friend’s hair at sleepovers or be in the bathroom with my grandma or my mom while they get ready for the day and watch them go through their beauty routine. I kind of felt like I always was going to end up behind a beauty chair. I never imagined doing African American hair. Never been one to discriminate. I’ve always dated in the Black community and I have a mixed child, so some of my knowledge came out of necessity when needing to do his hair. Locs happened to become a passion of mine on accident. A friend asked me to do the re-twist one day and I agreed and it was good, and they told people about me. So, by word-of-mouth I just kind of blew up off of that. When I first started, I was working out of my home and I had such a negative reaction from my neighbors, they called the police because of the traffic in and out of my house. I have received pushback when trying to ‘sell myself’,  like “What do you know about doing some locks?”  I show them my pictures of my work and the conversation changes. Lol! I’ve even had people go as far as create fake bookings on my website to take up my time and appointments. I still push on. The only way I’m stopping is if I choose to stop myself.

For anyone interested in getting into your field, what advice would you give them?

In this day and age, we are a social media overwhelmed society, but it’s a great tool. Go find somebody on social media that you identify with, or you like their work. Follow them, study them, watch them, and ask questions to anybody that you possibly can. Absorb as much information as you possibly can. Take all the classes you can if you feel you need it. There’s something to take away from every single one of them. Braids aren’t something that they teach in cosmetology school so in this particular case you’ll need your village.

. For anyone who’s interested in your services, how can they do so?

I have a website:  https://peechee-does-it.square.site

It contains my full availability and a menu with prices of all of my services on it. I also have a phone number. People can use it to either text or call me to inquire about booking, 937-315-0442.

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Kirk Herbstreit

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The handsome, well spoken guy who hosts ESPN’s College GameDay, and calls most of college football’s most important games, including the College Football Playoff National Championship game, is from the Miami Valley. Kirk Herbstreit, or, “Herbie”, was born in Centerville, and graduated from Centerville High School. As a quarterback for the Elks, he was the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. He also was a standout basketball and baseball player.
 
Herbstreit was also the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1989 to 1993, winning letters for all four years. He once threw for a school record 271 yards in a (THE Game) game against Michigan, a record that would stand for 14 years. Herbstreit’s father, Jim Herbstreit, had been a co-captain  of the 1960 Ohio State team, and was later an assistant coach at Ohio State under Woody Hayes.
When Herbstreit was named co-captain in 1992, the two became only the second father-and-son duo to have each been Ohio State captains.

Father and son.

Herbstreit met his wife Allison at Ohio State, where she was a cheerleader. They were married in 1998 and have four sons: identical twins Jake Herbstreit and Tye Herbstreit, Zak Herbstreit, and Chase Herbstreit. The Herbstreit family moved from Ohio to Nashville in 2011.  Jake and Tye are pursuing their career as football players at Clemson.

Kirk Herbstreit with his wife and twin sons Jake and Tye in 2019 (Photo: Greenville News)

 
Kirk’s second career, and his most successful started in 1996, when he officially joined ESPN as on-air talent. He became an analyst on GameDay, which has become a sports institution. He’s also called some of the most legendary college football games of all time with his long time co-host, Chris Fowler. If he doesn’t get into the College Football Hall of Fame, he should be inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

 
Kirk Herbstreit. Elk. Buckeye. Star. Ohioan. 
 
 

Dayton Made – Famous People From Our City: Cris Collinsworth

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Cris Collinsworth is synonymous with the NFL like very few have ever been in American history. The television sportscaster, star pro football player, star college football player, website owner, and lawyer, has become an actual part of football, and American culture.
 
Collinsworth was born in Dayton on January 27, 1959. He and his family moved to Florida when he was four years old. As he grew older, he became an All-American quarterback in high school. He accepted a scholarship from the University of Florida to play for the Gators in 1977. Collinsworth’s position switched from quarterback to wide receiver his sophomore year of college, and he would become a great player, becoming a first team All-SEC selection three times, and a first team Academic All-American.  Cris was named as an MVP of the ‘1980 Tangerine Bowl’. He was admitted into the ‘Student Hall of Fame’ for the ‘University of Florida’ in 1981. He graduated college that same year, with a BA degree in accounting.

After his college career ended, Cris was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (thirty-seventh pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft. At six feet, five inches in height, Collinsworth often created mismatches against much smaller cornerbacks.  In addition to his height advantage, Collinsworth was a legitimate deep threat due to his speed. During his eight year career with the Bengals, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards four times. He also played in Super Bowl XVI. In 1985, Colllinsworth signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League, but the contract was voided when he failed the physical due to a bad ankle. He returned to the Bengals and played for them until the end o the 1988 season. During his eight year career with the Bengals, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards four times. He also played in Super Bowl XVI.

Collinsworth’s post football career(s) have been as, if not, more impressive than his former one. He’s been a broadcaster for numerous television and radio shows in the past few decades. Here’s a list:
– Reporter for “Inside The NFL”, HBO/Showtime.
– Sportscaster for NBC, college and pro football.
– Broadcaster for “Fox NFL Sunday” and “NFL on Fox.” 
– Broadcaster for Wimbledon, HBO.
– Color commentator for “Sunday Night Football”, NBC.

 
I could add more to the list. Actually, I will. Collinsworth is also the owner of the highly influential website Pro Football Focus. And, in the midst of accomplishing a ton, Cris found the time to earn a law degree. 
 
One of the most accomplished people in the country was born on Miami Valley soil. And special soil it is. 
 
Full disclosure: My favorite Collinsworth accomplishment is the “Collinsworth Slide.” Check it out on the clip below. 

 
 

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: William Christopher Stephens

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William Christopher Stephens is a native of Dayton, OH who studied heater at Sinclair Community College before moving to New York City to attend  AMDA (The American Musical & Dramatic Academy). After a stint in the Army & the Ohio National Guard, William received an honorable discharge and decided to pursue his passion for performance art in NYC. He made his onscreen debut in the Acapulco Black Film Festival & the Urbanworld Film Festival’s award winning suspense thriller “Uninvited Guest.”

As his career progresses, he continues to seek roles that illuminate the humanity, humor, and intelligence within challenging characters.

He portrayed Conrad a main character in Telltale Games‘s The Walking Dead: Season Three. He is a bartender in Prescott and the best friend of Tripp, Prescott’s leader. He was seen to act fairly welcoming, however after the New Frontier both ransomed and murdered his girlfriend he became fueled by revenge.

He has also been a voice over artist that has voiced roles in  “Mortal Kombat 11,” “Battlefield: Hardline” and “World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth.

This Dayton native is currently showing off his acting chops in the new documentary “Operation Varsity Blues” which is streaming now on Netflix. The documentary sheds light on the college-admissions scandal that included celebrities such as Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. In the film’s re-enactments, Stephens plays Rudy Meredith, a former women’s soccer coach at Yale University who was accused of taking bribes to admit athletes into the school’s program along side Matthew Modine who plays Rick Singer, the man who masterminded the side door admission program.

Still to come this summer – Stephens is back with the Back4Blood Team,

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Vincent M. Ward

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You’ve seen the face, and heard the voice. But, you may not know his name. You also may not know where he’s from. Well, the actor’s name is Vincent M. Ward. And he’s from Dayton. 

Vincent M. Ward was born on January 27, 1971 in Dayton, Ohio. Growing up,  Vincent participated in basketball, football, and baseball at Trotwood-Madison High School. Given his competitive nature, he excelled in all of these sports, but Vincent’s desire to be great meant that he would have to choose one. He chose basketball, which he still plays this very day. In his four years of high school, Vincent is the first and, so far, the only player on the varsity basketball team selected to start in each game spanning the four years of high school. The high school’s basketball team won All-City First Team, All-City GMVC First Team and the news about the team mentioned Vincent M. Ward as one of the best basketball players in Ohio.

Vincent decided it was a good time to pursue another dream. He decided to dance. He paired up with his childhood friend, Broderick “ Night” Dumas. The two of them went on to enter and win numerous dance contests. They formed a dance duo and called themselves “Night and Day” a.k.a. The Twin Towers, (since “Night” stood 6’5” and Vincent stood 6’4”). The dynamic duo was approached by many professional entertainers to perform. Day and Night signed with Dr. Ease and the Ease Town Posse, and toured with such groups as Public Enemy, MC Light, X-Clan, MC Hammer, Heavy D and The Boys and others. Eventually, Vincent decided to sign with the “Slam Syndicate” which led him to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. One evening, Vincent attended a local play. He was impressed and intrigued by the artistry and performances by the actors. He instantly knew this was what he wanted for a career. He had no training or experience, but he didn’t let that stop him. In fact, that next week, Vincent auditioned for his first play.
 Since the year 2000, he’s had over 50 roles in numerous television shows, movies, and plays. This talented actor also has co-starred Black Jesus, Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, ATLANTA, 2 Broke Girls, Psych, Middle Man, Family Ties, Whitney, Army Wives, General Hospital, Wilfred, Psych, Body Of Proof, Gary Unmarried, Dollhouse, The Game, Girlfriends, Unhitched, Head Cases, C.S.I, The Bold and the Beautiful, Robbery Homicide, Viva Laughlin, CSI Miami, Big Shots, Desperate Housewives, Days Of Our Lives, The Wire and from 2006-2008 he had a recurring role on Everybody Hates Chris.

His most notable turn was in the mega hit TV show The Walking Dead, where he played the character of “Oscar” for seven episodes.  He mades his debut appearance in the Season 3 premiere alongside Axel, Tomas, Andrew, and Big Tiny. Unlike some of the other prisoners (namely Tomas and Andrew), Oscar is brave, honorable and much nicer, along with Axel and Big Tiny. He dies in the Woodbury assault while trying to save Glenn and Maggie in the mid-season finale of Season 3. 

No stranger to the big screenVincent also has supporting rolls in Bringing down the House, Mirror Mirror, -Evil, Oceans 11, and Traffic.

 

But, you could argue that his performance in this commercial was his real star turn. 

Who’s heart didn’t melt while watching that?
 
Ward is an active actor in Hollywood, and a budding entrepreneur. Bet on him to keep making the Miami Valley proud.

Dayton Made-Famous People From Our City: Nancy Cartwright

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Nancy Cartwright grew up in Kettering and discovered her talent for voices at an early age. While in the fourth grade at St. Charles Borromeo, she won a school-wide speech competition with her performance of Rudyard Kipling’s How the Camel Got His Hump. Cartwright graduated from  Fairmont West High School where she participated in theater and marching band. She regularly entered public speaking competitions, placing first in the “Humorous Interpretation” category at the National District Tournament two years running.

In 1976, Cartwright landed a part-time job doing voice-overs for commercials on WING radio. A representative from Warner Bros. Records visited WING and later sent Cartwright a list of contacts in the animation industry. One of these was Daws Butler, known for voicing characters such as Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Elroy Jetson, Spike the Bulldog and Yogi Bear. Cartwright called him and left a message in a Cockney accent on his answering machine. Butler immediately called her back and agreed to be her mentor.

 

And now Nancy Cartwright  is widely known to be the voice of Bart Simpson, of The Simpsons. That in itself is a massive accomplishment, since the character of Bart Simpson and the Simpson’s show is such a huge part of American pop culture. 

 
But, Cartwright has done soooo much more throughout her career. Along with voicing Bart, she also voices several more voices on The Simpsons, such as: Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and Nelson Muntz.
She also was the lead in a made for television movie released in 1982 called Marian Rose White. She played the substantial role as Ethel in one of the better segments of Twilight Zone: The Movie.
She’s done more voice-work for other hit cartoons like: Rugrats, Animaniacs, and Pinky and the Brain. She’s also appeared in front of the camera on television shows and movies, such as : The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Godzilla, and 24. And all of those items are just the tip of Cartwright’s amazing career iceberg.
In 2011 Ms. Cartwright was inducted into the Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame and in 2016 a stone honoring her was placed in the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame in Wright Dunbar Village.
 
Gotta say, though, her being Bart Simpson is, possibly, the coolest thing ever. 

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Charles Michael Davis

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If you’ve been watching mainly network television over the years, you’ve probably noticed this guy. Or, your wife or girlfriend has noticed him. This handsome actor/entertainer is Charles Michael Davis. And Davis was born right here in the Dayton area. 

Davis grew up in Riverside, and he comes from a mixed marriage. His African American father is from Kentucky, and his Filipino mother is from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.  He graduated from Stebbins High School, and Miami (Ohio) University.  He got his start in the entertainment industry by modeling with Wings Model Management, which was based in Cincinnati. He later worked with the talent agency Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Soon after, Davis did television commercials and print ads for Nike and FootLocker.

Here’s an interview from 2014:

Davis transitioned from modeling, to acting. Throughout the 2000’s and the 2010’s, he appeared on a number of television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Switched At Birth, The Game, and That’s So Raven. In 2013, Davis got the first of three lead roles in TV shows that he would come to have. He was made a lead character in the CW vampire show The Originals. In 2018, he was named a lead in the series Younger, in its fifth season. And, in 2020, he was cast in the role of Special Agent Quentin Carter in NCIS: New Orleans.

At the rate Davis is going, we shouldn’t be surprised if he were to end up a leading man on the big screen, movies, any day now. Davis shows us all that nothing is impossible with a little bit of Midwestern magic, and a lot of Ohio grit. 

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Sherri Saum

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Born in Dayton on October 1, 1974,  this former model and long time actress actually  got her start in the entertainment industry in Kettering.  She attended Oakview Elementary School  and then was  involved in  drama club and was also a cheerleader while Fairmont High School.  She would actually take the RTA to the Dayton Mall almost every day.
She transferred from Ohio State University after one semester, to New York University where she got a major in psychology. While she studied in New York she did modeling work and worked as a waitress.
Sheri Saum was a regular on the soap opera Sunset Beach, and had roles in numerous television shows and films. Her most notable role, arguably, was on the TV show The Fosters. She played the role of Lena Adams for five seasons. The role was a trailblazing one , as Lena was a lesbian who was in a long term relationship, who also ran a household with several  children of diverse backgrounds. Sherri now has a recurring role on the cable television show Power Book II: Ghost. 

In 2020 she appeared in 9 episodes of Locke & Key, American supernatural horror drama streaming television series that premiered on Netflix on February 2020.

Sherri is indeed repping well for the DYT.

Keep up with he on Instagram @saumdays.

A Driving Guide For The Miami Valley. So You Dont Die.

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Let’s keep it real, folks. The Miami Valley has some of the worst drivers in the world. All of us have a horror story about driving our vehicles in this region. You probably have one from driving today.

I actually care about you fine readers, so, I’m gonna help you all. Below is a quiz I created to assist you in choosing your options when you need to deal with a driving incident. I can’t tell you what options/answers to choose, but I can say…there’s really no wrong answer. This is a no judgement zone.

Unless you are a bad driver. Then, you’re automatically a jerk.

Behold. The quiz.…

1. You’re driving on I-75, and because the overstressed idiots around you think it’s the Indy 500, you may not be able to get off your planned exit. What do you do?

A. Make like “The Road Warrior”, and demolition derby your way to the exit.
B. Miss the exit, get off at the next exit, and then get back on the highway.
C. Just keep.driving to Atlanta, and start a new life in a town with better drivers.

2.You’re driving in Dayton, and you keep running over potholes, which can surely damage your vehicle. Because the potholes are pretty much EVERYWHERE in the area, there’s not much you can do to avoid them. What are your options?

A. Strap up, buckle up, and hope you aren’t drinking hot coffee, because your going to keep driving over those suckers.
B. Get your “Fast and The Furious” on and swerve around the holes, which means you’ll get to your destination a half hour later.
C. Curse out loud and then drive to Atlanta and start a new life.

3. You’re driving on I-35 , bound for Xenia, and you get into the Left Lane of Death. And, predictably, a hopped up on Monster energy drinks teenager appears out of nowhere, and rides your bumper criminally close. And now, he makes it nearly impossible to turn left to get to your job, because that’s why you got in the left lane in the first place. How do you handle this?

A. Give the guy the finger for the entirety of your trip.
B. Continue on your route, and hope the kid eventually backs off.
C. Pull over to the right lane, eventually get to I-75, and drive to Atlanta, and…you know.

4. You’re driving up Woodman Drive towards Kettering, and you come to the five lane intersection I like to call The Choke Point. It’s 5:30 pm, and the traffic there is an unholy mess. And, because it’s a mess, an accident happens right ahead of you. So now, traffic could be stuck for a loooong time.

And…you have to use the bathroom.

Your move is?

A. Yell in agony. And then look for a bottle.
B. Stay calm and try and meditate, so you can still your soul and your bladder.
C. Turn your car off, get out, and just start walking to Atlanta.

If you answered with all “A’s” for the quiz, I get it. I suggest a beer and a hug…but I get it. If you answered with all “B’s” , you are a true grownup, and I’m super jealous of you. And, if you answered with all “C’s”..

….let me know about Atlanta’s job market when you get there.

Just kidding.

3 Ways to Fix Dayton

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You didn’t think I’d write about repairing this city without offering any solutions, did you? Below are a few ideas of mine for helping this ‘burg reach its dazzling potential.

The city of Dayton should…

1. Embrace and weaponize the Funk: Let’s be honest, historians care about the Wright Brothers, typical people care about the Ohio Players. From a historical perspective, the Wright Brothers pioneering modern flight was…significant. Ok, massive. In too many ways to list. That’s obvious.

But, when was the last time you danced in a bar to a Wright Brothers song? Or at a party? Or a holiday BBQ? Or your college frat party? You didn’t. You danced to Lakeside. Slave. Zapp. Dayton, Ohio’s Funk music from the 1970’s through the 1980’s is this city’s biggest and most important export. If you still don’t believe me, go check out some of the biggest Rap music hits of the last 40 years. So many have sampled Dayton Funk songs. Not to mention a few rock groups. Dayton does celebrate its Funk scene, but it needs to do more than that. Funk should be Dayton’s ace in the hole marketing plan. It’s main identity to the world. When a person enters Dayton city limits, there should literally be a sign that says “Welcome to Dayton, Ohio. Home of The Funk!” with a picture of the Ohio Players on it.

Baby boomer dads may revere the Wright Brothers, but everyone else digs the Funk. Dayton city officials need to realize and then capitalize on this fact.

2. Start bringing people together: The Coronavirus has made it difficult to move forward with annual events. But, when (if?) things get back to normal, city leaders should look to influence or create gatherings that are more inclusive. Over a decade ago, a local bank (I forget which one) threw an Ohio State Football viewing party at Riverscape. They showed a Buckeyes game on a gigantic television on a Saturday afternoon, and invited the general public. It was a fantastic time. I was surrounded by fellow Buckeye fans who were from different parts of the Miami Valley…people from regions that don’t usually intentionally mix. Our common thread that day was our love for our team, and it bonded us strongly for three plus hours.

 

 

And, I’ve seen nothing like it since. I think it’s high time the city innovates and creates events with a wider vision and scope, and attempts to bring people together. Let’s bust up those decades old redlined intra-city divisions, and try to…at least drink a few beers together.

3. Entice and invest in tech and pharmaceutical companies: The manufacturing sector isn’t what it once was. And now, with many jobs in that field becoming automated, manufacturing companies don’t even want to hire humans these days. Which is why Dayton should no longer court traditional manufacturing companies to move and build in the city. City leaders should instead look to influence and fund pharmaceutical manufacturers and tech companies. Granted, there are already a few of those corporations that are already located in the Miami Valley, but, there should be a push to reach out to more of those companies. Bigger companies. Drug making and digital tech are the hot fields for now and the foreseeable future. Dayton should start gearing up for this change, and embrace it. We need more Pfizers and less Fuyaos.

What say you, fellow Miami Valley peeps?

Masks Aren’t Cool. Wear Them ANYWAY.

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Wearing masks, cloth face coverings, or N95 respirators, is awful. It’s a nuisance. It sucks. I get it. I wear them, and I hate it. As a matter of fact, I now have to wear them when I go to the gym. I don’t have to tell you that working out while wearing a face covering is awkward.

But…I’ll still wear my masks.

And, you should too.

Once again, I get it. No one wants to be told what to do by Big Brother. A mandatory mask ordinance was passed in Dayton last week. No one wants to be told to wear an itchy, smothering thing around their nose and mouth, in order to even enter a:

– Grocery store.

– Mall.

– Gas station.

– Gym.

– Or restaurant.

And no one wants constant reminders from every different direction to “WEAR YOUR MASK!!!!” from every conceivable media platform. Simply put, the entire concept of wearing masks in 2020 makes most of us uncomfortable.

However, ‘uncomfortable’ is actually what Americans do. And very well. Americans were uncomfortable when they were ordered by local governments to wear masks during the influenza pandemic of 1918 and 1919. And, they wore them anyway. Americans were uncomfortable with war rationing during World War II, but they did it anyway. Americans were uncomfortable during The Great Depression, when the phrase “Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.” became a way of life. Many Americans ended up poor, or poorer, and got resourceful, creating and tweaking things like kitchen gardens, thrift gardens, and potluck meals. They made it through anyway.

Actually, we do things in our daily lives that make us uncomfortable, and we power through them. Paying bills. Going to work. Watching Tik Tok videos. Tasting your friend’s homemade hummus. Doing uncomfortable things for the greater good of a population, neighborhood, or, your loved ones is something we all do or have done on our lives. It’s real, it’s responsible, it’s American, it’s right.

So, if you are on the fence about wearing a mask, don’t be. There is proof that wearing a face mask does prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. And yeah, it won’t be fun wearing a friggin’ sock on your face…in the summer.

But, you’ll save lives. And what’s better, and more American, than that?

Dayton Can’t Improve Unless Its Racism Ends

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“Come on, man!”

My co-worker plead with me as we drove to our destination. We both worked for a home healthcare company for disabled people in the Dayton area. Both of us were staff members in a particular house located in Dayton that had three adult occupants at the time. To protect my co-worker’s identity, I’ll call him “Shawn” in this article/op-ed.

One of the directives from our supervisors was to have our clients, all of them with developmental disabilities, interact with the public as often as possible. So, Shawn and I were supposed to take our guys to a facility in West Carrolton, where a dance/event would be held for a large group of people from the DD population. We had to get them there at a specific time, and also leave at a certain time. Both Shawn and I had done this before, so, it would be a cinch. The only real ‘difficulty’ would be the drive, as we had to drive the clients from Dayton to West Carrolton, which, depending on traffic, can be sort of a long drive. I thought the length of the trip would be the issue.

The trip itself was the problem.

As we drove on the highway toward West Carrolton, I saw Shawn start to look uneasy. And, he got more uneasy as we got closer to West Carrolton. When we got off the highway, and exited into city limits, Shawn started to squirm and contort in the passenger seat, as if he was in pain.

I asked him what was wrong. He replied to me, “Man, we’re going into West Carrolton. I never go to West Carrolton! I don’t like leaving Dayton.”

As he spoke to me, I saw something that startled me. It was fear. Fear coming from Shawn. Fear, coming from a guy because he was scared of leaving the confines of the Dayton area, which was his turf, for the unknown of West Carrolton, a town that exists in the same county as Dayton. But, even though his reaction shocked me, there were two other things that floored me.

1. Shawn was easily 6’5”, 220lbs plus. And yet, he was in the fetal position because of a trip.

2. This happened in 2014. Not 1954. 2014.

Dayton’s biggest problem in 2020 isn’t its lack of jobs, or a mask ordinance. It’s the city’s decades’ old racism. It’s the second most segregated city in Ohio, and has one of the most segregated school districts in the country. If you aren’t a fan of stats and data, ask around on the street within the city, and by extension, the rest of the Miami Valley. The views of the Dayton area are not flattering.

 Dayton cannot move forward with any positive changes unless its years of social and economic separatism are changed. Full stop. The city can’t ask new (to the area) corporations and innovators to put down roots in a city that actually may not welcome them if they are non-White, or White with more liberal views. There has to be frank discussions with key city people of power about fixing the social ills of the Dayton metro area. Only then can work start on a rebuild of the city.

 Fixing Dayton’s racial issues can start work on the Miami Valley as a whole. (This entire region needs it) Because, no citizen should ever feel like Shawn did that day.

 Unfortunately, many of us who are Black have been Shawn, while living in this area.

I know I have.

 

Dion Lack: From The DYT To Hollywood

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Dion Lack in the famous Doritos commercial.

You all saw it. The hilarious Dion Lack Doritos Commercial (see below) that aired during the 2010 Super Bowl. The one where the cute kid pimp slaps a grown man for dating his Mom and eating his Doritos. Here’s where things get interesting. The adult male in the commercial is from Dayton. And his name is Dion Lack.

Dion has been in the entertainment business as an actor/comedian for eleven years. And as you can guess, his career got a nice boost from the Doritos ad. Lack took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about what he’s been working on, and life as a Dayton transplant living in La La (Los Angeles)

Greg Simms Jr.: The Doritos commercial. That made a lot of noise when it aired. How did that come about?

Dion Lack: “Yeah, the commercial was surprisingly a HUGE success. It came about from a buddy of mine that I worked with as an extra on the set of Fast Furious 4. He approached me a couple months prior with the idea and we collaborated and made it come to life. A lot of people thought I came up with the commercial because I have my own production company. (LackToast Entertainment) but I was just the actor in it.”

 

G.S.: What was the response to the commercial (from your perspective)? How did the commercial affect your career?

D.L.: “My honest opinion, I didn’t think it was that funny but I kept getting rave reviews from my surroundings that made me fall in love with it. I praise God for the commercials buzz because it had definitely got me a lot of acting and writing jobs that boasted my drive to be more successful.”

G.S.: You are from the Dayton area. when did you move to California? And why?

D.L.: “Yes I’m a proud Dayton native! I was born and raised in Dayton View and moved to Los Angeles in 2001. I came out here to act and was forced to get into the stand-up comedy world. Which I do not regret. Comedy has been my best move yet as far as networking and growing.”

G.S.: Obviously, you are a comedian. When did you know you wanted to pursue this career? And why?

D.L.: “Like I said on the previous answer, I’ve done comedy in high school but never thought I would pursue it as a career. When my family and folks got word I was in L.A., people started hooking me up with the right people that were already established for encouragement and motivation. I slid in just fine and performed and traveled with some of the greats. ”

G.S.: How often do you perform stand-up comedy?

D.L.: “That’s kind of a hard question seeing that I do open mics all the time to try out new jokes. Just like exercising, comedy is a muscle you need to workout. But I average about four scheduled comedy performances a week.”

G.S.: Have you been to the Dayton area lately?

D.L.: “No I haven’t been in back home since April of 2011. Which was a Redemption Comedy show at the RTA Center. It was a lot of fun with my Good Comedian Comrades Mark Gregory, Nate Washington, Will Speed, and produced by Terrance Dorsey. ”

G.S.: If you had to talk to any Dayton area up and coming entertainers, what you tell them?

D.L.: “Dayton is a small market and you can easily be unmotivated because there’s not a lot of encouraging people inspiring your dream. Please stay encouraged!!! Surprise yourself and allow you to be your only competition. Don’t follow and compare someone else’s success with the speed of yours because it will always frustrate you. Everything you do in life should make your life better. ”

G.S.: Do you have anything that you are working on currently?

D.L.: “I am always working on something. I have a Comedy CD that I’m working on which is full of pranks, sketches and most importantly comedy! It will be complete in the Fall of 2012.
I’m working on a fantasy trilogy that was inspired by my oldest daughter a few years ago. Its an analogy novel that I’ve done intense research on and been working on the 3 simultaneously for almost a year now. The working title is Boats which should be complete early Winter.
Like I said on my previous answer, I’ve developed a production company (www.LackToastEnt.com) with my Best Friend Twilla Tanyi. We provide full service to help anyone bring out that vision they have on paper. We’ve done skits, short films, Reality shows, sketches, commercials etc. Check out our new YouTube page (www.Youtube.com/TheLackToastEnt.com)Also, you can follow us on Twitter : @LackToastEnt, and
“Like” us on Facebook : LackToast Entertainment”

G.S.: What is your ultimate goal?

D.L.: “My ultimate goal is to live out all my dreams with no regrets. If I say I’m going to do it, it will be done! I want to be an example of “It Can Be Done!” I don’t cut corners and try to inspire the people around me to stay encouraged. And I will leave you with this: don’t allow money to be your motivation. God Over Money!”

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