Guest Contributor

Guest Post: Stephanie Hicks Shares What October Means To Her

October 2, 2014 By Guest Contributor

Guest Contributor Stephanie Hicks

For many, October signifies the start of fall… People begin enjoying pumpkin “everything” and start thinking up amazing Halloween costumes. While I, too, partake in pumpkin latte, cheesecake, pie, cookies, etc. binge eating, and spend hours online trying to find the perfect, creative costume for my son, I also celebrate my wedding anniversary and my husbands birthday (along with eight other birthdays in our family).

But this year, October means something more than fall flavored goodies and special days… This year I’ve come to recognize that October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month.

During this past year, both my mom and my younger sister (age 26) had breast cancer scares. Within a few short months, they each found lumps in their breasts, had ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies, and eventually surgery. Waiting for results for my mom and baby sister proved to be one of the hardest moments of my life. Every worst case scenario would constantly fly through my head: What would I do with out my mom? What would I do with out my best friend/sister? Henry (my son) hasn’t spent enough time with them.

After what seemed to be the longest waits ever, both my mom and sister received negative results and a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders (and theirs as well).

We thought that our family had dodged a bullet and we were in the clear, but not long after my mom and sisters happy news did we receive the opposite from my aunt.

Aunt Donna has always been like a second mom to me, and the moment we found out she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I feel like a little piece of me died. How could this even be happening? The three most important women in my life were faced with this incredible fear, and now my Aunt’s nightmare was coming true.

Aunt Donna, wife and mother of three, and proven to be even stronger than I ever believed possible. She underwent surgery to have one of her breasts removed, continued working during her chemotherapy, and even moved my grandmother into her home so she could take better care of her.

Not once did she complain”why me” or show the world how scared or tired she was. She is the epitome of what a breast cancer survivor is.

On Wednesday, October 1st (the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month), Aunt Donna had her last chemo session. She will have to continue with radiation before they can reevaluate her condition, but in the mean time we could not be more proud of her.

On Saturday, October 18th, my family and I will be walking in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” at Fifth Third Field in Dayton, OH. While I know it’s too much to ask for everyone to join our team and walk with us, I ask that you contribute something to this cause, as every donation matters.

Here is the link for you to join our team “Save Second Base” or to make a donation.

The Ohio Coffee Co. Celebrates Five Years

September 30, 2014 By Guest Contributor

Reaching the five year milestone in the restaurant business is a tremendous accomplishment. Especially in downtown Dayton during a recession. But The Ohio Coffee Co. has fought to stay alive and has even grown during its first five years. Wednesday, 10/1/14, is five years in business for this independent mom and pop shop.

The owners of the OCC are Robert Gray and Becky Ledingham Gray. When they first opened their business in 2009, they only wanted to be a coffee shop. But, customers kept

Owners Becky & Robert Gray

asking for food. The Grays had months to plan for a coffee shop and only weeks to plan for a kitchen. With the help of their devoted family, friends and employees they have a stayed alive, serving the Central Business District of downtown Dayton.

Wanting to be closer to more businesses in downtown, the cafe moved in 2012 from 5th & Ludlow to their current location at 3rd and Main St. The cafe is inside the Fifth Third Tower, right beside court house square. Located at 1 S. Main St., you will find an espresso bar as well as a breakfast and lunch hot spot. In the Grand lobby enjoy the natural light from the atrium ceiling while being surrounded by plants to add to your relaxation. Or sit inside the cafe and chat it up with the baristas Bill or Burt. The conversations and music variety will brighten your day.

OCC’s Temple of Shroom

The kitchen crew makes food fresh daily using quality products such as soups from scratch, fresh salads, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, gyros, wraps and quesadillas. The daily specials keep you trying new things, while the names of the dishes will sometimes crack you up. Customers who are in a hurry can check the deli case for grab and go items also prepared that morning.

“The cafe could have never opened without the support of family and friends” said Becky Ledingham Gray. Rob’s sister and brother-in-law Carrie and Duane Dow make the Big Yummy cookies, and Becky’s mother Sally makes the pumpkin bread. “The employees are just like family to us” said Robert Gray.

The Ohio Coffee Co. has expanded to include breakfast, lunch and coffee catering as well as lunch box orders and is open Monday through Friday from 8am – 3:30pm. Customers can call 937-228-5282 (JAVA) or e-mail [email protected] for more information. Like us on facebook to get our daily specials.

Story submitted by Becky Ledingham Gray

Dayton Brewvet Midterm Report

July 20, 2014 By Guest Contributor

We’ve reached the half-way point of the Dayton Brewvet:

Tom Morgan a columnist for Telephone Weekly, introduced tbe Brewvet concept to us a few weeks ago and this column is a follow up that.

We are three weeks into the six weeks of biking and beer that ends on August 8, 2014. I’d like to assume that all of you are out there riding your bikes and enjoying local craft beer, but I haven’t seen much activity online (#daytonbrewvet).

Well, besides my own. Maybe you all are going on rides and not posting, or maybe you are waiting until the last minute and planning on cramming all the rides in the last eight days (I’m looking at you, Kevin Gray). You wouldn’t do that, would you? In the off-chance that you are procrastinating, I figured a friendly reminder was in order so that the waning days of summer are filled with bikes, beer, and good times, and not, well, good times that may or may not involve the aforementioned bikes and beer.

If you need some extra motivation, you’re welcome to join me on Wednesday, July 23, when I’ll be headed to the Fifth Street Brewpub Co-op. I’ll be there from 6-8, so feel free to stop by, say hello, and have a beer—I’m hoping Fifth Street’s beer will still be on tap to sample.

There are also undoubtedly some of you who haven’t yet heard of the Dayton Brewvet. For those of you that haven’t, the full description and the rider information card can be found here. And while you only have three weeks left, there is still plenty of time to complete the eight following rides:

1. Local Brew: During your ride, stop at a local brewery and enjoy a beer.

2. Local Bar: Ride to your favorite local bar and enjoy a craft beer.

3. Co-op Brew: Ride to the Fifth Street Brewpub Co-op and enjoy a craft beer. Sorry to be self-serving, but I’m a co-op member, and you should be, too.

4. Patio/Outdoor Beer: Ride to a local bar with a patio, or to an outdoor event, and enjoy a craft beer outdoors.

5. Beer at Home: Take a spin to the store, and bring home a craft beer to drink.

6. Go Exploring: Ride someplace new, stop in at a new bar or restaurant, and try a new craft beer.

7. Can Beer: Canned craft beer is all the rage, in part because it packs in and out with ease. Find yourself a bike ride that incorporates beer in a can. Remember, though: you’re adults. Don’t get either of us in trouble.

8. Bike Path Brew: Plan a longer ride to explore some of Dayton’s bike paths, and use this as an excuse to visit one of the breweries close to the bike path: Yellow Springs Brewery in Yellow Springs (via the Creekside Trail and the Little Miami Trail), Star City Brewing Company in Miamisburg (via the Great Miami River Recreational Trail), or, for the truly brave of heart, Fifty West in Cincinnati. If you’re willing to ride to Cincinnati, I’m pretty sure you can figure out a route on your own.

Thus far, I’ve completed three rides: Can Ride, Local Bar, and Go Exploring. Yes, I’m a bit of a procrastinator myself. Thus far I’ve racked up 53.1 miles on those three rides, although 52 of that was for just one ride. Yes, it was a doozy. I plan on hitting another one this weekend, so that I’ll be halfway finished by the time Wednesday rolls around. Check out the #daytonbrewevet to see more of my (and soon hopefully others!) Dayton Brewvet shenanigans.

Hope to see you at the Fifth Street Brewpub on Wednesday!

Juan’s Top 5 Hispanic Restaurants In The Dayton Region

July 18, 2014 By Guest Contributor

Friends of ours over at Lion + Panda had an intern that gave them a list of his favorite Hispanic food spots in Dayton. They sent it to us and we thought it was a pretty good list so we’re sharing it with you! Enjoy!

1. Arepas & Co. Colombian Comfort Food– This made it to the top of my list because it’s so much goodness for such a low price. It has is set up like a Chipotle point and serve assembly line and the variety of plate or arepas one can get leaves the palate craving for more. If you are not familiar with Colombian cuisine, it isn’t about hot pepper infused sauces like you would find in Mexican cuisine, it is more savory, a lot of corn, rice, beans and meat are used.

1122 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, Ohio

2. Taqueria Mixteca– This place will forever hold my heart for the Chimichangas (say that 5 times fast). Who doesn’t want a meat stuffed burrito deepfried and dunked into freshly melted Mexican queso? Wash that down with some delicious horchata beverage and you have yourself a fine day.

1609 E. 3rd Street, Dayton, Ohio

3. Antojitos Criollos– I am Puerto Rican, and as such I give myself authority to tell you where all the authentic Puerto Rican locations are. This place is it. I eat the Mofongo here like I would back in my island. In case you don’t know, Mofongo is a delicious green plantain creation, twice fried, mashed with spices and bacon bits into its ultimate form, paired with your choice of properly cooked and seasoned meats. Need I say more?

3937 Linden Ave, Dayton, OH

4. Taqueria las Tapatias– Would you like to know what a soft taco is supposed to be like? Go eat their specialty tacos and get back to me.

5524 Airway Rd, Dayton, OH

5. La Colombiana– Would you like to eat a plate full of delight and regret all at once? I know I do, and often. If you are like me, feel free to order the Bandeja Paisa, which includes a hunk of meat, sausage, rice, beans, fried plantains of the sweet variety, an arepa, a hardy amount of avocado and what can only be described as bacon’s superior Colombian cousin.

2495 Commons Blvd, Beavercreek, OH

JuanManuel Muñoz Jimenez is a travel and food blogger based here in Dayton as well as an MBA marketing student at Wright State University. After completing his degree he plans on more extensive travel around the world and a career in digital marketing. If you wish to follow his antics regularly you can reach him on twitter @tainonomad or follow his blog tainonomad.com

40 Reasons I Love Dayton, OH

July 1, 2014 By Guest Contributor

This guest post comes to us from Elizabeth Caraway, a Dayton blogger perhaps better known as Super Veggie Mom, who shares health and wellness information, recipes that have worked for her, tips about saving money, and angst over parenting struggles. She’s an Air Force veteran, former NASM-certified personal trainer, and a distance runner with almost a dozen half-marathons under her Adidas. She’s the mother of two young girls and married to a scary-smart engineer who says that when they’re not watching Yo Gabba Gabba, they enjoy theater and the arts. We hope you enjoy her post as much as we did.

I tend to gush about the Dayton, OH area. I grew up in the military and then served in the military (and am now back in the Reserves), so I have lived my fair share of places. I still stand by my assertion that you can be happy wherever you live, but the Dayton area (aka the Miami Valley) has been so amazing in so many ways that I am constantly talking about how much I love it. I’ve even begun sending my parents and sister house listings in hopes that they’ll find a place they adore and move here. Then it truly would be perfect.

A friend recently lamented the cost of homes in her area and I told her she should consider a move here. Nice, affordable housing is just one of many perks. Then I jokingly told her that, if she wanted, I could send her an entire list of reasons that Dayton is great. She said, “I’d like to see that list.” I posted my list, initially 15 reasons, on Facebook and was immediately flooded with more reasons my local friends love it here. I want to share the list we’ve come up with.

Regarding places to visit, I’ve tried to restrict it to places less than an hour away; otherwise, this would be a “Reasons I Love Ohio” post. Incidentally, I do, and I subscribe to Ohio magazine, which reinforces monthly why this is a great state to live in.

So without further ado, in no particular order:

40 Reasons I Love Dayton, OH

1.   Broadway (and other amazing) shows at the state-of-the art Schuster Center (ex. we saw Wicked)
2.   The (free) National Museum of the United States Air Force
3.   Public (free) beaches easily accessible (Caesar’s Creek State Park, Kiser Lake, Cowan Lake) as well as hiking
4.   An extensive park system (the Five Rivers Metropark) as well as dozens of city and county parks (for example, our small suburb has 36 parks)
5.   Wonderful farmer’s markets (like 2nd St Market with entertainment on Saturdays and Oakwood Farmer’s Market)
6.   The Dayton Art Institute
7.   IKEA and Jungle Jim’s are just 45 min away
8.   King’s Island Amusement Park is also about 45 min away
9.   Scene 75, the largest indoor entertainment center in the country, is here
10. The Newport Aquarium is about an hour away
11. Dayton is an easy drive from Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis
12. A surprising amount of good restaurants (although our faves aren’t on the list)
13. It has an international airport, and is also close to other major cities so the prices are competitive
14. Tons of shopping between the multiple malls
15. Major concerts and shows come to the Wright State Nutter Center (we’ve seen Rascall Flatts and Transiberian Orchestra)
16. Extensive, interconnected library systems (e.g. Dayton Metro library, Greene County library)
17. Close proximity to two top-rated zoos, Cincinnati Zoo and Columbus Zoo
18. Home of the popular Class A minor league baseball team the Dayton Dragons
19. Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm, a working dairy farm with restaurant, bakery, miniature golf, driving range, and batting cage
20. Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, a a children’s museum that focuses on science and offers a “mini-zoo” of live animals native to Ohio
21. Dorothy Lane Market, regularly rated the best (independent) gourmet grocery store in the country
22. Ohio named the cheapest state in the country by TIME magazine; Dayton has a low cost of living
23. Home of the popular United States Air Force Marathon
24. Tons of local festivals, found here, that include everything from the Troy Strawberry Festival to the Beavercreek Popcorn Festival
25. Largest system of bike trails in the country
26. The Neon, a movie theater that shows independent films, as well as drive-in movie theaters
27. Numerous top-rated school districts as well as a large homeschooling community
28. Affordable colleges like Wright-State University and Sinclair
29. An abundance of thrift stores and flea markets, including massive Treasure Aisles and Trader’s World, about 30 min away
30. Carillon Historical Park, a 65-acre park and museum containing historic buildings and exhibits on history of tech & Dayton (as well as a killer carousel for kids)
31. Skydiving available in Middletown
32. Yellow Springs, home to a huge arts community
33. Sunwatch Indian Village and Archaeological Park
34. Kids Bowl Free and discounted movie theaters during summers
35. (Usually) moderate traffic compared to other cities
36. Dayton Air Show
37. The Fraze Pavillion hosts top musicians during the warmer months
38. Dayton Performing Arts Alliance provides top talent in ballet, opera, and the Philharmonic Orchestra
39. America’s Packard Museum
40. The Oregon District, a scenic downtown Dayton area renowned for its architecture, atmosphere, and restaurant/bar nightlife

As I write this, I have only lived in the area for 3 years. I am certain that I have missed aspects of the area’s awesomeness. Feel free to add them in the comments.

Sweet Sixteen Makes UD-Dayton Relationship That Much Sweeter

March 26, 2014 By Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

The link between University of Dayton basketball and the Dayton community is a phenomenon I feel only few communities in this country have.

I’m an alumnus and a lifelong fan, but my life hasn’t been long enough to appreciate the full scope of this relationship. I know bits and pieces of the 1950s and 1960s powerhouse programs, with NIT wins (when the NIT mattered) and numerous successes in the NCAA tournament. My earliest recollection — probably from my mom and dad who are lifelong season ticket holders — is the triple overtime loss to Bill Walton’s UCLA in 1974. Johnny Davis was on that team, and he was my first UD basketball hero. From there, the memories build, from the teams of Jim Paxson (although Erv Giddings was my guy) to Roosevelt Chapman (my personal, all-time favorite) to Negele Knight (I graduated the same year) to Brian Roberts and Chris Johnson (the most under-appreciated Flyer great, in my opinion).

Every once in a while, a UD team comes out of nowhere, exceeding pre-season expectations and capturing the imagination and hearts of our city. Before this year’s 2013–2014 edition, it was the 2008–2009 team that took the city on a ride. And when I witness the excitement that permeates Dayton, I really can’t help but reflect on why it matters so much. I think it comes down to three things:

1. UD loves Dayton — I can’t imagine there are many universities that care about their city more than UD. When you consider the investments they make, the partnerships they build — both for-profit and not-for-profit — and the image building they do on behalf of this city, it’s astounding how much UD has invested in making Dayton a strong, vibrant community.

2. Their basketball teams reflect the character of the city — I was at the final regular season game from the 2008–2009 season and I’ll never forget how the team ran up and down the aisles of the stadium after the game, thanking the fans for their support. Like most UD teams, they were composed of three-star recruits the big programs didn’t want, but they consistently outworked, out-hustled and beat more talented teams, like West Virginia, in the first round of the NCAAs. This year’s 2013–2014 team is very similar. Undersized and under-appreciated, they simply outwork bigger, faster, more talented teams. Did you see that defensive effort against mighty Syracuse? Dayton is a small, hard-working and important city in the Midwest. While not home to four- and five-star corporations, Dayton continues to be a hotbed of hard-working, hustling three-star businesses that consistently outperform glitzier competitors.

3. Things are kept in perspective — Having attended UD from 1986 to 1990, I had the privilege of witnessing the magical 1989–1990 season where UD advanced to the second round of the NCAAs. While there were certainly big-time players on that team, the players and coaches were part of the campus fabric. The players weren’t NBA-hopeful, one-and-done players, but real kids who worked on homework and projects with other students. They attended the same parties and just hung out like the rest of us. It was really fun to watch all the senior basketball players walk up to get their degrees at graduation. This is a town that values real people with real lives. Too much glam might make Daytonians a little uncomfortable; I doubt a one-and-done style basketball program would work in this town.

It’s this connection that makes it so much fun when UD basketball catches lightning in a bottle like they have this year. It’s hard to imagine too many cities enjoy the kind of relationship the university and its basketball team have forged with Dayton over many decades. And if we take out Stanford Thursday, well, the bond just gets that much tighter.

So wear your UD T-shirt to all your meetings this Thursday. Work a little harder to outperform your big city competitors. Then find a good spot to enjoy this year’s edition of the UD-Dayton tradition do the same to Stanford. #GOUD. #BeatStanford. #EliteEightHereWeCome.

Guest Contributor: Chris Eifert, principal, TriComB2B

Chris’ 15 years of experience in sales, product management and new product development bring a practical, hands-on perspective to clients’ marketing requirements. Chris held several marketing and product management positions at industrial and technology companies where he implemented marketing programs for new product launches as well as existing products and services. Chris received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton.