Lisa Grigsby

Beer Bonanza This Saturday In Dayton!

November 20, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

If you’re a beer lover, then downtown Dayton is the place you want to be this Saturday. With 3 very special beer-centric events happening, you can make a day of it. Here’s the rundown:

Fifth Street Brewpub’s Holiday Beer Debut
Sat, Nov 21st starting at 2pm
Through their innovative Thin Mint recipe, member-owners, Niall Foster and Jim Witmer won the overall 2015 FSB Member Homebrew Competition and took this American Stout to a higher level. It’s already a proven winner! Pleasing notes of chocolate and mint headline the flavor profile as well as “a strong cookie vibe” that is sure to please this holiday season.

2pm Tapping of Thin Mint Stout
$6 pints with a mini candy cane.

4pm Holiday Bonus!
FSB has created a Firkin of Double Mint Stout (extra chocolate and mint) that will be tapped at 4pm. A 12oz glass will be $5. Don’t miss out as quantities are limited. FSB has partnered with DLM to offer a one-of-a-kind Peppermint Killer Brownie^® topped with a specially-created FSB Thin Mint Stout glaze! They will be serving this giant brownie for $4!

9pm Live Music with Todd the Fox!
Todd the Fox shows are filled with upbeat, energetic originals mixed with stylized covers and old standards. The shows tend to be high-energy with audience members dancing, singing along, and generally having a great time!

Warped Wings’s Whiskey Rebellion Release & Rare Barrel Aged Fun
Sat, Nov 21st starting at 1pm

The inaugural can release of Whiskey Rebellion, a BBA Imperial Stout. A collaboration brew with The Century Bar. In addtion to the can and draught release Warped Wing will be tapping some rare barrel aged beers from John’s cellar along with some other Whiskey variants. We’ll have special tappings on the hour and Food Trucks for your dining pleasure. PA’s Pork will be here from 1-6pm and Zombie Dogs from 4-11pm. Joe Head and crew from The Century Bar will be in the house to help celebrate and give the annual kick off Toast.

Beerry Christmas Dayton

A Holiday Beer Tasting to Benefit House of Bread

Sat, 11/21 4-7pm $20 in advance $25 at the door
Kettering Tower Lobby

The winter season holds many gifts for beer lovers in the form of big, bold ales designed to fend off the cold chill of a long winter’s night. We’ve gathered up a couple dozen of these winter warmers for a joyous holiday celebration to benefit the House of Bread, a non-profit community kitchen serving hot, nutritious, lunchtime meals to anyone in need 7 days a week in Dayton, Ohio. Tickets are $20 in advance, and if available at the door they will be $25.

Beerry Christmas Dayton celebrates these winter ales created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. From Belgians and Barleywines to Stouts and Sours, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors.

Here’s a partial list of the beers:

Fifth Street Brewpub’s Thin Mint Stout
Wapred Wing’s Esther’s Lil Secret
Thristy Dog 12 Dogs
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Great Lakes Oatmeal Stout
Goose Island Winter Ale
Goose Island Festivity Ale
Ciderboys Mad Bark
Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale
Thristy Dog 12 Dogs
Deschutes Jubelale
New Belgium Accumulation
New Belgium Salted Caramel Brownie Ale SweetWater Brewing Hash Brown
Long Trail Brewing Sick Day
Christian Moerlein Chistkindl
Chistian Moerlein T Bird
Oskar Blues Death by Coco
Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale
Leinenkugal’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy
Leinenkugal’s Snodwrift Vailla Porter
Four String Vanilla Porter
Breckenridge Christmas Ale

Beerry Chirstmas Dayton has partnered with Uber so you don’t have to worry about driving. First time users can get a free ride up to $20 with the code BEERRY 15.

And yes the OSU game on the tv’s!

Ohio Whiskey Society Meets

November 18, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The very first meeting on the Dayton chapter of the Ohio Whiskey Society will meet this Thursday night from 6:30-8:30pm in Oakwood overlooking Main St. (2310 Far Hills Ave in the office above the UPS store). With a line up of 5 Whiskeys & Bourbons on the docket including Maker’s Mark, Monkey Shoulder & Chivas Regal, The tasting is being coordinated by Mike Smith. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.

We asked Mike about this group:
Where did the idea for the Ohio Whiskey Society come from?
The idea came from a desire to enjoy great whiskey and great company. I really like to try a variety of whiskeys so I thought why not start a club where whiskey enthusiest, like myself, can get together and try new stuff on a regular basis.

Will this be a membership group?
If so, what does it take to join and what are the benefits?
I think it will become a membership group down the road. More details to come..

How often do you envision meeting?
I would like to see us get together on a monthly basis with a new flight of whiskeys & an expanding community to drink it.

If folks can’t make this Thursday’s event when will the next one be?
We will try to get together again before the New Year. Like us on Facebook for updates.

Esther Price & Warped Wing Have A New Secret

November 11, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

So maybe it’s not such a secret anymore. Last year Warped Wing Brewing Company introduced a collaboration with another Dayton Original, Ester Price Candies. Using their signature caramel, Warped Wing introduced a Scotch ale, and it was a big hit. Big enough that they decided to do it again!

This year’s Secret is a Brown Ale. With twists and turns through tones of chocolate. And sweet whispers of toasted malt. Wanna try it? Warped Wing is throwing a release party to celebrate, featuring Esther’s Li’l Secret Milk Chocolate Brown Ale in draught and cans!

Starting at 5pm on Thursday, Nov 12th at you can enjoy a beer and some of Esther Price’s brand new Esther’s Li’l Secret Beer Brittle. We’ve tasted it and it’s pretty darn good!

New Downtown Dining Option: Marilyn’s Grill

November 9, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Soul Food at Its Finest, Comfort Food at its Best, The Taste will past your Test!

Marilyn’s Grill has set the bar high with their description of their business on their Facebook page. Albert Smith and partner Lolita Frazier signed a lease last March for the first floor restaurant space at the Barclay Building on the corner of Main and First Street. They’ve spent months refreshing the interior of the place and are finally ready to reveal their plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Smith shared, “on Gettysburg we were known as a comfort food establishment. Downtown at this location we’re going to continue to carry that image, but we’ve also added a lot of lighter and healthier meals with a selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

This week Marilyn’s Grill will be offering lunch on the sidewalk and next week the “soft opening” will start with breakfast Nov 16, and the restaurant will add lunch Nov. 18 and dinner Nov. 20.

Check out the lunch options for this week:

Calendar Project Highights A Dozen Local Artists

November 5, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

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December created by NATE STEVENS – Nate is an undersized overachiever—dreaming and doing, living and loving in the Gem City of Dayton, Ohio. He spends his days designing, practicing jiu-jitsu, enjoying good company and anticipating his next meal. view work

It’s 4.25 inches wide and 6 inches tall and chocked full of local talent! The 12 Musketeers 2016 letterpress calendar is a collaboration of local graduates from the School of Advertising Art. According to their website this years calendar is:

“Geometric, organic, subtle or loud—patterns intersect with regulation and decoration in our lives. In 2016, let this calendar inspire you like it inspired us: to observe the small, the mundane, the good, and the bad. With newfound courage, chuck the old habits that no longer serve you, and create the space for new patterns to take form.”

And it even seems to come with a little advice:

“Dig deep, notice the repetitions, find the reoccurring theme, and keep repeating only what makes sense.”

We asked Reka Juhasz, currently a print designer at Real Art as well as the calendar coordinator about the process for putting this project together:

February by Shaw Green

What was the inspiration for the calendar?

The 12 Musketeers letterpress calendar in its fourth year and this year has been inspired by patterns. Each year we create a theme to give the designers a bit of an idea to go off on. They pick the month and how to convey what that month personally means to them with the inspiration at hand.

How did you chose the artists that were united for this project?

As a proud saa alum, I try each year to select people that I have been secretly spying on or people I know will deliver a good solution to the inspiration at hand. Each year I try hard to collaborate with the newest and oldest alums that can spare the time to work with me on the calendar. Sometimes you start out with friends you know will pull through, sometimes you reach out to alums based on work you have seen them do.

April by Kenny Glenn

Will there be more of these collaborations?

Each year is a different animal. The first year we sold out in less than 4 weeks, the following years it’s been harder to sell the calendars. I would like to keep the project going, and maybe do a special 5-year edition next year. As long as we break even on the project we will keep doing it.

What else should we know about this project?

It’s an award winning collaboration (we have been recognized for the print work, web work and video in previous years), we are a bunch of design nerds who all love design and the craft of letterpress and we are proud to be a revolving set of 12 musketeers every year showing the community (Dayton and worldwide) what saa has taught us about being curious, collaborative and loving the process.

“12 awesome designers trained in battle at saa come together to defend the honor of letterpress .”

You can purchase one of these limited addition, hand printed calendars online for just $20, perfect for holiday giving for that hard to buy for person on your gift list. And maybe one for you, as well. But be quick, only 150 have been made.

Serving Up Turkey Day Dinners 2015

November 4, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Take some of the stress out of the holiday season and make reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant. Some offer the traditional turkey with all the trimmings while others may present their own creative culinary take on the classics. Also many restaurants offer to prepare your food ahead, so you may serve at home- we’ve listed some options at the bottom of the list.

According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), 15 million Americans choose to dine out for the biggest meal of the year. That’s not including the additional 4 million takeout customers who order their bird to go.

And don’t forget to ask for leftovers, some restaurants will pack you a little take home box so you can have a turkey sandwich later.

Here are the places we’ve confirmed so far:

Carvers Steaks & Chops
1535 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton, OH 45459 (937) 433-7099 noon to 7pm
Traditional Turkey Dinner $19, Kids Meal is $12, regular menu also available

Cracker Barrel
5770 Wilmington Pike, Centerville, (937) 432-2431, 6am – 10pm
7171 Miller Lane, Butler Twp, (937) 890-0047; 6am to 10 pm
3280 Town Blvd, Middletown, (513) 727-4727; 6am to 10 pm
105 West Leffel Lane, Springfield (937) 325-8221; 6am to 10 pm
Turkey and traditional sides. No reservations taken

Dayton Marriott
1414 South Patterson Blvd, Dayton 937.223.1000 ext.7731 seatings at 11:30pm & 1:30pm reservations required
Buffet with waffle station, make your own salad bar, Ham and Turkey carving, as well as other hot entrees, and assorted cakes, seasonal pies, pastries and bread pudding
$38 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity, $32 for seniors $15 for children ages 5 to 12 (4 and under eat free)

El Meson
903 E Dixie Dr, West Carrollton (937) 859-8229 2 – 7pm
Reservations accepted for groups of 10 or more

Golden Corral
2490 Commons Boulevard, Beavercreek (937)431-7300 10am – 8pm,
8870 Kingsridge Drive, Dayton Mall (937)312-2400 10am – 8pm
6611 Miller Lane, Vandalia (937)264-3300 10am – 8pm
Turkey and traditional sides. No Reservations. $12.99, not including tax or beverage.

Harrison’s Restaurant
106 E. Main Street, Tipp City (937) 667-5200 noon – 6pm
Classic turkey dinner with celery and sage dressing, mashed potatoes & grevy, green been casserole, house made cranberry sauce and warm apple pie with ice cream
$15.50 adults, $13.50 seniors, $9.50 children 10 and under

Hasty Tasty
509 Linden Ave., Dayton, (937) 254-8431; 5 am to 6 pm
Thanksgiving dinner specials, no reservations. Cost: $8.95, includes dessert.

Max & Erma’s
3 area locations: Miller Lane, Fairfield Commons, Springboro 11am – midnight
Thanksgiving Dinner $14.99 for adults, $12.99 for children includes turkey, mashed potatoes, apple pecan stuffing, side of green beans, cranberry sauce and choice of salad or soup and slice of pumpkin cheesecake.

McCormick and Schmick’s
4429 Cedar Park Drive at The Greene, (937) 431-9200 noon to 8 pm
regular menu and Thanksgiving meal, which runs $24.99, for kids$9.99 reservations suggested

Mimi’s Cafe
4402 Walnut St. in The Greene in Beavercreek, (937) 426-9153; 8am – 8pm
regular menu and traditional Thanksgiving dinner, reservations accepted

The Barnsider
5202 North Main Street, Dayton, OH 45415 (937) 277.1332 noon – 7pm
Traditional Thanksgiving dinner, $15.95 adults, Children 10 and under $8.95
Reservations welcomed

Waffle House
To find the closest Waffle House to you use the store locator .
It’s open 24 hours and if you sit at the bar you can watch them flip your eggs- it’s like dinner theater.

Wellington Grille
2450 Dayton Xenia Road, Beavercreek (937) 426-4600 | Noon to 6pm
Traditional meal, plus regular items. Reservations Recommended

Yankee Trace Golf Club
10000 Yankee St, Dayton (937) 438-3585
Turn the Turkey over to us! We’re taking reservations for our annual Thanksgiving Buffet on Thursday, November 26. There are two seatings: 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Cost is $26.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 6–12 years old. Children five and under eat free. Reservations are required and fill up very fast.

Young’s Jersey Dairy Golden Jersey Inn
6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd. (U.S. 68), Yellow Springs, (937) 324-2050. 10:30 am to 6 pm seating every 90 minutes. Traditional Thanksgiving buffet including turkey, ham, sides, and desserts. Reservations required. Adults $20.95, children 4-10 $8.95, children 3 and under free.

Yankee Trace Golf Club
10000 Yankee St, Dayton (937) 438-3585

Turn the Turkey over to us! We’re taking reservations for our annual Thanksgiving Buffet on Thursday, November 27. There are two seatings: 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cost is $26.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 6–12 years old. Children five and under eat free. Reservations are required and fill up very fast, call 438-3585.

Also don’t forget the Community Feast of Giving at the Dayton Convention Center. It’s open to all and free from 11am – 2pm.

Where You Can Pick up Prepared Dishes:

Lily’s Bistro 329 E. 5th Street 937 – 723-7637

Offering prepared sides from Wednesday November 25-Wednesday December 23, with 48-hour advance notice of orders. These sides are designed to be accompaniments to holiday meals and parties. Will offer small (serves 4-6 people) and large (serves 8-10 people) orders of the following:

-Creamy cavatappi mac n cheese
-Roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon
-Lily’s mashed potatoes with chicken gravy

Golden Lamb 27 S. Broadway Lebanon, Ohio (513) 932-5065
Enjoy a fully prepared hot, fresh and ready-to-serve Thanksgiving meal from the Golden Lamb for 12-14 adults in your own home. Reservations are required by 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 24 and supplies are limited. Call (513) 932-5065 to reserve your Thanksgiving meal and select a curb-side pick-up time between 12:30 pm and 5 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

Hawthorn Grill 1222 E. Stroop Rd, Kettering 937-298-2222

Check out the Thanksgiving Catering menu.

Kroger

Spend more of your Thanksgiving at the table with family and friends by making us your sous chef. We’ll show you the easy ins and outs of ordering a delicious turkey dinner with our Deli department, plus our favorite tips on serving it up in style.

Beer Tasting & Buffet at The Dock!

November 2, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

This Friday, Nov 6th, The Dock Food & Spirits is hosting a grand buffet and food pairing event. Reservations are required for this eating extravaganza which starts at 6:30pm and runs $33.95 per person. Call 937-864-5011 to reserve your seat and then head to 250 W. Main Street in Enon to enjoy a night of seafood and beer at this casual Jimmy Buffet themed eatery.

Here’s the menu:

SEAFOOD JAMBALAYA

PAIRED WITH BLUE POINT OCTOBERFEST

BELGIAN SAUTEED MUSSELS

PAIRED WITH HOEGAARTEN

LOBSTER-ANDOUILLE “MAC & CHEESE”

PAIRED WITH YUENGLING IPL

FISH TACOS

PAIRED WITH GOOSE FOUR STAR PILS

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

PAIRED WITH GOOSE ISLAND LOLITA

Chinese & Japanese Restaurant’s Moraine Location Now Under Construction

October 26, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

CJ Chan’s second location is now finally under construction. The new location was announced back in April, when they signed a lease for the 1,800 square foot location at 2747 W. Alex Bell Road, in the same strip center as the original Chappy’s Tap House.

The original CJ Chan opened up at 536 Wilmington Ave in the fall of 2010 and has earned a steady following of fans serving up a “distinctive menu featuring more than 80 sensational dishes ranging from traditional Chinese favorites and innovative specialties to classic Thai foods from across Asia, using only the freshest, most natural ingredients,” according to their website. The restaurant has earned positive review for “huge portions, delicious food, prices that are low and service that is fast,” if you peruse the online sites.

Construction photo’s placed on their website today confirm that progress is finally under way. A call to the restaurant said they hope to be open by the end of November.

FilmDayton Awards $1000 To “Pitch It” winner.

October 24, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Jacob Stuart, Jeremey Gingrich and Alvaro Leite

A film pitch is a basically a sales pitch for a film, tv show or other creative project. Depending on whom you are pitching to and what the purpose of the film pitch is, your pitch may be longer or shorter. A film pitch can range from a one sentence description of your project to a longer telling that should include the main elements of the story, the basic premise, plot points, the main characters, time period, setting and locations.

Last night the 7th Annual Eichelberger FilmFestival kicked off at the Dayton Convention Center with our annual Pitch It! The stories ranged from a psychotherapist’s culture shock in Beijing, to a disgraced conservative pundit returning to his hometown to mend relationships and a horror/fantasy about a girl who uses her creativity and newfound ability to ‘phase’ through colors to survive attacks from the malevolent entity that caused the disappearance of her dad and death of her mom.

The judges: Alvoro Leite, a filmmaker and screenwriter, who attended film school at Wright State University where he got hisBFA in Motion Pictures Production and currently a teacher at Stivers School for the Arts and Jacob N. Stuart, an award-winning and represented screenwriter. He has had OVER 15 scripts optioned and/or produced to screen, airing in OVER 7 different countries. Jacob is the Founder of Screenwriting Staffing.

In a FilmDayton tradition, each contestant had 2 minutes to “pitch” their idea and then judges asked questions eliciting further details on plot, character development, target audiences and more. After careful consideration the winning pitch was selected:

“Dean and Max, late 20’s best friends since college, are about to embark on the Never Ending Tour – Bob Dylan’s touring frenzy from the year 2000 – on a road trip through the Western United States (8 shows, 6 states in 10 days), meeting the colorful characters you’re bound to meet on such a tour, as they also try to cope with Dean’s impending divorce of his wife of 6 years and the recent death of Max’s father.

Beavercreek filmmaker Jeremey Gingrich was awarded $1000 to kickstart his film into production. And the FilmDayton festival was official underway, with 3 screenings last night at The Neon. The fest continues with documentaries, shorts, features at The Neon and workshops today and Sunday at ThinkTV. For the full scheudle, please visit FilmDayton’s website.

Pay the Price For Buying Booze With Credit.

October 22, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

It may be time to stock up your liquor cabinet for the holidays now. Starting November 1st Arrow Wines & Spirits will join with the majority of local liquor stores and add a surcharge to liquor purchased with a credit or debit card. Mif Frank explains, We’re one of the last stores to pass on the cost of the credit cards to the consumer. We didn’t want to do it but with the rising cost of health care and other operational costs, the 5% commission we make on bottles less the 2-3% credit card charges leaves us only 2% profit and we just can’t run our business on that. That charge will only be on hard liquor, not beer, wine or low proof bottles.”

In checking with other stores in the area, Miami Valley Wine & Liquor charges 50 cents per bottle, Belmont Party Supply charges 3%, Liquor & Wine Warhouse charges 3% and Air City says it’s 50 cents per order. So start carrying cash or get used to paying a higher price for your booze.

A Difference Maker In Dayton: Firehouse Subs

October 7, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

While they may be known for their mouthwatering hot subs, piled high with meats and cheeses, Firehouse Subs also gives back to the community by way of their Public Safety Foundation. This Thursday, October 8^th, Firehouse Subs will be launching their very first Foundation Day of Thanks.

Firehouse Subs will be celebrating a $39,000 donation to the Kettering and Fairborn Fire Departments. “Donations from Firehouse Subs round up at the register program and the sale of our 5 gallon pickle buckets have raised the funds to provide two state of the art chest compression systems to Kettering and one to Fairborn through our foundation,” according to Dave Baker, franchise owner of the Kettering Firehouse Subs. “In the past year we’ve funded two of these automated defibrillators for Huber Heights, one for Vandalia and I believe Xenia was just approved for one. I’ve heard that Kettering has already saved 2 lives with their equipment.”

Founded in 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to provide funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations. Since the organization was founded, they have donated over $14 Million to heroes nationwide and nearly $650,000 in the state of Ohio alone.

You can stop by Firehouse Subs to join in the festivities! The fun begins bright and early at 10:30AM at the UD location on Oakwood Avenue. Meet Firehouse Subs representatives and firefighters and other first responders and enjoy a sub while you’re at it.

Dayton area Firehouse Sub locations:

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6 Oakwood Ave · (937) 813-1585

Open 10:30am until 9pm

North Heights Plaza

8436 Old Troy Pike · (937) 938-9737

Open 10:30am until 10pm

4301 Far Hills Ave · (937) 298-4444

Open 10:30am until 9pm

Do you know someone who’s making a difference in the Dayton region? Someone who gives of their time and talent to make our community a better place? An unsung hero that is quietly making an effort to make someone’s life a little better? Nominate them as a DMM Difference Maker and we’ll honor them and share their story. Send us an email with their story.

First Four Men’s Basketball Championship Tickets On Sale October 17

October 1, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Tickets to preliminary rounds of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship go on sale at 10 am local time Saturday, Oct. 17, to each host city. Fans wishing to buy tickets to the First Four®, first- and second-round games or regional competition should go to www.NCAA.com/MBBTickets.

The 2016 championship begins on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, March 15-16, with the First Four — four firstround games taking place in Dayton, Ohio. First- and second-round action takes place Thursday and Saturday, March 17 and 19, in Denver; Des Moines, Iowa; Providence, Rhode Island; and Raleigh, North Carolina. Also, hosting first- and second-round games Friday and Sunday, March 18 and 20, will be Brooklyn, New York; Oklahoma City, St. Louis and Spokane, Washington.
Louisville, Kentucky, will serve as the South Regional site and Anaheim, California, will host the West Regional
on Thursday and Saturday, March 24 and 26. Philadelphia will be the site for the East Regional and Chicago will host the Midwest Regional on Friday and Sunday, March 25 and 27.

“This is a great opportunity for college basketball fans to see March Madness® in some of our traditional cities
with a long history of hosting the tournament, as well as a couple of new cities that have never hosted before,” said Dan
Gavitt, the NCAA’s vice president of men’s basketball. “From major markets to smaller cities, there’s a great chance that
America’s best sporting event is going to be played reasonably close to any fan in the country, so it’s a terrific opportunity to come watch history unfold.”

“The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament generates an enormous level of excitement and passion
from a global fan base,” said JP Nauseef, Chairman of The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee.
“Each Spring, fans from across the Dayton region and Ohio demonstrate their commitment as host to the tip-off of March Madness and the home to the epicenter of college basketball. First Four ticket sales and game attendance have continued to exceed expectations thanks to longstanding support from America’s most passionate college basketball fans right here in Dayton, Ohio. We believe this year will be no different.”

The 78th NCAA Men’s Final Four® will be co-hosted on April 2 and 4 by the University of Houston, Rice
University and Texas Southern University. General tickets to the games at NRG Stadium in Houston are sold out, but fans still have the opportunity to purchase ticket and hospitality packages from PrimeSport, the official ticket and hospitality provider of the NCAA, by visiting www.NCAA.com/VIP. The NCAA Experience® ticket and hospitality packages for all preliminary rounds of the championship can also be purchased at that website via PrimeSport.

Get Your Dia de los Muertos Dayton T-shirt NOW!

September 10, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Dia de los Muertos Dayton was born in 2012. The goal of creating the event was to give the whole community an opportunity to celebrate the lives of their loved ones passed. Assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, traditionaly Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community.

In the first year Missing Peace Art Space, part of the Unitarian Fellowship for World Peace, worked with program partners to make the event happen. Program funding allowed them to build community for the event through school residencies, local art exhibition and a parade through the center of Dayton’s historic Oregon District. They captured the attention of a cross-section of our beautifully diverse community with nearly 350 participants. Over the years the parade through the Oregon District has continued to grow. The parade is designed to bring neighbors together, celebrating those lives that have touched ours.

This year, Missing Peace Art Space, led by a dedicated group of community artists, are ready to roll out an even bigger celebration for our Dayton family. But in order to do that the must first raise funds. To help support the Dia de los Muertos Dayton pre-order a fabulous t-shirt designed by local artist Susan Alden! This years shirt features the most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos – the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

DEADLINE IS TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER! Shirts will be available for pick up starting a few days prior to the event…

The actual free and family-friendly event celebration on Sunday, Nov 1st and will kick things off at 200 S. Jefferson Street at 2:15pm. The parade leaves a little after 2:30pm marching from Jefferson through the Oregon District and ends at Missing Peace Art Space at 3:30pm where you can experience the community ofrendas (altars), art exhibition, performances and much more!

12 September Fundraisers You Won’t Want To Miss!

September 1, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

We know Miami Valley residents give a greater share of their incomes to charity than Ohioans from other metro areas according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Funds raised from these events help feed the hungry, provide support for the arts and cultures of our town and make Dayton a great place to live, work and play. In order to help you plan your fall philanthropy, we’ve picked out 12 of our favorite September fundraisers for you to add to your calendar:

AlterFest!
Fri Sept 4th 7pm – 12M,
Sat, Sept 5- noon – 12m,
Sun Sept 6- 1pm – 12am,
Mon, Sept 7th noon-6pm

Alter Family Fun Fest is an Alter Booster sponsored fundraiser for Archbishop Alter High School at 940 E. David Road in Kettering , Ohio. Hundreds of volunteers made up of parents, past parents, students, faculty and friends give endless hours to raise money for the school. Rdes and games for Kids, Blackjack and Texas Hold’em, Big 6 and Showdown for adults. Entertainment all weekend long!

BRAVO! Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show
Friday, Sept 11th at Sinclair Ponitz Center 1oam

Chair Cindy Gaboury and her committee are planning an opulently orchestrated show leveraging the Oriental flavor of Dayton Opera’s November production of Madame Butterfly. This annual fundraiser of the Opera Guild to support its many educational programs and Dayton Opera; boutique shoppingThey will present exciting styles from Chico’s of Oakwood and their partner company Soma. Fantastic custom luxury mensware will be featured from J. Hilburn. The 2015 winner of our Tri-State College Vocal Competition, tenor Joshua Blue, will entertain. He will be accompanied by Jeff Powell. Shaun Yu from Discover Classical as o Master of Ceremonies. $55-$75 tickets

The Dayton Greek Festival
Fri, Sept. 11 – 11am to 11pm,
Sat, Sept. 12 – 11am to 11pm
Sun, Sept. 13 – 11am to 6pm

Celebrate the 57th annual Greek Festival the weekend after Labor Day. A Greek tradition for both the young and old, this festival brings together people of all backgrounds to celebrate all things Greek: the food and pastries, unique Boutique items, cooking demonstrations, imported beer and wine, craft beer, live music, dance performances, and tours of our beautiful church. Fun activities for the kids at Zorba Zone and take a chance on the $5,000 raffle prize. There is something for everyone. Be Greek for the day. OPA!

The Italian Fall Festa
Fri, Sept. 11 – 6pm to 11pm
Sat, Sept. 12 – noon to 11pm
Sun, Sept. 13 – noon to 8pm

A weekend of wonderful Italian music, great Italian food, good friends, and a fun game of Bocce on the beautiful, spacious, shaded grounds of Bella Villa Hall on County Line Road in Kettering. Bocce courts open all weekend for open play. Watch the Bengals & Browns on large screen TV’s. The Meatball Madness 5K is Sunday at 10am and the Spaghetti Eating Contest is Sunday at 3pm. Festa Parking is located at Reynolds and Reynolds Parking lot at the corner of Reseach Blvd and County Line Road. Parking and shuttle service to and from the grounds is FREE of CHARGE!

Buttercream Festival
Fri, Sept 11 7:30pm Hot Air Balloon Glow
Sat, Sept 12 8am – 7pm

Come celebrate the wonderful city of West Carrollton Ohio at the Buttercream Festival 2015! The Cupcake 5K starts off the event, a cake display contest, a Little Miss Buttercream pageant, a hunks and ladder demonstration, a Valor martial arts performance, a Veterans recognition ceremony, cake decorating showcase, vendors from around the area with booths featuring food, retail products, arts and crafts, community organizations and live music and entertainment throughout the day as well as tons of SWEET TREATS for you to enjoy! Free of charge event.

Folks of Dayton Music Festival
Sat, Sept 12 noon – 10pm

Great Bands for a Great cause! Come enjoy some groovy tunes, food, 50/50 raffle and festive fellowship. Bands include Brown Street Breakdown, Rosie Carson Band, Higgins Madewell – with special guest Tom Leary and Scotty Bratcher. Food and Non-Alcoholic beverages will be availble for sale and donations.Bring Your coolers, lawn chairs, blankets. B.Y.O.B. (Adult Beverages- no glass bottles). This event takes place at the Polish Picnic Grounds at 3600 Needmore Road.

Boonshoft Bash: A Big Bang Night in the Milky Way
Sat, Sept 12 7pm – midnight

See the Museum in a whole new light as you experience an evening of fun and excitement at the 2015 Boonshoft Bash! Enjoy a reception with hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks at the open bar before heading to the edges of the universe – or at least the Museum! – as you dine in one of five astronomy-themed venues. Guests will be served a full course of learning and entertainment as they explore our Sun and Moon, discover the stories of Constellations that fill our night sky, traverse the Solar System to see all eight planets, and even hitch a ride on a Comet – before dancing the night away at the not-to-be-missed Pity Party for Pluto. And even if you can’t attend you can buy a $100 raffle ticket for a chance at the $10,000 cash prize.

Rusty’s Ride Charity Motorcycle Ride
Sat, Sept 12 10am – 5pm

All motorcycle enthusiasts and riders are invited to join the 24th annual Rusty’s Ride Charity Motorcycle Ride in memory of Buckminn’s employee, Russell “Rusty” Shearer. Presented by the Xenia H.O.G. Chapter #2703 and sponsored by Buckminn’s D&D Harley-Davidson, this event is a fundraiser that supports the efforts of the Greene Community Health Foundation. Registration begins at 10am with the last bike leaving by 12pm. All makes of bikes are welcome and the first 250 registered riders will receive a free commemorative bandana. After the ride, enjoy a meal with homemade desserts provided by Xenia H.O.G. Chapter members. At 3:00pm, a raffle and an auction will be held featuring biker-related items and gift baskets.

The Cat’s Meow
Friday, September 18, 2015 6-10:30 pm

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! You’re invited to spend a magnificent evening with SICSA as we celebrate the good times, saving lives and sharing love! An extraordinary affair with a festive, 1920’s Creole atmosphere. James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur Anne Kearney of Rue Dumaine will provide a shrimp boil feast sure to get every cat meowing! Dance to the beat of 1920’s jazz and swing, a themed photo booth, and a silent auction made up of unique and enticing packages. Dress – Garden Party Creole Chic. This events takes place at Benham Grove in Centerville.

The Dayton Art Institute presents Oktoberfest

Fri, Sept 25 Lederhosen Lunch 11am -2 pm Preview Party 7-11pm
Sat, Sept 26 noon – 11pm
Sun, Sept 27 noon -7pm
This community event boasts an array of artisans, unique foods, ample domestic, international and craft beers, kid-friendly art activities, live music on two stages, international wines and so much more! Oktoberfest includes a fully covered Main Stage viewing area and an expanded Craft Beer tent with big-screen TVs for all the weekend football action. The ACCO Brands FamilyFest provides free art activities for the kids, from noon – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Artemis Gone Riding: Cycling to End Domestic Violence
Sat, Sept 26 8am – 1pm

The bike ride is a fun filled occasion that creates an atmosphere unlike any other fundraiser. We are proud to be riding in an effort to raise awareness of Domestic Violence in our community. Participants choose from a 10, 16, or 22 mile path and create “pedal crews” and collect pledges before the event. Registered riders will receive an event T- Shirt and enjoy a pancake breakfast, with optional VIP packages for our omelet station, mimosa bar, and beer garden. Riders and attendees will have the opportunity to pamper themselves at our various “Swag Stations.” Local vendors will also be selling art, jewelry, and other fabulous items/gifts. We will also feature a Kid’s Fun Zone, including a bounce house, face painting and other fun activities. All funds raised are used to provide vital support services to Domestic Violence victims and their children.
Greater Dayton 5K Heart Walk/Run
Sat, Sept 26, 8-11am

The Greater Dayton 5K Heart Walk/Run is the premier fundraising event of the American Heart Association. Join 9,000 of your friends and neighbors for this family fun event. The 5K non competitive walk starts at Fifth Third Field then follows a course through downtown and along the Great Miami River. The 5K timed run requires a $25 registration fee. Proceeds from this event go to support the American Heart Association mission in its fight against the no. 1 and no. 5 killers of all Americans, heart disease and stroke. The event features a health and wellness expo with health screenings and demonstrations, healthy snacks, vendors, a kids fun run and activity area, a memorial/honorary torch ceremony and a VIP survivor area.

We’ve just highlighted a dozen September fundraisers, there are certainly plenty of others organizations and events deserving of your time and money, so check our calendar for a more comprehensive list. And if you know of events we’ve missed, please submit them to our calendar.

TEDx Dayton Returns Oct 16th

August 25, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

In 2013 Larry & Marilyn Klaben lead the team that brought the TEDx talks to Dayton. More than 30 engaging speakers and performers took the stage during to unleash ideas that would Infuse and Inspire.

According to Dayton Daily News reporter Dave Larsen “More than 900 people attended the fast-paced, day-long forum, which featured more than 30 local speakers” who challenged us to follow the fear, find our voice, question the equation, get over ourselves, build memories, imagine a world with hate, embrace our past , move through the shadows, rewire our brains, adopt and date our city.

In 2014 there was a second sell out event, that promised to Explore, Exchange and Excite. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, we were asked if we were OK with ourselves or prisoners of shame, seeing our reality, or creating something timeless, exploring bias and creating successful collaboration, if we have to be a jerk to win or were having an alien experience were we stopping the silence, embracing our driveway moments and wondering if glitter makes everything better.

Tonight the official kick off for speakers and sponsors was held to introduce the third edition of TEDx Dayton that will happen on Friday, October 16th:

Registration will be open to the public starting at 9 am Wednesday, August 26 and you can register for $50, which includes lunch or at the student rate (ID Required) for $18. Organizers expect another quick sell-out this year, so don’t procrastinate if you want to be part of the audience for TEDxDayton this year.

Bourbon & Cigar Dinner at Dublin Pub

August 24, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Bourbon and Cigar lovers will gather at the Dublin Pub this Tuesday, August 25th for a fabulous dinner, with each course paired with a bourbon tasting and then you can wrap up your dinner with a fabulous cigar from The Market.

The dinner begins at 6pm and runs $50/person, a true bargain when you look at the value of the meal, liquor and cigars, which would cost you about double if priced individually.

Oh and did we mention that there will be door prizes supplied by the cigar and liquor distributors as well as The Dublin Pub?

First course: Hatfield & McCoy and shrimp and corn chowder

Second course: OYO 4 grain bourbon served with seasonal greens with candied pecans, mandarin oranges & a bourbon infused dressing

Third course: Buffalo Trace & a southern fried pork chop with bacon and collard greens

Fourth Course:Angels envy served with Bourbon bread pudding.