Nikki Nett

Once – For The First Time

January 20, 2016 By Nikki Nett

If you love music, if you like music, if you heard music one random Tuesday and didn’t hate it, you should make your way to the Schuster Center between now and January 24. Run, skip, interpretive dance your way there, just do it.

The Victoria Theatre Association has brought to Dayton a story of love and music and the way they intertwine in the complicated lives of a Guy and a Girl. Eight time Tony winner, Once The Musical, stormed into town on Tuesday (barely – due to travel delays!) an kept the audience in the Schuster Center captivated from the first note to the last.

On our way to our seats, the usher mentioned, “don’t forget to go on stage and have a drink at the bar”. What? I thought surely this was an error. I was wrong. On stage, before the show there was a raucous party underway. Live music being played, singing and dancing, drinks being poured, and you were encouraged to join in the fun!

The scene was set in Dublin, Ireland with a ragtag group of energetic musicians. As the first act progressed, the Guy stood out with his melancholy songs. We were then intoduced to the Girl, an immigrant who saw something special in this sad musician. From there, we witness their complicated lives unfolding and their relationship growing. Or not growing. Maybe just changing. But their story was beautiful and their songs together are both haunting and hopeful.

There were some scenes that reminded you of a mix of Mumford & Sons + Fiddler On The Roof + Bruno Mars combined. Weird combination? Maybe, but it worked. It worked magically.

We had the chance to chat with some familiar faces after the show. This is what they had to say:

Josh Stucky

I have to say, it’s music with mass appeal. I’d see Once, twice!

Jonathan McNeal

You don’t need to be a fan of the incredible film to fall in love with the great voices and musicians of Once!

Sunni Russo

We thought it was genius the way they handled the set changes and how the cast was also the musical accompaniment and played along the sides of the stage when they were not in the scene.

All in all, it was a fun night. I had no expectations going in, and although I had heard that Once was fantastic, I simply wasn’t familiar with the story before Tuesday night. It took the chill off this wintery week and I am still singing the songs today (fortunately for those around me, the songs are in my head and not out loud).

You can catch the Tony Award winning Once nightly through Sunday Jan 24th with 2pm matinee’s on Saturday and Sunday at the Schuster Center. Tickets range from $39-$92 and can be purchased at Ticket Center Stage

Bring All The Cupcakes!

January 6, 2016 By Nikki Nett

So, the best/worst thing just happened to my life.

First, OMG, Cake Hope & Love DELIVERS NOW!

Second, oh no, Cake Hope & Love delivers now.

Cupcakes on demand!

I have been a very vocal supporter of my favorite little bakery ever since they started in their home kitchen. I ordered a cake a few years ago that needed to be “a little sparkly, with maybe some green, and some zebra stripes” and Shannon whipped up the most fabulous birthday cake that any lil 10-year-old has ever seen. From that day on, my obsession with Cake Hope & Love has been unshakeable.

CH&L owners, Shannon & Mike Teague, have developed quite a large following of fans over the past few years, myself obviously included. It’s always great to see what inventive flavors they’ll have on the Big Red Counter, especially on those #treatyoself days (also known as every day). It’s likely that you may have tried their most popular, THE Buckeye (yes, you have to say the THE in front of it) at an area event. I’m personally partial to Queen Frostine with extra Disco Dust, because some cupcakes just NEED sparkle on them. The flavor combinations they come up with are out of this world.

And now, these little magical cupcakes can just appear at your door step like magic. Like freaking magic, I tell you.

After losing my mind over the slightly subtle Facebook post on a random Wednesday afternoon, I immediately sent Shannon a message that was artfully crafted and extremely eloquent asking her for more information so I could write up a little story on it. Okay, it only said, “WHAAAAAAAAAAAATTT?!?!?!?” and luckily she knew what I meant.

I was able to make real words and I asked what prompted this. “This is a test roll out for delivery. If it is successful we hope to expand to after hours delivery and beyond.” said Teague.

AFTER HOURS!? Can you even imagine how long you’ve been missing the ability to have cupcakes delivered to your door whenever you wanted? I can’t even.

So, maybe you’ve made it this far and think that the names Shannon & Mike Teague sounded familiar but aren’t making the connection to the cupcakes (hey, it’s possible?). You may know them from New Media Dayton or other area workshops where they have taught their play by play success in social media marketing. So naturally, I had to get a little techy with the next question. Okay, it was basically just, “Hoooowwww?!?!?!”. The beauty is that the tech that makes it all possible is the Uber platform. This keeps the delivery charge low for Greene & Montgomery Counties. Shannon said they are “always looking for new ways to expand the business and we’re excited to use an up and coming on demand service.”. Expand the business? More like expanding our waistlines, amIrite?

I’m sure in the next few days someone somewhere will publish a more detailed article, possibly hitting important information that I skipped because I am just too dang happy that Cake Hope & Love cupcakes will now be available without driving out to their shop in Beavercreek.

I am so happy I could cry…and so will my personal trainer.

How To Order

Go here & type the words & wait for the happiness: http://www.cakehopeandlovecupcakes.com/

I Heart You…But I’m Not Even 40

September 17, 2015 By Nikki Nett

A hearty laugh

If you know me, you know that I’m quick with the jokes. It has taken me a couple months to get to the point that I can have this conversation without laughing. What’s so funny? The ridiculousness of the fact that I could have a “cardiac event” before the age of 40. I mean really…me? No way, that’s just silly.

Well on June 22, 2015, I found out first hand just how un-funny heart issues can be. I woke up and was getting ready for work like any other morning. I ignored the weird pressure in my chest, a heaviness I was unfamiliar with. It was only when I had a head full of shampoo that I realized the shooting pain down my arm was something I should probably pay attention to. I threw on some yoga pants and drove myself to Sycamore. “DROVE YOURSELF?” you ask? Yeah, I realize that was a stupid move…but it was nothing serious, lol. The look on the ER doc’s face when she told me they called the squad to transfer me immediately to get a heart cath at Kettering Medical Center was what let me know with no uncertainty that this was serious business. After reassuring the EMTs that I wouldn’t take ambulance selfies, they let me have my phone so I could text a quick “I think I may be late today” to one of my co-workers.

While the sedation had me endlessly fascinated with the images I was seeing on the screen (that they wouldn’t let me Instagram) as they put a needle as big as an elephant leg (maybe a little smaller) in an artery in my arm, I was fully beginning to realize what was going on. I spent the next few days in the beautiful Schuster Heart Hospital at Kettering. I’m still a bit stunned at what an overall pleasant experience that was. Yes, really. Fortunately, I was able to walk out of there after a short visit with a new knowledge of myocarditis – inflammation of the heart that can happen to anyone, even someone as “young” as me. (Imagine a big winky face emoji there)

Have a heart

So here we are, a little more than a week away from this years’ Heart Walk and I am finally able to type all of this out. I am honored and thrilled to be part of Team Tutu, lead by my friend and heart transplant recipient, DonErik Black. He promised his doctor that he would wear a tutu when he got a new heart, and he promised us that he’d wear one if we raise a boatload of money. Since I am not one to argue with the wearing of a tutu EVER, I had no choice but to enthusiastically show you all this photo as motivation.

Please consider participating or donating this year. If not for the work that the American Heart Association has done to raise awareness of the symptoms you should look for, it’s possible that I wouldn’t be here. Scarier for me is that they would have found me with wet hair and no make-up and certainly no stilettos that you might know I’m so fond of.

My “why” is life, laughter & love for my children, family and friends. What’s yours?

So let’s do this!

Here are the details:

Where: Fifth Third Field

When: Sat, 26 Sep 2015 8:00 AM – Noon

As the signature fundraising event for the American Heart Association, the 5K Heart Walk/Run promotes physical activity and heart healthy living in an environment that’s fun for the whole family. Nearly 4,000 people will gather here in Dayton and raise these all important funds. Visit the vendor area before and after the walk/run for a health fair, free screenings, health tips, massages, free refreshments, a fun Kids Zone, and more! Walk or run with friends, family, co-workers, or strangers you’ll bond with along the way. Anyway you choose to do it, your heart will thank you for it!

One Full Year of Dayton Activities

August 18, 2015 By Nikki Nett

365 Things To Do In Dayton

“Dayton’s dead”

“There’s nothing to do here”

“I’m bored”

Those three phrases will likely garner some scowls followed by a long list of why you’re wrong if you were to say them in front of the many people passionate about Dayton. Here at MostMetro, we heart Dayton so darn much that we created this. This entire website with a wealth of community events, centrally located for your convenience. And this couldn’t exist without a cadre of people equally passionate about this area and everything it has to offer.

People like the guys at Lion + Panda, an agency started by WSU alums, Richard Kaiser (lion) + Philip Roestamadji (panda). They recently submitted a design completed by Shannon Seebach to a contest Oregon Printing was running to highlight their new white ink capabilities. They worked together with a handful of influencers, idea makers, go-getters, and lovers of Dayton to put together a list of 365 things to do in Dayton.

Yep. You have something to do every day. Every. Single.Day.

As you can guess, this poster won the design contest and that means you’ll be seeing it around town. Oh, you want one? I don’t blame you. They are finalizing some of the details and partnerships to help cover the cost of printing right now, but you’ll be able to keep up with the developments on their facebook page or ours.

Good job on this, everyone, and congratulations Lion + Panda and Shannon. I bet we’re ready to get started on 365 MORE Things To Do In Dayton. Ready…Go!

Get Caffeinated

August 17, 2015 By Nikki Nett

Don’t let the mid-day slump get you down. There is hope and it’s not the questionable grog that has been brewing in the industrial coffee pot at the office all day.

Gary Clemens, the owner of Espresso Express and More is the cure to your caffeine problems. No seriously. He’s like a freaking angel bringing you a venti-triple-whatever-you-like right in the middle of the day. To wherever you are. Want in on this action? You can find their information on their facebook page or by calling (937) 776-0542.

As a start up, they are currently offering limited hours of delivery while they gauge the best hours and times for staffing. My guess is this won’t last long, because who wouldn’t want Ghostlight or Press delivered to your office anytime during the day?

So here’s the deal…First drink has a $5 delivery fee (plus the cost of the drink), that fee gets smaller for each additional drink ordered. You are not limited to coffee, (I know that I’d personally do backflips for a green smoothie mid-afternoon). Gary accepts cash or credit cards.

I recently tried the service out, and I have to be brutally honest here: I almost don’t want everyone in the area to know about it just in case there is ever a time that I call and they are backed up with orders. I even said that out loud. Fortunately, there are additional drivers available, with a few others on standby for when they expand. Hey, this is serious stuff, I had to make sure!

If you require a certain level of caffeination or just like having things delivered, you should check out Espresso Express. But don’t blame me for your new habit, it’s addicting!

Kettering Goes High End With West End

August 15, 2015 By Nikki Nett

Girls Night Out is about to have a whole new feel.

Coming soon, to Kettering, will be a brick and mortar location for West End Naturals. The local cult favorite of anyone who has smelled the signature scented Iced Lemon Biscotti candles will be available to the public, along with many other uniquely scented products.

Started in 2010, West End Naturals has been quietly making an impact in the Miami Valley. Owner, Janelle West originally set out for her all natural candle & body products to be an alternative to the products she was finding in stores, often filled with artificial ingredients. What she found instead was an opportunity to make an impact beyond just making safe products.

The new Kettering location is introducing a unique concept to the Dayton area. In addition to having pre-made products for sale, they will also be hosting “Pour Your Own” parties. Guests will be able to choose from glassware available there, or bring a favorite piece from home and fill it with their favorite scented wax. How much fun is that? This will be a perfect activity for bridal and baby showers, teambuilding functions, holiday parties and more!

If you have supported fundraisers such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand or Leukemia Lymphoma Society Man / Woman of the Year Campaign, you may already have a West End Naturals product in your home. West has donated an extensive amount of products to these causes and more. In fact if her name sounds familiar, you might know her as the LLS Woman of the Year in 2013. Do you know of a group raising money for a cause? This may be the answer!

West End Naturals is located at 3805 Wilmington Pike in Kettering (just north of Stroop).

There will be a Grand Opening / Open House on Thursday August 27th at 6pm. Stop by and be ready to fall in love with this quaint little shop. You won’t want to leave, I promise.

Bendy Beer – Yoga at Warped Wing

August 9, 2015 By Nikki Nett

Warped Wing is opening it’s big door for a new class. Beermaking? No. Beer tasting? Nope.

Yoga. You can do yoga at Dayton’s very own Warped Wing Brewing Company. Flying Rye kind of sounds like a yoga pose, right?

It’s always so exciting to see former co-workers moving on to bigger, better, and in this case, bendier things. That’s why I was doing headstands of excitement (ok, I wasn’t, I’m just not there yet) to see my friend Kate putting together this unique event. She has spent the last few years becoming a yoga instructor and wanted to introduce yoga to those who may not normally be the “yoga-type”.

You may be thinking “what’s the yoga type?” and if given a list of descriptions, you’d probably not choose “craft beer drinker”. But, Kate is betting those two will go together like barley and hops, or warrior pose and lululemon.

When I asked her why she put this event together, she said, “I love bringing the community together for a fun and care-free afternoon. What a better way to spend your time than with yoga and a craft beer? I am passionate about spreading the joy of yoga and bringing craft beer into the mix opens the door to many new people that may have not tried a yoga class.”

Due to the increasing popularity of this event, participants must purchase tickets in advance to guarantee a spot (yes, the last one sold out!) The next class is scheduled for Sun, Sept 6th, click here for tickets.

From Kate’s event page:

Could yoga & beer ever exist? You bet your flexible-ass they can! Join us at Warped Wing Brewing Company for a rocking one-hour yoga class followed with a beer from the local brewery.

We will move through a fluid sequence of postures (asanas), focus on our breath (pranayama), that invigorate, strengthen, and restore the body.

This all levels class is ideal for anyone who is interested in exploring yoga in a different & chill environment & wants to expand their minds in respect to local beers.

Cost is $12, which includes a 1-hour yoga class followed by a pint of your choice. Must be 21 to attend.
Class will start right at NOON, so come early to get settled in!
BYOM (Bring your own mat) & water.

Hope you’ll join us for this fun afternoon of yoga & beer. I’ll be the one in the back, perfecting the childs pose and waiting for the Ermals.

Second Show Friday

August 7, 2015 By Nikki Nett

Gooooooood Evening Comedy Fans…

24 years ago, a brash, take-no-bs broad from Chicago landed in the little hamlet of Dayton. She thought she’d be here for 90 days, because WHY Dayton? Just quick consulting gig at a comedy club owned by the creator of Pound Puppies. But she stayed a little longer and ended up buying the place. Who could have imagined the next 25 years? Not, Lisa Grigsby .

Wooed by the allure of valet parking at the airport (seriously, I’m not even making that up) Grigs quickly made her mark in Dayton. She brought with her a wealth of knowledge and some pretty badass connections. That dark little room with the caricatures on the walls, low ceilings, and “playful” lobby became a mecca of sorts for comedians at all stages in their career. If you can survive 2nd show Friday in Dayton, you were definitely going to be a star.

The names you know and love now, have most likely worked out their early material in that smoke filled room. When Chris Rock wanted to try some jokes before filming a special, he called Lisa. The rowdy Dayton audiences were yelling “Git ‘Er Done” before Larry The Cable Guy had his own potato chips. Ron White? Yep, he’s the same now as he was decades ago driving a van from gig to gig, including Jokers. When you have The Original Kings Of Comedy on speed dial, you’re probably doing alright for yourself in the comedy world. Bless his heart, D.L. Hughley still has such nice things to say about Lisa, who was unafraid of brutal honesty at any given moment.

“My friend asked me if I wanted a frozen banana, I said “no, but I want a regular banana later, so … yeah”. ~Mitch Hedburg

She also wasn’t afraid to bring in the “too edgy for the midwest” comics, either. Doug Stanhope? Killed it here. Dave Attell taught the Jokers staff a few things about drinking. Who knew an offensive “woman” comic would wow the conservative Midwest crowd? Grigsby did when she brought Lisa Lampanelli, “The Queen Of Mean”. Though his comedy is PG, the song “Big Butter Jesus” by Heywood Banks, ruffled some feathers. You’ll likely understand where he was driving to when he first saw that magnificent engineering feat (RIP Butter Jesus).

Mitch Hedberg on stage at Jokers

Choose your favorite comedian doing a set on late night TV, and it’s pretty likely they have been booked by Lisa at some point in their career. The hit show “Last Comic Standing” has some alumni of that room. (Hi G-Rock Greggy Greg!) Greg Warren was once a corporate dude living the life of an upwardly mobile young professional. Then he quit to do comedy. I’m not sure if he’s thanking or blaming Grigsby at this point, but I bet he’s got a story or two about it.

There may or may not be tales that may or may not be confirmed about future Oscar winners being “politely” asked to leave the building. Shows from future major movie stars being stopped from the back mic when he was being disrespectful to the staff. An SNL star being dropped off somewhere in the middle of general area of the club or hotel (who knows?) for being legitimately nuts. Or intoxicated, whatever. You know these are the ones you want to hear the most about!

Another thing about Lisa. She was a fierce mama bear when it came to her “kids”. The kids were her staff. There were some that would breeze through that place like a revolving door, but there were others. Those are the ones who stayed. The lifers, affectionately called “f*&%rs” from time to time (yep, that really was a term of endearment). Working there wasn’t easy, you loved it or hated it. You were good at it or awful. You viewed Grigs as Satan, or, like many of us, you viewed her as a friend, mentor, teacher, motivator, “teller-of-truths-you-didn’t-want-to-hear”, and most importantly, the one who would encourage and cheer for your successes the loudest.

There is a lot of life that was lived in that room. Conversations that launched big life decisions, lifelong friendships formed, losses of those gone too soon, mourned. The stories. Oh my word the stories that could be told.

So. Many. Stories. Some good, some not so good, most questionable, but ALL entertaining.

And that’s why you’re reading this. It’s for the stories and what comes next.

Lisa Grigsby

If you know Lisa Grigsby, then you know, she is NOT one to toot her own horn. She is the brains behind the show. The one managing the creative concepts and logistics of events while inspiring those around her to jump in and give back to the community. Even though she has stepped away from the comedy biz and into the non-profit world, there are some damn good stories to tell. If we wait on her to tell them, we’ll be low on the list of priorities. Behind driving economic development for her adopted community, behind planning functions to further the mission of her favorite charities, and who knows what else.

So…it’s getting done anyway.

Next year marks the 25^th Anniversary of the beginning of the Jokers era. My goal is to have a book done and in the process of being published by then. Or at least mostly written. Maybe edited? Who knows? What I’m saying is that a book is happening. She’s probably going to kick my butt for this, so how about we call it “pseudo-authorized” for the time being.

This is where I need YOUR help.

Are you, have you ever been, or do you know a comedian? If yes, shoot me a quick email with a story or question & some contact info. And pass this along to your comedy friends. And your agent, because they probably have some words to add, too.
Are you a former Joker? If you’ve seen that bathroom after a JUGS night, I KNOW you have stories. Let’s chat.
Do you have a photo of Lisa from her days at Oklahoma University with big 80’s hair? This is needed.
Do you have the stories of her time in Chicago (the beginnings of her career in comedy)
The “I can’t stand her, she is so mean” stories
The “thank god she talked some sense into me” stories
The “she does great things in Dayton and I’m glad she’s my friend” stories
The “I’m a struggling comic, but there might be some good dirt that will help this book sell and I’d like to be in it” stories.
Are you any of the above and hope desperately that your name is not mentioned? Don’t worry, I’m setting up a gofundme to cover publishing costs (if needed), there will be a category for you.

Please send any and all info to [email protected] and you can find me on twitter either here: @nikkisayswhat or: @daytoncomedy

So there you have it. I’m probably going to go into hiding for a couple days, ready to emerge with a bottle of bourbon and an “I’m sorta but not really sorry” smile for when she says, “what in the f*&% is this?”. Help me remind her that this is exactly the type of thing she would encourage. Oddly enough, this article is being published on mostmetro.com which Lisa actually owns. You can’t imagine the sneakiness this took to get posted, just to send out the link to people.

“Jokers, doin it right. Jokers, open tonight. Come on in for a laugh or a bite. Make it a Jokers night tonight…”

Not Your Ordinary Lemonade Stand

June 12, 2015 By Nikki Nett

A little girl with her desire to cure cancer has made a pretty big impact on the Dayton area. Saturday June 13 marks the 10th Anniversary of McKenzie’s “Alex’s Lemonade Stand“.

Erica Monbeck, McKenzie’s mom, summed up the event for us. “Just about 10 years ago little McKenzie had her first lemonade stand. She raised about $400 in our garage & was so cute telling the reporter she just wanted to help raise $ to give to the Doctors to find a cure for cancer. This will be her 10th stand! Almost $30,000 raised with a big goal to get the number to $57,000 doubling what she has done the past nine years

Festivities start Friday night 8-11 with the adult party at the VIP lounge Poelking South! We have some amazing silent auction/raffle items.

Saturday 10-2 is all about the kids and you can find McKenzie’s Alex’s Lemonade Stand at Elizabeth Diamond Company on Far Hills Ave. We have a 24 ft rock wall, slides, bouncies, Dayton Drones, Zombie Dogz, Awesome Yogurt, Local Love a Roaming Boutique, and SICSA Mobile Pet Adoption Center! . One of this year’s highlights is candles with 100% of the proceeds being donated by West End Naturals. In one of the candles, will be a ladybug which can be redeemed at EDC for a fabulous pair of earrings!

This year we are raising funds in memory of Caroline Ann Carter. Caroline battled neuroblastoma for 3 years before becoming an angel.

We hope you will bring out the family and support this great cause and most of all have some fun!!!

If you’re unable to make it, but would still like to contribute, you can do so by following this link: McKenzie’s Lemonade Stand.

Editors Note: We’ve been covering McKenzie for a while, click here to see past events.

Dragons Get Hall of Fame Instructor

May 22, 2015 By Nikki Nett

It’s no secret that Dayton loves baseball. This city consistently sells out Fifth Third Field to help our Dayton Dragons hold tightly to their record of the longest streak of sellouts in professional sports. You can pick any sports bar in the area and likely see that familiar green D, or the menacing eyes of the Dragon logo. If you’re lucky you’ll even see Heater or Gem, the mascots, interacting with fans at community events.

But you will also see a lot of red. Cincinnati Reds, red that is.

When we root, root, root for the home team here in Dayton, many will think of the Reds. Our Dragons are a Class A Minor League team that is affiliated with the Reds, just like the fans. You can wander into any barber shop and get an earful of opinions on how the Reds are playing, WLW takes over the airwaves on gameday, and there is an abundance of locals who were part of the excitement of the World Series win in 1990. Just ask around, you’ll find someone.

Do you know who else was part of the excitement of the 1990 World Series?

Barry Larkin. Also known to attendees of Reds games at Riverfront Stadium as Baaarrrryyyyy Larrrrrrkin. (Once you’ve heard it, you will always hear that when someone says his name)

Though retired from playing professional baseball since 2004, Barry Larkin has always stayed close to the game. Inducted to the Hall Of Fame in 2012, the Reds retired the famous number 11 jersey at GABP. After various coaching gigs around the league and a successful run as a baseball analyst for both MLB Network and ESPN. Larkin has come home. He is currently under the employ of the Reds as a part time instructor for the minor league teams.

Fans who attended this week’s games were delighted to see Barry Larkin in the Dragons dugout. He has been working with the young Dayton team on finessing their skills. When asked what his favorite part of this job was, he mentioned that it was when a particular player did well, and made a point to see that he noticed. Larkin has a passion for player development which is what makes this new job so fulfilling.

And yes, he was asked the million dollar questions that fans (like me) have been buzzing about and hoping for.

“Do you see yourself as a manager?”

With this, Larkin responded with a slight chuckle and a “Not right now”.

We’ll wait. Until then, we look forward to your visits here in Dayton.

A Lighthearted Look At The Heart Of Dayton Love

March 24, 2015 By Nikki Nett

Calm down. Seriously. Before you create another twitter account, just calm down.

“But Dayton is awesome and I want the world to know!!!!!!!!!!”

Yes, indeed it is, and other people feel that way, too.

“But I have the best idea ever, EVER for a totally unique to Dayton hashtag that is about to change the landscape and economic development of our entire region!!!!”.

Nah. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

“But I am a super special with a unique perspective on our area that no one has ever thought of before. Have you tried talking positively about Dayton?? Gamechanger”.

Take a seat. Grab a beverage. Then take notes.

“Dude, I really like this area and like to take pictures and / or string words together so maybe I should talk about Dayton”.

Come on in, the water’s fine. Snap, talk, and write until your heart is content. But for the love of all things holy, talk to some people before you try to reinvent the wheel.

“I need to boost my resume and look like I’m making a difference”. It’s cool, there’s room for you and your self-promotion. Just jump on in beside the people already doing the work for the good of the big picture – not just a 6 month project. There are ideas that need a face, need someone with the rockstar mentality, and need someone tenacious enough to be out there waving the flag of (insert cause here). Ask around. There is a 97.9% chance someone is waiting for a “you” for a project that may already be under way.

Well, now what?

I promise, I am not trying to rain on your parade. Or parades. Because there seem to be 746 parades marching to their own band right now. Let’s get the drum majors at least on the same beat. At the very least some semblance of a similar tempo. Keep reading to see where you might fit in here.

“I want to promote events in Dayton / get more exposure for the events I care about / the ones at my business / the ones at non-profits I like / fundraisers I want to organize / parties I want to throw.”

Dang it, we love you. Help spread the word, you are awesome. First stop, enter your event on the mostmetro.com event calendar. It’s free. It’s easy. The entire website was created for exactly this purpose. There is so much happening in the Miami Valley. SO.MUCH. This was created as one stop shopping for all events. All sorts of organizations around the area use it as their official calendar. It is referenced by the organizers of the largest events in the area to try to plan around each other. Other websites pull content from the calendar for their stories sometimes, or even to update their own calendars. It’s alllll good. Most Metro knows it, other websites know it, it’s cool and what it was built for. Not being self promoting here, I realize you’re reading this ON Most Metro. Sure, there are gobs of other great things on the site, but the calendar is what it’s all about. It was built for you, and you, and you and even that guy over there to use for this purpose. It was built because as soon as Wilbur & Orville landed their plane, this community realized a need for a big ol’ magic calendar such as this. Ok, not *that* long ago. But about 8 or 9 years ago DMM answered the call of community members and UpDayton attendees and this baby was born. So use the calendar.

“I am the voice of a generation. I must use my powers for good.”

Being the voice of a generation is a pretty kickass responsibility. Building & maintaining a website takes the one thing many of us are lacking – time. Consistently putting out fresh content ain’t for the faint of heart. There are several outlets that will be happy to publish your content. It’s a win win. You get to run your big ideas up the flagpole and see if you have what it takes for your movement. You also get the benefit of not carrying that weight by yourself. Obviously, Most Metro is one of them, I’m saying that because here we are. But if you don’t think this is a good fit for you, shoot us an email, we’re happy to point you in the right direction. Yeah, seriously. Another site talking Dayton isn’t competition, just different, and we’re happy to connect you to the best megaphone for your awesome ideas.

“Someone else has a similar idea to my awesome idea, but they are a big jerkface and I don’t want to work with them”.

Been there, done that. The beauty of Dayton is there are a lot of enthusiastic people trying hard to make a difference. These people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, styles, ages, genders, affiliations, cliques, you name it, we’ve got it. The best part? They are all probably more connected than you think and definitely more than willing to help get you connected. Just ask. If you don’t know who to ask, holla in the inbox. If you don’t want to work with so and so, you don’t have to. It’s 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon around here. We’ll get you connected.

“I have created this amazing business / attraction / activity and people should flock here to see it in person”.

Start with the CVB. What the heck is a CVB? Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau. They reach out to people all around the country to attract people here to our city. You know how you want to tell your friends about Dayton? They do that…but everywhere. Do you know what visitors bring when they come to Dayton? Money that stays in Dayton.

So why is this bloggy article happening? For a hot minute Dayton was in that angsty, emo, “I don’t like myself” mode. We’re coming out of that now and it is in large part to an endless well of good feelings, some hope and the willingness to get out there. We are coming to an interesting point in our resurgence. We want to make it easy for people who aren’t already in the know to find the good stuff happening in the 937. When there is a different hashtag for every little thing, it makes it hard for people to get to the nitty gritty of what we have to offer. Do you know how many people search for #DaytonGoingUpOnATuesday or #DaytonCanadianGeeseHuntersClub or #937islikeheaven, etc. The person who made it and 3 of their friends. Let’s work on simplifying things a little bit. Let’s bring people into the mix before we confuse them. Let’s be accessible and open, rather than like a secret rave with a password. (Do people still have raves? I may have watched too many Stefon SNL sketches). This area is known for its innovation. so let’s innovate strategic ways to collaborate.

It’s Spring, literally and figuratively. We’ve got the UpDayton Summit coming up in April, a time when our city is revived with a new batch of ideas. It’s also almost patio weather. Let’s be honest, there’s something about sitting on a patio in warm weather with some good wine or Bad Juans that makes people get creative. Let’s give these ideas the best chance possible to get off the ground. Part of that means not starting from scratch where it’s not needed. Tap into the resources with an audience. If everyone is re-inventing the wheel, we’re all just rolling around with no where to go unless we find a hill to roll down somewhere. No one wants that.

Before you pay godaddy $12.99 a year, before you try to come up with another way to use some iteration of Dayton DYT D8N in a twitter handle, before you take a big bite out of a bigger project, research what we have and use these to your advantage.

Here’s a cheat sheet:

An event is coming up or you want to write your view on Dayton- mostmetro.com
One of the above, but it involves food or alcohol – DaytonDining (part of mostmetro.com)
You’re starting a new business – daytonbusinessjournal.com
Something just happened that needs a news crew- whio.com / wdtn.com / wkef.com
Something is happening that needs more in depth coverage or some investigating- daytondailynews.com
You want to highlight a day in the life of a person or business- @daytonbaton
Does anything look cool in Dayton? – @daytongram
There is something cool IN Dayton that might attract people from OUTSIDE of Dayton to come here – daytoncvb.com
Is there a place, a person or a story that mystifies or intrigues you? Submit a question to WYSO Curious

Soap Star Colleen Zenk Comes To Town To Star in Human Race’s Family Shots Ticket Giveaway

January 13, 2015 By Nikki Nett

From the time I was born, the CBS Soap Operas have been part of my life. My grandmother watched faithfully, a trait passed along to my mother. While I still check in from time to time on Y&R and B&B, my favorite memories are of rushing home after school to see the last half of As The World Turns followed by Guiding Light. Both shows were full of characters that kept me transfixed while learning about subjects I shouldn’t in elementary school, to navigating the awkward teen years. One of my favorite characters was “Barbara Ryan” from As The World Turns.

Barbara was played by the fantastic Colleen Zenk. She was always sassy, sometimes vulnerable, manipulative, and from time to time genuinely nice (thanks, Hal). A quick search on Wikipedia sums her character up best:

Barbara Ryan is portrayed as a heroine who experienced many tragedies, mostly at the hands of her controlling ex-husband, the villainous “James Stenbeck” .

Over her 32 years on the show, Barbara has been shot through the heart, nearly gored by a bull in Spain, kidnapped 15 times, married nine times, burned in a chemical explosion and jumped out of a three-story window.

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The cast of The Human Race Theatre Company’s world premiere production of FAMILY SHOTS. Photo courtesy of Scott J. Kimmins

Beginning on January 22 and running through February 8, Colleen Zenk, along with Corbin Bleu and Randy Brooks will be starring in Family Shots for The Human Race Theatre Company. The description from the Human Race Theatre’s website gives some insight to what the play is about:

Charming family patriarch Sam Baker lies in a hospital bed, recovering from an apparent heart attack, but his wife, Marsha, won’t stop making the crisis all about her—much to the dismay of their son, Aaron. The young photographer wonders why his parents even stay together while he and his husband, Malcolm, deal with their own issues as newlyweds. Intimate, yet universal, Michael Slade’s latest play is a wildly funny and touching comedy about marriage—its joys, challenges and responsibilities—and what’s worth fighting for.

I see some similarities in Colleen Zenk’s character, Marsha, and the one she’s best known for, Barbara Ryan, so I had to ask myself…

What Would Barbara Ryan Do In Dayton?

Full disclosure: I am obsessed with the smokey eye. Fortunately, as an adult, I have perfected it, but that hasn’t always been the case. Inspired by Babs, the queen of eyeliner, there was “The Barbara Incident of Fourth Grade”. I can trace my makeup obsession to this day, as a child, trying to emulate a soap opera character. Hey, there’s no shame in my game. Naturally, Barbara would need to look fabulous, so I can only imagine that she would begin with a treasure trove of goodies from Preen Apothecary. Once nestled in Oakwood, they have now moved to a special new place near Carrillon Park. I am excited to check out their new digs, and of course, stock up on eyeliner and mascara.

Having been married MULTIPLE times, one can guess that Barbara spends a LOT of time with her attorneys. Seeing as how there is a large concentration of lawyers near the court buildings, she’d naturally be downtown quite a bit, right? Depositions would require a caffeine boost from Boston Stoker across from the Schuster Center and she may take a lunch break at Citilites.

After a long day of trying to be un-married again from her psycho husband James, she would be in desperate need of a drink. The obvious choice would be to head to Salar for one of their hand crafted cocktails, before meeting girlfriends (she actually did have a couple friends) at the Oakwood Club.

Barbara would naturally be drawn to the vibrant arts district we have downtown, so it’s only logical to think that she’d end her busy day by taking in a play. Perhaps at the Human Race Theatre Company? Obviously. We want you to be able to join the fun, so make sure you read below for our ticket giveaway!

Corbin Bleu

This has been a fun and wordy way to let you know I’m excited to check out Family Shots and see Colleen Zenk bring her famous sass to her character, Marsha. This is sure to be a great run, and one you won’t want to miss! By the way, I should probably mention that Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame also has a starring role. That’s right, “Chad Danforth” right here in Dayton. Let the fangirling commence.

DMM Ticket Giveaway:

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to see Family Shots, just fill out the form below and tell us in the comments below where you’d take Barbara Ryan if you were going to show her around Dayton. We’ll post our winner here on the evening of Thursday, Jan 14th. [form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Japan Goes Deco Ticket Giveaway

November 19, 2014 By Nikki Nett

A modern girl walks into an art museum…

Part of the MostMetro team recently had the privilege of attending a guided tour of the newest exhibit at Dayton Art Institute. Dr. Aimee Marcereau lead the tour and explained in rich detail the highlights of Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture. Between the two World Wars, Japan entered into a time of jazz, leisure travel, nationalism and the emergence of “the modern girl”, the privately owned collection on display through January 25th, 2015 showcases the art created during this time period.

The art deco period drew inspiration from many sources internationally. You will notice long, lean lines, and simplistic forms. Upon closer inspection, subtle details emerge that show an attention to detail unmatched in many other time periods. Dr. Marcereau noted, “It simultaneously maintained one foot in tradition and yet also celebrated the mechanized, modern world. Art deco’s bold colors and streamlined, yet muscular, forms celebrating progress were often deeply nationalistic, and Japan embraced the style enthusiastically, as the combination of visual strength operated in support of Japan’s expanding empire.”

Nicole Nett– Big bold colors, clean lines, and a view into a new way of life was the focus of the over 200 pieces in this carefully curated exhibit. As you enter the first room, take note of the background music. It’s not just your everyday ambient Muzak, but rather, Japanese jazz music which was becoming prevalent during this time period. The dichotomy between the obvious traditional influences and the touches of the Western world is what makes this exhibit so unique. Ancient imagery with Mad Men-esque touches.

Lisa Grigsby – Lions and bears peacocks and rabbits and flying fish. Not what I expected to see in DecoJapan. But the exhibit was broader in scope and beautifully blended tradition with innovation, and was chock full of symbolism that was beautifully explained by curator Aimee Marcereau DeGalan, the DAI’s curator of collections and exhibitions.

Kim Metter – The exhibit was well presented, giving several examples using various media to represent the subject matter. The use of textiles, metals, pottery, prints and paintings were a diverse and beautiful way to show the movement and progressive nature of Japan at that time. The homage to the European and American Art Deco movements were apparent, but the Japanese influence could still be clearly seen in the craftsmanship and classic techniques used by Asian artisans for millennia.

Brian Petro – It is an incredible show, and one any Art Deco lover should go and explore. Seeing how the Japanese interpreted the deco movement and ultimately made it their own is fascinating. The clean simple lines are amazing, and the Japanese sensibilities really shine through.

Museum Hours:

TUESDAY	11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY	11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
THURSDAY	11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRIDAY	11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
SATURDAY	10 a.m. – 5 p.m
SUNDAY	Noon – 5 p.m.

Admission to the Museum: Members: Free, Adults: $12, (60+): $9, Students (18+ w/ID) & Active Military: $9, Groups (10 or more): $9, Ages 7-17: $6, Ages 6 & under: Free * Price includes admission to the special exhibition and the museum’s permanent collection. Please note that a $2 per transaction fee will be added to all ticket sales for building Preservation and Art Conservation.

DMM Ticket Giveaway:

DMM wants to share our delight with this visual feast by sending some of our readers to see this exhibit. To enter our random drawing, fill out the form below and leave us a comment on why we should pick you!

Congrats to our ticket winners: Lauren Queen, Josh Reck and Ryburn Yukik Ryburn- enjoy the show!

Bands Helping Bands

August 13, 2014 By Nikki Nett

It starts with a Holiday…at home

For the last few years Kettering resident Bryan Suddith has enjoyed watching Dakota Center’s Drill, Drum and Dance Innovators (3DI) Drill Team march in the Holiday At Home Parade. The parade is an annual Labor Day weekend event in Kettering and features the award winning Fairmont Marching Band as well as Alter and Centerville High School Marching Bands.

Bryan noticed that the equipment the boys and young men of the award winning 3DI didn’t match the quality of the drums carried by the high school bands. Each year Bryan and his wife Melissa brainstormed ways to help the tiny drum corp from Dayton’s West side.

Birds of a feather

The Suddith’s son, Caleb, marches with the Fairmont band and that is where this fundraiser was born. Fairmont High Schools theme this is “Birds of a Feather” and the pink flamingo began appearing around Fairmont shortly before band camp this summer. The concept of this fundraiser is that bands help bands. Birds of a feather flock together. Bryan worked with Brian Petro to create a mashup design which converted the Firebird logo with a pink flamingo. Bryan Suddith calls it the Fire-Amingo on the Teespring website where the shirts are for sale.

The goal is modest, 88 shirts sold in 8 days, to raise $1000.00 for the Dakota Center 3DI, Drum, Drill and Dance, Corp.

Buy your limited edition shirt to support the 3DI Corp at teespring.com/birdsfor3di.

It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane…It’s a LOT of Planes

June 27, 2014 By Nikki Nett

Look up

No matter how long you’ve lived in Dayton, or how familiar you are with the Vectren Dayton Air Show, it’s always a bit surprising when you hear the roar of fighter jets overhead on an average weekday morning. If you were looking up on Thursday morning, you likely saw the Delta formation of the prestigious United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron making their (very fast) way to the Dayton International Airport. More commonly known as the Blue Angels, they have been a delight to fans and a centerpiece of airshows across the country for decades. Once again, we welcome them to Dayton!

The Blue Angels are comprised of an elite group of servicemembers from the Navy and Marines. While many see the aerobatics of the F/A-18 Hornets, not everyone knows that it takes a team to get those pilots in the jets. The crew arrives early in the recognizable “Fat Albert”- the name affectionately given to the C-130 cargo plane. Fat Albert serves as more than just a utilitarian people mover. You will see what that large plane is capable of as the Blue Angels begin their demonstration. If you’re an air show aficionado, you may remember the JATO take off from years past. This huge propeller plane actually took off with jet assistance! Though that impressive feat ended in 2009, we happen to know that Fat Albert still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Part of the crew that keeps the Blue Angels flight-ready is from right here in our backyard. AM1 (AW) Bobby Meagher is a 1998 graduate of Norwood High School in Cincinnati. He is part of the airframes division of the squadron. The Blue Angels are among the oldest F/A-18’s in the fleet and require quite a bit of maintenance to keep them in performance condition. Petty Officer Meagher has been maintaining the Blue Angels for almost 3 years now. Born at WPAFB to 2 Air Force parents, he enlisted in the Navy and first heard of the Blue Angels at his first command. Realizing the enormous opportunity, he set out to be part of this squadron. He’s looking forward to seeing friends and family while he’s close to home, and of course, enjoying some LaRosa’s pizza!

Blue Angels “Boss”

At the helm of this squadron is CDR Thomas Frosch. He is the Commanding Officer, and pilot of the #1 jet. Known as “Boss” to the crew, it is his responsibility to not only oversee all of the operations of the Blue Angels, but also be the lead for all flight demonstrations. When asked how he enjoyed the flyover of Cincinnati en route to Dayton, he said, “It was great, it’s the best way to see a city, flying overhead. Of course, I’m the only one that got to enjoy it, I was looking down while the rest of them were looking at me, as they’re supposed to, they’re the wingmen!”. If you’ve ever wondered how they fly in such close proximity to each other, there’s your answer. The Boss leads the way, and the rest of the highly skilled pilots follow suit. Pretty impressive to say the least.

So, how does one become a Blue Angel? Well, for CDR Frosch, the seed was planted early. As a 6 year old from Clinton Township Michigan, he remembers seeing them perform for the first time. When asked what his inspiration was, the expected answer was, of course, Top Gun. With a slight laugh, he said that it was actually The Final Countdown (a movie about the USS Nimitz going back in time to the day before Pearl Harbor) that first inspired him to want to take off and land from an aircraft carrier. When asked what was harder, performing the exact flight maneuvers that the Blue Angels are known for, or landing on a carrier, the emphatic answer was, “landing on a carrier at night is the hardest thing to do”. Interesting perspective when you consider that in all of Naval Aviation, that is really the backbone. There are squadrons deployed all over the world on carriers. In fact, it’s likely that as you are reading this, somewhere there is a jet landing or taking off from an aircraft carrier doing the job that the Navy has been tasked with.

Honor. Courage. Commitment.

Those 3 words are the epitome of service in the United States Navy. You can see the realization of those 3 words when you have an opportunity to see this squadron in action. From the way they move through the air, to the way the ground crew works together so seamlessly, you will walk away with a new appreciation for the Sailors and Marines serving our country. The mission of the Blue Angels is to inspire all who come to see them. And inspire they do!

Knowing that the Vectren Dayton Air Show is a family event, we asked for one tidbit of advice for the children who may come out to see the shows this weekend, that may find themselves inspired by what they see. CDR Frosch replied, “Teamwork. Teamwork is the foundation for everything that we do. From the ground to the air crew, the focus is on teamwork. Of course STEM is always important, but you don’t have to be an engineer to fly”. Communication and trust are paramount to the safety and performance excellence that we will get to see this weekend.

But wait, there’s more…

Though the Blue Angels are the highlight for many, aviation fans of all kinds will find something to interest them at the Vectren Dayton Air Show. Naturally, the Birthplace of Aviation will have a Wright B Flyer on hand, and with WPAFB a cornerstone of our community, the Air Force will be well represented – including the Wings Of Blue Parachute Team! You can find the full air show schedule here. There are many ticket options and you can see them here.

No matter what attraction sparks your interest, you’re sure to enjoy the aviation fun that has become a much-loved tradition in the Dayton area!

You can see some of the airshow excitement on Instagram! Our own Nikki Nett (@nikkisayswhat) will be running the Dayton Baton (@daytonbaton) on Saturday. You can double tap those pictures until your heart is content!

Dear Dr. Hip Hop

April 24, 2014 By Nikki Nett Leave a Comment

The Dayton Human Relations Council, Wright State University’s Bolinga Black Cultural Resources Center, the Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence (CIRGV), and the Community Police Council (CPC) are partnering to host the 2014 Dear Dr. Hip-Hop: Speak Be Heard Be Considered, a venue serving as the conduit for conversation and empowerment; using hip-hop as a tool to urge a more active community response in speaking out against gun violence, cultivating young adult community engagement, and encouraging leadership and responsibility in a creative hip-hop culture. The three-day event will take place April 24-26, 2014 in several locations throughout the Dayton community.

This collaborative initiative will feature a screening of a locally produced short documentary on gun violence, a youth empowerment lecture and lunch, a high school spoken word grand slam competition, a panel discussion featuring a national hip-hop artist and community activists, and a hip hop tribute.

As part of an ongoing strategy to improve community relations and citizen engagement in the Dayton area, the City of Dayton Human Relations Council held the first of many Speak. Be Heard. Be Considered events in Spring of 2011, a series of discussion forums designed to improve police/community relations and identify effective strategies to reduce crime and disorder. Feedback from this event and recent data indicates that young adults ages 18-35 are the most dissatisfied with community relations in the Dayton area. As a result,innovative follow-up events have been designed to engage this population.