First Friday- Chocked Full of Events Downtown

Art, Dance, Music and Film

• ●  Black Box Improv Theater, 518 E. Third St: WE’RE BACK!!! The Black Box is ready to reopen, with its first show on First Friday, October 1st. The doors are back open to bring the funny to you with two shows, at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets on sale now at daytonblackboximprov.com/. And don’t forget…it’s BYOB! Disclaimer: Proof of vaccinations required upon entry for all patrons and performers. Masks will also be required while inside the theater, including on stage for the immediate future.
• ●  The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St.: Open until 6 p.m., come to The CO to explore three installations, and a special night with a LIVE “Artist Talk” with the featured artist Mychaelyn Michalec at 6 p.m. to talk to the artist about her current installation at the gallery. On view now through Oct. 24, including Dayton-based Mychaelyn Michalec: From A Basement On A Hill; New Jersey artist Nina Chanel Abney; and Brooklyn-based artist Sara Cwynar. All exhibits open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on First Friday, and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find more information on the exhibits at. https://thecontemporarydayton.org/2020-2021-season-schedule/ or call 937-224-3822 for more information.
• ●  Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N.: Visit the latest special exhibition open on Fridays until 5 p.m.: Photography Through Time, showing that since its invention in 1839, photography has taken many forms. In this exhibition, discover the range of photographic processes within the Dayton Art Institute’s photography collection.From early photographic processes to contemporary artworks that expand our notion of the medium, Photography Through Time includes examples of daguerreotype, cyanotype, albumen, gelatin silver, chromogenic, photogravure and inkjet photographs.
• ●  Dayton Performing Arts Alliance – Dayton Philharmonic: 8:00 pm showing of Beethoven’s Eroica: A Salute to Heroes a Dayton Philharmonic Masterworks Series at the Schuster Center: Works by Austin Jaquith, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven. The DPO begins with a salute to the heroes of the pandemic—the first responders, medical personnel, delivery drivers, and all those whose jobs suddenly carried greater risk— with Austin Jaquith’s driving musical portrait Heldenleben 2020, or “Heroic Life 2020.” Heroism also marks the music of Beethoven’s Third Symphony, originally dedicated to Napoleon before he crowned himself emperor. Returning to the DPO is violinist Philippe Quint for Mendelssohn’s Violin Concert in E minor, a sparkling jewel of a concerto. DaytonLive.org for tickets.
• ●  Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High St Dayton, OH 45403: The Dayton Society of Artists is pleased to welcome you to its gallery on the hill. Open on First Fridays from noon to 9 p.m. on First Fridays. Get info about the group by calling 937-228-4532. or visit https://daytondsa.org/
• ●  Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., 937-224-7822: Live music at the Dublin Pub! Stop by for a pint and listen to live music for Irish First Fridays. Happy Hour from 3-6pm. Seating inside and on the extended patio.
• ●  First Friday at Front Street, 1001 E. Second St.: Spend an inspiring evening with us at 1st Friday Art Hop – while you enjoy live music from The Flashback Band & dinner from Rolling Oasis. Check out more than 40 art studios and galleries across our campus, including the Opening Reception for “Between Realms” by artist Chip Williamson from 5-9 p.m. in Building 100, CD Hall! Art hops at Front Street are always free to attend and conveniently located in Dayton just off St. Route 35. Free, lit, onsite parking is available in surrounding lots.
• ●  Flying Pizza, 223 N. Main St.: Celebrating 50 years in business on Oct. 1 – visit Flying Pizza open until 7 p.m. for New York style slices and pies. Serving up the best pizza in downtown Dayton since 1971. For the anniversary there will be giveaways at the store until 7 p.m. Find the menu online at: http://originalflyingpizza.com/menu.html or call 937-222-8031.

• ●  iMadeThis DIY Art Studio, 411 E. Fifth St.: Stop by iMadeThis for Open Studio Crafting Fridays every Friday from 5-9 p.m., Saturdays 12-9 p.m., and Sunday 12-6 p.m. iMadeThis offers hundreds of design-your-own activities for children and adults. Find more information on their website: https://imadethis.art/
• ●  K-12 Gallery and TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St.: First Friday will be the opening night for the latest K-12 exhibit “Artists in House” with a variety of pieces by K12 Gallery & TEJAS teachers, staff, and interns. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 2 for the chance to jump into the fall season with us at Scarecrow Market! We’ll have Hot Glass Pumpkins, an Artisan Market, Make-and-Take Artwork, and a professional Pumpkin Carving demo from Rock on Ice! Tickets: $20.00 per person Learn more about K-12 artists, events and classes at: https://k12tejasgallery.org/
• ●  Picture Perfect Paint Parties, 123 N. Ludlow St., 937-265-0691: For First Friday, all Take Home Paint Party Kits are buy one get one 1/2 off. www.pictureperfectpaintparties.com
• ●  Skeleton Dust Records, 133 E. Third St.: Join Skeleton Dust to explore new music with a variety of eclectic, yet curated selection of rock, punk, metal, r&b, hip hop, blues, jazz, electronic, experimental, reggae, and world music on vinyl, CD, and cassette format. Open until 6 p.m.
• ●  Toxic Brew Company, 431 E. Fifth St.: Visit Toxic on First Friday for a pint of your favorite locally brewed beer or a craft cocktail and to enjoy a new art display inside the brewery by local artist Dylan Sage. You can see examples of his work at instagram.com/dylusionalartist/
• ●  Out on Fifth in the Oregon District, Fifth Street: A pedestrian-only area as Fifth Street is closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends and turned into an entertainment destination, featuring live musicians and performers in the streets, extended patios at your favorite local restaurants and bars, and the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in the Oregon District.
• ●  Wiley’s Comedy Club, 101 Pine St.: A special event with Heywood Banks, who is simply one-of-a-kind, almost impossible to describe, with a style his very own. Equal parts genius and buffoon, this songwriter- comic-singer-poet-musician has become a cult hero and a pop icon, with a show that appeals to college students, stoners, businessmen, yuppies, rednecks, punks, kids or your grandmother. Show starts at 8 p.m. 18+ show, and Due to COVID-19 restrictions, tickets are ONLY available online or by calling (937)224- JOKE. We are not currently selling tickets at the door.
• ●  Yellow Cab Tavern Art Gallery, 700 E. Fourth St.: The Yellow Cab Gallery is BACK and hosting a monthly residency with local artists. Join for a gallery opening party from 5 – 8pm as part of every First Friday in Downtown Dayton! Also join for a special concert, Gulliver’s Travelling Medicine Show – who was was the jam band to see in Dayton in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. They routinely played to full houses in places like Gilly’s and Canal Street Tavern. Gulliver’s drew from classic influences like the Grateful Dead and the Band, as well as more esoteric acts like Talking Heads, Phish and Frank Zappa. Cover starts at 8:00pm on Oct 1st with performance starting around 9:00pm! Tickets are $7 presale and $10 at the doors. **Presale tickets end at Midnight on Sept 30th. Ticket info at https://www.facebook.com/events/324175512837811/
  

  Dining and Drinks
• ●  Bozack’s Cocktail Lounge, 142 E. Third St: Bozack’s is a fun neighborhood, urban upscale cocktail lounge with a great positive, laid back vibe. Open for First Fridays, where you might just catch some live music. Stop in for a drink.
• ●  Choice Juice Boxx, 31 S. St. Clair St.: Join us for a Friday Juice Happy Hour with a free wellness shot, available until supplies run out. Choice Juice Boxx offers healthy and natural alkaline juices and drinks that promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Oct. 1 is a big celebration for Flying Pizza in downtown Dayton at 223 N. Main Street. The business is celebrating 50 years downtown, and Friday marks the final day of the celebration week for the Graci family, who opened the doors of Flying Pizza in 1971. The business is celebrating with giveaways of t-shirts, sweatshirts, treats and 16 big- screen televisions! “We do one thing, and we do one thing right: pizza,” Frank Graci said of their New York Style slices and pies. During the week-long celebration, Flying Pizza will invite guests and business regulars to sign a banner that will be given to John Graci to mark the momentous occasion.
• ●  Jollity, 127 E. Third St: Open for dinner on Fridays until 10 p.m., Jollity also now serves Saturday brunch from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Jollity is a new restaurant in The Fire Blocks District with a full-service new American and Midwest cuisine with global influence.Find regular business hours and menus at: https://www.jollitydayton.com/

• ●  Local Cantina, 501 E. First St: For First Friday specials you’ll find $5 Mustache Ride Margaritas and $3 Draft pints from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• ●  Lily’s Dayton, 329 E. Fifth St., 937-723-7637: Open for dine in, delivery with 937Delivers or carryout – join us for local food and hand-crafted tiki or traditional cocktails. Including two outdoors patios, and DORA drinks you can take to Out on Fifth.
• ●  Mudlick Tap House, 135 E. Second St., (937) 895-4066: Join us to kick of First Friday for Happiness Hours, from 4-6 p.m. with $2 off glasses of wine, a $6 cocktail feature, $2 off draft beers and 1⁄2 off of shareables. Enjoy a night on our extended outdoor patio.
• ●  Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St., 937-223-9205: Every First Friday join us for Happy Hour deals from 5-8 p.m. with music from the Linda Prevo Band. Stop in for some of the best pizza in Dayton. Happy hour specials and LIVE music. Dine in, carryout and curbside pickup available. Find our menu on our website here.
• ●  Salar Restaurant and Lounge, 400 E. Fifth St., 937-203-3999: Kick off your First Friday with happy hour at Salar from 4-6 p.m. with cocktail specials, $5 house wine pours, $1 off of all beers, and bar bites specials. Enjoy dinner, too, available for dine in or carryout. And we have a special extended street patio set up for Out on 5th, the pedestrian promenade weekends in the Oregon District.
• ●  Salt Block Biscuit Company, 115 E. Third St.: Biscuits aren’t just for breakfast! Salt Block has expanded dinner hours, with a special dinner menu for in-house dining, or your favorites to-go to enjoy at the Levitt Lawn. Find specials listed on the Salt Block Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/SaltBlockBiscuitCo. Or order for pickup on our website https://www.toasttab.com/salt-block-biscuit-company/v3/?mode=fulfillment.
• ●  Third Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, 146 E. Third St.: Friday nights are Cigars, Cocktails and The Patio at Third Perk from 7 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy your favorite coffee drinks, or specialty cocktails with our full service bar. Saturday nights are Reggae Night from 8 p.m. to midnight.
• ●  Troll Pub Dayton, 216 Wayne Ave.: Every Friday at the Troll Pub is part of W.T.F Happy Hours: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 4-7 p.m. featuring 1/2 Priced Pints & 1/2 priced apps, $4 Fireball Shots & $4 Wheatly Vodka specials.
• ●  Table 33 Dayton, 130 W. Second St.: Fridays are wine night at Table 33, with $3.33 wine pairings with any entree.
• ●  Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., 937-461-1101: Enjoy Half-off Happy Hour!
• ●  Two Social Dayton, 123 E. Third St.: From drinking, to games, to drinking games, Two Social is the ideal hangout to meet new people, gain friendships and have a wonderful time in Dayton! Axe throwing, video games, bocce ball and more. Reserve your axe throwing lane today on our website. https://www.2socialdayton.com/
• ●  Winans Chocolates and Coffee, 221 N. Patterson Blvd: Enjoy a First Friday at Winans with a special offer of $15 wine flights and a free piece of chocolate with the purchase of a latte (enjoy inside or on our patio). Open until 9:30 p.m. 937-732-1001.
• ●  Zen Lounge and Sushi Bar, 121 N. Ludlow St.: NOW OPEN for a grand opening weekend, Zen Lounge and Sushi Bar is downtown Dayton’s newest restaurant, offering a full-service bar and a variety of fresh sushi options. Visit us at 121 N. Ludlow Street, open on Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
  

  Special Shopping Deals and Activities

• ●  Choice Juice Boxx and Varsity House gallery, 31 S. St. Clair St.: Stop by the shop to grab a fresh juice or smoothie, or take a look at the offerings at Varsity House, which features local artists and makers. Start your Choice Juice punch card – buy 9 juices, get the 10th free. Free wellness shots while supplies last.
• ●  Connect E-Sports, 212 Wayne Ave.: Stop by Connect E-Sports gaming in the Wheelhouse to play your favorite console or computer games in online tournaments or with your friends. A special First Friday deal for new guests: Any new account at Connect E-Sports will receive one free hour of gaming. Find info about the games you can play on the website: https://connectesports.com/

• ●  Grace Lane Boutique, 133 E. Fourth St., 937-903-2729: Stop by this boutique toshop the latest in ethical fashion brands. Open until 6 p.m. on Fridays.
• ●  Skeleton Dust Records, 133 E. Third St.: Join Skeleton Dust to explore new music with a variety of eclectic, yet curated selection of rock, punk, metal, r&b, hip hop, blues, jazz, electronic, experimental, reggae, and world music on vinyl, CD, and cassette format. Open until 6 p.m.
• ●  Vidia’s Closet, 27 S. St. Clair St., 937-813-2144: Vidia’s Closet is having a First Friday Sale with 25% off of all in-store inventory, and a free bottle of wine with all purchases $100+. Shop fashion-forward trends for all in their online boutique at https://www.vidiascloset.com/.