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

Bellbrook

Bellbrook Hosts Chili Cook Off

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3lowcusvwr9lpbktw63obv86ny17zlk8Everyone is welcome to attend this event, but if you consider yourself a chili connoisseur, we dare you to put your recipe to the test by entering in our 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off.

Attendees can taste and vote for their favorite chili, or just spend time with family and friends. The park district will also be having guided walks through our wooded trail, so you can first enjoy the chilly weather outside and then enjoy the warm chili inside. There will be a small fee associated with tasting the chili to help raise money for the Family Resource Center in Bellbrook, otherwise it is free to be a part of the festivities. Volunteers will get free tastes.

To become a chili competitor or volunteer contact the park district for details. Chili champion will be award the “Cheesy Chili Trophy” and bragging rights until next winter!

Chili Competitors need to pre-register by 1/20/16 (the Wednesday before the cook off).
Ages: For all ages (children must be with an adult)
Cost: FREE for competitors or $1/cup of chili comes with voting rights and traditional sides

Sneak Peek at Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern

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The Great American Cheeseburger at Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern

The long awaited opening of the burger chain from Michigan has opened it’s first store in Ohio.  “Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern” will officially open to the public on Monday, but Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures have a little sneak peek.

Thank you to Dayton Dining’s Lisa Grigsby for setting up the special tasting!  As our loyal followers know, we usually hit a place many times before highlighting the eatery.  But in this case, we will be grand opening chasers, and have only got to go twice before the public goes.

Thanks to manager Ed and the staff.  The service is already exceptional and high tech.

So here it is, the Food Adventures Crew take on the legendary Bagger Dave’s….

 

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Bagger Dave’s at Cornerstone of Centerville development, off Wilmington Pike

— Bagger Daves is a chain restaurant out of Detroit, Michigan with 24 stores.  They are planning to open more locations in West Chester, Beavercreek and Springboro

— The Centerville eatery is located at 5299 Cornerstone North Blvd., near the new CostCo.

— Features are specialty burgers and Ohio beers.  Look at it as a mix between Red Robin and TGI Fridays.

— High tech, hand held ordering system ensures accuracy and speeds up the kitchen process.

— Bagger Dave’s boasts they are “cool” but have no frozen items except ice cream, and no walk in freezers on site.

— All of their soft drinks are “in-house” mixtures and brands.

— Thursdays are 50% off craft beer days.  HOLY COW this place is gonna blow out Thursday nights.

 

Big Glass of Warped Wing’s Ermals for $2 on Thursdays? WOW!

When we write about feature restaurants, we usually tear up the whole menu on multiple trips.  This is a rare grand opening story, so here are the MUST EATS from our two trips to baggerville…

 

MUST EATS from the SNEAK PEEK :

— TURKEY BLACK BEAN CHILI:  Healthier spin on chili, but we doctor it up with cheese and sour cream for a full blown  Food Adventure.  Sorry, but the toppings made this delicious bowl of chili.  Perfect for a fall day,  and perfect to start your visit.  

— DEEP FRIED ARTICHOKES:  One of the most unique appetizers we have ever seen.  We love artichokes and Hungry Jax and Big Ragu’s Italian heritage prepared us for this day!  Please dip them in the Asian sauce, and thank us later.

— SWEET POTATO CHIPS with CINNAMON HONEY DIPPING SAUCE:  Light, airy with the most important thing being the dipping sauce.  One of the most incredible chip dips we have ever tried.  AMAZING !

— GREAT AMERICAN CHEESE BURGER:  The old, rock solid standard, this is the flagship burger.  Try this grilled godness and the sesame bun it is on will have you spinning in lip smacking fun.

— CRISPY BACON CHEESEBURGER:  Served on a kick ass on a grilled sesame brioche bun.  The burger is topped with Applewood smoked bacon, cheddar and Parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.  So good, and so filling.  Bet you have trouble eating half of it.

— BLACK CHERRY CREAM SODA:  An “in-house” soft drink that is delicious and refreshing.  Love Dr Pepper?  This is for you…

— BROWNIE DELUXE: Not too big, not too small.  A just right serving of a rich, chocolate brownie with whipped cream.  This could definitely be a chocolate overload for some people.  For others, it is just another chocolate Food Adventure.

 

We were impressed with the food, beer and the service!  The atmosphere is a fun and bustling spot.

Visit Chef House, Hungry Jax and the Big Ragu on Facebook for more food pics and restaurant info that nobody else has even thought about.

As always, check out our photos below and comment about your experiences at Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern.

Turkey Black Bean Chili – EXCELLENT

Deluxe Brownie dessert

You must use the honey cinnamon dipping sauce with the sweet potato chips

Nachos – with fresh jalapenos

View of dining room and Big Ragu’s huge forehead

Dipping fried artichokes into the Asian sauce

Deep Fried Artichokes – one of the most unique and tasty things we have tried recently

Yes – HALF OFF BEERS every Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Becomes Local: Longhorn Steakhouse in Moraine

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Bob and Jordan

Bob Medlin & Jordan Frank of Longhorn Steakhouse, volunteer time & resources to many Dayton charities

We just had to tell you.  We just had to tell you about something happening in your community that you have no idea about.

As you know, 95% of our weekly Food Adventure articles feature local mom and pop establishments serving up great food.

But sometimes, there is a need to mention something that is going on at a Nationally owned restaurant.  In this case, no one is more deserving than Bob Medlin, the manager of Longhorn Steakhouse in Moraine, located at 1921 West Dorothy Lane.

We know,we know…. ” the dreaded chain restaurant,” but there is one thing you local purists can’t ignore.  It is the constant donation of resources and volunteering that Bob Medlin and his staff give to the Miami Valley.  The Big Ragu and Crew volunteer at a lot of charity events, and we notice that Bob Medlin and Longhorn Steakhouse in Moraine are involved in almost every charity group that we support.  The staff believes in not only serving quality affordable food, but they go an extra step in volunteering for many charitable organizations.

Food Adventures joined forces with Longhorn Steakhouse Moraine, to support the March of Dimes Walk for Babies.  We ate at their pancake breakfasts that supported the Sandy Hook Elementary victims, and the Mobley Family who endured terrible losses in a local fire.  The Big Ragu and Crew have also run into the Longhorn staff at the annual AMBUCS Chili cookoff, that benefits Dayton citizens with various disabilities, by providing them equipment to become more mobile.

After talking with the management and the staff, we realized, this was just the tip of the iceberg.   Just some of the charities helped by Longhorn Steakhouse in Moraine, either directly or indirectly through volunteering staff, or donating resources, food or supplies, are the following organizations:

Food For Kids (Vandalia)Outside 1921 West Dorothy Lane location in Moraine

Dayton Hospice Walk

Snuggled Up Inc. – bedding for Dayton area kids

The Greater Dayton Apartment Association’s Rent Foundation – prevents homelessness in Dayton, by paying rent for families in crisis.

Shoes for the Shoeless and Brief Blessings – helping Dayton area children with basic needs such as shoes and underwear

Ronald McDonald House of Dayton – Staff volunteered to rake leaves, clean up yard

Dayton Circles – dedicated to ending poverty

Back2Back Ministries – Helping local orphans and abandoned children

Kiser Elementary– helping educate refugee children who have settled in Dayton.

Christ’s Church of Bellbrook’s – various charity programs

Relay for Life Charities from American Cancer Society– pancake breakfasts to raise money

Bob Medlin serving up food at the March of Dimes "Walk for Babies"

Bob & the Longhorn Steakhouse Staff volunteering at the March of Dimes Walk for Babies, and giving out cake

Apex Church charity Rib Dinner to benefit Relay For Life Charities

Donated supplies for Apex Church missionary charity support of 6 Mexican orphans, and 1 orphangirl  in India

Big Brothers Big Sisters program of the Greater Miami Valley – Helping Dayton children reach their potential

Dayton Life Enrichment Center – providing groceries and meals to needy families of Dayton

Target Dayton Ministries – serving meals to Dayton’s homeless and poor

Miami Valley Womens Center – helping new moms and dads with loss of an infant

Harvest House  – helping rehabilitate females who have been abused, or dealing with depression

Victory Project – helping Dayton youth in the Juvenile system rebuild themselves and stay crime free

Miracle League of Dayton – providing special needs children a baseball field where they can play

These are just some charities off the top of the staff’s heads.  The thing is, they don’t toot their own horn, they just help out the community in so many ways.  And it is contagious.  As we talked to the staff, we realize they all want to help and get involved, because they see how their company has affected lives for the positive.

And so many lives have been affected by the Longhorn Steakhouse staff.  We have yet to mention donations to local elementary schools, or events for the Fairmont track  football, basketball , and volleyball teams!  They even had volunteers help cater a prom dinner.

Longhorn holds Pancake Breakfasts for various charities

Longhorn Steakhouse in Moraine, holds Pancake Breakfasts for various charities, here is one of our delicious plates that we devoured

Longhorn Steakhouse of Moraine events have benefited local pet adoption companies and local cancer survivors. There have been Dayton Demonz hockey team charity work, volunteer staff car washes for charities.   Bob Medlin and his co-workers have helped donatefor benefits for cystic fibrosis and leukemia.  They have helped local feeding centers, local food banks, and helped organize local clothing donations.

Although they have a full staff supporting and volunteering for many of these events, there are 3 managers at Longhorn who have instilled and lead this philanthropist philosophy with their employees.   The first person we have already mentioned, is manager Bob Medlin.  The other two, are managing partner Jordan Frank and Rita Hayworth, fundraising specialist.   Together they provide a great, caring work atmosphere of giving back to the community.

So the next time you are in the mood for some steakhouse type food, you may want to mosey on over to the Longhorn Steakhouse in Moraine and keep paying it forward.  You may even get to see Bob Medlin, and tell him thank you for their community support.  Let him know you saw his charity work “shout out” on Food Adventures.  Bob and his staff are very humble, and the staff never boasts about their charity work.  They participate enthusiastically and take pride in helping various needs in the Dayton area.  We are grateful for fellow citizens like this and want them to know, we greatly appreciate all you do.  Thanks for making a local difference with a national company.

Please view our gallery below of  photos inside Longhorn Steakhouse and the staff volunteering at various events.

Also, make sure you become a Food Adventure fan on Facebook, by CLICKING HERE TO “LIKE” US.

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Meet Our Gal, ‘Juicy Lucy,’ at Romer’s Bar & Grill

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Romer’s – Much More than Beer-thirty

Food Adventures found another locally owned place, you gotta try.  It is watering hole called Romer’s Bar and Grill, located at 4439 East Franklin Street in Bellbrook, near Wilmington Pike.  When you think of bars, you don’t normally think of homemade food.   That is where Romer’s beats the stereotype, because most things here are homemade.  The atmosphere is hopping and usually loud.  We have been to Romer’s for happy hour drinks, benefit concerts, and Thursday trivia nights.  But, our favorite is visiting during non-peak hours and just having some good food.  During our latest visit, owner Greg Romer came out from the kitchen to tell us he is a Food Adventure fan!  He also explained that many of the dressings, food items and sauces are made in the kitchen from scratch.  Greg grinds the hamburger meat himself and personally shaves thin slices from roasted beef to make their specialty sandwiches.  So which homemade items make us smile?  Here is a breakdown of Romer’s best from your favorite Dayton Foodies.

Romer’s Bar and Grill first made an impact on us at the Chicken Wing Festival at Fraze Pavillion, two years ago.   If you like wings, you gotta try Romer’s.  We would suggest the “Asian Persuasion” wing flavor.   Appropriately named, the sauce is made in-house and delivers a sweet thai pepper taste with a light touch of heat.  The wings here are crunchy and cooked just right.  We also recommend the hot bbq sauce and the dry rub option.  The wings are available breaded, but we prefer them naked… who doesn’t?

Hand Breaded Jalapeno Poppers

We digress into another inappropriate topic when we talk about Turkey Balls.  They are not what you think.  Food Adventurers recognize this interesting name as a homemade appetizer at Romer’s.  We tried these delicious appetizers which are pretty much “Thanksgiving dinner rolled into a ball.”   The turkey balls are made with dressing, mashed potatoes and of course turkey.  The mixture is rolled into a ball the size of a large meatball, and is coated with panko crumbs.  The turkey balls are then pan fried, and covered with a light brown turkey gravy.   As we sliced the turkey balls, steam rose and we fought over the turkey gravy for dipping rights.  These heavy appetizers are perfect for sharing, and are as addicting as Saturday Night Live’s “Schweddie” skit brand name.

Looking for something a little more spicy?  Romer’s  hand breads their own Homemade Jalepeno Poppers.  What other restaurant in the Dayton area does that?  The heavy breading and spicy insides make this a good choice if you are hungry and want to heat things up.  Another fantastic appetizer that is the Big Ragu’s favorite is the Memphis Fried Pickles.  Hand cut into chip like slices, then hand breaded, these pickles are served with a dipping sauce.  They are a very addicting, yet very filling appetizer that you have to try.

The Beef N Cheddar – Slow Roasted Beef, Sliced in-house

There is no doubt of what the specialty is at Romer’s.   It is homemade, slow-roasted, beef sandwiches.  There are three of these special sandwiches, and they are “must eats.”   Chef House is our resident expert on shaved beef , and her favorite is the Beef N Cheddar.    This sandwich is made sliced to order, so it is fresh and delicious.  Romer’s also does it right.  They top it with cheddar cheese sauce.  The experts in Philadelphia do it this way, and so does Romer’s Bar and Grill.   The sandwich is served on Sour Dough bread and is simply magnificent.  The beef is delicate and moist.  The sandwich will fill you up and is a great meal deal at under 8 bucks.  Most get a side of saratoga chips, but we suggest the waffle fries with these sandwiches.  You won’t be disappointed.

Inside a ‘Juicy Lucy’ Burger

Continuing with our favorite things at Romer’s, we dive into the topic of  Burgers.  All the burgers are ground in-house to ensure great taste.  What burger is best?  Sure, you can build your own burger or chicken breast sandwich with toppings, cheese and sauce.  But wouldn’t you rather  step it up to the big leagues?  Then order a burger at Romer’s that will knock your socks off,  the Minnesota Juicy Lucy.  Owner Greg Romer developed this after seeing a similar sandwich on a food show.  The Juicy Lucy is a 1/2 pound burger stuffed with provolone, pepperoni and jalapenos.  The result is a tasty burger that oozes cheese with every bite from inside the burger.  This is a true Food Adventure item for taste and uniqueness, which is what Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu are all about.   Make sure you grab a Juicy Lucy.

We do have one tip on what not to grab.  Don’t grab a seat by the door to the smoking patio.  Since Romer’s gets busy, many people come in and out of that door to smoke.   Take advantage of their selection of beers on draught, but don’t sit by the patio door unless you want a wind draft.   Be forewarned the place gets noisy during peak hours.  It is a fun atmosphere, but if you want quiet conversation, hit this place during slow times like early lunch hours.

There are many other good menu items we like at Romer’s that are worth mentioning.  The Reuben is good, how could it not be with the slow roasted touch?  They also have good thin crust pizzas.  They are a popular with kids and a good value at $11 for a large cheese pizza.  Even with our many trips to Romer’s we have not completely tapped the constantly evolving menu.   Currently they are featuring a Lenten menu insert and feature a fish fry on Friday’s with thick, pub style battered fish.  Romer’s Bar and Grill is yet another locally owned  gem, that many people may not have heard about.  Take the time to stop in, and visit the friendly staff like Lanette, who is our favorite server.  Next time you are hungry, tell your friends you want to grab some turkey balls and see your friends Reuben and Juicy Lucy!

Have you been to Romer’s Bar and Grill?  Please comment below on your experiences with their unique menu.

The Food Adventure Crew says “like” us on Facebook, but love us in your hearts by clicking here !

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Food Adventures Crew Thai One on at Tik’s Thai Grille

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Our best Food Adventures often come when we least expect it, and some of these impromptu meals, end up being the most fun.  A perfect example of this was our visit to Tik’s Thai Grille which is located in a strip shopping mall on the Bellbrook-Centerville border.  The owner, Tik has been a successful restaurateur  for years.  Big Ragu stumbled upon this place on his way home and decided this was a spot that he and the Food Adventures Crew would have to try.  All he had to do was mention the words “Thai Food” and “Close to home” and our foodies were on their way.

Once inside the restaurant, we were instanty struck by the stunning interior.  The restaurant was spotless and beautiful artwork adorned the walls.  This would make a perfect date place.  We were greeted by Tik who showed us to our nice, “Romantic” table.  It was a late weeknight, so we had the rare opportunity to talk to Tik and the staff.

Before you can understand Tik’s Thai Grille on 725, you have to know what makes it tick.. whoops, we mean Tik.  Who is Tik?  She is a very animated person who is originally from Thailand.  Since her arrival in America, Tik has become a self taught chef who used to own a few restaurants including Yummy Burger and what is now House of Thai in Beavercreek.  An unlikely career for someone who as a child in Thailand, could not stand the chore of cooking.  Well, look at her now.  She currently owns and helps operate two Thai restaurants, Tik’s Thai Grille in Bellbrook and Tik’s Thai Express across the street from Wright State University.

The Spicy Tom Yum Soup was.. well, YUM !

Very proud of her menu, Tik was eager to share many dishes with us.  The kitchen offers traditional Thai food and lots of options for carnivores and vegetarians alike.    We decided to grab an appetizer and went with the Mango Fresh Rolls.  Tik brought out our appetizer, but also decided to accompany the mango fresh rolls with Tom Yum Soup, Fried Butterfly Shrimp, and Crispy Thai Spring Rolls.   We instantly noticed how beautifully the food was presented.  The Big Ragu immediately went for the fried Butterfly Shrimp and munched on the Mango Fresh Rolls.  This food was not only gorgeous, but delicious as well.  The Mango Fresh Rolls were incredible!  They are loaded with Avocado, Mango, Vermicelli Noodles, Carrots, Mint and rolled into Rice Paper.  The Big Ragu who is the “King of Fried Foods,” thinks that the Fried Butterfly Shrimp was one of the best appetizers that he has ever tasted.   This could be because of the spectacular Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce which accompanied the shrimp.  We enjoyed the Thai Cripsy Spring Rolls as well and our sinuses were pretty much drained because of the Tom Yum Soup.  We are still sweating from this flavorful soup!

Your Food Adventurers will admit that we were starting to feel a little full from the arsenal of appetizers, but out comes Tik with our entrees.  We decided to go with is usual staple of Chicken Pad Thai and also decided to try the Bourbon Chicken Noodles.  The Pad Thai was excellent…..full of big chunks of chicken, soft egg noodles, eggs, carrots, cabbage, and that wonderful Thai Peanut Sauce.  This dish did not disappoint!  The Big Ragu was equally impressed with his selection of Bourbon Chicken Noodles which contained Egg Noodles, Chicken, a mix of vegetables, egg, and the housemade Bourbon Sauce.  Our pants really started to feel quite a bit tighter due to all the food.  We moved slowly so we would not split any seams.

The Flavorful Bourbon Chicken Noodles

Thai people are known for their excellent hospitality and Tik is a perfect example of this.  When we were about finished with our entrees, she came into the dining room carrying a Tin Foil Statue that resembled a stork or bird of some sort.  We didn’t know what to expect.  If this was a film, this would the be the grand finale. Tik suddenly pulled out a giant butcher knife and carved into the tin foil.  She made this into an event and inside housed a wonderful Seafood, vegetable, and Jasmine Rice combination.  We would find out that this was called the Seafood Bouquet.  It was loaded with shrimp, scallops, mussels, pieces of fish, and squid.  We were so full that we wanted to take a nap, but we couldn’t let our graciuos host down.  We dug into the Seafood Bouquet and finished it off.  Surely we were finally done with the parade of tasty food, right?…Wrong..

At this point, the spirited Tik decided that we needed dessert.  We asked her “Do either one of us look like we need dessert?”  She brought out a sliced Mango on a bed of Sweet Sticky Rice and she wrote the words “Thank You, Tik” in Chocolate Sauce.  We decided to climb over the “Food Wall” we had hit and finish this dessert off.  It was absolutely amazing!  It was a wonderful way to top an excellent meal.

Tik sat down with us and explained to us how it took her a year to create this beautiful restaurant.  She wanted to get it just right and she succeeded!  Tik was especially proud of the beautiful artwork that hangs on the restaraunt walls that was created by her son.  Before we exited the restaurant, Tik brought out a framed article from the Dayton Business Journal showcasing her newest establishment.  This Food Adventure summed up why we love dining and supporting local restaurants……the owners take pride in what they do. 

Amazing Mango Dessert Served on Top of Sweet Sticky Rice

 

 

The restaurant also has a bar inside where you can use the line, “your pad(thai) or mine?”(groan).  Tik’s also has a drive-up carryout window!  Does it get much better than that?  The wonderful thing about this restaurant is that it can be a nice, casual place or a romantic, “Date Night” place.  The prices are reasonable, the decor is beautiful, the food is artfully created, and the owner is a pretty special person as well.  We highly recommend that you use your noodle and give Tik’s Thai Grille a chance.  Tell them the Food Adventure Crew sent you!

Have you been to Tik’s Restaurants?  Feel free to leave a comment below!

Tik’s Thai Grille

4459 W Franklin St
Bellbrook, Ohio 45305
(937) 310-1049
Mon- Thurs: 11am – 3pm, 4:30-9:30pm
Fri: 11am – 3pm, 4:30-10pm
Sat: noon – 10pm
Sun: noon – 9pm

The Big Ragu and Crew, Rise & Shine at The Blueberry Cafe

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Mushroom Omelette and Toast

Do you know The Muffin Man?  He lives at The Blueberry Cafe !  We set out on a morning Food Adventure to check out this Bellbrook restaurant that has developed quite a loyal following, including some of our friends.  Nestled into a row of shops, not far from State Route 725 and main street lies this popular eatery.  What keeps people coming back?  The quaintness, the menu, and the Muffin Man!  Packed with personality, The Blueberry Cafe has a small dining room that stays fairly busy all year long.

Upon entering, customers are greeted by a hostess, who stands in the midst of a mini-country store filled with various knick-knacks from purses to homemade items.  As patrons are seated in the tiny dining room, one may realize this is not your ordinary breakfast joint.

Sure, the menu staples are the traditional French toast and Belgian waffles, but it is accented  by specialty quiches, fantastic bacon and Queen City Sausage.  They also feature “big as your plate” pancakes that are fluffy and tasty. A true Food Adventure.

One a side note, each serving plate in the restaurant is as unique as the food.  We recommend going for one of the signature breakfast platters, which range from four to nine dollars, and give a great value for your dollar.  For the whole menu including  lunch choices, click here.

The Strawberry Shortcake Muffin

Last but not least, is one of the biggest attractions at The Blueberry Cafe, …. the MUFFINS !   We told you this place has personality emanating from the menu to the employees.  One such employee is Tony the “Muffin Man.”

Almost like a superhero, he enters the dining room with his trademark chef’s hat.  He twirls from table to table with his display plate of muffins, dazzling the diners.  Excitement builds as he delicately describes the day’s specialty muffins in his deep, rich voice.  Appealing to the eyes and the mouth, the fresh homemade muffins are around $2.50-$3.00 and worth a try.

The Blueberry Cafe is open daily from 7am -2pm, and is open for dinner only on Friday evenings from 5pm-8pm.

Next time you wake up on a lazy day, with your stomach growling, take a trip to Bellbrook’s Blueberry Cafe.  When you see the muffin man, tell him Food Adventures sent you !

Have you been to see the muffin man?  Please comment below with your thoughts on The Blueberry Cafe.

Please visit FOOD ADVENTURES  on FACEBOOK and “like” us to become an official fan !

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Specters Of The Past Revealed

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Paravizionz Locks Down Ohio’s “Sleepy Hollow”

The Joinery In Bellbrook

Illicit affairs, money, greed, envy…the deadliest of sins prove to be just that, extinguishing lives like a sudden gust of autumn wind douses the flickering light of a candle, creating a haunting lore that seemingly breathes with a murmuring life of its own. While every locale around the world has their own ghost stories and legends, Bellbrook, Ohio has their fair share as well, most of which reach back into the dim mists of a century gone by.

There is the story of a servant girl who involved herself with the town’s very influential Mayor and managed to get herself pregnant in the process. The Mayor refused to acknowledge her anymore and had her removed from the premises. The young lady took to a life of prostitution to get by, quickly becoming the subject of gossip and ridicule. When her baby was born, she would only take it outside with it’s face covered, as it was whispered that the child bore a striking resemblance to the father. It was thought that the young woman had fallen into a downward spiral of madness as she was often seen walking along with her baby safely bundled up from the prying eyes of the townsfolk, singing and talking to the bundle of tattered fabric that shrouded her little one. One night, the weight of her plight must have been too much to bear and she plunged herself and her baby into the cold, swirling depths of Possum Run Creek or, as it is known now, the Little Sugar Creek. A week later, her body was found by two local youths, washed up upon the creek’s bank. Her icy, lifeless arms still clasped the tattered rags that were once wrapped around her child, but the baby itself was never found. It is said that on certain nights, especially those peculiarly still nights in June when the mists rise up into the ebony darkness, you can see her glowing form stumble along the sides of the creek, a lilting singsong sigh being sung to the bundle of rags that she carries.

I grew up in Bellbrook, long before it became the lush suburb that it is today. When I lived there, it was still mostly a bucolically rural town. Carpenter Rd. still had a hair pin turn where, legend has it, that on certain nights, you could see the silhouette of a hanged man…just another person who had decided to end it all when they came to the end of their rope. Back when you would walk along Little Sugarcreek Rd., quickly succumbing to a whistling bravery as you passed Fallis Cemetery after dark. A time when, out of the corner of your eye, you would see skittering shadows and the out of tune tinkling of a piano coming from the music room of the Elementary School. You would hear whispered legends about the creaking madness held within the walls of several of the towns original homes. Stories of the strange behavior exhibited by the living as they face the heady unknown of death, like the undertaker who could not bear the loss of his wife and kept her embalmed body in the front window of his establishment for over a year before singing into the downward spiral of lunacy.

These memories came back to me in a rush as I met up with two gentlemen, Lee Allen and Davis Jones, the founder and co-founder, respectively, of ParaVizionz. ParaVizionz is a paranormal investigation and research team that has completed over 180 paranormal investigation since their inception in 2008. Lee and Jones met in early 2008 when TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to investigate paranormal activity there for their wildly popular television show on SyFy called Ghost Hunters. Jones had managed to weasel his way into the event with little more than an ID on a lanyard and, after befriending the film crew and being allowed to jump to the front of the line, he ran into Lee, who was trying to assemble a team of local paranormal investigators. Since that time, a team of investigators, technicians and mediums have been assembled and the group has gelled into one incredibly in-tune entity who have compiled a list of completed investigations, an archive of EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and a slew of stories that would make most people cringe.

Paravizionz Investigates The Joinery

There are those that are dismissive of paranormal investigations and make light of others beliefs in otherworldly events…right up to the point when they are standing in the murmuring darkness and feel a cold finger trace the line of their spine. Jones came to believe in supernatural activities while still very young while living in Michigan. He had just moved into an old farmhouse in the woods with his sister, father and his new stepmom. It had been said that one of the previous owners had hung themselves from the apple tree outside the kitchen window, but this barely registered with the young Jones…until the noises began. Creaking footsteps and rocking chairs that were invisibly animated made he and his sister believers in very short order. Another memory he held of that time was his new stepmother’s use of a Ouija board, but he gave it little credence. It was just a Parker Brother’s game, after all.

Conversely, Lee’s induction into the world of the unknown came about through personal loss. He and his wife lost one son, Austin, in infancy and then another older child, a daughter named Caitlyn, some time later. Lee said that after these two incidents, he would hear voices in the children’s rooms and sense their presences from time to time. While I didn’t press Lee as to the association between these events and his sudden passion for the paranormal, one can infer that it would almost become a necessity for one who had suffered such a tragic loss. Even separated by a wall of sleep, a father needs to know that his children are alright and to know what kind of world that they exist in.

This past summer, ParaVizionz has been doing a series of investigations in Bellbrook, Ohio. They have investigated everything from private residences to my old Elementary School and have come away with many personal stories as well as EVPs, which they have posted on their website. Paravizionz has shared their stories online and created the Jonathan Winters Ghost Walk and Historical Tour that ran the weekend of September 30th through October 1st. All of their activities has even garnered them a proclamation from the Mayor of Bellbrook, Mary Graves. All of these goings-on will culminate with the Bellbrook On Lockdown event slated for Halloween weekend, starting at noon on Friday, October 28th and ending at 3:00pm on Sunday, October 30th.

The Bellbrook On Lockdown event will have lectures, celebrities, tours, information, vendors, activities and entertainment. The Master of Ceremonies, a Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow look-alike, Captain “Larry” Sparrows, will kick off the festivities at noon on Friday at Sugarcreek Plaza, located at 6124 Wilmington Pike in Bellbrook. There are a ton of guest speakers, including Keith Age (a paranormal investigator who founded the Louisville Ghost Hunter’s Society and is the star of Spooked TV), Patrick Burns (star of TruTV’s Haunting Evidence), author Marley Harbuck-Gibson, international medium Robyn Marie, radio personality and comedian Scotty Rorek, paranormal mediums Deborah and Nicholas Lantz, John Brightman (founder of New England Paranormal Research), cryptozoologist Joedy Cook and paranormal filmmakers and stars of the SyFy, Chiller and Spooked TV networks, The Booth Brothers. Entertainment will come in the form of bagpiper Wulf, D.J. Tre and a special guest appearance by escape artist and magician Aron Houdini. A celebrity guided tour of all the haunted areas in Bellbrook is also on the itinerary, including the Dart Construction Building (formerly Penewit Hardware), The Shepherd House, Magee Park and others. The Joinery, which was one of the locations that Paravizionz investigated over the summer, was once a stop on the underground railroad. Their investigation revealed a slew of EVPs, which say things from a whispered voice decalring, “I’m right behind you” to the plaintive plea of a woman saying, “Hide me!”

One of the highlights of the tour has to do with one of the oldest legends of the area. Back in the 1800’s, there was an Englishman named James Buckley whose sawmill was located alongside what is now known as the Little Sugar Creek. He became very wealthy from this enterprise and, as is common as seen through the eyes of avarice, envied by many of the townspeople. One morning, his cabin was forced into and he was robbed and then brutally murdered…decapitated, in fact. His body was found, sans head, outside, covered in blood and mud, but the money…along with his head…were, by some accounts, never found. Other versions of this story state that his head was found some distance away and that the robbers never retrieved any of the money because Mr. Buckley had buried it somewhere near the creek. ParaVizionz is going to have a live, televised treasure hunt utilizing a medium to communicate with the long deceased entrepreneur to try and find the place in which the money was buried. Hopefully they find the money…and only the money. Priorities may change somewhat when a spirit is made to choose between earthly wealth and a part of themselves that was most cruelly taken from them…

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We all have had experiences. We have all had that unexplainable feeling of being watched as the hairs on the nape of neck stand up. We have all felt the trickling fear, absolutely feeling alone in the dark tide of one of eternity’s moments. We have all seen the spectral movements of light and shadow that we are unable to explain, but which we rationalize when dawn arises. Regardless of how stalwartly pragmatic we feel that we may be and how we may deride the beliefs of those who embrace the spirit world, there are moments in our lives when our depths of spirit are overtaken by the icy isolation of a nameless dread. We have all had experiences. This is a time to share those experiences and to hear those who have had similar occurrences happen within their lives. This is a time to ask the questions that cannot be answered by religions or sciences. This is a time to reflect on what is beyond this realm.

Paravizionz Bellbrook On Lockdown runs from Friday, October 28th through Sunday, October 30th. There are various tiers of payment for admission, ranging from $30 to $150 for the VIP/Ghost Hunt pass. For more information, check out their website for the event at http://bellbrookonlockdown.webs.com/ and make sure to check out the group’s main website at http://www.paravizionz.net to watch video and hear EVPs from their past investigations.