Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s that time of year when many of us have already failed on our New Year’s resolutions. If you fall into this category, then perhaps you’ve already been sampling some different foods as part of Restaurant Week, one of the many events going on in the Miami Valley!

On Wednesday, if you can’t find something you’d like to eat as part of the 2011 Winter Restaurant Week (which would mean you are too picky!), there are also other food specials, such as Oyster Bar Happy Hour at Dorothy Lane Market, Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesday at Bonefish Grill, and All You Can Eat-Ribs, Chicken or Pork at Bullwinkle’s. If you would rather consume your calories through drinking, participate in the Wine Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery, or Wine Down Weekdays at Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar. Or check out Green Drinks Dayton at Norton’s, where the environmental manager for the City of Dayton will be speaking. If you’re feeling overloaded with all that paperwork on the job (I know I do a lot of the time!), attend/view the online webinar, Take charge of your paperwork in 2011! And for all you adventure movie lovers, be sure to check out the movie Ride the Divide at The Neon.

On Thursday, make a trip to PNC 2^nd Street Market for their Soup Sampling and Recipes. Attend Lunch and Learn: Incredible Edibles at Cox Arboretum to find out techniques for building a vegetable garden. After all, spring is right around the corner. Sorry, that was a lie, but let us at least think that! If your New Year’s resolution involves improving your finances, attend the Dayton Metro Library’s Financial Literacy Class. And in case you were wondering if that event would fit into your budget, you’ll be glad to know that it is free! Enjoy happy hour and do some Networking with Dayton’s Marketing Professionals at Fox and Hound. Hear poets and vocalists perform as part of Chris Wiley: Poetry in Motion at De’Lish. I’m not sure if they’re talking about tape or liquor, but if you like scotch, then attend the Scotch Tasting/Class at Boston’s Bistro. And for a couple theater options…at Wright State, you can see Jekyll & Hyde or you can go to The Loft Theatre for Twelfth Night, which is actually taking place on the 27^th night of the month.

On Friday, join fellow young professionals for the Gen D 4th Friday Lunch Speaker Series, in which former Governor Taft will be talking about Education and Innovation. In the evening, go out to dinner with friends or that special someone as part of 2011 Winter Restaurant Week. If you’re on a budget but still want to try some good food, many restaurants are offering two dinners for the price of one! After dinner, catch one of the many shows going on in town, including The Berenstain Bears Onstage: A Bear Country Musical (which was one of my favorite book series growing up!) at Town Hall Theatre, the Dayton Opera’s Fidelio at the Schuster Center, I Hate Hamlet at Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, or The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse. I’ve always heard that Bridge is for old people, so if you’re old, check out The Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre. If you’re young though, don’t worry…I don’t think they card! Over at Alex’s on 725, get your dancing shoes ready as the band Off the Hook will be performing. If you love Dayton music, make your way to Canal Street Tavern for Dayton Does Dayton! And if you’re a Rascal Flatts fan like me, be sure to get tickets to see them perform at the Nutter Center as part of their “Nothing Like This” Tour!

On Saturday, if you don’t mind being super cold, help support the Special Olympics by participating in Freezin’ For A Reason- 2011 Polar Plunge at Caesar’s Creek. Again for some theater/musical performances, check out The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, The Octette Bridge Club at the Beavercreek Community Theatre, I Hate Hamlet at The Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse, or Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre. If you want to drink wine but want to help counteract the killing of your brain cells, head to the Boonshoft Museum for the Science of Wine. Over at the Dayton Masonic Center, join the wonderful jumpstART with their Jump into Bluegrass for discounted tickets to see bluegrass superstar Ricky Skaggs! Or if you want to be a cowboy baby, “moooo”ve over to the Nutter Center to see Kid Rock. If you have some “spare” time and would like to “strike” up a conversation with some other young professionals, come to Woodman Lanes for Generation Dayton Goes Bowling! After you “split”, head to the St. Helen’s Fish Fry or to the Christopher Club for the Knights of Columbus 4022 Fish Fry.

On Sunday, take it easy with Gentle Yoga at the Sri Yoga Center. If you still don’t know how to skate (don’t worry, I’m in that bunch too!), attend Fundamentals of Skating at RiverScape. Again, there will be a multitude of shows to see, including Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University, The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, the Dayton Opera’s Beethoven’s Fidelio at the Schuster Center, and The Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre. And finally, for a “purr-fectly” good time, help support the Humane Society of Greater Dayton by coming to the Cat Walk 2011: Diva Las Vegas, in which Dayton’s top hair salons compete on the catwalk! There will be music, drinks, food, dancing, and live entertainment!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why is a moon rock tastier than an earth rock?

Because it’s a little meteor.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!