Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
We confirmed this morning with a phone call to the corporate office, that the Boston Stoker at 34 W Second Street is closing down. The last day of business there will be Friday, May 26th.
We’ve got a call in to Henry Dean, Boston Stoker CEO for a comment and will update this story as we hear more.
So many deals, meetings and friendships have been created in these walls.
Home Experts Realty group Dayton Real Estate Crush are currently working with Boston Stoker Coffee Company to deliver hot coffee to local medical workers. Home Experts Realty – Dayton Real Estate Crush is a woman-operated team that offers homebuyers and sellers complimentary home evaluations, consultations, a guaranteed buy program, and additional services. Boston Stoker has provided quality coffee to residents of the Miami Valley and beyond from their local roasting facility since 1973.
“Giving back to our community is important to us, especially during times of great need,” said Elizabeth Cooper of Home Experts Realty group Dayton Real Estate Crush. “This is our own small way of spreading some love and supporting the workers who are pushed to their limits by this crisis.”
Anyone can go online and purchase “Joe to Go”, and Dayton Real Estate Crush will double the order. Then, Boston Stoker will deliver “Joe to Go” to our nurses, doctors, emergency workers, and other medical staff who work long hours during these difficult times. It is a simple way to show appreciation to those working around the clock to keep us safe.
“In times like these, we’re presented with an opportunity to come together as a loving community,” Cooper added. “Providing incredible coffee for local health workers while we stay at home is a small act of solidarity and kindness that can make a big difference.”
Home Experts Realty group Dayton Real Estate Crush will match any donation of Boston Stoker’s “Joe to Go” for our area’s medical workers as long as the coronavirus crisis continues. Each “Joe to Go” pack costs $20.
Boston Stoker is excited to throw The Christmas Eve Golden Ticket Giveaway with buy two get one free 12oz bags of coffee on Monday, December 24. Hidden within a 12oz bag of direct trade coffee at each of their shops, this Golden Ticket entitles its finder to a $100 gift card and a private tour of the Boston Stoker roasting facility in Vandalia.
Oh no! Went to meet somebody at the 2nd Street Boston Stokers only to find out it’s “closed for maintenance.” A quick call to the corporate office and we found out that according to Travis Goodspeed,
“they started having issues exactly 2 weeks ago today. The building has to deal with some plumbing issues and then we’ll have to replace some cabinetry and carpet. We don’t have a realistic date, we’ll reopen yet.”
In an email response from Anna McCormick, Manager, Dayton Boston Stoker she says,
In the meantime may we suggest you get your coffee and schedule your meetings at:
The Ohio Coffee Co. 
located on the S.W. corner of Fifth Third Building
1 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45402
open 9am – 2:30pm
Table 33
130 W 2nd St
open 8am – 8pm Tues – Fri
open 8am – 3pm Sat & Mon
Corner of Jefferson & 2nd Inside of the Kettering Tower
40 N Main Street, Suite 60
open 8:30am-2:30pm Monday- Friday
43 years is a long time for any independent business, but even more impressive for one in the constantly evolving business of coffee. On Tuesday, September 13 Boston Stoker celebrates their 43rd anniversary as one of Ohio’s leading coffee roasters.
“Coffee has always been a part of our lives but it’s also changed a lot over the past 43 years,” Henry Dean, Boston Stoker President said. “We started as a pipe tobacco and custom pipe shop in 1973 and as the times changed we started offering our tobacco customers complimentary coffee and then in 1983 we started roasting our own coffee.”
Throughout the 43 years as a business, what a coffee house is has evolved just as much as people’s tastes in the drink.
“Coffee houses are a fixture of their communities. They’re a place for people to meet, to send out a few emails, to listen to music,” Henry Dean said. “We ingrain our shops into the neighborhoods and communities they serve, no two shops are the same.”
To celebrate this anniversary, Boston Stoker will be offering $5 off of all 12oz bags of coffee and $1 off beverages at all shops for one day only on Tuesday, September 13 at all their shops.
“Our customers are why we’ve been growing over the last 43 years,” Henry Dean said. “This is our way of saying thanks and here’s to the next 43.”
The Dayton Baristas first monthly Thursday Night Throw-Down was held on July 21 at Ghostlight Coffee on Wayne Ave. There was a large & enthusiastic crowd of baristas representing 7 different shops around the Miami Valley & Cincinnati. The evening included friendly coffee competition, food, fun, and Gladgirl Shelly who’s a local DJ that made sure to spin some vinyl.
Adam Solomon of Ghostlight Coffee and Shelby Lewis from Boston Stoker made it to the finals of the Latte Art Competition with Solomon coming out on top with his free pour Swan. Judges included Jon Lewis of Deeper Roots Coffee, Dan Clayton of Twisted River Coffee & Warren Taylor president of Snowville Creamery.
Jon Lewis took top honors in the Blind Tasting Contest which featured coffees roasted by Boston Stoker, Telemetry Coffee & Deeper Roots Coffee.
South Park’s Ghostlight Coffee hosted this first of a series of monthly events with support from Boston Stoker, Deeper Roots Coffee, Telemetry Coffee, Snowville Creamery, Cavalier Distributing & Gladgirl Shelly from WSWO Oldies 97.3 fm.
Upcoming Thursday Night Throw-Downs will be held at
Aug 18: Press 257 Wayne Avenue in the Oregon District
Sept 15: Proto Buildbar 534 E 1st St, Dayton
Oct 4: Warehouse 4 335 S Dixie Dr, Vandalia
The 2016 Battle of the Baristas will take place on November 11 & 12 at The Old Yellow Cab. This culminating event will feature competitive events & exhibitions that showcase the talented coffee pros in the Miami Valley.
Photos provided by Michael Derrike Ramey.
If you’re a barista then the Third Thursday of every month is now your day to throwdown and show what you’ve got! Dayton now has it’s own regional barista competition, starting on Thursday, July 21 at Ghostlight Coffee and taking place at a different location on the third Thursday of each following month.
“We have so many talented baristas around the Miami Valley,” Henry Dean, Boston Stoker Coffee Company President said. “Thursday Night Throwdown is a great way for us to show off all of our local talent and also push each other with a little friendly monthly competition.”
The first Thursday Night Throwdown will focus on latte art. For only $2 baristas can enter in and showcase the best of that their steady hands and unbridled imaginations can create.
“Latte art has become very popular so I’m excited to see what Dayton’s baristas can do,” Shane Anderson, Ghostlight Coffee Owner said. “The winner gets all of the collected entry fees but really this is more about getting together and growing a community.”
After July, Thursday Night Throwdown will take place at changing coffeehouses each month to limit any perceived, “home field advantage.”
“I’m excited to host the first one,” Anderson said. “We want to be seen as a relaxed, neighborhood coffeehouse, but there’s also a very artistic side to what we’re doing. I think this is a great chance to revel in that a little more.”
For those interested, Thursday Night Throwdown takes place on the third Thursday of every month. Locations and times vary. The kickoff event takes place on July 21 at Ghostlight Coffee from 6-9pm and is a latte art competition. Entry is $2 and winner takes all.
Hello Everyone,
We’re pretty excited here at THE NEON. On Friday, August 1, we’re opening the best reviewed film of the year – BOYHOOD. We will also keep the amazing film IDA for select screenings.
Synopsis for BOYHOOD: Given 100% Reviews by countless critics and currently at 99% FRESH on rotten tomatoes, BOYHOOD is the best reviewed film of the year! “Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s “Yellow” to Arcade Fire’s “Deep Blue.” BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. It’s impossible to watch Mason and his family without thinking about our own journey.” (taken from IFC Films press notes) Click this LINK to visit the official website.
On Sunday, August 3 at 1:00, SPAN Ohio will hold a one-time screening of THE HEATHCARE MOVIE. “Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) is proud to host THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE on the 49th anniversary of our own Medicare system. THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE is a 65 minute documentary that reveals the intensity of the political struggle that led to Canada’s universal medical care system, and exposes public relations campaigns that have been prevalent in the U.S. since the early 1900’s to dissuade the American public from supporting national health care. Every day people are dying or going bankrupt due to the ills of the United States system. Who are we in the face of this human tragedy? If you agree that people are more important than profits, then you must see this film. Admission is free and open to the public.” (taken from SPAN Ohio press notes)
“On Thursday, August 14 at 7:30 Boston Stoker is proud to present A FILM ABOUT COFFEE to the Dayton Area. The film, which first premiered in Seattle at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), explores the world’s involvement and fascination with specialty coffee from crop to cup. It captures in-depth views on the current state of specialty coffee with footage from throughout the US, Africa, South America and Japan. Boston Stoker is a specialty coffee roaster and wholesaler that has operated out of Dayton, Ohio since 1973. The company has a long history with direct trade work within the coffee industry, focusing on Heart to Honduras.” (taken from Boston Stoker press notes) This screening will be an Ohio premiere! Tickets are currently available at THE NEON’s box office for $10 each. Click this LINK to find out more about the film. Click this LINK to visit Boston Stoker’s official site (where you can purchase tickets on-line).
The FilmDayton Film Festival is set for August 22-24. The full schedule has just been released and festival passes are now available on-line (single tickets will be available beginning July 31). Check out the line-up and purchase your pass at the festival’s Official Site. In addition to screenings that will be held at THE NEON, there are a number of other special programs happening downtown.
On Saturday, August 30 at noon, Roosevelt Class of ’67 will hold a fundraiser with a screening of BUCK AND THE PREACHER. “The film stars several icons who were at the beginning of their careers. Sidney Pointier stars as Buck. This was also the first film that he directed. Harry Belafonte stars as the preacher. His production company, Belafonte Enterprise produced the film with others. Ruby Dee was the wife of Buck. This film was set in Kansas Territory immediately following the Civil War in the late 1860’s. The cost is $20. This includes the movie, glass of wine, soda, and popcorn. Tickets are available at THE NEON.” (taken from press notes)
We hope to see you this weekend!
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for Friday, August 1 – Thursday, August 7:
IDA (PG-13) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:20, 5:30
Sunday – Thursday: 5:30
BOYHOOD (R) 2 Hr 45 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 2:15, 4:30, 7:30, 8:00
Sunday: 1:00, 4:30, 7:30 8:00
Monday – Thursday: 2:15, 3:30, 7:00, 7:30
THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE (NR) 1 Hr 5 Min + Discussion
Sunday: 1:00
COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Aug 8 – I ORIGINS
Aug 15 – MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT
Aug 29 – LAND HO
Aug 29 – CALVARY
TBD – TRIP TO ITALY
TBD – LOVE IS STRANGE
TBD – ALIVE INSIDE
TBD – SKELETON TWINS
Hello Everyone,
If you still need to see LIFE ITSELF, THIRD PERSON or CHEF (which has been here 9 weeks!), you’ll need to hurry. Thursday will be your last chance to catch any of these films at THE NEON. On Friday, we’re clearing the decks for two new films – the critically acclaimed and powerful new film IDA and the romantic drama WORDS AND PICTURES. (For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our website at www.neonmovies.com)
Synopsis for IDA: At last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, I saw 30+ films. This film was at the top of my list (with films like 12 YEARS A SLAVE and PHILOMENA), but it won’t stick around for too long. I hope you’ll hurry down. “From acclaimed director Pawel Pawlikowski comes IDA, a moving and intimate drama about a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland who, on the verge of taking her vows, discovers a dark family secret dating from the terrible years of the Nazi occupation. 18-year old Anna, a sheltered orphan raised in a convent, is preparing to become a nun when the Mother Superior insists she first visit her sole living relative. Naive, innocent Anna soon finds herself in the presence of her aunt Wanda, a worldly and cynical Communist Party insider, who shocks her with the declaration that her real name is Ida… In this beautifully directed film, Pawlikowski returns to his native Poland for the first time in his career to confront some of the more contentious issues in the history of his birthplace. Powerfully written and eloquently shot, IDA is a masterly evocation of a time, a dilemma, and a defining historical moment; IDA is also personal, intimate, and human. The weight of history is everywhere, but the scale falls within the scope of a young woman learning about the secrets of her own past.” (taken from Music Box Films press notes) Click on this LINK to visit the official website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXhCaVqB0x0
Synopsis for WORDS AND PICTURES: “A witty romantic drama, WORDS AND PICTURES stars the engaging duo of Juliette Binoche and Clive Owen working together on-screen for the first time. Prep school English teacher Jack Marcus laments his students’ obsession with social media and good grades rather than engaging with the power of the written word. A one-time literary star, Jack has not published in years filling his spare time with drink versus the art of language. He meets his match in Dina Delsanto – an abstract painter and new teacher on campus, who was once celebrated for her art. From the start, the two flirt and provoke each other with equal relish.” (taken from Roadside Attractions press notes) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official website.
On Tuesday, July 29 at 7:30, The Evangelical Immigration Table will host a one-time screening of the documentary THE STRANGER. “This film was produced to motivate evangelical Christians to take a stand for immigration reform. The film tells the story of three families caught in our broken immigration system. The film is a stark reminder that immigration isn’t just a political issue, and it certainly isn’t a liberal or conservative issue. It is an American issue, and it is a spiritual issue. Tickets are $5 (Now Available at THE NEON’s Box Office) and all proceeds will go to local refugees served by New Path Outreach, a ministry of Ginghamsburg Church. Watch the film. Then call your Congressman.” (taken from press notes) A panel discussion will be held after the screening.
On Thursday, July 31 at 7:30, 4 Paws For Ability will screen LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT. This tugg screening has crossed its required threshold, but more tickets are still available…with a portion of the proceeds going to the group that provides service dogs to children in need. “LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT weaves together the uplifting true stories of individuals who have overcome devastating obstacles, unselfishly given to the community, and embraced their inner superhero because of their love of Batman.” Follow this LINK to find out more about the film, watch a trailer and reserve your ticket.
On Sunday, August 3 at 1:00, SPAN Ohio will hold a one-time screening of THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE. “Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) is proud to host THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE on the 49th anniversary of our own Medicare system. THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE is a 65 minute documentary that reveals the intensity of the political struggle that led to Canada’s universal medical care system, and exposes public relations campaigns that have been prevalent in the U.S. since the early 1900’s to dissuade the American public from supporting national health care. Every day people are dying or going bankrupt due to the ills of the United States system. Who are we in the face of this human tragedy? If you agree that people are more important than profits, then you must see this film. Admission is free and open to the public.” (taken from SPAN Ohio press notes)
“On Thursday, August 14 at 7:30 Boston Stoker is proud to present A FILM ABOUT COFFEE to the Dayton Area. The film, which first premiered in Seattle at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), explores the world’s involvement and fascination with specialty coffee from crop to cup. It captures in-depth views on the current state of specialty coffee with footage from throughout the US, Africa, South America and Japan. Boston Stoker is a specialty coffee roaster and wholesaler that has operated out of Dayton, Ohio since 1973. The company has a long history with direct trade work within the coffee industry, focusing on Heart to Honduras.” (taken from Boston Stoker press notes) This screening will be an Ohio premiere! Click this LINK to find out more about the film. Click this LINK to visit Boston Stoker’s official site.
Save the Date! On Saturday, August 30 at noon, Roosevelt Class of ’67 is planning a fundraiser with a screening of BUCK AND THE PREACHER. More details will be in next week’s newsletter.
I’m delighted to announce that our opening date for BOYHOOD has been moved up! It will now open on August 1, and we can’t wait!
Thanks so much for your continued support!
We hope to see you soon!
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for Friday, July 25- Thursday, July 31:
IDA (PG-13) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:20
Thursday: 3:00, 5:15
WORDS AND PICTURES (PG-13) 1 Hr 51 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Monday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
Tuesday: 2:50, 5:10
Wednesday, Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30
THE STRANGER (NR) 45 Min + Discussion
Tuesday: 7:30
LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT (NR) 1 Hr 17 Min
Thursday: 7:30
COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Aug 1 – BOYHOOD
Aug 8 – I ORIGINS
Aug 15 – MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT
Aug 29 – LAND HO
Aug 29 – CALVARY
TBD – TRIP TO ITALY
TBD – LOVE IS STRANGE
TBD – ALIVE INSIDE
TBD – SKELETON TWINS
Hello Everyone,
We’re moving right along at THE NEON. Though we’re holding both of our current attractions (BEFORE MIDNIGHT and THE EAST), we also had room to open a new romantic comedy that I saw at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival – LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED. It’s directed by Academy Award winner Susanne Bier and stars Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm. For this week’s remaining showtimes, visit our website at www.neonmovies.com.
Several of you have been asking…and I’m excited to announce that the new adaptation of Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, directed by Joss Whedon, is slated to open next Friday!
[yframe url=’ww.youtube.com/watch?v=jk5kkLNPg8g’]
Synopsis for LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED: “Philip (Brosnan), an Englishman living in Denmark, is a lonely, middle-aged widower and estranged single father. Ida (Dyrholm) is a Danish hairdresser, recuperating from a long bout of illness, who’s just been left by her husband for a younger woman, Thilde. The fates of these two bruised souls are about to intertwine, as they embark for a trip to Italy to attend the wedding of their children. With warmth, affection and confidence, Susanne Bier has shaken a cocktail of love, loss, absurdity, humor, and delicately drawn characters that will leave only the hardest heart untouched. It is a film about the simple yet profound pains and joys of moving on – and forward – with your life.” (taken from Sony Classics) Click HERE to visit the film’s official site.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPNDqHzkhlY’]
On Saturday, July 6, THE NEON will host the premiere of Meladi McNair’s new film THE OMISSION. “Marissa tries to hide from her friends that she is in an unfortunate, yet common situation that afflicts many young adults. A violent, controlling relationship. Three flashbacks paint her birthday bash as the platform for a series of unfortunate events in which five long-time friends learn of her situation, and turn on each other… THE OMISSION, a dark, abuse awareness film debuts at 3 pm on July 6. The film was written and directed by Dayton’s own Meladi McNair; a Journalist and social-conscious author, artist and filmmaker. She is also the author of the anti-bullying book, ‘The Vexing.’ Tickets are $5 each.” (taken from press notes)
Here’s a note from American Pi, a store just a block from THE NEON: “Victory Film Group and Made in the USA Films present a 90 minute documentary that explores the rise and fall of U.S. manufacturing. Josh Miller sets out on a journey in which he attempts to live off of USA made products for 30 days. Can he do it!? During Josh’s journey he talks with locals to find out if ‘Made in the USA’ really means anything anymore. If not, what does that mean for the future of our country? Come find out when you join us on the MADE IN THE USA: THE 30 DAY JOURNEY. To obtain tickets online, visit the site. Our site says they are $10 but for a they are FREE. TICKETS MUST BE RESERVED via the website, at our location or via phone (click this LINK for the site). FREE price will reflect during checkout. We do have a VIP package so that viewers can get DVD and photos with Josh etc. and that price is $20.” Check out American Pi’s official site.
“AMU is the story of Kaju, a twenty-one-year-old Indian American woman who returns to India to visit her family and discover the place where she was born. The film takes a dark turn as Kaju stumbles against secrets and lies from her past. A horrifying genocide that took place twenty years ago turns out to hold the key to her mysterious origins.” The India Foundation will present this special screening of AMU on Saturday, July 13 at Noon. Tickets will be $5 each.
There’s another potential Gathr screening on the horizon. Once again, 50 tickets need to be reserved in order for the screening to be locked down. The movie is BACK TO 1942, and it’s an epic film set during a drought in China’s Henan province in 1942. The tentative screening is scheduled for July 17 at 7:30. Check out this LINK to watch the trailer and reserve your ticket. There’s only about a week left to reserve a ticket in order to secure the screening…and right now, it doesn’t look like it’s gonna happen. Hurry and share these details if this is a film you’d like to see!
See you soon!
All the best,
Jonathan
SHOWTIMES for Fri. June 28 – Thur. July 4:
BEFORE MIDNIGHT (R) 1 Hr 48 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:15, 5:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 5:20
THE EAST (PG-13) 1 Hr 56 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2:30, 4:00, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 7:45
LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED (PG-13) 1 Hr 57 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 7:15, 9:40
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative. Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
July 5 – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
July 12 – 20 FEET FROM STARDOM
July ? – KINGS OF SUMMER
July 26 – THE WAY WAY BACK
Aug 2 – I’M SO EXCITED!
Aug 26 – BLUE JASMINE
TBD – GINGER AND ROSA
TBD – KON TIKI
TBD – FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
TBD – IN THE HOUSE
Jules Winnifield is not a coffee connoisseur. While hiding a dead body in his friend Jimmie Dimmick’s garage in the groundbreaking 1994 Tarantino movie “Pulp Fiction”, Jules was offered a cup of coffee and was astonished at how good the quality was. “Mmmm! Goddamn, Jimmie! This is some serious gourmet s***! Usually, me and Vince would be happy with some freeze-dried Taster’s Choice right, but he springs this serious GOURMET s*** on us! What flavor is this?” Jimmie, being concerned about the contents of his garage, was not amused. “I don’t need you to tell me how good my coffee is, okay? I’m the one who buys it. I know how good it is. When Bonnie goes shopping she buys S***. I buy the gourmet expensive stuff because when I drink it I want to taste it. But you know what’s on my mind right now? It AIN’T the coffee in my kitchen.” His pressing concerns are not our pressing concerns, but one thing may have stuck out: how did he get gourmet coffee in a non-Starbucks cup? We celebrate National Gourmet Coffee Day on January 18 by exploring the evolution of the gourmet coffee scene.
Gourmet coffee in the United States is still relatively young. The first gourmet coffee store was Peet’s Coffee and Tea, started in 1966 by Alfred Peet in Berkely, Ca. He was an immigrant from the Netherlands, and was used to having good coffee available to him. European coffee was rich and crafted, with depth and flavor that Peet did not get out of American coffee. Peet’s set the table for other gourmet coffee shops in the United States. Coffee in America had been in a state of decline since the end of World War II. People had become used to an inferior brand of coffee through rationing. It carried on for a few decades until the 1970’s and the growth of Peet’s and the birth of another giant in the industry, Starbucks. These two companies began their growth as gourmet coffee roasters; it was not until the late 80’s when Howard Schultz bought the company and began to expand from Vancouver to New York.
It was the national growth of Starbucks that created a demand for espresso and other European-style coffees across the country. Gourmet coffee 
went from something only immigrants enjoyed in their own homes, and possibly some shops in local ethnic neighborhoods, to something everyone wanted. It became a very affordable luxury, and the demand was huge. The espresso machine was originally created to take the gallons of coffee that had to be brewed and reheated for each patron and turn them into individual cups of freshly made coffee. The coffee was delicately roasted and finely ground to make a delicious, dark coffee that would fit in a small cup. The espresso machine had an added benefit; not only did it make water piping hot in a rapid manner; it could also be used to make milk hot. Espresso became the base for a core group of coffee drinks: the café latte (hot milk is added to the espresso in a taller glass), café au lait (foamed or steamed milk poured over a shot of espresso in a shorter glass), the cappuccino (espresso, hot milk, and steamed foam layered on top), and the macchiato (espresso is added to warm milk, the coffee leaving a mark on the milk). The Americano was also created, which is a shot of espresso with hot water, for American soldiers that could not handle the richness of the espresso. These drinks became the base for the First Gourmet Coffee Movement. Looking closely at the menu of most gourmet coffees shops, those drinks are the base for all of the other drinks they created.
Like any good movement, people kept moving forward and discovered something else. Coffee could stand on its own in terms of flavor. It did not need to be something fancy, including multiple flavors and a long list of instructions to make. Coffee could be simple, just water and beans, possibly some cream and sugar. The information age has allowed us to really dig into where the coffee you drink comes from, down to the farmer. People have become fully invested in the whole process, from growing to roasting to brewing to tasting. Experts choose and roast the beans according to where they are from and what flavors they are looking to bring out. They are focusing more on the underlying tastes of coffee, from the berry and citrus flavors that emerge from Ethiopian coffee to chocolaty and sweet coffees from Central America. Classic brewing techniques have become more familiar, with French presses and vacuum pots coming back into vogue for their brewing qualities. Special coffees are selected to be prepared with certain dishes, similar to what you would expect from a wine tasting. Coffee shops and private individuals are conscious of the full range of flavor they can get out of the dark beverage, and the focus is now on the basics, enticing the natural essences of the beans out.
We are very lucky to have so many great coffee shops in Dayton to help us with this process. Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees has been open since the 1961, serving chocolates with their coffees (which they have been brewing for about fifteen years). Boston Stoker was soon to follow, roasting beans and offering gourmet coffee since the early 70’s. The Ohio Coffee Co. has been doing a brisk trade in the coffee business as well, keeping downtown awake since 2009. The great places to get coffee downtown continue to open and offer incredibly well crafted coffees and foods. Ghostlight Coffee, Press, and Eclipse have all opened within the last two years, adding some great environments as well as some interesting coffee options.
Check out ALL of the best coffee shops across the region in our new Dayton Dining Guide!
From its beginning in the mid sixties, gourmet coffee has explored a wide range of meaning to a wide range of people. Some people look at it from a classic standpoint, embracing the espresso and its kin as what is gourmet. Almost as a reaction to the complexity Starbucks injected into upscale coffee, there has been a movement towards just embracing coffee as it is, enjoying the roast, the bean, and the process of enjoying a fine cup. If you have a favorite coffee shop we have not mentioned, feel free to add it in the comments. And if you need anything else, just chill out, enjoy a nice cup of coffee on National Gourmet Coffee Day, and The Wolf will be coming directly. Cheers!
SMALL BITES for 12/22/2011:
When it comes to Christmas, do you procrastinate like The Food Adventures Crew?? Need some last minute gift ideas??
Your humble and favorite Dayton foodies offer up some food related suggestions to fix your problem in this edition of SMALL BITES!
Winan’s White Mint Jewels
One of our favorite items to give to friends at Christmas time is chocolate and he feels nobody does chocolate better than Winan’s Candies. There are many gift sets to choose from or you can create your own. We love the White Chocolate Wetzels, Bourbon Cherry Cordials, and the their staple….the White Mint Jewels.
Got Nuts?
For those shopping for the extremely picky……buy them some nuts! Who doesn’t like nuts? (Excluding those who are anaphalactically challenged.) We feel that nuts from Trophy Nut make an excellent Christmas gift. Purchase a prepared tin of nuts or bust your nuts and create a personalized tin. Either they will love them or “re-gift” them.
Boston Stoker’s Most Popular Coffee Flavor: Highlander Grogg
For the coffee lover on your list or someone who fancies a high quality cigar, Food Adventures recommend heading over to the closest Boston Stoker store. They offer a variety of whole bean coffees, cigars, sweets, and gift baskets from which to choose. They also have coffee makers, french presses, coffee grinders, and espresso machines with a knowledgeable and friendly staff to assist shoppers. We love the Highlander Grogg!!!!
Flavors Upon Flavors of Popcorn available
Gourmet Popcorn at its best! Located in the Washington Square shopping center in Centerville on State Route 48, this place has a variety of gifts and treats. Their popcorn comes in a multitude of flavors ranging from different cheeses, to different kinds of spices, and even chocolate covered creations! These bags or tins make perfect gifts and guess what.. they will ship them anywhere!! Oh, there is more than popcorn at this store. They also have a nice selection of fudge, buckeyes, jellybeans, shaved ice and soft pretzels. The staff is attentive and very welcoming. If you have not tasted their items, you are missing out ! Check out their website for more info.
Esther Price’s Chocolate Covered Mikesells’ Potato Chips
The Big Ragu has always thought Esther Price has the best chocolate, and he likes the variety of gifts available at their stores. From light and dark chocolates to chocolate covered potato chips, they have you covered. They even offer diabetic friendly candies for your sugar free family members and friends. You can get a great box of candy for around 15 bucks. If your special someone lives outside of the Dayton area, they can ship your order nationwide. Their candies are also conveniently located at many local grocery stores. In Ragu’s opinion, you just cant beat the taste.
Another legendary Dayton place offers great gifts for the people on your Christmas list. Food Adventures thinks the
Killer Brownie Tray
“Killer Brownies” at Dorothy Lane Market are to die for. We recommend the “original” kind, because we are old school. Another tip is that you can get a platter of brownie bites that are cut into fourths so you can stretch your dollar for more small bites. The display tray prices make it a decent option for a party or gift idea. The bakery also offers a ton of exclusive desserts, unique items and flavors that are definitely worth checking out.
We hope these ideas may help out with a last minute gift need, or give yourself a special treat and make your own personal FOOD ADVENTURE. Enjoy the photo album associated with this story, below. Click on any image to enlarge and get a true taste of Christmas!
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Downtowners just got another lunch option. The Boston Stoker on 2nd Street across from the Schuster Center will be test-marketing a limited lunch option. You’ll be able to choose a mesquite turkey sandwich, a deluxe ham sandwich, and a veggie sandwich with hummus, sprouts and spinach. Prices will be $6.95 for a half sandwich box lunch to $7.95 for a whole sandwich box lunch, which comes with a side of fruit or a bag of chips. Company officials have had success with this program at their airport location and may expand this program to other existing stores in the future.
Local metal sculptor, Hamilton Dixon, recently unveiled his latest public railing installation in the new Boston Stoker Coffee shop, located in the lobby of the Dayton International Airport.
Dixon, creator of the Dayton Art Institute railing, explored a new dimension with this railing fabrication, producing an outcome that is both fluid and multi-dimensional. The railing itself runs 30 feet in length, and it swoops and bows at a variety of heights and depths, complete with hand-forged interior components that seem to reflect an “Earth meets Sky” theme.
According to Dixon, the inspiration for this design came primarily from Don Dean of Boston Stoker, who makes a point of celebrating the local artists community. “I appreciate the opportunity that Boston Stoker has given me to have my work seen by so many people arriving to and departing from the Dayton airport, “ said Dixon.
The forging process used by Dixon is similar to that of an old-world blacksmith. He begins his process with sticks of mild steel bar, either squared or round, then places them in a forge until they are red-hot. He then manually removes the heated stick, and with hammer and anvil, hand-forges the steel into its intended shape. Each and every element of this one-of-a-kind railing was hand-forged by the artist.
Dixon has been sculpting steel as an art form for 20 years. He began working with metal as a welder on an offshore oilrig in the 1980’s. He then attended Turley Forge School in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he learned basic techniques in forging steel, and in 1991 he relocated to Dayton, were he lives with his family in the historic South Park neighborhood.
He has produced a wide range of public art, installed throughout the Miami Valley; Dayton Art Institute Rotunda, Serenity Pines (University of Dayton), Aids Resource Center Kuntz Building, Cooper Loft Lobby, Kettering Delco Park, as well as private installations around Dayton and throughout the U.S. For additional information about the artist and his other installations in the Dayton area, go to www.hamiltondixon.com.
To celebrate this most recent installation, Dixon has produced a line of limited edition, commemorative bracelet, which is currently on display at the Airport Boston Stoker. Bracelet is made of pure, solid, sterling silver,
hand-hammered by artist himself, numbered and signed for $180. Purchase inquiries can be made by calling the artists’s studio 228-3555.
The railing at the Dayton International Airport is a permanent installation and can be seen anytime, preferably with a hot latte in hand.
Elizabeth Wiley, WILEY, as she is known to everyone, grew up in Kansas and has been cooking professionally since 1979. She arrived, fresh from college, on the doorstep of The Winds in Yellow Springs, bursting to cook and asking for a job in 1980. She worked her way up to kitchen manager, and became a partner in 1994. Along the way she left several times to cook and to gain knowledge in all aspects of the restaurant business, with stints in Chicago, San Francisco and Key West. She always returned to the Dayton area, where she regards the quality of life offered as one of the best kept secrets in the Midwest. In 2004, Wiley left The Winds to open a small, neighborhood restaurant, The Meadowlark, just east of the Dayton Mall, Midwestern in nature and domestic in style. To Wiley, this means that when you walk in the door it smells like someone’s cooking and you get a big hello. Her goal is for people to feel at home with simple, delicious food and friendly service.
Wiley was brave enough to be our first Chef to be featured in this new
feature 10?’s. Hope you’ll enjoy her answers as much as I did:
What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?
Wiley: chickpeas, chiles, tomatoes, shrimp, mushrooms, spinach, I could go on and on but can’t pick just one!
What ingredient do you dread?
Wiley: Flour—it intimidates me
What’s your favorite dish to make?
Wiley: Braised pork belly with fresh shell beans
What’s your favorite pig out food?
Wiley: Homemade tortilla chips
What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?
Wiley: The Winds, Taqueria Mixteca, The Emporium for breakfast in Yellow Springs, Rue Dumaine, especially Friday lunch which I never get to go to.
What’s your best advice for home chefs?
Wiley: Don’t over-complicate things
If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?
Wiley: Steve Martin – so smart and funny
Calvin Mayne – no man is more gracious (except his father), or more passionate about food
Renee Montagne – host of NPR’s Morning Edition, for all the stories she must have
Barbra Streisand – I fell in love with her at age 12 and she still captivates me
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Wiley: Joyce Goldstein – chef and food scholar, cookbook writer
Rick Bayless – amazing chef with amazing energy, great businessman, I was priviledged to work for him in the 1990s
Danny Meyer – incredibly successful Restaurateur in New York City
What do you do in the Dayton region on a day off?
Wiley: Coffee at Boston Stoker and read food magazines, Lunch at China Cottage or Smokin’ , followed by a matinee at the Neon Movies and a trip to DLM on my way home to make dinner.
Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:
Wiley: Last summer I went to New York City for the first time in over 20 years. I made a lunch reservation before I left on Open Table for a table for one at Union Square Café. This is one of my hero restaurants and I have their cookbooks, look at their menu on line all the time, etc. but had never been there. In the comment section of the webpage I made the reservation on, I mentioned that I had a small restaurant in Dayton and was excited about finally visiting USC for the first time.
So I go to New York and I arrive at the restaurant at the appointed time. The general manager greets me by name at the door and introduces herself. She brings me to a table much larger than any other that singles are seated at, one that commands a front and center view of the entire restaurant. Propped against the salt and pepper shakers is an envelope with my name on it. I open it and it’s a personal, handwritten note from Danny Meyer, the owner of the restaurant (and 6 more restaurants in NYC) thanking me for making Union Square Cafe one of my culinary destinations on my trip to New York. I am blown away. I realize it is Wed., the day the dining section in the NY Times comes out, and I ask if there is a paper I can read. There isn’t, so they send out for one. I have a real moment sitting in this incredible restaurant, reading my beloved NYTimes dining section IN NEW YORK. Wow. I order two items from the menu and get five. They keep bringing me things! Like fresh corn and rabbit ravioli, cranberry bean soup with basil and shrimp, super-crispy chicken with green beans and mustard sauce, and it is all so good. Members of the staff keep stopping by to say hello. One woman tells me her son’s girlfriend is from Dayton. I had such an amazing time being the recipient of this extraordinary hospitality. Of course I went back for dinner and sat at the bar and it was so crowded and energetic and convivial—a truly great restaurant experience, and so inspiring for a chef/owner.
Is there a chef you’d like to know more about? Drop us an email
and we’ll see what we can do!
