Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
Join us for an evening of music!
The first half will be an open mic, and all musical styles are welcome. Originals encouraged! Come bring a song or two to share! For the second half, we’ll have a special performance by local artist Luke Hummel! If you haven’t seen Luke play before, you’re in for a treat!
Whether you plan to perform, listen, or just come out to support local musicians, we look forward to seeing you there!
*FREE ENTRY
Join us for an evening of poetry!
The first half will be an open mic and all styles are welcome! For the second half, Cincinnati poet, Anna Barnes, will be sharing a selection of original poems from her new book “Out of Ink and Ideas“!
Whether you plan to read, listen, or just come out to support local artists, we look forward to seeing you there!
*FREE ENTRY
Discover the timeless craft of basketweaving in this hands-on introductory class led by members of the Heritage Basketry Guild. Whether you’re a total beginner or just curious to try something new, you’ll learn the basics of weaving and create your own small basket to take home.
Your $20 ticket includes:
Spots are limited, so reserve yours today and come get crafty with us!
Join us for a creative two-day workshop where you’ll learn the art of wire wrapping while crafting a charming wire-wrapped succulent. Led by local artists Jenn & Shanon Queen of Queens Keypsakes, this hands-on class will guide you through shaping, twisting, and designing your own unique botanical-inspired sculpture.
Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to explore a new medium, this workshop is designed to be both relaxing and creatively energizing. Each session builds on the last, giving you the time and space to develop your piece while enjoying a drink from our menu.
What’s Included:
Entry to both workshop sessions
Expert instruction by Jenn & Shanon Queen
All materials to create your wire-wrapped succulent
A complimentary drink each night
Dates: July 11 & 18
Time: 6–8 PM
Cost: $65 per person
Location: Blue Sky Coffee
Spots are limited—reserve yours today and bring your creativity to life!
Join us for an evening of poetry!
The first half will be an open mic and all styles are welcome! For the second half, Dayton poet, Polly Lawson, will be sharing a selection of original poems!
Whether you plan to read, listen, or just come out to support local artists, we look forward to seeing you there!
*FREE ENTRY
The 2025 Oakwood Farmers’ Market will be held Saturdays, June 7th thru October 11th, from 9 am until 12pm.
The Oakwood Farmers’ Market was founded in 2013 by a group of Oakwood residents who wanted to bring local farmers, gourmet food vendors, and artisans to the heart of Oakwood’s business district.
It is the mission of the Oakwood Farmers’ Market to create an educational, entertaining, and inclusive market for the residents of Oakwood and surrounding Dayton communities to gather and support local businesses.
The market is located on Orchard Drive and the adjacent public lot (off Far Hills Avenue) immediately behind the Oakwood Retail Center.
Join us from 6-8pm on March 18th as we embrace the first blooms of Spring!
Spend an evening creating your own handcrafted bouquet and sipping our new seasonal menu before it goes public. We can’t imagine a better way to let Spring blossom than by enjoying nature’s best nectar: coffee! We hope you’ll join us!
Tickets are $20 and include:
Grounds For Hounds, presented by Planned2Give, is a self-guided coffee tour that highlights shops throughout the Dayton region. Buy a coupon book for $25 and you’ll receive a cup of coffee (up to a $5 value) at each of the 10 coffee shops in the month of January 2025. You can buy your book online and it will be mailed to you or you can stop by SICSA (8172 Washington Church Rd.) to purchase a coupon book or they will also be available at Wright Dunbar Cigars located at 1153 West 3rd Street in Dayton.
Participating Coffee Shops:
Planned2Give co-founder Lisa Grigsby says, “we love this opportunity to promote support local independent coffee shops and be able to donate to SICSA as well. They are such a great community resource for our animals. We encourage all caffeine lovers to grab a coupon book and visit all of these shops in the month of January.”
Grounds For Hounds will benefit SICSA in 2025.
Planned2Give is grateful to our print sponsor Pet Butler. 
It’s opening day for the Third Perk Express at the Mall at Fairfield Common. Third Perk Express is a sister cafe of Third Perk Coffeehouse which opened its doors in downtown Dayton in 2015. The cafe quickly became a Dayton favorite for meetings, grabbing premium coffee and a delicious chicken salad sandwich. Third Perk has become known as the ‘People’s Coffeehouse’. This title was earned because Third Perk is a space where everyone is welcomed and valued. The first Third Per Express was opened inside the Gem City Market on Salem Ave.
Third Perk Express signed a lease to enter the mall in 2021. Many challenges delayed progress on the project. Owner Juanita- Michelle makes a promise to PERK UP the mall! Third Perk Express is the only coffee specialty company within the mall. Third Perk will offer many drink options to customers. Beside coffee drinks you can also get smoothies, fruit, oatmeal, bagels and muffins.
Customers will have options in placing orders. Customers can visit the cafe which is on the second floor of the mall in the food court, located between Auntie Annie’s Pretzels and Chick-A-Fila. Customers can also place orders online at www.thirdperk.com. You will also be able to get delivery using Door Dash.
2727 Fairfield Commons Blvd.
Beavercreek, Ohio 45431
(Located between Chick-fil-A and Auntie Anne’s)
Phone: (937) 287-3222
HOURS:
Monday – Saturday 9 AM – 8 PM
Sunday 11 AM – 6 PM
Love coffee, but it doesn’t love you? Fear not, Savorista & its line of caffeine-conscious coffees are here!
Founder Kait Brown was working a high-stress job in Chicago when her father was diagnosed with cancer. She switched to decaf when she realized her coffee consumption was making it even harder to sleep and deal with the stress.
But she discovered that her decaf options sucked, she recalled with a laugh. So she and her husband set off around the globe to find and bring home the best decaf coffee.
Kait pitched Savorista at our August 2019 edition of Early Risers.
“Most decaf is bad because it starts with lower quality beans that are chemically decaffeinated,” she said.
Kait & Daniel visited coffee producers and decaffeination centers in South America & East Africa. They tried hundreds of cups of coffee to find better beans & processes.
Savorista currently offers four caffeine-conscious decaf coffees online. The coffee begins with high-quality beans that are naturally decaffeinated using a water process, then roasted to order in small batches. Wait plans to also offer a low-caffeine coffee later this fall.
“We’re looking to shift the way people think about low-caffeine & decaf coffees,” she said. “It’s a valuable addition to your day, especially in the afternoon or evening with a great pastry. It’s not a punishment for being caffeine-sensitive.”
In the U.S. there are 30M people who drink decaf coffee at least once a week, representing a $1B market, Kait shared. And there are another 80M who drink coffee every day, but are interested in limiting their caffeine intake, representing an addition $2.7B market, she added.
Savorista is aiming to be the household name in decaf coffee. So far, they have shipped product to 37 states and 3 countries. Support Kait by trying a cup of Savorista coffee & telling a friend!
The first 50 customers will receive a special BIGGBY Prize!
Jackie from Food Adventures tours the New State of the Art Dunkin, Donuts
You may have noticed a significant increase in new Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants opening up around the Dayton area over the past few years. Dayton is definitely “runnin’ on Dunkin’.” Most recently there has been a lot of buzz about a new location at 5901 Far Hills Ave. The Food Adventures Crew had the opportunity to get an exclusive tour (and tasting!) of what’s being referred to as the first “Next Generation Dunkin’” in our area! We sent our lovable in-house blogger to tackle the assignment which is near and dear to her heart. Take it away HUNGRY JAX !!
Ok, I hear some of you getting ready to post about chain restaurants vs. local. We live in a delicious city full of locally owned coffee and donut shops that leave us with so many choices for good old fashioned homemade deliciousness. And it’s no secret that I support the donut industry in our area. But the awesome thing about this region is that there is room for all! Some of you may recall that I am a transplant from Upstate NY. We travel back and forth to see family frequently. One thing I love about Dunkin’ is that no matter where you go, you can count on the same products and quality to be offered. Dunkin’ is one of our trusted pit stops when embarking on a family road trip! I like to compare it to Catholic Mass, no matter where you go, you’ll know what to expect!
The newest Dunkin’ Donuts is locally franchised by the Gilligan Company. Patrick Gilligan left a career with BP oil back in 1993 to start his own
Donuts Up Front
business with the goal of franchising different gas stations and restaurants. Based in Columbus, the Gilligan Company has grown its’ business from Columbus to Cincinnati employing over 900 people. They uphold a commitment to their employees as well as the communities that they serve. Most recently, the local Dunkins’ franchised by Gilligan raised $5,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital. Just one of many ways this company has wanted to give back to the community!
Ok, but enough about people and places. Let’s move onto what this new Dunkin’ Donuts experience offers!
HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE NEXT GENERATION of DUNKIN’ DONUTS:
—Immediately upon entering, you’ll notice that they changed the layout. The donut cases, which used to be behind the counter, are now up front so that you can get and up close and personal inspection of which frosted delight you’ll be taking home! The aesthetics of the building is also more modern, keeping the look fresh and new.
State of the Art Coffee Machines grind the beans
—They have also increased being more energy-efficient. The company has designed these new stores to be 25% more energy-efficient. In addition, they have also switched over to a double-layered paper cup. Now you will have the same cup for both coffee and specialty hot drinks, where as before, there were the old Styrofoam cups and the brown paper cups. This change allows for staff to be more efficient when making drinks (no searching for specific cups or lids) as well as eliminating the need for a sleeve a the cups will keep your liquids hot but your hands comfortable!
—Dunkin’ has also embraced the necessity of smart phones. If you download the Dunkin’ App, you will be able to place mobile orders. A nice feature on this is that you can load your order earlier in the day, and the when ready to pick it up, you can click “prepare my order” and it will be fresh and ready with minutes of your arrival! Yet another bonus for those of us with kids or not wanting to take a long pit stop on a road trip. What’s even better is that you also have the option to either pick up in the store OR in the drive thru! The newer Dunkin’s have a lane specifically for mobile order pick-ups!
Maple Bacon Chipotle Croissant
—Ok so what changes have there been to the food? Lots! There are always specials running for new products as well as the classic goods. I got to try some of the new sandwiches offered!
Here is a run down of my MUST EATS for DUNKIN DONUTS:
Power Breakfast Sandwich
MUST DRINKS — COFFEE!!!! For Jackie, Dunkin’ is really all about the coffee….
Dunkin Donuts has high expectations for their coffee! With these new stores, your beverage will be treated with TLC from start to finish! For their original, dark and decaf coffee, they are now being brewed in what is called a “Soft heat” process. No longer will you coffee sit on top of a heating element in a glass carafe. The old process would leave coffee tasting burnt. This newer process gently heats the coffee within the thermos. There is also an indicator light letting staff know when it’s time to brew a fresh pot to ensure that you’re always getting a quality cup!
The newest drive thru includes a mobile lane
For those of you that appreciate a specialty coffee drink, you’ll be pleased to see that the beans will be freshly ground and each drink made fresh to your order! Additionally, if you like a chilled beverage, the “Premium Pours” cold beverage station is up and running. Here you can get iced coffee, cold brew, and iced tea all “on tap”! In addition, you can try the new NITRO Cold Brew Coffee! This is a fantastic upgrade to the traditional cold brew process as they infuse the drinks with nitrogen, creating a light tasking drink that’s refreshing and will keep you running! A cool thing about this process is that there are not nitrogen tanks. Instead the system pulls the nitrogen from the air!
Once again, the new location on Far Hills is the only “Next Generation Dunkin’” in our area! But keep an eye out as the existing stores will transition eventually bringing the tasty and innovative changes across the area. So swing on over, taste some new and old goodies, and let us know what you think!
Are you a Dayton Foodie? Then tune in each week for a feature article from the Food Adventures Crew. We are a blog that will leave no plate unturned. Follow Food Adventures on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE.
Bacon Maple Croissant Sandwich
Pumpkin Spice Season
Cold Coffee Specialties on Tap
Chocolate with Sprinkles
It’s a Jelly
Nuts about Dunkin.
Glazed Goodness
Kids runnin’ on Dunkin
Chocolate Glazed
Bagel and Cream Cheese with coffee
Stack em up
These taps will pep you up
So mobile nowadays
State of the Art Equipment
Tme savers
Newest Heating and Cooling techniques
Daytons First and only new generation store is in Washington Township near 48 and Whipp Rd.
Jz Says it is all about the coffee
shots!
Bagels
Wrap up
chocolate glazed
It is all about the coffee at Dunkin for us
Whole Lotta Love
SPRINKLES ! The Dunkin Donuts Mascot follows Food Adventures.
Geez Louise .. Look at that delicious cross section
Boston Kreme Donut
Jackie tests Sprinkles icing …
We all take coffee for granted as just part of the daily routine. Wake up, brew or buy a cup of coffee, then get to doing something productive with your day. Before it was grown, roasted, boiled, and consumed, first it had to be discovered. The story is that a shepherd in Mocha saw his flock frolicking about after eating berries from a certain shrub. He took the berries, then to make them palatable roasted them then boiled them. He found the drink gave him vast amounts of energy, and the technology spread through the Middle East and Africa. It had to fight various bans for its mind altering effects, as scholars debated on whether or not it counted as being intoxicated when you were hopped up on caffeine. It passed the test with Muslim imams and eventually the Catholic church. According to the story, Pope Clement VIII was charged by his followers with banning the drink of the Muslims. He tasted it before the ban and chose to allow the drink to spread, stating it should be baptized as Catholic to get it from Muslim hands. This is all around 1600.
Coffee has always warmed us up and given a little jolt of energy. It also encourages conversation and the spreading of ideas. From the coffee houses of Shakespeare’s time to Starbucks, people who were looking to connect with others came together under one roof. The chef at an airport bar in Ireland concocted the drink for passengers coming off a plane looking cold and miserable. He offered hem some coffee with a little shot of Irish Whiskey in it. The passengers loved it, and it became a menu item on at the bar in question. One of the travelers that eventually enjoyed the cocktail was Stanton Delaplane, who brought the drink to San Francisco with him and championed it to the city. It was first served at the Buena Vista Cafe in 1952, and embraced by the city. It has been served there, and anywhere else that had coffee and Irish whiskey, ever since.
This is the critical ingredient: Irish whiskey
1.5 oz./ 45 mL Irish whiskey
2 tsp. brown sugar
4-6 oz./ 120 – 180 mL hot coffee
Glass: Irish Whiskey
Garnish: Whipped cream
Ice: None
Prepare the glass by warming it with hot water. Empty the glass when warmed, then add the coffee and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then add the Irish whiskey. Stir again. Evenly spread the whipped cream over the top of the coffee and serve.
I love this drink. It is delightful any time, day or night. It is just warm and inviting, the bite and sweetness of the whiskey just peeking through the coffee flavor. You may be tempted to stir the whip cream in, but don’t. The layer of cream on top gives you a little with each sip, and acts as a delicious insulator for the coffee. If you are looking for some caffeine to add to your liquor, I suggest this over vodka and Red Bull any day. And you get whipped cream!
This is day 27 of a series, #100DaysOfCocktails, being done by Smart Guy In A Tie Cocktails. You can follow along daily on my Instagram page on Facebook, and on Twitter.
There are many legendary accounts of how coffee first came to be, but the earliest credible evidence of either coffee drinking or the knowledge of the coffee tree appears in the middle of the 15th century in the Sufi monasteries around Mokha in Yemen. It was here coffee seeds were first roasted and brewed, much like they are prepared today. Yemeni traders brought coffee back to their homeland from Ethiopia and began to cultivate the seed.
In 1670, coffee seeds were smuggled out of the Middle East by Baba Budan, as he strapped seven coffee seeds onto his chest. The first plants grown from these smuggled seeds were planted in Mysore. It was then that coffee spread to Italy, to the rest of Europe, to Indonesia and the Americas.
Brazil produces more coffee in the world than any other country followed by Colombia. More than 50 countries around the world grow coffee, providing a delicious variety for the indulgence of steamy cups of the black drink for connoisseurs to consume.
If caffeine is the music in your ears, the spring in your step, the very blood in your veins, well, tomorrow is your big day: National Coffee Day is Sept. 29. To help you celebrate we’ve compiled a list of coffee discounts and deals around town:
Boston Stoker: We decided to celebrate by giving back to our customers! For one day only we’ll have all beverages marked down by $1. Stop in and help celebrate this holiday with us!
Dairy Queen: From 2 to 5pm Sept. 29, participating Dairy Queen locations will have $1 small flavored ice coffees and $2 Ultimate Frappes
Dorothy Lane Market: Get any size of drip coffee for just $1 at the DLM Coffee Bar this Thursday!
Dunkin’ Donuts: Celebrating not only National Coffee Day, but also its 66th year of being in business by offering guests a medium-sized cup of hot coffee for just 66 cents.
Love’s Travel Stops – $1 of every 24 oz. Coffee or Cappuccino Sold at Love’s Locations Nationwide will go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in that community for Coffee Day 9/29
McDonald’s: $1 for any size coffee 
Smoothie King: BOGO deal on all Coffee High Protein Smoothie flavors. Buy a Coffee High Protein Smoothie (any size) and receive a free 20 oz. smoothie.
Starbucks: Starbucks will donate a coffee tree for every brewed cup of México Chiapas coffee customers buy on Sept. 29
The folks at Winans Chocolates + Coffee have declared Wed to be FREE frappe day. We don’t know why, and quite frankly we didn’t ask- all we know is Wed, June 22nd is going to be a good day when you stop in anytime, and receive a free SMALL ICED, OR BLENDED beverage!
Offer valid at any of these Dayton Area Winans:
Miller Lane
6735 Miller Lane
Dayton, Oh 45414
Dayton Mall
2806 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd
Dayton, OH 45359
Dayton – The Greene Town Center
45 Plum Street
Beavercreek, Ohio 45440
Beavercreek
3510 Pentagon Blvd
Beavercreek, OH 45431
Maineville
49 E US 3-22
Maineville, OH 45039
Far Hills Avenue
5839 Far Hills Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45439
As Valentine’s Day nears, Starbucks invites customers to get together with loved ones and friends to try three new chocolate beverages. The recipe developers behind the new trio of drinks explained that they were trying to evoke a celebration of love. And when they were first trying to come up with a Valentine’s Day flavor they asked themselves, “What would coffee be in love with?” The obvious answer was chocolate. So the beverages are actually all about the special relationship between coffee and chocolate, which we can celebrate regardless of our relationship status. You won’t find these on the menu, but love letters have been flying around social media about these new frappuccinos. Participating Starbucks® stores in the U.S. and Canada will offer the trio of Starbucks Molten Chocolate beverages through February 14th only!
Molten Chocolate Latte: Chocolatey chips are melted into espresso, then topped with steamed milk combined with bittersweet mocha sauce. This latte is finished with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and an espresso mocha drizzle. It’s available hot and iced.
Molten Chocolate Frappuccino® Blended Beverage: Coffee with rich mocha sauce and chocolatey chips blended with milk and ice. This beverage is finished with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and an espresso mocha drizzle.
Molten Hot Chocolate: Bittersweet mocha sauce and chocolatey chips melted into steamed milk for a smooth and creamy taste. Mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and espresso mocha drizzle tops off the beverage.
The chain, which has recently teamed up with Spotify, has also curated a Valentine’s Day playlist on the music streaming platform.
