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Community Blood Center

Jane’s Best Bets (11/24 – 11/28)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

As it is Thanksgiving week, I want to take a minute to say how very thankful I am to all of you for reading Jane’s Best Bets!  And thank you to DaytonMostMetro.com for giving me the opportunity to write on a topic I am so passionate about!  Here’s to another great week in Dayton!

On Wednesday, consider getting a FREE t-shirt by donating blood at the You’re The Ticket To Saving a Life at Community Blood Center! Don’t worry…you’ll be eating plenty of food tomorrow, so I’m guessing your blood supply will be okay.  At PNC 2nd Street Market, do your last minute Thanksgiving shopping as part of their Stock-Up Wednesday event.  And in the evening, be sure to catch the UD Flyers’ next win as they play Florida A&M at the UD Arena.  And if you want to get in the spirit of Thanksgiving and have a good laugh, check out the Thanksgiving Eve Show at Wiley’s.

On Thursday, with it being the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m going to keep it brief.  Consider participating in the The 32nd Annual Turkey Trot in downtown Miamisburg to counteract all the delicious food you’ll be eating later in the day.  And from what I’ve been told, you DON’T have to be a runner…walking is perfectly acceptable!  Over at the Dayton Convention Center, attend Thanksgiving in Dayton ‘A Feast of Giving’, in which several sponsors are helping to continue the Beerman family Thanksgiving dinner tradition.  Regardless of where you go, have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and eat some turkey for me!  Gobble Gobble!

On Black Friday, set your alarm clock early so you can catch some of those fabulous deals.  Just be sure I don’t see you on the news later because you got into a fight over a super deal on the Emerson 32” LCD HDTV they’re selling at Wal-Mart! If you’re not up for fighting the crazy crowds, there are many other ways to officially kick off the Christmas season on Friday so let me fill you in one little secret…Downtown is THE place to be!  If you want to burn off some of those calories from all that turkey you ate the day before, head to the MetroParks Ice Rink Grand Opening Weekend at Riverscape.  Visit Santa and allow your kids to do a little shopping of their own at The Tike’s Shop, as well as see the Wonderland Windows (the old Rike’s holiday displays) at the Schuster Center.  Check out some amazing gingerbread houses as part of the Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest at the Old Courthouse.  Over at Kettering Tower (which is actually in downtown, not Kettering!), bring the kids to the Holiday Village, which will include festive crafts and games.  Also for the kids, The Junior League of Dayton will be sponsoring their 2010 Holiday Hunt.  In addition to all these great events, there will also be a Street Fair on Third with free carnival rides, a McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour, and a Sounds of the Season concert at Fifth Third Center, where Culture Works brings together several local choirs for a free holiday concert!  And finally while you’re downtown, you won’t want to miss the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights (Dayton Holiday Festival) at Courthouse Square.  Oh…and if your legs are exhausted from doing all that shopping early in the morning, take one of the Horse-drawn Wagon Rides to get from location to location!  Or if you want to kick your feet back and enjoy a show where others are doing all the legwork, head to the Schuster Center to see Cirque Dreams – Holidaze, which is a holiday musical with an international cast of acrobats, aerialists, singers, dancers, and musicians!  Whew, I’m exhausted!  If you don’t remember everything I said about Friday, don’t worry – just remember the word “downtown” and the rest will take care of itself!

On Saturday, head back downtown for one of the many things you may have missed, since after all, how could you possibly fit it all in on one day?!?!  There will be The Tike’s Shop, Wonderland Windows, and Cirque Dreams – Holidaze at the Schuster Center; Carriage Rides and ice skating as part of MetroParks Ice Rink Grand Opening Weekend at Riverscape; the Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display at Kettering Tower; and the McPherson Town Holiday Home Tour.  Also, check out the PNC 2nd Street Market and bring a non-perishable item or two to donate to the Foodbank as part of the Food for Friends event.  At Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, they will have a Holiday Art Fair and Open House.  If you are looking for a Christmas tree, head out to Choose & Cut Christmas Trees at Young’s Jersey Dairy.  Bring your dancing moves to the Dayton Mall and participate in Dance Along Nutcracker…all are welcome!  And finally in the evening, support the AIDS Resource Center by watching The Rubi Girls present ‘The Show Must Go On’ at Club Masque.

On Sunday, to be perfectly honest, I’m probably going to need to rest due to all the hustle and bustle from the previous days!  But if you’re game, there will still be many events going on strong in the wonderful Dayton region!  Have “Some-Fun” at the Schuster Center with crafts, entertainment, and more.  While there, be sure to check out Wonderland Windows and The Tike’s Shop if you didn’t get a chance to see them earlier in the weekend.  Or, check out the Cirque Dreams – Holidaze show.  If you’re no Peggy Fleming, attend Fundamentals of Skating at Riverscape.  And finally, if you’re a beer lover, attend the Tapping Dogfish Head Burton Baton at Chappy’s.

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

Why did the police arrest the turkey?

They suspected it of fowl play.

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!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/29 – 10/3)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It was great seeing so many of you at Oktoberfest at the Dayton Art Institute this weekend!  Although Dayton’s Oktoberfest is officially over for the year, October is just beginning this week.  You’re probably thinking, “How in the world could this happen?”  I did too.  However, when I asked my buddy Jeeves, he told me that in another part of the world, Munich, Oktoberfest actually starts in September and ends in October.  Having this mystery solved, hopefully we can all sleep well tonight.  But before hitting the hay, let’s check out our options as Oktober…I mean October…begins.

On Wednesday, head on over to the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet for the SO Percussion: Workshop & Jam Session.  There are opportunities for audience participation, so if you have always dreamed of playing the triangle, here is your opportunity.  Are you a high school student?  If so, I’m surprised you’re reading this.  If not, do you know a high school student?  If you answered yes, encourage him/her to check out the College Prep Night presented by Fifth Third Bank at Fifth-Third Field.  Plus, there is an opportunity for those who RSVP in advance to win a $1,000 scholarship!  If you love flowers, consider going to Going Green in Dayton at GalleryBlue Man Group St. John, where you will have the opportunity to look at photos, sketches, and paintings by local artists of over 120 wild flowers in Dayton environments.  And finally on Wednesday, if you’re looking for something that is unique and fun, check out the Blue Man Group as they perform at the Schuster Center.  Although they describe themselves as blue, I have heard they are actually mauve…“mauvelous” that is!

On Thursday, Give the Best Pint in Town at the Community Blood Center! if you didn’t have the opportunity to do so last week.  While you’re there, get your very own, super cool Octoberfest t-shirt!  If you are looking for pointers on how to write grants (i.e. how to get free money!), check out the Southwest Ohio American Association of Grant Professionals Regional Conference at Atrium Medical Center.  If you grew up always wanting to be a princess, head on over to the Nutter Center for Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics.  Also, Tinker Bell (a.k.a. the “hottest fairy of them all”, according to a five-year old boy I know) will make an appearance.

On Friday, if fashion is your thing, check out the BRAVO! Fashion Show and Champagne Brunchat the Sinclair Ponitz Center to benefit the Dayton Opera.  If you’re feeling like a Friday after-work happy hour is in order, consider heading to Arrow Wine’s Centerville location for their 13th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration…which betcha by golly wow is actually in October!  On Friday night, downtown is definitely the place to be.  Head over to The Neon for a sneak preview of the award-winning documentary, The Elephant in the Living Room.  Or, before the weather gets too cold, get that bike out and join the Courteous Mass October Ride.  If you enjoy the outdoors, then you will definitely want to check out GearFest at Eastwood MetroPark.  This outdoor festival will feature athlete demonstrations, competitions, camping, the latest products/gear, and music!  Also, while downtown, check out First Friday, which will feature a variety of entertainment options, from live music to art galleries to bonfires!  (For more info on First Friday, click here.)   Or, head on over to the Firefly Building’s amazing rooftop for Pecha Kucha Dayton Vol. 5, which will involve snacks, drinks, social networking, and idea sharing with eight creative presenters.  And if you don’t mind the drive and would like to experience Oktoberfest again, head up to Minster for their version.  Although I’ve never been, I’ve heard that Minster’s Oktoberfest is famous for serving beer in half-gallon plastic jugs!

On Saturday, get off that couch and check out the 33rd Annual Spring Valley Potato Festival.  If you enjoy learning about other cultures, head over to Middletown for Middfest International 2010 Celebration of Botswana.  All you music fans will want to experience the Dayton Music Fest, which will feature numerous bands playing at several different Dayton venues.  If you want to be one of the first ones to get a pumpkin, head to Young’s Dairy for the 34th Annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival.

Also on Saturday…All you motorcycle lovers better rev up your engines and speed over to Thomas Cloud Park for the Pink And Chrome – Ride for the Cure for Susan G. Komen for the Cure! And in the evening, even though the “official” fish fry season hasn’t yet started, check out the Fenwick High School Fish Fry, Monte Carlo, & Silent Auction night…where all proceeds raised will support student athletes at my alma mater!  Also, Minster Oktoberfest, The Elephant in the Living Room – Movie, and GearFest will all still be strong options!

On Sunday, check out the 2010 Harvest Fest at Garden Station Community Garden and Art Park.  Or, head to one of the many events you may have missed this week/weekend:  the 33rd Annual Spring Valley Potato Festival, the 34th Annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival, Minster Oktoberfest, Blue Man Group, The Elephant in the Living Room – Movie, or Midfest International Celebrates Botswana.  It’s truly going to be a “mauvelous” week in Dayton!

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

What would you get if you crossed two fish with two elephants?
A pair of swimming trunks.

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!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/22 – 9/26)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Wow, it’s hard to believe that it is officially autumn!  And in Dayton, do you know what “falls” in autumn?  If your answer is leaves, sorry, you only get partial credit.  Although leaves do fall in the autumn, there are also many fun festivals and events that fall during this time of the year!  So let’s not waste anytime in checking out our options for the first week of fall!

On Wednesday, head to the Community Blood Center to Give the Best Pint in Town, as blood donations are vital to the health of our community.  Whether you’re a pessimist or optimist, it really doesn’t matter.  You can “B Negative” or “B Positive”, as the Community Blood Center is accepting of all types!  Plus, you get a cool Octoberfest shirt for donating, which will be just in time for Oktoberfest going on at the Dayton Art Institute this weekend!  Speaking of blood/health issues… are you tired of hearing biased opinions when it comes to our nation’s health care bill?  If so, join HYPE (Helping Young Professinals Emerge) and the Troy, Tipp City, Covington, and Piqua Areas Chamber of Commerce for the presentation, Demystifying the Nation’s Health Care Bill, which will discuss an un-biased, non-partisan view on this important issue.  In case anyone is wondering, I am by no means a politician (my friends tell me I’m too honest), nor do I have any political agenda.  Also on Wednesday…if you enjoy outdoor activities and would like to volunteer at GearFest this year, make sure you attend the GearFest Volunteer Orientation.  Or, if you had a rough day, perhaps you need a glass of wine, so check out the Pina Winery in Napa Valley Tasting at the Wine Gallery downtown.

On Thursday, put away your iPod for the day and tune into Mix 107.7 for their Radiothon for RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities).   The event is happening all day (6:00AM-7:00PM), so even if your boss doesn’t let you listen to music at work and you work the standard 9-5 job, you still have 5 hours to be listening!   You will also be able to make donations online and at some McDonald’s locations.  Also Thursday…if you enjoy the theater scene, there are several plays from which to choose:  Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. at Town Hall Theatre, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at La Comedia (dinner and a show), and August: Osage County at Wright State’s Festival Playhouse, which is about an Okalahoma family.  I’m not sure why they didn’t just call it Oklahoma.

On Friday, if you don’t already have lunch plans and enjoy networking with other area young professionals, head on over to Murray’s Place for Generation Dayton’s ‘4th Friday Lunch’.  If you are a UD grad like me and are itching for an excuse to make it back on campus, check out the ArtBeat Festival of the Arts, which will feature local and student performing groups, as well as food and art vendors.  In downtown Tipp City, check out the Tipp City Mum Festival.  Although the theme of this year’s festival is Law Enforcement, “Mum’s the Word!  You Have the Right to Remain Silent”, you can see I’m not good at keeping mum about it…I just hope I don’t get in trouble for mentioning it here.  If you’ve decided to spend Friday night at The Greene, be sure to check out the 80s cover band Stranger.  And if you want to preview the Dayton Art Institute’s Oktoberfest, listen to the band Velvet Crush, and avoid the crowds, be sure to purchase tickets for their Preview Party, which is also happening on Friday.  And, if you have extra tickets, feel free to send them my way!

On Saturday, get your walking shoes out to support one of two great causes.  Participate in the St. Vincent de Paul – 2010 Friends of the Poor Walk or the Great Strides – Walk for Cystic Fibrosis.  After getting your exercise in, if you’re the “sweet” type, head to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds for the Chocolate Festival.  And if you’re the “salty” type, the Germantown Pretzel Festival is the place to be.  Or, if you’re the healthy type, head over to Lebanon (the city, not the country) for the Country Applefest or to the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm for the Aullwood Apple Fest.  If you’re the shy type, head back to the Tipp City Mum Festival.  If you enjoy Hispanic food and breaking piñatas, then check out the Hispanic Heritage Festival and Flea Market at College Hill Community Church in North Dayton.  And, the “must attend” festival of the week is the DAI Oktoberfest, which will feature live entertainment, unique arts and crafts, and a variety of beers and international foods.  Plus, if you attended the jumpstART event last week, you will be able to get in free with your admission pass!  Or, check out this article to find out more about Oktoberfest AND how to win tickets from DMM!  Also, just in case outdoor festivals are not your thing and you’d instead prefer to kick back and watch movies, make a trip to The Neon for the LGBT Film Festival, where several films will be featured, including Top Drawer Shorts, A Marine Story, and Violet Tendencies.

On Sunday morning, head to The Winds in Yellow Spring and then to The Little Art Theatre for Brunch and a Movie.  Or, check out one (or more!) of the festivals you missed or liked so much that you want to explore again!  The Aullwood Apple Fest, the Tipp City Mum Festival, the Pretzel Festival, and DAI’s Oktoberfest will still be happening places to be!

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

Why did Humty Dumpty have a great fall?

He wanted to make up for a lousy summer.

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!

Have a great week Dayton!