Dayton Ohio

Mystery Monday – November 14, 2016

November 14, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 40 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 39’s Mystery Photo is: Cooper Park in downtown Dayton via the third floor of the currently under construction Dayton Metro Library Main location.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Demarus of Dayton. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below. We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 40:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Vermouth: From Medicine to Mixology

November 9, 2016 By Brian Petro

Roman wormwood, vermouth’s humble beginnings.

Combing through history, you will see one fact common to most liquors: they started off as medicine. Beer and wine had other uses. They were easier to make and used for everything from paying workers to surviving fasts to having something to drink that would not kill you. Before we started to dig into the science of diseases, doctors would prescribe methods that we would now call alternative medicine. Anything from draining humours through leeches to mixing a variety of herbs into a liquid and drinking it. One of the earliest herbs used was wormwood, based on the belief that it was effective in fighting stomach ailments.

The wormwood-infused wine would be consumed after a meal to calm the stomach and aid in digestion. This technique was used in Europe as early as 400 BC and in some cultures earlier than that. As the wine became popular in the 16^th century, those creating it added other herbs and spices to take the horribly bitter edge off the wormwood. In Germany, this bitter root was called Wermut. When the French and Italians took hold of it, they just Romanticized the word, calling the new batch of fortified and aromatized wines “vermouth.”

Modern vermouth became popular around the end of the 18^th century when Antonio Benedetto Carpano introduced it to the market. It quickly became a darling with the courts in the area and started to spread to the rest of the country. Not too far away, in southern France, dry vermouth was gaining steam. The French kept the botanical punch that the Italians had built into the wine, but dialed the sugar content back considerably. This is what gives dry vermouth its herbal punch. The Italians also have a version of a white, or blanco, vermouth that is a sweeter version of the French dry. It does not have less of an herbal kick; it has more sugar to hide it. Traditionally, these were the three styles of vermouth found in any liquor store. With the boom we see in craft cocktails, manufacturers are experimenting with other wines and herbs to offer new flavor profiles. There are rosé and orange wine-based vermouths now that utilize other botanicals.

Gaze upon this collection of Martini vermouths…

For over 100 years, vermouth had a starring role in the cocktails the world enjoyed. Two of the classics, the Manhattan and the Martini, were based on the herbal flavors they brought to rye whiskey and gin, respectively. Flipping through classic recipe books, you can see that after the tremendous impact vermouth had when it arrived in the United States in the mid-19^th century, it started to wane. The amount of vermouth became smaller and smaller until we settled on the 3:1 or 5:1 proportions you may see in bars. Venues that focus more on the classics will put the ratio closer to 2:1 spirit to vermouth, and may even offer the Martinez. The Martinez is one of the few vintage cocktails you will find where the vermouth, not the spirit, is the star in the glass. Two parts vermouth to one part gin (or 1:1, or 1.5:1, whichever proportion the bartender assures you is the original) is what you will find, with some maraschino liqueur to balance out the herbal quality.

Martinez

2 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz. Old Tom gin (Ransom is an excellent choice)
1 tsp. maraschino liqueur
2 ds. Bitters (Boker’s is in the original, but Angostura works well)

Glass: Cocktail
Ice: None
Garnish: Lemon zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir until the cocktail is well chilled, then strain into the glass. Twist the zest over the cocktail then add it to the glass.

Martinez cocktail (credit: Ann Larie Valentine)

Any trace amounts of vermouth you were going to find in cocktails were wiped clean when Prohibition covered the land. Liquors that could not be faked were purged, lost in America for decades. When we finally returned to the business of drinking, vodka was becoming the spirit of choice. Vermouth has a strong flavor, and vodka has little. Vodka martinis, now sporting olives, forcefully pushed dry vermouth to the back of the bar shelf. And while some of the war vets were still big on the Manhattan, no one wanted to drink what their parents drank. Sweet vermouth soon found itself collecting dust as well, watching rum take over the brown liquor spot as vodka took over for clear liquor. The 1970’s and 80’s were dominated by sweet cocktails, balanced slightly by citrus juices. Unless grandpa was bellying up to the bar, vermouth was on the sidelines with the bitters.

The craft cocktail boom has invigorated the industry. From just a few bottles of Martini and Rossi on the shelf to an ever-widening array of flavors, vermouth is back. Before you run out and add that amazing collection to your liquor shelf, keep in mind that vermouth has to be at least 75% wine. That means an open bottle is only going to be good for up to four weeks on your liquor shelf. You can extend that through refrigeration, but not by much. Many brands offer smaller bottles to purchase. Grab one of those if it is just for you around the house. Or considering adding vermouth as part of your dinner plans to either get the stomach ready or calm it down after the meal. If the bottle lasts long enough to go a little south, you can add it to recipes that call for wine. Another requirement of vermouth is that it has wormwood as part of the recipe, best known as a dominant flavor in absinthe. That flavor heightens when you cook with it. You can put it in some cocktails to enjoy with your meal as well. Beyond the traditional Manhattan (sweet vermouth) and Gin Martini (dry vermouth), there is a wide array of cocktails that call for this fortified, aromatized wine.

Negroni

1 oz. gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. sweet Vermouth

Glass: Cocktail or Coupe
Ice: None
Garnish: Orange Zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass. Stir, then strain into the cocktail glass. Twist the orange zest over the cocktail, then add to the glass. Alternatively, you can pour all of the ingredients over cubed ice (larger cubes work best), stir, then serve.

A Negroni on the rocks. (credit: Geoff Peters)

The Negroni is a vintage cocktail from Italy. The rumor is that Count Negroni, after an extended stay in America, was traveling the Italian countryside. When he came to his usual bar for his usual drink, an Americano, he asked to replace the soda water with gin. The concoction worked and had been the springboard for countless variations. Substitute the gin with rye whiskey, and you have a Boulevardier. Exchange the gin with champagne for a Negroni Sbagliato. The possibilities are endless.

Vieux Carré

.75 oz Rye Whiskey
.75 oz Cognac
.75 oz sweet Vermouth
1 tsp Bénédictine
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Glass: Old Fashioned
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Cherry OR Lemon Zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir, then strain into the Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish with either the cherry or the lemon zest. Both, if you want to.

Built in New Orleans in the post-Prohibition era, it is a celebration of the vibrant cocktail culture that developed there. It is well balanced and a delight to drink. A bottle of Bénédictine herbal liqueur is a versatile addition to any home bar.

Scofflaw

2 oz. Bourbon or rye whiskey
1 oz. Dry vermouth
.25 oz. Fresh lemon juice
.5 oz. Grenadine
2 dashes Orange bitters

Glass: Cocktail
Ice: None
Garnish: Orange Zest

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into the cocktail glass. Twist the orange twist over the cocktail and add to the glass.

This Prohibition cocktail is appropriately named. Developed at Harry’s Bar in Paris in the 1920’s, it reaches for the traditional French dry vermouth instead of the sweet usually found in whiskey cocktails. There is also some debate as to the use of lemon or lime juice. The original recipe calls for lemon juice, and I will back that one. But experiment as you like.

With the resurgence of vermouth over the last few years, the options for bartenders have expanded. From Dolin to Noilly Pratt to Carpano, we have come a long way from just the bottles of Martini and Rossi on the shelf. Grab a bottle and take a sip before you start adding it to a cocktail. You may like what you taste!

Mystery Monday – November 7, 2016

November 7, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 39 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 38’s Mystery Photo is: The 5th Dayton Dia de Muertos parade procession going down Fifth Street in the Oregon Historic District on October 23, 2016.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Jeremiah of Englewood. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 39:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – October 31, 2016

October 31, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 38 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 37’s Mystery Photo is: The pirate ship Halloween display on Main Street in Fairborn by Foy’s Halloween Stores.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Olivia of Fairborn. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 38:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Photo – Week 37

October 25, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 37 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 36’s Mystery Photo is: The courtyard at the new Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co. in downtown Springfield. The brewery is named after Eliza Daniel “Mother” Stewart, one of the leaders of the temperance movement in Springfield and Xenia in the late 1800s. Historical photos from the prohibition era line the outside of the building near the beer garden.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Laura G of Springfield. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 37:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – October 10, 2016

October 10, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 35 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 34’s Mystery Photo is: Garden Station in Downtown Dayton along with a special appearance by my late beloved Scottish Terrier (aka Scottie) Lucy. I took this photo on September 22, 2016 during our final adventure together, the morning I had to have her put down after a short but painful illness. She would’ve been 12 years old on November 1, 2016.

Lucy Scott Terrier Gilliam

November 1, 2004 – September 22, 2016

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Like S of Beavercreek. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 35:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – October 3, 2016

October 3, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 34 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 33’s Mystery Photo is: The Happy Day Statue at RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton along with a special appearance by my late beloved Scottish Terrier (aka Scottie) Lucy. I took this photo on September 22, 2016 during our final adventure together, the morning I had to have her put down after a short but painful illness. She would’ve been 12 years old on November 1, 2016.

Lucy Scott Terrier Gilliam

November 1, 2004 – September 22, 2016

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Carolyn R of Beavercreek! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 34:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

What Does It Mean To Invest In Community?

September 27, 2016 By Nikki Nett

So, I’ve done some research and I should probably share it with you. Look, I know it may be shocking, but hear me out.

As it turns out, binge-watching Flipping Out With Jeff Lewis, HGTV, and Rehab Addict does not make one a real estate expert. No matter how much you love those sassy Joshes from Million Dollar Listing, they may not be the best teachers of success in the real estate market, though I sure do like their parties. Tarek & Christina, Jonathan & Drew, et. al are probably not the ones to consult about real estate in the Dayton Ohio market. There is no amount of Shark Tank that sets you up for financial security, right here, right now. Yes, I know, I am just as surprised and disappointed as you are.

Ok then, we’ve established that we’ve gotta do more than build our Pinterest boards while binge watching. Reality tv isn’t making me a professional investor, flipper or rehabber (for real, keep me away from the spackle & grout), I don’t know about the housing market, but I DO know about Dayton. I know about marketing and how that works a little differently here in the Miami Valley. Most importantly, I know that we are protective of our communities around here.

So why the hell is any of this connected or relevant??

Frankly, I didn’t think it was until recently. I just started working with Real Estate U in Beavercreek. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in their branding, mission statements, processes, classes and more for the last few weeks. The more I am immersed in all things REU, the more I begin to understand what similar companies from out of town do.

As someone who has spent the majority of my life in the Dayton area, that pisses me off. As someone who, over the years, has been involved in all the Daytonish things, that really really pisses me off. Why, though? Because their investment in Dayton is not a long term investment in the residents of Dayton. Because they breeze in, make some promises and breeze out with our assets. Nah, no thank you.

We’ve seen the lists that Dayton appears on, and we get a little braggy when we hear that people all across the nation are talking about how affordable it is to live here. This is amazing! Right???

Wellllllll….yes and no.

Dayton is prime real estate right now. But that means more than just high income creatives moving into all the cool, historic neighborhoods. It means that investors across the country are sweeping in and buying up foreclosures. It means that Joe & Suzy Suburbs from Nebraska are looking at some of the older areas and seeing opportunities for a DIY house flip. It means that available money going into these homes, is ultimately leaving the area.

But we want to keep it here. Locally. In the Miami Valley where it can benefit our entire community. How’s THAT for Return On Investment?

Cool. So now what?

If you are interested in learning about real estate investing, rehabbing, flipping, rentals, and beginning to build generational wealth, then you have to attend one of Real Estate U’s FREE Real Estate Investing classes. REU is a nationwide company headquartered here in Dayton. At their free classes, REU teaches you how to find great deals, what areas in Dayton to avoid, where the sweet spots are, and even coaches you through the day to day activities of flipping a house.

There are classes this Thursday & Friday night, and they have added 2 more classes for Saturday. I added the Eventbrite link below so you can choose your time slot.

Maybe this isn’t your thing, that’s fine, but if you know someone of any age (over 18) that would like a jump start into this market, feel free to pass this along. Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to be a Wall Street banker to make this work for you. You just have to want to work…for you.

RSVP to this weekend’s classes by clicking here.

Find REU on Facebook by clicking here.

Double tap on the ‘Gram here.

See what the heck REU is all about here.

Mystery Monday – September 26, 2016

September 26, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 33 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 32’s Mystery Photo is: The ceiling of the Agriculture Building (aka Exposition Hall and/or the Roundhouse) at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Downtown Dayton. Built in 1874, the “Roundhouse” is listed on the National Register of Historic Places but is currently in danger of demolition since the fair will be changing locations after 2017. I took this photo on September 3, 2016 during the 164th Annual Montgomery County Fair.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Chad McCoy of Dayton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 33:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – September 5, 2016

September 5, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 32 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 31’s Mystery Photo is: The cupola of the Premier Health Building in Downtown Dayton via the Kettering Tower‘s Dayton Racquet Club. I took this photo on October 23, 2015.

Completed in 1989 and designed by the Dayton architectural firm Lorenz & Williams, this 20 floor building was originally known as One Citizens Federal Centre.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Peter Wine of Dayton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 32:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – August 29, 2016

August 29, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 31 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 30’s Mystery Photo is: The third floor of the currently under construction new Main Dayton Metro Library in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on August 10, 2016.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Su Nela of Centerville! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 31:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – August 22, 2016

August 22, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 30 of Mystery Mondays. While many of you thought this was the Old Court House, the answer to Week 29’s Mystery Photo is: Architectural detail on the exterior of the AT&T Building at the corner of Second & Wilkinson Streets in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on July 15, 2016.

Built in 1930 by the architectural firm of Schenck & Williams, the Ohio Bell Building as it was originally known is a fine example of Art Deco architecture.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Sheri of Union! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 30:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – August 15, 2016

August 16, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 29 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 28’s Mystery Photo is: Inside Dayton History‘s The Old Court House, located at Downtown Dayton‘s Courthouse Square on the corner of Third and Main Streets. I took this photo on August 5, 2016.

The former Montgomery County Courthouse was completed in 1850 and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Every summer in July & August, Old Case Files is held in the courtroom recreating trials from Dayton’s history. The Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest, part of the Dayton Holiday Festival, is held at the Old Court House the day after Thanksgiving annually as well as weddings and other events.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Ginger of Troy! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 29:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – August 8, 2016

August 8, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 28 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 27’s Mystery Photo is: Downtown Dayton via the historic Delco Building, located at 329 East First Street. I took this photo on July 18, 2016.

The Delco Building (aka Delco Plant 1, Beaver Power Building No. 2) was designed by Dayton based architectural firm Schenck & Williams and built in 1912 for the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (DELCO). DELCO was founded in 1909 by Colonel Edward A. Deeds and Charles F. Kettering. This building was the company’s first permanent manufacturing location and headquarters during its most crucial years.

Kettering’s office was located on the sixth floor in the northeast corner of the building.

Developers Crawford Hoying (Columbus) and Woodard Development (Dayton) are currently renovating the property with construction by Brackett Builders, Inc to become the Delco Lofts, part of the new Water Street District. The majority of the building will be converted into 134 residential units (loft style apartments) with 5,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor including Lock 27 Brewing Company‘s second brewery and gastropub.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Janinie of Huber Heights! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 28:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – August 1, 2016

August 1, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 27 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 26’s Mystery Photo is: The Wright Company Factory‘s Building 1 on West Third Street in Dayton. The first airplanes in America were manufactured in Buildings 1 & 2 of this factory which were built in 1910 and 1911 respectively. I took this photo on June 16, 2016.

Learn more about the Wright Company Factory’s history and future plans to turn it into a unit of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park by visiting wrightfactory.com

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Terry Orf of Centerville! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 27:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Mystery Monday – July 25, 2016

July 25, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 26 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 25’s Mystery Photo is: Classic Packard automobiles on display at America’s Packard Museum on South Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on July 14, 2016.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Cindy C of Miamisburg! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 26:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.