Dayton

Mystery Monday – March 21, 2016

March 21, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 8 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week Seven’s Mystery Photo is: The River Run Mural on the Great Miami River across from RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on September 30, 2015.

Artist Amy Deal’s River Run Mural across from RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton – September 30, 2015

With a record number of entries this week, we congratulate our randomly drawn winner Lacie Shepherd of Springboro! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

The nearly 1,000 foot River Run Mural debuted in Fall 2015 on the almost 90 year old northern flood wall of the Great Miami River in advance of this year’s RiverScape River Run. Created by local artist Amy Deal, the mural was painted on the flood wall by the K12 & TEJAS Gallery. Read more about the River Run project here.

Artist Amy Deal’s River Run Mural across from RiverScape MetroPark in Downtown Dayton – September 24, 2015

Amy recently shared these thoughts with me about her creation.

“I included imagery that would relate to all ages and show off the health of our rivers. The imagery also reflects Dayton’s rich history. The crossed lines represent the Wright Flyer and the circles represent our history with the bicycle. The river is a wonderful location for healthy activity – running, skating, kayaking, rowing. The colors were chosen to work with all 4 seasons. They are exciting yet subtle enough that the wall is not constantly screaming in your face – more calming.”

“I love watching the water levels. I’ve had some friends comment that the kayaker is really kayaking today. I was initially worried that there would be a dirty water line after the water recesses, but it’s been fine. I can’t wait for the River Run this summer!”

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 Eight:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Dayton’s Chef Showdown Champ Named

March 20, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

There was sizzle, drizzle, sear and even a little bit of fire when nine of Dayton’s premiere Chef’s went head to head in a Chopped inspired “Chef Showdown” Saturday. With three qualifying rounds on Saturday, chefs had 20 minutes to turn a mystery basket with 4 ingredients into a winning dish at the Dayton Home and Garden Show at the Dayton Convention Center.

On the Kroger stage, event emcee Jim Bucher helped introduce the mystery baskets, created by event producer Lisa Grigsby, of Dayton Most Metro. Basket one included Lychee Nuts, Chicken, canned spinach and cranberry cinnamon goat cheese. Chefs were able to supplement their appeizer with ingredients from the Kroger pantry.

The contest judges, brought in from Dayton Most Metro included: Kevin Rankin, Laura Rea, Duane Myers, Ann Roberts and Steve “Big Ragu” Milano

Local culinary fans packed the room where the competition took place at 11am, 1pm and 3pm respectively, and the results are in….

ROUND 1 WRAP UP:

Chef Candace Rinke, from Hawthorn Grill won round one with her chicken appetizer on a pita triangle. She barely edged out 2 other delicious chicken creations. One from Chef David Glynn, of Dayton Country Club, who incorporated numerous ingredients into a large chicken dish, and Chef Aaron Braun of Meadowlark who wowed the judges with his bacon wrapped chicken and goat cheese.

Chef Rinke’s Winning Chicken on Pita Appetizer

ROUND 2 WRAP UP:

Chef Mariah Gahagan, from Lily’s Bistro was victorious in round 2 with a salmon dish that flowed with a perfect melody of flavor, from edge to edge with greens and avocados. Close behind was Chef Richard Roberts, of De’Lish Cafe, who made a salmon pita appetizer with swiss cheese, and used a blow torch for a carmelized smoky flavor. Chef Crystal Coppock, from Wheat Penny also made it a tight race, with her salmon seared on spinach, with bamboo shoots, but as timer buzzed she realized her Tamarind sauce (one of the required ingredients), which was absolutely killer- according to the judges, didn’t make her plates.

ROUND 3 WRAP UP:

Scratch Catering owner Chef Matt Hayden took the winning honors in the final round in an epic battle that included a temporary flare up of flames. Using scallops, Matt concocted a deep fried fritter (Indian Pakora) with an amazing Indian influenced Tandoori sauce. Following close behind was Chef LeeAnne House, from HouseMade Sauces. LeeAnne’s appetizer was a colorful combo of sauteed greens, peppers and veggies with scallops on bruschetta. Also keeping the contest close was Chef Nathan Vance from Salar Restaurant, who

Round 2 of the Chef Showdown: Chef Gahagan, Chef Coppock and Chef Roberts

wowed the crowd with his unshakable concentration during the hectic round. Nathan’s creation included placing the scallops over greens, with some sauteed veggie and a delicious sauce drizzle.

SUNDAY’S CHEF SHOWDOWN FINALS:

At 1pm today at the DAYTON HOME AND GARDEN SHOW at the Convention Center, the three advancing chefs met up for a final round of competition. This time around they had 25 minutes to turn 5 mystery ingredients into an entree. As the clock started, it was revealed that shrimp, black beans, asparagus, canned peaches and canned tomatoes were the base for the meal.

Just a few minutes into cooking Chef Mariah’s burner malfunctioned and Chef Matt left his station to assist here, and Chef Candice reached over to pull Chef Matt’s saute pan off the fire, so his food didn’t burn. This sense of teamwork, even in the middle of a competition, just exemplifies the character of our local culinary community.

Judges Ann Roberts, a local foodie, Alexis Larsen of the DAI and writer for Dayton Daily News and Executive Chef Don Warfe of Christopher’s spent a good 10 minutes, tasting and deliberating and commenting on the expertise of the entrees from all the chefs. Warfe, who spent time on tv for Gordon Ramsey’s” Kitchen Nightmares” questioned the chefs about the use of ingredients and complimented the flavors of the food. Larsen shared she “was impressed with the ability of the trio to turn canned ingredients we often have in our pantry to fresh tasting, flavorful meals.” Ann Roberts had the honor of announcing that the “bread salad” created by Hawthorn Grill Chef/Owner Candace Rinke won her the title of Chef Showdown Championship and $500 cash from the Dayton Home & Garden Show.

Judges

Chef House’s Bruschetta with Scallops

Salmon, avocado, and greens from Chef Mariah Gahagan

Chef David Glynn describes his dish

Chef Candice Rinke goes over her creation

Chef Aaron Braun’s Bacon Wrapped Chicken appetizer

Chef David Glynn’s Chicken app

Jim Bucher with Chef Crystal Coppock from Wheat Penny

Jim Bucher talks with Chef Richard Roberts from De’Lish about his Salmon appetizer

Chef Matt Hayden’s winning Indian Pakora appetizer with Tandoori sauce

Judging duties

Round 1: Chef Braun, Chef Glynn and Chef Rinke

Scallop from Chef Nathan Vance from Salar took it to the limit

Round 3: Chef Vance, Chef House, Chef Hayden

Chef Coppock had an excellent salmon appetizer

Chef Richard Roberts made this delicious Salmon on Pita appetizer and used a blow torch

Chef House talks to the judges

Chef Gahagan talks to Jim Bucher and the crowd

Chef Aaron Braun talks about his culinary creation

The Top 20 Green Foods of Dayton

March 17, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Cobblestone Cafe’s Honey Fried Chicken Salad

Guacamole – hard to get a good pic of that stuff

Happy St Patricks Day from the Food Adventures Crew to you… Today, Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House are getting into the Irish spirit by exploring the colorful green foods of Dayton. From salads to side items, these menu offerings are luckier than a four leaf clover.

Now may we present with Faith and Begorrah,

THE TOP 20 GREEN FOODS OF DAYTON

1) HONEY FRIED CHICKEN SALAD at COBBLESTONE CAFE: Hungry Jax points to this as one of her favorites. Not only are the greens crisp and fresh, but the chicken is fried perfectly. The quaint atmosphere always adds to our Food Adventures at Cobblestone.

Saag Paneer – An India Oven Traditional Creamy Spinach dish, you MUST TRY

2) GRILLED KALE SALAD at LUCKY’S TAPROOM: Chef House says this is a “Must Eat.” One of her “go to” menu items in the Oregon District, it is fresh, delicious and local!

3) ASIAGO CRUSTED CHICKEN at ROOST MODERN ITALIAN: When Executive Chef Dana Downs is at the helm, you can expect some divine food. The pesto linguine and spinach make this dish….

4) SAAG PANEER at INDIA OVEN: Creamy, wonderfully prepared traditional Indian dish served with white, basmati rice. The fresh, cheesey mixture melts in your mouth. Want to branch out and try a delicious dish? Here is your chance.

5) MALA PORK from CHINA COTTAGE: Stir fried magic performed by Tiger Wang and his cooking staff. Green onions and thinly sliced pork tossed in a light brown sauce. This dish highlights that signature taste, from an iconic Dayton restaurant. The Big Ragu gives it 2 chopsticks up!

6) THE AVOCADO & GOAT CHEESE BLT from LUCKY’S TAPROOM & EATERY: Drew Trick is serving up the mainstay favorites on his menu, and this is one has a cult following. Chef House says “you gotta try this sandwich.” The local ingredients are amazing.

Mala Pork from China Cottage – an amazing dish, with a little heat

7) DRESSED GREENS SALAD at WHEAT PENNY OVEN & BAR: Known for their pizza, the delightful, delicious salads are the perfect accompaniment or a meal in themselves. Your choice of dressing drizzled… for rizzle.

8) PICKLE SOUP from BLIND BOB’S: One of the more unique Dayton creations on this list, and one of the most surprisingly delicious. A soup with a fan following like now other, get in here and try this one-of-a-kind soup.

9) BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS at OLLIE’S PLACE: A perfect appetizer to go with the unmatched beer selection at this eatery. Warning- people at your table will want you to share this, so get a couple of orders to pass around.

10) GREEN CHICKEN CURRY at SIAM PAD THAI: A flavorful dish in a flavorful restaurant. Get it spicy or mild. The sauce is derived from green chilies, coconut milk, eggplant, bamboo shoots, green beans and bell pepper.

Dressed Greens at Wheat Penny – Healthy never tasted so good

11) FRIED GREEN TOMATOES at RUE DEMAINE: A simple southern side, perfected by a decorated chef. Try these delicately fried slices, that simply melt in your mouth.

12) GUACAMOLE from TAQUERIA MIXTECA: Authentic mix from the local authority in authentic Mexican cuisine. If you want guacamole like they make it in Mexico City, then you’ve found the right place.

13) GARLIC EDAMAME at KABUKI: Healthy bean sprouts that slide into your mouth. This appetizer can be perfectly described as “addicting.” Simple and so good, it is a perfect warm up for a sushi roll.

14) KEY LIME PIE at COCO’S BISTRO: A heartier version of the original, it is almost like a key lime cheesecake. Go green with this dessert, and make your day special. The elegant atmosphere adds to the dreamy experience.

Deep Fried Asparagus wrapped with bacon

15) SPINACH CON QUESO DIP from DOUBLEDAY’S GRILL & TAVERN: The type of appetizer where you fight over the last scoops of dip when the others at the table. Yeah, it is that damn good.

16) CHILE RELLENO from TACO LOCO: Ohh si, si, si! One of the Big Ragu’s favorite dishes and one of his favorite places. Not only is this food great and homemade, the prices are extremely reasonable.

17) BUTTERCREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES from THE CAKERY: So good you get a sugar high when you eat them. Typically decorated in green these cookies are probably the most sinful thing on this list.

18) ZUCCHINI TACO BOATS at FLAVOR’S EATERY: Carved out zucchini, filled with taco toppings, these “boats” are delicious and a healthy spin on tacos. Get some at the Centerville Flavors and they even make them for healthy “to go” meal plans.

19) SQUASH SPAGHETTI from FLAVOR’S EATERY: Thinly shredded squash, made to look like small noodles. Tasty, healthy and as filling as pasta. It is a good way to “fool” your tastebuds into thinking you are eating carbs, but it s all healthy squash.

Garlic Edamame at Kabuki

20) FRIED PICKLES at THE DUBLIN PUB: What’s a St Patty’s list without an Irish place. Hand dipped crunchy, pickle slices, battered, deep fried and served with some ranch dip.

We are not food critics.. we just love to eat. Food is our passion, and so are the original events, photos and festivals.

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Pickle Soup at Blind Bobs

Zucchini Boats – “Meals by Flavors”

Chile Relleno – Taco Loco

The Cakery – Buttercream cookie sandwich

Guacamole – hard to get a good pic

Shredded squash –

Take a fresh look at ‘Bridges of Madison County’

March 17, 2016 By Dayton937

The simplistic set design keeps the attention on the actors.

The simplistic set adaptation keeps the attention on the actors.

Megan Cooper

In yet another remarkable instance of Dayton’s big-city-small-town dynamic, we witness the wealth of arts found in large metros that’s still accessible for all potential audiences. Now through March 20, the touring cast of The Bridges of Madison County will be performing at the Schuster Center in Dayton as its makes its limited run around the country. Dayton is fortunate to land one of these few performances, and tickets start at just $25.

Val Beerbower

Those who are familiar with the story of Bridges will find the musical closely follows, but takes some creative departures. Here with their reflections and comparisons are Megan Cooper and Val Beerbower, cultural arts enthusiasts.

VB: This adaptation from book to musical bypasses some of the conventions used to adapt the book to the 1995 film starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. The musical pulled out story lines from other characters, including the neighbors, who offer a little comedic relief. We also get to know lead female character Francesca’s family better through the musical, which gives the story more depth.

Other characters’ storylines are more prominent in this musical adaptation.

MC: Reviews of the film are lopsided because people loved the acting and the actors but weren’t wild about the script. Fortunately, the musical avoids this fate because they introduced these additional storylines. Additionally, the musical provides a little extra closure between the characters you don’t get in the film. One could argue that if you didn’t care for the film, you should see the musical, thanks to these adaptations.

VB: The musical styles selected by the composer (Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World) reflect another kind of adaptation. Italian-born Francesca is somewhat of a misfit as a housewife on an Iowa farm, and her solos are sweeping arias that are more opera than musical. It’s an interesting way to juxtapose a character using the songs themselves as the medium.

Bridges of Madison County the musical is in Dayton through March 20 on its limited US tour.

MC: Agreed, the music was phenomenal. You might not catch yourself humming the tunes the next day, but they are very well composed and do a great job of conveying the story. The music moves the plot along rather than create a distraction. Likewise, the set design was very simplistic and not distracting. The set cleverly employed the actors to move the staging around, and the actors’ movements coupled with strategic lighting cued you into whether they were an active part of the scene or simply adding background.

VB: It was unusual that in the musical – a story about a photographer shooting covered bridges – you didn’t really see a single physical bridge in the play. But it worked because your focus was on the actors.

MC: Don’t worry, there are still plenty of covered bridges to see in the Schuster’s gallery spaces. The current display, “The Bridges of the Miami Valley,” presented by the Visual Art Center of Preble County, showcases an array of paintings, sculptures, and other locally produced works of art depicting the Dayton region’s covered bridges.

The Bridges of the Miami Valley is the current visual arts display in the Schuster Center.

The Visual Art Center of Preble County put together this gallery featuring local artists depicting famous covered bridges in the region.

Mystery Monday – March 14, 2016

March 14, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 7 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week Six’s Mystery Photo is: The Ludlow Building on 136 South Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on March 27, 2015.

Congratulations to our winner Curt Dalton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

The Ludlow Building in Downtown Dayton – March 27, 2015

The Ludlow Building, built in 1916, was designed by the Pretzinger & Musselman architectural firm for Adam Schantz, Jr., who used his father’s estate to redevelop Ludlow Street into an important commercial thoroughfare. This building has distinct facades (one in brick with terra-cotta & metal trim and two in glazed terra-cotta veneer) designed to make one building look like three different buildings. The Terra-Cotta Historic District where the Ludlow Building sits, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (added on May 31, 1984).

This building was formerly occupied by Reynolds & Reynolds as part of it’s downtown campus before relocating it’s headquarters to Kettering’s Miami Valley Research Park in 1999. The current occupants are Premier Health Partners and Dayton Public Schools.

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 Seven:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery – Poised for a Comeback

March 10, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Poised to Reopen Soon

Lucky’s Taproom is on track to make a big return, and they are leaving nothing to “luck” or “chance.” Andrew Trick, owner and operator has been working long hours, every day, since closing his restaurant due to a health scare. The staff and Drew have scrubbed and sanitized the facility from top to bottom. They have repainted, re-caulked and re-sealed every nook and cranny. Cooking equipment has been sent out to be serviced, and no pan has been unturned.

This is the comeback that will put Lucky’s back on track after a shut down just before they were gearing up for a big 5th year anniversary celebration. Andrew Trick and Lucky’s have prided themselves over the years on using local farms and companies for everything from meats to bread. There motto and business plan has always been to support local.

Besides scouring the entire restaurant, Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery has again gone local by hiring a Dayton area company, Ram Environmental to aggressively address the health of its diners on a molecular level. Lucky’s is erring on the side of caution by investing in a state of the art system that will keep air and surfaces at Lucky’s, virtually bacteria, mold and virus free. This unique “seek and destroy” technology is completely “Green” and is already being put to use in Lucky’s. For the past week 2 large, “Ram Super Scrubber” machines have been running 24/7 in the restaurant completely “disinfecting” all surfaces and air impurities. There are no harmful chemicals, liquids, or ozone involved, and the system is completely safe to be around. Phase 2 will be the installation of a permanent maintenance system that will be placed in the ice machines, walk in coolers, kitchen ductwork and dining room ductwork. The result aims to provide a virtually bacteria free environment.

Vegetarian Goat Burger

Ram Environmental has installed similar systems into Cassano’s Dough Plant and all three Dorothy Lane Market Stores to ensure a bacteria free environment. Local area school cafeterias have also benefited from Ram’s Environmental systems.

Still waiting for Health Department clearance, Lucky’s Taproom hopes to open as soon as Friday night, March 11th, for a limited menu dinner service.

Lucky’s Owner Andrew Trick Invests in the Future

This is great news to area foodies, who have been missing the favorite eatery. Lucky’s, located in the Oregon District at 520 East Fifth Street is known for their burgers, beer selection, fish battered in your choice of beer and a terrific Sunday Brunch.

Fish Dinner – you can pick which beer will batter your fish

Great Burgers at Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery

Cheese Stix

Brunch

Greek Food Truck to Hit Dayton Streets

March 8, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

“The Greek Street Food Truck” is about to explode onto the streets of the Miami Valley

Food Adventures has super secret info that we have been waiting months to release right here on Dayton Most Metro. It concerns Dayton’s newest food truck, that will soon make a splash in the Miami Valley.

The scoop is so fresh that their website isn’t up yet, but you can find them on Facebook —>here.

THE GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK is putting the final touches on its menu and final tweaks on operations, but looks ready to roll.

We are excited because this will be the first strictly “Greek Based truck” that we know of and brings further diversity to an already incredible selection of local food vehicles.

So whats the scoop on the new kid in town? Who is behind the Greek Street Food Truck?

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE OWNER:

— CHEF CHRIS SPIRTOS, owner and operator of Greek Street Food Truck has an extensive cooking background.

Traditional Beef/Lamb Gyro from “Greek Street Food Truck”

— Chris went to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago to hone his craft. The Centerville native, also worked at L’Auberge and as a sous chef at Sung’s Korean Bistro in Cincinnati.

— Chris also studied under the Chef for Oprah Winfrey, Chef Art Smith, while living in Chicago. He was so well thought of, that Chris was flown to Oprah’s California home to help fix a dinner she hosted for the first graduating class of her school in Africa.

— More recently, Chris has worked on the incredible food truck, Zombie Dogz

— Born into a Greek family (his grandparents were from Greece), Chris’ recipe for Baklava is his mom’s, and it is a traditional favorite.

What type of eats can you expect on the truck? Food Adventures has all the scoop right here.

Stacked Chicken on the Spindle cooker

Other GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK info:

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON WHAT TO EXPECT:

— The meats are individually layered on a spindle and cooked. There are no compressed or processed meats. Just a Beef/Lamb mixture spindle, and a Chicken spindle. Each gyro is sliced to order.

— The Greek Street Food Truck will have a core menu of:
Gyros
Greek Fries or Regular Fries
Spanakopita (a Greek spinach Pie)
An assortment of dips, possibly including hummus
Homemade Baklava

— The menu will feature daily, revolving specials as well

Now, without further delay, let’s give you our menu items from Greek Street Food Truck that are absolutely, “Must Eats”….

MUST EATS:

— CHICKEN GYRO, STREET STYLE: Stacked rotisserie chicken breasts slices, piled into a pita and topped with “street style toppings.” Street style means: tomato jam, pickled red onions, crumbled feta, fresh herbs, fries, and tzatziki sauce. Quite honestly, one of the most flavorful and unique gyros we have had. If you try one thing, this is item to grab.

— BEEF GYRO, TRADITIONAL STYLE: Shaved slices of stacked lamb and beef rotisserie cooked meat. This is a throwback to the gyros of the old country with “traditional toppings.” Traditional toppings are: tomato, tzatziki sauce, onions, smoked paprika and french fries. This gyro is authentic. It is like a steak sandwich, no processed meat here. Damn good food on the “go.”

Owner Chris Spirtos of “Greek Street Food Truck”

We are excited for the first Greek themed entry into Dayton’s food truck scene. The Food Adventure crew of The Big Ragu, Chef House, and Hungry Jax, wish Chris good luck with his “Big Fat Greek Food Truck.” We think Greek Street will be a huge hit… here’s to you .. OPA !

Below are more practically edible photos of the luscious food at Greek Street Food Truck.

For the best photos and info on Dayton’s food scene, “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Also, follow Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax on the Instagram Food Adventures account by clicking HERE.

The “Street Style Chicken Gyro”

Greek Salad

Website . and Instagram

The Chicken Gyro Street Style is a MUST EAT !

Greek Beef Specialty

Greek Street

Coming to your city

Spanakopita – homemade

Greek Shrimp

Beef and Lamb meat, stacked and cooking

Traditional or Street Gyro? you cant go wrong

Greek Street Food Truck side view

The pickled onions on street gyro are amazing

Handful of Greek Street Food !

Dive Bar Tuesday: Time Out Cavern

March 8, 2016 By Brian Petro

Descending into the very familiar.

There are many criteria on which you can judge a bar. Some people look for a certain selection of liquor, focusing on bourbon or wine or craft beer. Others go because of loyalty; your friend owns it, or bartends there, or they support a certain team you like. There is something to be said for the talent that they have hired. Finding the lady who makes your Manhattan with just the right amount of sweetness, or the gentleman who has a glass of wine poured and waiting for you at your favorite seat, is worth its weight in Pappy Van Winkle. All of these things are lovely, but the real deal is when a bar becomes as comfortable as a well worn sweater. Whether it is a high end bar where you can get a pour of that Pappy or a place where “Pappy” is the nickname of the guy that is ALWAYS sitting at the end of the bar, getting to that point where everyone knows who you are makes the best watering hole. Walking down the stairs into the Time Out Cavern (5543 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429), every step feels a little more like home.

Yes, you are walking down, like you are going into someone’s basement. The mirrors and metal signs on the wall span the gamut of styles, from old Apsen Edge (the Coors answer to Bud Platinum or Miller 64) to modern Stella Artois images. At the bottom of the staircase you turn to your right and you would swear you were in your friend’s kick ass basement. There are two pool tables (used for tournaments on Wednesday and are FREE to use on Sunday), two dart boards, a nice long bar, a jukebox filled with excellent tunes, and enough mirrors and beer signs on the walls to explore for majority of your stay. There is definitely a rich atmosphere that throws back to a simpler time in the American bar scene. If you are paying enough attention, you will notice that many of them revolve around the Kentucky Derby.

The owner, John “The Man” Seaman is a lover of horse racing. If you stop by while he is there, you may catch a race on one of the many televisions around the bar. He is such a lover of the sport that every year Time Out Cavern throws one of the best, if not best known, watching parties in the city. They ship in bottles of the official bourbon to serve in the official glasses of the derby that year (which they bring by the case). Of course there is the popular Mint Julep as the star of the night, but they mix up a few house specialties as well. They have a raffle where you can win one of those official bottles, as well as swag from Kentucky Derby’s past. Fancy hats are a must, but there is a low ceiling and not much lighting, so not too fancy.

Welcome to the Cavern! Make yourself at home.

Their beer selection is typical to what you would find in a proper dive bar with a few exceptions like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Samuel Adams Winter Lager. You can settle down with a Rolling Rock as well, or 22s of Budweiser or Heineken. The cocktail specialties they have are not limited to the Kentucky Derby; while they do not keep an up to date menu for them, they do have a secret menu you can ask for. I am going to go on a limb and say it is one of the few bars of its kind where you will find a Brandy Alexander on the menu. You can also find their signature shot, the Time Out, a combination of raspberry and orange vodka, orange juice, and a splash of sour and grenadine. While they have a good variety of flavored vodkas, whiskeys, and other liquors, their favorites seem to be Jameson and Patron. I am going to go even further out on that limb from earlier and say it is the only dive bar we will cover that you can get a Bénédictine and Brandy, also known as a B and B. It is one of John’s favorite drinks, and definitely a rarity to find.

One thing that really struck me was Bubba’s Corner. It is a baby bar within the bar. On a busy Friday or Saturday night, I could see it being used as a second stop for a beer or a shot of bourbon. It is a shrine than John keeps to an old friend of his who used to like watching the Derby with him. That would be Bubba’s spot in the bar to watch it. When he passed away, the spot was kept for him to keep watching the majestic horse race. In that area there is also a plaque with a dedication to Cpl. Richard Gilbert Jr., a Marine who gave his life in service of his country. He was a regular there, and it is a touching tribute to the sacrifice he and his fellow Marines and sailors made. They have a loyal base of regulars, and that is a sign of a great place to get a drink.

Descending into the Time Out Cavern takes you back. And it sucks you in. Why go back up into the world when there are good beers and plenty of drinks? Well, maybe if you are hungry. They do not serve food there. Plus it is a Browns bar, and we all know how friendly those fans are (Speaking as a life-long Browns fan). Talking to one of the bartenders, I learned that the main entrance near Meadowlark is where the new customers enter; regulars usually park in the back and use the back entrance. Enter where you want, just as long as you enter. A good time will be had by all.

Time Out Cavern is open 2:30 PM to 2:30 AM, Monday through Saturday and 7:30 PM to 2:30 AM on Sunday.

Mystery Monday – March 7, 2016

March 7, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 6 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week Five’s Mystery Photo is: The atrium of the Kuhns Building in Downtown Dayton.

Congratulations to our winner Rachel Gensler! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way! I took this photo on February 18, 2014.

Atrium of the Kuhns Building in Downtown Dayton – February 18, 2014

Exterior of the Kuhns Building – December 26, 2013

The Benjamin F. Kuhns Building was built in 1883 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 1978. This five story building, situated on the corner of Fourth & Main Streets next to The Dayton Arcade, was designed by Dayton based architectural firm Peters & Burns and constructed by Dayton contractors Beaver & Butt (this is not a joke).

Constructed in the Romanesque Revival architectural style, the building was used as a clothing store, department store, an arts school and was one of the first buildings in the United States to install a mail chute.

The building’s namesake, Benjamin F. Kuhns owned a company that produced agricultural equipment. He was also one of the founders of Miami Valley Hospital.

Currently, the Kuhns Building is almost at full capacity and home to the Better Business Bureau, AIDS Resource Center and many other businesses.

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 Six:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

“Tailgate Buffet” at Vinny’s for Last U.D. Home Game

March 1, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Sat. Mar 5th, Doors Open 4:30pm on Dryden Rd

Hey basketball fans.. Vinny’s Bar and Grill on Dryden Rd is offering up their “World Famous Indoor Tailgate Buffet” this Saturday evening from 5:30pm -7:30pm! All you want local sausages, broasted wings and so much more…

As always, Vinny’s is the place to pre-party, before University of Dayton Flyer Men’s Basketball games.

The Food Adventures Crew will be on hand for what they call an annual “Munch Madness” Food Adventure event. Also on hand will be Rick from “Ricks Tropical Delight” cooking up Burgers and Sausages on the Big Green Egg Ceramic Grill.

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON SATURDAY’S EVENT:

WHAT: “MUNCH MADNESS INDOOR TAILGATE BUFFET PARTY”

WHERE: VINNY’S BAR AND GRILL on 2205 Dryden Rd, in Moraine

WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 5th: Doors open 4:30pm – Buffet begins 5:30pm

WHY: UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FLYERS LAST HOME BASKETBALL GAME OF THE SEASON – Pre-party

PRICE: $12 per person for the Indoor Tailgate Buffet – or you can order off the menu a la carte

BUFFET MENU INCLUDES:

Locally made Hot and Mild Polish Sausages, and Bratwursts

— BROASTED CHICKEN WINGS: Trays of wings with sides of bbq, mild and hot sauces

— HOT & MILD POLISH SAUSAGES: Locally made and grilled on the Big Egg Grill

— BRATWURST: Local ones, grilled on the Big Green Egg Ceramic grill by Rick

— HOMEMADE ROAST BEEF: Vinny’s secret recipe

— SIDES: (probably Green Beans)

— SALAD: with various homemade dressings

— SOUP – the homemade soup of the day is always a slam dunk

Don’t want the buffet? No problem, Vinny’s has a full menu and will be featuring 1/2 pound and 1/4 pound Angus Burgers, grilled on the Big Green Egg. Rick will also be grilling up Chicken Breasts

All You Want Broasted Wings, 3 Different Sauces

Join us for some great sports grub – Saturday Night’s alright for biting !

Vinny Nyhan and his staff will be fixing some delicious food, do your part and come out !

If you have tickets to the game, this is the place to pre-party. If you don’t have tickets, feel free to pre-party, then stay and drink some brews while watching U.D. end the regular season with a win. GO FLYERS !

Win every day by following Food Adventures with Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax on Facebok, by clicking here. Enjoy our weekly articles featuring Dayton’s best food scoop, right here on Dayton Most Metro!

The Event

2205 Dryden Rd, Moraine, OH 45439

Vinny – the Big Guy

Food Adventures Crew

Drinks and more

Rick for Ricks Tropical Delights on the Ceramic Grill

Broasted Wings

Broasting Machine

Steaming Sausages

Homemade Soup

Inside Big Green Egg

Vinny and his Parents

Vinny and Rick

Great food

Out Front

IndoorTailgate Buffet

Chicken wings and more

Big Green Egg – Ceramic Grill

Mystery Monday – February 29, 2016

February 29, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 5 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week Four’s Mystery Photo is: The Huffman Block Building aka David Building on East Third Street in Downtown Dayton.

Many of you got this one right! Congratulations to our winner Emily Kim! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way! I took this photo on December 17, 2015.

This building will be part of the exciting new Fire Blocks District redevelopment by The Ellway Group which is projected to include 57 residential units and 10 1st floor retail units. Here are some interesting facts about the Huffman Block Building from fireblocksdistrict.com.

The Huffman Block Building aka David Building on East Third Street in Downtown Dayton

On May 14, 1914, the Dayton Daily News announced that the Huffman heirs had taken out a permit for the construction of a $125,000 building on the north side of East Third between Jefferson and St. Clair streets. The heirs included William H. Simms, Charles H. Simms, Miss Lizzie Harries, Mrs. L H Mumma, Mrs. Mary L. Aull and Miss Anna M. Huffman, all members of well-known business families in Dayton. Construction of the Huffman Block (111-129 Was Third street) began in June, 1914 and was completed by late December of that year.

On February 7, 1915, the newspaper published an article praising the building and extolling its many modern features. Titled “New Huffman Block Credit to City: Modern New Business Block Rises from Ruins of Building Lot by Fire,” it clearly illustrates the city’s fascination with the ultra-modern, “fireproof” buildings quickly becoming an important part of the city streetscape.

The building housed a variety of small retail and light industrial companies including The Patterson Tool and Supply Company, the Dayton Iron and Steel Company, the Dayton Boiler Compound Company, the Burnett-Larsh Manufacturing Company plus office supply and furniture stores.

Constructed in 1914, it is an excellent example of the conservative Commercial style buildings common to many urban streetscapes in this period. This wide brick veneer building is ten bays wide. The high concrete foundation is faced with polished granite. Bays 1-4 and 7-10 are commercial store fronts. Bays were altered by First National Bank to allow for a drive through service. Above the first story retail bays, the Chicago Commercial style windows are divided by brick piers. A brackets cornice is located just below the parapet. The parapet is shaped above the first, last and center bays. The rear facade is red brick and is banded with 2/2 light windows.

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 Five:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Make dinner in 180 seconds? Rapid Fired Does!

February 26, 2016 By Dayton937 15 Comments

Traditonal! An old classic, the Pepperoni Pan Pizza

We’ve all lived this scenario in one form or another: You’re hungry. Your kids are hungry. Your spouse is hungry. You look in your pantry and you’re dreading making dinner and how long it’ll take to cook something that everyone will actually agree on. People in your house are getting hungry, and angry … Yes, “Hanger” is setting in. Things are about to get ugly… (learn how to win a FREE PIZZA below).

Have no fear! Rapid Fire Pizza is here! Finally a place where you can get a personal sized pizzas made your way, fast and fresh and affordable! It’s no secret that our crew of Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House love pizza and Rapid Fired not only puts out a great product, but every time you go it’s a new Food Adventure created by YOU!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Rapid Fire Pizza is the newest endeavor by a collaboration of restaurant entrepreneurs! This foodie dream team consists of Ray Wiley (Co-Founder of Hot Head Burritos) as well as Kelly Gray, Matt Curtis, Tim Tefs, Peter Wiley, and Jim Savakinas all of whom have years of experience in developing local franchises in the Dayton area. This newest pizza endeavor was inspired by the growing popularity of “quick-serve” restaurants that allow for the consumer to have the options of choosing fresh ingredients, fast service and at the right price!

The Sky is The Limit with Toppings

—Rapid Fired Pizza starts you out with choosing your crust (“thin”, “pan” or even gluten free), and all dough is made fresh and in house. Next you have multiple options of toppings including 8 different sauces, 7 varieties of cheese, 9 kinds of meat, and 17 different veggies! Oh! And Tofu too! They then send it through the rapid oven and BAM! 180 seconds later you have dinner!

— But that’s not all! You can also finish off your pizza with one of 8 different spices and indulge in 14 different dipping sauces!

— Overwhelmed by the options? Don’t worry, the pizza gurus at Rapid Fired have also created 10 different “Craft Pizzas” and take the stress of the decision making. There truly is something for everyone!

Wait, there’s still more! Let’s just start drooling over our “Must Eats”, shall we? Drum roll please …..

MUST EATS:

— CREATE-YOUR-OWN PIZZA: Obviously the biggest bonus of indulging in Rapid Fire Pizza is the option to create your own pizza. And at $7.25 each, you can feed your family a dinner that pleases everyone while still keeping it fresh and budget friendly. They will even split pizzas for you, so you can try one half one way, and the other half another! Chef House loves loading up with the fresh veggies and hot sauces, Big Ragu is obsessed with putting ricotta cheese on his pizzas, and Hungry Jax has been experimenting with sauces and has become a “regular.”

— CRAFT SALADS: Oh yes, you read that right, there’s a salad option too… And they are HUGE! Not only do these guys know how to make a good pizza, they’ve also created 4 different Craft Salads, all under 400 calories. Wanna create your own? You can do that too! For $7.25 you can get a salad big enough to share or fulfill a healthy appetite. Hungry Jax has really been hooked on these,recently.

Craft Salads are chopped to make it easier to eat!

Craft Salads are chopped to make them easier to eat!

— WHITE OUT PIZZA: There are 10 “suggested craft pizza recipes” to choose from, but we gotta say that The White Out is a favorite. Topped with their white sauce, mozzarella, feta, grilled chicken, garlic, the White Out is then loaded with fresh arugula after it comes out from the oven!

— TACO PIZZA: Want something with more kick? Then the Taco Pizza is clearly a winner for you! This pizza is layered with the taco sauce, Monetary Jack cheese, Cheddar cheese, ground beef and then topped with fresh tomatoes and lettuce after it’s done baking

— GARLIC BUTTER DIPPING SAUCE: A creamy, garlicky dip that will embrace just about any combination on their menu! You have 14 dipping sauces to choose from, and our favorite is the Garlic Butter, but the key is to experiment yourself. Not sure what sauce to try? Well for one thing, there is no limit, so try them all! But to further assist you on this Food Adventure, they even have a sign identifying pizza and sauce parings that the creates have personally taste tested and approved for your culinary pleasure!

The one and ony: BlueBerry Delight Dessert Pie

— BLUEBERRY DELIGHT DESSERT PIZZA: Yup. It’s true, there’s even a dessert pizza! It is a warm, sweet and delicious way to finish off your dinner. We like to get it to go and let the indulging continue at home. Glasses of Milk welcomed on this one.

— GOLDEN MONKEY BEER: Beer and pizza are a match made in Heaven. Chef House is a fan of the 24 bottled craft beer selection at Rapid Fired, and she says the best one is the Golden Monkey. This beer is made in Pennsylvania by Victory Brewing Company, and is a Belgium Tripel. It has a nice, deep flavor with subtle spices added.

— DIGITAL PEPSI SPIRE MACHINE: Not a beer drinker? Don’t worry, they have a state of the art Pepsi Spire (digital fountain machine) allowing you to choose from 120 different beverage combinations.

All in all, the folks at Rapid Fired Pizza want to give you a dining experience that can be new and different each time you go there. They are also rapidly expanding their franchise. Look for locations popping up in Fairborn, Sugarcreek, Huber Heights and Troy.

*** BIG NEWS *** BEAVERCREEK LOCATION OPENS MONDAY, FEB 29th
2800 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn, OH – right across from Wright State University and in front of the Holiday Inn

TO CELEBRATE, Food Adventures and MOSTMETRO.Com are GIVING AWAY 4 FREE PIZZA’s for either location.

TO ENTER, JUST COMMENT ON THE STORY BELOW, ON WHY YOU WANT A PIZZA.. A random winner will be chosen at the beginning of next week by random.

The original Rapid Fired Pizza is located at 1008 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, in Washington Township and coming soon to Sugarcreek Township, Troy and Huber Heights.

So next time you’re out and hunger creeps up on you, just remember, 180 seconds is all that stands between you and dinner!

Please browse the photos below from our various trips to Rapid Fired Pizza. Are you a Foodie? Then join the thousands following Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Created our own with Pepperoni, Onion, Ricotta, Green Pepper, Mushroom, Tomatoes and Banana Peppers

Kids Love Rapid Fired, because they can make the pizza their way, and it is fun !

Outside the Centerville Store

Chef House loaded up on Veggies for the “Create your Own” option

The “White Out”

Big Ragu always goes Sauce Crazy

Artichokes, Chicken, Peppers and more for Hungry Jax

Create your own salads! Hungry Jax with another nice creation.

Signage – custom and clean

Sauces / and pairings

Sauce Zone !

Rapid Fired Pizza= Happy kids

Lots of options and hot sauce drizzle

now entering the SAUCE ZONE

So many good sauces…

Mozzarella and Ricotta? HELL YEAH

Careful, some have a kick to them

Decorating it …. our waaaaaaaaaay

Ragu’s Pizza this week….

The Magic Mushroom Pizza

Taco Pizza

29 Spots Serving Up Pancakes For Feb 28th “Day of Caring”

February 25, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

This Sunday, Feb 28th is a fundraiser for the homeless and hungry

Shelter and food…. we all need it. We all deserve a warm meal, and a warm, dry place to live, protected from of the elements.
Daytonians who are the most at risk, lack these very basics needs of life. It is easy to take such things for granted as we go about our business during everyday life. But this weekend, local volunteers are putting the poor as first priority. The Annual “A Day of Caring” event is being held at various Miami Valley religious centers and event spaces. It will benefit hungry and homeless from local neighborhoods. Join The Food Adventures Crew Sunday, and support this cause any way you can.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:
— WHEN: Sunday, February 28th, most breakfast events are starting between 8am-10am, but check the list below

— WHAT: “A Day of Caring,” where over one thousand volunteers from various churches and charities are hosting dozens of Pancake Breakfasts. One hundred percent of ticket sales go right back to local organizations like Dayton area food banks and Montgomery County housing charities.

— WHERE: CLICK HERE for a list of over 30 sites serving the pancake breakfasts for charity

Since 1991 the “Day of Caring” events have raised over $500,000 for local charities. This year seeks to add another $45,000 to the total.

Please support the “Day of Caring,” with a delicious breakfast

Chef House, Hungry Jax, and the Big Ragu, challenge our fellow Daytonians to get involved with a “Day of Caring” this Sunday, by attending a breakfast, volunteering your time or making a donation directly at this link HERE.

The effect of donations to these local food pantries and housing areas on the community is tremendous. Help a hungry and homeless neighbor. Visit one of the participating locations for the “Day of Caring.”

Want to volunteer? For more information on how you can get involved, go to the Day of Caring Website at http://dayofcaring.us/

Follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here and catch us EVERY week for articles on DaytonMostMetro .com

Mystery Monday – February 22, 2016

February 22, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Remains of a street car in the Argonne Forest at Possum Creek MetroPark – January 6, 2016

Welcome to Week 4 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week Three’s Mystery Photo is: The remains of a street car in the Argonne Forest at Possum Creek MetroPark in Dayton.

Streetcars from the 1920s once sat in Argonne Forest Park

Unfortunately, there wasn’t one person that answered correctly. The Rapid Fired Pizza certificates will have to stay put until next week. I took this photo on January 6, 2016 during an impromptu Winter hike.

Here are some interesting facts about the old Argonne Forest Park from history.metroparks.org.

Argonne Forest Park was founded in 1930 by Daytonian Null Hodapp, who returned from WWI and had a successful career as a judge in the area. Null purchased nearly 400 acres of wooded land along Germantown Pike and named the property Argonne Forest Park in honor of the Unit he served in during the war. Development of the park began with the construction of a veteran’s clubhouse. Behind the clubhouse, to the south, was a carnival-like midway. Development of the clubhouse area was followed by other additions. These included a swimming hole and diving platform, baseball diamond, shooting range, dance hall, pony and horse tracks, and a figure-eight auto race track.

It was not until World War II and gas rationing that crowds began to dwindle and the demise of Argonne Forest Park soon followed. After Hodapp’s death in 1945, some small parcels of land were sold off. In 1966, the park district bought the remaining land.

A part of the area today, still called Argonne Forest, is located in the northwest portion of the park. Dominated by tall beech trees, it is not unusual to hear the hoot of a great horned owl or see deer while walking the trails here. The close observer can still find hints of the original park. A low L-shaped wall, once part of the swimming pool, can still be seen and remains of three street cars are hidden on the forest floor. A large cement square, which may have been part of the dance floor, also remains. Most of the figure-eight auto track is now under a lake built by the Park District in 1979, but a hiking trail still follows portions of the old track. The building that was once the veterans’ clubhouse still stands on the southeast corner of Germantown Pike and Frytown Road. Behind it, some of the buildings that were part of the carnival midway remain.

I’d like to give special thanks to Amy Forsthoefel, Marketing Research Manager with Five Rivers MetroParks for providing me with research resources for this article.

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 Four:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Sure Shots

February 16, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Sure Shots!

We love to get excited about things becoming bigger and better. We watch the places that follow all the trends, trying desperately to either keep up with them or get ahead of what they are doing. More craft beers, larger cocktail menus, more and more food options. All of it in the name of trying to attract more customers. That may be the expected thing to do when you own a bar or restaurant, but it is not always the right thing. Occasionally the right thing is to be the solid rock in a sea of changing tastes. Sure Shots has been following this path for as long as I have been stopping in, and they must be doing something right. Approaching the bar from the outside, you can tell this is a no frills place where people just come for a good time and a cold beer.

The first thing that is going to strike you when you open the door to Sure Shots is a whiff of cigarette smoke. As long as it has been since the smoking ban settled on the state of Ohio, there are still bars out there where that oddly comforting aroma still lingers. The second thing that struck me is the lack of light. This is a bar where, once you are in, hours can fly by and you would not know it. The main source of lighting was focused on the pool tables and dart boards, and a few large television screens around the perimeter. There is also a nice selection of music on the juke box, and the soft glow of a Jägermeister machine and a drink mixing machine preparing Apple Pie Shots for the unsuspecting masses. A few portions of the wall are also well lit that show off their community outreach by supporting local teams, or dart and pool league champions.

Time for some beers and some pool. Not in that order.

Sure Shots is a nuts-and-bolts bar. Minus the Jaeger machine, nothing is on tap, all the beer is by the can or bottle. They like to support locals in their drink selection when they can, offering Warped Wing favorites behind the bar and some Belle of Dayton for all your vodka sipping needs. They carry a few nice liquor choices, like Hennessy and Johnny Walker Black, but there are no rarities or odd flavors that beg to try something new. The Everclear may give you a few dirty looks, but that is really what Everclear does. Every night there is a different drink special, from $5 Root Beer Floats on Mondays to $3.50 Caramel Apples on Wednesday and Saturday. The food menu, like the bar, is also no frills. Come on in for a pizza or a soft pretzel, but that is all you are going to be able to find. That being said, is there anything better to soak up drinks like pizza and pretzels? No, no there isn’t.

The best part of every place we visit are the surprises. Are you a third shift worker? You can swing by Sue Shots when you get off of your shift, since they are one of the few local bars that are open at 5:30 AM. In the area early on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning? You can enjoy a little breakfast while you are there. Eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, all of the basics one would expect for a morning meal. This is also the official Home of the Apple Pie Shot. It has an impact similar to a Bad Juan; you do not feel it at first, but it is something that packs a punch. Apples and rum pair very well together, but one would think that 151 would make its presence more known than it does. Slide in a little of that shifty Everclear, and you have a shot that will definitely grabs your attention.

Many of my friends have stumbled out of this bar in the wee hours of the morning after a long night at work. Every time I have been there the atmosphere has been cheerful, if not fairly boisterous from time to time. There is always a pool game in the corner, and the bar staff is hustling hard to make sure beers everyone has a drink and is having a great time. What more do you want from a local watering hole? Cheers!

Sure Shots is located at 3121 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45420. They are open daily from 5:30 AM to 2:30 AM. You can like them on their Facebook page to stay up to date on their specials and other events.

Mystery Monday – February 15, 2016

February 15, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 3 of Mystery Mondays. While many of you guessed it was Matilda Stanley “Queen of the Gypsies” at Woodland Cemetery or a headstone at Calvary Cemetery, the answer to Week Two’s Mystery Photo is: The Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont between Immaculate Conception School and Immaculate Conception Parish Church on Smithville Road in Dayton’s Belmont neighborhood.

Congratulations to our winner Theresa Hatton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way! I took this photo on October 15, 2015 during my shoot for ICS’s 75th Anniversary celebration.

Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont – October 15, 2015

Entrance to Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont – October 16, 2015

Here are some interesting facts about the Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont, which was formally dedicated on May 18, 1958 along with a new addition to Immaculate Conception School by the Most Rev. Karl J. Alter, Archbishop of Cincinnati.

Our Lady of Bel-Mont

The title, Our Lady of Bel-Mont, means “Our Lady of the Beautiful Hill or Mountain.” Mary stands upon the Mount of Heaven to bestow upon us the graces won by Christ her Son upon the Cross. She prays for us and obtains His blessing for us. At the Shrine, besides the statue of Mary, are eight other figures, all carved of solid marble, at Pietrasanta, Italy. The figure of Mary shows her standing upon a cloud, having at her feet the moon. She is clothed in a queenly robe, and wears a crown upon her head. Her hands are extended to receive us.

I’d like to give special thanks to Father Satish Joseph and Parish Secretary Martha Lombard for providing me with research materials (1966 dedication program for the church’s current building) regarding the Shrine of Our Lady of Belmont.