Dayton

Woody Allen’s IRRATIONAL MAN – starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone & Parker Posey – Opens Friday at THE NEON

August 5, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

We had another solid weekend at THE NEON. Many thanks for your continued support! MR. HOLMES is going to stick around, but as anticipated, INFINITELY POLAR BEAR will only screen until Thursday. For this week’s remaining showtimes, please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com. On Friday, we will open Woody Allen’s latest film – IRRATIONAL MAN – starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone & Parker Posey.

Synopsis for IRRATIONAL MAN: “Woody Allen’s IRRATIONAL MAN is about a tormented philosophy professor who finds a will to live when he commits an existential act. Philosophy professor Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) is at rock bottom emotionally, unable to find any meaning or joy in life. Abe feels that everything he’s tried to do, from political activism to teaching, hasn’t made any difference. Soon after arriving to teach at a small town college, Abe gets involved with two women: Rita Richards (Parker Posey), a lonely professor who wants him to rescue her from her unhappy marriage; and Jill Pollard (Emma Stone), his best student, who becomes his closest friend. Pure chance changes everything when Abe and Jill overhear a stranger’s conversation and become drawn in…” (taken from Sony Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Don’t forget that this Thursday, August 6 at 7:30, director Enzo Libertini will premiere his new film THRESHOLD (Libertini has a background in theater, this is his first feature film). “Three slackers wake up to find their friend is missing and in the search for his whereabouts they continue their normal routine that is both odd and compelling. When this routine becomes threatened they must face what’s been holding them back and cross the threshold into truly living. Filmmaker Enzo Libertini brings an epic comedy to the screen for the first time. Libertini began his work on the stage, with original plays Fulmination and Fall for This.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are on sale now for $8 each at THE NEON’s box office.

On Thursday, August 27 at 7:30, we will hold the world premiere of the new film DIARY OF A DEADBEAT: THE STORY OF JIM VANBEBBER. “Jim VanBebber, an uncompromising, underground, outlaw filmmaker from Greenville, Ohio has become one of the most infamous and controversial American independent filmmakers of our time. VanBebber brought us such cult classics as DEADBEAT AT DAWN (The first feature film made in Dayton, Ohio) MY SWEET SATAN, THE MANSON FAMILY, and many others. Diary of a Deadbeat is a documentary that follows his life from his early super 8mm films to his strange days in Hollywood. It features interviews with an eclectic group of artists such as Phil Ansemlo (Pantera), Richard Kern (Trangressive Film Director), Nivek Ogre (Skinny Puppy), R.A the Rugged Man, and many more. Director Victor Bonacore will be in attendance, granting the world the first look at this documentary that has been in the works for over five years! Be the first to see the much-anticipated and long-awaited Diary of a Deadbeat at its world premiere, for only $5!” Tickets on sale now at THE NEON’s box office.

A Reminder About PARKING! Parking across from our front door (the old Greyhound lot) is free for our customers at any time. In addition, we do validate for parking in the parking garage on weekdays after 6pm and all day on Saturday and Sunday. (In the event that the Convention Center is hosting a special event, do not pay an attendant for parking on your way in…simply state that you’re heading to THE NEON and you require a ticket that will be later validated.)

Thanks for your continued support.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, August 7 – Thursday, August 13:

IRRATIONAL MAN (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:30, 7:40

MR. HOLMES (PG) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday & Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Aug. 14 – TESTAMENT OF YOUTH
Aug. 21 – THE END OF THE TOUR
Aug. 28 – DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL
Sept. 11 – MISTRESS AMERICA Sept. 18 – LEARNING TO DRIVE
TBD: THE HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED

10th Annual Miami Valley Music Fest This Weekend!

July 29, 2015 By LIbby Ballengee

The Dayton music scene has always been exciting and innovative, and it can certainly be difficult to keep up with all the great bands and musicians playing around town. This weekend offers the perfect opportunity to see a large grouping of local talent, at the 10th Annual Miami Valley Music Fest. This two day music festival based in Troy, features over 50 musical acts on four stages, over the course of just two days! The lineup is eclectic and really showcases the best of Dayton’s music scene. What’s more, the proceeds benefit local charities. It’s a win-win for sure, making this the “don’t miss” event of the weekend!

Photo by j. Allen Laack, LaackPhotography.com

Your ticket price includes all the fabulous music, and also camping at the beautiful Eagles Campground they have prepared (address below). There are also children’s activities for those bringing the little ones, and a special VIP option, for those who want to step up their game! For the complete schedule, click here.

The Miami Valley Music Festival Association is a 501(c)(3) public charity organized in Miami County, OH with the purpose of hosting music events to raise funds and awareness for local charitable causes. Their “Charity Rocks!” initiative seeks to educate the public on opportunities to give back to the community, and expose younger festival audiences to the public services offered by non-profit organizations. The MVMFA continually develops programming that shows how charitable giving cannot only be easy and accessible, but also fun.

Want to learn even more about this festival? Check out the interview with Gem City Podcast here. It’s a great way to dig in and get the inside info on this awesome festival.

How to go?

When? July 31st & August 1st. Music runs 5pm – 2am on Friday, and 11am – 2am on Saturday. (Did I mention there are FOUR stages?!)

Where? Troy Eagles Campground at 2252 Troy-Urbana Rd, Troy, OH 45373

How much? $45 Pre-sale, $60 at Gate. $125 VIP. Additional options available. Click here to purchase or get further information.

Why? Because Charity Rocks!! And Dayton does too!

McGillicutty’s: The Greatest Breadsticks in the World

July 25, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Best Breadsticks in the World are at McGillicutty’s, but get a side of garlic butter for dipping

The waitress brings the overflowing basket of breadsticks to the table, still steaming…. Then the look….. you glance at the others at the table. Should you grab a piece and risk being seen as rude? Do you pause and risk not getting one of the best breadsticks in the world? These are the kind of problems you will face at McGillicutty’s.

A popular Kettering icon, McGillicutty’s has always been known for their food and libations. Let’s face it, it’s bar food, and McGillicutty’s has some of the best in town. Whether it is Tuesday Night Trivia night, or lounging after a Softball game, it is the perfect place for a laid back Food Adventure.

For decades, the Food Adventures Crew has been hitting up McGillicutty’s for good eats, and here is the full scoop on this pub.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Mega Mug at Mcgillicutty’s – They had ’em first !

— The Kash family has been running McGillicutty’s since the early 1990’s, and are some of the friendliest hosts around.

— The location at 1980 E. Whipp Rd. was a former Noble Roman’s restaurant in the 1970’s and 80’s

— The smell of pizza dough hits you as you walk into the door, and the low key atmosphere is great. We know it is a family friendly tavern, but we prefer slinging back some drinks and grub with the adult crew.

— A solid group of regulars support the place from dart leagues to Tuesday Trivia (the best in town), and Sunday night Karaoke.

— They dont use deep fryers, they use pizza ovens to bake their menu items. The result is some inventive and delicious ways to enjoy various traditional favorites.

— Known for festival involvement, another big day for McGillicutty’s is St Patricks Day ! They go bananas on that holiday….

What is the best of this extensive menu? We’ve got the answers after years of research. Without further delay, we present our patented MUST EATS of McGillicuttys !

MUST EATS:

— PRETZELSTICKS (BREADSTICKS): When we say must eat, we mean it here. These are the best breadsticks we have ever tasted. Here is secret #1. They are called pretzelsticks on the menu, which means they are lightly salted. Secret #2 is that you must try them with the garlic butter sauce or the cream cheese sauce. Sure the nacho sauce is good and so is the marinara, but the garlic butter and the cream cheese are the top 2, no doubt. You won’t see these tips anywhere else, because nobody else knows about them, except you. Aren’t you glad to be our partners in food?

The Pepperoni Pizza from McGillicutty’s is where it’s at

— THE PEPPERONI PIZZA: The pizza is the key. Thin crust, square cut Dayton style pizza. The sauce give McGillicutty’s it’s unique taste as does the cheese and the taste of the crisp dough edges. Deluxe pizzas are great, and loaded toppings are wonderful, but for some reason we keep coming back to the basic Pepperoni as our favorite. WARNING: the pizza is served ultra hot and we fight the urge and still burn our mouth from time to time. So.. beware !

— THE MEGA MUG: Long before Mexican restaurants or any other bar had the huge mugs, McGillicutty’s had the MEGA MUG. These 34 ounce mugs are perfect for ice cold draft beers, and MEGA MONDAY’s means they are only $3.50 for domestics. No matter what day it is, get a Mega Mug of draft beer with your pizza and breadsticks. So good, so cold, so thirst quenching…

Teezers are Long Tater Tots Stuffed with Jalapeno Cheese

— THE TEEZERS: Tater Tots with spicy cheese inside. A perfect opening to a McGillicutty’s visit. We have had others, but not like these. Maybe it is because they bake them instead of deep fry them. Maybe it is jalapeno cheese inside. Whatever the reason, we can’t stop eating these bad boys with a side of cream cheese!

— THE ITALIAN STEAK SANDWICH: Served in a basket with chips, you can get a half or whole sandwich. It is a cube steak with cheese and pizza sauce. They added onions & banana peppers, all on a hoagie bun. For some reason the combo is a perfect sandwich after a Softball game, or for watching a sports event.

— THE WINGS: These are broiled, not fried, so they may be an acquired taste. Still, get them well done and get the Buffalo Hot sauce and you should be good. Different enough to try, and good enough to keep ordering. The Buffalo sauce is the best option here. We order them extra crispy, plain and dip the wings in the hot sauce.

The Philly Cheesesteak from McGillicutty’s, this is just a half, order yours whole with extra mayo

HONORABLE MENTION to the PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH at McGillicutty’s. It s nicely flavored shaved beef on a hoagie roll. Asking for a dash of extra mayo is the secret to this one.

Did those peak your interest?

Next time when you are hungry and thirsty, try McGillicutty’s on a warm summer day, and even enjoy their parking lot patio. Casual drinks, casual grub and a sports tavern atmosphere is the appeal here. And you must order the GREATEST BREADSTICKS IN THE WORLD ! You may just even see the Food Adventures Crew inside with a Mega Mug and a pizza!

Want some more inside scoop on Dayton area eateries? Then join Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax on Facebook HERE ! We are not food critics, we just love to eat ! We visit a restaurant many times before we write a feature article. We don’t go to a place one time and then rate it, that’s an insult to you, the reader. No stock photos here. Look for the most reliable, complete and informative reviews from Dayton’s fave foodies, Food Adventures!

Join us on Instagram: #dayton_foodies

Follow us on Twitter: @food_adv

Broiled Wings from McGillicutty’s – never deep fried

Outside McGillicutty’s on 198o E. Whipp Rd

Italian Cheese steak – the pizza sauce makes it.. We know, we eat it a lot

Pizzas here are phenomenal

Mega Mugs of Blue Moon Beer

Family Friendly Pub

At the bar

Opening hour

Tall Mugs – even of pop

Laid back, casual

Breadsticks – actually listed as PRETZELSTICKS on the menu

Battered Pickles

The Cheeseburger isnt bad

Potato Skins at ‘Cuttys

Mushroom and Pep

Up close pizza money shot

The Breadsticks we all know and love

Making Pizzas since the early 90’s and knocking it out of the park

Funk Fusion Jams at Jimmie’s

July 24, 2015 By LIbby Ballengee

If you are interested in the excitement and dynamic energy that comes from improv, funk, and jams, you are in for a real treat Saturday night at Jimmie’s Ladder 11. Family Jam Productions is hosting one of the regular “Big Damn Jam” sessions, this time featuring Mr. Todd Stoops. Stoops was the keyboardist for the ultra popular funk fusion band, Kung Fu. Now solo and on the road, Stoops is making his first appearance in Dayton at this epic jam session.

You will also see all the usual stars from the Big Damn family, including Bryan Russell, Dale Lutz, Kevin Dumont, George Stix Furman, Tracy Sax Lakes, Jonny Dread,Melissa Nicole Henry, Eric Henry, and Norman Dimitrouleas! Zane Gerlach will be opening the show. Don’t miss this one!
Doors at 9pm
Music at 10pm
18+ W/ VALID ID
$5 Cover

Ian McKellen’s MR. HOLMES Opens Friday at THE NEON!

July 22, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

This Friday, we will open the film that many regulars have been asking about – MR. HOLMES. Directed by Bill Condon (KINSEY) and starring Ian McKellen & Laura Linney, this film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and I’m certain many of you will love it. In addition, we will hold all three current films for one more week – AMY, THE OVERNIGHT and ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com. On July 31, we plan to open INFINITELY POLAR BEAR – starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana.

Synopsis for MR. HOLMES: “MR HOLMES is a new twist on the world’s most famous detective. 1947, an aging Sherlock Holmes returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days tending to his bees, with only the company of his housekeeper and her young son, Roger. Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement, and searches for answers to the mysteries of life and love – before it’s too late.” (taken from Roadside Attractions) Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times wrote, “Maneuvering shrewdly within the boundaries of the traditional canon and aided by the impeccable performance of Ian McKellen, Bill Condon directs an elegant puzzler that presents the sage of Baker Street dealing with the one thing he’s never had to contend with before: his own emotions.” Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

On Thursday, July 30 at 7:30, the Sierra Club Miami Group will host a special screening of a new film. “BAG IT is a documentary centered around life without plastic. ‘Everyman’ Jeb Berrier embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of the plastic world. BAG IT investigates plastic on our waterways, ocean gyres, and even our own bodies! Finally, a movie that tackles the plastic industry and what we can do about it. Today! Right now! BAG IT won the Audience Choice at Telluride Mountainfilm Festival and Princeton Environmental Film Festival. This screening will be presented by the Sierra Club Miami Group, one of Ohio’s largest and oldest environmental group with over four thousand members.” (taken from press notes) Tickets for this FREE Screening will be given on a first come, first serve basis starting one hour before showtime.

On Thursday, August 6 at 7:30, director Enzo Libertini will premiere his new film THRESHOLD (Libertini has a background in theater, this is his first feature film). “Three slackers wake up to find their friend is missing and in the search for his whereabouts they continue their normal routine that is both odd and compelling. When this routine becomes threatened they must face what’s been holding them back and cross the threshold into truly living. Filmmaker Enzo Libertini brings an epic comedy to the screen for the first time. Libertini began his work on the stage, with original plays Fulmination and Fall for This.” (taken from press notes) Tickets will be $8 each and will be available at THE NEON’s box office starting this weekend.

The Dayton Tiny House Community is hoping to bring a new film to town – SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: A TINY HOUSE DOCUMENTARY. This is a tugg event, so 50+ more tickets must be reserved for the screening to take place on Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 (those reservations need to be made on the official site by Aug. 1). “In Portland, Oregon, we meet four characters, each of whom are at various stages of building and living in their own tiny homes…Ultimately this story proves that it’s not what’s inside the walls of a tiny house that counts, but rather it is the strong community of like minded people who support each other as they dare to be different.” (taken from tugg) You can read more about this film, watch a trailer and reserve your tickets on the official site. Here’s the LINK.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, July 24 – Thursday, July 30:

AMY (R) 2 Hrs 8 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 7:15
Monday – Wednesday: 7:30

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL (PG-13) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:45, 5:15
Sunday: 12:45
Monday – Thursday: 3:00

THE OVERNIGHT (R) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday & Saturday: 3:15, 9:45
Sunday: 3:15
Monday – Thursday: 5:30

MR. HOLMES (PG) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday & Saturday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday: 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

BAG IT (NR) 1 Hr 14 Min
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 31 – INFINITELY POLAR BEAR
Aug. 7 – IRRATIONAL MAN
Aug. 14 – TESTAMENT OF YOUTH
Aug. 21 – THE END OF THE TOUR
Aug. 28 – DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL
GRANDMA, SAINT LAURENT,
THE HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED

Get Your Garlic On This Sunday!

July 16, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Menus in concert for FREE Sunday at 5:30pm at Garlic Fest at 2625 County Line Rd !

The Menus in concert for free, 15 Food Vendors, Bocce Ball, Cooking Demos, and Beer. Foodies and hungry people of Dayton, we proudly announce that Garlic Fest is ready for you this Sunday. Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures has the EXCLUSIVE SCOOP on food and timeline of the day!

This is the ONLY spot that will list EVERY food vendor and point you in the way of a great garlic loving time!

Come out……. it is in your breath interest !

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— THE 2015 GARLIC FEST will be held at the Sons of Italy’s Bella Villa Hall at 2625 County Line Rd in Beavercreek

— The event is FREE & will be held from NOON – 8PM

FOOD AND TIMELINE:

The Spicy Olive Oil Company will be selling flavor infused Olive Oils, Balsamics and more

11:30am: The Bocce Classic bocce ball tournament will be underway, and food vendors will be warming up their grills and kitchens.

FOOD VENDORS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (food booths will be open noon-8pm).

12pm NOON (Food & Beer will be available until 8pm)

1) THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT: Look for the kings of comfort food, to throw a Lithuanian twist into Garlic Fest. Look for some Garlic Cheese Fries and a Mini Garlic Monkey bread creation. It looks like owner Joe Castellano will be showcasing his Italian roots as well!

2) BRIXX ICE CO.: What is a festival without Brixx? Chef and owner Chris Bhai always pushes the envelope while hitting home runs in taste. His menu will have Grilled Wings tossed in your choice of sauces including Award winning Spicy Garlic, Sriracha BBQ, or Creamy Parmesan. Also, look for an Italian Bologna Sandwich on Sun Dried Foccocia with Brixx Signature sauce. Garlic Parm Chicken on roll and homemade kettle chips will please too.. The MUST EAT is Garlic Mortadella Mac N Cheese…(((BOOM)).

Brixx will be featuring their Spicy Garlic Wings

3) EL MESON: The Latin food world will be well represented at Garlic Fest. El Meson will feature their famous Paella, as well as their incredible food truck menu. Their South American gourmet food is made with love, and you can taste it in every bite. Served with incredible presentation, the food tastes even better than it looks. Our Must Eats here are the Paella and Empanadas

4) GIOVANNI’S: The Italian pride of Fairborn is no stranger to garlic. They promise to feature a Garlic and Gorganzola Stuffed Burger, and Garlic Pulled Pork Sandwich with Coleslaw, among other treats. Our must eats here are the Italian Steamed Clams. Chef Cassaundra Spaziani is bringing the good to the fest!

5) GYRO PALACE: How about a Middle Eastern spin on garlic? Look now further than the masters at Gyro Palace. They are featuring garlic hummus, chicken shawarma and falafel with garlic sauce. Last but not least, their signature Gyros are MUST EATS, and will have a garlic Tzatki sauce.

Mamma DiSalvo’s will be on hand with some garlic sauced pasta !

6) KOWALSKI HOTS: The NY Hot dog guy brings his cart to fest with a garlic twist… literally. He will feature garlic butter breadsticks and a Garlic Dog with Sauerkraut option. He will have his regular hot dog menu available too. Try the Zweigel Red Hots with coney sauce or the Hoffmans brand White Hots with Hoffman’s Mustard &onions. These are Big Ragu and Hungry Jax’s faves. Thank us later.

7) MAMMA DISALVO’S RESTAURANT: Nothing says garlic like Mamma DiSalvo’s. They will be featuring a pasta dish with olive oil, tomatoes, sauce and GARLIC! They may even add a little asparagus. Whatever the dish, make sure you try the family restaurant that has stolen Dayton’s heart for over 3 decades! Bobby DiSalvo’s pasta dishes are MUST EATS !

The Mohawk Burger from Mohawk Freestyle Grill

8) MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL: Beijing Garlic Street Rolls are the special feature, a menu item you cannot get anywhere in the USA except Garlic Fest this Sunday.We love Chef Aaron and his big bites with big flavors. Our MUST EAT here is the Mohawk Burger.

9) RITTER’S FROZEN CUSTARD: He will have his regular, delicious menu available… a great choice in the heat! Look for the incredible sundaes that Daytonians have come to know and love. Our Must Eat is the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae!

10) SCRATCH CATERING: Ahh yes, the inventive vendor, Scratch Catering. What do they have in store? Well just one item will make your mouth water : Flash Fried Sweet Garlic Chili Chicken tossed in Garlic Parmesan Aioli Roasted Pepper and Sweet Garlic “Masa Tots” with Drawn Garlic Butter. Need we say more? When Chef Matt Hayden is around, get ready for some damn good food.

The delicious Ritter’s Frozen Custard will be on hand !

11) SONS OF ITALY’S HOLY CANNOLI BOOTH: It is like bigfoot, because not many have seen the Holy Cannoli. It is a cannoli dipped in a guarded recipe of batter. The cannoli is then deep fried until crisp. It is warm, it is gooey, it feels like you’re breaking the law. Come walk on the wild side and try a holy cannoli, or just try a regular cannoli .. you really can’t go wrong.

12) SWEET P’S HANDMADE ICE POPS: Perfect in warm weather, look for the one time only dark chocolate garlic pops! Handmade, hand crafted and one of a kind. Try them, you’ll love them. Our MUST EAT – the Nanna Cream pop!

13) TEXAS BEEF AND CATTLE COMPANY: A newcomer to the Dayton area, we are expecting some good brisket and pulled pork, offered in a garlic BBQ sauce ! We like the name and the swag, we are hoping for big things from this meat company!

14) THE SPICY OLIVE, OLIVE OIL STORE: Flavor infused olive oils that you will not find anywhere else. These oils and balsamics are some of Hungry Jax and Big Ragu’s favorite products on earth. These incredible olive oils have kicked our cooking up a notch, and are must haves for your kitchen. Look for the garlic lemon infused olive oil, along with many other garlic combinations.

Gyro Palace – Their gyros are the best with garlic Tzatziki sauce

15) VOLTZY’S: The hamburger king of Dayton is here and he is sassy and garlicky. Expect him selling some garlic burgers grilled with onions and topped with cheese. As always, insults are still free. If personality was music, owner Rick Voltzy would be a whole brass band.

16) THE BUDWEISER BEER BOOTH: The beer truck will be at the fest. Come grab beer from noon-8pm, must be 21 and over. ***Ask about buying a Garlic Fest Cup and saving money on refills.

2PM-4PM: ACOUSTIC MUSIC with DENNIS CHRISMAN. Laid back music, with this local, talented musician is sure to be a treat. Expect some classic rock and even a little country.

Oh, and there’s more at 2pm !

Try the White Hots with garlic sauce at Kowalski’s Hots

2:00PM: COOKING DEMO with “HUNGRY JAX” JACKIE SCANLAN: This wife and mom of two, hails from Utica, NY and brings her own special influence to the Kitchen. Growing up, this Italian girl was always in the kitchen and now as a mother, she is introducing her kids to culinary fun as well. Jackie has written some published recipes and is a passionate cook who has often volunteered for the DLM School of Cooking/Culinary Center over the years. She also part of Dayton’s favorite food blog, “Food Adventures.” Don’t miss her demo! Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

3:00PM: COOKING DEMO with CHEF JENN DiSANTO: Here is your chance to see a pro at work! Regarded as one of the best chefs in Dayton, Jenn owns her own catering business called “Fresco.“ Her style is fresh and her flavors are amazing. It is an educational experience whenever she is around a kitchen. Please don’t miss this demo, it is a rare opportunity to see one of the best in action. Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

The Texas Beef and Cattle Company will be there with a signature Garlic BBQ Sauce

4:00PM: COOKING DEMO with CHEF LEEANNE HOUSE: Time to heat things up! The spicy LeeAnne is known for her locally made Sriracha Sauce and Hot Honey, from her company, Housemade Sauces. Working in the food industry her whole life, she is now Executive Chef of Mudlick Tap House in Germantown. She is also featured in Dayton’s popular food blog, Food Adventures as well as a partner in the new hot dog truck “Bad Dog.”. Take this special opportunity to learn from her experience. In this cooking demo, we bet she will spice things up. Her nickname isn’t “Sriracha Mama” for nothing! Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

5:00PM: DAYTON’S 2015 GARLIC PEELING AND GARLIC EATING CONTEST: $100 goes to the first place winner of this contest. They will also win the strongest breath.. The Big Ragu from Food Adventures will emcee and host this contest on the stage. It will be a battle of the bulbs !

Garlic Peeling and Eating Contest winner gets $100 from the Big Ragu

5:30PM – 8:00PM: THE MENUS in CONCERT for FREE !!!!! Classic rock, 60’s, 70’s 80’s cover music and more! Watch the legendary, Cincinnati band play favorite party hits, while the lead singer kicks a few balloons while rocking the crowd!

NOTE: You may want to bring a folding chair if you plan to stay for the free Menus concert.

Be the brightest bulb in your group and join us at Garlic fest. Stop and smell the garlic! Good food, good beer, good music, all on the grounds of the Sons of Italy. A perfect match for a summer’s day. See you there…

Are you a Dayton foodie? Want more Dayton area Food Adventures? Stay tuned with the best food happenings in the Miami Valley by “liking” us on FACEBOOK HERE !

Paella from El Meson

Cooking Demo Schedule

Voltzy let us try a Garlic Burger Sample

Scratch Catering’s culinary whiz, Chef Matt Hayden will be in attendance !

Amber Rose will be rockin the Garlic Fries and Garlic Monkey Bread

Nanna Cream Ice pops from Sweet P’s OMG YES !

Local Musician/Singer Dennis Chrisman will be providing tunes during the day

Empanadas from El Meson

Come see the Holy Cannoli !

Voltzy will be selling these garlic burgers

Spicy Olive, Olive Oil store will be selling some amazing garlic oil combinations

Gyro Palace – we love your gyros

Taste the garlic goodness of El Meson’s Seafood Paella !

The Menus love food and music !

AMY Winehouse Doc & Sundance Sex Comedy THE OVERNIGHT at THE NEON!

July 14, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

Many thanks to everyone who has come out and supported AMY. Documentaries can be a tough sell, but we had several well attended screenings this past weekend. AMY will stick around for another week. On Friday, we will open a sex comedy that was a hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival – THE OVERNIGHT (this will likely be a one-week only engagement). We will also hold ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL for one more week…if you haven’t given this film a chance yet, I urge you to do so. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for THE OVERNIGHT: “Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, have recently moved to Los Angeles’s Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at his home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family ‘playdate’ becomes increasingly more revealing as the couples begin to open up.” (taken from The Orchard) Rolling Stone called this film “Sundance’s best sex comedy.” New York Magazine wrote, “Hilarious…there’s so much to love about this movie.” THE OVERNIGHT stars Adam Scott (PARKS AND RECREATION), Taylor Shilling (ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK), Jason Schwartzman (a Wes Anderson favorite) and Judith Godreche (she’s been in numerous NEON films including POTICHE, STOKER, and L’AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE). Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

The Dayton Tiny House Community is hoping to bring a new film to town – SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: A TINY HOUSE DOCUMENTARY. This is a tugg event, so 50+ more tickets must be reserved for the screening to take place on Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 (those reservations need to be made by Aug. 1). “In Portland, Oregon, we meet four characters, each of whom are at various stages of building and living in their own tiny homes…Ultimately this story proves that it’s not what’s inside the walls of a tiny house that counts, but rather it is the strong community of like minded people who support each other as they dare to be different.” (taken from tugg) You can read more about this film, watch a trailer and reserve your tickets on the official site. Here’s the LINK.

We are slated to open MR. HOLMES (starring Ian McKellen) next Friday. I know many of you are quite excited about this film, and I’m truly looking forward to it.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, July 17 – Thursday, July 23:

AMY (R) 2 Hrs 8 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40
Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 7:00
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:20, 7:50

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL (PG-13) 1 Hr 45 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunda: 12:40, 5:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:30, 7:45

THE OVERNIGHT (R) 1 Hr 20 Min
Friday & Saturday: 3:00, 9:45
Sunday: 3:00
Monday – Thursday: 6:00

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 24 – MR. HOLMES
Aug. 7 – IRRATIONAL MAN
TBD: TESTAMENT OF YOUTH, INFINITELY POLAR BEAR,
DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, GRANDMA, SAINT LAURENT,
THE HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED

Summer Grilling Tips for Great Food Adventures !

July 10, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Italian Seasoned Salmon, and Shrimp with Montgomery Inn BBQ Sauce

Who doesn’t love a good cookout? Most Daytonians are elbow deep in grilling season this summer. From parties, to romantic dinners or family time, this is the time of the year to use that gas or charcoal grill. The Food Adventures Crew is here with some helpful tips to make your grilling experiences a success. The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House share our MUST EATS an MUST DO’s.. Grilling out version!

— PREPARATION IS KEY: Prepare beforehand to make it easy on yourself. Marinade your meats and pre-slice veggies ahead of time instead of fumbling on the grill table. Ziplock bags work great to hold veggies doused in a bit of olive oil, and grill ready!

— MARINATE YOUR MEAT: A simple soaking can do wonders for tenderness and flavor.

Hungry Jax says “Marinade chicken in buttermilk! It makes it so tender!”

Big Ragu loves using Soy Sauce, Worcester Sauce, and Minced Garlic mixture for a simple steak marinade. For chicken, he uses a cheap bottle of Italian dressing or Olive Oil, Basil, Garlic Powder and Oregano.

Hand pressed patties from 80/20 Ground Chuck

— GET THE RIGHT TOOLS: Make sure your tongs and flipper are long enough, and that they work correctly. It will save you a few dropped sausages, or epic losses thru the grill grate.

— MEATS SHOULD BE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE WHEN GRILLING: Take cuts of meat out of fridge 30 minutes prior to grilling, so they are not cold. It won’t contaminate the meat! It will actually help you grill the meat more evenly.

— MAKE YOUR HAMBURGER PATTIES THINNER IN THE MIDDLE than the outside. Always hand patty your burgers with fresh meat, and make them thinner in the center. This is because the middle swells when you grill the burger. This helps even the playing field, and prevents your burgers becoming undercooked meatballs.

— HIGH HEAT FOR STEAKS, ALWAYS: Grill that steak and let it sit until that final flip. The result is a juicy, seared steak with great grill marks.

Grilled Sausages with Beer Steamed Onions and Green Peppers

— FISH, THE LESS FLIPPING THE BETTER: Cook fish about 75 percent then flip it once. Let the grill do the work. Wana see flipping seafood? Go to Benihana…

— DRIZZLE LIME OR LEMON JUICE OVER SEAFOOD RIGHT AT THE END OF GRILL TIME: This is always a great finishing touch of flavor.

— GRILL SALAD: Yes! Chef House says, Grill salad! It doesn’t always have to be about meat. Romaine, Belgium Endive and Radicchio are great together and hold up well on the grill. Wilt the greens and get some grill marks on there. Chop and toss with olive oil, vinegar and cheese. Chef House suggests sherry vinegar or a sweeter white balsamic with bleu cheese. Fresh herbs are always a nice touch too. Shout out to Miami Valley Spice Traders, who carries a great honey white balsamic vine

— GRILL PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS:

Chef House loves to marinate them overnight in orange juice, olive oil and garlic. So easy, and her family’s favorite.

The Big Ragu uses Worcester sauce, soy sauce and garlic powder for his Portabella Mushroom Grill Marinade.

— GRILL ASAPRAGUS: The Big Ragu uses Olive Oil and Garlic Salt when grilling these sticks of love.

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow SquashThe Big Ragu uses Olive Oil and Garlic Salt when grilling these sticks of love.

Chef House marinates her asparagus overnight in her family favorite recipe of orange juice, olive oil and garlic. Is your mouth watering yet?

— GRILL PIZZA: Hungry Jax loves this summer twist on the ole pizza pie. Make sure you have a hearty crust. Medium heat and inventive toppings are the key to pizza grilling success !

— HAVE A LOCAL LUAU: Impress your family and friends this summer and have an entire grilled meal from local vendors.

Here are some supplier ideas from Chef House:

Keener Farms, one of the the area’s best butcher blocks for grass fed burgers and brats.

Ed Hill owner of Xenia’s HILL FAMILY FARMS has great Chicken available at Dorothy Lane Market.

KJB PORK, available at the 2^nd street market.

Fresh veggies from Homefull, Patchwork Gardens or Flying Mouse. All of these local brands are found at area farmer’s markets.

— LEARN TO MAKE GREAT SAUCES: We love sauces to go along with grilled meat. Chimichurri is a huge favorite of Chef House and so versatile. Here is another tip from Chef House… www.Epicurious.com is a great site for new sauce recipes.

NY Strip Steak with Bleu Cheese Crumbles

— GRILL CORN IN THE HUSK: Here is a quick, fun idea the kids and adults will love. Get some fresh corn still in the husk, cut it at the tip. Peel back and take out the silks. Pull the husk back up and soak in water for 20 minutes. Throw them on the grill wet and watch them steam the corn on the grill. Flip until the husks are brown on all sides, peel back and serve rustic style with salt and butter.

— OVERESTIMATE YOUR MEAT: Chef House says cook more meat than you need, so you have leftovers! Especially chicken, which can be easily made into some delicious tacos the next day.

— BEER ISN’T JUST FOR DRINKING ANYMORE: Get a tin pan, and pour in 1/2 of a beer. Add some sausages and sliced peppers and onions and let steam on the grill. Touch up the grill marks on the sausages just before you serve it. Serve it with the steamed onions and peppers too, with or without a bun ! Now you’re a hero.

Dogs, Asparagus and Salmon

— THROW LIVE CLAMS ON THE GRILL: Wana impress your friends easily? Throw a dozen live clams on the grill. When they open, they’re done. It is that simple, but your friends with think it is pretty darn cool.

— HAVE A GLASS OF WATER NEARBY FOR FLARE UPS: Just in case your juices or grease catch on fire, this keeps you and the fire, in control.

— SPARE PROPANE TANK: Make sure you have an extra, FULL, propane tank on hand. Nothing says “oh Sh*t” like an empty propane tank during grilling. You never know when you are gonna run out, so don’t! Keep a spare, full tank near to your grill, in cae you have to pull the “old switcheroo.”

— PLACE GRILLED FOOD INTO SEALED PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS: Especially at a cookout, flies tend to swarm to open plates of cooked meat. The answer is get some plastic lid containers and seal the cooked meats inside. Trust us, it works much better than fumbling with open plates and aluminum foil with open cracks.

Veggie Shish Kabobs

These are the tips from the FOOD ADVENTURES CREW. We hope they help you enjoy some summer cookouts by spurring some ideas.

Do you have some grilling tips you could share with us?

Please feel free to let go some of your family secrets by commenting below. We would be grateful, along with a lot of Dayton’s grilling gurus.

For more foodie news and Dayton restaurant scoop, please “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE .

Catch us every week, with a feature article here on Dayton Most Metro.

“We are not food critics, we just love to eat.”

Below are more photos from our Food Adventures by the grill. Please feel free to browse them.

Mahi Mahi, Pineapple and Yellow Squash

Marinated Steaks, ready for the grill

Grilling Pineapple, Mahi Mahi and Yellow Squash on a summer’s day

Squuezing Lime juice on the Mahi Mahi

Steaming Peppers and Onions in Beer with Sausages

Grilling out for Charity

Grilling Chicken

Salmon and Asparagus straight off the grill

Poolside Grilled fish and Veggies

Grilled Swordfish and Veggies

Burgers and Dogs

BBQ Chicken and Salmon

Charcoal Grilling

Grilled Wild Grouper and Grilled Endive

Grilled local veggies

Squash, Asparagus and Pork – grilled to perfection

Grilled Wahoo and Grilled Clams

The sky is the limit for our grill techniques

Poolside grilled meal

Grilled Corn in the Husk

Sausage bought downtown NYC

Grilled Asparagus and Corn

Black n Bleu Burger from the backyard

Grillin clams like a boss

Peel back the grilled corn

Grilled Zucchini and Tzatzi sauce

Full Grill – is how we do it

Start eating, it’s done !

Big Sundance Winner ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL Now Playing at THE NEON!

July 1, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL – the big winner and giant crowdpleaser (especially for film lovers) from this year’s Sundance Film Festival – is now playing at THE NEON! In addition, I’m pleased to announce that we’re able to hold both LOVE & MERCY and I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS for one more week!

Synopsis for ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL: “Winner of the 2015 Sundance Grand Jury Prize as well as the Audience Award, ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL is the story of Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann), an awkward high school senior whose mom forces him to spend time with Rachel – a girl in his class (Olivia Cooke) with whom he hasn’t spoken to since kindergarten – who was just diagnosed with cancer.” (taken from Fox Searchlight) Joe Morgenstern from The Wall Street Journal wrote, “This brilliantly funny, casually profound and deeply affecting coming-of-age chronicle…even manages to be life-enlightening – it’s a fresh take on contemporary adolescence as a journey from ironic detachment to openhearted feeling.” Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) and Doctors for America are proud to host a screening of the powerful documentary REMOTE AREA MEDICAL. During the U.S. debate about healthcare reform, the media failed to put a human face on what it means to not have access to healthcare. Over three days in April 2012, Remote Area Medical, the pioneers of “no-cost” healthcare clinics, treated nearly 2,000 patients on the infield of Bristol, Tennessee’s massive NASCAR speedway. REMOTE AREA MEDICAL affords us an insider’s perspective on the ebb and flow of the event. It is the extraordinary stories of the patients, desperate for medical attention, that create a lasting impression about the state of modern healthcare in America. Admission is free and open to the public. A panel discussion will be held after the movie with local physicians and health policy advocates. The film will screen on Sunday, July 12 at 3pm. Tickets will be given on a first come, first serve basis on the day of the screening.

Next Friday, July 10, we plan to open the new powerful documentary AMY about the brilliant singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse – a smash at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Please help us spread the word to any of your friends and family who are interested in music or strong documentaries.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Wednesday, July 1 – Thursday, July 9:

LOVE & MERCY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Wednesday & Thursday: 5:20
Friday & Saturday: 4:50, 9:30
Sunday: 4:50
Monday – Thursday: 5:20

I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (PG-13) 1 Hr 32 Min
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:15, 7:45
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:40, 2:50, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 7:45

ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL (PG-13) 1 Hr 45 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (July 1 & 2): 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Friday & Saturday: 12:15, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday: 12:15, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:40

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 10 – AMY
July 17 (or later) – TESTAMENT OF YOUTH
July 24 (or later) – INFINITELY POLAR BEAR
July 24 – MR. HOLMES
Aug. 7 – IRRATIONAL MAN
TBD – END OF THE TOUR, DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL,
GRANDMA, SAINT LAURENT

Breathe & Brew Yoga at Dayton Beer Company

June 18, 2015 By LIbby Ballengee

Join the newly opened Dayton Beer Company in downtown Dayton for a Breathe and Brew all-levels yoga class this Sunday June 21st from 10:30am – 11:45. This is the perfect way to uplift each other, connect to our community, and celebrate Dayton! Enjoy the open air patio as we practice next to the beer being made. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a 75 minute yoga class + a flight of beer (a $10 value). Food trucks will be available for post class snacks as well. Oh, and don’t forget to bring Dad — this is a great way to spend Father’s Day together!

Tickets are $20.00 pre-sale or $25.00 at the door, and can be purchased at DBC via e-mail only ([email protected]) or directly via *PayPal, cash, or credit card. Upon any purchase you will receive an e-mailed receipt that will need to be shown at the door to get in. You may print it out, or simply show us your confirming e-mail on your phone!! Cheers!
*If you are purchasing your ticket via PayPal, please send money to e-mail address: [email protected] and simply put in the “comment” line: Breath and Brew.

I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS With Blythe Danner & Sam Elliott Opens at THE NEON

June 17, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

As planned, we’re moving forward this weekend with a film that many of you are anticipating. The trailer for I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS has been causing a lot of laughs and even some swoons (I had no idea that Sam Elliott had such a fan base)! LOVE & MERCY was a hit this weekend, and it will stick around. If you still need to see FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD or LAMBERT AND STAMP, you only have until Thursday to catch them at THE NEON. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS: Currently rated “94% Fresh” on rotten tomatoes.com! “In this vibrant, funny, and heartfelt film, a widow and former songstress discovers that life can begin anew at any age. With the support of three loyal girlfriends (June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place), Carol (Blythe Danner) decides to embrace the world, embarking on an unlikely friendship with her pool maintenance man (Martin Starr), pursuing a new love interest (Sam Elliott), and reconnecting with her daughter (Malin Akerman).” (taken from Bleecker Street) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Don’t forget that we still have tickets to the crowd-pleasing documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. It screens this Thursday (June 18) at 7:30. Tickets are just $8.

Director Kevin Nam will be debuting his first short film this Monday, June 22 at 8pm. “What if you were given a chance to traverse your own subconscious? Would you be afraid of what you may see? We all have our demons kept at bay buried under the lies we tell ourselves. Keaton, a heartbroken man, is given this chance to reshape and reform his memories. With the help of Dr. Darren Vonnuxley at Entropy’s Enlightenment, Keaton is plunged deep into his own subconscious, where he must confront and conquer his demon, face to face. HOW TO MURDER YOUR MELANCHOLY is a short dark psychological drama with horror elements filmed entirely in the Dayton, Ohio region. This one and only screening of the short film is the directorial debut of local resident Kevin Nam. The director requires a mature audience due to scenes of graphic violence, blood, and gore. The director will also be in attendance for a brief Q & A immediately following the film. Please arrive early, screening will promptly begin at 8 pm. Tickets are on a first-come first-serve basis. Admission is FREE.” (taken from Kevin Nam’s press notes)

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 19 – Thursday, June 25:

LOVE & MERCY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Friday & Saturday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20
Monday: 2:45, 5:20
Tuesday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:20, 7:50

I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (PG-13) 1 Hr 32 Min
Friday & Saturday: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:15, 9:20
Sunday: 12:30, 2:40, 4:50, 7:15
Monday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Tuesday: 12:30, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Wednesday & Thursday: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

HOW TO MURDER YOUR MELANCHOLY (NR) 19 min + Q&A
Monday: 8:00

COMING SOON:

(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)

TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, SAINT LAURENT,
ALOFT, IRRATIONAL MAN, INIFINITELY POLAR BEAR
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – AMY
July ? – MR. HOLMES

Dayton Rotary Ride Launches June 20th

June 17, 2015 By LIbby Ballengee

Biking in Dayton has become all the rage, and for good reason! We have amazing trails and a new Link bike system, that makes biking easier and more enjoyable than ever. Now the Rotary Club of Dayton is taking the love of biking one step further by starting their own charity ride. The inaugural Dayton Rotary Ride will be held this Saturday June 20th, with proceeds benefiting their popular International Exchange Student program.

Phil Parks, one of the organizers of this event explains how the event will work: “The start of the ride has been carefully chosen as family friendly. We acknowledge that some members of the family may not want to ride a 50k or 100k ride. So we offer the family the opportunity to ride the first 3 ½ miles together. Then those wanting to return can turn onto a paved bike path and return to the starting point, Xenia Bike Hub. The more experienced riders can still ride together as a family for the first 14 miles. At the 14 mile mark we offer our first of 4 rest stops where the riders can take their first break. They will find food, water and toilet amenities offered by one of our many sponsors. After that, the 50k and 100k separate for their chosen scenic ride back to Xenia.”

Not only is this a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors – this is also a fantastic way to support a great cause! The Rotary Club of Dayton has been sponsoring Dayton Public School students, as an International Exchange Student, for many years. Likewise, members of the Club always host families for an inbound exchange student. During their years of running the exchange program, they have found that both outbound and inbound students always have a trip, or various needs, that require extra funding that their families cannot afford. The Dayton City School Students parents have skin in the game, but most times need some financial support in order to offer their children this wonderful international opportunity. Walt Hibner, Heath MacApline, and Phil Parks, all avid cyclers, hatched the plan for a fundraising event to help support these student’s unexpected needs and costs during their travels.

Phil Parks explains the goal of this event: “Long-term, we hope to see Dayton Public School Students volunteering for various duties along the ride. This collaborative effort is meant to show them how people working together can provide meaningful results. We want to make a BIG SPLASH, with the community and the students. But it all starts with this first little rock being thrown into the pond. Hopefully the little wave it makes will eventually turn into the big splash!”

If you are interested in participating, here are the details:

Website: http://www.daytonrotaryride.info/home.html

When: Saturday June 20th. Registration starts at 7am. Ride ends at 2pm

Where: Xenia Station, Xenia Ohio. The physical address is 150 N. Miami Ave, Xenia, OH 45385.

Cost: $20 – $35 (depending on the package you choose)

NOTE: Everyone must wear a helmet, no exceptions.

Bike the Arts: Exploring Downtown Dayton

June 14, 2015 By Megan Cooper

Since my car-less adventure way back in the day, I’ve always believed that one of the best ways to see our beautiful city is on a bike. With all the bike-love happening in Dayton these days – Link Dayton (bike share), recognition of our top ranking for the most off-street paved trails, the RiverScape bike hub, an increased number of bike lanes for commuting, our bronze ranking as a Bicycle-Friendly community and more – it’s no wonder that more cycle tours and races are popping up for community members of every interest level and ability to strap on that helmet and ride.

On Saturday, June 20, there’s a fun, free and unique new addition to the cycling opportunities. Dayton Regional Green and Courteous Mass have teamed up to host Bike the Arts – Downtown Dayton. A total ride of just under 7 miles on a (mostly) flat surface – this event showcases both our bike-friendly environment and our talented arts community. Registration for the ride begins at 10:30 a.m. at RiverScape MetroPark; the ride goes from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00(ish) p.m.

An all-volunteer effort, born out of the Arts and Culture team from Dayton Regional Green and relying upon the experience from the cycling gurus at Courteous Mass, this ride is slow, smooth and filled cool visits to local arts spots.

Jane Black, co-chair of the DRG Livability pillar, is the lead docent on the tour. With oodles of experience as a both a professional artist, educator and administrator – Jane will share exciting insights and behind-the-scenes stories about the public art and spaces; she’ll introduce you to great pieces of art in plain view that you’ll see in a whole new way. Riders will also hear from staff at Dayton Art Institute and K12 Gallery, as well as artists/performers Bing Davis, Suzy Richardt, Ryan McCullough and Justin Howard. How’s it work? Ride a bit, meet an artist, ride again, see a performance, back on the bike to visit a gallery, and keep on going as you enjoy exploring your city!

The ride is escorted by Dayton Police Officer Jeff Brown for everyone’s safety and comfort (this is an on-street ride, we’ll follow all traffic rules). Helmets are recommended.

Bonus! The first 30 registrants receive a FREE 24-hour membership to try Link Dayton, and the first 50 registrants receive a FREE Take Back the Tap water bottle from the City of Dayton. Plus, snacks and water will be provided. Don’t miss your chance to bid to win a beautiful piece of art created by Suzy Richardt in honor of the ride.

No bike? No problem! You can rent one from Five Rivers MetroParks or try Link Dayton (multiple Link Stations are along the route, so you’ll be able to check-in as needed).

This program is part of a larger initiative of Dayton Regional Green. While many of the action teams are working closely with municipalities, organizations and corporations – the Arts and Culture team is working to provide fun and easy ways for individuals to learn more about multi-modal transportation, energy savings and personal steps to environmental sustainability.

BEACH BOYS’ Brian Wilson, THE WHO, and TAB HUNTER – Check Out THE NEON This Weekend!

June 10, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

As promised, we’re excited to open the new biopic about Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys this Friday. It’s called LOVE & MERCY, and the reviews are terrific. The Village Voice, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and many others have given the film a 100% Review! In addition, we will open a documentary about the famous managers of The Who – LAMBERT AND STAMP. Lastly, we’ll have a one-night only screening of the crowd-pleasing documentary about Hollywood’s “boy next door” – TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. If you still need to see IRIS or DIOR AND I, you’ll need to hurry down. Thursday will be your last chance to catch those films at THE NEON. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD will stick around for one more week. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for LOVE & MERCY: “LOVE & MERCY presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era defining catalog of Wilson’s music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost.” (taken from Roadside Attractions) This film has been winning rave reviews – especially for the two men who play Wilson – John Cusack and Paul Dano. Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Synopsis for LAMBERT AND STAMP: “Aspiring filmmakers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert set out to find a subject for their underground movie, one that will reflect the way it feels to be young and dissatisfied in postwar London. This unlikely partnership of two men from vastly different backgrounds was inspired by the burgeoning youth culture of the early 1960s. Lambert and Stamp searched for months and finally found in a band called the High Numbers a rebellious restlessness that was just what they were looking for. Abandoning their plans to make a film, they instead decided to mentor and manage this group, which evolved into the iconic band known as the Who. The result was rock ‘n’ roll history” (taken from Sony Classics) Click on this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

The crowd-pleasing, insightful and kinda gossipy SXSW hit documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL will make its way to town for one special screening. If you’re a Tab Hunter fan or if you’re interested in how the Hollywood machine worked (and still does to some extent), I encourage you to attend. This film will only screen one time – Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 – as Pride Night at THE NEON. Tickets, just $8 each, are available now at THE NEON’s Box Office! “In the 1950s, Tab Hunter is number one at the box office and number one on the music charts. He is Hollywood’s most sought-after star and America’s boy next door. Natalie Wood, Debbie Reynolds and Sophia Loren are just a few of the actresses he is romantically linked to. Nothing, it seems, can damage Tab Hunter’s career. Nothing, that is, except for the fact that Tab Hunter is secretly gay. Now, Tab Hunter’s secret is out. In TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL we will meet, for the first time, the real Tab Hunter as he shares with us the whole story of a happy, healthy survivor of Hollywood’s roller coaster.”

Director Kevin Nam will be debuting his first short film on Monday, June 22. “What if you were given a chance to traverse your own subconscious? Would you be afraid of what you may see? We all have our demons kept at bay buried under the lies we tell ourselves. Keaton, a heartbroken man, is given this chance to reshape and reform his memories. With the help of Dr. Darren Vonnuxley at Entropy’s Enlightenment, Keaton is plunged deep into his own subconscious, where he must confront and conquer his demon, face to face. HOW TO MURDER YOUR MELANCHOLY is a short dark psychological drama with horror elements filmed entirely in the Dayton, Ohio region. This one and only screening of the short film is the directorial debut of local resident Kevin Nam. The director requires a mature audience due to scenes of graphic violence, blood, and gore. The director will also be in attendance for a brief Q & A immediately following the film. Please arrive early, screening will promptly begin at 8 pm. Tickets are on a first-come first-serve basis. Admission is FREE.” (taken from Kevin Nam’s press notes)

Many thanks to Oldies 97.3 and Omega Music for their help in spreading the word about LOVE & MERCY. Visit their facebook pages and enter their contests for your chance to win LOVE & MERCY Prize Packages!

Next Friday (June 19), we will open the film that many of you have been waiting for – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS – starring Blythe Danner and Sam Elliott.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 12 – Thursday, June 18:

LOVE & MERCY (PG-13) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Friday & Saturday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50
Sunday: 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:20, 7:50

LAMBERT AND STAMP (R) 1 Hr 57 Min
Friday, Saturday: 4:45, 9:40
Sunday: 4:45
Monday – Thursday: 5:15

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (PG-13) 1 Hr 59 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 11:50, 2:15, 7:15
Monday – Wednesday: 2:50, 7:45
Thursday: 2:50

TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL (NR) 1 Hr 30 Min
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
June 19 – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN,
SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – MR. HOLMES
July ? – AMY

DIOR & I Starts Friday and Partnering with Ghostlight Coffee at THE NEON!

June 2, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

We’re adding a new film to the mix this Friday. It’s a rare, inside look into the creation of a couture collection for one of the world’s most luxurious fashion brands – Christian Dior. It’s called DIOR AND I, and it had quite a nice run at film festivals over the past year. In addition, we will hold onto both of our current selections – IRIS (for limited screenings) and FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for DIOR AND I: “Frederic Tcheng’s solo directorial debut brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand’s past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons’ vision.” Click on the image below to visit the film’s official site.

Carol Quinones is bringing a special, one-time screening of TRACE AMOUNTS to town on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30. Click this LINK to reserve your ticket – they’re $12.50 each. “After recovering from a sickness that would bring him to the edge of despair, Eric Gladen began researching the science behind what had made him so sick. His research led him straight into one of the biggest medical debates of all time, the question of whether or not childhood vaccines are causing Autism. He would end up quitting his career, moving into an RV, and traveling the country interviewing experts and piecing together thousands of studies and leaked documents. But Eric wasn’t focused on the vaccines themselves, he was focused on something that belongs nowhere near vaccines- mercury.”

Don’t miss the chance to see the SXSW hit documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. This film will only screen one time – Thursday, June 18 at 7:30. Tickets, just $8 each, are available now at THE NEON’s Box Office! “In the 1950s, Tab Hunter is number one at the box office and number one on the music charts. He is Hollywood’s most sought-after star and America’s boy next door. Natalie Wood, Debbie Reynolds and Sophia Loren are just a few of the actresses he is romantically linked to. Nothing, it seems, can damage Tab Hunter’s career. Nothing, that is, except for the fact that Tab Hunter is secretly gay. Now, Tab Hunter’s secret is out. In TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL we will meet, for the first time, the real Tab Hunter as he shares with us the whole story of a happy, healthy survivor of Hollywood’s roller coaster.”

Next Friday (June 12), we will open a Brian Wilson (of The Beach Boys) biopic – LOVE & MERCY. Please help us spread the word. Click HERE to visit the official site.

Ghostlight Coffee is now in the baking business. We currently offer a delicious variety of cookies and biscotti from their brand new kitchen, and we’re so happy that we’re able to partner with another independently owned downtown business. Give them a try the next time you’re in!

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, June 5 – Thursday, June 11:

DIOR AND I (NR) 1 Hr 30 Min
Friday & Saturday: 3:00, 7:20, 9:20
Sunday: 7:20
Monday & Tuesday: 3:15, 7:30
Wednesday: 3:15
Thursday: 3:15, 7:30

IRIS (PG-13) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 5:15
Monday – Thursday: 5:15

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (PG-13) 1 Hr 59 Min
Friday, Saturday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:20, 7:45

TRACE AMOUNTS (NR) 1 Hr 37 Min
Wednesday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
June 12 – LOVE & MERCY
June 19 – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, LAMBERT & STAMP,
SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – MR. HOLMES

IRIS Apfel Documentary & Great Crowds for MADDING CROWD at THE NEON!

May 26, 2015 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see WHILE WE’RE YOUNG or THE SALT OF THE EARTH, Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. WHILE WE’RE YOUNG has been here for a while, but SALT OF THE EARTH has only been here since Friday. Though attendance was bar bones for this stunning documentary, audiences have been raving – it’s one of the most powerful documentaries to come along for quite some time. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD had wonderful crowds over the weekend. Many thanks to those of you who came and made our opening weekend numbers stand out from the crowd (we were way above the national average for this picture). On Friday, we will start a wonderful and lively documentary by the late, great Albert Maysles – IRIS. For this week’s remaining showtimes (they’re different than the upcoming week – which are listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com

Synopsis for IRIS: Rated 98% FRESH on Rottentomatoes! “IRIS pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel – the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris’ dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life’s sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression. ‘I feel lucky to be working. If you’re lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows.'”(Magnolia Pictures) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official site.

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you this weekend!

Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, May 29 – Thursday, June 4:

IRIS (PG-13) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 5:15, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:15, 7:30

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (PG-13) 1 Hr 59 Min
Friday, Saturday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:40
Sunday: 11:50, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:20, 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
June 12 – LOVE & MERCY
June 19 – I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
TBD – SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, LAMBERT & STAMP,
SAINT LAURENT, ALOFT
July 1- ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
July ? – MR. HOLMES

Dayton

50th Annual Troy Strawberry Festival

50th Annual Troy Strawberry Festival

Monday, June 1, 2026

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Thursday, June 4, 2026