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The Big Ragu gets Endless Tail at Red Lobster

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Endless Teriyaki Grilled Shrimp

Shrimp, that delicate food that can be served so many ways as Bubba told us in the movie “Forrest Gump.”

One of the best ways Food Adventures like it served, is endless.  Fortunately, Red Lobsters in the Dayton area are running the “Endless Shrimp” special right now.   For just $14.99 you can gorge yourself on 5 types of shrimp: Teriyaki Shrimp, Parmesan Shrimp, Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp Linguini Alfredo and Hand Breaded Shrimp.  Try as much as you like, any way you like it!  The dinner special also comes with salad and the addicting Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

The Fried Shrimp is Endless too !

The Big Ragu is happy that the special is supposed to run through November 11th.  Sure, we normally feature Food Adventures about mom and pop places, but sometimes a chain restaurant does something that is worth a mention.   Be warned, if you visit Red Lobster over the next 2 months, you just may see our waitress running for refills!

Have you tried ENDLESS SHRIMP at RED LOBSTER?  What are your thoughts about this promotion?  Please comment below !

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

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Food Adventures Meets the Gem City Rollergirls

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The Action was Fast and Furious !

Entering the Orbit Fun Center in Huber Heights, chants could be heard on the other side of the ticket booth wall.  Walking into the arena,  The Big Ragu and the Food Adventures Crew thought “what the hell have we gotten into?”  The answer: The Gem City Rollergirls!  Nothing is more “Dayton” than these hometown roller derby divas!  Even though we had arrived early, the roller girls were already stretching out while their competitors, the Youngstown Little Steel, were skating laps warming up.

Sweaty concession stand hot dogs !

We made our way past the droves of fans and said hello to some of our rollergirl friends like “Racey Rocker,” “Outer Spacey,” “Manson’s Maiden” and “Cozza Frenzy.”    We then walked past the crowd to the concession stand.  After all, we are foodies in our forties.  We grabbed a hot dog, some drinks, and a slice of pizza from the friendly Orbit Fun Center staff.  we talked to some hardcore fans and then made our way to the seating area.

The Filling Station on Linden Ave: Gem City Roller Girl’s “Home” Bar

There were fans encircling the entire skating rink.  Some held signs, some cheered on their favorites, others just took it all in.  We even sat next to a bachelor party!  Then, the lights dimmed and introductions began.  We recognized names like “Supersonic,” Flirtini Tease”, “Punky Rooster” and “Demolition Curvy.”  The action began shortly after introductions and we learned this game requires a lot of skill and talent.  The match was full of speed and quick moves.  The match also had it’s share of bumps and bruises.  There were elbows, hip checks, blockers, jammers and the action was fast and furious.  The Big Ragu and Food Adventure Crew had a blast as we watched the Gem City Roller Girls win their hard fought match!  The event benefited “Luv-a-Bulls” which is a Pitbull-Bulldog-Mastiff rescue organization.  What a great way to support a great charity!

After the match,  the local superstars invited us to an after party, so of course we turned it into a full blown Food Adventure!!

Raspberry Walnut Salad at the Filling Station

The Gem City Roller Girls’ “home bar” is The Filling Station on Linden Ave.  This eatery is known for it’s bar, food and game room.  There were some great drink specials at The Filling Station, including $9 buckets of beer.  On the awning outside, we noticed print that read “unforgettable wings.”  We decided to try the Habenero BBQ wings, southwestern egg rolls and a raspberry walnut salad.  The food was great, and the beers were cold!  It was a perfect end to our action-packed evening.  We had a blast pairing our Food Adventures with another Dayton Original, the Gem City Roller Girls.   The Big Ragu is definitely a fan who highly recommends this experience !!

Want to experience Dayton’s own Gem City Roller Girls?  The next match is at the Orbit Fun Center in Huber Heights on September 8th  vs. Heart of Appalachia (Charleston, WV).

Click through the photos below to check out the rollergirls and some great photos from the Filling Station.

Please “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here

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Hooray Beer!

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Dayton Beer Week

Dayton Beer Week 2012! August 18th - 24th! Our Festivus!

Next Saturday, August 25th, Dayton will mark the 14th time AleFest has been celebrated, and it has been picking up steam every year. Three hundred and fifty breweries are participating in the event taking place at Carillon Historical Park. It is the main event in an escalating series of beer celebrations around town that makes up Dayton Beer Week, August 18th – 24th. This is the week that every craft beer aficionado should be going out and looking to expand their palate. It would be harder for you this week to find a place that is NOT offering some sort of beer event.

There are going to be beer tastings, dinners, tappings, specials, and education all week long in the widest variety of venues. Places better known for wine or other spirits will be getting into the act, like the Century Bar, Thai 9, A Taste of Wine, Buckin’ Donkey BBQ, and Bruning’s Wine Shop. Beer dinners will be offered all around town to help improve your food and beer pairings at Rue Dumaine, Jay’s Seafood Restaurant, Dorothy Lane Market, Spinoza’s Pizza & Salads, Meadowlark, The Melting Pot, and Jimmie’s Ladder 11. Representatives from Samuel Adams, Stone Brewing Company, Duvel USA, Brewkettle, New Holland, Magic Hat, 21st Amendment, Goose Island, Sierra Nevada Brewery, and Unibroue will be in town to talk about their beers as well as show off some of their new products. All of the dates and times for these tastings are available on our event calendar under beer.

The festivities for the week officially begin on Sunday evening, August 19th, with the Beer Pride Parade, starting at the Dublin Pub. Line up through the Oregon District and show your craft beer pride!  The over 800 owners of the new Fifth Street Brewpub Co-op are invited to a pre-parade event and will walk in the parade en masse.  The first eighty bicycle riders to Biking for The Beer Of It in Miamisburg can participate in a nice ten mile ride on Tuesday, August 21st, sponsored by Goose Island. There will be some refreshments at the mid way point, and a little bit of swag for all of the participants. Five chefs and six beers will be featured on Wednesday, August 22nd, at the Dayton Art Institute’s Brewer’s Art dinner. Space is limited for this event, so you are going to want to make your reservations soon! Of course, the final event, the culmination of a week’s worth of fun and tasting and exploring is AleFest.

Dayton AleFest

For fourteen years, this has been THE beer event in Dayton.

While you are out exploring Dayton, there are a few things you should remember as you are out doing your tastings:

  • When you taste, it is very similar to tasting wine. You want a little foam on the top. You also want to look at and sniff the beer before you taste it, to see what aromas are coming off of it.
  • Do not hold the beer in direct light when you look at it. You get the best idea of color when you look at it in indirect light.
  • Give it a little bit of a swirl in your glass. This stirs up the carbonation a little, allowing more of the aromas to be released. Don’t underestimate the importance of scent when tasting your beer!
  • Hold the beer in your mouth a little bit, allowing it to roam all over your tongue. Enjoy the flavors that come out as it is in your mouth. Take a mental note on how thick the beer is. This is known as mouthfeel.
  • Allow the beer to warm up SLIGHTLY before you drink it. As with wine, a little bit of extra warmth unveils deeper flavors that may not be otherwise obvious.

And while you are going to Beer Week events:

  • Car pool. Parking is going to be very limited for some of these events, and the citizens are going to be out in force. Getting more people in one car is going to be helpful for everyone.
  • Get there early. You want to make sure you get there in enough time to get seats, be able to talk to the guest of honor, etc. Some events may even have limited seating. Make sure you call the venue and check out the details.
  • Drink plenty of water. This is going to serve a twofold purpose. First, water will help cleanse the palate between each beer, giving you a better idea of how each beer tastes. Secondly, it will help you avoid a worse hangover than you might normally have.
  • Do not eat spicy foods before you go to an event. You do not want your taste buds to be still burning from the Nuclear Hot wings you just ate. Eat a little something; just tone it down.
  • Go to the dark side. If you are not at a pre-set beer tasting, start off with some of the lighter beers, and go to the darker ones. The darker beers tend to have heavier flavors and be thicker, which can linger a little longer.
  • Designate a driver. No explanation needed.

Next week is going to be an exciting romp through the world of craft beer. Check out the list and plan you week carefully, participate in a few a events, and try out a few beers you have never thought about before, or may not get a chance to again. I am sure Max Spang (who helped me quite a bit with advice and research on this article) and I will see you out at some point around town. Cheers!

Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlight – Volume 2: Werking Hard On The Duck Farm

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Catch The Werks At The Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival

Music. It has always been with us. It has been our healer, our voice, our stories as well as our histories. It has been an invitation to dance, a call of the community spirit and a spark to inflame one’s temperament. The ambiguous moniker of “jam band,” while conjuring up images of searing light shows, the untroubled writhing of bodies and feverishly hypnotic rhythms held together by intensely introspective melodies, it is also a signal for a shamanistic release. In the final analysis, it is an uncompromising unity of spirit that not only surpasses, but supersedes and envelopes the music itself.

The Werks, a Dayton original if there ever was one, have found themselves in possession of the perfect potion to create the perfect storm of music, ambience and spectacle that has skyrocketed them into the pantheon of progressive musical groups. Formed in 2007 by Dave Bartoletti, Rob Chafin, Chris Houser and Chuck Love the group has run through various permutations, ending up with their current line-up of Chris Houser (guitar and vocals), Dino Dimitrouleas (bass and vocals), Norman Dimitrouleas (keyboards and vocals) and Rob Chafin (drums, vocals, samples and percussion). Through their melding of various styles of rock, funk, psychedelia, jamtronica and other musical elements, The Werks has created what they have coined “psychedelic dance rock.”

Recently, I was able to speak with  Rob Chafin, the band’s drummer, to ask him about the band’s role in the upcoming Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival, how they have dealt with the band’s dramatic rise in popularity as well as the role the fans play in creating an exceptional show.

DMM: With the audience being just as much part of the show as the band, do you feel that it more about a communal event rather than just being about the band?

Rob: Oh, absolutely! We feel that the audience and that connection that we have between the audience and ourselves is great. We feed off the energy that they throw at us and the more people that are getting into it, the harder we play. It’s a cycle. That’s what makes the improvisation at our shows so unique every time. The crowds and the energy of the room has a lot to do with that.

DMM: Do you think that the audience being a very active member in the band keeps everyone’s egos in check?

Rob: Yes. We’re all very humble guys and we’re all really down to earth. We like to talk to everyone after the show, just to say hi and to thank everyone for supporting us.

DMM: I don’t know if you can speak for the band on this, but what would one of your ‘dream collaborations’ be for a jam session?

Rob: Ones that have already happened?

DMM: No. One that you would love to have happen. It can even be one that you know could never really happen.

Rob: Is this with living musicians today?

DMM: Yeah…well, hell…let’s throw in the dead ones too.

Rob: (Laughs) Well, that would be broadening the list quite a bit. I think I’ll stick with the live ones. I think it would be pretty cliché to say Phish. I’d really love to jam with David Grohl.

DMM: Now that was more of a personal one, right?

Rob: Yeah, definitely. Oh, it would also be great to jam with Santana.

DMM: What do you think is one of the more oddball covers that you guys have done?

Rob: The Power Ranger’s theme song.

DMM: That would be cool! I’d actually like a recording of that.

Rob: Trust me…no you don’t (laughing). We like to have fun onstage and for everyone to have a good time, so sometimes we’ll throw in something weird. We do a version of Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine, so that’s kind of an oddball cover for us. We’re kind of all over the place, so you never really know what to expect.

DMM: Aside from the musical aspects of the band, are there other elements that you guys want to incorporate into the live performances that you haven’t gotten to yet?

Rob: I’d like to get even crazier with the lights. That’s my goal: to get the light to where we’re even wearing LED suits. It would be fun. We feel that the visual aspect is very important to the show as well. When you go to a concert, you’re not just listening to a CD, but you’re going to see a show. Sometimes, you have to rely a lot on the showmanship and the visual aspect of the show just as much as the music, but we have been very successful because of that. There is something to be said for that, that’s for sure.

DMM: With the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival, are you guys going to be able to do a full set or is it going to be shortened?

Rob: Oh, it’s definitely going to be a shortened version of our usual shows. In a perfect situation, we would try and go for two or three sets, but I think that we are only going to be playing for an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes. It will be a quick little taste of what we do, as it is with any festival.

DMM: Is the band being recognized more readily outside of Dayton?

Rob: Dayton is definitely our home base, as is Columbus for me. I guess Columbus would be our biggest draw as of right now, but Dayton is where everyone else in the band is from, so there will always be strong roots in Dayton. Ohio in general is just great for us.

DMM: Now, you guys shot up in popularity incredibly quick. Are you all taking it in stride or are you still standing around trying to make heads or tails of it?

Rob: Everything in your life is relative. Every once in a while, you have to step back and take a look at the big picture. Sometimes, it’s funny. There are things that happen now that, if they had happened two or even three years ago, we would have just absolutely flipped out. Now, it’s like, ‘Oh! Cool!’ We’ve definitely been blessed with a lot of amazing opportunities and have met a ton of wonderful people who have helped us throughout the years.

After getting a “quick little taste” of The Werks at the Downtown Dayton Music Revival, make sure to catch them September 20th through the 22nd at the Werk Out Music And Art Festival being held at the Legend Valley Music Center in Thornville, Ohio. For more details about this and other upcoming acts appearing at the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival, go to http://www.downtownrevival.com. To learn more about the Werk Out Music And Art Festival, as well as The Werks other upcoming shows, go to http://thewerksmusic.com .

 

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See all of our Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlights

Marion’s Offers 47% Pizza Discount Today – Thursday

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Since opening in August of 1965, Marion’s Piazza has indeed become a Dayton Tradition! It’s easy to feel the history when you walk in their stores and see walls lined with black and white autographed photo’s of stars from yesteryear.  Many of the celebrities were in town to perform with The Kenley Players, stars like Sally Field, Mickey Rooney, William Shatner, Morgan Fairchild, Tim Conway, Billy Crystal and George Hamilton, who held the cast parties at Marion’s.
Celebrating their 47 years of business means you can get a  47% discount on up to 2 pizza’s this week with the coupon below.  Large lines are anticipated and be sure to bring cash, Marion’s does not accept credit cards!   Special pricing will be offered until closing on Thursday.

Marion’s Piazza has been rated “Best Pizza” in 27 local survey’s and achieved national acclaim by being ranked  2nd in the Nation amongst all independent pizza restaurants. A true Dayton Original, between their 7 locations they employee about 275 and made a total of around 1 million pizzas in 2009.

You need actual coupon from Dayton Daily News or Reach to get the discount - they won't accept online versions.

Find the Marion’s nearest you:

241 North Fairfield Rd, Beavercreek
B
711 Shroyer Road, at Patterson Road  – (937) 293-6991‎
Rated 4.1 out of 5.0
C
3443 North Dixie Drive, at Wagoner Ford Road – (937) 277-6553‎
D
8991 Kingsridge Drive, Dayton Mall ‎ – (937) 435-3300‎
Rated 3.3 out of 5.0
E
50 East Stroop Road, Town & Country ‎ – (937) 296-1177‎
F
241 North Main Street,  Centerville – (937) 433-3993‎
404 W. National Road, Englewood (937) 832-0333
1320 North Fairfield Road, Dayton, OH‎ – (937) 429-3393‎
1270 Expieriment Farm Road, Troy (937) 339-2000
and coming soon – Mason

The Food Adventures Crew Dive Into “Olive” + DMM CONTEST

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Incredible Tasting Seared Ahi Tuna over Noodles

(Contest details below the article)

For over a year, a new, popular, and  locally immersed gourmet restaurant has generated a lot of buzz.  The Big Ragu wanted to see what all the excitement was about.  We knew a Food Adventure was imminent, but we decided to wait until the dust settled.

The name of this trendy spot is  Olive, an Urban Dive and is located on East Third Street in the refurbished former Wympee building .  The Big Ragu first experienced the brilliance of Owner Kim Collett and the staff of Olive at the “Dayton’s Most Delightful Dessert” contest at Carrillon Park.   Olive won critics choice and peoples choice awards for best dessert, essentially sweeping the event.

First off, this place is unique.  The outside decor is a cool retro vibe, while the interior is a warm inviting modern atmosphere.  Olive even has a patio with fresh herbs growing on the perimeter. The friendly serving staff is knowledgeable.  They know a lot about the food and enjoy eating at Olive themselves.  The menu has a grass roots flair and offers many choices to vegans and gourmets alike.

Food Adventures like places that keep things local.  Olive, an Urban Dive does this by using local produce and meats whenever possible.  Supporting local farmers is a good thing!  Olive make’s their hot chocolate using Esther Price chocolate. The restaurant offers wedding cake every day for dessert! They serve grass fed beef and only use free range chickens or as Olive’s advertising says “we chase chickens.”  Something to be aware of: they do not serve alcohol or syrup drinks, but have a BYOB policy so you can bring in your own favorites.

Our tip: visit them for lunch to get the best bang for your buck.  Weekday lunch hours are 11am-3pm and they have a popular brunch on Saturdays from 10am-3pm.  Olive only serves dinner Thursday – Saturday from 5-10pm.

The Urban Burger – Local, Grass-Fed Beef

The best way to see what Olive has to offer is to look at each of the pictures we have posted in the albums.  Our favorites were the mozzarella cheese bites, seared ahi tuna, fried leeks, grilled tuscan cheese and the summer squash soup.  Make sure you click on each picture and browse our photo album, the food speaks for itself.

 Have you been to Olive, An Urban Dive?  Please comment below and tell us about your experience!

Don’t forget to “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE !!

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 Dayton Most Metro Contest

We have a $20 gift certificate to give away to a lucky winner – simply fill out the form below and then leave a comment telling us if you’ve ever tried Olive, An Urban Dive.  We’ll pick a random winner some time over the weekend – GOOD LUCK!

Contest Closed

Congratulations to Hunter Johnson – he is our winner!

Downtown Buildings Will Be Lit Friday for Photo Contest

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Amateur winner Bruce Soifer's photo of the Dayton skyline, taken during downtown's light up night in 2011.

From 8 to 11 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 3, most of downtown’s buildings will be lit for photographers who would like to capture city nightscapes to enter in the photo contest Downtown in Focus. While photographers can enter photos taken during the night or day, tomorrow evening will be an opportunity to take shots when downtown Dayton’s skyline will be brightly lit.

The owners of 27 downtown buildings — including the Kettering Tower, KeyBank Tower, CareSource building and new Premier Health Partners Center — have agreed to light up for the evening.  A complete list follows, and photographers interested in knowing if a specific building will be lit up can visit www.downtowndayton.org or contact Anna Beyerle at 224-1518, ext. 235.

Downtown eatery Smokin' BBQ lights up near the Oregon District.

The buildings will be lit during First Friday, downtown’s free monthly art hop. This week’s event will feature a free concert by Stranger at RiverScape MetroPark from 5 to 7:30 p.m., as well as gallery openings at locations throughout downtown, a variety of roaming entertainers, and much more from 5 to 10 p.m. Click here for details about events taking place during this month’s First Friday.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership, City of Dayton, Kaplan College and Dayton Daily News are sponsoring Downtown in Focus. One amateur winner and one professional winner will be selected in each of the following categories:

  • Downtown Festivals: Images showcasing individuals or unique moments at any of downtown Dayton’s summer events or festivals.
  • Active Downtown: Photographs featuring people participating in active lifestyle activities, such as biking, kayaking, dancing and running in downtown Dayton.
  • Scenic Downtown: Creative images featuring buildings, architecture, skylines, parks, the river or any other picturesque view of downtown.
  • Best in Show (selected by the judges)

CareSource Management Group's building is a staple among downtown's bright lights.

A panel of judges will select the winners in each category and award a $250 cash prize to the Best in Show winner in each division. Honorable mentions also will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Contest winners will be recognized at the Sept. 14 Urban Nights and all entries will be displayed in a special exhibit during Urban Nights.

The deadline to submit photos is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31. Official contest guidelines and entry forms are available at www.downtowndayton.org.

Chipotle vs. Qdoba: Who’d You Rather ?

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Fajita Ranchera Burrito at Qdoba

In the world of Food Adventures, we rarely hit the chains.  But once in a while, we give our spin on some familiar favorites.  How about some feedback from the thousands of Dayton Foodies out there?  That’s right, The Big Ragu and the Crew want to know what DaytonMostMetro fans think.  What do you like better, Chipotle or Qdoba and why?

Jax’s take: For me it is Qdoba for the simple fact that there are more choices.  More options mean a better variety in my effort to be more health conscious.  The tastes are similar but there are more soups, quesadillas, etc. at Qdoba.  This discussion makes me miss the Baja Fresh restaurant !

The Big Ragu’s take:  I would rather go to Qdoba for two reasons.  First, Qdoba offers a ground beef meat option, while Chipotle does not.  Also the chicken at Qdoba is white meat, while the chicken at Chipotle is a white/dark mix.  Since I am “weird” when it comes to meat, the decision is a no brainer for me.

A Burrito Bowl at Chipotle

We are not food critics, or journalists.  We are just passionate foodies that love to eat! Visit us at www.DaytonFoodies.com, your source for Dayton food since 2008.

Check out FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK and “like” us by clicking HERE !!!

Everyone has an opinion and we want to hear yours.  Please comment below and let us know your thoughts…

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Aug. 3 First Friday to Feature Free Kayaking and Cycling, Live Music, New Art Exhibits, and Much More

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Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

RiverScape MetroPark will host the final First Friday @ 5 concert in this year’s series, with Stranger performing from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The park’s concession stand will be open and beer will be sold from 5 to 7 p.m. MetroParks employees will demonstrate various kayaking skills on the river and free kayak rentals will be available, courtesy of Cox Media Group Ohio. Free bike rentals will be available, courtesy of AAA, and the Junior League of Dayton will sponsor free bike helmets and fittings.

At the event, RTA will debut its new “On the Road” bus, a hands-on, retrofitted bus available for tours. The bus has special features, including computer kiosks for website training, interior LCD monitors with video montages and an exterior monitor for outside viewing. The bus is part of a mobile community outreach program that connects RTA to special events in the Dayton community.

Kayak raffle tickets will be sold to raise money for the Last DAM Summer, the fundraising effort for the RiverScape River Run project.

Also during the First Friday @ 5 concert, guests can show they give a DAM about the RiverScape River Run project by making a donation to the Last DAM Summer fundraising campaign. Basho Apparel will be at RiverScape hand printing special I Gave a DAM T-shirts. The shirts usually are reserved for those who donate $100 or more to the project, but only during First Friday @ 5, the shirts will be available to those donating $50 or more. In addition, Whitewater Warehouse will be selling raffle tickets for $10 each or three for $20 to win a Perception Prodigy 10 kayak the business has donated, with all proceeds going toward the River Run project.

This is the last summer a dangerous low dam in the Great Miami River will stand in the way of paddlers and others who want to enjoy the river. River Run, the next phase of development at RiverScape MetroPark, includes the removal of the low dam, making a seven-mile stretch of river navigable from Eastwood MetroPark to Carillon Park. In place of the dam, two smaller drops will be installed upstream near The Landing and RiverScape. These peninsulas will span the river and be notched with two openings where water will pass — an easy pass-through for novice paddlers and a more challenging route for skilled paddlers. The River Run project has some DAM good benefits for downtown Dayton and the region, including a safer river, improved water quality and aquatic habitat, and the creation of a regional destination for outdoor recreation.  Call 224-1518 for more information.

During First Friday, saxophonist Tyrone Martin, magician Scott Miller and steel drum performer Joseph Glenn also will provide entertainment while roaming the streets of downtown.

Tyrone Martin, a saxophonist, will perform as part of First Friday's roaming entertainment.

Club Masque, 34 N. Jefferson St., will host the Theme Release Party for AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s 11th annual Masquerage from 6 to 8 p.m. Masquerage raises funds to provide HIV/AIDS outreach, prevention programs, free HIV testing and counseling to the Dayton area. The release party will feature a fashion show by the Rubi Girls, produced by Square One Salon and Spa, as well as drink specials and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $20 before the event and $25 at the door. Tickets for Masquerage will be available, and the cost of the $20 release party ticket can be applied toward the $50 Masquerage ticket. Theme Release Party tickets can be purchased at masquerage.org or by calling 461-2437.

Tap into your inner artist

Several of downtown’s art galleries will be hosting special events and openings for August’s First Friday. Blue Sky Project, will host the opening of a collection of work by Adam Parker Smith in Blue Sky’s 8 N. Main St. space and a showing of art by Charlotte Gordon in the 33 N. Main St. space. CADC, 35 S. St. Clair St, will feature mixed-media furniture and paintings by Christy Jennewein and music by classical guitarist Eric Loy. Guests can sign up for September furniture classes taught by Jennewein. Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., will display works of art by gallery owner Mike Elsass. The Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors, 48 High St., open 5 to 8 p.m., hosts the opening of an exhibit of landscape paintings by Sinclair Community College students and a preview of the Plein Air exhibit opening Aug. 19. Vega, Chaminade-Julienne High School’s a Capella group, will perform at 6:30 p.m.

The Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St.:, open 5 to 8 p.m., will host a gallery talk featuring artists from the 21st annual Open Members Show, starting at 6:15 p.m. Artists include Matthew Burgy, Steve Hill, Kelly Joslin, Martin Hunter, Terry Welker and Jud Yalkut. Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St., will show new work by ceramist Tim Carter and laminated wood turnings by Tom Drummer. H. David Clay Studio, 33 S. St. Clair St., featuresFunctional and decorative pottery made on the premises. Lastly, K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., hosts the opening of “Distance,” a contemporary photography show from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibition will feature more than 40 national and local artists.

Rock out with live music

Hey There Morgan performs at the First Friday @ 5 concert series at RiverScape during July 6, 2012's First Friday. This month's concert features local band Stranger, as well as free kayak and bike rentals.

The music doesn’t end after the First Friday @ 5 concert! Explore downtown’s other rockin’ live music spots. Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St., will have live music at 9 p.m., featuring GB&AJ, Gold Shoes and Hazy & the Rugged Child. Jay’s Seafood, 225 E. Sixth St., will host Puzzle of Light at 9 p.m. Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St., also will have live music starting at 7 p.m. Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., hosts live music by the Andy Shaw Band beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Food and drink specials

If you’ve worked up an appetite during some fun downtown activities or want to quench your thirst with a drink special, we have plenty of choices for you. Many downtown restaurants offer dinner and drink specials for First Friday patrons.  Smokin’ Bar-B-Que, 200 E. Fifth St., Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St. and Franco’s Ristorante Italiano, 824 E. Fifth St., feature 10 percent off food. Coco’s Bistro, 515 Wayne Ave. and Thai 9, 11 Brown St., both offer 15 percent off food. Sa-Bai, 200 S. Jefferson St., offers 15 percent off food and a $5 Long Island Iced Tea. Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., has no cover and 20 percent off food. Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St., features $5 for a 6-ounce glass of red or white wine.

De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St., will host “Meet the Mixologist,” a meet-and-greet event from 6 to 10 p.m., during which De’Lish’s new drink menu will be unveiled. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres and wine and cocktail tastings. Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St., will have dinner specials, along with the special tapping of a firkin of craft beer. Olive, an urban dive, 416 E. Third St., will feature Jeni’s Ice Cream and broadcast Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show on 91.3 WYSO-FM. Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St, will have a happy-hour band and half-price pizza from 4 to 8 p.m., with additional live music at 9:30 p.m. The Vault, 20 N. Jefferson St., has extended happy hour until 10 p.m., a live band and free food.

Entertainment for all ages

If you want to experience something different – like a bike ride, walking tour or indie film – downtown has options for you as well. The Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will begin at 7 p.m. at Courthouse Square, Third and Main streets. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact tour guide Leon Bey at 274-4749 or email [email protected]. At Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., the monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet at 5:15 p.m. for a ride through the city. Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., will host auditions for Dayton Out Loud, a variety show to be performed during the Sept. 14 Urban Nights. Open auditions begin at 7 p.m. for acts less than three minutes, including a Cappella, spoken word and poetry, and comedy. To sign up for an audition time, e-mail [email protected].

Visitors observe paintings at Gallery 510 Fine Art. This month, the gallery will feature ceramist Tim Carter and laminated wood turnings by Tom Drummer.

Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center, 400 E. Fifth St. Suite C, open 5 to 8 p.m., will feature art by Scott Ryan and have information about upcoming programs for children, teens and adults in the center’s new space above the Record Gallery in the Oregon District. Kids can enjoy hands-on activities and light refreshments will be provided. To check out a movie at The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St., call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times. Urban Krag, 125 Clay St., will have the climbing gym open until 11 p.m.

The Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., will play the 1962 film “Murder on the Orient Express,” part of the theater’s Cool Films Series at 7:30 p.m. Free popcorn and soda served starting at 6:30 p.m.; tickets cost $5. Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St., will feature comedian Touchee Jackson, with opening acts by Adrian Cosby, Greg Sparks and Jack Wilson. Show begins at 9 p.m., tickets are $15. The Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St., will host an art show featuring Robert Blackwood working on a 3D installation piece called “Crystal Vision,” from 6 to 11 p.m. Visitors can watch Blackwood work on the sculpture, which will be completed in time for the Sept. 7 First Friday.

Shop ‘til you drop

Many downtown retail shops have sales and special events during First Friday. From clothing to music stores, check out these downtown deals. Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., will have free makeup lessons. Clash Consignments, 521 E. Fifth St., is hosting a celebration of the store’s one-year anniversary and move to its new location in the Oregon District. Live music by Infidel-icious, Ronin Ichi and Black Lotus Clan will start at 6 p.m., as well as henna by Lily Whitehead. Elysian Fields Books, 436 E. Fifth St., will have a book signing and reading at 7 p.m. by children’s author Scott Mallory, who recently released “Bad-Off Boris and the Cupcake Cave-In.” Hangar18, 114 N. St. Clair St., features 15 percent off all items.

 

Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St., will host a fair-trade food tasting. Record Gallery, 16 Brown St., will feature 20 percent off collectable albums and 10 percent off general merchandise. ReCreate, 438 E. Fifth St., will have a sale on select items, including new and used instruments, other music-related items, and original artwork. Amore! Designer Consignment Boutique, 16 Brown St., Bonnett’s Bookstore, 502 E. Fifth St., Feathers Vintage Clothing, 440 E. Fifth St., Found Treasures 4 You, 502 Wayne Ave., and Jimmy Modern, 605 E. Fifth St., will be broadcasting Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show on 91.3 WYSO-FM.

The First Friday @ 5 concert series is sponsored by Five Rivers MetroParks, Clear Channel Radio, Bud Light Lime and the Downtown Dayton Partnership. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more.

July Has Been Spectacular at THE NEON + More Great News!

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Hello Everyone,

This is another short & easy newsletter. We had great attendance again over the weekend. TO ROME WITH LOVE and MOONRISE KINGDOM continue to draw crowds. Thank you so much for your support of these films. (You can visit either official site by clicking the titles above.)

We are holding steady for another week!

We go on a week-to-week basis with all of our films.  These current hits (along with our recent engagement of BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL) have performed better than any other films for quite some time…so we’re holding them over.  As soon as possible, we’ll get to BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and THE INTOUCHABLES.  (Sometimes dates move at our request…and sometimes distributors move dates around.)

Check out the MAKING OF Featurette for MOONRISE KINGDOM:

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nx7kbjqbJY’]

Next week, I will have firm details regarding the August 5 screening of THE INVISIBLE WAR.

Very soon, I’ll be able to give you details about our benefit on October 14…slowly but surely, we’re getting details in place so we can make a big announcement (here are a couple wonderful details – Meadowlark and Coco’s Bistro have already confirmed to provide appetizers). This benefit will help us as we transition from 35mm to digital projection.  (The picture at the top of this newsletter is a big hint as to what we’ll be screening.)

Did you see that FilmDayton revealed their line-up for their 4th Annual Festival? Check out their site to see the latest. This fest is set for August 24-26, and I can’t wait to see COMPLIANCE.

And speaking of festivals, The Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival committee last night in order to solidify this year’s line-up. The 7th Annual Fest is set for Sept. 28-30, and the films are spectacular!   Once everything is confirmed, we’ll release the line-up.  (Please contact me if you or your business might be interested in sponsoring this annual event.)

Thanks for your continued support.
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for
Fri. July 20 – Thur. July 26:

TO ROME WITH LOVE (R) 1 Hr 42 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Monday – Thursday: 2:50, 5:10, 7:30

MOONRISE KINGDOM (PG-13) 1 Hr 34 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 2:45, 5:00, 7:20

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
July 27 THE INTOUCHABLES
July 27 BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
TBD YOUR SISTER’S SISTER
TBD WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
LOLA VERSUS

Amateur and Professional Photographers – Bring Your Cameras Downtown!

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Amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate in Downtown in Focus, a photo contest aimed at finding new and distinctive shots of our downtown. The City of Dayton, Downtown Dayton Partnership, Kaplan College and Dayton Daily News are sponsoring the contest.

"Epcot, Dayton (RTA Hub)" by Robin Feld won 2011's professional "My Downtown Favorite" and "Best in Show" categories.

One amateur winner and one professional winner will be selected in each of the following categories:

  • Downtown Festivals: Images showcasing individuals or unique moments at any of downtown Dayton’s summer events or festivals.
  • Active Downtown: Photographs featuring people participating in active lifestyle activities, such as biking, kayaking, dancing and running in downtown Dayton.
  • Scenic Downtown: Creative images featuring buildings, architecture, skylines, parks, the river or any other picturesque view of downtown.
  • Best in Show (selected by the judges)

Terry Orf's "To Be Young Again" won last year's "My Downtown Favorite" and "Best in Show" in the amateur category.

A panel of judges ― consisting of professional photographers, photography editors and instructors, and community leaders ― will select the winners in each category and award a $250 cash prize to the Best in Show winner in each division. Honorable mentions also will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. In addition, City of Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell will select one photo that best represents the City’s “Dayton Originals” motto. This photographer will receive a gift basket from the City of Dayton.

Contest winners will be recognized at the Sept. 14 Urban Nights, and all entries will be displayed in a special exhibit during Urban Nights.

From approximately 8 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, during First Friday, many of downtown’s buildings will be lit for photographers who would like to capture night shots of the city.

Debra L. Barnett's "Waiting for Fireworks" garnered the amateur award for "Downtown at Night" in 2011.

The deadline to submit photos is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. There is no fee for application or participation. Photographers are not required to be Dayton-area residents, but winners must be age 18 or older. Photos must have been taken in Greater Downtown ― which includes the Central Business District, Oregon Arts District, Webster Station and the ring of neighborhoods that surrounds downtown ― within the past calendar year. Official contest guidelines and entry forms are available at www.downtowndayton.org and www.daytonohio.gov.

Food Adventure to Benjamin’s the Burger Master

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The namesake of Benjamin’s the Burger Master

Who is the master of making burgers and other things in Dayton?  The answer is Benjamin’s the Burger Master on North Main Street in Dayton.  This unique restaurant is in old building that used to be a “Red Barn” in the 1970’s.  The menu not only has burgers, but they have some Southern, soul food offerings.  The Big Ragu loves to stop in for lunch and it is worth fighting the busy crowd for a taste of some good home cooking.

Skillet Cornbread

The burgers are nice and juicy and never frozen.  They are hand pressed, made to order, and the meat melts in your mouth.  However, many people are finding out that Benjamin’s the Burger Master offers incredible southern cooking that is just as good, if not better than their burgers!   Want authentic  soul food?  They have perfectly cooked Southern fried chicken and skillet cornbread.  Other sides like fried okra, white beans and collared greens put the exclamation point on a great lunch or dinner.

Southern Fried Chicken Dinner, 2 sides and cornbread

The homemade menu does not stop there.  Benjamin’s the Burger Master offers a Fried Fish Platter every Friday.   They also sell BBQ Beef Ribs everyday by the rack or by the bone, in either sweet, spicy, or smoky sauce.  How is that for Southern cooking?  The meals are very reasonably priced, which keeps us coming back for more.

Benjamin’s the Burger Master is another Dayton Food Adventure opportunity, that cannot be missed.  Eateries like this is why our blog exists.  We love informing foodies about locally owned places, that they may not know about.   Get to Benjamin’s the Burger Master for some good grub on North Main Street.  Now you know, they have mastered more than the burger!

Please leave a comment below if you have been to Benjamin’s the Burger Master !

Food Adventures has a Facebook page here, so “like” us !!

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Play for Change in the Miami Valley

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A CALL FOR MUSICIANS, FILMMAKERS, AND VOLUNTEERS!

Wright State University calls for community partners, musicians, filmmakers and volunteers to participate in the worldwide music initiative, “Playing for Change.”

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM’] Launched by a multi-media group; Playing for Change is a social movement that captures the voices of musicians across the globe. A dedicated film crew crosses the globe to seek music’s most creative talent. Individual stories were woven into a single story about humanity, sung and played by some of the world’s most inspiring artists. For more information, visit http://playingforchange.com/.

Wright State University will add the voice of the Miami Valley to this growing initiative. The Miami Valley Playing for Change project is in need of local filmmakers, musicians, and other volunteers to participate in creating a video, featuring a blend of positive songs to uplift and showcase our region. Like the video above – a diverse collection of musicians of all different backgrounds, genres and instruments are invited to share their talents on a song that will become greater than the sum of its parts.

Heading up the program is Dr. Robert J. Sweeney, Executive Vice President for Planning at Wright State University. Sweeney was drawn to this project based on the great cultural impact it has demonstrated; the music program is bringing together communities that would have never otherwise worked together and crossing barriers across the globe. Regarding why he’s bringing it to the Miami Valley, he says, “We had Mark Johnson speak as a part of our Presidential Lecture Series and the response from the community to his message was overwhelming.  I know our musicians, filmmakers and community of volunteers rival any region in the world.”

Musicians may be soloists or bands/groups/choirs that use voice and/or instruments; the project seeks to highlight many different genres of locally connected musicians. Participating bands/artists will perform one or more of the featured songs while filmmakers shoot the performances at locations throughout the Miami Valley between July 14 and August 3.

The featured songs include:

“Nothing Can Stop Us Now” by Starship

“Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” by Fleetwood Mac

“I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash

“We Are” by Sweet Honey in the Rock

The final product will be a video montage of the performances uploaded early September for a worldwide audience with a possible special reception to feature the songs/videos.

 

Miami Valley ‘Playing for Change’ Submission Guidelines:

Deadline: July 14, 2012

Please email submission information to Dr. Robert J. Sweeney, Executive Vice President for Planning and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, at [email protected]. In the subject of your email, please type “Playing for Change.”

Musicians: Participating musicians will need to learn one or up to all of the featured songs to participate. If interested, please submit your information including:

(1) The name of your band (or you as an individual artist),

(2) Musical Genre

(3) Instrument(s)

(4) Number of performers (soloists and groups welcome)

(5) Video, audio recording, Web site, additional information, etc

(5) Contact information, including your name, email and phone number

Filmmakers: Please submit the following information:

(1) What type of experience you have (camera, sound, edit, etc.),

(2) Length of time in industry

(3) Special equipment you may have,

(4) Reel, resume, additional information, etc.

(5) Contact information, including your name, email and phone number

 Other Volunteers: For any music lovers or champions of the Miami Valley who would like to participate in this event (i.e. donating bottled water or other snacks for shooting days, being an extra hand on set, etc.), please contact us with:

(1) What area you would like help with and

(2) Your contact information, including your name, email and phone number

 

Third Shift Beer Now Available in the Dayton Area

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Third Shift Lager available on Draft in Dayton

A new draft beer has come to town and is available at local Dayton eateries.  The beer, called THIRD SHIFT, and is an amber lager that is 5.3 percent alcohol by volume.  Third Shift is the first beer released on a large scale in series of gold medal award winning beers brewed by ” Band of Brewers.”

Why the name Third Shift?  Because the brewers’ love of beer, and passion for brewing doesn’t stop when the day shift is over.  Third Shift describes their beer as  “an amber lager that is complex, yet well-balanced with a sweet maltiness that dominates slightly over a clean, hop bitterness.”  Sounds good, right?

The Rig Ragu loves the term foodie and craft beer. He has a passion for tasty brews that spills past our normal work shifts, so we had to try this lager.  We first tasted Third Shift on tap at Brixx Ice Company in Dayton, and we loved it. Third Shift, noticed our mention of their beer in the Brixx story and kindly sent us some bottles of the product.

Hungry Jax’s Take on Third Shift : It definitely has a bold taste and I am a fan of amber lagers.  It will be interesting to see if this beer makes a mark in the “craft beer” industry.

The Big Ragu’s Take on Third Shift :  It is a light, refreshing, smooth and easy drinking lager that packs some flavor.  I prefer lighter beers, and this beer is a perfect start to a Food Adventure meal during these summer months.  It also has a beautiful color.

The Big Ragu Workin’ the Third Shift

Food Adventure fans can now find a limited-release introduction of this well balanced lager at local bars, pubs and restaurants.   We think you will like it’s toasted character with subtle hops taste.  According to their website, Third Shift has been also been introduced on draft in limited quantities in other cities such as  San Francisco, Reno, Sacramento, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas.

Make sure you try this tasty new draft offering at your local restaurant or watering hole.  It gives new meaning to the phrase “workin the third shift.”

Visit www.thirdshiftbrewing.com for more information on this two-time gold medal winning beer and where it can be purchased.

Have you tried THIRD SHIFT AMBER LAGER ?  Please post your thoughts below about this new beer on the scene.

Also, please visit Food Adventures on Facebook and “like” our page by clicking HERE !!

 

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Beat the Heat at July’s First Friday

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Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 6. RiverScape MetroPark and the Oregon District will play host to two special First Friday events: the First Friday @ 5 concert series and the Call of the Tropics Festival.

Breakdancers perform at last year's First Friday @ 5 concert Series.

RiverScape MetroPark hosts the second concert in the First Friday @ 5 concert series, with Hey There Morgan performing from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The park’s concession stand will be open and beer will be sold from 5 to 7 p.m. MetroParks employees will demonstrate various kayaking skills on the river and free kayak rentals will be available, courtesy of Cox Media Group Ohio, and free bike rentals will be available as well, courtesy of AAA.  The First Friday @ 5 concert series is sponsored by Five Rivers MetroParks, Clear Channel Radio, Bud Light Lime and the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

Call of the Tropics, a festival celebrating Tiki culture presented by the Fraternal Order of Moai’s Kon-Tiki chapter, will host a block party in the Oregon District from 5 to 10 p.m. Live surf and rockabilly bands will perform, including the Nick Kizirnis Band, Crazy Joe and the Mad River Outlaws, Team Void, and Cherry Lee and the Daddy Katz. The festival also will include Tiki carvers, street performers, hot rod displays and vendors. An exhibition of Tiki art will be displayed at Color of Energy gallery.

For parents who would like to enjoy First Friday without kids in tow, Mini University, located adjacent to Miami Valley Hospital at 28 Hill St., will offer discounted prices during First Friday. Childcare is offered from 6 to 11 p.m., and a light meal will be provided, along with plenty of fun entertainment. Reservations are required and will be accepted through June 29. Call 224-3916.

Galleries galore

July’s First Friday offers plenty of new exhibitions and gallery openings to check out. H. David Clay Studio, 33 S. St. Clair St, and the CADC, 35 S. St. Clair St., will feature a variety of works by multiple artists. Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., will host the opening reception for the Call of the Tropics art exhibition, featuring locally and nationally known Tiki artists and carvers. From 5 to 8p.m., the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors, 48 High St., will exhibit an eclectic show of artwork from more than 80 DSPS members. Acoustic guitarists Charlie Emmerich and Jonathan Besecker will perform from 6 to 7 p.m. Blue Sky Project, will host two new art shows. Abstract work by Katherine Mann will be exhibited at 8 N. Main St., with performance art by Mann and choreographer Rodney Veal. The 33 N. Main St. space will show “At Table,” a collection of photographs by Glenna Jennings.

Visitors browse featured art at K12 Gallery for Young People.

The Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., will feature karaoke and cornhole games during the exhibition of “Drawing Marathon,” a collection of work by various artists from 5 to 8 p.m. The opening of “Contemplations – Post-Modern Landscapes,” by Wisconsin mixed-media artist Jay Batista, will be held at Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St. A meet and greet with the artist will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Work by students from St. Anthony’s School will be exhibited at K12 Gallery for Young People and a display of mixed-media art will be show in the gallery’s TEJAS space at 510 E. Third St.

Music

If you’re in the mood for even more music after the First Friday @ 5 concert, you’re in luck. Many downtown venues will be hosting live bands during First Friday. Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St., will have live music beginning at 9 p.m., featuring Brian Wilkinson, the Dirty Socialites, Brandon Hawk and Jamy Holiday. Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St., will host the The Rolling Stones vs. Beatles English Invasion Tribute, featuring Miss Lissa and Company, Ambiant Drive, Citizens Unrest and others. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the concert begins at 9 p.m., with a $5 cover. “Feel Good Fridays” take place at De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St., with top-shelf drink specials from 6 to 8 p.m., as well as live jazz by the Wade Baker Quartet from 9 p.m. to midnight. $5 cover.

Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., will feature local artists performing protest-themed music for Protest in the Park from 7 to 10 p.m. Jay’s Seafood, 225 E. Sixth St., will host music by Puzzle of Light at 9 p.m., and Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St., will have live music beginning at 7 p.m. Bring your receipt from Basho Apparel to Omega and receive 15 percent off your purchase. Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., also will have live music beginning at 9:30 p.m. Remixx Lounge, 146 E. Third St., will have two-for-one martini specials during performances by Donnell Woods, Yvette “Diva” Williams and DJ Night at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets.

Work up an appetite

Get your night started by grabbing a bite to eat at a downtown restaurant. Franco’s Ristorante Italiano, 824 E. Fifth St., Smokin’ Bar-B-Que, 200 E. Fifth St., and Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St., will offer 10 percent off food during First Friday. Thai 9, 11 Brown St., Coco’s Bistro, 515 Wayne Ave., feature 15 percent off food. Sa-Bai, 200 S. Jefferson St., also has 15 percent off food as well as a $5 Long Island Iced Tea. Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., will have no cover and 20 percent off food.

Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St., will have dinner specials, along with the special tapping of a firkin of craft beer. Mr. Hyman’s Fine Dining, 40 N. Main St. Lobby, features a $10 all-you-can-eat buffet and live jazz. Olive, an urban dive, 416 E. Third St., will serve Jeni’s Ice Cream and broadcast Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show on 91.3 WYSO-FM. Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St., will have a happy-hour band and half-price pizza from 4 to 8 p.m., with additional live music at 9:30 p.m. Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St., features 6-ounce glasses of red or white wine for $5. The Vault, 20 N. Jefferson St., will have an extended happy hour until 10 p.m., with a live band and free food.

Entertainment for the whole family

From climbing to comedy, downtown has plenty of entertainment options on First Friday. The Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will begin at 7 p.m. at Courthouse Square. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact tour guide Leon Bey at 274-4749 or email [email protected]. The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet at 5:15 p.m. for a ride through the city at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd.

Clash Consignments will feature sales and live music during July's First Friday.

Urban Krag, 125 Clay St., will have its climbing gym open until 11 p.m. The Yellow Cab Building, 400 E. Fourth St., will host a Hip Hop Art and Dance Show, featuring students of the Funk Lab and an exhibition of art inspired by hip hop culture from 5 to 11 p.m. The all-ages event will feature a tagging wall to learn and practice graffiti skills, and refreshments will be provided. Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., will show the 1962 film “The Birdman of Alcatraz,” part of the theater’s Cool Films Series at 7:30 p.m. Free popcorn and soda served starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and can be bought at the door. Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St., will host the second of the four-night Wiley’s Comedy Contest, showcasing up-and-coming comedians at 8 p.m.; tickets cost $3. The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St., will have films running during First Friday. Call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times.

Downtown summer sales

Retail shops will be featuring sales and specials throughout First Friday. Amore! Designer Consignment Boutique, 16 Brown St., will debut new summer apparel. Basho Apparel, 521 E. Fifth St., will feature 15 percent off to anyone who brings in their receipt from Omega Music.  Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., will feature free makeup lessons for visitors. Clash Consignments, 113 E. Third St., will have a sale on select items and live music. Feathers Vintage Clothing, 440 E. Fifth St., and Jimmy Modern, 605 E. Fifth St. will both be broadcasting Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show on 91.3 WYSO-FM. Hangar18, 114 N. St. Clair St., will feature 15 percent off all items. Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St., will have a fair-trade food tasting. ReCreate, 438 E. Fifth St., will have a sale on select items, including new and used instruments, other music-related items, and original artwork.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more.

Coopers’s Deli: The Big Apple Comes to Dayton

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Want to have a taste of the NYC in the DYT?  We know a Food Adventure spot that lights up our appetites like a sign on Broadway.   Cooper’s Deli recently opened in the Shoppes of Oakwood and is creating quite the buzz.  The restaurant specializes in New York Style deli sandwiches as well as  homemade soups, salads, a kids menu, and desserts.  In addition to top notch food, the restaurant offers delivery within a two mile radius, an incredible rooftop patio, beer, wine selections, wheelchair accessibility, and two levels of indoor seating.

The Pastrami Sandwich may be the star of the deli

The Big Ragu spoke with, co-Owner Dan Apolito who traveled to New York City on a “Deli” tour in 2011, tasting various meats and securing the best for Cooper’s Deli.  New Yorkers take pride in their deli’s and Apolito is bringing that mindset to Dayton.  Cooper’s Deli uses the same corned beef and pastrami that is used in the world famous Stage Deli in New York City.  The meats are shipped directly to Dayton from New York City.  The Corned Beef and Pastrami served here are not your typical run of the mill deli meats.  The proof is in the taste.

The Cooper’s Salad is loaded with everything under the sun, pulling no punches.

The pastrami melts in your mouth…you won’t get that at your local $5 sub shop.  Other sandwiches that we tried included: The Reuben which is quite possibly the best reuben that Dayton has to offer.  The Corned Beef is flavorful, plentiful and further proof of the quality of food that Cooper’s Deli is serving.  The Turkey sandwich is basically a mound of turkey breast stuffed between a layer of herbed goat cheese and cranberry-orange chutney on Challah bread.   Vegetarians may enjoy the Garden Grilled Cheese, which consists of four cheeses, artichoke, tomato, and spinach.  We would highly recommend all four sandwiches.

Every menu has a monster dish and Cooper’s is the “New Yorker Sandwich.”  This big sandwich sells for $15.50 and is large enough for two people, like most of their sandwiches.  The “New Yorker” consists of 12 ounces of pastrami and corned beef, sharp cheddar cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing, all on fresh marble rye bread.  For deli connoisseurs, this is the promise land.  How lucky we are to have the taste of Manhattan, Brooklyn, or the Bronx shipped fresh to Dayton via Cooper’s Deli.   These sandwiches are not only fresh, they are piled high and thick.  Be careful not to unhinge your jaw biting into one of these marvelous deli features.  Click here to view their entire menu.

The Huge “New Yorker Sandwich”: 12 ounces of NY Pastrami and Corned Beef

Make sure you get to Cooper’s Deli and dine on the patio overlooking downtown Oakwood, or take a taste of  Big Apple “to go.”   Either way, there is no place like Cooper’s Deli in Dayton, or in Ohio for that matter.

Have you been to the unique Cooper’s Deli ?  If so, please leave your Food Adventure feedback below !

CLICK HERE to “like” Food Adventures on Facebook !

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