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Food Adventures SMALL BITES for 1/6/2012

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Every couple of weeks, your humble FOOD ADVENTURERS will give you “SMALL BITES,”   a quick feature of some restaurant items that we love.

SMALL BITES – 1/6/2012 includes these favorite cravings in the Dayton Area:

Click Here to Enlarge the Perfect French Fries

THE FRESH CUT FRIES at PENN STATION EAST COAST SUBS:

Freshly cut, and just out of the fryer, there is something about these “skin-on” french fried potatoes.  Maybe it is because the potatoes are fried in cholesterol-free peanut oil.  Whether you dip them in ketchup, splash some vinegar on them, or eat them plain, these tasty treats always hit the spot!  There is one problem, they always give you that small white  holder of ketchup, and you have to fill up like 4 of them.  Want to learn a “fat kid trick?”  Use a beverage lid and turn it upside down and squirt the ketchup on that.  Problem solved, Big Ragu style..

 

THE POT STICKERS at CHINA COTTAGE:

Pan Fried Potstickers from China Cottage

Huge on taste and huge on size, you have to try the pot sticker appetizers at China Cottage.  They are the best anywhere in the Big Ragu’s opinion.  Want an appetizer that will awaken your tastebuds and satisy that pre-dinner hunger?  Trust us on this one, you cant go wrong.  These dumplings are filled with pork and garlic spices.   The magnificent creation is then pan seared and brought to your table.  It is served with a soy based sauce and scallions.  Definitely the most memorable appetizer we have had at a Chinese restaurant in a while.

 

 

THE CHICKEN WINGS at ELSA’s:

The Big Ragu’s Favorite Place for Wings in Dayton is.. Elsa’s !

Wings at Elsa’s?  HECK YES !  In a place known for their Bad Juan margaritas and their Mexican food like the Super Mini burrito, you would not think to try the wings on their menu.  But let the Big Ragu tell you, they are his favorite wings in the Dayton area.  Another trick is heading out to eat these wings while watching your favorite NFL game and you will not have to fight the typical Sunday sports bar crowd.  The order will definitely fill up the biggest appetites with 10 nice sized wings.  Your humble Food Adventurers suggest the following sauces: either Jamaican Jerk, or Regular BBQ.  You cannot go wrong with these wings in such an unlikely place.   Order them with the sauce on them, or order the wings plain with the sauce on the side for dipping.  you choose, but please save a couple of wings for us !

 

THE BRANDON BURGER at ARCHER’s TAVERN:

The Brandon Burger comes with Bacon, and Fried or Scrambled Eggs

Our Food Adventures crew enjoy a good burger now and then.  One of his favorites is the Brandon Burger found at Archer’s Tavern in Centerville.  This big burger starts with fresh meat from local Zink’s Meat Market and is loaded with toppings, including bacon and a fried egg.  At a price of $8.64 for the platter, we think it is a pretty good deal.  We also like the taste, which is a juicy, explosion of flavors and defintely worth a try.  With a parking lot full of customers at Archer’s everyday, they must be doing something right!

 

 

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‘Dayton ready to help greet 1932’

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Eighty years ago, the Dayton Daily News gave the following report as Daytonians weathering the Great Depression made plans to celebrate the New Year holiday. The “clarion blasts” and “owl cars” have passed along with the heyday of hotel parties and public dances, but it’s likely their great-grandchildren will also see “many whistles made wet as usual.”

Dayton ready to help greet 1932 new year

Many public and private parties arranged for annual event

A few more hours and Dayton residents will greet a new year.

Indications Thursday were that the event which comes with the ushering in of a new cycle will be observed about as usual, with the celebrants finding their pleasure during the later hours of the evening.

All of the uptown hotels were prepared to greet little 1932 in a big way, with dances holding forth in some of them and with reservations having been received for dinner parties which will last through midnight.

‘Gaiety and splendor’

At the Biltmore the custom which was established with the opening of that hotel will be pursued, that of holding a dance to which the public is invited. The management of the hotel reported Thursday that a large number of reservations have been made and that the usual scene of gaiety and splendor is expected to prevail.

At the Miami, the Van Cleve and Gibbons there will be no public dances held, although there were numerous reservations made for private parties. On the roof of the Miami a dinner party will be given by Oscar Pryor.

All of the uptown theaters have announced that special late shows will be given. Some of these will begin at 11 p.m., some at 11:30 p.m. and a few not until the magic hour has struck.

Hangovers, ’30s style

The greater portion of the reception to the new year in Dayton, however, will have its setting in private homes. With Friday, New Year’s, a holiday on which most factories, offices and stores will be closed, the celebrants will be privileged to enter into the spirit of the occasion without the dread of what must come the “morning after” when otherwise another workday would beckon.

There have been indications for the past week that the usual noisemaking devices again will be in evidence. Bells will ring, whistles sound their clarion blasts, pistols and cannon will be fired and the new year will be given the greeting common with age-old custom.

So much for discouraging drunk driving

The managements of some of the street railway companies were undecided during Thursday as to whether extended service would be given on their lines for benefit of the merrymakers. Definite announcement was made by the City Railway Co. that its latest cars would leave Third and Main sts. at the usual hour of 12:10 a.m. The Peoples Railway Co. was not certain whether owl cars would be operated and the same was true of Oakwood and Dayton Street. The last Peoples cars under regular schedule on the Main st., Valley and Cincinnati-Leo divisions leave the center of the city at 12:10 a.m. north and south. On the Oakwood line the last car departs from Third and Main sts., south at 12:34 a.m. and north, 12:10 a.m.

When dancing actually meant dancing

The various night and dinner (venues) have announced special (merri)ment at the midnight hour. These, like the hotels, have reported that they have made heavy reservations. In all of these places dancing will be the principal attraction of the evening, with floor shows prevailing in some of them.

There were no evidence, on the surface at least, of a scarcity of some of the liquid adjuncts which go with a New Year’s celebration. Reports were to the effect that, in spite of the current economic depression, demands have been in keeping with previous years since prohibition, with every indication that there will be as many whistles made wet as usual. With it, reports say, the quality will be improved over former years and at the lower prices which have prevailed for the past few months in Dayton.

Food Adventures – Small Bites 12/15/11

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Welcome to our new Food Adventure feature called “Small  Bites.”

Every other week or so, The Big Ragu and Crew will give you a quick rundown of some of his favorite things.

Some of our’s  SMALL BITE:

— The Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Meadowlark Restaurant

Grilled Cheese at Meadowlark – click to enlarge

The grilled cheese sandwich has a reputation for being a simple, inexpensive and tasty sandwich.  We have died and gone to grilled cheese heaven!  We recently visited Meadowlark Restaurant in Centerville, Ohio and tried the White Cheddar and Apricot Chutney Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  Arguably, this is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever!  Imagine slices of White Cheddar with house made Apricot Chutney blanketed between two slices of Dorothy Lane Market Artisan Bread.  Have we gotten your attention yet??

 

— The Pizza at South Park Pizza Tavern

One of our Favorite Pizzas – Click to enlarge

Pizza has got to be one of America’s favorite foods and one of our favorite pizzaa is made at the South Park Pizza Tavern in Dayton, Ohio.  They have traditional and gourmet pizzas on your choice of white or wheat crust. We are hooked on the Seafood Blanc pizza on the whole wheat crust.  Along with great tasting pizza, they also offer a variety of good beers on tap and some of the areas hottest local bands.  This place is the real deal!

Try it on a Monday night, because it is buy one pizza, get one free night, but you can be sure the place will be packed.

 

 

THE BIG RAGU’s  turn to CHOMP:

— Whopper or Whimper?

Have Whopper’s Gotten Smaller?

Is it us, or is the Whopper Sandwich from Burger King smaller than it used to be??  The Big Ragu has a hard time believing that the sandwich they serve today is the same size as the mammoth sandwiches he remembered from the 70’s and early 80’s…  Same great taste, he just feels it is a smaller version.  What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

— The Breadsticks at McGillicutty‘s

Click to enlarge this picture of the Greatest Breadsticks Ever

The Big Ragu says absolutely, without a doubt, the best breadsticks are at McGillicutty’s restaurant in Kettering.  If you want them with a little salt on them, then you need to say “Pretzel Sticks” when you order.  These steaming hot, buttery and fluffy breadsticks never disappoint.  Each basket is served with 2 dipping sauces, and they have a large variety to choose from.  May we suggest the nacho cheese dip, the cream cheese dip, or the garlic butter dip to accompany the perfect breadsticks.

 

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What are your thoughts on this week’s “Small Bites.”  Please comment below….

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A Handmade First Friday

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If you’re reading this, you’ve most likely heard of a little thing called First Fridays. These art walks (and in some cities, African-American business networking or conservative political events) happen in urban areas all over the United States on the first Friday of each month.

first friday logoTheir goal? Connect people with their communities.

But here in Dayton, things are getting a little out of hand. First of all, you’ve got dozens of art studios, performance venues and event leaders offering so many awesome opportunities downtown, how’s a fan supposed to see it all? Second of all, pretty much everything’s free. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned capitalism?

I’m joking, of course. The Gem City’s art scene is as vibrant as any I’ve seen outside the big metropolitan meccas. And good old greedy capitalism can go take a dose of its own medicine in a third-world factory or a Dayton factory layoff line. Because you know what? We’ve got Handmade Holiday.

On the first Friday of December, for the past three to five years (yep, even the organizers can’t remember exactly how many now), Dayton’s best knitters, photographers, crafters, painters, and urban revolutionaries pack themselves into a brightly lit storefront and offer their wares to folks who care about keeping their shopping dollars local.

Etch at work at HH 2009 - photo by Melissa Trent

You can find hand-crocheted caps for babies, joke books for 8-year-olds, edgy phone pouches for the teens on your list, and enough wildly sweet local art (and cupcakes!!!) to satisfy your friends and grandparents from here to the end of Kwanzaa. And your cash? Sure, you’ll hand out more than you’d pay for one of those plastic things from a box store, stamped out by slave kids in other countries whose bosses got our old jobs. But your extra dollars will get at least one more cycle in the Miami Valley, and it makes a world of difference to the dedicated artists sharing their creative energies with us First Friday revelers.

Want to see the wares? Check out the Handmade Holiday market at the St. Clair Lofts, St. Clair Street at 4th Street (just north of the Neon and south of the Dayton Metro Library) from 5 to 10pm Friday, then 11am to 6pm Saturday.

And yes, fans, there’s talk of making this market a monthly event in 2012. Organizer(s) and venue(s) needed!

If you don’t recognize plenty of the works and their creators this weekend, keep on coming to First Fridays! It’s all about connecting us with our communities, after all.

(Click the poster to view it full-size — how many names do you recognize?)

Food Adventures – judging who makes the “Most Delightful Dessert”

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The crisp night of November 19th, The Food Adventure Crew were preparing their tummys for some of the most incredible sweets in the Dayton area. Your humble Food Adventurers had been invited to use their tastebud expertise to judge a dessert contest at the Carrillon Park /Dayton Heritage Museum’s “Ringing in the Holidays” gala.  Five top area chefs were competing for “Most Delightful Dessert” which included two categories, Best Dessert and Best Presentation.

As we entered the museum, we were greeted by Christmas Carolers who lined the entranceway.  The wonderful aroma of the food displayed in the lobby was also music to our ears.  As we entered the party, we were greeted by the organizers of the event which included local attorneys Nicole Mitchell and Mark Engling.  They gave us the VIP treatment!  We were given nametags, and asked to mingle among the people, open bar and hors d’oeuvres.  If you know us, we gladly participated.  Eating among many local socialites and the movers and shakers of Dayton’s society, we enjoyed some incredible appetizers from the caterers, which included Scratch Catering owned by Chef Matt Hayden.

We Loved Culp’s Cafe’s Rustic Hot Chocolate

Besides being our first time as celeb taste testers, we had another “first” at this event.  We both had our first martini, which was a fantastic Candy Cane Martini, prepared with the holiday spirit in mind.  We were chastised in fun by an older gentleman  who asked when we were going to drink something more “manly,” so we quickly went back to beer.  The Big Ragu was very happy to see that the open bar included Sam Adam’s Winter Lager.

As we made our way to the dessert area we saw our pal Lisa Grigsby from DaytonMostMetro.com and Dayton Dining.  She introduced us to fellow judges Amelia Robinson the “smart mouth” from Dayton Daily News, and local TV personality Jim Bucher from WDTN Channel 2.   Glancing at the desserts, we noticed some other appetizer areas that we decided to hit before finally getting to the “expert judging.”

Our job, if you will, was to taste 5 premium desserts and rank them 1 through 5.  This was like trying to rank your children, as the plates were all amazing.

The first dessert we tried was Culp’s Cafe’s Rustic Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Covered Churro.  This was one of our favorites and believe us, all the desserts were top rate!  The chef Jose Calzada had some incredible chilli powder spices that gave a unique and addictive twist to the drink.  Something simple, a classic that was reinvented.

Dessert number two was the Champagne Chocolate Truffle Tart made by chef Justin Mohler from Olive, an Urban Dive  restaurant in Dayton.  It was a sinful, rich tasting dessert.  This was a favorite of the judges, and we could have eaten the whole tray.  Our mouths were definitely in heaven.

Winning Dessert from Olive, an Urban Dive

The third dessert we tried were Mini Peppermint Cupcakes and Mini Egg Nog Cupcakes from Cake, Hope and Love.  Chefs Shannon Teague and Connie McFarren had a beautiful display to match the cupcakes addictive taste.  Big Ragu was seen sneaking back for seconds, as they were awesome.

Dessert number four was the Dayton Women’s Club‘s Holiday DuJour which featured a carrot cake.  This was one of our favorite presentations, and the delicate, creamy taste of this dessert showed chef Joseph Ragno really knows his stuff.   Again the simple classic was taken up a level, and the garnish of a dried apple slice lended to the taste for the eyes as well.

The fifth dessert we ate was a unique twist offered by chef Marcus Montreuil from Amelia’s Bistro.  This inventive dessert was called Sugar Plum Fantasy and featured a marshmallow, bacon peanut brittle, and brownie with a “shooter tube” of caramel that you actually squeeze into your mouth.  Again superb presentation and taste.

The desserts left us speechless and after the extremely close voting, we had a tie.  We conferred with the other judges and finally emerged with the winners.  Best Presentation went to the Dayton Women’s Club dessert, and overall Best Dessert was awarded to Olive, an Urban Dive.

Best Presentation Winner: the Dayton Women’s Club

In summary, we took something else away from this party besides the sweets.  The event was held in the tastefully informative Dayton Heritage Museum at Carrillon Park.  Displays included lots of antiques and pictures about Dayton’s business history and more.  We even rode the antique Merry Go Round If you have not been to this museum, you have to visit.   Your Food Adventurers were as blown away as much by the museum as we were by the desserts.

Finally, Food Adventures would like to thank Carrillon Park and DaytonMostMetro.com for the privilege of being part of this “Ringing in the Holidays” extravaganza.  Like the desserts, you are all VERY SWEET !!!

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Dayton librarian’s whale of an art book scores big

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Matt Kish presents “Moby-Dick In Pictures: One Drawing For Every Page”

The legendary 19th-century novel Moby-Dick, or The Whale, is a story of obsession. No one, perhaps, understands that obsession quite so well as a Dayton librarian who spent 543 days creating an illustration for each of Moby-Dick’s pages – and now has the published book to prove it.

Matt Kish, who lives in Columbus, describes the closing months as brutal: “Those final 100 or so pages, when the book itself becomes pretty bleak, I had no personal time whatsoever, and I knew the only way I was going to get my life back was to finish this project.

“The only way through it was to symbolically kill the whale myself. I isolated myself, because I felt I had to save every available ounce of energy for the project. I became just as obsessed with finishing the project as Ahab was with the whale. Thankfully, my wife stayed with me.”

The final drawing emerged Jan. 29, his book contract was completed, and now the only obsession in Kish’s life is dealing with the incredible publicity his project has generated.
“I’m simultaneously excited by it all and overwhelmed and exhausted,” he says.

A whale of a response

How much publicity? Starting just a few days into the project, his posts to a daily blog for friends and family began to be featured on literary and art websites and talked about all over the globe. In December 2009, he was invited to speak about his work in New York.

Within days, even though he hadn’t even reached the halfway mark of the book, he was approached by an agent who almost immediately landed him a publisher.

“It started slow, but then things happened with dizzying speed,” Kish recalls. “This incredibly personal exploration of the novel suddenly had a contract and a deadline.”

He speculates that there’s three reasons for the powerful response.

“Moby-Dick is a cultural touchstone. Even people that haven’t read it, they know the whale, they know Ahab, they know Ishmael, they know that it ends tragically. It’s part of our cultural consciousness. It’s really an American myth.”
The second reason? Kish is not a formally trained artist. Yet his bold, unusual style is immediately gripping, conveying a raw emotional presence with every image. Some pieces are abstract, others intensely detailed. He used spray paint, brushes and ink, ballpoint pens, colored pencil, acrylics, collage, markers, stickers. The quickest took 30 minutes, others took up to 12 hours.

“I know if my work was to be critiqued, there are long lists of errors and completely missing blocks of an art foundation,” Kish says. “I didn’t even attempt to make my illustrations historically accurate. It’s very much about my life, my perspective – it’s influenced by video games I played in the ’80s, comic books from my childhood, covers of progressive rock albums from my dad’s basement. So it’s something that’s never been seen.”
The third reason? The sheer insanity factor of anyone taking on such a monster project.

Life-long connection

“Monster” being the key word. Kish says his lifelong passion for Herman Melville’s 1851 novel began around age 5, when he saw a film version of the story.

“The movie monsters were fictional, but this grabbed me,” he says. “This was a monster that could almost have been real.”

An illustrated children’s version of the story was his next encounter with the white whale; he read the full novel for the first time in junior high. Seven more trips through the book would pass before he started the project.

“What’s odd is that each time I read it, it’s shown me things that almost seem to echo or parallel things happening in my own life — the complexities of growing up and growing old and dealing with life,” Kish says. “In some ways, really grappling with that book requires some life experience.”

In 2009, the former English teacher and bookstore clerk heard about a man illustrating every page of another famous novel.

“I was feeling very creatively restless. I wasn’t really enjoying what I was drawing anymore,” Kish says. “I realized it had been four or five years since I read Moby-Dick, the longest absence in my life. And I thought, ‘I’m just going to jump right in. It’s a way to get me closer to the book, and this is going to keep me inspired artistically.’ And the next day I got started. That was Aug. 5, 2009.”

Two years later, on Nov. 13, Kish will share his creation with readers used to seeing his touch in the DVD, CD and young adult collections. He says he’s not sure what art will flow next for him.

“This project completely shaped and structured my life every day for a year and a half, and that was really trying,” Kish says. “I had an intense sense of relief to finally be done. But I was also really wistful. All those characters had become companions to me.”

To attend

Matt Kish presents “Moby Dick In Pictures: One Drawing For Every Page” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Dayton Metro Library, downtown branch, 215 E. Third St., Dayton. The event is free. Information: 937-463-2665, http://everypageofmobydick.blogspot.com.

Food Adventures Devours the 2011 Dayton Oktobertfest

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Spaten Munich beer and Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest were on draft

This past weekend, we experienced one of their favorite Food Adventures to date. Daytonmostmetro.com generously provided us with tickets to the preview party at the 40th Oktoberfest which is held at the Dayton Art Institute.  Although we have both been to the festival many times in the past, this would be the first time going to the preview party.

On this Food Adventure, we decided to take separate vehicles and that was a big mistake!  It wasn’t too easy to find a parking space, so The Big Ragu who is always “fashionably late,” this time proved no different.

While Hungry Jax was waiting in the long entrance line, a frantic Ragu was searching for a parking space while developing a little case of road rage.  We were both pretty amazed at how many people attended the pre-party and had no idea that it would be this packed.  Nonetheless, feeling like VIP’s we developed our game plan and a night of ethnic gluttony started to ensue.

Bratwurst from Schmidt’s restaurant booth – Incredible !

The festival is pretty much a bunch of food booths from different companies and 2 tents of craft goods.  Yeah, we skipped the arts and crafts.  Jax headed over to the Schmidt’s Sausage Haus booth while the Big Ragu shimmied over the beer line.

Schmidt’s is located in the German Village in Columbus, Ohio and was featured on Man v. Food.  Hungry Jax ordered a bratwurst with sauerkraut and added on spicy brown mustard and horseradish.  The first bite was absolutely amazing and this was a sign of good things to come.  The beer booth had some general choices, but we decided to go for the Leinenkugel Oktoberfest and the Spaten Munich beers.  After the Big Ragu got the beer, he decided to go hit the food line.  Ragu really showed that he was in the Oktoberfest spirit by showing up with a German treat … wait, a Gyro from the Greek Orthodox Church booth!  Well, at least the gyro was good because he devoured it in about 2 bites.  At this time we were both very happy Food Adventurers, but that was about to change.

The Dreaded Limburger Sandwich

We headed to the next food stall and the sign read…..Limburger Cheese Sandwich.  Neither one of us has ever tried Limburger Cheese, so we decided to take one for the team and ordered one up.  The Big Ragu’s dad had eaten Limburger Cheese as a kid in New York, so we decided to call him up and see what we had in store for us.  Ragu Sr. found it pretty amusing that we were going to indulge in this thing and basically told us….good luck!  We decided to punish the Big Ragu for buying a gyro by making him take half of this sandwich.  We have both eaten to pretty questionable things in our lifetime, but this by far was the worst thing that we have tried.  We have a rule with Food Adventures….you must finish the whole thing.  The Big Ragu was the smart one here when teared up on the final bite, got teary eyed and spit the sandwich out in the trash can. We hope to never see another Limburger Cheese Sandwich again.

After we grabbed more beers, we headed over to Don LeDoux’s Cajun Restaurant booth and decided to go with the Crawfish Etoufee.  It was served on a bed of rice and was incredibly tasty with lots of crawfish in it!  The employees and owners were very friendly.  We definitely have to head up to Troy, Ohio and try this place out!  While the crew was talking to the Don LeDoux employees, Ragu suddenly showed up with a Weinerschnitzel sandwich that he bought at the booth next door.  He had to get the limburger taste out of his mouth.  We also visited briefly with the Kosmic Kettlecorn booth who had some tasty popcorn, and showed us how the process worked.

Meeting the local legend, Voltzy at his Oktoberfest booth

The next item that we tried was the highlight of the Oktoberfest for us….we finally tried a Voltzy burger!  This is by far, the best hamburger that we have tried so far…..you can definitely taste the freshness.  Voltzy came out and doused our burgers out with three different sauces, which put a sparkle in the Big Ragu’s eye.  One taste of these things and you will be hooked!  And the sauces give it some sweet heat!  The burgers were amazingly fresh, and Voltzy said the meat is never frozen.

We will both admit that before we met Voltzy, we were very intimidated by his reputation for being a hard A$$, but he was a great guy, with a good sense of humor, who we had a lot of fun with.  We are looking forward to a future food adventure at his restaurant!

At this point we were both pretty stuffed and we decided to do what anyone else would…..get another beer!  The Spaten was incredible and we couldn’t get enough of it.  Ragu also loved the Wisconsin brewed Leinenkugel Oktoberfest beer, but Jax stuck with the German Spaten Beer.  While waiting in the beer line, the Cream Puff Pastry at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus caught our eye.  While the Big Ragu loves his fried food, and Jax has a weakness for sweets.  The cream puff pastry was a gift send down from the Confectionary Gods and we loved every morsel of it.

Schmidt’s Restaurant has perfected the Cream Puff

This Food Adventure was a blast.  Our leiderhosen are a bit tighter after the food we consumed at this festival.  Sure, we ended up with a few drops of beer, sauce, and powdered sugar on our shirts, which housed our full stomachs, but it was all in a night’s work.  So we say, to honor Oktoberfest, Lisa, Bill and the crew at DAYTONMOSTMETRO.com who got us VIP tickets to this event, we say “Danke schön!”

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Did you go to Oktoberfest? What did you think about the food and beer selection
?

Please post a comment below!

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Sleepless in Stratford-upon-Avon…errrr, Dayton

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24-7 of Shakespeare to Benefit Relay for Life Free Shakespeare! aims to read all of the Bard’s work during one week in October. Dayton, Sept. 7, 2011 ― Free Shakespeare! and Optum Nurses for a Cure, a registered team with the Centerville chapter of Relay for Life, will present Shakespeare for Life, a marathon relay reading of the Bard’s works, starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and running 24 hours through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Blue Sky Gallery, 33 N. Main St., in downtown Dayton. The event will start with a reading of Julius Caesar, with the goal of reading all 37 plays, 154 sonnets and five poems credited to William Shakespeare. While the readings will be organized into four-hour segments with some assigned readers, the public is invited to stop by anytime and read ― or just listen. Participants are asked to gather at least $25 in pledges to benefit a both Optum Nurses for a Cure and Free Shakespeare! A silent auction also will be held during the event. “We intend to read every word Shakespeare ever wrote,” said Chris Shea, founding artistic director of Free Shakespeare! “My father died from colon cancer, so I really wanted to find a way to help find a cure for cancer. “Cancer is everywhere and affects everyone, and on the lighter side of that, Shakespeare is everywhere and affects everyone,” Shea added. “Once I made that connection, this seemed a natural fit. This also is a community outreach and educational event. We want to raise awareness about Shakespeare and cancer prevention, while raising money for two great causes.” To volunteer for Shakespeare for Life, contact shakespearerelay@gmail.com. Free Shakespeare! is a sponsored project of Involvement Advocacy. Contributions can be made at the event or by mailing a check, made out to Involvement Advocacy (memo: Free Shakespeare), P.O. Box 10506, Dayton, OH, 45402-7506. Free Shakespeare! is a professional, nonprofit theater company devoted to presenting performances of the works of William Shakespeare. The company strives to make these works accessible to a contemporary society and deepen the understanding of our linguistic and cultural origins. We are committed to projects either penned by Shakespeare or inspired by his work. ###SHAKESPEARE FOR LIFE

Free Shakespeare!

24-7 of Shakespeare to Benefit Relay for Life

Dayton, Sept. 7, 2011 ― Free Shakespeare! and Optum Nurses for a Cure, a registered team with the Centerville chapter of Relay for Life, will present Shakespeare for Life, a marathon relay reading of the Bard’s works, starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and running 24 hours through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Blue Sky Gallery, 33 N. Main St., in downtown Dayton.

Free Shakespeare! aims to read all of the Bard’s work during one week in October.

Free Shakespeare! SHAKESPEARE FOR LIFE - Dayton, OHThe event will start with a reading of Julius Caesar, with the goal of reading all 37 plays, 154 sonnets and five poems credited to William Shakespeare. While the readings will be organized into four-hour segments with some assigned readers, the public is invited to stop by anytime and read ― or just listen. Participants are asked to gather at least $25 in pledges to benefit a both Optum Nurses for a Cure and Free Shakespeare! A silent auction also will be held during the event.

A Midsummer Nights Dream - Free Shakespeare! - Summer 2011 - Photo by Alisha McDarris

Chris Shea & Allison Husko in Midsummer Night Dream, Summer 2011 – Photo by Alisha McDarris

“We intend to read every word Shakespeare ever wrote,” said Chris Shea, founding artistic director of Free Shakespeare! “My father died from colon cancer, so I really wanted to find a way to help find a cure for cancer.

“Cancer is everywhere and affects everyone, and on the lighter side of that, Shakespeare is everywhere and affects everyone,” Shea added. “Once I made that connection, this seemed a natural fit. This also is a community outreach and educational event. We want to raise awareness about Shakespeare and cancer prevention, while raising money for two great causes.”

To volunteer for Shakespeare for Life, contact [email protected].

Free Shakespeare! is a sponsored project of Involvement Advocacy. Contributions can be made at the event or by mailing a check, made out to Involvement Advocacy (memo:  Free Shakespeare), P.O. Box 10506, Dayton, OH, 45402-7506.

Free Shakespeare! is a professional, nonprofit theater company devoted to presenting performances of the works of William Shakespeare. The company strives to make these works accessible to a contemporary society and deepen the understanding of our linguistic and cultural origins. We are committed to projects either penned by Shakespeare or inspired by his work.
-FS! Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Patterson Square: The new kid on the block.

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On the corner of First and Patterson is Dayton’s latest condo development: Patterson Square. Not your father’s townhouse, Patterson Square combines the best of traditional and modern interior designs. As a Realtor, I like seeing new builds or renovations in downtown Dayton. There is a need for it. I understand we have a lot of single family homes looking for owners, but people like variety. And no I don’t work for Charles Simms Development, I’m a HouseNerd who gets her kicks talking about real estate. So let’s take a quick tour.

It’s a (sing it with me) brick, house, and it is kinda mighty mighty if you want to know the truth. The exterior is all brick and like most townhouses, the windows are big. When you only have two sides to work with, you try to grab as much natural light as you can. At the street level is an attached 1 car garage w/ storage at the back, and a gated entry with a bricked courtyard at the front. Sandwiched between the two, is what they are calling a live/work space. Most likely to be used as an office or den, it could double as a guest room, this room is approx 12’2″ x 11′ 8″ with windows that will look out on the courtyard. Those buildings that face south will get some nice natural light in this room. HVAC system is in the garage.

Next level is what Simms calls the “Living Level”, but the rest of us call it the second floor. It’s an open kitchen/ living space with large windows on one side, and patio doors that lead to an 8×6 deck on the other which overlooks the common area of the development. Owners should get some nice views from here. You’ll be able to sit out there and enjoy music festivals at Riverscape. This level has an open floor plan and exposed beam 9′ ceilings, it’s a nice loft-like feel here- very modern. The entire space is 36″ long so you could pack some people in there for entertaining, but separate areas- kitchen, dining, living are nicely designated so it lends itself to more intimate gatherings as well. The powder room on this floor.

The third level is private spaces- two bedrooms and a shared bath. The master bedroom is 13’6″ x 11′ and features trey ceilings- a nice touch. Two separate closets? Yes, please. The second bedroom has its own walk-in closet, and the laundry is on this level. The full bath can be accessed from either the master or the hall. The entire unit is pre-wired for audio on all three levels, and is 1331 sq ft, not too shabby for a townhouse in the downtown residential district.

There are some Green Building features here, of course. You can’t really build these days without incorporating some green features and this development is Energy Star qualified- generally 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.

Overall, it’s another option to the growing residential district in downtown Dayton. Patterson Square will serve a market that is looking for something new, something efficient, close to everything in downtown Dayton, but a more traditional style than the Litehouse Development. These townhouses start at $139,900, and as of the offers of this post 9-18-11, they are offering pre-construction incentives such as closing costs if financed with their preferred lender, 6 months of HOA fees paid, flooring upgrades on Living Level (that is some beautiful flooring, I will say). Note: Prices and incentives are subject to change, please consult your Realtor or Simms Development for details. Each home comes with an in-house 1 year warranty, and a personal walk-thru with Charles Simms the developer, himself.

The Simms website is here, Patterson Square is here, but since it’s a new build there are no photos yet, so go to the Twin Lakes West photos to see a very similar townhouse. The photos included in this post came from the model at Twin Lakes West and while there will be some minor changes to the floor plan to make it optimized for the downtown site, you can see what Patterson Square is going to look like. How do you find out more? Contact Sales Rep Stephanie Dietz at Simms, 937-436-2913; or contact your Realtor who can walk you through the process and act as your professional eyes and ears to any new home purchase.

Food Adventures Gears up for the 2011 Festival Season

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Let’s face it, summer is over.   Many are bummed over the fact that the outdoor dining patios are closing, and they have no more days left at the pool.  Ragu is no longer laying out topless, scaring young kids. But the end of summer also brings some good news: Fall Festival Season is upon us !!

We absolutely love festivals, and the fall is our favorite time as the big dogs of the fest world make their appearance.  Two of our favorite festivals, The Greek Fest and The Italian Festival kick off the fall season.

Why are they on the same weekend? We do not know why.  Do the organizers understand the misery they put us through and the nightmare of scheduling our Food Adventure weekend?  Why won’t one of these old cultures move their festival a week later?   We may start a petition to put it on the November ballot, so we can spread out our campaign of gluttony.

First up is our study of the Greek Festival (www.daytongreekfestival.com), which is held at the Greek Orthodox Church next to the Dayton Art Institute.  This huge festival recently started charging a $2 admission fee.  Let us give you a bit of wisdom, GO DURING THE DAY, unless you want to experience the madhouse crowd and sheer pandemonium of trying to find a parking space near this festival.

Trigonas, Greek beer, and Gyros

Sure you can visit the arts & craft area or admire the dancers or a statue.  We prefer, however, to admire the gyros, greek beer, and those little golden honey puffs.  Oh, did we mention the baklava and trigonas in the building area kick  Mt Olymp-ass?  The food is reasonably priced, with most items around $3-$6.  Another highlight is a tour of the Greek church, one of the more spectacular churches in this area.  Oh yea, NO FOOD in the church.  This festival offers a huge variety of Greek food, but for you less adventurous souls, there are Greek french fries, and Domino’s pizza’s “Greek slices.”  Ragu says go for the good stuff, like a lamb shank dinner.  You only get it once a year.

If you are the artsy type, then you may enjoy the Greek Band at night, and the traditional Greek dancing.  These dancers jump over napkins, and are better than our best erotic dance moves.  We love the Greeks, we are huge Telly Savalas fans from way back in the day.

On the other side of town is our other favorite festival, The Italian Fall Festa (www.italianfallfesta.com), held at Bella Villa Hall on County Line Road, not far from

Wine Booth at Dayton’s Italian Festival

the Greene.  Ragu has to come here, he is Italian for goodness sake.  Again, may we plead that you go there during the day, unless you like a brisk walk from the nearby armory, or enjoy walking blocks of streets lined with cars.  As you enter the fest, you may be greeted by the sound of Italian music from the live stage.

The outside grounds of the festival features such fare as Cavatelli, Italian sausages, sub-par pizza, calzones and soups.  However, some of our favorite items are found inside the hall building and not outside on the grounds.  Inside, the hall offers nightly dinners.  Friday is Baked Pasta night, and Saturday is stuffed shells night, while Sunday is spaghetti and meatballs.  You may even find Ragu working a meatball sub booth outside, or the beer and wine booth inside the hall.  Ragu has also been threatening to enter the spaghetti eating contest, held at 3pm on Sunday.

We love, and we mean love the cannoli at this fest.  In fact, you are guaranteed to gain 5 pounds by just walking into the pastry area.  We love gelato because of this festival,  the tasty treat.

A Perfect Cannoli

The pastries are homemade, but unfortunately a lot of the other outside area food is not.   So if you choose to eat outside, be sure to let the vino flow and the food may taste a bit better.  And while you are outside, try your hand at bocce ball, where you can reserve a court for a small fee.

So this upcoming weekend, with a gleam in our eye and food stains on our shirts, we say thank you Dayton, for another year of Festival Food Adventures.

What is your favorite food at these festivals? What are your experiences?  Please comment below!

Visit FOOD ADVENTURES  on Facebook by clicking here and “like” our page to become and official fan.

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/Greek Italian Fest/]

On Stage Dayton Theatre Guide: 2011-12

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Every new theater season in Dayton seems to be ripe with variety. It’s one of the great joys of the Dayton theatre scene that the ‘something for everyone’ cliche actually rings true. 2011-2012 is already proving to be among the most eclectic yet. This season promises……

  • parents behaving badly (God Of Carnage) AND children behaving badly (Spring Awakening)
  • romance of the sweet and fun kind (Hairspray) and of the creepy kind (The Phantom of the Opera)
  • true stories of tragedy (The Laramie Project) and of triumph (Jersey Boys)
  • journeys down familar roads (The Wizard of Oz) and unexpected ones (Caroline, Or Change)
  • wistful nostalgia (Lost in Yonkers) and celebratory joy (In The Heights)
  • even swashbuckling adventure (How I Became A Pirate) and cartwheels on Austrian mountainsides (The Sound of Music)

Below you’ll find On Stage Dayton’s picks for the most anticipated offerings for the 2011-2012 Dayton Theatre Season. It’s just a small sampling of a very full year of stage work. And with this official launch, you can count on OSD to be there all season long.

Russell’s Picks

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY Caroline or ChangeIf you like ‘The Help’ you’ll like…

Caroline, or Change

The Human Race Theatre Company offers the overdue local premiere of this dynamic 2004 Tony Award-nominated musical from librettist/Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner (“Angels in America”) and composer Jeanine Tesori (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”). A potent study of race relations set in 1963 Louisiana, “Caroline, or Change” chronicles the testy yet engaging relationship between a headstrong African-American maid and her Jewish employers. Tesori’s sublime music encompasses klezmer, opera and Motown.

The Human Race Theatre Company

VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION, SCHUSTER CENTER Jersey BoysIf you like ‘Mamma Mia!’ or ‘The Sopranos’ you’ll like…

Jersey Boys

The local premiere of “Jersey Boys,” the sleek, sharp and surprisingly tender story of pop legends Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, is the hallmark of the Victoria Theatre Association’s Good Samaritan and Miami Valley Hospitals Broadway Series. One of the most popular jukebox musicals of the last decade and the recipient of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical, “Jersey Boys” features such timeless numbers as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

Victoria Theatre Association

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD Dividing The EstateIf you like ‘Dallas’ you’ll like…

Dividing the Estate

Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Horton Foote’s authentic, relevant 2009 Tony Award-nominated portrait of a Texas clan at odds will receive its local premiere courtesy of the Dayton Theatre Guild. Centered on a tough traditionalist matriarch and her squabbling children, “Dividing the Estate” uncovers the harsh realities that arise when economics and legacy threaten to tear a family apart.

Dayton Theatre Guild

CLARK STATE UNIVERSITY Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsIf you like ‘The Full Monty’ you’ll like…

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Clark State Community College provides the local collegiate premiere of librettist Jeffrey Lane and composer David Yazbek’s 2005 Tony Award-nominated musical based on the 1988 film of the same name. Yazbek, an outstanding songwriter, had great success with his critically acclaimed adaptation of “The Full Monty,” co-created by Terrence McNally, and the con artist-driven “Scoundrels” shares an appealingly naughty kinship. The “Scoundrels” national tour failed to connect four years ago at the Schuster Center, but perhaps Clark State will give the hilarious material the solid treatment it deserves.

Clark State

MUSE MACHINE Wizard of OZIf you like the Muse Machine you’ll like…

The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy’s ruby slippers will sparkle once more thanks to the Muse Machine, Dayton’s premier arts education organization celebrating its 30th year. The memories of Muse’s 1996 “Oz” production remain indelibly etched in my mind (the Broadway caliber performances of Tyler Maynard as the Scarecrow and Tory Ross as the Wicked Witch of the West were particularly extraordinary), but it will be refreshing to see a new generation tackle the iconic musical. Expect another Muse hit you will not want to miss.

Muse Machine

Continue to read David’s picks…

“The Oldest Profession” has found it’s way to Wayne Ave.

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The Oldest Profession by Paula Vogel - Dayton Theatre Guild - through September 11

The Oldest Profession by Paula Vogel

The Oldest Profession

THE DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

NOTE:  Audition Info for “Lost In Yonkers” below!

The Dayton Theatre Guild run of The Oldest Profession by Paula Vogel, continues through Sunday, September 11, 2011, with Friday performances at 8:00 p.m., Saturday shows at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.  It is directed by Greg Smith and produced by Barbara Jorgensen.

Once the toast of Storyville, the infamous red-light district of New Orleans, five very senior ladies of the night have transferred their talents to Reagan-era New York City.   They now find both their clients and their own appearance slipping away with time.  But every girl has a right to go out in her own style, doesn’t she?  Don’t miss the laugh-filled chronicle of five very special ladies – how they lived the life and how they say goodbye.  Warning: This production contains strong language and adult content.  (Raunchy, racy and fun!)

The Oldest Profession by Paula Vogel - Dayton Theatre Guild - through September 11

L to R: Marcia Nowik, Ellen Finch, (back) Jackie Engle, Marcella Balin, Patty Bell

The cast includes Jackie Engle from Dayton (Wallis, Pygmalion), Ellen Finch from Kettering (Kimberly Akimbo, Fuddy Meers, Hallelujah Girls), Marcia Nowik from Yellow Springs (Independence, God’s Favorite, and Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre), Patty Bell from Dayton (Brooklyn Boy,) and Marcella Balin from Xenia, who makes her acting debut with The Oldest Profession.

-DTG Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Tickets & Performance Information:

Dayton Theatre GuildPaula Vogel’s THE OLDEST PROFESSION – through September 11 (Fri/Sat/Sun)

(Times Vary:  Click HERE)

Tickets Prices: $10 student / $15 senior / $17 adult

Location:  Dayton Theatre Guild at The Caryl D. Philip’s TheatreScape – 430 Wayne Ave. Dayton, Ohio  45410 (MAP)

No one under the age of seven will be admitted.

Tickets are on sale now through DTG’s Online Box Office, or via phone at (937) 278-5993 (due to a volunteer staff, phones are not monitored continually).

For more information about Dayton Theatre Guild’s entire 2011-12 season, visit www.DaytonTheatreGuild.org

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

Dayton Theatre Guild at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape

AUDITION INFORMATION: Lost In Yonkers by Neil Simon

September 6 & 7, 2011

The Dayton Theatre Guild will hold open auditions for Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 6 and 7, at 7:00 p.m.  It is directed by Fran Pesch and produced by Deirdre Bray Root.

The Lost in Yonkers production dates are October 21 through November 6, 2011.
Simon’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning laugh-filled piece tells the tale of two young boys left by their widowed father in a strange world called Yonkers.  Their father must travel to pay back loan sharks, so the boys are entrusted to a tough-minded grandmother and a child-like aunt.  The aunt, now in love with a man who is just as unable to cope with the boys’ care as she is, tries to figure out the next step in this funny, touching and unforgettable drama.

The director is looking to cast seven actors of varying ages:

  • JAY KURNITZ – mid-teen or older, able to play 16
  • ARTY KURNITZ – mid-teen or older, able to play 13
  • EDDIE – 41, Jay and Arty’s father
  • BELLA – mid-30’s, Eddie’s sister
  • GRANDMA KURNITZ – 70+, Eddie’s mother
  • LOUIS – 36, Eddie’s brother
  • GERT – mid-late 30’s – Eddie’s sister

Lost in Yonkers is a dialect play.  Grandma Kurnitz speaks in combination Yiddish/NYC dialect.  All other roles speak in NYC/Yonkers dialect.  Actors will be asked to read from the script (with dialect.) Head shots & résumés are not required but are encouraged.  PLEASE NOTE:  If this is your first time auditioning for the director, be prepared to present a one-minute contemporary monologue.  Dialect not required for monologue.
The cast meeting and read-through will be Thursday, September 8th at 7 p.m.

Additional casting information may be found on the website at www.daytontheatreguild.org or by calling (937) 654-0400.

ABOUT THE DAYTON THEATRE GUILD:

The Dayton Theatre Guild opened with “Outward Bound” at the Dayton Art Institute in 1945.

The 1963-1964 season opened with “Night of the Iguana” at 2330 Salem Avenue, the Guild’s home for over 45 years, where “Outward Bound” was performed as a part of the final season at that location.
The 2009-2010 season opened with “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” at the Guild’s new home at the Caryl D. Philips TheatreScape at 430 Wayne Avenue in Dayton’s historic Oregon District in August 2009. Over 400 plays have been produced, utilizing all-volunteer casts, crews and administration. You may reach the Dayton Theatre Guild at 937.278.5993 or www.daytontheatreguild.org.

What’s the single best reason for buying a home in Dayton OH?

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Let’s say you are thinking of buying a house. You are probably watching the news for real estate market insights, you are listening to your friends tell you about their experiences- good, bad, indifferent. You might be a bit nervous and scared about buying right now and you’ve seen what has happened over the past decade so you are smart to be cautious. It’s difficult for even experienced Realtors to look into their handy-dandy crystal balls these days because we are seeing some unprecedented changes in the real estate market, coupled with unprecedented changes in the Miami Valley. Erring on the side of caution is wise under these circumstances so take a deep breath and understand that following your gut will keep you out of trouble.

But still, you want a home of your own. You want to paint the walls with salmon-colored chalkboard paint, and put down exotic Brazilian hardwood floors. You have kids in 4-H and two horses you are tired of boarding. Or maybe you simply can no longer stand the thought of paying a cheap and stingy landlord for a roof over your head. Congratulations! You just discovered the best reasons for buying a home.

Forget about the real estate boom. For hundreds and hundreds of years, people who were smart and competent and knowledgeable were buying homes primarily for those same reasons. They didn’t buy a home because real estate was a great financial investment, because it wasn’t. They didn’t buy a home because they thought they could make money from selling it in a few short years, because they couldn’t. They bought a home because they wanted a space of their own. A space where they got to call the shots, paint with the colors that made them happy, use the land the way they wanted, not beholden to a landlord, and put down roots in a community that they loved, and if we think about the lessons of the past few years, those just might be the best reasons for buying a home.

In many respects, this is a perfect storm for home buyers: Inventory is up, interest rates are down, prices are down. The difference in the boom years and now is that there is no real indication that prices are going to up any, if at all, at least not for quite awhile, but don’t despair, you do have options. You can buy a home because you want a place of your own. You can buy a home as an investment or rental property, including duplexes and multi-units. And you can buy a home in a part of the country that is experiencing better economic times than Dayton- there is still money to be made somewhere.

I saw an interesting real estate forecast that makes sense to me, if you want to gaze into that crystal ball you can find it here. There are places where you can invest in real estate and still make (some) money. There are real estate markets and niches that are more lucrative than others, but understand that Dayton is a different market with, in my opinion, a long way to go before we see solid recovery.  What that means is for most home buyers in Dayton Ohio, a home represents a place of their own and all the joys that come with that freedom. If you think about it, “”because you want to” might be the best reason of all to buy a home.

Photo: TLussier

Seeing the City from New Eyes

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A native of Cincinnati, I didn’t really dip my toes into everything Dayton has to offer until my freshman year of college at the University of Dayton. While some of my classes exposed me to popular sites in the city, such as the Schuster Center, I took it upon myself to explore lesser-known pockets of downtown. After four years of living and working in Dayton, I am still finding interesting new places, but I am proud to say I definitely know more than I did when I was a freshman.

Making old new again

As a girl who perpetually has nothing to wear (yet a closet full of clothes), I’m always on the prowl for new additions to my wardrobe. In the past few years I have gained a huge appreciation for vintage clothing, although I am still learning how to filter through what’s gold and what’s just … old. The best place I’ve found to score some great finds? Feathers Vintage Clothing. Located in the Oregon Arts District, it’s the perfect place to browse before grabbing a stuffed burger at Blind Bob’s. Disclaimer: One glance at its front window, filled with the kinds of clothes you dream about stumbling across in such a store, and you will have no choice but to stop and see what’s inside.

Lights, Camera, Action

The best movie experiences are ones in which the whole audience connects over the film. While these occasions are rare, they make going to the movies special. At The Neon, one gets that sense of community during every film. Plus, the selection is awesome – way better than any other theater in the area. It offers everything from Oscar-nominated blockbusters to the lesser-known movies all the cool kids rave about. If you’re wary about seeing a movie that hasn’t been over-advertised, check out The Neon’s website. It provides great summaries, as well as a schedule for upcoming films.

Music to my ears

My inaugural trip to Omega Music was on a first date. After a delicious dinner at Thai 9, we went on a romantic walk down the brick-paved stretch of Fifth St. in the Oregon Arts District. While the night was awkward (Sorry I was more excited about buying that live concert CD than I was about being on that date with you), I still love going back and browsing the music selection. The staff also is really friendly, which I haven’t always encountered in music stores. I still think of that long-lost first date every time I walk into Omega, but at least there’s great music to make me forget it.

Get Lucky

As a lover of food (but by no means a connoisseur), my favorite places to eat are ones that have a unique, but not intimidating, menu. Enter Lucky’s Taproom. A descriptive beer menu for someone who knows nothing about beer (i.e., me) and a staff willing to make recommendations? Sign me up. The first time I went to Lucky’s I ordered the fish and got to choose the beer it was battered in. Awesome. Apparently quality is always Lucky’s standard, as the food is excellent every time I go.

Hit the pavement

A longtime runner before college, I saw my move to Dayton as a chance to get to know a new city – on foot. Confession: In high school I ran almost 10 miles daily with my cross-country team, but when left to my own devices, I am way too tempted to sit on the couch and watch reruns on E! instead of getting up and exercising. Having new, uncharted territory encouraged me to start running here, but it was the awesome routes that kept me going. I love cities, yet I love being in parks; lucky for me, downtown is a blend of both. Check out the Five Rivers MetroParks website for more information on all of the trails available.

This is by no means a complete list of things to do in downtown Dayton. Be sure to check out the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website for more information and other suggestions of great places in the city to visit.

Muse Machine Celebrates 30th Year with West Side Story Concert

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Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreTONIGHT:  The Songs of West Side Story & More

Muse Machine

On Wednesday and Thursday evening Muse Machine, the nationally recognized educational arts group, will kick-off its 30th year with music from one of the most popular musicals of all time:  West Side Story. The local organization has gathered together over 200 local students, alumni and guest artists to present TONIGHT:  The Songs of West Side Story & More at 8:00 p.m. on the stage at the Victoria Theatre.

“The whirlwind, high-energy numbers will thrill you; the soulful melodies will move you; you can’t help but feel the joy of the show!”

-Kylen Franz, concertmaster

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreThe local arts organization has a mission of changing the lives of kids through the arts.  They accomplish this through professional performances both in and out of schools, arts integration training for teachers and student performance opportunities.  Over the years, Muse Machine has developed two primary performance programs, including the popular productions of a musical (winter months) and a concert (summer).  These productions showcase the most talented student singers, dancers, and musicians in the Greater Dayton region, under the direction of professional directors, conductors, choreographers and designers .

“We all work so hard together to make this a great show and the energy & love in rehearsals is incredible.”

-Rachel Snyder, singer/dancer

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreAs their 2011 concert presentation, Muse Machine (along with support from MeadWestvaco) will present Tonight: The Songs of West Side Story & More on August 10 and 11 at the Victoria Theatre. Tonight features new concepts and arrangements of many favorite songs from the classic Leonard Bernstein score, including “Maria,” “America,” “Somewhere” and many others. The show will fill the stage with nearly 200 student performers, who will also share the spotlight with alumni from previous Muse Machine productions.

“I love to be on stage and hear the audience clapping.  It makes me feel good to know they are having a good time.  And, it’s fun!”

– Ben Harshbarger, young ensemble (4th grade)

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & MoreA highlight of the concert will be a huge student orchestra performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring internationally-renowned pianist Leon Bates. Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Bates performs with symphonies around the world and the chance to see him bring to life Gershwin’s masterpiece with an orchestra of talented, passionate young musicians should not be missed. The evening also features guest appearances by talented, local gospel singers from the GSJ Youth Choir as well as nationally-acclaimed Stivers Jazz Orchestra and other special guests, including many alumni of Muse Machine productions.

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More“West Side Story was the first Muse musical, so it’s a way to glance back while also looking forward by bringing new sounds and choreography to this great music. We’ll be joined by exciting guests and we’ll also explore a few ‘related surprises,’ throughout the evening.” -Douglas Merk, producer

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj0Mbq0Jcgo’]

What is the best part of being in a Muse Machine concert or show?

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More“The People. Everyone here loves what they’re doing, and that love of performing is evident in every single number…This is a show not to be missed.” -Andrew J. Koslow, singer/dancer

“The feeling of being so welcome and wanted…(and)  Rhapsody In Blue because I LOVE THAT PIECE OF MUSIC!!!” – Noah Berry, singer/dancer

“Meeting new friends and seeing old friends.” – Ben Harschbarger, young ensemble (4th grade)

Muse Machine in Concert - TONIGHT: The Songs of West Side Story & More“Getting to work with such great people on great material.” – Mimi Klipstine Dick, singer

“The close family connection of the entire cast/ensemble.  We all work so hard together to make this a great show and the energy & love in rehearsals is incredible.” – Rachel Snyder, singer/dancer

“Seeing or hearing the work come to fruition and eliciting the response from the audience.” – Kylen Franz, concertmaster

-SA/Muse Machine Press Release

– Muse Machine  Photos by David Sherman

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Tickets & Performance Information:

Muse MachineTONIGHT:  THE SONGS OF WEST SIDE STORY & MORE

at the VICTORIA THEATRE – 138 N. Main St.– map

Tickets for Tonight are available exclusively through Ticket Center Stage, 937/228-3630, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or at the Ticket Center Stage box office in the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton.

About the Muse Machine:

The Muse Machine is a nationally recognized arts education organization, providing creative experiences and resources for young people of the Miami Valley. Since 1982, they’ve produced 27 annual musicals and 14 concerts for the community and engaged thousands of students through academic-relevant lessons, workshops and in-school projects. For more information, visit www.musemachine.com.

Food Adventures recalls “Lost Food Gems of Dayton”

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Do you have any favorite food places that went out of business, and you still miss them to this day ?  Yeah, we do too.   How cruel to take a fantastic restaurant away from an addicted foodie.  This week, Food Adventures take a trip down memory lane and talk about some restaurants we miss in the Dayton area.  Please join us in this of recollection of Forgotten Food Adventures.  Feel free to comment and add some places of your own that you crave from time to time.

Here is our list of places that we wish had never closed.  Our “Lost Food Gems of Dayton”

BILL KNAPPS – We loved the chicken on a biscuit meal, also known as the elephant on the kids menu.  We also remember their au gratin potatoes as the best ever, served in a crock pot with browned cheese on top.  Ragu loved the clam dinner and chocolate cake.  We never forgot their incredible chocolate chip cookies.  There was a Bill Knapps on 48 near Loop Rd. in Centerville, and one by the Dayton Mall, and another near what is now The Greene.

Who else misses Rax?

RAX ROAST BEEF – We loved the salad bar.  We fondly remember the “BBC” (the beef bacon and cheddar).  The “BBC” proved the rule that bacon makes everything better but the cheese sauce made sandwich.  We frequented the 725 store that is now a Tim Horton’s

ROY ROGERS – We remember sitting in the little saddle chairs, and being addicted to the apple cheese crisp menu item.

WOODY’S GROCERY – The Big Ragu would tell you the bakery and seafood department was the best part of this West Carrollton icon.  Some however loved the deli with shaved fresh Corned Beef and Swiss on hard rolls with poppy seeds on top.  There was a cashier named Don Baker who had hair like Elvis that never changed for years.

WESTERN SIZZLIN STEAKHOUSE – We miss their beef tips

JED’S STEAK AND RIBS – Ragu remembers the salad bar had croutons that tasted like crayons, and their steak burger and ice cream bar were great childhood memories.  Jed’s was located on 725 in Centerville and is now a Goodwill store.

ROCKY ROCOCO’S PIZZA– We loved the chunks of roma  tomatoes on their pizzas.

JOE BISSETT’S GRUB STEAK– Remember the Princess Steak and a salad with blue cheese crumbles on top?  We also rocked the “kiddie cocktail” on North Main St, Dayton.

Free Ice Cream on your birthday

FARRELL’S – Across from Tri-County Mall in Northern Cincinnati, this place had a sundae on a stretcher. The staff  would sing happy birthday to people on kazoos.

GIRVE’S BROWN DERBY– a place where Big Ragu loved the salad bar, and kiddie cocktails.  Ragu also loved the kids fish dinner. .  Ironically, the Brown Derby on Bigger Rd. is now a gym.

COZYMEL’S –  They had great margaritas and you got lots of food at a great price.  This place was located on 725 near McEwen Rd. in Centerville.

RIKES DOWNTOWN– Childhood memories of the snack bar in downtown Dayton.

This timeless restaurant in Miamisburg, is now a “lost food gem”

PEERLESS MILL– The Miamisburg Restaurant with the old fashioned and old school menu was like Thanksgiving everyday.

 

LUM’S – One of our favorites.  They had hot dogs cooked in beer.  Lum’s was located where Marion’s Pizza is now, in Town and Country shopping center.

PEASANT STOCK – We loved the peasant salad.  Ragu loved the atmosphere at the restaurant in the Town and Country Shopping Center.  We also visited the Peasant Stock Café in Dayton mall

THIRSTY DOG – A great microbrewery restaurant on the corner of Alex Bell Rd and 48 in Centerville that served homemade chips in dog bowls.  Ragu loved the Raspberry Light Beer, while Jax used to enjoy the Robinson’s India Pale Ale served warm.

Shuckin Shack on N. Main in Dayton, Ragu misses you the most

SHUCKIN’ SHACK – Ragu’s all-time favorite place on North Main St. in Dayton.  They would bring steamed clams out in golf ball baskets.  They also had a bar you could sit and eat raw oysters and clams, and throw your shells into a trough.  Another thing Ragu loved was their peel and eat shrimp and fried smelts.

KEENG WHA – This Chinese restaurant used to be on the corner of Woodman and Dorothy Lane.  They served Ragu’s favorite Chinese dish of all time: “Princess Prawns.”

ELDER BEERMAN RESTAURANT –  They hosted breakfast with Santa and the Easter bunny at this place located upstairs in the Centerville store on State Route 48.  Ragu’s memories are going to the Friday night buffet with his grandparents.  This was a place where the waitresses were “real” waitresses and they had the same staff for years.

HUNAN GOURMET – A long gone gem that was on 48 near Whipp Rd.  Ragu loved this place, especially their dry braised shrimp and sizzling rice soup.  It is now a Caribou Coffee.

NOBLE ROMAN’S – We miss the real Noble Roman’s, the new restaurants are completely different.  We miss the hand tossed pizza in the window, monster pizza and the hand rolled breadsticks with nacho cheese.

Sambo’s was like a weird version of Denny’s

SAMBO’S – Ragu loved their pancakes served with boysenberry syrup.  This place was located at 48 near Loop Rd in Centerville.

ARTHUR TREACHER’S FISH & CHIPS – It was fried fish, so Ragu could live here.  The Jersey Mikes on 48 in Centerville is where one of the Arthur Treacher’s used to be.

CHICKEN LOUIE’S – This 24 hour chicken wing place is sorely missed on North Main Street in Dayton.  Ragu would risk life and limb by ordering through the bullet proof glass.  The related “Lou’s Broaster Hut on 3rd st had a special place in our heart.

FOUR’S COMPANY – After the Arthur Treacher’s closed on 48 near Whipp Rd in Centerville, this short lived place served up giant beer battered onion rings.   They were so full of beer you almost got buzzed by eating a few.

TOTENKO – This place on the corner of 725 and 741 near the Dayton Mall was like a 70’s verison of PF Changs.  A great restaurant until it closed because a food critic found roaches on her plate.  Ragu learned to use chopsticks here while wearing his “toughskin” pants.  This place turned into a Chi Chi’s which has since gone out of business too.

MARK PI’s CHINA GATE –The fried rice was addicting at the Town and Country location.

GROUND ROUND– Throw your peanut shells on the floor.  Ragu loved their all you can eat Friday night fish fry.  Remember the scale at the Wilmington Pike site where the cost of a kid’s dinner was a penny for each pound they weighed?

BAJA FRESH – The Big Ragu still craves their fish tacos at the now defunct Dorothy Lane and Kettering Blvd location.

Burger Chef was one of our childhood favorites

DOMINIC’S – The iconic location on South Main Street in Dayton whose manicotti was incredible.  The real attraction here was the house salad dressing with so much garlic flavor that you breathed fire for 2 days afterward.

PHIL AND JERRY’S FOOD-A-RAMA –  Legendary Centerville grocery that had annual anniversary parties where a hot dog and a coke were around 20 cents.

BURGER CHEF- To this day, Ragu craves the Big Chef sandwich and their “works” bar where you could load up your burger!

D’LITES- Healthy fast food!  We loved their burgers and smoothies at the location of 48 and Whipp Rd.

WESTWARD HO – South Main Street cafeteria style restaurant that had drink glasses as big as your head.

PO’ FOLKS – Fried food all over the menu, made this one of Ragu’s faves.  The fried clams and fried okra were so good.  The one we frequented was on the corner of Wilmington Pike and Dorothy Lane.

What places do you still think about? Casa Lupita? Joe’s is a Fish House? Tequila Willie’s?  Kettering Village Inn?  Let us know any and all of them !

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What restaurants do you miss? Please comment below !

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