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Downtown Dayton Partnership

2nd Round of ArtWraps Now Around Town

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) and The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) have teamed together to enliven downtown streetscapes with ArtWraps, a project to “wrap” utility boxes with original designs by local artists of all ages.

ArtWraps takes commonplace objects, such as the “ugly” utility boxes on downtown streets, and transforms them into pieces of art by wrapping them with artistic designs printed on vinyl wraps.

The program debuted in 2022 with the first phase of ArtWraps, consisting of 15 utility boxes throughout downtown.

An additional 15 boxes were wrapped during the project’s second phase in 2023. See the map below for locations. The designs were chosen from more than 200 entries submitted by a diverse range of people from the Dayton area.

ArtWraps is an extension of the DDP’s Urban Art Intersections program, which seeks to use public art to enliven downtown and connect artists with the community while engaging downtown Dayton residents, workers and visitors. It is also a project from Place Lab, the DDP’s approach to prioritizing and implementing placemaking projects, making downtown locations more vibrant, inclusive, engaging and connected.

Downtown Dayton Partnership Names New President

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership has announced that the executive search committee has selected the organization’s next president. Katie Meyer will succeed Sandy Gudorf and lead the DDP as it works to continue the positive momentum downtown.

Katie has spent her career developing solutions to social and economic needs in cities. Since 2019, she has served as the policy and program manager for UniCity, altafiber’s smart city division based out of Dayton. In this role, she has worked with municipalities and organizations on technology solutions, policy, strategy, implementation, and data analysis.

Prior to joining altafiber, she served for nine years as the executive director of Renaissance Covington, where she promoted the economic revitalization of Covington, Kentucky’s historic downtown through business attraction, cultural vibrancy, and creative placemaking. Under her leadership, more than $150 million was invested in property rehabilitation, 20+ businesses opened each year, and Covington’s downtown housing inventory skyrocketed.

Katie earned her M.S. in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School in New York City. She also holds a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Kentucky. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her work and her volunteer efforts, and she serves on and leads a wide variety of community initiatives and boards.

Katie is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Downtown Dayton Partnership during such an exciting time for our city. She comments: “I already have a deep love and appreciation for the Dayton community and look forward to building on the organization’s momentum towards social and economic vibrancy alongside the staff and many dedicated stakeholders.”

The selection of Katie Meyer is the result of an extensive national and local search for the next DDP president, overseen by a search committee of the DDP Board of Trustees with input from community leaders, partners, and DDP staff. The search committee and the people she met with during the interview process loved Katie’s experience, energy, connections to the region, and commitment to the urban experience. The committee reviewed an extensive pool of strong candidates, and believes that Katie brings the right combination of skills and knowledge to work with the staff and volunteers to accelerate downtown Dayton’s progress.

Katie is expected to join the DDP on September 5.

Downtown Dayton Retail Lab Now Accepting Applications

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP), along with its small business development partners, is inviting business owners to apply to the first session of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab, an intensive 12-week experience for business owners aiming to launch or grow their first-floor business in downtown Dayton.

 

The Retail Lab has two main goals: Continue energizing downtown with vibrant storefronts and unique restaurants, and provide a supportive pathway into the downtown market for emerging first-floor entrepreneurs, especially women-owned and minority-owned businesses.

“The small businesses that line our streets and sidewalks provide the amenities that make downtown so attractive to residents, visitors, and employers,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the DDP. “We are excited to offer the Retail Lab to support and accelerate these businesses as they emerge from the economic shutdown.”

Each round of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will provide a series of workshops, pitch events, and pilot opportunities that connect the participating businesses to the people, ideas, capital, and resources that will help them thrive and grow in downtown Dayton. Workshops will generally be held virtually and include facilitated instruction, work sessions with mentors, and occasional in-person activities with appropriate health precautions.

Eligible businesses include boutiques, shops, cafes, studios, and restaurants – any consumer business that adds to the vibrancy of downtown’s sidewalks. Applicants should either be located in downtown Dayton or aiming to launch downtown in the next 6 to 12 months. Interested small business owners can find more information, including the program application, at DowntownDayton.org/retail-lab. Applications for the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab will be accepted through July 14, with the program slated to begin in August.

 

The Retail Lab leverages support from many business resource partners including The Entrepreneurs Center, the Miami Valley Small Business Development Center, Five Rivers MetroParks – 2nd Street Market, Launch Dayton, CityWide Development, and The Hub at the Dayton Arcade.

 

“Our community has an exceptional network of resources and mentors who are ready to help business owners succeed,” said AJ Ferguson, project manager with the DDP and coordinator of the Retail Lab program. “The Retail Lab assembles them into a course that will challenge business owners to make a substantial push to improve or launch their downtown store.”

 

The Retail Lab is offered at no cost for these small businesses. In addition to the support businesses receive through the workshops, each participant is eligible for up to $2,500 in professional services from creative, legal, and financial firms to advance their business.

 

Questions about the Retail Lab should be directed to AJ Ferguson, fer,[email protected] or call (937) 681-9793.

 

Round 2-Downtown Dayton Gift Card Bonus Buy Program

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As part of relief efforts to help downtown businesses navigate new operational constraints, the Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) has launched the Downtown Dayton Gift Card Bonus Buy program, offering customers an incentive to support the small businesses community in downtown Dayton. This first round, launched last week sold out in 6 hours.

For every $25 gift card purchased through the program, the DDP will include an additional $15 bonus gift card (up to a maximum of 4 bonus cards per household) to spend at another downtown business. The site will go live today at noon, Thursday, May 28.

“We know this has been an exceptionally tough year for our businesses, and want to do everything we can to support them through this trying time,” said DDP President Sandra K. Gudorf. “For every gift card purchase made, that money will go directly back to our downtown businesses.”

 

This gift card purchase bonus campaign is a way to leverage the public’s support of their favorite participating downtown businesses while helping support and promote additional downtown businesses. The DDP has set up an online ordering system where customers select which participating business they’d like to purchase a $25 gift card from. With each gift card selection, the DDP will offer a bonus $15 gift card to a surprise downtown business, up to a maximum of 4 bonus gift cards per household. All gift cards will be mailed to customers within 30 days of purchase.

 

More than 60 downtown businesses, including restaurants, coffee shops, salons, retailers, bars, and arts and entertainment venues are participating in the program. Gift cards can be purchased at www.DowntownDayton.org/BonusBuy starting today. The number of available bonus buy gift cards is limited, and the program will continue until the fund is exhausted.

 

“We have seen the tremendous support the Dayton community has already given to their favorite downtown establishments, and we hope our gift card bonus buy program will be another way patrons can show restaurants, bars, salons, and retail shops even more love,” Gudorf said. “The $15 bonus gift card will encourage downtown enthusiasts to explore new businesses, which further supports our mission at the DDP to promote our downtown in creative ways.”

 

Those who wish to make bulk (more than four) gift card purchases, or companies that would like to donate to support the gift card bonus buy program should contact Laura Woeste at [email protected] or call 937-224-1518 ext. 229.

Highlights from the DDP Annual Meeting

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The Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) hosted its annual review of progress in the Special Improvement District (SID) at the Grande Hall at Liberty Tower on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Property owners, business leaders, and community partners gathered in the newly renovated Art Deco-inspired event space as DDP staff and guest speakers took to the stage to highlight progress in the urban core.

Highlights from the event included brief presentations from Lisa Wagner, executive director at Levitt Pavilion; Mark Donaghy, chief executive officer of the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority; and Paula Willis, co-owner of Now & Zen DIY Studio, a local retailer in the St. Clair Lofts. Attendees were treated to an education leadership chat with Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School President Dan Meixner and University of Dayton President Dr. Eric Spina. The evening closed with an update from downtown developers David Neal from the Windsor Companies, with the latest news from the Fire Blocks, and Jason Woodard, providing details about projects with his Woodard Development and partners at Crawford Hoying in Columbus. Shannon Isom, president and CEO of the downtown YWCA, moderated the discussion, and had her own updates to share about the $17 building renovation for residents at the women and family shelter.

From this year’s presentation, big numbers came out of the SID:


Public and private-sector investments completed and in the pipeline total about $1.81 billion.

Investments in downtown’s core have been gaining traction since 2010, with more than $700 million in projects completed and in the pipeline.

Downtown enjoys the highest occupancy rate at 97.4% despite the build boom of new housing units, with no plans for slowing down. There are 214 housing units currently under construction. The Fire Blocks apartments will soon welcome their first residents.

In 2019, 36 new businesses opened downtown. That’s a total of 1,400 new jobs in downtown’s core just since the beginning of the current SID period in 2015. First-floor tenancy has been booming with more than 97,000 square feet of vacant first-floor space filled since the launch of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan in 2010.

The evening closed with an update from downtown developers David Neal from the Windsor Companies, with the latest news from the Fire Blocks, and Jason Woodard, providing details about projects with his Woodard Development and partners at Crawford Hoying in Columbus. Shannon Isom, president and CEO of the downtown YWCA, moderated the discussion, and had her own updates to share about the $19 building renovation for residents at the women and family shelter.

 

Activated Spaces Activate Offices in Liberty Tower

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Activated Spaces is excited to announce the first three tenants of the Activated Office project. This new program focuses on activating empty office space and providing entrepreneurs an opportunity to test out downtown as their business address. Liberty Tower (120 W. Second St) recently renovated outdated, traditional office space on the eighth floor to host the following three businesses in a non-traditional, open, collaborative environment:

Wes & Kathleen Hartshorn of Physis Films

  • Gemini Studios – Gemini Studios is a photography/videography business. They offer high quality and professionally crafted sessions with the convenience of a local studio.
  • Upsourced Accounting – Upsourced Accounting is a growing, technology-focused, full-service accounting firm. They specialize in servicing venture-backed start-up businesses and professional service firms.
  • Physis Films – Physis Films produces and manages feature films and TV programs.

 

Activated Office tenants received a short-term lease option for downtown office space, a small stipend to help offset startup costs, and a below market lease rate. In addition, each business was offered 10 hours of free legal services from Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling and 15 hours of free marketing support from either Catapult Creative or Creative Fuse.

 

Since 2011, more than 120 startups have launched downtown. Several recent initiatives and projects are building on this momentum, including Start Downtown, Dayton Startup Week, the plans for the Dayton Arcade, and partnerships between The Entrepreneurs Center, the Air Force Research Lab, and the Wright Brothers Institute. The Activated Office project is envisioned as another resource that will help provide a supportive environment for the growing downtown startup community.

 

The Activated Spaces Project is driven by volunteers with support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership. Activated Spaces is part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

 

Those interested in volunteering with Activated Spaces should e-mail [email protected].

 

 

 

Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays” Contest offers $500 Prize

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Calling all bakers and architects with a competitive edge: The Dayton Holiday Festival is looking for the area’s most creative confectionary decorators to compete in the 13th annual Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest on Friday, Nov. 23. Entries will be judged and displayed for public viewing inside the Old Courthouse at Third and Main streets downtown on that day only, during the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights from 4-9 p.m.

 

All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this free contest by entering a gingerbread house in the child (12 and younger), teen (13-17), adult (18 and older) or professional category. Entry forms and a complete list of contest rules are available for download at www.daytonholidayfestival.org.  Forms may be submitted to the Downtown Dayton Partnership at 10 W. Second St., Suite 611, Dayton, OH 45402 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Entry forms are due by Thursday, Nov. 15.  

 

Traditional houses, replicas of buildings, a purchased kit or even cardboard entries are permitted — as long as all exposed surfaces are covered with edible materials. First place in each category will receive a prize package featuring a variety of items. Award ribbons also will be given to second and third place winners in each category. In addition, one amateur and one professional house will be selected as the “Best Houses on the Block,” and each will win a $500 cash prize.

 

“The entries get more creative each year,” said Sandra Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “The imagination and skill that goes into creating each of these gingerbread houses makes for a really special exhibit ― it’s always a fun part of our holiday season kickoff.”

 

Contest entries are to be delivered to the Old Courthouse between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, Nov. 23. They will be judged from 1-2 p.m., and the winners will be notified by telephone. All contest winners will have the opportunity to be recognized on the Main Stage in Courthouse Square before the Grande Illumination tree-lighting ceremony at 7:45 p.m.

 

For more information on the contest and other activities that are part of the Dayton Holiday Festival, marking 46 years of kicking off the holiday season in the Dayton region, call 937-224-1518 or visit www.daytonholidayfestival.org.

Start Downtown

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startdowntowncirclesAt the heart of Dayton’s comeback are talented people taking risks and shaping our city. You can find their stories in locally-run coffee shops, coworking spaces, entrepreneurial hubs, artist spaces, brewery tasting rooms, and the kitchens of local restaurants. A groundswell of entrepreneurial and creative activity is changing Dayton.

Earlier this year, almost 100 people came together to begin an initiative to help more enterprising Daytonians start downtown. This initiative promotes the people and their stories who are changing Dayton and why they are launching their endeavors here. One of several “Start Downtown” volunteer-led programs, the “I Started Downtown” video series interviews a diverse group of business owners who invested in downtown Dayton.

This is the first in the series, featuring the “I Started Downtown” story of Juanita-Michelle Darden-Jones, the proprietress of Third Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar at 42 W. Fifth St. in downtown Dayton.

 

The Downtown Dayton Partnership are also launching several new projects as our contribution to the cause:

Pop-up Coworking:
Beginning in November, we are teaming with several partners to host monthly pop-up coworking events at interesting and fun locations around downtown. Our first one is at Dayton Beer Company on November 3rd – click here for more info.

Dayton Kiva Team:
We are organizing a Dayton-based Kiva network to connect local funders to local small businesses that need support. Kiva is like crowd-funding, but instead it’s crowd-lending – after your loan is repaid, you can use the same dollars to support another small business. Sign up for Kiva and join the Dayton network by clicking here.

Innovation / Improvement Challenge:
Volunteers are launching a new challenge for startups and established businesses around solving problems and creating significant returns on investment at the established company. The first cohort will launch in early 2017 – more to come.

Dayton Collaboration Network:
Interested in providing discounted business services to startups to help them grow? We are organizing the Dayton Collaboration Network to better support startups in downtown Dayton. To join or learn more about the network, contact Scott Murphy at [email protected] or (937) 224-1518 ext 223.

To learn more about the Start Downtown programs and how to get involved, visit http://bit.ly/StartDowntown

DDP Revamps Strategy for Downtown Events

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first-friday-daytonFirst Friday seems like the right time for the Downtown Dayton Partnership to address the changing focus of their focus and strategy for promoting downtown Dayton as a premier place to live, work and play. Today, the landscape in downtown is changing – literally and figuratively – and the DDP, under the guidance of a team of downtown businesses, organizations, residents and advocates, announces a revised event strategy that reflects the evolution of downtown Dayton.

Events are an important part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a public-private partnership that supports key initiatives to revitalize Dayton’s urban core. “We know the DDP will continue to host events as a way to encourage people to visit downtown, and we enlisted the help of a special committee to review our existing event structure and determine how we can best use events to showcase downtown,” explained Downtown Dayton Partnership President Sandra Gudorf.

The Downtown Events Steering Committee is made up of a diverse group of downtown residents, business owners, arts organizations, nonprofits, and other engaged individuals. Dayton Business Journal’s  Carol Clark and Vectren President Colleen Ryan, both of whom live and work downtown, chaired The Downtown Events Steering Committee. The group reviewed existing DDP events and measured their performance against specific goals: Events must bring fun and excitement to downtown Dayton to attract visitors of all ages and backgrounds, create an economic generator for downtown businesses, and showcase downtown amenities, including music and culture, active lifestyles, dining and nightlife, urban living, and shopping.

“Downtown is seeing progress, and it’s crucial for us to continue the momentum,” Gudorf said. Housing is hot with hundreds of residential units under construction and millions more dollars invested. There are more independent retailers and restaurateurs throughout downtown. More small businesses are opening, and construction on renovated spaces and new projects continues to roll ahead. “We need to make sure our efforts reflect the changing downtown landscape,” she said.

Dayton-Urban-Nights

No more Urban Nights twice a year

The revamped event strategy calls for enhancing programming during First Friday and The Square Is Where, and breaking up the biannual Urban Nights events into more frequent, themed events. “The feedback we’ve collected from downtown businesses, residents, galleries and performing arts organizations, and other past Urban Nights participants indicated we needed to look at how we can use the content of Urban Nights and make it a more sustainable experience,” Gudorf said. “The purpose of Urban Nights—showcasing downtown’s arts, music, dining, shopping, nightlife and housing options—will still be part of the new event strategy. The nature of those events, the specific locations and the types of activities will be presented in a fresh, new format.”

“Look at everything that’s happening downtown: RiverScape River Run, bike share, the new Dayton Metro Library campus – how can we showcase everything our downtown has to offer, particularly to those who are unfamiliar with downtown or who haven’t visited in a long time?” asked Clark. In addition to assessing the impact of events on small businesses, the committee also evaluated downtown events hosted by other organizations, and existing and upcoming amenities to determine how DDP-sponsored public programming and events might best create long-term, sustainable growth.

“Public perception is changing, and we should be prepared to capitalize on that,” said Ryan. “Downtown’s small business owners need people coming through their doors more than a couple times a year. We reviewed best practices in other cities, worked with our partners, and listened to our downtown constituents to come up with ideas for events that meet those goals and generate lasting impact for businesses, residential units and cultural organizations.”

square-is-whereOther recommendations in the new DDP event strategy include nurturing partnerships and developing resources for businesses. Partnerships call for combined efforts in promotional efforts (such as the upcoming Wicked Deals that offers incentives for Wicked ticket holders to patronize downtown businesses), joint programming (such as building off existing or new events to enhance the visitor experience), and empowering advocates by offering a process for creative individuals and groups to apply to host a program or activity in conjunction with an event, supported by the DDP. “A successful events strategy will showcase the best attributes of downtown and engage the public on a number of levels,” Gudorf said.

The DDP and the steering committee are in the process of developing a calendar of events and reaching out to partner organizations for activity suggestions. Today, the schedule includes kicking off the summer season with an arts event on May 8, in conjunction with special events planned at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, K12/Tejas Gallery, RiverScape MetroPark and Sideshow X at the “Old” Yellow Cab Building. Coming up in June, the focus will switch to active living. “We will continue to showcase our downtown amenities, like our vibrant arts scene,” Gudorf said. “Focusing on a couple amenities at a time will stretch the activities out over the course of the summer, which will extend the economic impact for our businesses, creating sustainable growth.”

Gudorf stressed the importance of using events as tools to connect people to the city center, and the new event strategy will help achieve those goals: “Regardless of what an event is called, how often it takes place, or the precise location of the activities, DDP events will still put downtown’s best foot forward and provide one-of-a-kind experiences for newcomers and frequent guests alike,” she said.

 

If you’ve got an idea  for an activity or program you’d like to suggest to the DDP, use this link to fill out their online form.

 

Bike Share to Roll Into Dayton Spring 2015

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Community leaders gathered at Second Street Public Market today DSCF0919to announce the required $1 million in capital funding has been secured to launch a bike share program in Greater Downtown Dayton in 2015.  Earlier this month, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) approved 2014 funding from the Federal Highway Administration Surface Transportation Program to cover capital costs for 22 bike share stations.  Mayor Nan Whaley announced that the City of Dayton has committed to providing $250,000 which includes a needed local match to secure the capital funds and partial operating support to launch the program.

bikeshareDayton’s bike share, which will launch in spring 2015, will feature 22 strategically located stations, all within an approximate two mile radius of downtown Dayton. Each station will contain six to ten bikes, totaling more than 200 bikes. Stations will be placed within 1/4 mile of one another so it users will not have to walk more than 5 minutes to find an available bike. All bikes are securely locked, require a membership or credit card to access and will allow for GPS tracking. Customers – who range from one-day users to annual subscribers – are able to take unlimited trips on the bikes. Trips may be up to 30-45 minutes in length and may go to any other station or back to the original location.

Brian Martin, Executive Director of MVRPC shared, “The role of alternative transportation modes—such as bike share—in enriching their communities is extremely important, and our own bike share program will enable Dayton to keep pace with similar cities who already enjoy the benefits of bike share.”

The Downtown Dayton Partnership has seen evidence that that bike share programs bolster urban vibrancy, are a major factor in downtown livability, and maximize the connectivity of existing public transit infrastructure. Dr. Michael Ervin, DDP Co-Chair said, “Advancing Dayton’s cycling culture is an important strategy in the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan.”  But it’s not just the Downtown Dayton Partnership who want to see this happen. Ervin continues, “Organizational partnerships have been crucial to the establishment of a viable strategy for Dayton’s bike share program, and they are a testament to the community’s enthusiasm for this initiative.”

The organizations that have stepped up to implement the bike share program include Greater Dayton RTA, Bike Miami Valley and MVRPC. Bike Miami Valley be securing staff over the next year to oversee customer management, sponsorship outreach, customer memberships, organizational partnerships, and marketing and promotions with plans to hire an Executive Director in late summer or early fall. Once the program is launched, RTA will maintain the bike share equipment and balance the distribution of bikes across the station network.  MVRPC identified the capital funding source and will provide additional support, including office space for bike share staff. Combined, these partnerships will lower the annual bike share operational costs by more than $135,000 each year.  Immediate next steps will be to issue an RFP (a required step since bike share will be run by a public agency) to select an equipment vendor and develop the program branding and name.

Mark Donaghy, Executive Director of Greater Dayton RTA sees bike share as a “last mile connector” and a long-anticipated asset DSCF0938in better serving RTA patrons and promoting bus ridership. Users can ride the bus into downtown and pick up a bike to get to their exact destination with fewer transfers and more convenience; bike share adds to a system of transportation options within the downtown area. Donaghy says, “We look forward to seeing this important community asset grow.”

Andy Williamson, with Bike Miami Valley shared, “Bike Miami Valley is excited that Dayton will join the collection of more than 25 cities across the U.S. with bike share transportation systems.”

Although bike share is growing in popularity across the nation, Dayton is the second city to announce that they’ve completed the process of securing the needed capital funds. An appropriate fit since Dayton was designated in 2010 as a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists (with the goal to reach platinum level by 2020). Cincinnati is currently fundraising with hopes to launch Cincy Bike Share in the near future, and both Cleveland and University of Toledo are in research/planning modes with hopes to create their own bike share program.

But is Dayton ready? Scott Murphy with Bike Miami Valley says yes. Murphy explained, “We set out about a year and a half ago to study the feasibility of bike sharing in the Dayton region by benchmarking our community against others of similar size who have done bike sharing successfully. We looked at factors that correlate to actual bike share usage in other cities; things like population density, job density, where young people are clustered in our community.  What we found surprised us; not only does Dayton measure-up to these communities, we actually outpace other bike share cities of similar size for key bike share design factors.  The community is ready to do this.”

The idea is there, the plan is set, the money is confirmed: the reality of bike share roll out for Dayton in spring of 2015.

March 7 First Friday to Feature Art Exhibits, Live Music, Derby Day Preview Party, Pete Seeger Tribute, Elvis, Bicycle “Glow Ride” & More

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First FridayDowntown’s next free First Friday event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 7.

Several businesses will offer specials and discounts. Local musicians will pay tribute to the late Pete Seeger, businesses will collaborate to present a Kentucky Derby preview fashion show, and local art exhibits can be found in many galleries and shops.

Details are below about other events taking place at participating locations during the March 7 First Friday.

Art

• CADC, 45 S. St. Clair St.: Featuring artist Ben Frederick with live music by the Chris Comer Trio. Call 313-9883.

• Clash Consignment, 521 E. Fifth St.: Featuring artwork by artists-of-the-month Nicole Eccles, Chyanne Moore and Talia Shade. All winter clothing will be half off the already reduced prices. Call 241-9434.

• Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North: Showing several exhibits, including Isabella Kirkland: Stilled Life. Also hosting Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii party as part of the Prime Time Party Series from 7-11 p.m. Must purchase advance tickets. Call 223-4278 for party or art exhibit ticket prices.

• Dayton Visual Arts Center 118 N. Jefferson St.: (Open until 8 p.m.) Featuring The Cline Show, an annual university and college art and design student scholarship exhibit. Call 224-3822.

• Gallery 510 Fine Art, 508 E. Fifth St.: Featuring new artwork and gifts by a variety of artists. Call 672-6717.

• K12 Gallery/TEJAS , 341 S. Jefferson St.: (Open until 8 p.m.) Opening the art exhibit Vanquish, featuring artwork from all ages about serious subjects like mental disorders and domestic violence. Also featuring student art from St. Luke School. Call 461-5149.

Music

• Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.: Featuring happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m. Music by Mouth of the Architect, Grand Mammoth, Zuel, Blast Flag. Call 938-6405.

• De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St.: Featuring happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. during a mix and mingle with downtown business professionals. Call 461-2233.

• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.:  Featuring happy hour until 6 p.m., a performance by the Miami Valley Pipe and Drum group starting at 6 p.m., and live music by FINTAN starting at 9 p.m. Call 224-7822.

• Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St.: Old Skool Groove Night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Call 228-8414.

• Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: Featuring half-price pizza from 4 to 8 p.m. and live music by the Sean Carney Band at 9:30 p.m. Call 223-9205.

• The Trolley Stop 530 E. Fifth St.: Live music starting at 9:30 p.m. and happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Call 461-1101.

• Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.: Hosting Sailing Down My Golden River: A Tribute to Pete Seeger, featuring several local musicians. Show begins at 8 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10. All proceeds will go to WhyHunger, a charity the late Seeger supported. Call 419-953-4548.

 Food and Drink

• Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St.: $2 tastings of select wines. Call 225-9463.

• Franco’s Ristorante Italiano, 824 E. Fifth St.: 10 percent off food. Call 222-0204.

• Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St.: Lucky’s third anniversary week celebration continues with New Holland’s Charkoota Rye beer tapped earlier that day. Call 222-6800.

• Riff Raff Tavern on the Canal, 130 N. Patterson Blvd.: Drink specials offered throughout the night. Call 361-3131.

• Salar, 400 E. Fifth St.: DJ in the lounge and drink specials starting at 10 p.m. Call 203-3999.

• Smokin’ Bar-B-Que, 200 E. Fifth St.: 10 percent off food. Call 586-9790.

• Thai 9, 11 Brown St.: 15 percent off food. Call 222-3227.

• Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St.: 10 percent off food. Call 910-8000.

Entertainment

• The Black Box Improv Theater, 518 E. Third St.: Black Box brings Chicago-style improvisational comedy to Dayton with shows at 8 p.m. ($7) and 9:30 p.m. ($5). $10 for both shows. Call 369-0747.

• Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave.: Presenting a performance of Expecting Isabel at 8 p.m. Call 278-5993.

• Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd.: The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will depart at 5:30 p.m. This month’s route will go through the Oregon District, Woodland Cemetery and the University of Dayton area, and will be a “glow ride,” where riders are encouraged to deck out their bikes with lights, glow bracelets and more. All tours are free and welcome any skill level.

• Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center, 400 E. Fifth St., Suite C: (Open until 8 p.m.) Featuring artwork from members of Spire, an art program for adults with disabilities. Activities for families and light refreshments will be provided. Call 723-6747.

• The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.: Call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times.

• Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St.: Featuring comedian Etta May. Shows begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person. Call 224-5653.

Shopping

• American Pi, 41 S. St. Clair St.: Karen Dogget from Pinot’s Palette will giving away prizes and inviting anyone who stops by to participate in a collaborative painting. Trish Clark-Baker will be selling Jewelry Candles and an independent consultant will have In A Pikle bags for sale. Beverages and snacks also will be available. Call 938-7890.

• Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.: Featuring a monthly VIP event. VIPs will receive complimentary massages and spa treatments with wine and cheese service. Email [email protected] or call 903-3165.

• Brim, 464 E. Fifth St.: In collaboration with Sew Dayton and Clash Consignment, Brim will host the Derby Day Preview Party and fashion show with models walking at 6 and 8 p.m. Call 222-4287.

• Found Treasures 4 You, 502 Wayne Ave.: Offering 20 percent off everything in the store. Call 580-8803.

• ReCreate, 438 E. Fifth St.: Sale on select items, including new and used instruments, other music-related items, and original artwork. Call 321-3517.

• Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave.: Offering 20 percent off T-shirts and coffee cups. Local artist Julie Jamison will be selling re-imagined vintage jewelry pieces. Call 234-7398.

• Sherwood Florist, 444 E. Third St.: (Open until 9 p.m.) Offering 10 percent off all in-store items. Call 298-3655.

• Spice Paradise, 16 Brown St.: Offering samples of various foods to anyone who stops by the store. Call 224-3227.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association 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. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

 

Downtown Dayton Partnership Wins National Award for Pop-Up Project

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pop up The International Downtown Association (IDA) awarded the Downtown Dayton Partnership a 2013 Downtown Pinnacle Award at the IDA World Congress, held in New York City earlier this month. The DDP received the award in the economic and business development category for Activated Spaces’ Pop-Up Project. The DDP supports the project, which is managed by volunteers from the young professional organizations UpDayton and Generation Dayton.

 

“The Activated Spaces volunteers, who represent the next generation of leaders in our community, have done an amazing job with the Pop-Up Project,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “We are so very thankful for their hard work, which has made a significant contribution to making our downtown a more vibrant place.”

 

Since the inception of the Pop-Up Project in fall 2011, it has launched 11 shops (nine of which are still open), filled 11,326 square feet of previously vacant space and created 24 jobs. Two new retailers, Spice Paradise and Hicks’ Barber Shop, who share space at 16 Brown St. in the Oregon District, recently opened as part of the project’s fifth phase.

 

“The Downtown Dayton Partnership received this prestigious award for demonstrating excellence in downtown management,” said David Downey, IDA president and CEO. “Each year, the IDA Awards Jury honors the very best programs and projects in each category to recognize great work and set the standard for best practice in our industry.”

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website, www.downtowndayton.org, has a complete list of downtown businesses, as well as a list of business resources, arts and cultural amenities, a dining guide, parking map, and much more. Follow the Downtown Dayton Partnership on Facebook to keep up with downtown events and news. Smartphone users can find places, events, parking and more with Find It Downtown Mobile: mobile.downtowndayton.org.

Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities: September 4-11

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Greetings MostMetro-land!

Welcome to our new weekly round-up of urban Dayton volunteer opportunities!

Mural by David Kenworthy at Garden Station

As someone who’s been involved in a lot of community improvement projects at both grassroots & government levels, I’ve sensed a need to better coordinate all the amazing energy that people have for our center city these days. I’ll be pulling these from our Facebook group and items that you e-mail me. So if you’re looking for ways to get involved in Dayton’s revival, check back here every week. Be sure to report back what you’ve accomplished!

Get Your Hands Dirty – Help Wanted!

    • Install a mosaic mural:  East End Community Services and K12 Gallery need your help at 504 Xenia Avenue in the Twin Towers neighborhood. Tues. & Wed., Sep. 4-5; drop in any time from 8:30am until 2pm. Bring work gloves if you have them and dress to get messy! For more info call Amanda at 259-1898 or e-mail her.
    • “First Friday Park” Planting & Volunteer Social:  Downtown volunteer Brian Ressler took it upon himself to get a grant to beautify the highly-visible triangle between St. Clair & Patterson at Fifth. Now he needs some extra hands to help plant flowers! Gather for drinks, pizza, and First Friday after. Friday, Sep. 7, 6pm; more info & RSVP here.
    • Downtown Dayton Revival Music Fest: Talk about slacktivism! All you need to do to show your support for downtown is buy a ticket and show up to hear great music. Saturday & Sunday, Sep. 8-9.
Downtown Mural Volunteers

Downtown Mural Project volunteers cleaning. Photo: Carli Dixon

  • Volunteer at Urban Nights: Downtown’s favorite street party needs your help! Visit the Downtown Dayton Partnership and sign up to be a trolley or walking guide, serve beer, or survey guests at this Friday, Sep. 14th event.
  • The Dayton Skatepark Project: Join other skateboarding enthusiasts in their quest to start a downtown skatepark by following their page.
  • Dayton Unleashed is a grassroots group improving a fenced area at Deeds Point for use as a dog park. Learn more at their page and stay tuned for volunteer clean-up dates.
  • Donate Dayton items for the RNNC basket: Each year neighborhood activists represent Dayton at the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference and contribute a Dayton-themed basket (including gift certificates, mugs, T-shirts, etc.) to be raffled off. Contact Sandy Melke to contribute.

Crowdfunding

We know that money is often tight these days, but remember that there is power in numbers – even the smallest donations can add up for grassroots projects!

Future Fifth Street Co-op Brewpub

  • Build a park in St. Anne’s Hill: This historic neighborhood just east of downtown hopes to raise $1500 as a match to their City of Dayton mini-grant. Learn more and contribute on Razoo.
  • Own a brewpub: Speaking of St. Anne’s, their cooperatively-owned Fifth Street Brewpub is still seeking inaugural members, so for $100 you could be an owner too!
  • Cityfolk Post-Festival Appeal: The weather was truly unkind this year, shutting down the downtown festival twice and resulting in a 60% loss compared to other years. To keep the festival, the concert season, and the Culture Builds Community educational program going, Cityfolk hopes to raise $100,000 by the end of the year. Please give at the Cityfolk website.
  • Give a Dam!: Over $3.8 million has already been raised for the River Run project, but now it’s your turn to give a dam.
  • Success! Congrats to Sew Dayton and the Downtown Mural Project for meeting their recent crowdfunding goals (although I’m sure they’ll continue to take your money).

 

You can also join our group to participate in discussions on Dayton activism–this week’s hot topics include food trucks, bike share programs, and the Priority Board system–send me volunteer opportunities, or just check back here next Tuesday!

 

 

Dayton Fashion Week and Urban Nights Presents: Ambush Makeover!!

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Dayton Fashion Week will be participating in Urban Nights This Friday

Dayton Fashion Week will be making its Urban Nights Debut this Friday and of course it’s going to be one of the most fashionable events of the evening!  Our sponsors at The Downtown Dayton Partnership have asked the DFW Team to give the patrons of Urban Nights a unique and fun experience– and of course we don’t want to disappoint!!  So with that being said, DFW staff, along with our models, team of makeup artist, hair stylist, and photographers will be out and about at various locations downtown during Urban Nights scouting for individuals to be a part of our first ever Ambush Makeover!

That’s right, the lucky individuals will receive super model treatment during Urban Nights, they will have their hair and makeup done, treated to a professional photo shoot by our amazing photographers, and will receive lessons on how to rip the runway by DFW models right there on the spot!  The individuals selected by our scouts will also be appearing in Dayton Fashion Week’s fashion and lifestyle print magazine which will be debuting in July—just in time for our big event!

The Makeovers will be taking place from 6p-9p at our table located in Court House Square!  Though we are finished holding Casting Calls for this year’s event—I’ve been known to approach random strangers and do some scouting!  So make sure you stop by and say hi because you never know you just may get discovered!

Dayton Fashion Week Seeks Volunteers

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Recently it seems like no matter where I go and no matter what I do, I run into somebody who expresses their excitement or has questions about Dayton Fashion Week– from my close friends to random strangers who recognize me from my picture on this blog.  The word has gotten out and I’m pretty comfortable saying that the City of Dayton is ready to take its place as the Fashion Capital of the Midwest!!

When I first heard about Dayton Fashion Week in September and signed up to help last year, I naively thought this was just going to be a fun little fashion show that will give people something to do–BOY WAS I WRONG!!  Dayton Fashion Week has become a week long International Production that has grown beyond words in the past couple of weeks!  From Fashion Politque Magazine out of London, England naming us a “must see” Fashion Event of 2012, to our Cover Model Contest gaining national attention by Fashion Faces Magazine out of Phoenix, AZ.  We’ve had Fashion Bloggers from New York to L.A. seek out information and request press passes, and we’ve even had the head of several International Modeling Agencies reach out to support us and we are in talks of offering a few local models affiliated with DFW contracts.  More importantly on the local front the Downtown Dayton Partnership and Dayton Most Metro have played major roles in helping us get the word out, we’ve appeared on FOX 45 In The Morning twice, this Wednesday we will be appearing on Living Dayton on Channel 2 at noon, and Wednesday evening we will be featured on WYSO 91.3 FM Kaleidoscope Hosted By Juliet Fromholt and we CAN NOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

So to say that Dayton Fashion Week is just a “fashion show” would be an understatement because we have gone beyond just an event it’s officially a movement!!  Dayton Fashion Week has grown and like every great movement, we are looking for a few good leaders, supporting staff, and volunteers to add to our already talented team.  In July Dayton Fashion Week will be launching a quarterly print Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine; we are looking for writers, editors, and a sales and marketing team.

This event represents what the cutting edge fashion industry is all about and will be a great experience for anyone interested in a career in events, fashion, media, or marketing. There is a volunteer job for everyone and their roles will include:

  • Runway Venue Preparation
  • Designer and Guest Ushers
  • Backstage Assistance and Set Up
  • Assemble Gift Bags and Press Kits
  • Help maintain the main event Information Desk
  • Assist in the Volunteer Center
  • Various other tasks for the Dayton Fashion Week Staff

For the opportunity to be involved with the Volunteer Program, please RSVP and email your resume and cover letter to: [email protected].  We will have a Volunteer Meeting on Thursday April 19 from 6p-8p at the Kettering Library located at 3496 Far Hills Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45429.

 

Activated Spaces is back.

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My last adventure got me out of the car and exploring the region via bus, bike and good ol’ fashioned walking. And you know what I saw? Well, in addition to the random shopping cart and dude who was arguing about drugs – I saw great local art! And not by seeking out a gallery (although I recommend that, too) – but by just walking around.

The Activated Spaces team (powered by the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan) worked with local property owners and invited artists to share their work with the community while focusing on our region’s assets. It was a great success and resulted in 17 vibrant art displays filling downtown windows and the selection of Amanda Sue Allen as the People’s Choice award (work currently on display at the Cannery Art and Design Center). Everything from photography to quilt-work and paintings to cloth and pottery to cellophane was represented (and much, much more!) It was a great, diverse and eclectic celebration of Dayton’s professional and amateur artists.

Serida checks to make sure the QR code is working on the Dayton Creative Syndicate's installation featuring the Culture Works festival.

So – they’re doing it again! They have put the call out to local artists to submit work for a second round of storefront window art displays to be unveiled at the September Urban Nights. The fall 2011 installation theme, “Spotlight Dayton,” challenges artists to focus on our many downtown neighborhoods and highlight favorite places. They hope to include aspects of all areas of downtown–neighborhoods, parks, organizations and various community assets may be featured. It may be a challenge to remain strictly faithful to the theme, but the emailed prospectus states that they welcome artists’ interpretations of the theme however loose or literal it may be; if the artwork is not an exact demonstration of the theme, the artist statement may tie the work to the theme.

Details of the project and submission guidelines are available online. Submissions are due by Friday, August 12, at 5PM.

Check out the Activated Spaces web site for more information.