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Downtown Dayton

Luminaries of Dayton: The Angel as a Cemetery Symbol

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Angels are often referred to as Agents of God. They direct you towards Heaven. They are the guardians of the dead and they symbolize spirituality.

Angels are shown in all types of poses with different symbolism. Two angels can be named and are identified by the objects they carry: Michael, who bears a sword and Gabriel, who is depicted with a horn.

Michael is known as the leader of the angels who remained faithful to God after after the great war in heaven, overcame and cast Satan from their midst. Gabriel was sent by God to announce the birth of Jesus.

An angel with a trumpet is a symbol announcing the resurrection of the deceased’s soul entering into Heaven. It is a metaphor for the joyous resurrection of the individual in the afterlife.

Other angels you may see in the cemetery: 

→An angel carrying the departed soul, as a child in their arms or as a guardian embracing the dead.
→An angel flying represents rebirth.
→Angels gathered together in the clouds represent Heaven.
→Angels weeping symbolize grief or mourning an untimely death.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

Oh my Goodness…and Grace!

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Sometimes, you stumble upon a Dayton Gem and can’t believe you never knew it was there. And sometimes, you trek through a way too cool old building to find a sunny little space full of awesome. Armed with a bottle of Pinot Grigio and some fancy schmancy plastic cups, I recently did just that. 

Tucked away in the up and coming Davis-Linden building, you’ll find the just-barely-revealed-to-the-public Goodness and Grace Photography Studio. As my velvet heels made their way up the stairs to this new space, I couldn’t help but ooh and ahh over the industrial charm of the sprawling building. Once those fancy schmancy cups were full of the aforementioned Pinot, I sat down with my friend, Shana Lloyd, the Goodness & Grace owner for some girl talk and to hear about the big plans for the studio. 

[Girl Talk omitted, because, duh]

Shana, this place is gorgeous. I’m guessing it was a blank canvas when you moved in, where did you find the vision to bring this to life?  

Thanks! No disrespect to the Davis Linden Building, because I swoon daily walking into the warehouse but it was definitely blank and dusty. The first week of renovations was all about cleaning, sanding, spackling. I had a vision that didn’t necessary equate to warehouse chic. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about the industrial look and can’t wait to shoot in and around the building, but we wanted our place to be a little bit of magic in the center of it all. 

The vision was pulled from various different sources of inspiration. Working with other portrait and commercial studios in the past, years in retail fashion marketing, I definitely knew what I loved and what I didn’t love, what I would do differently. I wanted to create a place that had all the comforts of home, with intricate details and energy I just wasn’t seeing elsewhere- energy that would inspire my clients, both portrait & commercial as well as myself. In short, I wanted to create a happy place. The new studio is really something special. We initially set out to create 3-4 separate shooting areas but then decided to create a workspace that could be used at every angle for our purposes and shooting purposes. We also have built in the flexibility to rearrange and create new areas at random if needed (and I am pretty random, so that is good.) Though the bulk of our business is outdoor photography, we can now provide our clients with an additional experience as well as a beautiful setting to meet with potential clients for consultations or product selection. The ideas don’t stop, so much so we’re already expanding and adding to our space. More on that later though! 

So now it’s here, and it’s about to be to go-to creative space in the area, do you imagine that you’ll use it for more than photography?  

You nailed it Nicole, it’s a space to create. Whether that is beautiful imagery or community, our new haven is really about building things that mean something. Portrait & Wedding photography is the bulk of our business and we are expanding into commercial, specifically fashion photography but we have also created a series of workshops that we are going to hold monthly that I’ve coined “Creative Wellness” – We’ve got a wide mix of topics and speakers planned with the goal of empowering visual artists, whatever their trade to live their dream and build a career that is gratifying and successful. Something I’ve always been passionate about is speaking, teaching, mentoring and now I have the opportunity to do that in an industry I truly love. Exciting times ahead!

Our first is coming up this March 23rd and we’ve partnered with Dayton legend Andrew White of IndigoLife Media and Samantha Elder of PR In Pumps. The topic is personal branding and the struggles creatives face in breaking through the noise. You can learn more on our Facebook page here.  

I’ve seen you progress as a photographer over the past year. Now that you have this space, will you focus on specific kinds of photos?  

Girl, I am all over the place. I am still learning every day and frankly, I have no clue. I want to explore everything and anything I can get my hands on but I realize I also have a growth strategy for my business that needs my focus. Wedding photography is definitely on my heart though, I am inspired daily by amazing artists all around me and find so much joy in photographing them so I have definitely been zoning in on that area and will continue. But we are full service photography studio and with my schedule, existing clients and destination jobs, expansion is on the horizon. Over the next few months our goal is to grow our team to 5 photographers with diverse styles and areas of expertise.

We recently did an inspiration wedding shoot that has peaked the interest of many vendors, publications and talent. I was initially just so excited with the idea, but when we set out to bring it to life and then saw it happen because of our amazing friendors, it was surreal. We’ve build some amazing partnerships in Dayton. Something Old Dayton, Sherwood Florist, Blush Boudoir, Cake Hope & Love and many others have really helped to build our little business. Dayton is just so awesome. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, focus. A lot is coming in the next few months as I mentioned. We are always evolving, I think you have to stay ahead in this business. We’ve been approached recently for several things like styling, wedding planning even renting our studio and we keep an eye on these requests to see where opportunity lies for the future. We want to meet the needs of various clients and so we will be launching several new products, collections and styles of photography for our portrait & wedding clients while expand further into commercial with our fashion clients. At the core of all is, a love for lifestyle photography. Images that are real, emotion that is raw and energy that is contagious – all of these being the common thread in our work, whoever the client. 

So how are you bringing your biz into the business world? I know your professional background and just can’t imagine you staying away for toooo long… 

Commercial photography has been a passion before I even knew I could operate a camera. In my past life, I produced multiple product shoots and was always curious about what it would be like on the other side. From styling to photographing, it has always been definitely a big interest. Last year the spark was really ignited when doing some work for Belle of Dayton, I knew when I was posing those bottles of spirits so that the light hit them just perfectly, I was going to do more of this. As I mentioned earlier, we are expanding our space and part of that will be to serve our product only clients. We’re cooking up some big ideas. There’s a hint in there. 

And, girl…I know your love of community and how you build in an ability to give back to causes you care about. Tell the world how that fits in here.  

At the heart of everything I do, is love for Dayton. Community is everything. When I first started on this journey I knew that I wanted to some how intertwine my passion for giving back into our business model. In August of last year with our rebrand, we share our mission to donate 10% of our session fees to Dayton organizations serving the community. We are able to help many, with our biggest giving campaign in November where we fed 100 families on Thanksgiving, providing a monetary donation that covered a full meal including Turkey to those families through the The Hope Foundation of Greater Dayton. Like many things, we are looking at this program for opportunities to broaden it as well simplify for our partners. In the meantime, we’re looking for volunteer opportunities as well event sponsorship and in kind donations requests where Goodness & Grace would be a good fit. Agencies looking to partner with us can email [email protected]

What’s Next?

SO MUCH. With our opening this week and still many logistics to get through, we are excited about the next phase of this tiny but mighty business. The theme of this year, I can’t do it all. So the next few months are really going to be about growing the team, getting the word out, building our client portfolio, strengthening our brand and staying focused on community. We’ve hired consultants to help build strong product offering, expand our offerings, update our brand as well as develop a new website all with the intent of giving our clients the best experience.

Well, Shana thanks for chatting with me! All of us at DMM are so excited to watch Goodness + Grace grow!

 

Love In Lights

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Let your love light shine with a special Valentines Day photo shoot! Knack Creative is illuminating your love with the help of Event Lites.

Nicole and Richard at Knack Creative with Event Lites

From February 12 through February 14, you can make an appointment to stop by Knack Creative’s newly-opened studio space for a mini shoot with your mini humans or your special someone. Event Lites are providing their brand new life sized marquee lights that spell out L-O-V-E for the perfect backdrop.

All the details:
– sessions available the 12th, 13th and 14th
– $85 for a 20-minute portait session
– at least 6 final, edited digital files included (delivered within two days of the session)
– online gallery for viewing and sharing your images and ordering prints, if you’d like!

You can find all of the information on the event page here or just go ahead and schedule your session here.

 

 

Five For Drinking: Bloody Mary Edition

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Bloody Mary

The simple, savory, Bloody Mary. What spices would you add?

The Bloody Mary is THE brunch cocktail. There can be an argument for the mimosa, but it lacks the vibrancy a Bloody Mary offers. The vodka and tomato juice are essentially blank canvases for the spices the bartender chooses to add. When concocted during Prohibition, it was a half and half blend of vodka and tomato juice. The tomato juice was a gift from American bartenders fleeing to practice their craft; the vodka was provided by Russians fleeing an unstable country. They met in Paris, and the rest is history. Eventually the mixture was spiced up. The story goes that a Russian businessman had no interest in the plain tomato juice that was common in the drink and requested it get spiced up. Ever since that day, the Bloody Mary (or Red Snapper, as it was known for a brief period) was a mixture of spicy tomato juice and vodka.

After that, the sky became the limit for what you could do with a Bloody Mary. How to you utilize the savory and sweet characteristics of the tomato? Do you bring the strong heat, or are you looking for something that is a little more balanced for a meal? Does the cocktail even matter at all; are you shooting for some crazy garnish? When you start from a spicy tomato juice as a base, you really can go anywhere with it, as these five variants prove:

Bloody Maria

1.5 oz. tequila (I enjoy reposado in mine)
2 oz. tomato juice
2 oz. orange juice
.5 oz. lime juice
.25 tsp. chilé powder
2-3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Sliced jalapeno pepper

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the jalapeno and serve.

Some Bloody Maria’s call for just substituting out the vodka with tequila and calling it a day. This one reaches into the Mexican tradition of drinking sangrita (“little blood”) with tequila. Sangrita is made with a mix of fruit juices, traditionally pomegranate, orange, and lime, and served as a compliment to the peppery tequila. This recipe blends it all into one glass in a much more American way. The chilés provide the heat, this time in powder form.

Bloody Caesar

Bloody Mary Spices

So. Many. Spices.

1.5 oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
1.5 oz. clam juice (yes, really)
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
4 dashes Tabasco sauce
.25 oz. lemon juice
Pinch of pepper

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Celery stalk

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the jalapeno and serve.

More popular in Canada than in the United States, the Bloody Caesar adds some clam juice for additional richness. Taking out the salt is needed because that juice will add enough to the cocktail. You can simplify the recipe by using 4 oz. of Clamato juice as a base.

Bloody Bull

1.5 oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
2 oz. beef bouillon
.5 oz. lemon juice
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of celery salt
Pinch of pepper

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Celery Stick

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the jalapeno and serve.

Before bacon was a flavor in everything, there was beef bouillon to add meaty goodness. That richness we were discussing with the clam juice is achievable with beef bouillon.

Bloody Mary Recipe Book

Crosby Gaige’s Cocktail Guide and Ladies Companion, asserting that vodka is the spirit of choice.

Red Snapper

1.5 oz. gin (Belle of Dayton makes a dandy one.)
4 oz. tomato juice
.5 oz. lemon juice
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of celery salt
Pinch of pepper

Glass: Tall
Ice: Cubed
Garnish: Celery Stick

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing tin over ice. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds, then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with the celery stick and serve.

The charm of this cocktail is the savory nature of the tomato juice. Why not add even more flavor by using gin? We are in a Golden Age of Gin. Distillers are taking liberties with the herbs that make up its flavor profile, providing a wide selection for cocktails.

Michelada

4 oz. Mexican lager (any lager will work)
3 oz. tomato juice
1 oz. clam juice
.5 oz. lime juice
3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes Maggi seasoning (soy is an acceptable substitute)
.25 tsp. chili powder (plus more for garnish)

Glass: Pint
Ice: None
Garnish: Lime Wedge and chili powder

Run the lime wedge around the rim of a pint glass. Pour chili powder on a plate. Roll the wet rim of the glass in the chili powder, tapping the glass after to remove the excess. Pour all of the ingredients, except for the lager, into a mixing tin. Shake well for 20 – 30 seconds. Fill the pint glass halfway with the Mexican lager, then strain the contents of the tin into the glass. Stir a few times gently, then serve.

More clam juice. There are versions of this cocktail where it is just the beer and the spices, and no tomato juice. Maggi seasoning is similar to soy, but you may be able to find it in some specialty grocery stores. Lucky Star offers a Mexican lager you can grab in a growler and Trotwood by Warped Wing is always a favorite.

Bloody Mary Garnish

There is a cocktail in there somewhere.

The spices added to most of these cocktails are typical for a Bloody Mary: Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco (or other favorite) hot sauce, salt, pepper, and some citrus. There is a wide variety of other flavors you can add to the mix to cater to your personal tastes. Like the Old Fashioned, every bar has their variation, and every bar’s variation is the best around. For the garnishes, there is nothing fancy here. You can be as simple or complex as you would like. Tradition calls for celery sticks, olives, or a citrus wedge.

Looking for more variations on the theme? This Sunday is the Second Bloody Mary Showdown, where some of the best bartenders in Dayton will attempt to prove that their recipe is the best one in the Miami Valley. Scratch Event Catering will be providing the brunch fare you will be enjoying with the Bloody Mary samples. And you can vote for the best one!

Bartenders will be competing for bragging rights and $300 cash for the winner.  Awards will also be given out for best table decor and best garnish.  Scheduled to compete are:

Champ Mack’s tavern will be on hand to defend her title!

Lily’s Bistro
Good Time Charlies
Trolley Stop
Whole Foods Market
Mudlick Tap House
Vue Ultra Lounge
Mack’s Tavern
MJ’s on Jefferson
Old Scratch Pizza
Kingspoint Pub
Meadowlark
Jimmie’s Ladder 11
Fifth Street Brewpub
Smart Guy In A Tie Cocktails

The event is produced by  Planned2Give, an event planning service that provides support for local non-profits and proceeds from the event will benefit The Greater Dayton LGBT Center.  The event takes place at the Coliseum in the Montgomery County Fairgrounds from 11am to 2pm and tickets are $25 in advance, available online or at Mack’s Tavern, The Vue or Lily’s Bistro. Come on out for a bite of brunch and a spicy start to you Sunday!

Art is Everywhere During New Juried Show and Kickoff Event

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Artinthecitylogo-01It’s not a difficult task to discover visual arts in downtown Dayton. Whether you’re exploring a gallery space or admiring local products sold in downtown businesses, Dayton’s rich arts amenities abound. Last year, we introduced our first event in the new Summer in the City series in May, and it was a blast. But we’ve got a lot more in store for art lovers at this year’s event. Pack your bags, because you’re in for a trip! Art in the City is the next signature event of the 2016 DP&L Summer in the City lineup, and it promises to be quite the visual feast.

IMG_1530The Downtown Dayton Partnership is helping to roll out a new juried art show. The Dayton Visual Arts Center pulled together 26 talented local artists whose work will be on display in different downtown businesses. Our goals are simple: We hope to encourage art lovers to discover a new downtown business, and we want to introduce regular patrons to incredible local art. We’re also throwing another element into the mix: You get to decide which artist nabs the title of “People’s Choice” by voting for your favorite artist or artwork. Voting starts Friday, June 3, and closes at noon on June 17. Visit downtowndayton.org for details.

To kick off the open voting session, we’re hosting a huge visual arts party, complete with live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and other interactive programs throughout downtown. It’s free! It’s fantastic! It’s fun for all ages! And it lasts from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, June 3.

IMG_1681You can meet the artists from the juried show pop-up galleries in their spaces, and you can check out an array of other arts activities sprinkled around downtown, including:

  • The Front Street Experience: Watch artists blow glass and create street art on canvas, get your face painted, and take a selfie at the art wall, located on Courthouse Square. While you’re there, check out more fun going on for the kickoff of Dayton Pride weekend, Affair on the Square.
  • K12 Gallery & TEJAS: The whole family will enjoy visual arts activities and special performances by SMAG Dance Collective. Get down on the dance floor with music by DJ Tony Whitfield and DJ Scorpius Max. Visit “Make n’ Take” stations and create garden art planters and garden wire sculptures. Juice bar and snacks also available for purchase.
  • Mendelson’s Mural: A new mural-painting company, The Mural Machine, is taking art to the streets and transforming buildings. Watch them work on their current project, Mendelson’s Outlet, off First Street.IMG_1563
  • Live demos: Several downtown arts businesses will have live demonstrations, and you can browse artwork in the shop for sale. Check out Gallery 510 Fine Art at 508 E. Fifth St., Vessels at 227 N. Main St., Ink & Hammer at 506 Wayne Ave., Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors on 48 High St. in St. Anne’s, and the Front Street Galleries in the warehouse at 1001 E. Second St.
  • Art on 5th: Following the success of its first art show and handmade craft sale, theNorthGate returns with its next gallery and market, located at Fifth and Wilkinson in the former historic Salvation Army building.
  • Dayton Art Institute: If you haven’t seen the latest exhibit, Into the Ether, you’ll be inspired to visit the interactive light gallery when you visit the museum’s special Art in the City location near Lily’s Bistro (329 E. Fifth St.). Make your own luminary with color-changing LED lights!
  • Innovative Arts Nexus (IAN): The University of Dayton’s former Art Street program has gone beyond art as a creative medium for expression and turned it into an application for creative problem solving and innovation. Learn more about the process and challenge your perceptions at their interactive experience in front of the Clair Lofts (St. Clair Street between Third and Fourth streets).
  • IMG_1582Nucleus CoShare: Not only will you get to see one of the largest pop-up gallery installations at this space, you can experience a variety of other local artists. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could work here? Memberships to the co-shared office space are still available. Chat with the staff on-site to learn more about rates and benefits (besides being surrounded by inspirational artwork).
  • The Mosaic Institute of Greater Dayton: Create your own unique mosaic while you enjoy the sights and sounds of Pickin’ in the Park at RiverScape MetroPark. Be sure to try the free demo of the new Urban Family Challenge Food and craft beer will be available for purchase at this location. (Heads up – Monument Avenue will be closed from Patterson to St. Clair for this activity.)
  • African American Visual Artists Guild: Watch computer art and thread painting demonstration at their station in the Oregon District.
  • Courteous Mass: Get a new perspective on your city from the seat of a bike. Join a group ride to tour public art installations on a new iteration of the Bike the Arts Bonus: The new culture-wrapped Link Bike also will be unveiled! The ride departs from Don Crawford Plaza (Fifth Third Field) at 6:30 p.m.

Won’t You Be Our Neighbor? … Again?

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Downtown Housing Tour takes place 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 7.

Downtown Housing Tour takes place 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 7.

It’s the start of the downtown event season! This week includes the kickoff for The Square Is Where as well as First Friday and the first in the DP&L Summer in the City signature series. In preparation for the May 7 Downtown Housing Tour, the Downtown Dayton Partnership is pleased to present two more resident profiles. The “typical” downtown resident is anything but — with ages spanning from young professionals to families to empty nesters, people are turning to downtown living not as a rite of passage but as a lifestyle choice. Residents choose urban living for its density and proximity of amenities, entertainment, and vibrant scene. Here are the profiles of two types of downtown residents, one at the beginning of his career, and a couple heading into their golden years. One rents an apartment in the bustling Oregon District, and the other is one of the first buyers of the new Monument Walk high-end townhomes nestled next to downtown’s performing arts district. You can see both locations on the free housing tour on May 7. Download the map and brochure online, or pick up a copy at participating tour locations and downtown businesses.

“There Comes a Time,” by Burt (and Alice) Saidel

Alice and I are Daytonians. We love Dayton and have made a great life raising our children, contributing professionally and civically, and relishing the rich arts life that surrounds us.

Burt and Alice SaidelI am a Dayton native. I left after graduating Fairview High School to attend Haverford College, graduate school at Western Reserve University, and military service in the Air Force in Turkey and Italy. I returned to practice dentistry for 50 years, much of that as a partner with my father, Dr. Jack Saidel. That was always my intention and I have fulfilled it happily.

Along the way, I met my beautiful wife as a Smith College co-ed and convinced her to marry me. We did just that in Athens, Greece. After Turkey, we spent an idyllic year in northern Italy. These experiences have carried us since those halcyon days.

We designed and built our home on Nottingham Road in Oakwood. It is, to us and to many, a truly beautiful creation. We embodied much of the architectural beauty we loved in Europe and our French country-style home has been an inspiration to us.

MonumentWalk_Elevation_RevNow, we have entered the age when down-sizing is becoming a cogent decision. Both of us have dealt with the concept of a smaller residence. We realized that Dayton’s arts are the center of our life’s activities. This made downtown Dayton a major choice for us. Our move downtown puts us at the epicenter of the arts, music, dining and friends.

We had requirements to match our new lifestyle. I am a major woodworker contributing many works of my art as donations to synagogues, churches, schools, symphony orchestras. I need a workroom, a wood shop.

Monument Walk sitting roomWe also need space for our relatives and children. We regularly fill our big home with their presence for family events. We also host many artists performing here for the opera, Vanguard concerts, etc.  We knew a two- or even three-bedroom apartment would be too confining. Many visits to condominium-type dwellings yielded nothing that came close to our needs. We came upon an interesting concept, vertical rather than horizontal, that was advanced by Charles Simms in his design for Monument Walk.

The multi-floor aspect made a workroom, adjacent to the garage, an answer to the work space. Some rooms are possibly multi-purpose for visiting sleep-over guests. An elevator, planning for our inevitable infirmities of age, answered another forecasted need.

Monument Walk kitchenWe know the Simms family well. Charlie, as the younger member, and his father Charles are experienced builders and good friends. And we know with Ann Simms looking over their shoulders, everything will be perfect.

Many of our friends now living downtown have rushed to greet and pre-welcome us. All are enthusiastic about the joys of central urban living. More amenities are needed and will be coming downtown. More fine dining options are a definite addition.

We hope we both live longer, love-filled and healthy lives in the core of our beloved city. Come and see us — but not for a while yet!

 

 

 

Making the Most of Live-Work-Play: Jon White

Jon WhiteCincinnati native Jon White wasn’t happy stuck behind the wheel of his car. When the 31-year-old landed a job in Dayton, he initially tried to commute from his new job in Dayton back to his home in Cincinnati. But spending hours on the road took its toll on Jon, and he decided to find a new home that offered more freedom and flexibility. “I didn’t feel healthy commuting like that every day. I wanted to live close to work and close to entertainment,” Jon said. The location at Dayton Towers apartment complex Access to entertainmentchecked off Jon’s requirements for proximity for 9-to-5 and 5-to-9 activities. “I bike to work just about every day,” he said. “and I still have easy access to the highway if I need to travel somewhere, and it’s a quick trip to access the bike trails for recreation.”

Jon said he doesn’t miss yard work and home maintenance his Cincinnati residence required. The city planner for the City of Dayton also enjoys a more sustainable, eco-friendly way of life. “I have about a mile-radius carbon footprint,” Jon said. “I bike to work, I walk to bars and restaurants, my grocery store is just a mile away; you could live downtown without owning a car. I’ll go for a while without getting in my car. I fill my gas tank maybe once a month. It’s a simpler lifestyle for sure.”

Jon said one of the initial surprises he experienced upon his move to Dayton Towers and the downtown environment was the volume and diversity of people he met, both in his own apartment complex and his new downtown neighborhood. “It’s a change of pace if you’re used to a suburban environment where you drive everywhere, pull into your garage, and call it a night,” he said. “Here where the IMG_0739-HDRpopulation is more dense, you’ll see more people, and when you walk or bike instead of drive, you have more interactions.” Within his own apartment building, Jon said he has met a wide range of ages and backgrounds of people who choose the convenience and excitement of downtown living. “There are families with kids, senior citizens, University of Dayton and Sinclair College students, young professionals like myself — people from all walks of life live here,” he said. “There’s a real sense of community.”

Link bikes provide transportationMingling with other Dayton Towers residents is how Jon met his group of friends, who enjoy Dayton Towers’ proximity to Oregon District businesses as well as theaters, art galleries, recreational activities, and other amenities within easy walking or leisurely bike riding distance. Of course hanging out on the patio or balconies is a popular choice with the amazing city views. Regardless of how he now spends his additional free time as a downtown resident, Jon said he’s happy with his choice to ditch the commute and dive into the live-work-play environment his downtown address provides. “It’s a lifestyle I prefer to have.”

Help us Pick a Fight with Cancer!

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Even pacifists agree that cancer needs its butt kicked. More and more people realize how cancer affects family members, friends, co-workers etc. It’s hard to find someone that cancer hasn’t touched in one way or another. So we are asking you to help us Pick a Fight with Cancer.

This Thursday, May 5th at the Engineers Club of Dayton, Mike Nichols will be hosting the Pick a Fight with Cancer Wine tasting from 6 – 9 pm. 1695573135-wine-tasting

This great event is to celebrate those who have survived cancer, those angels cheering on from heaven and to support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Mike Nichols states: “Wine tasting event honoring the FIGHTERS. What better venue to lead the charge to support blood cancer research than the historic Engineers Club of Dayton. This historic venue was founded by innovators such as Edward Deeds and Charles Kettering whose inventions changed our world. We ask you to join us for an evening of hope to help render this disease powerless.  With every sunrise there is hope and a world of possibilities.”

Along with food and delicious wines to sample, craft beer will also join the party. Giveaways and auction items will attend as well to help round out this wonderful soirée. Dr. James Budde from the Rahn Dental Group has provided a zoom whitening gift for one of our attendees. Square One Salon has graciously donated an Aveda Gift basket, Elsa’s South will provide several treats, dance lessons from Arthur Murray, skin creams from Tel Aviv, Israel and gifts from Rodin and Fields have been donated as well.

Boxing-Fisticuffs-Kensington-Park-Toronto-01Tickets are available at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pick-a-fight-with-cancer-tickets-22797351492 or if you would rather pay at the door, tickets are $30 for one person or $50 for couple (couple meaning significant other, family member or bring a friend!)

 

So come out, join us and the FIGHTERS as we celebrate their triumphs and lend our support in picking a fight with cancer!

For the Love of Local Art

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Did you miss the Dayton Visual Art Center (DVAC) Art Auction this year? If so, you missed out.

Billed as “Dayton’s biggest art party of the year,” the number of artists, art pieces, and active art IMG_1934lovers filling the space at the Ponitz Center confirm the hype. While the silent auction allows more tentative bidders (yours truly) to explore fascinating pieces by local artists, and raise the price in $10 increments, the live auction (hosted by Doug Sorrell) is always a treat. This year – especially so – as a beautiful piece from John Emery raised a IMG_1935whopping $6,100 for the cause!

Food, drink, music, fun, great conversation, and competitive art bidding (don’t worry – if $6,100 isn’t in your budget, you can get much more affordable pieces through the silent auction) makes this a night to remember.

But – that was last weekend. You might have missed out! How, dear friend, are you to get your own local art fix? Fear not! You can still support Dayton Visual Arts Center and talented, local artists here in Dayton by purchasing a share of the CSA (Community Supported ART!). For $650, you “buy into” the community and your share acts as seed funding to support six artists as they make fabulous work for you! Take a look at the artists and the type of work you may be able to expect.

 

Grover Plays Free Show at Trolley Stop

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Screen Shot 2016-04-26 at 7.32.21 PMInsider tip! There is a FREE show at Trolley Stop this Friday April 29th, 2016 with two incredible bands, Grover and Common Center. Plus that fabulous patio? It’s a no brainer for Friday night fun!

On the fringes of the jam band scene, local rock quartet Grover, blend funk, soul, and jazz, in a down and dirty rock band that comes across unpolished and “garage” as much as they do highly-skilled, almost veteran.

Common Center is a group of individuals from Covington, Kentucky that gather to form a collection of sonic exploration. Their all-original material arises from a vast array of influences morphing together to create a unique sound previously unheard, but longed for, by the ear. They combine powerfully upbeat as well as tranquil themes with mystic, other-world intertwining melodic elements from instrumental and vocal harmonies.

Enjoy a beautiful evening with some of the region’s funkiest talent!

Performance Schedule: 
Common Center – 9:30pm
Grover 11:30pm

Grover performs free at the Trolley Stop (Photo by Dayton Music Connection)

Grover performs free at the Trolley Stop (Photo by Dayton Music Connection)

Subterranean’s Regional Revue is best bet for weekend entertainment!

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Springtime is coming and Subterranean is preparing an incredible night of pure shenanigans to rupture your mind & thaw out your soul. Subterranean’s Regional Revue is going to be one of epic proportions. This indoor festival features a unique lineup of hidden gems of amazing talent tucked throughout the region!
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You won’t find another event that provides a cast of characters as distinct and special as this one. SubT’s Regional Revue showcases explosive & funky Cincinnati natives, The Almighty Get Down, the young & vibrant Electric Orange Peel out of Columbus, and Michigan-based movers and shakers, That Freak Quincy, Cincinnati’s jammy Peridoni, and new local Dayton Band The Willy Clark Band. If that wasn’t enough to entice you, the Heavyweight Champ of the saxophone, Ron Holloway, will be featured as the artist at large to accelerate and amplify the musicianship, fun, and excitement.Live Painters, food from Brick Haus BBQ, and various Dry Good vendors round out this incredible night so make sure you are there!


When? Saturday April 16th. Doors 4pm. Show 5pm – 2am
Where? Oddbody’s Music Room
$10 pre-sales $15 DOS. Get tickets: http://ticketf.ly/1QC7nr0

Schedule: Doors 4PM
5:00PM-6:00PM The Willy Clark Band
6:15PM-7:15PM That Freak Quincy
7:30PM-8:30PM Electric Orange Peel
8:30PM-9:00PM INTERMISSION (Cake and more!)
9:00PM-10:15 PM Peridoni
10:30-12:15AM Subterranean w/ Ron Holloway
12:30AM-2AM The Almighty Get Down 

They’ll Keep the Light on for You

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Into the Ether, the current exhibition featuring contemporary light artists at the Dayton Art Institute, Villareal - Starinvites you to interact with the art. While there are some actual hands-on opportunities, around every corner you’ll engage in a very personal experience. Whether it’s dual holograms that offer a different experience for each viewer based on their own height and distance from the piece or a work where the colors are plugged into a randomizer to guarantee a unique show for each viewer – this exhibit is always changing and created especially for you.

When we visited, a few favorites of our group included:

  • An LED star to welcome you; it’s immediately clear this exhibition is active and alive.
  • An opportunity to put yourself in the middle of the art – and even change the colors of the light reflecting all around you. Texture, light and shape all blend together.image1
  • A large screen with pixels that fall like snow, until you notice that those pixels are clumping into shapes. Eventually, an eery image starts to appear – and it’s the people in the room! (pictured, we went meta by performing our own version of The Scream).

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Surprise bonus: a lot of the more handy (and hands-on) visitors during our tour were able to get up close and explore just how the art and technology blends together. With this innovative blend, it’s the perfect trip for STEM (or – STEAM!) students who want to think about art/technology differently. Or – a perfect night out for the couple with one left-brained partner and one right-brained partner; this offers a little something for everyone. Plus – you get to play with light-up blocks at the end of the tour (and even buy a set in the gift shop if you’re inspired).

Into the Ether continues through June 26.

Want to learn more? Check out these special programs that will help you dive deeper “into the ether”:

  • Thursday, April 14, 5:30 p.m.: Bob Ross Auto Group Jazz & Beyond Series presents the Stivers Jazz Orchestra.The 2016 Bob Ross Auto Group Jazz & Beyond series begins April 14 with the talented young musicians of the Stivers Jazz Orchestra. Click here for more information and tickets.Light Stax
  • Thursday, April 28, 6:30 p.m.: Artist talk with Erwin Redl. Noted contemporary artist Erwin Redl, featured in the special exhibition Into the Ether: Contemporary Light Artists, will be at the museum to speak about his work. Click here for ticket information.
  • Sunday, May 8, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Mother’s Day Brunch. Celebrate the Art of Brunch at The Dayton Art Institute in the museum’s Shaw Gothic Cloister. Enjoy a brunch buffet provided by Leo Bistro. For more information and to make reservations, click here.

 

The Boxcar Suite Celebrates New Life on the Limb EP

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12779290_788187994614930_900709669285513899_oOne of the city’s most beloved local rock bands, The Boxcar Suite are celebrating the release of their newest EP, Life on the Limb, by throwing a huge April Fool’s Day Party with their friends the Nick Frye Band. Join in on the revelry Friday April 1st at The Trolley Stop. Show starts at 9pm.

If you’re not familiar with The Boxcar Suite – it’s long overdue that you get familiar with them! They are likened to Tom Petty, Neil Young, but definitely that Dayton rock’n’roll edge. To get a taste of their newest music, check out their Room Full of Cowards video below.

You can also check out and even snag your own digital copy of the EP on the band’s music site here. And certainly if you get a chance, the best way to experience this band is live!

How to Go: Friday April 1st. Trolley Stop. 9pm. $5 cover.

 

Take a fresh look at ‘Bridges of Madison County’

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The simplistic set design keeps the attention on the actors.

The simplistic set adaptation keeps the attention on the actors.

Megan Cooper

Megan Cooper

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

Val Beerbower

Val Beerbower

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Downtown Businesses Here To Rescue You From Lame Valentine’s Day

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Skate with your sweetie and pick up a Parker plush. Photo courtesy Five Rivers MetroParks

Whether you truly “heart” Valentine’s Day, shun the celebration, or are simply ambivalent to arrow-slinging amoretti, if you’re looking for heartfelt gifts, awesome dinner specials, or great local music, downtown Dayton has you covered. Choose your own adventure in today’s post to create the best weekend experience plopped in the middle of a frigid February.

Date Night

Find out why Amazon.com rated Dayton in its top 20 list of most romantic U.S. cities. If you need gifts and activities for you and your sweetie, here are a few suggestions to squeeze every last drop of romance out of your city:

  • Sweetheart Skate, Feb 13-14, MetroParks Ice Rink: Spend Valentine’s weekend at RiverScape MetroParks Ice Rink! During regular ice rink hours Friday through Sunday, you can purchase the “Sweetheart Deal” and get two rink admissions, two ice skate rentals, two cups of hot chocolate and a Parker the Penguin plush for only $20.
  • February Fantasy, Feb 13-14, Victoria Theatre: The Dayton Ballet presents a powerful ballet program with four diverse works, including two world-premiere ballets. A pre-performance talk will take place 45 minutes prior to each performance. Visit com for details. Don’t forget to bring your receipt from your recent purchase at a downtown Dayton business for discount tickets to this performance!
  • Valentine’s Day Gift-Making, Feb 13-14, Proto BuildBar: Nothing says “love” like 3D printing your own customized Proto Heart and filling it with gifts. Proto also offers pre-stuffed hearts, full of sweets and a piece of locally made, handcrafted jewelry by Brooke Medlin!
  • Super Saturday Family Days, Feb 13, Dayton Art Institute: Maybe your special someone is a little on the short side. Take the kids to create your own beautiful valentines using classic and vintage valentines as your inspiration. Enjoy a gallery hunt featuring some of the most romantic paintings at The Dayton Art Institute.
  • Salsa Saturday Valentine’s Celebration, Feb 13, Therapy Café: DJ Danny D plays a mixture of Latin dance music consisting of salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, dembow, line dance, reggaeton, soca, punta, and vallenato, music that will definitely heat up the dance floor. Learn the basics of this sexy, sultry dance with a free lesson at 9:45pm.
  • Annual Valentine’s Show with Touch, Feb 13, Gilly’s Jazz: Dayton-based Touch, a five-member, “old school” rhythm-and-blues band, covers baby-makin’ hits by the Temptations, the Stylistics, the Delfonics, and more at Gilly’s during the annual Valentine Party Saturday night.
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A night of hilarious improv beats a box of those chalky candy hearts any day!

Who Needs Cupid?

Does that chubby cherub even have a license for his amorous arrows? If you’d rather avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous corporate holidays, here are a few ways you can still have a great time without a heart-shaped box.

 

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A romantic dinner is a great way to begin your Valentine’s experience. (Actual view at downtown Dayton restaurants may vary.)

Eat Your Heart Out

Coupled or not, everyone’s gotta eat! Here are a few drool-worthy dining specials this weekend:

 

Ashes to Go – Taking Ash Wednesday to the Streets

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For many, finding time during the week to attend church can be quite a challenge. But what if church came to you? On Ash Wednesday, February 10, Ginghamsburg Church will be offering “Ashes to Go,” a new approach to a centuries-old Christian tradition, at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton from 11am-1:30pm.

Ginghamsburg Church is part of a nationwide movement that has clergy and lay people visiting transit stops, street corners, coffee shops and college campuses to mark the foreheads of interested passers-by with ashes and invite them to repent of past wrongdoing and seek forgiveness and renewal.

In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a cross of ashes from palm leaves on the face at the beginning of the Lenten season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive God’s forgiveness. Ashes are applied to the forehead, often with the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” “Ashes to Go” provides the opportunity to participate in that tradition for people who have lost their connection to a church, or have never participated before.

Ingrid McIntyre receives ashes from street chaplain, Lindsey Krinks. About 30 people gathered as a community to share in the Ash Wednesday liturgy and to raise awareness of those suffering from homelessness and poverty. McIntyre is a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tenn. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

Ingrid McIntyre receives ashes from street chaplain, Lindsey Krinks. About 30 people gathered as a community to share in the Ash Wednesday liturgy and to raise awareness of those suffering from homelessness and poverty. McIntyre is a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tenn. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS

“Ashes to Go” is about bringing spirit, belief and belonging out from behind church doors, and into the places where we go every day. “It’s a simple event with deep meaning, drawing on centuries of tradition and worship to provide a contemporary moment of grace,” says Pastor Rosario Picardo, Executive Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church.

“As people get busier and busier, we need the church in new and non-traditional ways. We especially need reminders of forgiveness in the tough places of our working lives. The people who accept ashes on the street are often people longing to make a connection between their faith and the forces of daily life, and “Ashes to Go” helps them feel that connection,” Picardo continues.

In addition to offering ashes and prayers, the church is offering free food from PA’s Pork, which will be on location at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton from 11am-1:30pm.  They will have pork as well as a vegetarian option and a gluten-free option while supplies last.

Contact Pastor Rosario Picardo, Executive Pastor of New Church Development and Senior Pastor at The Point Campus of Ginghamsburg Church, [email protected] or 937-667-1069 for more information about “Ashes to Go” in downtown Dayton, Ash Wednesday, February 10 from 11am-1:30pm.

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For more information about Ginghamsburg Church, visit their website—ginghamsburg.org.

Ginghamsburg Church is committed to changing the world, serving over 60,000 people annually in Miami and Montgomery Counties through its outreach services. Since 2005, the congregation has invested $7 million into sustainable humanitarian projects in the Sudan and South Sudan. A member of the West Ohio Conference of United Methodist Churches, the church has campuses located at Tipp City – 6759 S County Rd 25A, Tipp City, OH 45371; Fort McKinley – 3721 W. Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406 and The Point, 506 E. Main Street, Trotwood, OH 45426.

 

 

The Ballet invites you to Show the Love!

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I love a good deal. I love downtown. I love our Dayton arts. ShowTheLove

So, I was pretty excited when I saw that the Dayton Ballet is inviting you to SHOW THE LOVE for the February Fantasy performances.

How’s it work? You shop at any downtown business from now until February 14 and bring the receipt to the Ticket Center Stage box office (at the Schuster Center, unless you’re going immediately before the performance). You can get the best possible tickets available (up to a $72 value!) for only $14. Buy your tickets now to get the best seats or go right before the show and get the best that’s still available. The show runs Thursday, February 11 – Sunday, February 14. Any show, any available ticket – only $14 when you show that downtown receipt.

What’s February Fantasy? More information on the show is online at the DPAA web site. With four separate pieces being performed in one night, there’s great diversity and it’ll be a fun introduction to ballet. PLUS, if you’re interested in learning a little something, too – you can attend the pre-show talk that starts 45 minutes before each show.

So – here’s my recommendation for you (no matter who you are):

Do you do the romantic Valentine’s Day celebration? Buy your sweetie something sweet from one of the awesome local downtown shops and then go get tickets. You get extra points for trying something new and being a hip, in-the-know local.

Do you stay away from the saccharine of the pseudo-holiday? Buy yourself something cool (or, y’know, be a pragmatist and just buy lunch) and treat yo self to a great show or plan a friends’ night out (two tix per receipt, so bring more receipts if you have a bigger group).

Do you procrastinate and stay away from making plans in advance? This still works out for you whether you’re planning a date or just looking for something new to do with your group of friends. Head downtown the night of the show, get dinner (or drinks at a local brewery/pub) and wander over the the Victoria right before curtain. Show that receipt and you can STILL get the $14 tickets (best available seat).

This is such a great idea, I reached out to Dave Bukvic from the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance to find out how it came about. He shared, “We’ve got a definite history working together with the Downtown Dayton Partnership. Much of our strategy is in alignment with the vision for growing downtown and showcasing the convenience and quality of all there is to offer. This was a great opportunity to encourage our arts patrons to explore a new restaurant or shop and invite those who are regular visitors to the downtown cafes, stores and pubs to enjoy a performance at the ballet.”