NYC singer-songwriter ‘Emmy Jo’ is teaming up with Dayton’s ‘The Bruins’ for a soulful night of music at Joui Wine. Emmy has amassed millions of streams with her 2021 single, “Yellow Year” and has continually put music out since. The Bruins are a 2024 Dayton Battle of the Bands finalist and have had a busy first year as a band.
Drink Local
Celtic/Americana band DULAHAN FREE CONCERT at the Wandering Griffin
Saturday nights are for shamrocking the house down at the Wandering Griffin! Come hang out with us on November 16th from 7 – 10 PM for a free live music performance, brought to you by local Daytonian Celtic/Americana legends (say that 5 times fast) Dulahan. 🇮🇪
Located in Beavercreek, OH across the street from Wright State University and a stone’s throw from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Wandering Griffin is your place for free live music, fresh-brewed quality beer, and delicious American comfort food/hickory-smoked BBQ.
Dive Bar Thursday – Double Deuce
Welcome to the Double Deuce!
There are times, when searching for a dive bar to visit, that doing the research makes you think twice about heading there. Then you tell people where you are planning to go, and they give you questioning looks and wish you luck. Not so much for the bar, but for the neighborhood you are entering. Fortunately, the group of people assembled for the task are intrepid adventurers and really relaxed people. Driving to the Double Deuce on a Friday night, we really had no idea what to expect. What we found shocked us all! That is a good hook, right?
The Double Deuce Bar and Pizza Place is an amazing discovery on this tour. They are Tackle-level supporters of the Dayton Area Rugby Club, one of the first things you notice when you get to the bar. The bar is not brightly lit, but you can tell it is different. It is clean. And not in a “clean for a dive bar” way. It is clearly, and proudly, well kept by the staff. Even the food prep area, 
which is in clear view of the entire bar, is organized and ready for a busy night. They have multiple dart boards and pool tables, with the option for playing some corn hole if the weather permits. Or if you feel the need, you can arm wrestle at their arm wrestling table. Maybe that is how you figure out who gets to choose what is being played on the juke box. That jukebox has a wide range; when we walked in it was country, and when we left it was old school hip hop. There is a little something for everyone here, even if you bring the family. The party does not really start until 9 PM on most nights, giving you plenty of time to stop in for a bite to eat with the kids.
One does not come to the Double Deuce looking for bar food. They have a menu that is growing all the time. Right now you can get a good sized pizza, subs, and their brand new wings. The next evolution to the food menu is going to be a full kitchen. They are planning
on expanding the building over the course of the year, and that kitchen is going to be part of it. The pizza we had was delightful. Whatever spices they are adding to it, they should keep it up. There were plenty of toppings, from the more traditional pepperoni and sausage to black olives and jalapeno peppers. After a few beers, that pizza was just what we needed.
Craft beer bars are popping up in Dayton at a steady rate. If the thought of drinking a macro beer makes you flinch, you may want to stay away from the Deuce. There was not a craft beer to be seen. The craftiest thing they had was Guinness. The same can be said about the liquor selection. It is a solid selection; they are going to have the spirit you are seeking. They just may not have the small batch version you are expecting. The ladies behind the stick know how to make a drink. Each one of them has their specialty, and they are good at their craft. Head in different nights of the week to see which one is right for you.
Was the arm wrestling table a little different to hear? The surprises did not stop there. They have a party bus! It is a renovated school bus with bench seats that you can rent for special occasions. We mentioned renovations before. It
sounds like this year is going to be a big one at the Double Deuce. They are going to be making improvements to almost every area of the building, from adding more space for seating to expanding their already impressive patio. This new space will give them new opportunities for events, which they host on a regular basis. One of their events, a motorcycle ride they host every year, collects toys and cash for children in need. Last year, they donated thousands of dollars’ worth of toys to children in need. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Other changes are surely in the works, but we are all going to have to wait and see what they will be!
The trepidation about heading to the Double Deuce was completely unfounded. The staff we spoke with were amazingly friendly, as were some of the patrons. It was a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. We could see why people would recommend trekking a little off the beaten path to visit them. Nestled in a developing Dayton neighborhood, this is a place worth checking out before the rest of the city beats a path to its door.
The Double Deuce is located at 17 Brandt Pike, Dayton, OH, 45404. It is open 10:30 AM to 2:30 AM Monday through Friday, and 11 AM to 2:30 AM Saturday and Sunday. They can be contacted at (937) 220-9624, or through their Facebook page.
Dive Bar Tuesday – Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge
That is the whole cozy space, ladies and gents.
In 1865, a mathematician named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (His pen name was Lewis Carroll.) wrote a book about a little girl who has an amazing adventure in a faraway land. Alice’s adventures begin when she spies a white rabbit run by as she is drowsily listening to her sister. The rabbit is in a petticoat and muttering about how late he is as he stares at his watch. She follows him into his rabbit hole, and that is where her adventures in Wonderland begin. Ever since that book, the white rabbit has been a symbol of diving into something mysterious with a fantastic payoff. Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge was that for our band of merrymakers. This is the first dive bar we patronized that we were not overly familiar with. We had been told of it by Big Ragu and The Crew, but we did not know much. Now we do, and we did have a fantastic adventure.
You are not going to stumble randomly on Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge (889 South Main Street Centerville, OH 45458, 937-435-3150); someone is going to have to lead you there. It is located in a strip mall pushed away from the street. When we went in, there was a handful of people at the bar. The first thing we noticed is that the place was small. Performers would call the venue “intimate”, and they would not be wrong. The size of the space contributes to people being able to see and experience everything happening. There are some nooks and crannies, but they don’t offer much in ways of privacy. It was well lit, and the music that was playing was at the right level. You could have a conversation and still enjoy the jukebox. Televisions cover just enough of the walls to be seen from any point in the room. The ceiling tiles are decorated with advertisements and other patron artwork. There are still some spaces available for only $25 each.
Drink all the drinks!
The drinks here are well-priced. And by well-priced I mean inexpensive. That is not even taking into account the daily specials they offer, from shots based on the vodka flavor of the month to seasonal beer specials. There is also a Queen of Hearts game that happens on Thursday nights, where lucky gamers can win a nice sized jackpot. They have house-created cocktail specials, an excellent selection of domestic beers (some part of their daily specials), and something I have not yet found at other bars we have explored. They have a special cabinet filled with tequilas and other special liquors. A rotating list of unique bottles is one more unique things the White Rabbit offers. They even have events that feature these gems, like the tequila they event they are planning for June 3. The cocktails were tried were both tasty in their way; one was a refreshingly summery sour cocktail, and the other was a seasonal recipe. We asked Tori, our bartender that night, what we should try and she pointed us to the Merry Cherry. It was a Jägermeister cocktail where the spices of the liqueur came through just enough to give some zest to the cherry and raspberry in the drink.
If you are looking for a place to eat, there are many options nearby that will have a reliable menu. Like any real house of mystery, the food is a grab bag depending on the day and if there is an event. There are always some snacks in one of the nooks. Typical bar food that the regulars help to keep stocked, like pretzels, chips, and cheese balls. For special events, like Derby parties or events with customers (the bar, usually closed Sundays, can handle special events), you will find a more robust fare. Burgers, brats, pulled pork, and other staples of great get-togethers will be available.
The snack nook, complete with deer head wearing shades.
Above anything else, the thing we were most impressed with was how friendly everyone was. The bartenders treated us as if we had been loyal bar patrons for months, being very friendly to us and answering every question we had. We had multiple conversations with other bar patrons, from what we did as a business to the current state of Reds baseball. There was even a round of drinks purchased for the whole bar, which at the time was pretty damn full. It was not a bumping Friday night, but there were people there. It was a neighborhood bar in the best sense. A place where it felt like you could go at any time and either meet friends you already knew or make some brand new ones over some music and a round of darts.
We left at the end of our time there glad that we found another lovely place to go for a drink in Dayton. Adrienne’s White Rabbit, which has been around in a variety of forms for almost forty years, is what most people are looking for when they are seeking a casual watering hole. There may not be any rabbits, hatters, living playing cards, or red queens, but you will have to enjoy a friendly experience when you go.
Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge is located at 889 South Main Street, Centerville, OH 45458. They are open Monday through Saturday from 1 PM to 2:30 AM, closed on Sundays. You can find them on the web at adrienneswhiterabbit.com, or visit their Facebook page for information on upcoming events. Their phone number is 937-435-3150.
