Events

Smash, Snap and Splash are the Sounds of This Fall’s Urban Nights

September 14, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Art galleries, retailers and other businesses will host special exhibits and other events during Urban Nights.

NOTE: Giant tents will cover downtown streets; more than 100 indoor venues participating in downtown Dayton’s Urban Nights, which takes place today (Sept. 20) rain or shine from 5 to 10 p.m. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and any last-minute cancellations due to inclement weather.

Tents will cover the three Urban Nights Hotspots (listed below) and activity will take place as planned.

• International Street, Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets: Second Street will be closed to make way for dance performances from a variety of troupes, beer truck featuring import brews and a variety of food vendors.

• Arts Corner, St. Clair and Fourth streets: Fourth Street will be closed to make way for Paint Boxing, presented by CADC Art Gallery and Drake’s Downtown Gym — Home of Jab City Boxing. At 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., see boxing demonstrations in a ring in the middle of the street. Then, watch boxers dip their gloves in brightly colored paint and jab and punch a huge canvas to create a piece of art. In addition, enjoy a range of entertainment hosted by nearby businesses, including live entertainment, art exhibits and special sales.

• Live on Five, corner of Fifth and Pine streets in the Oregon District: Check out live music by some of Dayton’s best bands and a fashion show from Sew Dayton and Brim while enjoying a brew from the beer truck.

A map of participating venues and a complete list of their events and specials is available online at www.downtowndayton.org, at info tents located throughout the event area and at participating venues.

*****

Downtown is going to be a lively and noisy (in a good way!) place with all the events going on during Urban Nights from 5-10 p.m. on Friday, Sept 20. More than 100 businesses are participating to make this the best Urban Nights yet. With three hotspots scattered throughout downtown, the streets of our center city are going to be one big party.

Visitors who come to the Arts Corner hotspot on Fourth and St. Clair streets will see boxers fighting in the middle of the street — with a canvas, that is. CADC Art Gallery and Drake’s Downtown Gym—Home of Jab City Boxing are partnering to put on an unusual performing arts event called Paint Boxing. Boxers will dip their gloves into brightly colored paint then “smash” it into a large canvas to create a one-of-a-kind artwork. Onlookers also will be invited to learn basic boxing techniques at Drake’s Gym or paint box a T-Shirt at CADC.

The cameras of many photographers went “snap” to capture fantastic photos of Dayton for the annual Downtown in Focus photo contest. The winners have been chosen, and all photos entries will be on display in the lobby of the Kettering Tower, including the best-in-show winners and the Dayton mayor’s pick for “Dayton Original.” Find out if your top picks match what the judges decided.

Some “splashes” will be heard at the Mini-Midwest Outdoors Experience in Courthouse Square. This event, presented by Five Rivers MetroParks , gives a taste of outdoors experiences offered in Dayton. Visitors can try stand-up paddleboating in the Square’s fountain and slacklining and a mountain bike course in the Square. Over the Edge, sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley, also will be taking place in the Square. Brave adventurers will be rappelling over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower to raise money for the organization. Courthouse Square activities will run until 8 p.m.

Three hotspots will be located throughout downtown. Art vendors, live music, henna art and a special performance of select excerpts from Spamalot by Sinclair’s music and theater departments can be found at Arts Corner. International Street will feature cuisine and dance performances from around the world. Live on Five in the Oregon District will be the live music hub for the night, and downtown stores Brim and Sew Dayton will present a fashion show in between musical acts to celebrate their mutual one-year anniversaries. (A complete schedule for the hotspots is below.)

Check out some of Dayton’s best bands and a fashion show by Brim and Sew Dayton at the hotspot Live on Five in the Oregon District.

More than 30,000 people come downtown to experience Urban Nights, a free event when more than 100 establishments showcase downtown’s numerous offerings. The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event busses to help visitors get around.

A map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, is available online. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook for regular updates and more information.

SEPT. 20 URBAN NIGHTS HOTSPOTS

International Street

Sponsored by Miller-Valentine Group: Celebrating 50 Years

Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets

Enjoy dance performances while you grab an import brew to go along with chow from one of many food vendors.

Dancing in the Street Stage Schedule

5-5:25 p.m.: The Circle Nerdz

5:30-5:55 p.m.: The Beseda Dancers

6-6:25 p.m.: South Dayton Dance Theatre

6:30-6:55 p.m.: Troupe Roja

7-7:25 p.m.: McGovern Ceili Dancers

7:30-7:55 p.m.: Vivian Zumba

8-10 p.m.: Son del Caribe

Arts Corner

Sponsored by Sinclair Community College and DP&L

St. Clair and Fourth streets

Paint Boxing:

Fourth Street will be closed between St. Clair Street and Patterson Boulevard for this special activity, hosted by CADC Art Gallery and Drake’s Downtown Gym—Home of Jab City Boxing and funded by the DDP’s Urban Nights Grant. At 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., boxing demonstrations will be performed in the street.

Arts Corner Entertainment

Enjoy a range of entertainment hosted by nearby businesses, including live music, art exhibits, henna art and special sales.

Live on Five

Sponsored by Miami-Jacobs Career College, with media sponsor WYSO 91.3-FM

Corner of Fifth and Pine streets in the Oregon District

Grab a draft brew from the beer truck and rock out to a variety of live bands.

Entertainment Schedule:

5-5:40 p.m.: Yvette “Diva” Williams, featuring Premium Blend

5:40 p.m.: Molotov: Stupid Human Tricks

6- 6:40 p.m.: Seefari

6:40 p.m.: Molotov: Stupid Human Tricks

7-7:40 p.m.: The Eric Jerardi Band

7:40-8 p.m.: Fashion show from Brim and Sew Dayton celebrating both stores’ one-year anniversaries

8-10 p.m.: Meghna & the Majority

Special Events Indoors and Out Part of Sept. 6 First Friday in Downtown Dayton

August 31, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

CACD is one of many locations that will display artwork during First Friday.

Warm up for Urban Nights by attending downtown Dayton’s next First Friday, held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. Art exhibits, live music, dinner and drink specials, retail sales, and special events will be featured at a variety of downtown venues.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website. Highlights include:

Internationally known artist Robert Walker will display work at Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.).

The Dayton Visual Arts Center (118 N. Jefferson St.) will be exhbiting Music for Teacups: Colagiovanni and Haviland, a selection of video, artist books and original prints by two artists from Athens, Ohio. The gallery will be open until 8 p.m.

Several restaurants, including Lily’s Bistro pictured here, will offer dining specials and a food truck rally also will be held during First Friday.

Garden Station (509 E. Fourth St.) will be offering an introduction to herbal remedies class at 6 p.m., a compassionate communication workshop at 7 p.m. and live music by Meghna & the Majority at 8 p.m. The Urban Farmer’s Market begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Great Dayton Flood Walk will start at 7 p.m. View vintage photos of the flood, visit buildings that made it through the flood, see high-water marks from 1913 and more. $10 per person. Call 937-274-4749 or email [email protected] for required reservations and meeting location.

Synergy Incubators hosts a food truck rally at 200 S. Jefferson St., featuring many popular local food trucks, music, children’s activities, Hope Foundation Motorcycle Raffle, Inside Out 11M Photobooth and a local artisan marketplace.

The Yellow Cab (700 E. Fourth St.) will feature exhibit “The Art of Music,” with artwork created by musicians and inspired by music. University of Dayton professor Al Carrillo will read his poetry, and an open mic will be available for anyone who wants to perform.

Steel drummer Joseph Glenn, pictured here with saxophonist Tyrone Martin, will again perform on the street during First Friday.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association and Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show that airs on Fridays from 8 p.m. to midnight on 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.

Taste of the Oregon Festival Takes Over Fifth Street This Sunday

August 23, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Sample the many things that make the Oregon District one of Dayton’s longest-standing hotspots this Sunday, Aug. 25, during the first Taste of Oregon festival. The event — which features food and drinks, live music, shopping, arts, vintage cars, and a home and garden tour — celebrates the area’s 40th year as a Historic District.

Fifth Street will be closed in the District for the festival, which runs from noon to 7 p.m. Admission to the event is free, and food and drink tickets are $1 each, with food items priced between $3 and $6. The event will highlight the several new District establishments that have opened recently, along with long-time District favorites.

The Menus, a popular band based in Cincinnati, will headline the festival with a set that begins at 4 p.m. Funky G and the Groove Machine will perform from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Yuengling and craft beers, along with nonalcoholic beverages, will be available on the street, in addition to those served in the eateries and taverns.

The Oregon Historic District Society will present a home and garden tour from 1 to 4 p.m., starting at 22 Brown St. (Inn Port D’Vino/Deaf Monty’s Wine). Tickets are $5.

SAMPLING OF THE TASTE OF OREGON MENUS:

Blind Bob’s
Vegetarian Basket
Chicken Wing Basket

Jay’s Seafood
Jay’s Chocolate Mousse
Lobster Mac and Cheese

Lily’s Bistro
BBQ, Cheddar and Bacon Deviled Eggs
Watermelon Gazpacho
Homemade Lemonade: Watermelon Mint, Cucumber Basil and Classic Flavors

Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery
Vegan and Beef Sloppy Joes & Sliders with a Side of Slaw

Oregon Express
Gourmet Pizza Slices

Salar Restaurant and Lounge
Marinated Chicken Skewer with Spanish Rice
Fish and Chips
2 Carnitas Tacos (Pork, Rice, Cheese and Lettuce)

Smokin BBQ
BBQ Pork and Chicken

Thai 9
Chicken Spring Rolls
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Shrimp Salad
Coco Shrimp
Thai Tea
Thai Coffee

Trolley Stop
Red Beans and Rice
Organic Keener’s Farm Sliders
Ginger Lemonade

Tumbleweed
Grilled Meatloaf Sandwiches
NY Strip Kabobs

Welcome to Dayton Beer Week 2013!

August 15, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

It is here! Who says there is nothing to celebrate in August?

Beer has flooded the country. In 2010, there were fewer than 1,800 breweries in the United States. And there were zero in Dayton. Fast forward to 2013, where there are over 2,500 breweries in the United States. Dayton is seeing its own brewing growth spurt, with the Dayton Beer Company, Fifth Street Brewpub, Toxic Brewing Company, Lock 27 Brewing, Yellow Springs Brewing, Eudora, Star City Brewing, and many others that I am sure are in the works. Beer tastings have also expanded all over the city. Brewtensils has been offering not only supplies, but classes in brewing everything from a traditional lager or pilsner to experiments on the far ranges of the flavor scale. This is the environment the 4^th Annual Dayton Beer Week will be awakening to this weekend, inviting all of Dayton to step out and discover some of the beery goodness themselves.

There are going to be some big events celebrating beer this weekend as the party kicks off at Kitty Hawk Golf Course with the 3^rd Annual Pints, Putters, & Pink Balls-2 Club Golf Scramble benefiting the Breast Cancer Foundation. Registration starts at 12:30 PM for a 1 PM start. Get out your beer gear on Sunday and join all the floats and fun for the 4^th Annual Beer Pride Parade in the Oregon district, starting at 4:30 PM at Dublin Pub (of course). The good folks at 5^th Street Wine and Deli will be having a pre-parade tasting starting at 1 PM, so you can get an incredible seat for the festivities. For those of you who are a little more health conscious, Widmer Brothers is sponsoring Biking for the Beer of It Tuesday night. It begins in West Carrollton and ends after a 10 mile ride at A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg. They are very considerate, making sure you are well hydrated with a selection of beers at the midway point. The last major event of the week will be AleFest at Carillon Park (who is also setting up a historic brewery). You can try out all of the Dayton breweries, explore the growing gluten-free beer offerings, and just generally enjoy over 375 beers from over 150 breweries. That is, of course, if you are not beered out by that point.

Beer weeks ends with a bang, celebrating over 350 craft beers!

It is not just the big events that make this week special. Restaurants all over the Miami Valley are going to be celebrating in some form or another.

Monday:

Rouge will take over the draughts beginning at 5 PM at Jimmy’s Ladder 11. They will be featuring the Double Chocolate Stout, Hazelnut Brown, and Imperial IPA. After you’ve had your beer, you can keep the glass!
From 6 to 9 PM, you can help South Park Tavern fight off the Dogfish Head invasion they are anticipating. Grab a pint and pitch in!

Tuesday:

Cincinnati favorite Mt. Carmel Brewing Company will be taking over some taps at Blind Bob’s with their Summer Wheat, Harvest Dry Hopped ESB, and others. The festivities there start at 4 PM, and you get a souvenir glass to take home with you!
What goes better with beer than pizza? Spinoza’s will be having a Full Pint Brewing Company beer dinner from 7 to 9 PM.

Wednesday:

Ohio beers are going to be taking over two bars at the midway point! Chappy’s Tap Room and Grille will be featuring a Great Lakes Brewing Company infused firkin from 5 to 7:30 PM. Blind Bob’s will be the downtown center of the Ohio beer takeover, featuring native beers from 5 to 9 PM.
An incredible beer dinner will be going on at Twisted Root, featuring Merchant du Vin beers like Samuel Smith and Orval Trappist Ale. Five beers and five courses for $50, all of it starting at 7 PM.
If you are continuing your pint glass collection, Southern Tier Brewing will take over the taps at Taggart’s Pub. They will be featuring their 2XIPA and Choklat beers.

Thursday:

Start your palates! Lucky’s Tap Room will be having a Firkin Drag Race to the Finish! The casks will be tapped at 6 PM, and go until they are empty.
Enjoy some Ballast Point beer at the Milano’s Atlantic City Subs in Beavercreek, and take home another pint glass! The festivities will go from 6 to 8 PM.
Columbus favorite Elevator Brewing will have the run of taps at Archer’s Tavern beginning at 5:30 PM.
C’est Tout Bistro is planning a beer dinner featuring Unibroue beers from Canada.

Friday:

The Trolley Stop will be rolling out the red carpet on the second last night of Dayton Beer Week. They will be featuring rare beers like Bell’s Black Note, and good music that night from 7 PM to midnight.
Raise your glasses! From 6 to 7 PM, King’s Table will be featuring a stein hoisting competition featuring Sam Adam’s beers.
Are you still shy about craft beer? The Arrow Wine on Lyons Road will be having an Oskar Blues beer tasting from 5 to 7 PM. If you purchase a four or six pack of these very good brews, you will also walk out with a special gift.

This is not even remotely close to the full list of events for the week. Many restaurants and bars will be having specials on a wide range of beers. Look over the full menu of events and plan your week accordingly.

This is a nice start to the week…

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

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

And while you are going to Beer Week events:

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

It has been a busy few years for the craft beer scene, and this is the year it looks like it is going to explode in Dayton. This is the time to go out and taste new beers, find new favorites, and meet new friends. There are so many events going on during the week we would love to know which ones you are most looking forward to. Leave a note in the comments, and we will see you around town. Cheers!

Experience the Best of Downtown During the Aug. 2 First Friday

July 26, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Roaming performers, saxophonist Tyrone Martin and steel drum player Joseph Glenn, entertain the crowd during the July First Friday.

Art. Music. Shopping. Food. Fun. First Friday in downtown Dayton is about all of these things.

This free event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, throughout downtown. The August First Friday is always one of the year’s largest, and this year promises to be the same with the range of activities taking place. Roaming performers — the McGovern Ceili Dancers, acoustic duo Pourover and juggler Tony Steinbach — will provide entertainment throughout downtown.

If you plan to enter the Downtown in Focus photo contest, be sure to bring your camera along. From 8 to 11 p.m., most of downtown’s buildings will be lit for photographers who would like to capture city nightscapes to enter in the competition.

Just a few events taking place during the Aug. 2 First Friday are listed below:

Are you ready to rock? Canal Street Tavern (308 E. First St.) is presenting a tribute show by American Pink Floyd. The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $12. Call 937-461-9343.

In honor of the second anniversary of Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.), the store will throw a party to celebrate with all its customers. Entertainment will be provided by DJs Mike Wishnewski and Matt Freeman and henna artist Lily Whitehead. Boston Bistro will cater, and a $2 sidewalk sale will be held. Work by artist Robert Walker also will be featured. Call 937-241-9434.

The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet for two rides this month at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, (220 N. Patterson Blvd.). The first will ride leaves at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. Rides are free of charge and all skill levels are welcome. This month’s route will go past the downtown dog park, hit spots in Old North Dayton and surrounding areas (DATV, Mike Sell’s Potato Chips, Charlie’s Deli and Whitewater Warehouse) and head down the Mad River bike path back.

Synergy Incubators will produce their fourth First Friday Food Truck Rally. Street Food is all the ragea and Dayton Food Park (2oo S. Jefferson St.) will have 14 of Dayton’s food trucks lined up from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. After you grab some grub, browse through the booths of local artisans that include jewelry, homemade soaps, pottery and other crafts.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood, the Dayton Visual Arts Center (118 N. Jefferson St.) is showcasing artwork by local artists around the theme “Water, Water Everywhere.” Visitors can talk to the featured artists from the exhbit. The gallery will be open until 8 p.m. Call 937-224-3822.

Green Baby (31 S. St. Clair St.) will exhibit work by local artist Bley Hack, offer free chair massages to visitors and host a sale on select children’s items. The store will be open until 8 p.m. Call 469-8665.

Miami-Jacobs (110 N Patterson Blvd.) will host a Summer Block Party. HOT-FM 102.9 and WROU-FM 92.1 will broadcast live from the event, and entertainment includes a photo booth, indoor cornhole tournament and outdoor games. Call 937-668-0213.

As part of the First Friday Salsa Music Series, Son del Caribe will play live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark (111 E. Monument Ave.) on the MetroPark Pavilion Stage. Experience sounds that include salsa and other styles of Latin dance music. Call 937-274-0126.

Sew Dayton (16 Brown St.) will showcase artist-of-the-month Craig Galentine, creator of the The Kokeshi Clan. A group of local children will be selling lemonade for Hanna’s Treasure Chest outside the store and the winner of the “Make It Work” contest will be announced, along with the next challenge. Call 937-234-7398.

Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub (101 Pine St.) presents Cutthroat Freakshow by Dirty Little Secrets. This off-the-beaten-track show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 for 18 and older. Call 937-224-5653.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website. Call 937-224-1518 or email [email protected] for more information.

Experience the Best of Downtown at Urban Nights

May 8, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

More than 100 downtown venues are offering special events, discounts and more for the May 10 Urban Nights.

Urban Nights is getting an updated flavor and feel. Entertainment now will focus on three “hotspots” located throughout downtown, allowing visitors to experience downtown’s biggest street party in a new way by visiting hubs of activity throughout downtown. The next Urban Nights will be held 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, May 10, in downtown Dayton, the Oregon District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. A list of the hotspots at the spring event is below.

“We celebrated the 10th anniversary of Urban Nights last year and felt it was a good time to re-evaluate the event,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, which presents Urban Nights. “It’s clear the event has been extremely successful, as it brings more than 30,000 people to our downtown, many business owners report record sales, and we continue to receive a great deal of positive feedback from the community about Urban Nights.

“Still, we wanted to make sure Urban Nights more effectively meets its overall goal: to showcase all downtown has to offer and the places that only can be experienced in downtown Dayton,” Gudorf added. “We believe this new plan will encourage people to visit more places downtown during Urban Nights while giving us the opportunity to better highlight different areas in our center city.”

A map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, is available online. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook for regular updates and more information.

More than 30,000 people come downtown to experience this free event, when more than 100 establishments showcase downtown’s dining, nightlife, art, music, retail and housing options. The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event busses to help visitors get around.

Urban Nights is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with support from Greater Dayton RTA, Bud Light Lime, Miller-Valentine Group, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Mix 107.7-FM, WYSO 91.3-FM, Wright-Dunbar Business Village and the Ohio Arts Council.

MAY 10 URBAN NIGHTS HOTSPOTS

International Street

Sponsored by Miller-Valentine Group

Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets

Enjoy dance performances from a variety of troupes and grab an import brew to go along with foods from many cultures.

Second Street will be closed by the Kettering Tower to make way for dance performances and more.

Dancing in the Street Stage Schedule

5-5:25 p.m.:        Troupe Roja
5:30-5:55 p.m.: McGovern Ceili Dancers
6-6:25 p.m.:        South Dayton Dance Theatre
6:30-6:55 p.m.: Grupo Caribe
7-7:25 p.m.:        The Beseda Dancers
7:30-7:55 p.m.: Vivian Zumba
8-10 p.m.:            Son del Caribe

The corner of Fourth and St. Clair streets will be a hub of arts-inspired activity.

Arts Corner

Sponsored by Sinclair Community College

St. Clair and Fourth streets

Experience the Urban Nights motto “Walk on the Creative Side.” Enjoy a range of entertainment hosted by nearby businesses, including live entertainment, art exhibits and special sales. The Dayton Art Institute will host a photo booth where you can transform your image into an Andy Warhol-style work of art.
Arts Corner Entertainment
5-7 p.m.: Sweet Betsy

7-9 p.m.: By Means of Words at CADC

9-11 p.m.: Miss Lissa & Co. at Serendipity Bistro

Rock out to local bands at the Live on Five stage in the Oregon District.

Live on Five

Corner of Fifth and Pine streets in the Oregon District

Grab a draft brew from the beer truck and rock out to a variety of live bands.

Entertainment Schedule:

5-5:45 p.m.: The Broken Lights Band

6- 6:45 p.m.: Meghna & the Majority

7-7:45 p.m.: Cherry Lee and the Daddy Katz

8-10 p.m.: Magic Jackson

MAY 10 URBAN NIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

Tours and Exhibits Commemorating the Great Dayton Flood of 1913

Great Dayton Flood of 1913 Bus Tours

Presented by Dayton History, Generation Dayton and Greater Dayton RTA

Get around Urban Nights while learning about our city’s largest natural disaster. Narrators on specially marked Flood Tour buses will detail factors that led to the catastrophe and recount survivors’ personal stories and those of heroic Daytonians from 100 years ago. The free 30- to 45-minute tour will follow the Urban Nights blue bus route and will stop at various locations throughout downtown Dayton. The tour officially begins at the corner of Monument Avenue and Jefferson Street, but visitors can get on and off the bus at any of the designated stops.

The Miami Conservancy District, 38 E. Monument Ave.

At its historical administrative building, the MCD will feature pocket park clean water tours and display 1913 flood inundation maps. The MCD also will host open-mic story telling about the flood along with other displays and giveaways.

The Great Dayton Adventure Race

Starts at the MetroParks Bike Hub at RiverScape MetroPark

This urban scavenger hunt will wind through the Urban Nights action. See how many clues you can answer in two hours as you navigate the city by foot for a chance to win prizes. Team up with friends or tackle the challenge solo. Racers can start anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. $20 per person. Register in advance at www.topoadventuresports.org or at RiverScape MetroPark the day of the event. Call 937-274-0126 for more information.

RiverScape MetroPark will be a hub of activity, including live entertainment and activities focused on green living. (Photography by Josh Mayes)

RiverScape MetroPark: Plaza and Pavilion Stage

At the RiverScape Plaza, visit DRG3’s Green Fest: Spring into Green!, featuring green displays and exhibits, recycled arts and crafts, a thrift shop runway, basketball with recyclables, extreme hop scotch, hula hoop, solar race cars, energy bikes and martial arts demos. Also at RiverScape at the nearby MetroParks Pavilion, enjoy live entertainment:
5:30-6 p.m.:        The Dayton Poetry Slam Showcase
6-7:45 p.m.:        New Vega
7:45-8:15 p.m.: Howard School of Dance
8:15-10 p.m.:      The Ark Band

Live entertainment, food and activities will be part of the Urban Nights experience in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village.

Wright-Dunbar Business Village Entertainment

Enjoy live entertainment, cultural arts, creative and tasty cuisine, and other festivities in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. Special events include:

• Gospel and R&B Plaza, Third & Williams streets: Featuring live entertainment and four food vendors.
• Dance Tent, 1133 W. Third St.: Featuring entertainment by DJ Master G, three food vendors and a spirits bar.
• Jazz Plaza, West Third Street: Featuring live jazz entertainment and food stations.
• The Lounge, 1100 W. Third St.: Presenting a ticketed event at 8:30 p.m., a tribute to The Ohio Players by D-Funk All Stars. Call 443-0249 for tickets and information.

Self-Guided Architectural Tour

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Dayton Chapter has organized a self-guided tour for those intrigued by the architecture of Dayton and the history behind it. Refer to the Architectural Week brochure (distributed with Urban Nights program books) for more details or start at any of the buildings that are on the tour, where more information also will be available. The tour highlights the exterior architectural features of buildings, and not all buildings will be open to tour the interiors.

• Kuhns Building, 45 S. Main St.

• The Arcade, Third Street across from Courthouse Square

• The Old Courthouse, corner of Main and Third streets

• Kettering Tower, southeast corner of Main and Second streets

• Schuster Center, northwest corner of Main and Second streets

• Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St.

Sideshow 8

Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.

The Dayton Circus Creative Collective again will kick off its two-day celebration of music and art in Dayton during Urban Nights. This event showcases the work of more than 60 artists and more than 20 musicians, and it hosts an event after-party until 1 a.m. Food and refreshments available. Visit the event website for a complete entertainment schedule and list of participating artists.

Join hundreds of cyclists on a ride through the night’s action at Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, which will start at Courthouse Square. (Photography by Josh Mayes)

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights

Start at Courthouse Square, Third and Main streets, at 6 p.m.

Get a preview of Urban Nights from the seat of your bike. Join hundreds of cyclists on this police-escorted ride through downtown. Riders are encouraged to wear a helmet and should be able to ride at a decent pace. This is not a ride for young children on their own bikes. From 5 to 8 p.m. on the Square, GetUP Montgomery County will present an event with live music, fitness demonstrations and other interactive activities focused on active, healthy lifestyles.

Sample New Food and Drink Establishments

Several downtown dining destinations either will be newly opened or open during Urban Nights to offer samples from their menus and preview their soon-to-be-open spots:

• Agnes All Natural Grill, 135 E. Fourth St.

• The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St.

• Lily’s Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St.

• Salar Restaurant and Lounge, 410 E. Fifth St.

• Toxic Brew Co ., 431 E. Fifth St.

Mosaic City Photo Show

St. Clair Lofts building, 39 S. St. Clair St.

Cityfolk presents an exhibit that includes entries from a recent Cityfolk photo contest and work by artist Glenna Jennings, who will present her project “Looking at Looking.” Her photographs depict residents and visitors to downtown Dayton observing historic images from the National Cash Register archive.

Watch large-scale prints being made with a steamroller at the third Steamroller Printmaking event.

Steamroller Printmaking: Flat-Out Fun!

Stivers School for the Arts, 1313 E. Fifth St.

Printmakers from the Dayton Printmakers Cooperative and students from Stivers School for the Arts will print large-scale linoleum blocks using a real steamroller as a printing press. Anyone can carve a smaller version of the linoleum blocks prior to the event (available for purchase at the Dayton Visual Arts Center for $10), called “Parking Prints,” and have it printed the night of the event. At DVAC, 118 N. Jefferson St., view large-scale and parking prints from the previous two Steamroller events.

Light My Fire & Brilliant Trash Competition

K12 Gallery for Young People and TEJAS, 510 E. Third St.

More than 100 hand-crafted mosaic lanterns will be lit in front of and inside the gallery as part of the Light My Fire exhibit. The lanterns will be for sale, with proceeds benefitting programming at K12 and TEJAS. K12 also will host the Brilliant Trash Competition, featuring upcycled works of art by local artists vying to be named Craft Master 2013, along with the exhibition “Can I Get a Witness?,” featuring abstract paintings by Rebecca Sargent and Erika Hess. Enjoy light refreshments, music and salsa dancing.

Lovely Day for a Guinness!

March 15, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

The gates to the glory that is…Guinness!

Until the discovery of germs and bacteria, water was unsafe to drink. Europe had it the worst, with so many people and so much industry located near bodies of water that people also drank out of. People were turning to spirits in droves, since it was much safer to drink then the water. Gin was the popular choice; it was cheap, it had some flavor, and brandy had been banned because of England’s on again/off again love affair with France. It was getting so cheap that people were abusing it. At the height of the Gin Craze, the British were drinking an average 2.2 gallons of gin a year. The population was so drunk on such a constant basis that society and the economy were beginning to slip. Beer was being brewed offered by monks and the church as a way to have a drink safer than water and not as harsh and debilitating as gin.

Arthur Guinness, founder of the beer that bears his name, was a good and humble man. His godfather was the Archbishop of Cashel in Ireland, and he was very faithful to the Irish church. So faithful, in fact, he began the first Sunday Schools on the island, and spent a great deal of his time and money helping the poor. He inherited some money, 100 £ to be exact, and used it to lease the brewery at St. James Gate. In 1759, the lease was signed for 9000 years for a price of 45 £ a year. He saw that he could play a part in stemming the flood of gin that was destroying Britain, and began brewing immediately. By 1769 he was able to start shipping his beer to England. Guinness himself passed away in 1803, but his son took up the family business. Not only did he take up the business, he took up the giving philosophy and helping of his fellow man.

The 19^th century was good to the brewers at Guinness. It continued to grow despite doing nothing that other breweries were doing to promote their beer. They did not advertise or give discounts, relying mainly on word of mouth to spread the word about their product. They also did not own any public houses, which many breweries at the time did to promote their own beers. Beer was booming in Britain. It was seen as a “healthier” alternative to gin, and so it was not as strictly regulated as gin was. This allowed for thousands of public houses to be opened through the country. By the beginning of World War I, Guinness accounted for about 10% of the beer in Britain. While business was booming for the company, they were also giving their workers benefits that were almost unheard of at the time. They even pioneered quality control techniques that helped them put out a better, safer product. It was adopted by other industries, and is now known as the t-test. The quirkiness of the company also touched a little on its religious heritage; until 1939, if a Guinness brewer wanted to marry a Catholic, he would have to resign.

How grand to be a Toucan!

The 1930’s started off by seeing Guinness as the seventh largest company in the world, and falling steadily towards the end of the decade. The company started looking for a new ad campaign as sales started to slide. They wanted to maintain their wholesome image and still promote the “healthy” benefits of their beer. S.H.Benson was the advertising company tasked with the project, and accomplished artist John Gilroy was the man they gave the job to. The combination of health, wholesomeness, and avoiding the typical beer advertisement led them to…zoo animals. The Zoo ads were incredibly successful for Guinness, incorporating a seal balancing a pint, an ostrich swallowing one whole, and the most enduring image, the toucan with two pints. The advertising campaign went strong for decades, until the early 1980’s when they decided it was dated and retired it. It has been showing up again more recently, making its presence felt again as one of the lone animal survivors of the campaign. The ads helped for a while, but Guinness continued to struggle against the lighter colored lagers.

In the 1970’s the company, who had up until this point been making porters and stouts, stopped experimenting with porters and stuck strictly to stouts. Ever the contrarians to popular sentiment, they began to market their beer as something to be enjoyed by people who desire something a little different, seeking to attain a cult status in the face of their declining sales. They embraced the unique look the beer had when it was poured; a sharp white cap of bubbles on a deep, dark base. It was successful, stopping Guinness’ sales slide and spreading its popularity. The 1980’s brought another distinction to Guinness as well: the can with the widget. Guinness tried to keep as much carbon dioxide as possible out of their beer, preferring nitrogen to add and carbonation to the brew. The bubbles are smaller, helping to not only create a smoother mouthfeel, but it is important in creating the distinct look of a well poured draught. Guinness had been doing canned been since the 1970’s, but did not sell it internationally because is needed an additional piece to inject the nitrogen/carbon dioxide mix. The widget solved that by injecting the gasses into the can when the can is opened; the change in pressure activates it. The widget was a thing of engineering beauty; it even won the Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement. Guinness, through clever advertising and its outsider status has maintained its cult status nicely over the last few decades.

I cannot agree with this coaster enough.

A cult status is good to maintain a little bit of mystery. That mystery has lead to some interesting rumors, everything from rats in kegs to making you stronger. The facts are not as sultry, but here they are: Guinness is made of dark roasted barley, hops, water, and yeast. The roast gives it a flavor that ranges from dark chocolate to coffee, and balances out the hops. It weighs in at a very light 4.3% ABV and a respectable 125 calories per 12 ounces. It is not even physically heavy; it is the beer sitting on top in a Black and Tan and its many variants. If you are a strict vegetarian, it is made with a byproduct of dead fish, isinglass. The isinglass is used to separate solids out of the brew, so it very rarely hits the bottle. Some studies have shown it could possibly maybe sort of be a little healthy for you, but not actually that much healthier than other beers. Pouring a pint of Guinness properly, the “Perfect Pint”, takes 119 seconds and two pours at about 45 degrees F. However, with modern technology, that has time has been cut down to four seconds.

On St. Patrick’s Day, put away the green beer and embrace something that has always been a little different from the norm. If you are looking for somewhere to celebrate, head on over to our Events page to see everything that Dayton has to offer on March 17. It is fitting that a God-fearing man created a beer that is a big part of a holiday the Irish use to celebrate a saint. Even as sales for it decline in other parts of the world, the Emerald Isle still loves its native stout. The craft beer revolution may have opened up our palate to other stouts, but Guinness is still the one people think of. And if for no other reason, do it for the toucans.

Downtown Dayton’s First Friday Features Derby & Dresses, Tiki Show, Arts Potluck & Demos, Flood Walk

February 28, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Brim is hosting a fashion show featuring Kentucky Derby hats and one-of-a-kind dresses by Tracy McElfresh of Sew Dayton. The models will walk at 6 and 8 p.m. and coffee will be provided by Ghostlight Coffee. Clash Consignments is hosting a Tiki Show that will feature Liz Dearth of Artifact Pottery as artist of the month, along with work by Greg Dearth, Scott Kustowski, Skull 13 and others. Eric Heilman and Rob Hale will provide rockabilly, surf, psychobilly and punk music throughout the evening.

Several art galleries and other venues will host special events this month. Blue Sky Gallery will host a closing reception for “Your Turn,” a collaborative exhibit, by Francis Schanberger and his wife, Bridgette Bogle, who have organized an arts potluck. Instead of bringing food, bring an example of something that inspires you — such as music, video, magazine clippings or books — to share. Dayton Visual Arts Center is opening new exhibit, “The Cline Show.” In memory of Barbara C. Cline and her dedication to student artists, this exhibit features works in all media produced by local students from Wright State University, the University of Dayton, Central State University and Sinclair Community College. Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center will feature paintings by artist of the month Annica Damico. Hands-on activities for children and a free introduction to Reiki and chair massage also will be offered. Bring your favorite wine bottle to “Functional Art “at the CADC. Christy Jennewein will demo wine bottle painting. The Yellow Cab Building is hosting Dollar Holler, a free event to sell and buy — for only $1 —handmade, vintage, and arts and crafts supplies. Items at past events include vintage home décor and fabric, beads, and original art and prints. Donations will be accepted to support the 2013 Dayton Sideshow arts event.

This First Friday also offers outdoor events. The Courteous Mass Ride will host its monthly cycling expedition throughout the city. Bikers meet at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field. The Great Dayton Flood Walk starts at 7p.m. and is $10 per person. The tour allows guests to view vintage photos of the great flood, visit buildings that made it through the flood, see high-water marks from 1913 and much more. Call 274-4749 or email [email protected] for required reservation and meeting location.

First Friday includes sales and special event at retail shops, discounts at restaurants, special events, live music, and more. A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

SummitUp – The Bowman Connection

October 11, 2012 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

David Bowman

Facebook had just 100 million members around August of 2008. That is just a little less than the population of Mexico at the time, which would have put it at fourteenth in the world. The number of Facebook users has recently eclipsed 1 billion people, putting it at third in the world in terms of world population, just behind India. That is a massive amount of eyeballs looking to connect to something: entertainment, information, conversation, the list is endless. Since that explosion, everyone from major companies to small businesses have been trying to harness the power of this ever expanding opportunity to connect. It has become a source of innovative campaigns and beautiful disasters. It is a new frontier, and everyone is still looking for how to make it work for them.

David Bowman was one of those people. He had just come back to Dayton from seeing a presentation from Chris Brogan, and was discussing the experience with Sara McCatherine over lunch. The idea was to bring the top speakers from all over, at the edges of the fledgling explosion of social media, and bring them here. Thus the seeds of SummitUp were born. Through plenty of work and hustle, the first SummitUp in Dayton (2009) was brought to life. Every year it has been growing as social media grows, and this year is no different. David took some of his precious time in the final weeks before the Tuesday, October 16th event to answer a few questions about social media for us.

DMM: Your first degree was in political science. What attracted you to marketing from there? Did you see it as a natural extension, or did your interests change?

David Bowman: In college I was drawn to political science, as it was something that was inherently interesting to me. I did well in Political Science classes, so decided to major in it, as I really had no idea what I wanted to do professionally. I had considered becoming an attorney for a while, but ultimately the law did not appeal to me. Instead I went to work in the business world, where I migrated into sales. From there I came to discover the field of marketing and have never looked back. Eventually I got my MBA with a concentration in Marketing, where I began to get a deeper understanding of the field. In the end, Marketing and Political Science are both based in understanding needs and influencing human behavior. The principles I learned in Political Science are directly applicable to my job, and probably give me a bit of a different perspective on things.

Another year, another batch of wisdom.

How have you liked your teaching experience so far at the School of Advertising Art (SAA) ? What are some of the things the students are teaching you?

Teaching at SAA has been amazing. It is one thing to believe you understand something. It is something else entirely to have to understand something well enough to explain it to others in a way that is clear and compelling. I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to teach Marketing at SAA. It is making me a better practitioner of my craft and the energy, creativity, and curiosity of my students is inspiring.

DMM: What is the biggest challenge to creating an event like this, where you will have a significant cross section of new users and seasoned veterans looking for something to take away?

DB: SummitUp is challenging in that we want the event to be appealing to early adopters of technology who demand complexity and bleeding edge information while at the same time delivering content that is accessible to newcomers too. Compounding things is that fact that the event is a collaborative volunteer effort with a focus on keeping prices low so that we can attract and educate the largest number of people possible. The goal of the event is not to maximize profits, but rather to maximize the potential of those who attend. We do our best to attract exceptionally talented speakers and presenters to the event, often at a fraction of their typical speaking fee or for free. We then pass these savings on to attendees in the form of very affordable ticket prices. Ultimately, the event has an incredible team of volunteers who work very hard to make sure that those who invest the time and money to attend get value from coming to the event.

DMM: What do you think is the biggest hurdle people have to understanding the value and potential of social media?

DB: People get lost in the incredible amount noise and dizzying pace of change. Author Clay Shirky describes media as the “connective tissue” that holds us all together, which is a great way to think of it. Social media is simply about people communicating with one another, and all media is now social. If people keep things in the perspective of finding ways to use communication to build real and lasting relationships, social media is fairly simple to understand.

DMM: What brands are the best story tellers in the social media realms?

DB: Starbucks, Zappos, Amazon, and Southwest Airlines are some great examples of national brands that are using social media successfully and in very different ways. Locally, brands like Dorothy Lane Market, Olive, and Dayton Children’s are all great examples.

DMM: What do you see brands or people doing on social media that frustrates you?

DB: Not listening, participating, or considering the opportunity to use social media as more than just a push marketing tool.

DMM: How do you see social media platforms evolving over the next five years?

DB: More mobility, more video, more speed, more content, more noise, more people, more, more, more. Hopefully, what brands choose is to more carefully integrate social media with marketing strategy. A recent Duke University Study cites that over 16% of organizations describe their social media efforts as “not at all integrated” with their overall business strategy. This is something that must and will change, as brands begin to understand the real value that strategic integration can deliver.

DMM: Will social media become more integrated into the media department, or is this a new entity?

DB: They will become one in the same. Traditional media is still alive and well, but it is becoming ever more social. As best practices are established and technology matures, social media will become the tradition. Anytime you have disruptive technology changes it takes a while for people to make sense of it all. Eventually people begin to figure it out and then shift their focus to execution. This is currently happening right before our eyes. It is an exciting time to be a marketing professional.

DMM: Social media professionals are still wrestling with how to prove the value to CEO’s, CIO’s, and other C-suite people. Are there certain numbers that offer more proof of value than others? It is ROI, or something else out there?

DB: It is ROI but that has to be framed in the context of customer equity. Social media has the ability to strengthen relationships. The ROI is less about the platforms and technologies and more about the actions and responses created through them. Ideally, marketing professionals are moving toward an integrated approach to marketing. This is more akin to systems thinking as opposed to trying to compartmentalize things. The revolution in technology requires a paradigm shift. It is no longer only about impressions or mass attention. Now it is about connections, loyalty, and long term brand equity that can only come from focused, ongoing communication.

DMM: Are there any social media platforms out there that you can see emerging as a major player over the next few years?

DB: Certainly Pinterest has already shaken thing up in the last year. Google+ will continue to evolve and grow, particularly as Google continues to integrate it with organic search. There are countless other projects and platforms emerging to solve niche problems and connect niche audiences. I will not pretend to have a crystal ball, but I can tell you that we will likely be talking about a whole new mix of tools by this time next year.

David has once again helped to organize an amazing event, bringing talents like Todd Henry, Rohit Bhargava, and Tim Schigel as keynote speakers, and a diverse group of other professionals to run a wide range of breakout sessions. SummitUp tickets are available by phone only, so call and make sure that you have yours. This is going to be a great opportunity to learn about the basics, meet and connect with new people, or refresh and recharge your batteries with new insights. We look forward to connecting with you this Tuesday!

How to Buy a Boyfriend

September 18, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Some of the Miami Valley's most eligible bachelors will be up for bid this Friday at the third annual PUSH Dayton Charity Bachelor Auction.

Jennifer Shinkle tells people she “bought” her boyfriend. And it’s true.

Shinkle’s boyfriend was part of the September 2011 PUSH Dayton Men in the City Charity Bachelor Auction, and the two have been going strong since. This year’s event will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 21, at the Dayton Racquet Club, with an after-party to be held in the adjacent 29 Stories Lounge.

With 17 of the Miami Valley’s most eligible bachelors up for bid, organizers of this third annual event are hoping for yet another love story. After all, the Bachelor Auction is two-for-two: In addition to Shinkle, chair of this year’s event, PUSH committee member Monica Deal met her husband at the first auction, and they’re now proud parents.

But the Bachelor Auction isn’t only about love. It’s about sex, too — sexual health, that is. The event directly supports Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region’s free condom program and sexual health advocacy in the Miami Valley Region. It’s organized by the all-volunteer PUSH Dayton (Professionals United for Sexual Health) committee, which has held more than 20 events and raised more than $20,000 for Planned Parenthood since it was formed four years ago.

“Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of practicing safe sex,” said Crystal Justice, associate director of development for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Region’s Miami Valley area. The organization served more than 23,000 patients in its eight health centers just in the past year, Justice said.

“Our work to promote safe sex and access to testing is crucial to sexual health outcomes in the Miami Valley, which has seen a sharp increase in sexually transmitted illnesses,” she added. “Planned Parenthood makes quality care accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Each bachelor comes with a date package on which interested ladies bid. This year’s bachelors range in age from 22 to 55 and their occupations include business owners, dancers, a state trooper, writer, actor, meteorologist, entrepreneur and adjunct professor. Couples packages also will be available for bidding, so those who already have found their true love still can participate and support the cause.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r8G3myEAB4&feature=youtu.be’]“Last year we raised about $5,000 with about 115 guests,” Shinkle said. “This year, we expect to bring in even more attendees and have a goal to raise $8,000 for the cause. This is a very important year for us because we want to establish this as an annual event the community gets excited about. There is no event quite like it.

“The event not only supports Planned Parenthood, those who attend the event can mingle with like-minded professionals from throughout the Miami Valley,” Shinkle added. “You will meet people outside of your normal social circles at the Bachelor Auction and make new friends.”

Profiles and photos of each of the bachelors are available on PUSH Dayton’s website, as well as on the organization’s Facebook page. Advance tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased online, and tickets are $25 at the door. Appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be available.

Urban Nights, Downtown’s Biggest Street Party, Returns This Friday

September 13, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Musicians perform on stage in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. The area will have different performers on several stages from 5 to 10 p.m.

Fall Urban Nights will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 14, in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. An estimated 30,000 people attend Urban Nights, which is held in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village, and there are more than 100 activities planned during the event — including live music on outdoor stages, art exhibit openings, tours of downtown housing, discounts at restaurants and retail shops, and much more. A full list of events is available online. Highlights include:

• Dancing in the Street: First Street will be closed between Ludlow and Main streets to make way for performances by DCDC, the South Dayton Dance Theater, Funk Lab, SMAG Dance Collective, ZumbAtomic and the McGovern Ceili Dancers.

• I Am City Folk: Cityfolk will launch this year-long project that is part of its Culture Builds Community initiative. It will feature mosaics, compiled by local photographer Andy Snow using photos of Daytonians taken by Nicole Christian, on display throughout downtown. Contact Jean Howat Berry, Cityfolk’s education and outreach/Culture Builds Community coordinator, at 937-223-3655, ext. 3008.

Customers eat at the Oregon Express during Urban Nights in May. Many downtown eateries will offer specials and discounts the evening of Urban Nights.

• Dayton, Ohio! You Are Here! This large-scale performance piece will transform the Old Courthouse on Third and Main streets into a work of art through video projection and architectural lighting on the building’s exterior, as well as visual art and performances of dance, music and spoken word inside the historical building. Contact Peter Benkendorf at 732-5123 for more information.

• Over the Edge: Returning to the fall Urban Nights will be this challenge that combines fundraising with adventure. Participants who raise at least $1,000 will rappel over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower, which visitors can watch from Courthouse Square. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. For more information, contact Matt McDowell at 937-220-6855.

•Taste of the Miami Valley: This weekend-long event will kick off during Urban Nights at RiverScape MetroPark. Guests can sample food from more than 30 area restaurants. Admission is free, and most tastes are $3 each.

• Downtown in Focus: Winning entries from this annual amateur and professional photography contest will be on display in the PNC Center lobby.

• Business grand openings: Three new downtown businesses will host grand openings during Urban Nights: OinkADoodleMoo in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower, 10 W. Second St.; Brim, a new hat shop at 464 E. Fifth St.; LIVV Interior Designs, a home and office interior design firm at 520 E. Third St. in the Cannery; and Sew Dayton, featuring fabric and patterns, at 16 Brown St.

• Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights: Cyclists will gather at 5:15 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field for, a community ride through the Urban Nights action hosted by Bike Miami Valley and ending at Courthouse Square. While the ride will be in parade fashion with a police escort, it is not appropriate for small children on their own bikes.

A family participates in Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a biking group that will ride through the city, meeting at 5:15 p.m. near Fifth Third Field.

This is just a small sampling of the many activities that will be part of the Sept. 14 Urban Nights. The event also includes live music on five outdoor stages, art exhibit openings at galleries and other creative spaces, discounts and specials at downtown restaurants and retail shops, a chalk walk, roaming entertainers, and more. In addition, Greater Dayton RTA will provide free event buses to help visitors get around; bus routes are included in the event map.
Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information. Urban Nights is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Bud Light Lime, the Downtown Priority Board, Wright Dunbar Inc., DP&L, Mix 107.7-FM, Greater Dayton RTA, Kaplan College, Business Furniture, Bob Ross Auto Group and the Ohio Arts Council.

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.

Urban Arts Showcase Takes the Stage This Friday

April 18, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

HBO Def Poet Black Ice will headline this Friday's "The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show."

Oral Funk Poetry Productions will launch its fifth season of “The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show” at The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., from 9 to 11 p.m. this Friday, April 20.

The season-opening performance will be a celebration of National Poetry Month. The theme will be Jamaican and Caribbean culture through spoken word, dramatizations, live music, vocalists, visual arts and more.

Featured performers include Tony Award-winning HBO Def Poet Black Ice, who appeared on six seasons of the popular show and starred in Def Poetry on Broadway. He’s lent his voice to hip-hop projects by such artists at Method Man and opened for Mary J. Blige on her 2006 world tour. Black Ice also has appeared on BET’s Live 8 Concert Special, Rap City the Basement and 106th & Park, as well as on NBC’s Showtime at the Apollo.

Joining Black Ice will be singer and poet Scorpio Blues, who also has appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry. Her recent CD, Scorpio Rising, features her soul music and some poetry, while her first CD, Blue Blushin’, was an acclaimed poetry work. In 2006, Scorpio Rising became the first female and the first African-American to win the Ill List Poets championship. She also has her own spoken word and music entertainment, management and promotions company called Hot Water Cornbread.

The Flex Crew Reggae Band, a popular group from Columbus, will perform live music. Its seven members hail from a variety of musical backgrounds, resulting in a versatile and high-energy band with an array of musical styles, including funk, R&B, soul, hip hop and roots reggae. In addition, local spoken word poet I Witness Life will emcee.

Tickets cost $20 and can be purhcased at www.ticketcenterstage.com, by calling 937-228-3830 or at the door.

Poet Scorpio Blues also will perform during The Signature.

Oral Funk Poetry Productions has partnered with De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St., for the event. The restaurant, located across the street from the theater, will offer special Jamaican and Caribbean menu items and drinks.

During its first four seasons, “The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show” featured local and national poets, musicians, actors, vocalists, dancers and visual artists presenting numerous forms of self-expression ― often to sold-out crowds.

“We’re so excited to continue producing our show at The Loft Theatre after moving the production to this great venue last year,” said Sierra Leone of Oral Funk Poetry Productions. “This location has more seating for our shows, which often sell out, and has allowed us to kick up the performance a notch thanks to access to more professional production equipment and capabilities in the theater. We also have appreciated the opportunity to work with and learn from the professionals at The Human Race Theatre Company.”

On Becoming a Bad Ass

February 23, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Kristen Wicker and Amelia Robinson spar at Drake's Downtown Gym to prepare for Dayton Knockout. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM GREENE.

“Girl, the jig is up,” my best friend is telling me on the phone as I’m freaking out about my recent discovery that I am not, after all, a born fighter. “Your shit is totally exposed.”

She’s right, and I know it. I rappelled off a 27-story office tower. In the bazaars of Cairo, Egypt, I’ve nonchalantly weaved through cow carcasses hanging from their hooves and dripping blood. I’ve chased a group of punk kids in my former inner city hood. I have a bunch of big tattoos and own three genuine leather jackets. I’ve hiked through the Grand Canyon on trails forged by mountain goats and swam with sharks and barracuda in the Red Sea. (OK, I admit that last one was by accident, but it still didn’t faze me.) I will walk right up to a sketchy-looking somebody hanging out downtown and tell him to move it right along.

But my bad ass credentials have never before been tested as they have in the past three months as I’ve trained to box some of my best friends as part of Dayton Knockout.

I signed up for this charity boxing event ― which will be held this Saturday, Feb. 25, at Memorial Hall ― to be part of something super cool, help a good cause, get in shape and maybe lose a few pounds. I’d been boxing at Drake’s Downtown Gym for nearly two years, and I’ve yet to encounter a workout that makes me feel like more of a bad ass than giving a punching bag a hefty one-two.

Immediately, it was on. My girlfriend and I started trash talking. And texting. And posting.

I hope your bucket list is wheelchair accessible.

They’re gonna find your torso in a corn maze.

I hope you enjoyed your smoothie because after I knock all your teeth out, you’ll only be able to digest soft foods.

I’m gonna snack on your kidney on a stick.

I hope you liked wearing head gear because soon it will be a permanent fashion accessory for you.

I hear they make software now that can help you re-learn how to walk.

Halfway through our training, I missed nearly two weeks of practice after some complications from what was supposed to be minor surgery. She sent me flowers ― a beautiful bouquet of roses, actually ― with a card reading, “Sickness will not protect you.”

Then we sparred for the first time. And she rattled my teeth as if they were shells in a wind chime.

Which took the muscle right out of my trash talking. Truth is, I’m not a bad ass. I’m just really good at pretending.

I even had my friend fooled.

“What do you mean, you’ve never fought before? I thought you said you were some kind of crazy, black-haired punk rocker in high school!”

“Those Barbies wouldn’t fight me,” I explained. “Their Aqua Net puff bangs would have gotten flattened.”

“Didn’t you fight your sister?” She was incredulous at this point.

“My sister is eight years younger than me. The worst thing I ever did was put peas in her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

***

Monster Truck Rally at Hara Arena. Bad ass grade: D

I did try to up my bad ass quotient after my first Saturday-practice skull crushing. I figured it would help me find my inner fighter.

A friend and I went to a monster truck rally at Hara Arena. I imagined it just like in the commercials: big ass trucks crushing cars and motor bikes daredeviling over piles of dirt. Whoopee! We picked out the perfect outfits, complete with cowboy boots and denim and plaid flannel and bandanas. I insisted we arrive early to have a cocktail at the Hara Pub and spotted an extra five bucks for VIP tickets so we could gain access to a pre-party and obtain a complimentary skull and crossbones flag.

Commercials can be misleading.

“We don’t open the bar for family events,” the woman scanning our tickets tartly replied at my dismay that the pub was closed. The VIP tickets must have stood for Very Ignorant Person, because everyone seemed to be enjoying the “perks” of said tickets. The skull and crossbones flags appeared to have come from one of those little plastic cups in a pizza parlor vending machine. The cars were already crushed, and there wasn’t a speck of dirt (unless you count the grime coating all that is Hara Arena). Some of the drivers couldn’t even get their trucks to spin in the donut competition. Some dude in an ostrich costume as raggedy as an old shag carpet came out and did a 10-minute skit that nearly made us peel our eyeballs out of our skulls.

The best part of the night was when a kid in the row behind us recognized Hell’s Bells two gongs into the song. “Your mother would be so proud,” sighed the woman with him.

We left at intermission. I think my bad-assery actually dropped in value that night.

Rock Star Wrestling in Dayton. Bad ass grade: A

Then I took the grand opening of Rock Star Wrestling on East Third Street for a spin. Now, this was some bad ass I could get behind ― men in singlets and Captain America-esque costumes jumping on the ropes around the ring and tossing each other like salad. Hell, YES, that’s what I’m talking about! Complete with kids heckling the wrestlers from the front row!

I definitely ingested a nice womp of bad ass that night. Problem was, I drowned it in beer and Long Island Iced Teas and was left with only blurry pictures on my phone.

***

I have been humiliated by the realization I’m lacking in the bona fide bad ass department before.

The first time I went to a Gem City Roller Girls bout, I was convinced it should be me out there zipping around on skates, hunched into the breeze created by my own speed, elbowing and snarling and falling-but-getting-right-back-up. Oh, the girl power! The striped socks and black skirts and skulls! The clever yet sinister names!

Then I went to Skateworld of Vandalia with my rock star girlfriend. She’s trotted the globe playing searing guitar with bands and always has been much cooler than I am. It was the same in the skating rink.

Gem City Roller Girls. Bad ass grade: A+

My feet had not known a pair of roller skates since Members Only jackets were in style, you did the Hokey Pokey and Space Invaders was the game to beat. I decided I should warm up with a spin in the kids’ practice area.

At first, I figured the floor was warped in weird ways that were preventing me from getting my Pac Man Fever back. Then, I decided I was just too tired and sloppy from an exhausting week. Next, I concluded that I was just being sensible, as the place was jam-packed with little kids’ birthday parties. If a big girl like me fell on one of these 3-year-olds, that youngster could be smushed like a cupcake. Why risk it?

Finally, my friend ― skating backward and doing spins ― convinced me to make my way to the big kids rink. By then, I was too paranoid to let go of the side railing. As I clunked and slithered my way around the ring as if I were walking on an oil spill, I felt a poke in the small of my back.

I turned to find a little girl, probably five years old, her hair in pig tails. “Excuse me, miss,” she asked in her pip-squeak voice. “Can you move? You’re blocking my way.”

“No,” I said, the word falling from my mouth like a brick. I grabbed her hand and ― still desperately clutching the railing ― swung her around me.

I then proceeded to get the hell out of the rink and take off those damned skates as fast as I could. On our way out, my friend handed me a brochure about skating lessons. I shoved it in the bottom of my purse.

***

Twisted Wicker in the blue corner psyching herself up to bust some jaw. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM GREENE.

I haven’t given up on becoming a boxer as I did with becoming a Gem City Roller Derby Girl. I have been practicing my jab to the point where my knuckles are bruised. I’ve watched Rocky I, II and III, along with YouTube videos of real-life boxers, to observe in-the-ring moves. I’ve been listening incessantly to “We Are the Champions,” “Eye of the Tiger” and the song I chose to play as I make my way to the stage at Memorial Hall, “Mama Said Knock You Out.”

And I’ve been spending a lot of time envisioning myself as a fighter. Faking it. Which I know I can do. After all, these days, when I tell people I’m clinically shy (I am! Like turning a bowling ball in your stomach to talk to a stranger kind of shy!), they don’t believe me. They are totally faked out.

I realize now that becoming a bad ass is like aging: It’s less about the number of times you’ve toasted your birthday or the number of years you’ve been giddy about the arrival of spring. It’s just a a thought you create and control in the mechanics of your brain.

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself as I walk into that ring. I may be wearing a costume of sorts, but it’s genuine boxing garb, the same the pros wear. And I will be feeling like a genuine boxer ― and bad ass.

JAB!

Dayton Knockout benefits AIDS Resource Center Ohio and Dayton History. The event takes place at 8 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 25, at Memorial Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. Buy advance tickets online or at Drake’s Downtown Gym, Ghostlight Coffee, Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, Brixx Ice Co., Square One Salon, and the Dublin Pub. Food and drinks will be available, and an after party featuring live music by Funky G and the Groove Machine will be held in the Memorial Hall basement after the fights.

Click here to read J.T. Ryder’s article on the history of boxing in Dayton. Click here to listen to a radio story Amelia Robinson and I produced about the fight.

Not Your Grandparents’ Norman Rockwell

February 2, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Problem We All Live With

You only have a few days to get to The Dayton Art Institute or you’re going to miss something surprisingly evocative and just plain cool.

Until recently, my idea of Norman Rockwell was a memory of images painted on dishes displayed in my granny and grandpa’s dining room cabinet. Those images were cutsey, small-town Americana and very, very quaint.

My Norman Rockwell has changed an awful lot.

When I first visited the exhibit “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell,” I was surprised to learn this iconic American artist was a progressive thinker. To be honest, I had no idea he created a body of work addressing such issues as desegregation, civil rights and poverty. I admit I was stunned when standing in front of The Problem We All Live With, a recreation of the walk 6-year-old Ruby Bridges took as a first-grade student and the first African American to attend a previously all-white school in New Orleans. This was not only because of the powerful imagery but because I had not expected to see this ― feel this ― in a Norman Rockwell exhibit. I had trouble breaking myself away from Murder in Mississippi, Rockwell’s depiction of the murders of three young civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Miss., during the civil rights era. I was late for a meeting (OK, really late) but I really didn’t care. These paintings!

I had the same intense feeling ― you know, when you think a wooly worm is crawling along your spine ― when hearing that same Ruby Bridges Rockwell painted years ago tell a packed auditorium at The Art Institute about her experience and emotions that November day as she and her mother, riding in a car with federal marshals, made their way to her new school. (Tangent: Check out Bridges’ book, Through My Eyes, if you get a chance.)

Ruby Bridges speaks to a packed house at The Dayton Art Institute and shares images from the day she made history by being the first African American to attend a previously all-white school. "Even back then, I knew that 'separate but equal' was not true," she said.

Ruby Bridges shares images from the day she made history as the first African American to attend a previously all-white school. "Even back then, I knew 'separate but equal' was not true," she said.

And there were more surprises. Bridges’ parents were not activists. They simply wanted a better life for their daughter, which is why they answered when the NAACP knocked on their door. Bridges used her imagination to decipher what was happening during those days when she unknowingly was making history. Since she had been one of only six African American children to pass a test engineered for them to fail, Bridges thought she was so smart she was going to college. Since her neighbors walked alongside the car that drove her to her first grade class, she thought she was in a Mardi Gras parade. Bridges said the worst thing about first grade was being lonely, as nearly all the white families had withdrawn their children from the school. She revealed the horror of walking by white protestors holding an infant’s coffin containing a black doll, constant threats that she would be poisoned, the schoolboy who told Bridges his mother insisted he not play with her and the weight she felt lifted off her shoulders upon hearing that comment because, finally, she knew what was going on. She knew it was about color, the color of her skin.

Continue…

Pages: 1 2 3

Local rocker returns to play First Friday show

May 31, 2011 By DowntownPartnership Leave a Comment

Although she has performed live shows in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Alicia Grodecki says her favorite city to play is her hometown – Dayton.

Lucky for her, with two upcoming shows – First Friday @ 5 on June 3 and a slot at Canal Street Tavern June 18 – her band, Vanity Theft, will get to perform in the city she says is a great place for music.

This week, I talked to Grodecki about Vanity Theft’s new album, touring and the unbelievable experience she had in the recording studio.

“People call us a more badass version of The Killers, except girls,” she says of the band’s sound. “[When asked to describe it] I usually tell people to go listen to it.”

“Get What You Came For,” the latest from Vanity Theft, is a hybrid of dance and pop, with a little electronic feel and attitude. The songs cover a variety of topics ranging from relationships to growing up to just having a good time.

Earlier this year, the band piled in a van and played shows across the United States and Canada, promoting the new album.

“There are an infinite number of ‘best’ things about touring,” says Grodecki. “We see so many people and travel. The bottom line is we get to do what we love every night.”

She does admit being on the road has its downside. “It’s hard being away from home. You miss your family. Our longest van ride was 48 hours straight, but it’s always worth it when you get there.”

Vanity Theft will continue to tour during the summer, including a spot at the Summerfest music celebration in Milwaukee. Grodecki just found out the girls will be opening for Taking Back Sunday, one of their favorite bands.

“I freaked out,” she says. “It’s crazy.”

Playing alongside Taking Back Sunday is not Vanity Theft’s only brush with fame. Elton John was in the studio below them while they recorded their most recent album. The girls were not able to meet him because of his high level of security. But, Grodecki says, he cracked the door and they were permitted to sit outside the studio and listen to him sing.

Even after traveling the country, Grodecki says there is nothing like playing in Dayton. She notes the strong sense of community the city exudes. “It feels good to come home and show everybody what we’ve been doing.”

Dayton natives kick off First Friday concert series

May 25, 2011 By DowntownPartnership Leave a Comment

I hesitate to discuss the “edginess” of all-girl bands because I find myself stumbling along the fine line of making clichéd gender comments and completely disregarding the abnormality of an all-female group in the music industry.

After listening to Vanity Theft, however, I am convinced to make an exception. Want to hear it for yourself? Check out Vanity Theft when they return to Dayton to perform at the RiverScape MetroPark Pavilion as the first band in the First Friday @ 5 concert series.

According to their website, the Dayton natives spent five years booking their own tours and propelling themselves into the Midwestern music scene. Their loyal fan base reflects their hard work; in 2009, a grassroots effort won them the local-band slot in Cincinnati’s Warped Tour lineup.

Vanity Theft’s sound is a descendent of The Donnas’ legacy — assertive, sassy, girl rock. While the band was the only all-female outfit of the 227 selected to play in Cincinnati’s 2009 MidPoint Music Festival, they held their own and ended up filling the room. The girls haven’t relented yet — the New York Post described its live shows as being “eardrum-slobbering.” Yes, that’s a compliment.

While recording its October 2010 EP, “Anatomy,” the trio met former Disney child star Lalaine. (You might remember her from her the tween show “Lizzie McGuire.”) When the band needed a new bassist, members auditioned Lalaine and the four instantly clicked.

This February, Vanity Theft released their new album, “Get What You Came For.” The songs I sampled from the album (you can stream a few tracks here) definitely lived up to the band’s no-holds-barred reputation. With lyrics like, “Maybe I don’t want you for your mind; Can’t decide,” Vanity Theft makes it clear they are in control. And maybe, based upon its success already, that’s how it should be.

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

The concerts are part of the First Friday events and will feature additional bands on August 5 and September 2. The concession will be open and beer will be sold from 5-7 p.m. The concerts will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop. The First Friday @ 5 summer concert series is presented with additional support from Heidelberg Distributing, the Oregon District Business Association, Clear Channel Dayton Radio and Culture Works.