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Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Generation Dayton Speaker Series

Jane’s Best Bets (2/23 – 2/27)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s time to start making plans for the week, as there are lots of events happening around town!  Here are a few options!

On Wednesday, talk politics and help solve the world’s problems at the Drinking Liberally – Dayton event at Trolley Stop.  Seriously, they will be talking about politics, but I don’t think their solution to the world’s problems will be drinking…although the research shows that drinking water can help solve the dehydration problem.  If you own a business, you will want to attend Social Media for Business: How to Create and Use a Facebook Fan Page at Groundz4Living at The Greene…afterall, social media is a super cheap way to advertise!  Over at Sinclair, help promote sustainable living and economic development with Green Drinks Dayton, which will include a tour and networking event.  All you winos will want to attend the Wine Tasting at Rumbleseat Wine, the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery, Vina Robles Wine Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, or Wine Down Weekdays at Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar.  Craving some sushi?  Head to Sima Korean & Japanese Restaurants for 1/2 off Chef’s Specials Rolls.  And over at South Park Tavern, check out the music of The Motel Beds, The Smug Brothers, and The Fervor.  Hopefully “motel beds” isn’t indicative of the quality of their music!

On Thursday, all you art fans will want to attend REACH (Realizing Ethnic Awareness and Cultural Heritage) Across Dayton Joint Reception/Gallery Talk: Bucher/Moro, which takes place at both the Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC) and Sinclair.  Please don’t “wine” if you didn’t have an opportunity to sip your favorite merlot on Wednesday, as you will again have your opportunity to do so at the Wine Tasting at The Wine Loft, A Wine Dinner with Philippe Magrez at Jungle Jim’s, the Wine Tasting at Heathers Coffee & Café, or Wine Down Weekdays at Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar.  If you love the great outdoors, attend Fundamentals of Family Camping at Five Rivers MetroParks’ St. Clair Building.  Some consider music therapeutic, so head to Therapy Café to Sing Your Heart Out for the American Heart Association.  If you like theater, our local universities are the place to be!  Head to Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater for The Foreigner, Wright State for Picnic, or Wittenberg for As You Like It.  Regardless of what you choose to do, I hope you like it.

On Friday, join Generation Dayton for their Fourth Friday Lunch Speaker Series at the Dayton Art Institute, featuring Ginny Strausburg of the DP&L Foundation, who will be talking to young professionals about “Choosing Board Professionals Wisely.”  Lunch will be provided, compliments of DP&L, so if you’re a young professional, be sure to register ASAP to secure your spot!  Couldn’t get enough wine during the earlier part of the week?  Head to the Southern Ohio Kitchens Showroom for the Go Red for Women Wine Tasting.  If you haven’t yet been to a fish fry this season, you will without a doubt want to head to the Alter High School Fish Fry.  There will be LOTS of people there (including myself!), so be sure to get there early!  We’ve already had a few days with spring like temperatures, so be sure to take advantage of the Star-Late Skates at RiverScape’s ice rink before it closes for the season!  Theater options for Friday include The Berenstain Bears on Stage at Victoria Theatre, As You Like It at Wittenberg, Fat Pig at Dayton Theatre Guild, Picnic at Wright State, and The Foreigner at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater.  At the Schuster Center, attend the Dayton Philharmonic’s Virtuosos at Home.  If you wish the doors would open to more musical options in the Dayton region, you’re in luck, as there will be a Doors Tribute at Canal Street Tavern.  And finally, for all you sports enthusiasts, the Dayton Gems will be taking on the Evansville IceMen at Hara Arena.

On Saturday, start the day early by participating in Ray’s Mountain Bike Trip at Five Rivers MetroParks’ St. Clair Building.  If you have it in you, join The Greene as they “go red” for the American Heart Association by participating in their 2 Mile Run/Walk.  At the Victoria Theatre, consider taking your kids to their own “Mardi Gras” with Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco.  All you fashionistas (my spell check underlined that word so sorry if I “mispeled” it) have a couple great options from which to choose.  Attend either The Noble Circle Project’s AWear Affair Fashion Show and Luncheon at Sinclair or the 11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show at Books and Co. at The Greene.  Be sure to bring your “hatitude”, as the event’s founder Sharon Howard calls it!  I attended last year and it was seriously a blast!  Have a few beers and support United Rehabilitation Services by participating in the Bud Light Barstool Open North.  If you’ve always wanted to be in the movie business, attend the Production Assistant Training Seminar at Sinclair Community College.  Saturday’s theater options include Fat Pig at Dayton Theatre Guild, As You Like It at Wittenberg, Picnic at Wright State, and The Foreigner at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater.  Or attend the Dayton Philharmonic’s Virtuosos at Home at the Schuster Center.  All you “Dancing with the Stars” fans will want to get tickets to see Julianne Hough at Kuss Auditorium.  At the Dayton Masonic Center, the Hermes Awards Ceremony will be going on to honor those in the advertising industry.  At Hara Arena, you will be able to see the Dayton Gems take on the Quad City Mallards.  And if you are sick and tired of winter, head to the Beach Party featuring the Parrots of the Caribbean at Jiffy Lube…oops I mean Quaker Steak & Lube.

On Sunday, head to the Schuster Center for their Visual Voices Art Exhibit:  Dayton Skyscrapers 2011.  Over at Coco’s, Savor Your Sunday & Support Stivers.  If you feel like experiencing the sights and scenes of theater, see Picnic at Wright State, As You Like It at Wittenberg, or Fat Pig at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  If you couldn’t get a babysitter to watch your kids so that you could go to a show with your honey, then take the kids to Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco at Victoria Theatre.  All you Oscar fans should consider watching the movie awards show AT the movies, as The Neon and the The Little Art Theatre will both be having Oscar screenings.  Just don’t be a grouch if your favorite movie/actor/actress/director does not win!  And finally, head to the UD Arena to watch the UD Flyers as they take on Xavier.  I have to say – I am completely jealous of all of you who have tickets!  (And if you have any extras, please feel free to send them my way!)

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What did the hat say to the tie?

You hang around here…I’ll go on a head.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (1/26 – 1/30)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s that time of year when many of us have already failed on our New Year’s resolutions.  If you fall into this category, then perhaps you’ve already been sampling some different foods as part of Restaurant Week, one of the many events going on in the Miami Valley!

On Wednesday, if you can’t find something you’d like to eat as part of the 2011 Winter Restaurant Week (which would mean you are too picky!), there are also other food specials, such as Oyster Bar Happy Hour at Dorothy Lane Market, Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesday at Bonefish Grill, and All You Can Eat-Ribs, Chicken or Pork at Bullwinkle’s.  If you would rather consume your calories through drinking, participate in the Wine Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery, or Wine Down Weekdays at Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar.  Or check out Green Drinks Dayton at Norton’s, where the environmental manager for the City of Dayton will be speaking.  If you’re feeling overloaded with all that paperwork on the job (I know I do a lot of the time!), attend/view the online webinar, Take charge of your paperwork in 2011!  And for all you adventure movie lovers, be sure to check out the movie Ride the Divide at The Neon.

On Thursday, make a trip to PNC 2nd Street Market for their Soup Sampling and Recipes.  Attend Lunch and Learn: Incredible Edibles at Cox Arboretum to find out techniques for building a vegetable garden.  After all, spring is right around the corner.  Sorry, that was a lie, but let us at least think that!  If your New Year’s resolution involves improving your finances, attend the Dayton Metro Library’s Financial Literacy Class.  And in case you were wondering if that event would fit into your budget, you’ll be glad to know that it is free!  Enjoy happy hour and do some Networking with Dayton’s Marketing Professionals at Fox and Hound.  Hear poets and vocalists perform as part of Chris Wiley: Poetry in Motion at De’Lish.  I’m not sure if they’re talking about tape or liquor, but if you like scotch, then attend the Scotch Tasting/Class at Boston’s Bistro.  And for a couple theater options…at Wright State, you can see Jekyll & Hyde or you can go to The Loft Theatre for  Twelfth Night, which is actually taking place on the 27th night of the month.

On Friday, join fellow young professionals for the Gen D 4th Friday Lunch Speaker Series, in which former Governor Taft will be talking about Education and Innovation. In the evening, go out to dinner with friends or that special someone as part of 2011 Winter Restaurant Week.  If you’re on a budget but still want to try some good food, many restaurants are offering two dinners for the price of one!  After dinner, catch one of the many shows going on in town, including The Berenstain Bears Onstage: A Bear Country Musical (which was one of my favorite book series growing up!) at Town Hall Theatre, the Dayton Opera’s Fidelio at the Schuster Center, I Hate Hamlet at Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, or The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse.  I’ve always heard that Bridge is for old people, so if you’re old, check out The Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre.  If you’re young though, don’t worry…I don’t think they card!  Over at Alex’s on 725, get your dancing shoes ready as the band Off the Hook will be performing.  If you love Dayton music, make your way to Canal Street Tavern for Dayton Does Dayton!  And if you’re a Rascal Flatts fan like me, be sure to get tickets to see them perform at the Nutter Center as part of their “Nothing Like This” Tour!

On Saturday, if you don’t mind being super cold, help support the Special Olympics by participating in Freezin’ For A Reason- 2011 Polar Plunge at Caesar’s Creek.  Again for some theater/musical performances, check out The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, The Octette Bridge Club at the Beavercreek Community Theatre, I Hate Hamlet at The Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse, or Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre.  If you want to drink wine but want to help counteract the killing of your brain cells, head to the Boonshoft Museum for the Science of Wine.  Over at the Dayton Masonic Center, join the wonderful jumpstART with their Jump into Bluegrass for discounted tickets to see bluegrass superstar Ricky Skaggs!  Or if you want to be a cowboy baby, “moooo”ve over to the Nutter Center to see Kid Rock.  If you have some “spare” time and would like to “strike” up a conversation with some other young professionals, come to Woodman Lanes for Generation Dayton Goes Bowling!  After you “split”, head to the St. Helen’s Fish Fry or to the Christopher Club for the Knights of Columbus 4022 Fish Fry.

On Sunday, take it easy with Gentle Yoga at the Sri Yoga Center.  If you still don’t know how to skate (don’t worry, I’m in that bunch too!), attend Fundamentals of Skating at RiverScape.  Again, there will be a multitude of shows to see, including Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University, The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at Dayton Playhouse, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, the Dayton Opera’s Beethoven’s Fidelio at the Schuster Center, and The Octette Bridge Club at Beavercreek Community Theatre.  And finally, for a “purr-fectly” good time, help support the Humane Society of Greater Dayton by coming to the Cat Walk 2011: Diva Las Vegas, in which Dayton’s top hair salons compete on the catwalk!  There will be music, drinks, food, dancing, and live entertainment!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why is a moon rock tastier than an earth rock?

Because it’s a little meteor.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!