Starving in the Belly of the Whale

Battle of the Baristas- Dayton Hosts A Regional Coffee Competition

November 5, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Boston Stoker Coffee Company presents the first annual Battle of the Baristas! It’s a full weekend of coffee, live music and food trucks! Enjoy free pour over coffee and espresso during The Battle of the Baristas prepared on a Modbar mobile unit by guest baristas at Yellow Cab Tavern.

In this two day competition 20 regional baristas will compete for the grand prize of a free trip to Kenya, including airfare, lodging and excursions! Baristas will have to create 3 different types of coffee beverages for 4 judges.

During the weekend they will also be hosting a latte art competition that will include 32 regional baristas competing for over $1500 worth of prizes.

“For all of our out-of-town competitors, we wanted to showcase some of the great music that’s being made here in Dayton,” Henry Dean, Boston Stoker President said. “We also wanted to make an event that would get the community excited to come and see what’s happening at the Battle of the Baristas.”

For live music, Friday night will feature performances from Shrug, M Ross Perkins, Adam Remnant and Manray and Saturday night will feature Speaking Suns, Starving in the Belly of the Whale, Gay Sharks (featuring PJ & Tommy of Motel Beds) and Forage.

“Dayton has a proud history with the bands that have come from here,” Dean said. “We are excited to be showcasing Dayton’s inventive spirit both through coffee and music.”

Saturday, Nov 12 – Final Round

Meet The Competitors:

Barista Shelby Lewis

Shop Name Boston Stoker

Website Bostonstoker.com

Shop Specs – We are a family owned company opened in 1973. Boston Stoker began selling cigars and tobacco while giving away free cups of coffee to customers. Over the years we have transformed into Dayton’s largest coffee roaster and expanded our retail locations to include Columbus.

What got you interested in becoming a barista? I love to learn new trades. Watching Baristas work on the espresso machine seemed challenging and rewarding. So, the first time I visited one of our shops, I was able to speak with the manager and set up an interview that day.

What is your favorite drink and why? I love to make cocktail-like drinks. Creating drinks that do not include steamed milk allows you to add in a lot of different ingredients that may react with the milk and curdle. Drinks that I create tend to be shaken or stirred with ice.

How long have you been a barista?I’ve been a Barista for 5.5 years.

Favorite thing to do outside of coffee? When I’m not behind the bar, I will be at home reading or watching TV with my husband, Shane, and 2 cats.

Barista Benjamin Tanen

Shop Name Brewpoint Coffee

Website brewpoint.coffee

Shop Specs We are a small shop in the suburbs of Chicago. Brewpoint’s focus is on Community and reaching people through coffee.

What got you interested in becoming a barista? My love and curiosity of coffee and the subtle intricacies behind it.

What is your favorite drink and why? Macchiatos. For me they are the perfect balance of milk and coffee and make for the perfect afternoon treat.

How long have you been a barista? 1.5 years

Favorite thing to do outside of coffee? Listen to and record music and explore the growing neighborhoods of Chicago.

Barista Zedeeka Fulay

Shop Name One Line Coffee

Website onelinecoffee.com

Shop Specs One Line Coffee represents the line from farmers to roasters to the customers. We provide a tangible partnership between coffee’s origins and its consumers.

What got you interested in becoming a barista? I was interested in being a barista because of it balance of art and science in creating coffee, as well as, the interactions and relationship you develop as a barista with your customers.

What is your favorite drink and why? That is a very difficult question, I don’t favor making one drink or another.

How long have you been a barista? I have been a barista for nearly 2 years.

Favorite thing to do outside of coffee? When I am not behind the bar, I am, either, playing music, reading, or writing. I am a classically trained pianist and violinist.

Feel free to let us know any other information you would like to share. I am currently a third year student at the Ohio State University with a double major in Psychology and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Barista Sean Hundley

Shop Nam One Line Coffee

Website onelinecoffee.com

Shop Specs I am from One Line Coffee in the Short North. We are the flagship store for the wholesale roastery and it’s been in operation for almost 5years. I’m the only original barista remaining. It’s an amazing location because we’re high traffic but committed to serving specialty grade coffee w/ out compromise. Also, we host our educational workshops at the SN location in our backroom cupping lab.

What got you interested in becoming a barista? My first coffee was an espresso from Donkey Coffee in Athens, Ohio and the barista took special care to explain certain details about the espresso I ordered. His service and passion made a big impact on me and soon after, they hired me. I began making and serving espresso for Donkey Coffee and was totally in love.

What is your favorite drink and why? My favorite drink to make is a single origin espresso and milk beverage. It’s an opportunity to showcase single origin espresso flavor and the baristas ability to steam and pour latte art. The drink seems to be the total encompass of the baristas craft.

How long have you been a barista? This is my 8th year of being a barista.

Favorite thing to do outside of coffee? Well… Work related: Leading public education programs is the best part of my job. So rewarding. Non work related: Family, exercise, music and food are my passions.

Barista James Blanchard

Shop Name Deeper Roots Coffee

Website deeperrootscoffee.com

Shop Specs Deeper Roots has been a wholesale, specialty roaster since 2011, and in April of 2016, opened a cafe in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati. I was fortunate enough to be on the original team, opening the shop, and it has been a beautiful journey, getting to know the neighborhood and the awesome people in it. We love getting to see the specialty coffee process through from the source to the cup.

What got you interested in becoming a barista? I have always loved the culture in and surrounding coffee. Being heavily steeped in the DIY scene, I had a very early exposure to cafe culture, and just decided to never leave.

What is your favorite drink and why? Nothing is more special to me than a good espresso. It’s not complicated or over-involved; it’s simple, beautiful, essential. It has the ability to show the true essence of a coffee.

How long have you been a barista? Since 2008

Favorite thing to do outside of coffee? Rock climbing with my wife, playing with my son, and running around in the back yard with my dogs.

Barista Travis Goodspeed

Shop Name Boston Stoker

Website bostonstoker.com

SHOP SPECS Boston Stoker was founded in 1973 as a tobacco shop. We started serving coffee as a free service to customers. It was so successful that we bought a roaster and began roasting coffee and selling it in the stores. From there, it morphed into our wonderful coffee company.

What got you interested in becoming a barista? Coffee has the potential to impact a lot of positive change. On a personal level, a barista can impact a person’s life by just serving a great cup of coffee while providing great customer service. On a socio-economic level, coffee can change the way businesses and economies function. I’m interested in that change – into a relational model, where the final customer who is being served a cup of coffee isn’t the only person that matters.

What is your favorite drink and why? Cappuccino. I can make the best latte art in a cappuccino.

How long have you been a barista? Almost 2 years.

Favorite thing to do outside of coffee? I love to hang out with my wife – watch movies, hike, play disc golf, play music etc… We are currently expecting our first child, so much of our free time is centered on our fetus – learning about prenatal development, doctor’s appointments, etc…

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Meet the Baristas

Local Music Adds Hip Flair to Outdoor Recreation Festival

September 23, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

By now, you probably already know that the Midwest Outdoor Experience presented by Subaru is the best weekend event to experience all things outdoors, from the intense (like the slackline skills area, practicing yoga on a stand-up paddleboard or trying out the mountain biking challenge course) to the more laid-back (fly fishing, orienteering and hiking are all great ways to relax with Mother Nature). But did you know that in addition to presenting a plethora of premier park pursuits, visitors to the annual Midwest Outdoor Experience also have access to fantastic local music, co-presented by public radio station WYSO and Dayton Music Fest?

The Midwest Outdoor Experience, set for Friday, October 4, through Saturday, October 5, will feature some of the best musicians Dayton has to offer. Celebrating nine years in the local music scene, the annual Dayton Music Fest “seeks to shine a spotlight on Dayton’s indie music scene” with performances taking place October 4-6 at several venues, including Eastwood MetroPark, home to the Midwest Outdoor Experience.

WYSO also contributes to the fun, presenting the musical lineup for Friday night, Oct. 4, featuring:

6:45-8:15 p.m. Jah Sol: With their combination of not only reggae, but soul, funk and disco, Jah Sol supplies the good times with their music. The eight member band gets the party going.

8:30-10 p.m. William the Accountant: Formed in 2009 in Columbus, Ohio, William The Accountant composes a musical playground of late ’70s new wave, Brazilian samba and New Orleans second line that defiantly incites activity and impulse.

Check out the Dayton Music Fest lineup at the Midwest Outdoor Experience, taking the stage Saturday, Oct. 5, featuring:

11 a.m. Josh Eagle: This Cincinnati coffee-house regular shares personal, soft, longing, winged Folk. Eagle’s gripping voice, touching finger picking and bleeding harmonicas snatch you up like the raw, intimate music of Ray Lamontagne. Soothing and originally raspy, songs hurt and heal, gliding into calmness.

12 p.m. Good English: Good English is a three-sister rock band from Dayton whose musical style is reflective of the indie, roots, blues, and folk rock that has influenced its members. Running counter to the usual young girl-band stereotypes, the band’s authentic instrumentation and rich vocals proves their budding talent as musicians, while their original songwriting and irresistible grace and beauty makes them a powerfully appealing package. They know how to rock, and they carry themselves with a sense of poise and style that is well beyond their years.

1 p.m. Meghna & the Majority: Singer/songwriter Meghna Mahambrey first stepped on stage for a solo performance in her elementary school musical. She went on to cover the hits of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Etta James in her middle and high school talent shows. In college, she recorded an R&B/pop album; in graduate school, she recorded an acoustic/folk album. In December 2012, alongside her career in education, she released a jazzy, singer-songwriter album and formed her new band, Meghna & the Majority. With her soulful, seasoned voice, she sings – not for the fame, not for the fortune. She sings because she has a song.

2 p.m. Kris N: With his second release and first full-length, “Lo-Fi Movement,” Dayton-based Kris N. has made a great pop record. Marked by strong melodies and lyrics that explore the place he is in and his life as a husband and father.

3 p.m. Jah Sol: This group brings back the bass and keys, returning to the stage to bring the funk to attendees at the Midwest Outdoor Experience for a second time.

4 p.m. Starving in the Belly of the Whale: Starving in the Belly of the Whale is the music of Ricky Terrell. Terrell is accompanied by a changing cast of musicians on each album to capture a unique, desired sound.

5 p.m. The Repeating Arms: Max Nunery plays banjo, guitar, lap steel and sings back-up. Harold Hensley plays acoustic guitar and sings. Chip Pritchard plays upright bass and sings back-up vocals. Brian Spirk plays mandolin and fiddle.

6 p.m. New Vega: The Southern Ohio four piece New Vega brims with vibrant hooks and aching melodies. Their debut album Tempo has captured the attention of major festivals and media outlets.

7 p.m. PUBLIC: Formerly known as “crown” – PUBLIC is comprised of three friends who wish to always be allowed to dance, yell, and have fun with their music as long as inhumanly possible.

Other awesome activities that pair nicely with a fun-filled afternoon of outdoor adventure include:

Great Lakes Brewing Co. Beer Garden: Hosted by Bonbright Distributors, funds from the beer garden will benefit the Mad River Mountain Ski Patrol. (As if you needed more reasons to raise a glass around the campfire on a crisp, fall evening!)
Outdoor Food Truck Rally: Re-fuel your recreation-ravaged body with delicious fare from several local mobile eateries, including Fressa, Cheeky Meat Pies, Pa’s Pork and Smokin’ Bar-B-Que.
Zuke’s Bark Zone: If you bring Fido to this pet-friendly event, be sure to check out the Subaru Ultimate Air Dogs competition and let Spot get a little exercise at Subaru Pooch Island.
Exhibitor Village: Get the gear you need to “Get Out & Live” all year long at the Exhibitor Village.

That’s just a small slice of everything there is to do at the annual Midwest Outdoor Experience. Stop by (perhaps for a little overnight in the Eddie Bauer Campground camping) and discover why Dayton has rightfully earned the title “Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest”!

This Week on Kaleidoscope: Starving in the Belly of a Whale

January 11, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

Starving in the Belly of the Whale

Back in October, Starving in the Belly of a Whale released an album called You Look Like You’ve Seen the Devil. You can pick up a free copy of the album at Omega Music in the Oregon District. You can also check out the band tomorrow night on Kaleidoscope, 8-11pm on 91.3FM WYSO. I’ll be interviewing the band, and they’ll be performing an acoustic set live on the air. You can tune in online at www.wyso.org, and if you’re not close to a radio or a computer, the set will be available to stream on WYSO’s website beginning on Thursday afternoon. We’ve also got links to stream-able episodes of Kaleidoscope right here in the sidebar of the DaytonMusic section of Dayton MostMetro.