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The Playhouse South

Jane’s Best Bets (4/6 – 4/10)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s April, so don’t be fooled by the people that tell you there is nothing to do in Dayton!  There are many great things going on here this week!

On Wednesday, picture yourself in one of the Landscapes by Gregory T. Davis or the Landscapes by Monique Janssen-Belitz, both at Sinclair.  At the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet, attend Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork’s Photography Exhibit.  All you opera lovers should attend Opera Preview On Campus: The Daughter of the Regiment at Wright State.  Everybody needs to eat, so head to the Oregon District’s Boulevard Haus where Sausages, Burgers, and Sandwiches will be 25% off!  Afterwards, wise men say that you may want to get “All Shook Up” at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, make your way to the Schuster Center to see Nick Clooney, an award-winning journalist, author, TV personality, and activist (and the father to George Clooney!) as part of the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture Series.  Over at the University of Dayton, the most talented winter guards around the world will be competing in the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships.  Jazz your life up a bit by attending the Vectren Just Jazz Series: Maggie Green and the Brazilian Jazz Connection at the Dayton Art Institute.  In downtown Miamisburg, head to A Taste of Wine for their Greek Wine Tasting.  All you theater lovers should head to the UD for Smoke on the Mountain or Victoria Theatre for All Shook Up.  And if you love baseball, I hope you’ll be at the Dayton Dragons’ Opening Day as they take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods!

On Friday, there will be several opportunities to support some wonderful non-profits in the Miami Valley, so get out and have fun for a cause!  At the Greene, they are Going Blue for Autism Awareness – when you make select purchases at both The Wine Loft and The Funny Bone, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local autism charities.  At Town & Country Shopping Center, check out the Inner I Gallery & Partners For Community Living – Opening Reception, in which fine art created by artists with developmental disabilities will be on display and for sale.  Over at the Schuster Center, enjoy live music, great food, drinks, a silent auction, raffles, and much more as part of the The Great Escape!  All proceeds will directly benefit the Dayton Chapter of the American Red Cross to aid in disaster relief.  (I’m helping to plan the event so I hope to see you there!)  At the Hope Hotel and Conference Center, you will be able to support another great cause, We Care Arts, as they have their 2011 ‘Happy Days’ Auction.  Also on Saturday, you can enjoy Half-Price Happy Hour Pizzas at Oregon Express.  Make your way to Fifth-Third Field to catch the Dragons as they play the Bowling Green Hot Rods.  Some theater options include All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild (I hope they’re cute), Close Ties (a family drama that brings an understanding about Alzheimer’s ) at the Kettering Health Network Theater, and Smoke on the Mountain at UD.  Also, you’ll have the opportunity to check out the amazing documentary The Elephant in the Living Room presented as part of the UD ArtStreet Friday Film Series.

On Saturday, participate in the Run for Congo 5K at Wegerzyns Garden Center.  Afterwards, it is perfectly acceptable to stuff yourself with pancakes at the Kiwanis 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast at Christ United Methodist Church.  If you love playing games (the nice kind, not the mean kind), head to Game Day at Your Library (the Dayton Metro Library’s East Branch).  Over at the UD Arena, you will be able to check out the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships.  If you love flowers, head to the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking for their Tropical Flowers Arrangement Class.  Bring out the artist in you by participating in the Art-Making & Historical Touring (Dayton Visual Arts Center) or the Get Creative Workshop – Visual Journaling (Dayton Art Institute).  Also at the Dayton Art Institute, you will be able to catch the Vanguard Concerts: Graffe String Quartet with Pianist Michiko Otaki.  Theater options for Saturday include All Shook Up (Victoria Theatre), The Boys Next Door (Dayton Theatre Guild), Close Ties (X*ACT, Xenia Area Community Theatre at the Kettering Health Network Theater), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Playhouse South), and Smoke on the Mountain (UD).  And if you miss football season, be sure to check out the Dayton Silverbacks as they take on the Marion Blue Racers.

On Sunday, start the morning off with All You Can Eat Brunch at Yankee Trace.  Then, eat some more at the Taste of Greene County at the Nutter Center.  Take the family to see the Dragons play the Bowling Green Hot Rods…plus Charity Cuts on the Plaza and McDonald’s Friends & Family Day at Fifth Third Field.  Get your legs moving for the Kettering Spring Into Health 5K Run/Walk.  If you love music, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘The Symphonic Mozart’ at the Dayton Masonic Center.  Or head to UD for their Jazz Faculty Recital.  And finally, don’t miss your chance to catch All Shook Up at the Victoria Theatre.  Thank you, thank you very much for reading.

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

Why was it really hot after the baseball game?

All the fans left.

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 (3/30 – 4/3)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It is the end of March…although the madness continues, of course!  This also means that it’s the beginning of April showers.  However, instead of gifts, I’m going to shower you with things to do!

On Wednesday, make your way to the fabulous Jay’s Seafood Restaurant for their Groth Vineyards Tasting or to Bruning’s Wine Cellar for their Special Edition Tasting: All White Wines from Germany and Austria.  Although Sammy’s El Pueblo in Springboro has been open for a little while, head to their Grand Opening Celebration, which will feature a live mariachi band and buy one get one lunch or dinner!  Hopefully you’re like me and have your tickets to Avenue Q at Victoria Theatre (which is actually on Main Street).  Entertainment Weekly called it “one of the funniest shows you’re ever likely to see,” so I am so ready to get my laugh on and I hope you are too!  Just be sure to get your tickets ASAP as I have been told that there are only a few tickets remaining!  (For more info on this show, check out Shane Anderson’s article on DMM.)  And if you’re feeling like grabbing a beer and listening to some acoustic music, head to the Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam.

On Thursday, make your way to the PNC 2nd Street Market for Maple Syrup Maestro.  Over at Coco’s Bistro, enjoy their delicious food and 1/2 Price Wine by the Bottle.  Make your way to the Dayton Art Institute for DAI Movie Night: Steve McQueen in ‘Bullitt’.  FYI – “Bullit” doesn’t look like it’s speled corectlee, but when I looked it up, it waz acshually correctt.  If you love live music, make your way to the Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center to watch as The Centerville Orchestra presents, Mark Wood, a musician with an impressive resume!  Or, combine your love for video games with music by attending the Dayton Philharmonic’s The Return of Play! A Video Game Symphony at the Schuster Center.

On Friday, don’t go out and do anything.  Just be lazy, stay at home, and relax on the couch.  April Fool!  Of course you better not be doing that or else I’d have to try to drag you off the couch!  Instead, you can make your way to the Dayton Visual Arts Center for their Auction Preview Exhibition.  If you love cows and want to protect them, head to the Dayton Mall Chick-fil-A for their customer appreciation day, in which you will get a free Chick-fil-A sandwich(offered  4-7PM).  I have to be honest – I am so disappointed because I LOVE Chick-fil-A but do the “no meat on Fridays in Lent” thing…I wish they had a Fish-fil-A Sandwich!  Help raise money for music scholarships at Cedarville University by attending the ‘Musical Chairs’ performance.  If you’re downtown, be sure to participate in First Friday, the art hop that happens the first Friday of each month.  Kristen Wicker does a fantastic job telling you all about the events going on as part of First Friday, so I’ll shut my mouth (or stop typing) and encourage you to check out her article yourself…it’s really not a joke!

On Saturday, all you 5K lovers should head to Eastwood MetroPark for Celtic Academy’s Inaugural 5K Race for the Worlds Run/Walk.  All you art lovers should attend the Auction Preview Exhibition at the Dayton Visual Arts Center.  Some theater options include Beauty and the Beast at Victoria Theatre, Bill W. & Dr. Bob at Dayton Playhouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild, and Smoke on the Mountain at the University of Dayton.  Also at the University of Dayton, listen to the sounds of the Ebony Heritage Singers, Dayton’s gospel choir which will perform music from the African-American sacred music tradition.  Take the stairway to the Schuster Center, which will seem like heaven as you see the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, The Symphony Rocks: Music of Led Zeppelin.  If you love football but hate to sit out in the cold, head to Hara Arena to watch as the Dayton Silverbacks play the Cincinnati Commandos.  And if you love black tie events and supporting great causes, head to the Wright State University ArtsGala.  I have heard that this is always an amazing event!

The Symphony Rocks: The Music of Led Zeppelin

On Sunday, THEater seems like THE thing to do!  Beauty and the Beast at Victoria Theatre, Bill W. & Dr. Bob at Dayton Playhouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Doorat Dayton Theatre Guild, and Smoke on the Mountain at the University of Dayton are all options.  Or bring your kids to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, The Beat Goes On at the Schuster Center.

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

How does a cow keep track of all her appointments?

She checks her COWander.

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 (3/23 – 3/27)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Woohoo…it’s spring!  That means you need to put a little spring in your step and make your way to some of these events going on this week!

On Wednesday, make your way to the Community Blood Center for Because Kerrigan Cared Week, where all blood donations will be made in memory of Steve Kerrigan, a veteran Dayton broadcaster who recently lost his battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.  After you have donated blood, you will want to help replenish your blood supply by eating a good dinner!  So be sure to head to the Bonefish Grill for their Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesdays or to Sammy’s El Pueblo for their Fajita Dinner for 2 for $19.99.  All you who love debating political issues should head to the Trolley Stop for Drinking Liberally – Dayton.  Even though St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, you will be able to attend the Green Drinks Dayton March at Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge, in which you will be able to find out about local organizations who “think green.”  And if you don’t mind making a fool of yourself, head to Blind Bob’s Tavern for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.  If you’re a really good singer, that’s okay too…except for the fact that you just make all of us bad singers look even worse!

On Thursday, if you want to celebrate that it is almost the weekend, head to After Work Thursdays at The Moraine Embassy for “Downtown Happy Times.”  They say wine and yoga relax you, so be ultra relaxed by attending Grape and Lotus – A Wine and Yoga Practice at Metropolitan Arts Center.  Love movies and art?  Make your way to DAI’s Movie Night, featuring Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead’.  Plus, the ticket price includes admission to the new exhibit, Creating the New Century: Contemporary Art from the Dicke Collection!  If you are a film enthusiast, you may also head to Ajami: Dayton Jewish International Film Festival, which takes place at The Neon.  There are a couple options available for young professionals who enjoy the arts, including Young Professionals Night at the DPO (Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra) or Jump into Strings (hopefully you don’t get hurt) with jumpstART.  If you do decide to jump, join other jumpers at the Milano’s on Brown Street prior to the show!  Or head to New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre.  They must also enjoy jumping, as they say that you should “Jump into spring with a fusion of fresh, innovative dance and stimulating, live music!”  A good friend of mine saw a preview of it and said it was AWESOME!  And finally, all you car lovers must attend the Dayton Auto Show, going on through Sunday!

New Music for New Dance-Dayton Ballet

On Friday, if you haven’t made it to one yet this season (I’m talking about fish fry season, not spring), then make plans to attend the St. Charles Fish Fry.  At the Spaghetti Warehouse, attend the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Fashion Friction’.  If you enjoy music, head to the Schuster Center for Daugherty: Electric Guitar Concerto – Passport Performance.  All you dance lovers should plan to attend the Russian National Ballet Theatre performance at Clark State Performing Arts Center.  And if you can’t decide if you like music or dance better, then I have a solution for you – attend the Dayton Ballet’s New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre, which will have both!  Catch a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South.  If you like Buzz (not to be confused with getting buzzed), then watch Toy Story 3 as part of the ArtStreet Friday Film Series Presents at the University of Dayton.  I have not seen it yet because I’ve heard it even makes grown men cry!  If you love wine and Porsches (just make sure you don’t try to drive the Porsches after you’ve had a few glasses of wine), then head to the Taj Wine Tasting 2011 at Taj Ma Garaj.  In addition to delicious wine and gorgeous cars, there will be yummy food from some of the area’s premier caterers, including Belmont Catering and Bernsteins.

On Saturday, start the day off right with the Dogfish Head Beer Breakfast at Spinoza’s.  If you’re more of a health nut, then head to The Mall at Fairfield Commons for their 4th Annual ‘No Buts About It’ 5K Run/Walk.  Over at PNC 2nd Street Market, you will be able to see Birds of Prey.  Seriously.  Just “pray” they don’t eat you!  Before the weather gets too warm, all you chili lovers should head to the South Park Chili Cook off at South Park’s Hope Lutheran Church.  Help “Big Brothers Big Sisters” by participating in their Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Woodman Lanes.  And if you’re not available or have a thumb injury and can’t bowl, feel free to make a donation to support this wonderful cause!  If you’re looking for a music, theater, or dance option (or perhaps some combination of these art forms!), spring over to Victoria Theatre for New Music for New Dance, Town Hall Theatre for Pinkalicious, The Musical, The Playhouse South for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or the Schuster Center for New Worlds – Passport Performance.  And finally, if you love hockey and want to support a good cause, watch as the Dayton Gems Pack the House for Kyle Terrian.

On Sunday, head to the Little Art Theatre for brunch and a movie.  If you like Joseph, watch him and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South.  At Town Hall Theatre, you will still be able to see Pinkalicious, The Musical.  If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see New Music for New Dance, I strongly encourage you to do so!   At South Park United Methodist Church, listen to some beautiful voices as the University of Dayton Chorale performs.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out the Dayton Auto Show, remember that Sunday is the last day for it!  And if you need some techniques to help you relax before heading into another busy work week, head to Practice Yoga on Fifth for their Intro to Mindfulness Meditation.

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

Two kangaroo moms were talking to each other and one said, “I hope it doesn’t rain today.”  The other one replied, “Yeah, I just hate it when the children play inside.”

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 (1/19 – 1/23)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I have to be honest…writing this column each week has been a bit overwhelming, and this week is no exception!  As I have been researching events to share with you, I have realized that there are just TOO MANY great things going on in Dayton from which to choose!  In an effort to reduce the time it would take you to read about all the events going on this week, I have narrowed them down to a hopefully more manageable number!

On Wednesday, you can yell “checkmate” as part of the Chess Club at the East Branch of the Dayton Metro Library…or perhaps you better whisper it since you’ll be at the library.  Test your dance moves with Zumba at the East End Community Center.  Since you worked out, you can head over to Nick’s Restaurant for their Kahlua Tasting (you can’t go wrong with kahlua!), The Wine Gallery for their Weekly Wine Tasting, The Caroline for their Eel River Brewing Company Beer Tasting, or Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar for their Wine Down Weekdays! Or check out the movie Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music at The (Fabulous) Neon.

On Thursday, if you don’t know much about twitter, be sure to check out How To Use Twitter for Business.  When I gave up Facebook for Lent last year (except on Sundays, which was still incredibly difficult!), I created a Twitter account to “replace” it.  However, to this day, I still don’t know how to use it, so I could definitely benefit from this workshop!  If you think ice skating is a breeze, learn some additional skills at RiverScape as part of So You Think You Can Skate? I definitely wouldn’t be able to cut it for that one, but perhaps you are much more talented than I am!  Over at the Dayton Art Institute, check out the Dayton Philharmonic’s The King’s Theme: Bach’s A Musical Offering…who could turn down beautiful music in a beautiful environment?  While you’re there, be sure to take advantage of their Free Third Thursdays, as you will get free admission to two of their exhibits!  And finally, whether you’re good or bad, check out Jekyll & Hyde, which will be performed at Wright State.

On Friday, learn the basics of Bread Baking at the PNC 2nd Street Market.  Some music options are the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘Bach: A Musical Offering’ at the Schuster Center, Betty Buckley – Broadway by Request at the Clark State Performing Arts Center, and Bruce Jordan with Sinclair Jazz Ensemble at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater.  I Hate Hamlet. Sorry to all the English teachers I have had in the past.  Actually, this is the name of a dramatic comedy you can see at The Playhouse South.  You can also catch Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State and Ravenscroft at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  And no matter your religious affiliation, if you missed the kick-off to fish fry season this past weekend at Holy Angels, be sure to head to St. Albert the Great for their Fish Fry!

On Saturday, get some tips on taking care of plants over the winter with the Plant Doctors at the PNC 2nd Street Market.  If you’ve never tried yoga and you’re wondering what all the hype is about, head to the Sri Yoga Open House at Sri Yoga Center, where you will be able to participate in FREE yoga classes!  Bring the whole family to Victoria Theatre for The Gizmo Guys – Comedic Juggling Duo.  If you have an ear for music, head to Aullwood Audubon Center & Farm for the Moon over Aullwood Musical Performance, Gilly’s for the Dayton Blues Society Winter Blues Showcase, or to Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater for the Community Wind Symphony Concert.  Or if you’re like me and are a fan of music by THE Eagles (I can’t remember if any of them are bald), then head to the Schuster Center for ‘One of These Nights: Music of the Eagles’.  To catch some theater, purchase tickets to Ravenscroft at Dayton Theatre Guild, I Hate Hamlet at The Playhouse South, Seth Rudetsky’s Big Fat Broadway Show at Clark State Performing Arts Center, or Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State University.  For a thrill, check out AMA Arenacross- Professional Racing at the Nutter Center.  Plus, be sure to get the DaytonMostMetro.com discount for Saturday’s show ($4 off your ticket) by entering the promo code MMETRO!  And finally, although it was a tough loss to Xavier, hopefully the Flyers will get a victory when they take on Fordham at the UD Arena…and hopefully you’ll be there to cheer them on!

On Sunday, you will be able to attend one of the events you may have missed earlier in the weekend, such as the AMA Arenacross- Amateur Racing at the Nutter Center, The Gizmo Guys – Comedic Juggling Duo at Victoria Theatre, I Hate Hamlet at The Playhouse South, Jekyll & Hyde at Wright State, or Ravenscroft at Dayton Theatre Guild.  If you like art, you can catch the Wright State University 2011 Faculty Exhibition.  And for all you social justice activists out there, head to the Dayton International Peace Museum for their exhibit, Under Our Noses: Modern Day Slavery and What You Can Do About It.

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

How do you identify a bald eagle?

All his feathers are combed over to one side.

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!