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Tastes of The Greene This Thursday

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On Thursday, Aug 11th seventeen eateries will be set up on the Town Square for an evening of tasty treats at The Taste of The Greene.  This annual event runs $15 if tickets are purchased in advance (at guest services) or $20 at the event. Sampling starts at 5pm and
will run until 9pm. Beer and soda will be available for an additional cost.

The line up of restaurants this year includes:
Adobe Gila’s
Asian Gourmet
BD Mongolian Barbeque
BRIO Tuscan Grill
Caribou Coffee
Cheryl & Co
Chipotle
Fleming’s
McCormick & Schmick’s
Noodles & Company
Panera Bread
Pasha Grill
That Crepe Place
The Pub
The Wine Loft
Yoba

The proceeds form this years’s Taste of the Greene will support Victoria Theatre Association, while the beer proceeds will help AIDS Resource Center Ohio.

For more information, check out The Greene.

Jane’s Best Bets (6/22 – 6/26)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Holy moly, there are a ton of things going on this week!  Speaking of “holy,” this week there are several church festivals…plus many more great events.  Let’s check them out!

On Wednesday during your lunch hour, get moving with The Square Is Where… Dayton YMCA Presents Zumba at Courthouse Square.  If you feel like having a drink, head to A.Y.O.B. at Archer’s Tavern, where a new craft beer will be featured starting at 5PM or to Franco’s for Dayton Green Drinks, where they will be discussing the Pathways out of Poverty Program.  I do believe it is officially summer, so even though you may not be taking that big European vacation you’ve dreamed about, you can still have a Summer Around The World Wine Dinner at The Wine Loft.  If cycling is your thing, you will not want to miss seeing Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America, being featured at The Neon.  All women who are looking for an opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others in the Dayton area should consider attending the Junior League of Dayton New Member Social.  This amazing group makes great contributions to our community, and you have the opportunity to be a part of it…as long as you’re not a man!  If you’re in need of a good laugh, make your way to Wiley’s for their Dirty Little Secret Sideshow – Deuxième Exécution.  And if you’re a Harley lover that also enjoys live music, head to Jackass Flats for Buddha & The Boogie Down Gig/Bike Night.

Disney's THE LION KING - Victoria Theatre Association, Dayton, OhioOn Thursday, complete some of your grocery shopping at the Centerville Farmers Market.  If you work or volunteer for a non-profit, consider helping the cause by attending Orientation to the Grants Information Center at the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch.  You will be able to hear live music at the Dayton Art Institute as part of their Twilight Concert.  Jim McCutcheon, a very talented guitarist (who also taught me two semesters worth of guitar when I was at UD!), will be one of the performers.  If you wish to show a bit of your athleticism, make your way to Wings Sports Bar & Grille for their Weekly Cornhole Tournament.  You know I’m corny, so I had to put that in here.  And finally, if you have not yet had the opportunity to check out The Lion King at the Schuster Center, now is your chance!

On Friday, there are an enormous number of wonderful events from which to choose!  In the afternoon, if you don’t have lunch plans, consider joining Generation Dayton for their 4th Friday Lunch Speaker Series.  Or have some fun at Courthouse Square with the Team Void Summer Twist Party.  In the evening, join me in attending the Hops Over the Moon Preview Party at the Boonshoft, which will feature too many great things to list…seriously!  (For more info, check out this article.)  If you’re in shape, run the 5th Annual 5 For the Kids 5K to benefit CARE House.  And even if you’re not, that is okay too!  There are several festivals happening around town, including the Fenwick Festival (my alma mater!), the Ascension Festival, and the St. Peter Parish Festival.  At Yankee Trace, many people will be playing golf as part of the 2nd Annual Glow Fore Wishes Golf Scramble to benefit A Special Wish Foundation.  Although registration is full for the event, there are still several sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, so if you are able to help, I encourage you to do so!  And if you feel like catching a show, Hair Spray at La Comedia and The Lion King at the Schuster Center are possible options!

On Saturday, start the day off with another 5k – the First Annual Back to Health 5k, held at Indian Riffle Park.  Up in Troy, get some great produce as part of the Troy Farmers Market.  If you are a teacher, consider going to the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch for the Grants for Classroom Projects.  There are a lot of family friendly options for Saturday, including the Family Fun Day Beach Party & Cruise in at Hueston Woods, the Fenwick Festival, the St. Peter Parish Festival, and the Ascension Festival.  In addition, if you’re of the corny type, Ascension will have its very own Festival Cornhole Tournament.  At RiverScape, rent a kayak and ride the river.  Make sure you wear a life jacket as I once flipped over in an “unflippable” kayak, or so I’m told.  Just leave it to me to do the impossible (I’m sure this won’t happen to you, however)!  In the evening, make your way to the Boonshoft (kids are welcome!) for Hops Over the Moon, which is sure to be a great time, and also supports a great cause!  There are a couple other fun events, including the Clambake For Kids’ Sake at McCormick & Schmicks to support Big Brothers Big Sisters and Party Arty! at the Commander Aero Hangar (Dayton Wright Brothers Airport) to support Culture Works.  Theater options include The Lion King (Schuster Center) and Hair Spray (La Comedia).  And if you’re downtown and love summer concerts, listen to the sounds of Kick-n-Flava as part of the Free Summer Concert Series down at RiverScape.  Wow, my fingers are getting tired from typing all this stuff going on around town!

On Sunday, if you (and your kids) have any energy left, make your way to one of the great festivals going on around town – the Fenwick Festival, the St. Peter Festival, or the Ascension Festival.  If your kids are Disney lovers, consider taking them to Dayton Disneyana at the Holiday Inn  close to the Dayton Mall.  Listen to some of the best local female jazz vocalists as part of the Downtown Summer Music Series – Michelob Women in Jazz Festival at Dave Hall Plaza.  Or at Veteran’s Park Amphitheater, listen to live music as part of World Music Fest!  And finally, hurry up and get to the Schuster Center to see The Lion King if you haven’t already done so!

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

How does a man on the moon cut his hair?

Eclipse it.

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!

You Drink, They Eat!

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“Hope is the belief that, in spite of present conditions, happiness and good things are soon to come.”

The Wine Loft at the Greene has figured out how to serve up wine and hope at the same time.  As part of a unique new program that donates a percentage of sales with their monthly wine features, the more folks that sample the featured monthly flight of wine, the more money will be donated to The Hope Foundation of Greater Dayton.  The organization helps people with the pitfalls of life. By addressing these problems, they are helping to support the idea that tomorrow can be better than today, which is the essence of hope.

The biggest program the foundation runs is their mobile food pantry. Every week, their truck is packed with food packages for 700 families in need. They then travel to various host sites in Montgomery and Greene counties to deliver directly to  clients.  They provide two bags of groceries and a few lbs. of meat (9 meals) to those in need. They distribute more than FIFTEEN TONS of food EVERY MONTH.

Try a flight of the Lofts featured wines for June  for $16 and $1/flight with be donated  to  The Hope Foundation.  Here are this months features:

Bricco del Sole Moscato d’Asti

100% Moscato. The 6,000 case production is divided into 5 or 6 bottling periods to preserve natural freshness. Slow natural fermentation for 1 month in temperature controlled stainless steel.

Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir

The 2009 Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir offers aromas of strawberry, raspberry and hints of anise. Red fruit flavors are predominant with cherry notes and a long silky finish.

Domaine la Guintrandy Cotes du Rhone

70% Grenache, 20% olds Carignan and 10% Syrah

Joel Gott Cabernet

The 2008 Joel Gott 815 California Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe with blueberry, cherry soda, and dark cherry. The aromas burst with violet, vanilla, cedar, chocolate and cinnamon. Soft ripe tannins result in a balanced and long velvety finish.

Melville Chardonnay

This rich, creamy Chardonnay has fine acidity, while a touch of neutral oak adds a background of buttered toast. But the fruit stars, brimming with papayas, mangos, Meyer lemons, limes and pineapples. The finish is filled with honey, and yet is brisk and dry.

You can also visit The Wine Loft for lunch Friday- Sunday and 10% of your food bill will also be donated to The Hope Foundation.  Check out the lunch menu here.

Hats & Horses – Derby Doings in Dayton

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Every year as May roles around there is  a lot of talk about the Kentucky Derby.  Recipes start floating around for the quintessential Mint Julep or Derby Pie.  Women start discussing hats- and this year the talk was kick-started early due to the Royal Wedding. Heck, I even know the difference between a downbrim and a Fascinator, something my grandmother would have been so proud of, if she were still here.  People that never seem to care about horse racing suddenly talk handicapping. Last year I enjoyed the Derby Day Brunch at Brio, but never even saw the race.  This year something got into me and I’ve decided to make the trek down to  Churchill Downs.  So if you want to get caught up in all the hoopla,  here are some great events to celebrate the greatest two minutes in sports.

Color of Energy hosts  a Derby Day Preview Party
Wed, May 4th 6:30pm

Kicking off  “And Their Off,” a horseracing photographic exhibit by John Engelhardt, A Color of Energy gets you ready for The Derby . John is a longtime employee of River Downs in Cincinnati and a resident of Oakwood.  He has a great collection of horseracing scenes that tie in with the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Color of Energy gallery will be hosting along with Judge Dan Gehres and Tom Archdeacon.  The party will feature Engelhardts photos, Ed Meyer a professional handicapper from Kentucky gives his derby predictions and a live throughbred race horse will be outside!!  It wouldn’t be a true Dereby party without the singing of Run for the Roses & My Old Kenutcky Home and Dale Walton will be on hand to do that!  Sidebar will be serving Hotbrowns and Derby pie and providing a cash bar. Original jockey silks will decorate the day and this will be a great forum for Derby stories, history and a preview to what promises to be a great event.

13th Annual Derby Day Dash 5K and Youth Fun Runs
Sat May 7th 8am – 11am

Start the day off by participating in The Derby Day Dash, a charitable fun run that benefits Life Essentials, an organization that helps people who slip through gaps in community services. The day is family friendly and consists of a 5K run/walk, a Tot Trot for ages 3-5, a Kids Canter for the 6-8 year olds and the Guys & Girls Gallop for ages 9-10.   All events start and finish at Fifth Third Plaza in downtown Dayton.  The first 75 registered children between the ages of 6 and 10 will be fitted for a free safety helmet.  All children registered will receive a free ticket to the Beach Watherpark.
There are also team contests with prizes for the largest team, best team name and as appropriate for the day, a hat contest.  Don’t worry, a hat check will be provided for racers, as no hats are to be worn during the race. After the races their will also be drawing for door prizes.  For more information call 586-0545 or email

The second annual Crown Jewels™ of Dayton Derby Day Brunch Sat, May 7th 10am – 1pm

The event generously hosted by Brio at The Greene includes a buffet brunch and in true Derby-style, mint juleps. Other activities will include a “Hat Strut” by our guests, a silent auction and roaming models from merchants at The Greene. Guests will also get their picture taken by the official Derby Day photographer and everyone will receive a Run for the Pink Roses commemorative glass.

All proceeds from this Crown Jewel’s™ event go to further the work of the Kettering Medical Center Foundation’s Women’s Wellness Fund. The fund provides free screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and prostheses to uninsured women (and men) in our community. It also provides education on breast cancer and other women’s health issues through the Cindy Wilde Vogel Memorial Library located at the Kettering Breast Evaluation Center. Procedures may be scheduled at any accepting mammography facility in the area (not just a KMC affiliate) and the Women’s Wellness Fund will cover the cost. To date over 8000 people have been able to use this life saving service.  Tickets for the Crown Jewels Derby Day Brunch are $40.  Many of the calendar models are selling tickets for this even or you can call Tina at 937-259-7927 to order your tickets.

JLD Derby Party
Sat, May 7, 4-8pm

The Junior League of Dayton invites you to put on your Derby hat and sip Mint Juleps while you watch the most exciting tow minutes in sports with them as they host a watch party at The Wine Loft at The Greene.  Tickets run $30 for members and spouses, and $35 for non-members.  Tickets include 2 drink tickets and a spread that will include Hot Browns, Pimento Cheese Toasts, Mint Julep Lamp Chops, Shrimp & Cheese Grits and Thourghbread Pie.  You can purchase tickets online or by mailing check to the Junior League of Dayton Office. Ticket Purchase Deadline is Friday, May 6th at Noon.

Hunks & Heals and Beads, Oh My!

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Vince Corrado, 2009 Best Legs Champion

It takes a real man to strut his stuff in a pair of high heels and Clothes That Work (CTW)  has been lucky enough to repeatedly count on some truly philanthropic guys in our community.  On Tues, March 8th photographer Andy Snow will be doing a photo shoot, capturing the contestants for the 20111 Online Best Leg Competition at The Wine Loft at The Greene. Last year’s online contest raised over $4000, one $5 vote at a time, to allow CTW to continue to empower job seeker with clothing and confidence.

Friends and fans of these hunks are invited to join the fun and start the voting for our 2011 Hunks in Heels as we host a kick off party from 5 -7pm. Admission is $20 per guest and will include appetizers, 2 glasses of wine or beer, and 2 mardi gras bead necklaces (it is Fat Tuesday, after all).  Guests can award the beads to their choice for best legs!  Additional beads (votes) will be available for $5 each.

Confirmed Hunks include:

Marty Beyer, Partner, Sebaly Shillito + Dyer

Ron Burdge, Attorney, Burdge Law Office

Sean Costello, Assistant IP Manager, Freund, Freeze & Arnold

Sherif Hedayat, Owner at Erratic Media Group

Richard Kaiser, Marketing Strategist at Penny/Ohlmann/Neiman

Bill Pote, Publisher at DaytonMostMetro.com

Kevin Round, General Manager of the Dayton Racquet Club

Troy Singer, P&G Relationship Manager at Hooven-Dayton Corp

Bryan Suddith, Executive Director, Greater Dayton Chapter at A Kid Again

Mark Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Partner at Elements IV Interiors

CJ Webster, Regional Sales Manager at LexisNexis Group & Generation Dayton Representative

and more being added every day!

If you know a hunk we need to include just send us an email and we’ll see what we can do to recruit them.    Can’t make the party on Fat Tuesday?  Don’t worry- we’ll have the online voting up soon after the party for you to check out Dayton’s Best Legs!

Be sure to put May 14th on your calendar for the actual Hunks in Heels race held on the square at The Greene.  Last year we had over 150 hunks competing, we expect even more this year!

In the meantime, enjoy highlights from last year:

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL8ZfiNj0dk&feature=player_embedded']

Jane’s Best Bets (2/2 – 2/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Hello February…and hello icky weather!  If you’re reading this, that means you still have power, which is a great thing!  I hope you also have the power to get up off the couch and enjoy some of these events!

On Groundhog Day (a.k.a. Wednesday), eat lunch at Smokey Bones for their $5 Lunch Special.  Over at the Schuster Center, check out the Visual Voices Art Exhibit:  Dayton Skyscrapers 2011, which celebrates “women and men who stand tall as role models in the Dayton African-American community.”  There will be a sea of food at Dorothy Lane Market as part of their Oyster Bar Happy Hour, as well as at Bonefish Grill for their Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesday.  If you are a fan of environmental causes and would like to know more about the lives affected by the water industry as well as public water rights, then you will want to attend the Environmental Film Series: Tapped at Cox Arboretum.  Enjoy an adult beverage at The Wine Loft for their Happy Hour, The Wine Gallery for their Weekly Wine Tasting, or Bruning’s Wine Cellar for their Taste the Wines of Frog’s Leap event.  If you’re downtown, head to the Schuster Center to see 9 to 5: The Musical (I’m looking forward to it after my 9 to 5 job!) or to The Loft Theatre to see Twelfth Night.  Over at Clark State Performing Arts Center, watch Fiddler On The Roof…I’m hoping he doesn’t fall down with it being icy!  And finally, support the UD Flyers as they play St. Bonaventure at UD Arena…and hopefully get a victory!

On Thursday, celebrate the Chinese New Year with dinner specials at both The Nanking Inn and Kabuki.  Have you always wanted to dance, but keep putting it off?  If so, boogie your way to Michael Solomon Pavillion for International Folk Dance Lessons.  Over at the Dayton Racquet Club, attend the Go Red for Women/American Heart Month Kickoff.  At The Neon, check out Pecha Kucha Night Dayton, Volume 6, in which there will be several short presentations by noteworthy people around the city about their creative endeavors.  The presentations will be followed by a screening of the documentary DIVE, which is based on the topic of food waste at L.A. supermarkets.  For more information about Pecha Kucha, click here.  If you like meeting new people, head to Cedarville University to meet Dolly… be sure to tell her Hello, Dolly! Also, at the Schuster Center, you will be able to see 9 TO 5: The Musical, and at The Loft Theatre, you can catch Twelfth Night.

On Friday, after you get out of the shower, be sure to put on your red for the National Wear Red Day, in honor of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” Movement.  If you wish, you can continue to celebrate the Chinese New Year at China Dynasty, The Nanking Inn, or Kabuki.  Get out your dancing shoes and head to the Michael Solomon Pavilion for the Contra Dance Party – Cityfolk.  If you love a good fish fry, head to either the Ascension or the St. Mary Fish Fry.  All you art lovers will want to participate in First Friday, the fabulous art hop which happens the first Friday of each month downtown.  There will also be many wonderful shows going on in our great region, including 9 to 5: The Musical (Schuster Center), The Octette Bridge Club (Beavercreek Community Theatre), The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (Dayton Playhouse), Twelfth Night (Loft Theatre), The Berenstain Bears Onstage; A Bear Country Musical! (Town Hall Theatre), and True West (University of Dayton-Kennedy Union Boll Theatre).  And finally, listen to The Rocket Man, The Eagles, Diana Ross, and The Beatles as you skate at RiverScape for their event, Peace, Love, and Skate: 60s and 70s.

On Saturday, bring your Valentine and go to the wonderful El Meson for their Cooking Class for Lovers.  For all you techies, head to the Dayton Diode Open House which has been called a “YMCA for nerds”…perhaps I should go then!  When tragedy strikes, it is important for a community to join together.  Over at St. John’s Lutheran Church, bring your friends and participate in the Dodgeball Tournamnet to benefit the Suzanne Waughtel Hopper fund.  In the evening, there are opportunities to support other great causes.  You can attend the 21st Annual Artemis Center Gala ‘Be a Star, a Purple Carpet Event’ at Sinclair or Sing your Heart Out For A Good Cause (the American Heart Association) at The Wine Loft.  All you “pasghetti” lovers (as many kids call it!) will want to go to the American Legion Post 598 for Franco’s FAMOUS Spaghetti.  Over at RiverScape, participate in the Star-Late Skate.  Also on Saturday, there will be a plethora of theatre options, including 9 to 5: The Musical, The Berenstain Bears Onstage; A Bear Country Musical, The Octette Bridge Club, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, Twelfth Night, and True West.

On Sunday, consider going to Alex’s for their Jazz Brunch.  Or you can Savor Your Sunday & Support Stivers at Coco’s Bistro.  If it’s not too cold, perhaps you’ll want to learn the Fundamentals of Skating at RiverScape.  Sundays are a great day for the arts, so consider checking out the Wright State University 2011 Faculty Exhibition, Visual Voices Art Exhibit; Dayton Skyscrapers 2011 at the Schuster Center, Folk Art from the Collection of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP at The Dayton Art Institute, or A Student of People Exhibit at Troy-Hayner Cultural Center.  Or check out one of the many theatre productions going on around town.  If you still haven’t done so, be sure to check out DMM’s onStageDayton, where Shane, Katherine, and Russell keep you up to date on the Dayton theatre scene!

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

How many pessimists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Nevermind.  Nobody would get the joke anyway.

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!