Dayton937

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

The Wonder Bread Years

Jane’s Best Bets (12/15 – 12/19)

By Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

If you had one, I hope you enjoyed your 2-hour delay or day off due to the snow this week!  If not, I’m sorry!  There are again lots of things to do this week, so even if jackfrost is nipping at your nose, don’t make it a big deal…bundle up and get out of that house!

On Wednesday, start the day at Taco Bell for Free Breakfast Wednesday. At lunchtime, there are several events going on downtown.  You will be able to hear yuletide carols being sung by a choir if you attend the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment or the Noonday Carol Singat Westminster Presbyterian Church.  If you work or volunteer for a non-profit, you’ll want to attend Results Now for Nonprofits at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  The colors of Christmas are red and green, so get in half of that spirit by attending the ‘Green’ Social Networking event at Franco’s.  For you winos, attend the Wine Tasting at Dorothy Lane Market or the Weekly Wine Tastingat The Wine Gallery.  If you’re a beero, attend the Mt Camel Beer Tastingat A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg.  At the Spaghetti Warehouse, attend their Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Hollywood Holiday’…if it’s too scary, you will find it hard to sleep tonight.  For you corny folk like me, attend the Customer Appreciation Christmas Partyat Barleycorn’s, where it will be happy hour all day and there will be visits and gifts from Santa. And finally on Wednesday, at The Loft Theatre, attend 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s or catch The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, visit Santa at the PNC Second Street Market.  Again at your lunch hour, attend the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment going on downtown.  If you are a young professional who lives/works north of town, join HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Emerge) at The Caroline as part of their Third Thursday.  In order to try a new beer or two, attend the Sierra Nevada Celebration at Spinoza’s or the Christmas Beer Dinner at Thai 9.  I’m talking to you about beer, so I’m offering this simple phrase:  Don’t drink and drive.  Over at the Dayton Art Institute, watch as the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Presents African Americans in American Life.  While there, take advantage of their Free Third Thursdays.  Or crank out some tunes by attending Karaoke with DJ Carlat Therapy Café.

On Friday, there are many options for your lunch hour.  If you would like to have lunch with an awesome group of young professionals, RSVP to the wonderful Andy Hickey and attend Generation Dayton’s 4th Friday lunchat Rue Dumaine (it’s actually the third Thursday this month because of Christmas!).  Or, attend Bach’s Lunch feat. Carillon Brass, a band of brass instrument musicians, whose members are all part of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.  Plus, the concert is absolutely FREE!  According to my schedule, fish fry season doesn’t officially start until the Holy Angels fish fry in January, but you don’t have to wait that long for a little fish as you’ll be able to have an All You Can Eat Fish Dinnerat Romer’s Bar and Grill. For those of us who still need to finish our Christmas shopping, we’re in luck as there is a Holiday Bazaar at Valeria’s Beauty Center and Day Spa.  Don’t feel like cooking?  Attend the Christmas Candlelight Dinner at the Dayton Woman’s Club.  Or attend the December Wine and Food Extravaganzaat Kroger Fresh Fare.  I looked at the menu and it sounds absolutely amazing, as there are many foods whose names I don’t know how to pronounce!  To burn off all those calories, grab your ice skates and head over to RiversScape for their DJ Skate: Holiday and Top 40.  Or if you feel like just kicking back, consider purchasing tickets to one of the many shows going on in the area, including Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, The Nutcrackerat the Schuster Center, 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre, Christmas Belles at the Dayton Playhouse, the The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, or Irving Berlin’s White Christmasat La Comedia.

Plan to make Saturday a day with your kids…or at least part of it.  And if you’re like me and don’t have any kids, you can just act like one, or perhaps give somebody’s parents a break and borrow one.  (My mom said she wished somebody would borrow me.  Yep, she actually said that…luckily followed by a just kidding!)  So with kid/s in tow, attend Breakfast with Santa at Carillon Park or stop by the PNC 2nd Street Market as Santa Visits the Market, where he has probably loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh!   While there, drop off your non-perishable items for Food for Friends.  In addition to helping those who are less fortunate, you’ll also be setting a great example for the little ones!  You can then visit the Wonderland Windows and do a little shopping at The Tike’s Shop, which are both at the Schuster Center.  At Kettering Tower, check out Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display.  A little later, take those kiddos to The Neon to watch ‘The Grinch’ as part of their Family Movie Series.  Looking for a pet?  Consider attending the Iams Home 4 the Holiday Pet Adopt-a-thon Event.

There are many other options for Saturday as well!  If you’d like to see a show, consider seeing Christmas Belles at the Dayton Playhouse, The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, The Nutcrackerat the Schuster Center, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, or 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at the Loft Theatre.  Help to make the season bright by attending the Musica! Christmas Seasonal Concertat Fairhaven Church.  I have heard that Musica! has been working hard to put on a great performance!  All you “Flyer Faithful” will want to be at the UD Arena as the Flyers take on Western Carolina.  And although I have never been to one, you can also attend The Mu Crew Christmas Drag Showto benefit the AIDS Resource Center…there might not be folks dressed up like eskimos, but I am sure they will be wearing some interesting clothes!  I didn’t mean for it to, but that sort of rhymed…I guess I’m a poet and didn’t even know it.

On Sunday, have a Victorian Christmas Brunch at the Dayton Woman’s Club. You will also have the opportunity to take your child to the Schuster Center to have Some-Fun, see the Wonderland Windows display, and shop at The Tike’s Shop…I’m sure there will be lots of tiny tots with their eyes all aglow!  If you love architecture, then you will definitely want to attend the Architectural Church Tour which will take you through four different churches built in the late 19th/early 20th century.  This shuttled tour is 100% free!  If you didn’t get a chance to see Musica! perform on Saturday night, consider checking them out at the Lutheran Church of our Savior for their Christmas Seasonal Concert.  And for some theater options, go to the Dayton Playhouse to see Christmas Belles, the Victoria Theatre for The Wonder Bread Years, the Schuster Center for The Nutcracker, Town Hall Theatre for Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, La Comedia for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, or The loft Theatre for 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s.  And if you would like somebody to hit your funny bone, see Latin Kings of Comedy- Alex Reymundo at Dayton Funny Bone.  I have two funny bones, but I think Dayton only has one.

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

Why does Santa have three gardens?

So he can hoe hoe hoe.

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!

Although it’s been said many times, many ways, have a GREAT week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (12/8 – 12/12)

By 1 Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

So we got some of that white stuff on the ground this past week, which is starting to make me dream of a white Christmas!  I love Dayton, but I could definitely do away with this cold!  Anywho, here are some mostly indoor options for the week so you don’t have to depend on the crazy weather!

On Wednesday, check out the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment at various building lobbies downtown.  Groups from around the Miami Valley will be performing holiday music, so it might be a good thing to check out during your lunch hour!  If you’re up in the northern part of the area, consider having Lunch with HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Emerge) at Coldwater Café.  In the evening, head to the Oregon District for their Holiday Tour of Homes.  If you have never experienced Christmas on Campus – Music at the University of Dayton, it is definitely something you want to check out!  There are a variety of festivities, including live music, displays, food, and much more!  If you are “wonder”ing whether there are any theater options, you are in luck!  Catch The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, or 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre.

On Thursday, there will again be musical entertainment during the lunch hour at both the Key Bank Tower’s lobby and the Liberty Tower’s lobby as part of the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment.  Ladies, there is a day just for us at the PNC 2nd Street Market.  Pamper yourself by participating in a variety of activities, including flower arranging, make-up hints, healthy eating tips, and more as part of Ladies Day at the Market.  If you can take the afternoon off work, head to the Dayton Art Institute for their Tour and Tea.  In the evening, ALL young professionals should definitely attend Generation Dayton’s Thirsty Thursday at the Dayton Racquet Club!  If you’re active and would like to learn how to cook, consider registering for Backcountry Gourmet Cooking presented by Five Rivers Metro Parks.  And if you love free live music, attend the UD Gamelan Ensemble performance.

The Nutcracker

On Friday, attend Kids Flower Arranging (make sure your children listen!) or December Centerpieces at PNC 2nd Street Market.  If you didn’t get a chance to check out one of the many holiday music performances downtown during your lunch hour the past few days as part of the Dayton Holiday Festival’s Noontime Entertainment, now is your chance.  And even if you already did, there will be new groups performing!  There will be plenty of performances/shows to check out, including Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, A Christmas Carol at the Beavercreek Community Theatre, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, the UD Jazz Ensembles at the University of Dayton, The Nutcracker at the Schuster Center, 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre, Precious Heart at the Dayton Theatre Guild, and The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre.  If it’s not too cold, join other skaters (or wannabe skaters) at the Star-Late Skate at River Skate…I mean Scape.  No goats allowed.

On Saturday, get a healthy start by participating in the 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis at the Dayton Mall, where I’m sure you’ll see treetops glisten if you go in some of the department stores!  With every Christmas card you write, you get some of that carpal tunnel stuff, so this will be a good opportunity to start moving your legs instead of your hands!  Still trying to catch up on your holiday shopping?  Check out the Yellow Springs Holiday Festival.  At The Neon, see the movie Elf as part of their Family Movie Series.  Heat up your holidays without that expensive airfare by checking out the Parrots of the Caribbean (a Jimmy Buffett cover band) as they play at Norton’s in Kettering.  There will also be tons of performances in the Dayton area that continue to go on, including The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, Precious Heart at the Dayton Theatre Guild, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, A Christmas Carol at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s and at The Loft Theatre.  Also, join jumpstART, the Dayton Ballet Barre, and the Young Lawyers Division as they partner up for Jump into Ballet (A Night with the Nutcracker).  Click on the link to see how YOU can get a ticket at half-price!  Plus afterwards, attend the JumpsART Afterparty at The Wine Gallery!  If you’re not into the theatre scene but would prefer to do some bar hopping (for a good cause of course!), get out your Santa or Mrs. Claus suit and participate in the Santa Pub Crawl to benefit Toys for Tots in the Oregon District.  Just be sure to drink responsibly!  Love, Your Mom.

On Sunday, take the whole family to the Schuster Center to hear sleigh bells in the snow as part of Wonderland Windows.  While there, you can also shop in The Tike’s Shop, have “Some-Fun”, and check out a performance of The Nutcracker.  For some beautiful music, head to the Dayton Art Institute for the Afternoon Musicales: Holiday Performance, Westminster Presbyterian Church for the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘Handel’s Messiah: The Composer’s Cut’, or Kettering Fairmont High School for the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert.  There will also be additional performances of many of the shows that have been going on this week, including The Wonder Bread Years at Victoria Theatre, Junie B. Jones; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at Town Hall Theatre, Precious Heart at the Dayton Theatre Guild, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at La Comedia, or 8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70s at The Loft Theatre.  And finally, you may want to be sitting at “The Dock” (of the bay), for 79 Cent Draft Beer Football Happy Hour.  It will definitely be happy if the Browns are winning!  And if not, I’m sure a beer will help!

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

Did you hear about the guy who sent his girlfriend a huge pile of snow?  He called her up the next day and asked her, “Did you get my drift?”

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!

May your days be merry and bright this week Dayton!