Things to do in Dayton

Bike the Arts: Exploring Downtown Dayton

June 14, 2015 By Megan Cooper

Since my car-less adventure way back in the day, I’ve always believed that one of the best ways to see our beautiful city is on a bike. With all the bike-love happening in Dayton these days – Link Dayton (bike share), recognition of our top ranking for the most off-street paved trails, the RiverScape bike hub, an increased number of bike lanes for commuting, our bronze ranking as a Bicycle-Friendly community and more – it’s no wonder that more cycle tours and races are popping up for community members of every interest level and ability to strap on that helmet and ride.

On Saturday, June 20, there’s a fun, free and unique new addition to the cycling opportunities. Dayton Regional Green and Courteous Mass have teamed up to host Bike the Arts – Downtown Dayton. A total ride of just under 7 miles on a (mostly) flat surface – this event showcases both our bike-friendly environment and our talented arts community. Registration for the ride begins at 10:30 a.m. at RiverScape MetroPark; the ride goes from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00(ish) p.m.

An all-volunteer effort, born out of the Arts and Culture team from Dayton Regional Green and relying upon the experience from the cycling gurus at Courteous Mass, this ride is slow, smooth and filled cool visits to local arts spots.

Jane Black, co-chair of the DRG Livability pillar, is the lead docent on the tour. With oodles of experience as a both a professional artist, educator and administrator – Jane will share exciting insights and behind-the-scenes stories about the public art and spaces; she’ll introduce you to great pieces of art in plain view that you’ll see in a whole new way. Riders will also hear from staff at Dayton Art Institute and K12 Gallery, as well as artists/performers Bing Davis, Suzy Richardt, Ryan McCullough and Justin Howard. How’s it work? Ride a bit, meet an artist, ride again, see a performance, back on the bike to visit a gallery, and keep on going as you enjoy exploring your city!

The ride is escorted by Dayton Police Officer Jeff Brown for everyone’s safety and comfort (this is an on-street ride, we’ll follow all traffic rules). Helmets are recommended.

Bonus! The first 30 registrants receive a FREE 24-hour membership to try Link Dayton, and the first 50 registrants receive a FREE Take Back the Tap water bottle from the City of Dayton. Plus, snacks and water will be provided. Don’t miss your chance to bid to win a beautiful piece of art created by Suzy Richardt in honor of the ride.

No bike? No problem! You can rent one from Five Rivers MetroParks or try Link Dayton (multiple Link Stations are along the route, so you’ll be able to check-in as needed).

This program is part of a larger initiative of Dayton Regional Green. While many of the action teams are working closely with municipalities, organizations and corporations – the Arts and Culture team is working to provide fun and easy ways for individuals to learn more about multi-modal transportation, energy savings and personal steps to environmental sustainability.

Five For Drinking – Gin Edition for World Gin Day!

June 12, 2015 By Brian Petro

The common juniper berry, the berry that gives gin its flavor.

Gin has been around for a very, very long time. There are stories that date it back to the times of the Black Plague, where people would sip on juniper-flavored spirits to stop the spread of the foul disease. It was the Italians that initially started adding herbs, including juniper, to base spirits. The Dutch perfected the flavor, balancing the juniper with other herbs to create liquor known as genever, which is where gin earned its name. It was not until the British put their hands on it that is became the spirit we all know and love today. June 13^th is the seventh World Gin Day, recognizing of the global popularity of this herbal liquor.

Gin, like tequila, is a flavor that people either love or hate. Bartenders and Britons through the ages have loved it, because of the powerful flavors it adds to any cocktail. When William III (or William the Orange if you like) ascended to the British throne in 1688, he brought gin with him for the British people. The British then brought it to the rest of the world through their empire. When they started to explore more tropical climates, they discovered more than just new people and lands. They found malaria. They also discovered that an element in cinchona bark, quinine, helped stave off the disease. Cinchona bark is incredibly bitter on its own, so the Brits tipped a little gin into the tonic they were given, added the lime they always had on had (scurvy, you know), and created the cocktail they are best known for, the gin and tonic.

Care for a spot of gin?

Bartenders also fell in love with gin due to the fact it was readily available and offered a unique flavor. Many modern cocktails began with a gin base, and eventually evolved as palates changed and other liquors became popular. The martini glass, and the cocktail it holds, is the default icon for cocktails and drinking establishments. Vodka martinis are more popular in this day and age, but the three martini lunch was a gin based affair. Because of this affinity bartenders have with gin, and the fact we may be in another Golden Age of bartending, the spirit has evolved. Craft distillers have played with the flavors, reviving older styles of gin like Old Tom and adding other elements to it like barrel aging. If you are someone who has not tried gin in a long time, here are five classic recipes for you to explore:

Tom Collins

2 oz. Old Tom gin
1 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. simple syrup
Club soda
Garnish: Lemon wedge

Pour the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously, and strain over ice into a tall glass. Top off with club soda and add the lemon wedge.

The Tom Collins is one of many cocktails mention by Jerry Thomas in his 1877 book “How to Mix Drinks: The Bon Vivant’s Companion”. It was one of many other Collins drinks that he mentioned, all of them containing a base spirit, lemon juice and simple syrup. It is whispered that this cocktail is based off a punch created by a gentleman named John Collins, a server at Lattimer’s Old House in London. Like many other cocktail origin stories, that may or may not be true.

Of course he made his own cocktail. What can’t he do?

Vesper

3 oz. Gordons Dry gin
1 oz. vodka (Belle of Dayton or Buckeye would be lovely)
½ oz. Lillet
Garnish: Lemon Peel

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Twist the lemon peel over the cocktail, then drop into the drink.

Ian Fleming created this cocktail for his hero, James Bond, to sip on in Casino Royale. It is named after the female agent Bond was sharing it with at the time. Gordon’s is what is mentioned in the text of the book, but any London gin will work. Over the years the cocktail evolved into a martini, and now into Heineken. How the mighty have fallen…

Negroni

1 oz. gin
1 oz. orange liqueur
1 oz. Campari
Garnish: Orange Peel

Pour the ingredients into a short glass over ice and stir. Twist the orange peel over the cocktail then drop into the drink.

The Negroni has been growing in popularity over the years, as evidenced by Negroni Week, a celebration of the cocktail and all of its varieties. After a long day doing whatever Italian counts do, Count Camillo Negroni went to his favorite bar, Caffé Casoni, and asked the bartender substitute gin for the club soda in an Americano. It became an instant hit, and spread quickly through Europe.

Classic Martini

2 oz. gin
½ oz. dry vermouth
Orange Bitters (optional)
Garnish: Lemon Peel

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir for 10 seconds or 30 turns of the spoon. Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass. Twist the lemon peel over the drink, then drop peel in.

There are hundreds of ways to make even the classic gin martini. You can garnish it with olives or twists, change the proportions by adding more gin or removing some of the vermouth, or leave the vermouth out altogether. Winston Churchill once said that the only way to make a martini was to chill the gin, pour it into a cold cocktail glass, and bow in the direction of France. Some will make the martini “wet”, which is equal parts gin and vermouth. Yours should fall somewhere in between.

This is Dayton. Of course aviation was going to be mentioned.

Aviation

2 oz. gin
½ oz. Maraschino liqueur
¼ oz. Crème de Violette
¾ oz. Lemon Juice
Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry and enjoy.

This is a lovely cocktail. Nicely balanced with the sweet and savory elements in it, and the light purple-bluish hue makes it stand out in a bar. It was created just before Prohibition hit, then promptly lost as the country went dry and Crème de Violette disappeared. This purple, sweetly floral liqueur has reemerged because of the craft cocktail boom. The name came from its bluish color, celebrating the fact that flying was becoming quite the rage.

The liquors that may be unfamiliar to you can be found at Arrow Wine. They may only have a bottle or two of some like Crème de Violette, but they will have them. They have a wonderful selection of gin as well. Ransom is a fabulous Old Tom Gin, and there are many other great newcomers on the scene like Hendrick’s, Death’s Door, Aviation, Plymouth, and Watershed Gin. And as a secret sixth cocktail, if you want to substitute champagne for the soda water in the Tom Collins, you will have a French 75 (named after the World War I gun that provided quite a kick). Or you can just grab a bottle of tonic water, a few limes, and enjoy a simple gin and tonic on World Gin Day. Cheers!

A Family in Art – The Dayton Visual Arts Center 20th Anniversary Auction

April 15, 2014 By Brian Petro 1 Comment

A view from the top.

The Dayton Racquet Club sits on top of the Kettering Tower, offering an amazing view of the city from any window you choose. Heading into this venerable Dayton establishment is special for any reason. This past Thursday night was no different; people mingling, smiling, and filling the 29^th floor of the Kettering Tower with light conversation and laughter. If you did not know better, you would think that this was a family reunion. Everyone knew each other, and any stranger that came up was warmly greeted and introduced to the rest of the group. You would have been hard pressed to find two people in the room that were complete strangers. The only difference on this night is the main focus of the room. The views of all things grand in Dayton fades back as thirteen pieces step into the spotlight.

The thirteen pieces of art ranged from photography to ink drawings, from sculpture to charcoal drawings. This gallery represents just a fraction of the art that has been purchased over the past 20 years through various shows, Artist’s Palates, and auctions sponsored by the Dayton Visual Art Center (DVAC). DVAC is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of this yearly tradition. The actual auction this year is on April 25^th, but on this past Thursday evening they had a kickoff party leading up to the main event. Being on the top floor in the tallest building in Dayton can almost be seen as a metaphor of how far this institution has come.

DVAC started in 1991 in the Biltmore Hotel, where they were able to set up a small gallery for local artists to share their work with the community. Their goal was a simple one; expose Dayton to the original artistic talent they had in the city and provide a setting for art lovers to meet and discuss their passion. They had a few fundraisers in the early days through various shows, such as their Masquerades where they invited artists to create masks for auction. It was not long before the idea of organizing an auction where artists would donate work and the community at large could come in and bid on it was suggested. The first auction in 1994 was at the Dayton Art Institute. It was organized by artists and members Pam Hauk, Linda Lombard, and Ray Must, and it started a tradition that has helped build this community into a family over the last twenty years.

Just one of the beautiful pieces on loan for the show, Caryatids by Don Williams.

Everyone in the room had a story to tell. Each piece of art that silently drew all of the attention in the room belonged to a member. They sat as examples of some of the art that has been auctioned over the lifetime of the events. Eva Buttacavoli, the Executive Director of DVAC and host for the evening, did not just introduce each piece of art in the room, she was able to entice almost every owner to narrate the history of the piece and why they love it. Each piece was impressive, created by names like Andy Snow, Homer Hacker, and Palli Davis. What is equally impressive were the stories told by the collectors about the impact the piece had in their lives. Some did not just collect art from the artists, but were able to develop personal relationships with them. Relationships that led to deeper understanding of the art that was being produced. Some purchased from a variety of artists; some would buy every piece from one artist (if they had room in the house). As one of the collectors told her story, she spoke about how “DVAC becomes a part of your life” and how they “never buy work we don’t love to see every day.” Another woman spoke about how her children, growing up around all this amazing art, were able to not only meet these talented people, but pick out their work on the street. More than a few pieces were bought while the speakers spouse was away. There was a bond among all the people in the room, being either lovers of art, creators of art, or both.

Many of the people attending that night had memories of DVAC that went back to the beginning. Ray Must was there, one of the original three creators of the auction and an artist in his own right. He has been an active member in the Dayton art community for decades as an artist and an educator at Wright State University. His works range from large scale murals in acrylic paint to smaller, more detailed etching. In the opinion of one of the collectors, “what Ray has done for the community cannot be measured.” One of his works, “Edwin Moses and the Dayton Carousel”, will be available at the live auction on April 25^th. Bobette ”BK” Olsen was also in attendance, carrying a file that showed some of the history of DVAC’s shows. Names like Connie Hanselman, Ernest Koerlin, Abner Cope and Bobette herself showed up over the years of shows. Sculptor Susan Zurcher, was also there as an early supporter. She chaired the second artist auction, helping to “expose all the hidden gems” within the city. She sees the organization as a microcosm of the city, “helping each other without blowing our own horns.” These three and many more have been involved with this organization over the years, building it slowly but surely. All of the people in the room that night helped build it from the ground floor of a donated space downtown to the top of the town.

The apron from the first art auction.

The Friday, April 25^th show is going to be the 20^th Anniversary artist auction. Ten pieces will be on display at the live auction, with over one hundred more pieces being available online for a silent auction. The curators see this event less as a party and more of a family reunion. It is a chance for the art collectors in the community, some who may not have seen each other for years, to speak with old friends and meet new collectors in the community. This event has outgrown the auction’s home of the last few years, the Ponitz Center in Sinclair Community College, and has moved into a new home at The Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. It is a perfect opportunity for veteran art collectors to see all the newest talent Dayton has to offer, or for new collectors to meet the artists and patron that make Dayton such an original. Ms. Buttacavoli stated it best at the kickoff; this is a celebration “of a generation of artists giving to the community and people supporting art.”

2013 Dayton Holiday Festival Continues Downtown Throughout December

December 5, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights kicked off the Dayton Holiday Festival this past Friday, but events continue throughout the season as part of this month-long celebration that has been kindling the holiday spirit downtown for 41 years.

In addition, a special holiday edition of First Friday will be held throughout downtown from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 6. Shop for unique and locally made items, view festive window displays that are part of the first Downtown Holiday Decorating Contest, enjoy live holiday-themed entertainment, and take advantage of discounts and special deals. A complete list of this Friday’s activities is available online.

The Dayton Holiday Festival’s Family Weekends, sponsored by DP&L, include:

Family Movie Series

Dec. 7, 14 & 21 — noon

The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.

Bring the family for fun, festive films. Enjoy the following movies during this year’s series: Dec. 7 – Rise of the Guardians, Dec. 14 – Home Alone, Dec. 21 – White Christmas. Titles subject to change. Free for kids 12 and younger, $2 for adults. 937-222-7469.

MUSICAL WONDERLAND

Dec. 7 — 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Dec. 8 — 11:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Schuster Center DP&L Stage, Second and Main streets

Enjoy several talented music groups performing during the first weekend in December. 937-228-7591.

Uno’s Pizza with Santa

Dec. 7, 14, 21, 22 — 11 a.m.

Dec. 9 and 16 — 6:30 p.m.

Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St.

Have a meal with Santa before or after visiting The Tike’s Shoppe and other downtown holiday attractions. Reservations required. Call for cost. 937-910-8000.

Virginia Kettering’s Train Display

Through Jan. 6 — Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Chase Bank lobby, Kettering Tower, Second and Main streets

View this one-of-a-kind model train display, given to the community by Mrs. Virginia W. Kettering. The train can be viewed through the building windows at Second and Main streets at any time.

Wonderland Windows

Through Jan. 2 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed for private functions some days)

Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second and Main streets

Experience the magical Rike’s holiday displays. 937-228-7591.

The Tike’s Shoppe

Through Dec. 23 — hours vary

Schuster Center Wintergarden, Second and Ludlow entrance

A special shop run by kids, for kids ― and priced within a kid’s budget. Santa is available for pictures from 2-5 p.m. each day of the Tike’s Shoppe. Managed by YES! For Youth. 937-212-1878.

The Dayton Holiday Festival is presented the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, Montgomery County and the Mrs. Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund. A complete list of festival events is available online, as well as a calendar of other downtown holiday events.

The DDP’s website has a complete list of downtown’s events, a dining guide, parking map and more at www.downtowndayton.org. Follow the DDP on Facebook to keep up with downtown events and news.

Special Holiday Dec. 6 First Friday

December 1, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Downtown’s next free First Friday event will be held from 5 to 10 pm Friday, Dec. 6. During this special holiday edition of the event, visitors can shop for unique and one-of-kind items, view festive window displays that are part of the first Downtown Holiday Decorating Contest, enjoy live entertainment and take advantage of discounts and special deals.

Roaming performers — drummer Joseph Glenn, choir Girls Inc. and juggler Tony Steinbach — will entertain throughout downtown, while performers on stilts and dressed as candy canes and holiday trees will walk through the streets. A stage area also will be set up next door to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St. The schedule for those performances is:

Viva La Strings

6 to 7 p.m.: Viva La Strings

7 to 8 p.m.: Miami Valley Music Men

8 to 9 p.m.: String orchestra FPAC

Listed below are the 20 businesses participating in the inaugural Downtown Holiday Decorating Contest. The winning business will be selected the week of Dec. 2 and announced during First Friday.

510 Gallery Fine Art, 508 E. Fifth St.

All Pilates, 27 S. St. Clair St.

American Pi, 41 S. St. Clair St.

Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.

Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.

Boston Stoker, 34 W. Second St.

Brim, 464 E. Fifth St.

CADC Art Gallery, 45 S. St. Clair St.

Clash Consignment, 521 E. Fifth St.

Derailed: A Hair Salon, 506 1/2 E. Fifth St.

The Flying Pizza, 223 N. Main St.

Green Baby, 31 S. St. Clair St.

Lily’s Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St.

Price Stores, 52 S. Jefferson St.

Riff Raff on the Canal, 130 N. Patterson Blvd.

Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave.

Sherwood Florist, 444 E. Third St.

Spice Paradise, 16 Brown St.

Valeria’s Beauty Center and Day Spa, 21 W. First St.

The Wine Gallery, 5 W. Monument Ave.

“The holidays are a special time downtown, and this event is designed to make our center city even more festive,” said Sandy Gudorf, Downtown Dayton Partnership president. “With so many locally owned businesses located in our downtown, it’s the perfect destination to find unique gifts, enjoy dinner or drinks at a local restaurant, and so much more.”

Dec. 6 First Friday Events

Art & Shopping

• CADC, 45 S. St. Clair St.: Hosting its annual Art Box gift gallery, featuring handmade and one-of-a-kind gift items. Call 313-9883.

• Clash Consignment, 521 E. Fifth St.: Have your photo taken with Santa and his elves. Call 241-9434.

• Color of Energy, 16 Brown St.: (Open until 8 p.m.) Exhibiting new art by Mike Elsass and live painting. Call 266-3491.

• Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North: (Open until 8 p.m.) Showing the exhibits Object of Devotion and A Buckeye Abroad: Frank Wilcox in Paris. Call for cost. 223-4278.

• Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors, 48 High St.: (Open until 8 p.m.) Hosting a reception for DSPS New Member Invitational. Light refreshments will be served. Call 228-4532.

• Dayton Visual Arts Center 118 N. Jefferson St.: (Open until 8 p.m.) Exhbiting Close to the Edge: Vera Scekic and this year’s ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery. Both will be open through Dec. 21. Call 224-3822.

• Gallery 510 Fine Art, 508 E. Fifth St.: Bring in your receipt from any other Oregon District business and receive 20 percent off any Gallery 510 Fine Art pashmina/scarf. Free gift wrapping. Call 672-6717.

Retail Stores

• American Pi, 41 S. St.Clair St.: Featuring work by artist ColorBash, a local family business that produces furniture and home accents made from salvaged wood. Also featuring its 12-Hour Annual Sale from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 6 (excludes artist/consignment items). Call 938-7890.

• Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.: Free makeup lessons and holiday-themed refreshments. Call 903-3165.

• Brim, 464 E. Fifth St.: Featuring gift baskets that include items from local businesses and store gift registries and certificates. Also offering complimentary tea from Ghostlight Coffee and candy canes. Call 222-4287.

• Green Baby, 31 S. St. Clair: Hosting a toy exchange at 6:30 p.m. and accepting donations for Hannah’s Treasure Chest. For every $25 spent on gift cards, receive an additional $5 or for every $50, receive an additional $10. Call 469-8665.

• Found Treasures 4 You, 502 Wayne Ave.: Offering 20 percent off everything in the store. Call 580-8803.

• Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St.: Bring in a receipt from any Oregon District business and receive 10 percent off your total purchase. Call 275-9949.

• ReCreate, 438 E. Fifth St.: Sale on select items, including new and used instruments, other music-related items, and original artwork. Call 321-3517.

• Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave.: Featuring $1 scrap bags, button bags and vintage patterns, as well as half-off all vintage fabrics. Call 234-7398.

• The Yellow Cab, 700 E. Fourth St. Hosting the annual Handmade Holiday show featuring more than 30 vendors selling art, crafts and other original, handmade items. Mugshots Studios will be set for fun holiday pictures. Alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase.

• Sherwood Florist 444 E. Third St.: Offering 10 percent off all holiday pre-orders and all in-store items. Call 298-3655.

Entertainment

• Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd.: The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet at 5:30 p.m. This month will be a glow-ride. Dress up your bike with lights, wear glow bracelets or necklaces — anything to make you glow. All tours are free and welcome any skill level.

• Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center, 400 E. Fifth St., Suite C: (Open until 8 p.m.) Featuring artist-of-the-month John Todd, along with activities for families and light refreshments. Call 723-6747

• Salon J Ladner, 37 S. St. Clair St.: Downtown’s newest salon will host the special event “Light Up The Night,” its first after-hours “glow in the dark” styling party focused on giving back to a Dayton charity. The event, held from 6 to 10 p.m., features $10 women’s styling and $5 men’s style or edge up. All proceeds go to AIDS Resource Center Ohio. In addition, Salon J Ladner will offer 20 percent off throughout the month of December to all new customers.
• The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.: Call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times.

• RiverScape MetroPark, MetroParks Ice Rink, 111 E. Monument Ave: Skate under the stars by the Great Miami River at downtown’s outdoor rink. $7 includes admission and skate rental. The park’s concession will be open to purchase hot chocolate and other snacks. Call 278-2607.

• Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St.: Featuring comedian Thai Rivera. Show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person. Call 224-5653.

Food and Drink

• Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St.: $2 tastings of select wines. Call 225-9463.

• Franco’s Ristorante Italiano, 824 E. Fifth St.: 10 percent off food. Call 222-0204.

• Lily’s Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St.: Offering complimentary holiday cookies to all customers. For every $50 spent on gift cards, receive $5 free. Call 723-7637.

• Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St.: Dinner specials and tapping of a firkin of craft beer. Call 222-6800.

• Riff Raff Tavern on the Canal, 130 N. Patterson Blvd.: Drink specials offered throughout the night. Call 361-3131.

• Salar, 400 E. Fifth St.: DJ in the lounge, cigars on the back patio and drink specials starting at 10 p.m. Call 203-3999.

• Smokin’ Bar-B-Que, 200 E. Fifth St.: 10 percent off food. Call 586-9790.

• Thai 9, 11 Brown St.: 15 percent off food. Call 222-3227.

• Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St.: 10 percent off food. Call 910-8000.

•The Wine Gallery, 5 W. Monument Ave.: Offering wine and appetizer specials and a $10 chair massage from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 224-9463.

Music

• Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.: Featuring happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m., $2.50 well drinks, 75 cents off bourbon and other drink specials and live music. Call 938-6405.

• De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St.: Featuring happy hour from 5 to 10 p.m. and live music during a mix and mingle with downtown business professionals. Call 461-2233.

• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Featuring happy hour until 6 p.m., a performance by the Miami Valley Pipe and Drum group starting at 6 p.m., and live music starting at 9 p.m. Call 224-7822.

• Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St.: Old Skool Groove Night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Call 228-8414.

• Jay’s Seafood, 225 E. Sixth St.: Live music by Puzzle of Light at 9 p.m. Call 222-2892.

• Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: Featuring half-price pizza from 4 to 8 p.m., Linda Prevo and Friends from 5-8 p.m., and the Eric Jerardi Band starting at 9:30 p.m. Call 223-9205.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association and Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show that airs on Fridays from 8 p.m. to midnight on WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

Downtown Dayton Will Come Alive (While Celebrating the Day of the Dead) During the Nov. 1 First Friday

October 24, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

The Dia de los Muertos parade was such a hit last year, organizers are again hosting the event during this year’s Nov. 1 First Friday.

By the time Dayton’s next free First Friday event hits the streets of downtown, Halloween will be over — but lots of people will still be costuming up. That’s because the Nov. 1 First Friday, which will take place from 5 to 10 p.m., includes the second annual Dia de los Muertos Parade. The event is based on the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, during which friends and family gather to celebrate loved ones who have passed.

The parade will begin at 6 p.m. on the corner of Jefferson and Fifth streets. The parade includes life-size puppets, dancers, music and more. The public is invited to dress up and join the parade, which will proceed east on Fifth Street. In addition, the monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet at 5:30 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza (220 N. Patterson Blvd.) and will join the parade. Synergy Kitchen Incubators will host a pre-parade food truck rally at 200 S. Jefferson St. before the parade, which will end at the Missing Peace Art Space (234 S. Dutoit St.) with a reception and artwork created by local students.

The Dayton Visual Arts Center will celebrate the opening of this year’s ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery during the Nov. 1 First Friday.

But that is not all: As always, First Friday will include art exhibits, special events, live music and more throughout downtown. The Nov. 1 First Friday also will be an excellent time to start holiday shopping: For example, the Dayton Visual Arts Center (118 N. Jefferson St.) will celebrate the opening of its annual ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery, a great place to find a unique gift for anyone on your list. DVAC is open until 8 p.m. Call 224-3822.

A complete list of activities taking place during the Nov. 1 First Friday is available online. Many restaurants, taverns and retailers offer special discounts, host live music and offer other special activities during the event. Other highlights include:

Sew Dayton (261 Wayne Ave.), in collaboration with Telephone Weekly, will host a live T-shirt screen printing of exclusive “Sew Dayton” shirts. Each shirt is $20 and includes a free T-shirt re-design sewing class. The free sewing class is only offered to the first 40 T-shirt purchasers. Call 234-7398.

Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.) will feature artwork by John Knabe with live music from Matt Freeman and Mike Guidone. Visitors can browse pre-owned and vintage clothes in a lively atmosphere. Call 241-9434.

Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center (400 E. Fifth St., Suite C) will host a “khafla” — a small gathering centered on food and belly dance. Works by artist-of-the-month Ron Rollins will be on view to enjoy. Activities for families will be available, along with a free introduction to massage therapy and Reiki and light refreshments. Open until 8 p.m. Call 723-6747.

Artist Mike Elsass will be painting live at Color of Energy (16 Brown St.) New artwork by Elsass, including large-scale pieces, will be on display. Call 266-3491.

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors (48 High St.) will feature the work of some of its most dedicated members. Light refreshments will be served as guests browse artwork on view. Open until 8 p.m. Call 228-4532.

Live music and artwork by Doug McLarty will be featured at CADC (45 S. St. Clair St.). Call 313-9883.

New artwork and gifts will be on view and for sale at Gallery 510 Fine Art (508 E. Fifth St.). Call 672-6717.

Oct. 4 Event to Feature Art Exhibits, Live Music, Shopping, Discounts

September 30, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

SMAGmare once again will be a highlight of the October First Friday. SMAG Dance Collective, Deniz with Caravan Workshops and Funk Lab Dance Center will star in this ghoulish performance at 8 p.m. at 530 E. Fifth St. (next door to the Trolley Stop).

Dayton, Sept 30, 2013– What is a better way to kick-off the Halloween season than downtown Dayton’s free First Friday event on Oct 4, from 5 to 10 p.m? To put everyone in a ‘creepy’ mood, dancers from the SMAG Dance Collective will roam the streets as ghouls, witches and other characters before the performance of SMAGmare at 8 p.m. at 530 E. Fifth St. (next door to the Trolley Stop). Deniz with Caravan Workshops and Funk Lab Dance Center also will be part of the performance.

Two Oregon District stores will be celebrating openings: Pop-up Shop Spice Paradise (16 Brown St.) will celebrate its grand opening while Sew Dayton (261 Wayne Ave.) will open its doors in a new, larger retail space.

Steel drummer Joseph Glenn, guitar player Todd the Fox and fire dancers Soul Fire Tribe will provide entertainment as they roam downtown.

As an encore performance from this past Urban Nights event, CADC (45 S. St. Clair St.) will offer visitors another chance to try out Paint Boxing. Anyone is invited to create a unique piece of art or T-shirt at one of the Paint Boxing stations for $20. Call 313-9883.

Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.) will feature artists Erica Blackstock, Craig Galentine, Josh Hydler, Liz Dearth and Robert Walker. This store will also offer 20 percent off all costumes. Call 241-9434.

The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet for one ride at 5:30 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza (220 N. Patterson Blvd). This route will take riders on a 10-mile journey to the Midwest Outdoor Experience and back. Riders may choose to stay at the Experience. All tours are free and welcome any skill level.

Dayton Visual Arts Center (118 N. Jefferson St.) will continue its exhibit Music for Teacups: Colagiovanni and Haviland, a selection of video, artist books and original prints by two artists from Athens, Ohio. Showing through Oct 19. Open until 8 p.m. Call 224-3822.

Stainless steel artwork by Ryan Struve will be on display at Gallery 510 Fine Art (508 E. Fifth St.). Call 672-6717.

All are welcomed to Garden Station’s (509 E. Fourth St.) beginner’s cheesemaking class at 6 p.m. and a course on soaking and sprouting grains followed by live music at 8 p.m. by Stillwater Riverband. The Urban Farmer’s Market beings at 5:30 p.m. Call 610-3845.

Synergy Incubators hosts the First Friday Food Truck Rally, featuring many popular local food trucks at 200 S. Jefferson St.

Junkyard Dojo will be playing at The Yellow Cab, (700 E. Fourth St.) The completed works created during the live Urban Nights “Works in Progress” show will be showcased along with the creepy but intriguing exhibit “Squick.” Call 203-8175.

Big Hearts, Beers, and Barleywines – A Chat with Peter Roll

September 27, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

Break out the tasting glasses one more time, and help out Daytonians in need!

Dayton is the proud home of multiple, exceptional beer festivals. They kick off in March with AleFeast, pairing fine craft beers with some of the best local cuisine in Dayton. Dayton Beer Week is the big week of beer love in the Miami Valley, with most of the restaurants in town participating in some way. It starts with a beer parade, and ends with AleFest, a day filled with amazing beers from over a hundred breweries. Many of you may even be going to Oktoberfest this weekend at the Dayton Art Institute, another great downtown festival in celebration of German culture, including their fine selection of beers. All of the fans of barley and hops need to save a little room for one more beer festival. Big Beers and Barleywines will be coming up on October 5th, and there are two very particular reasons to support this great event.

One huge reason is how unique the beers will be. This is the event for the craft beer fanatic. Many of the other events showcase a wide variety of beers and breweries, giving patrons an extensive range of popular beers to sample. Big Beers takes a different path, focusing on some of the biggest flavored and rarest beers that can be found in the country. There are 150 beers to choose from, with more unique beers being released on the Facebook page all the time. Some recent releases are Oskar Blue’s Ten Fidy imperial stout, aged for nine months in Four Roses bourbon barrels, Bell’s Black Note, Goose Island Halia, a saison with peach and aged in wine barrels, and Elevator Bar Bar Barleywine. All of these beers are not just delightful to try, but are hard to come by outside of their region or festivals like this one.

Resident Home Association helping people in Dayton

These are some of the many faces the Resident Home Association helps in our city.

The other compelling reason is the charity it supports. The Resident Home Association has been helping adults in Dayton with developmental disabilities since 1966. They provide everything from housing and trips to work to cookouts and ladies pampering classes. They have not just developed a community focused non-profit; they have developed a family that helps each other. Five years ago Peter Roll, the Executive Director of the RHA, was offered an opportunity to partner with old friends of his. Mike and Donna Schwartz, longtime supporters of the RHA and owners of Belmont Party Supply, wanted to have a beer tasting to help raise funds for the non-profit. That beer tasting grew into what we now call Big Beers and Barleywines. Mr. Roll went into greater depth about the organization and what it provides in a conversation I had with him.

Brian Petro: Tell me a little of your background. Are you a Dayton native? Where did you go to school? What did you go to school for?

Peter Roll: I am a native Daytonian. I graduated from Chaminade Julienne High School in 1974-the first graduating class after the merger of Chaminade and Julienne High Schools. While sorting my way through college I worked at the Dayton Children’s Psychiatric Hospital and the St. Josephs Treatment Center. After Graduating from the University of Dayton I was hired by Sally Young at the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disability Services as a Case Manager. It was in my role as a case manager that I became aware of RHA. I knew that if I was to leave the county and work in residential services, Resident Home was the only place I would consider.

BP: What brought you to the Resident Home Association?

PR: As a case manager for the county I had the opportunity to see many residential programs and Resident Home clearly stood out as the best residential provider organization in the area if not the State of Ohio. In 1987 the directors of RHA, Shirley Fowler and Brenda Whitney recruited me and convinced to come to Resident Home. The push for quality services and a well trained and experienced work force were already in place when I arrived in October 1987 and made my decision an easy one. I gave up job security with public benefits to come to a place that puts the care of its residents above everything else. In retrospect I could not have made a better decision and I hope I have contributed to the success of the agency.

BP: How has the RHA changed over the last four decades? Have there been any social developments that have impacted how the organization has grown?

PR: When I arrived we had the capacity to serve 72 people in 9 different locations. We now have the capacity to provide residential services to 80 people in 13 locations. We had some of our more independent people living in an apartment complex in Kettering when I arrived, but because of aging issues, we moved those residents into 2 homes to better look after their health and safety needs. That move occurred in 2007. We also moved 2 homes off of East Third Street. One in 2005 and the other in 2010. Both of these moves were made to provide safer neighborhoods for our residents and to provide homes that were more accessible. In addition to those significant changes we have added new services such as adult day services, transportation services and we are still one of the few agencies providing respite care services. Even as we expanded the number of people served and the types of services offered, we will not put expansion ahead of the quality we strive to provide. Our feeling is that you have to serve within your means and sometimes bigger and more is not always best.

BP: In 2001, the RHA became part of Partners for Community Living. What was the impetus for that move? How has it benefitted all parties involved?

PR: Partners for Community Living is a partnership between the Resident Home and Choices in Community Living that grew out of a philosophy that sometimes it’s easier and more efficient to manage resources in certain areas together that you may not be able to do well or at all, if you attempted to do so individually. It was with this mindset that Partners for Community was formed. Each agency maintains its own identity but we also share resources in such areas as establishing an endowment, having a shared volunteer program, utilizing the same staff to put out newsletters, participate in fund raising events and provide wish lists and “fun raising” events for residents of both agencies. We are now in our 11th year and this venture has been extremely valuable to us as it greatly adds to the quality of life for those we serve.

Peter Roll, Executive Director of the Resident Home Association of Dayton

Peter Roll, (left) Executive Director of the Resident Home Association and enjoyer of fine stouts.

BP: What projects is your organization currently working on?

PR: Right now we are in the midst of a technological transformation. All of our homes have had computers for years but we were not using our electronic capabilities to the point where we could store information. For the past few summers we have been scanning paper records to our servers (in a three week period 50,000 documents) but even as we were doing this our paper continued to grow. We are now evaluating systems that will help us electronically document our daily services and store our information. We are investing in new servers, time systems and electronic medication administration record keeping. This sounds pretty dry but it is very important for us to convert to systems that help us manage and retain our records while at the same time make us more environmentally efficient.

BP: Your organization has over 5,000 hours of volunteer work done each year. What are you looking for in your volunteers? Any skill sets you are in need of or just people willing to help?

PR: We need people of all types to help us out and volunteers are very much appreciated regardless of their skill sets. Everyone has something to offer and we many programs they could choose from that would benefit our agency and those we serve. We have Friends by Choice which is our version of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. We have Adopt–A-Home where an individual or group could pick a location and help with activities, landscaping, etc. We always need help with our events, newsletter mailings and grounds clean-up. Nutritionists, exercise and healthy living, music and art appreciation are other examples of volunteers we could use.

BP: What are the biggest challenges you see for the RHA in the future?

PR: Funding and workforce development. As it stands now our funding sources barely keep pace with our expenses. With new rules, unfunded mandates and the pending impact of the federal healthcare law, we will find it very difficult to make ends meet. We also have an aging workforce especially in the management area and we really need to have some of our folks assume leadership positions. This is also a funding issue. Right now our funders expect quality but don’t want to fund adequate levels of supervision. In addition wages for direct service workers are not what they should be and the push to increase minimum wages has a detrimental effect on us as we are competing for some of the same workers but our expectations are some much higher than the typical minimum wage jobs yet our pay scales our similar. This causes some potential workers to take positions that are less demanding at a similar level of pay.

A large crowd at Big Beers and Barleywines

All of these people will be enjoying the magic of rare craft beers. Will you be one of them?

BP: What is your favorite part of the event?

PR: For me my most favorite parts are the way Mike and his employees, especially Natalie Phillips, embraces the festival but more importantly our mission. They really care about what we do and the people we serve. Their desire to obtain the finest products available to support our cause is sometimes overwhelming. I also like to see the pure enjoyment of the patrons. The smiles, laughter and goodwill gestures are very endearing.

BP: What are your favorite beers to enjoy?

PR: I’m certainly not a great beer connoisseur but I have grown to appreciate porters and stouts.

Dayton has a long history of supporting original industrial and business pursuits as well as creating a strong community that lifts up those that need it. For the price of one ticket, you get to sample some of the best beers in the country as well as help a great local organization. The event itself takes place at the Roundhouse in the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, October 5th from 4PM to 8 PM. All of the proceeds generated by Big Beers and Barleywines go to the RHA, to help them continue to provide the outstanding service that the community has come to expect from them to an even wider range of adults in need. It is a once a year opportunity that is not to be missed.

Smash, Snap and Splash are the Sounds of This Fall’s Urban Nights

September 14, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Art galleries, retailers and other businesses will host special exhibits and other events during Urban Nights.

NOTE: Giant tents will cover downtown streets; more than 100 indoor venues participating in downtown Dayton’s Urban Nights, which takes place today (Sept. 20) rain or shine from 5 to 10 p.m. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and any last-minute cancellations due to inclement weather.

Tents will cover the three Urban Nights Hotspots (listed below) and activity will take place as planned.

• International Street, Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets: Second Street will be closed to make way for dance performances from a variety of troupes, beer truck featuring import brews and a variety of food vendors.

• Arts Corner, St. Clair and Fourth streets: Fourth Street will be closed to make way for Paint Boxing, presented by CADC Art Gallery and Drake’s Downtown Gym — Home of Jab City Boxing. At 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., see boxing demonstrations in a ring in the middle of the street. Then, watch boxers dip their gloves in brightly colored paint and jab and punch a huge canvas to create a piece of art. In addition, enjoy a range of entertainment hosted by nearby businesses, including live entertainment, art exhibits and special sales.

• Live on Five, corner of Fifth and Pine streets in the Oregon District: Check out live music by some of Dayton’s best bands and a fashion show from Sew Dayton and Brim while enjoying a brew from the beer truck.

A map of participating venues and a complete list of their events and specials is available online at www.downtowndayton.org, at info tents located throughout the event area and at participating venues.

*****

Downtown is going to be a lively and noisy (in a good way!) place with all the events going on during Urban Nights from 5-10 p.m. on Friday, Sept 20. More than 100 businesses are participating to make this the best Urban Nights yet. With three hotspots scattered throughout downtown, the streets of our center city are going to be one big party.

Visitors who come to the Arts Corner hotspot on Fourth and St. Clair streets will see boxers fighting in the middle of the street — with a canvas, that is. CADC Art Gallery and Drake’s Downtown Gym—Home of Jab City Boxing are partnering to put on an unusual performing arts event called Paint Boxing. Boxers will dip their gloves into brightly colored paint then “smash” it into a large canvas to create a one-of-a-kind artwork. Onlookers also will be invited to learn basic boxing techniques at Drake’s Gym or paint box a T-Shirt at CADC.

The cameras of many photographers went “snap” to capture fantastic photos of Dayton for the annual Downtown in Focus photo contest. The winners have been chosen, and all photos entries will be on display in the lobby of the Kettering Tower, including the best-in-show winners and the Dayton mayor’s pick for “Dayton Original.” Find out if your top picks match what the judges decided.

Some “splashes” will be heard at the Mini-Midwest Outdoors Experience in Courthouse Square. This event, presented by Five Rivers MetroParks , gives a taste of outdoors experiences offered in Dayton. Visitors can try stand-up paddleboating in the Square’s fountain and slacklining and a mountain bike course in the Square. Over the Edge, sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley, also will be taking place in the Square. Brave adventurers will be rappelling over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower to raise money for the organization. Courthouse Square activities will run until 8 p.m.

Three hotspots will be located throughout downtown. Art vendors, live music, henna art and a special performance of select excerpts from Spamalot by Sinclair’s music and theater departments can be found at Arts Corner. International Street will feature cuisine and dance performances from around the world. Live on Five in the Oregon District will be the live music hub for the night, and downtown stores Brim and Sew Dayton will present a fashion show in between musical acts to celebrate their mutual one-year anniversaries. (A complete schedule for the hotspots is below.)

Check out some of Dayton’s best bands and a fashion show by Brim and Sew Dayton at the hotspot Live on Five in the Oregon District.

More than 30,000 people come downtown to experience Urban Nights, a free event when more than 100 establishments showcase downtown’s numerous offerings. The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event busses to help visitors get around.

A map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, is available online. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook for regular updates and more information.

SEPT. 20 URBAN NIGHTS HOTSPOTS

International Street

Sponsored by Miller-Valentine Group: Celebrating 50 Years

Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets

Enjoy dance performances while you grab an import brew to go along with chow from one of many food vendors.

Dancing in the Street Stage Schedule

5-5:25 p.m.: The Circle Nerdz

5:30-5:55 p.m.: The Beseda Dancers

6-6:25 p.m.: South Dayton Dance Theatre

6:30-6:55 p.m.: Troupe Roja

7-7:25 p.m.: McGovern Ceili Dancers

7:30-7:55 p.m.: Vivian Zumba

8-10 p.m.: Son del Caribe

Arts Corner

Sponsored by Sinclair Community College and DP&L

St. Clair and Fourth streets

Paint Boxing:

Fourth Street will be closed between St. Clair Street and Patterson Boulevard for this special activity, hosted by CADC Art Gallery and Drake’s Downtown Gym—Home of Jab City Boxing and funded by the DDP’s Urban Nights Grant. At 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., boxing demonstrations will be performed in the street.

Arts Corner Entertainment

Enjoy a range of entertainment hosted by nearby businesses, including live music, art exhibits, henna art and special sales.

Live on Five

Sponsored by Miami-Jacobs Career College, with media sponsor WYSO 91.3-FM

Corner of Fifth and Pine streets in the Oregon District

Grab a draft brew from the beer truck and rock out to a variety of live bands.

Entertainment Schedule:

5-5:40 p.m.: Yvette “Diva” Williams, featuring Premium Blend

5:40 p.m.: Molotov: Stupid Human Tricks

6- 6:40 p.m.: Seefari

6:40 p.m.: Molotov: Stupid Human Tricks

7-7:40 p.m.: The Eric Jerardi Band

7:40-8 p.m.: Fashion show from Brim and Sew Dayton celebrating both stores’ one-year anniversaries

8-10 p.m.: Meghna & the Majority

Special Events Indoors and Out Part of Sept. 6 First Friday in Downtown Dayton

August 31, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

CACD is one of many locations that will display artwork during First Friday.

Warm up for Urban Nights by attending downtown Dayton’s next First Friday, held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. Art exhibits, live music, dinner and drink specials, retail sales, and special events will be featured at a variety of downtown venues.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website. Highlights include:

Internationally known artist Robert Walker will display work at Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.).

The Dayton Visual Arts Center (118 N. Jefferson St.) will be exhbiting Music for Teacups: Colagiovanni and Haviland, a selection of video, artist books and original prints by two artists from Athens, Ohio. The gallery will be open until 8 p.m.

Several restaurants, including Lily’s Bistro pictured here, will offer dining specials and a food truck rally also will be held during First Friday.

Garden Station (509 E. Fourth St.) will be offering an introduction to herbal remedies class at 6 p.m., a compassionate communication workshop at 7 p.m. and live music by Meghna & the Majority at 8 p.m. The Urban Farmer’s Market begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Great Dayton Flood Walk will start at 7 p.m. View vintage photos of the flood, visit buildings that made it through the flood, see high-water marks from 1913 and more. $10 per person. Call 937-274-4749 or email grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com for required reservations and meeting location.

Synergy Incubators hosts a food truck rally at 200 S. Jefferson St., featuring many popular local food trucks, music, children’s activities, Hope Foundation Motorcycle Raffle, Inside Out 11M Photobooth and a local artisan marketplace.

The Yellow Cab (700 E. Fourth St.) will feature exhibit “The Art of Music,” with artwork created by musicians and inspired by music. University of Dayton professor Al Carrillo will read his poetry, and an open mic will be available for anyone who wants to perform.

Steel drummer Joseph Glenn, pictured here with saxophonist Tyrone Martin, will again perform on the street during First Friday.

Taste of the Oregon Festival Takes Over Fifth Street This Sunday

August 23, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Sample the many things that make the Oregon District one of Dayton’s longest-standing hotspots this Sunday, Aug. 25, during the first Taste of Oregon festival. The event — which features food and drinks, live music, shopping, arts, vintage cars, and a home and garden tour — celebrates the area’s 40th year as a Historic District.

Fifth Street will be closed in the District for the festival, which runs from noon to 7 p.m. Admission to the event is free, and food and drink tickets are $1 each, with food items priced between $3 and $6. The event will highlight the several new District establishments that have opened recently, along with long-time District favorites.

The Menus, a popular band based in Cincinnati, will headline the festival with a set that begins at 4 p.m. Funky G and the Groove Machine will perform from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Yuengling and craft beers, along with nonalcoholic beverages, will be available on the street, in addition to those served in the eateries and taverns.

The Oregon Historic District Society will present a home and garden tour from 1 to 4 p.m., starting at 22 Brown St. (Inn Port D’Vino/Deaf Monty’s Wine). Tickets are $5.

SAMPLING OF THE TASTE OF OREGON MENUS:

Blind Bob’s
Vegetarian Basket
Chicken Wing Basket

Jay’s Seafood
Jay’s Chocolate Mousse
Lobster Mac and Cheese

Lily’s Bistro
BBQ, Cheddar and Bacon Deviled Eggs
Watermelon Gazpacho
Homemade Lemonade: Watermelon Mint, Cucumber Basil and Classic Flavors

Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery
Vegan and Beef Sloppy Joes & Sliders with a Side of Slaw

Oregon Express
Gourmet Pizza Slices

Salar Restaurant and Lounge
Marinated Chicken Skewer with Spanish Rice
Fish and Chips
2 Carnitas Tacos (Pork, Rice, Cheese and Lettuce)

Smokin BBQ
BBQ Pork and Chicken

Thai 9
Chicken Spring Rolls
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Shrimp Salad
Coco Shrimp
Thai Tea
Thai Coffee

Trolley Stop
Red Beans and Rice
Organic Keener’s Farm Sliders
Ginger Lemonade

Tumbleweed
Grilled Meatloaf Sandwiches
NY Strip Kabobs

Bringing Sour Back

August 23, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

This is the bottle that sank a thousand cocktails…

I was eating lunch with a couple other bartenders this week, and I told them that I was working on an article about sour mix. Both of them cringed, no doubt with bottles of sickly yellow, highly processed liquid floating through their head. This has been what most of our parents, and many of us, were used to getting when we asked for a drink that required sour mix at a bar. Long Island Ice Teas, margaritas, Lynchburg Lemonades, so many cocktails that were drenched in this stuff. August 25^th is National Whiskey Sour Day, and the story of sour mix plays into the story of the cocktail quite nicely. It was not always something people would raise their nose at.

“Sours” are a class of cocktails that was been revived with the craft cocktail movement. The first sours were introduced in a book that is on every serious bartender’s bookshelf, How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon Vivant’s Companion, by Jerry Thomas. These cocktails started simply, using only a base spirit (like whiskey), lemon, and simple or “gumme” syrup. This basic recipe was so popular it spawned a wide variety of other cocktails, switching ingredients in and out but maintaining the same basic formula. It became the work horse of the late 19^th century, spawning classics like the sidecar, margarita and daiquiri are all examples of cocktails that are part of this group. Cocktail historian David Wondrich notes it was one of the most popular cocktail types for over a century, especially the whiskey version, from the 1860’s to the Mad Men era of the 1960’s.

Through the 20^th century, two major events happened that sullied the reputation of these fine cocktails. The first was Prohibition, which drove out all of the professional bartenders in the country, and with it all of their knowledge. The second is the development of prepackaged and premade food and drink. We developed into a society that was not going to wait, as well as one that was thrilled with anything new that science could invent. During the 50’s and 60’s, fresh squeezed juices were falling by the wayside in favor of premade juices that would last longer on the shelf. This included cocktail mixers that were easy to pour over a single liquor to make a drink. Who needs all of that tedious squeezing and mixing when you can just pour it out of a bottle? It was faster for bartenders, but it did not taste as good or as fresh. Combine that with a distilling industry that was just getting back into the swing of things, and you had a rough time for cocktails.

THAT…is a lovely whiskey cocktail.

At the beginning of the craft cocktail boom, a seed of hatred was planted into cocktails that used premade mixers. This seed grew, with sour mix and all cocktails made with sour mix: the focus of mixologist’s ire. Their simplicity was disregarded for more complex and exotic flavors. But that simplicity is what originally made this cocktail category, and the whiskey sour itself, so popular. You did not need many ingredients to make it, and the ingredients you did need were easy to get. Because many bars and restaurants are not making cocktails with fresh juices, it is far easier to enjoy these cocktail as they were envisioned about 140 years ago: liquor, some lemon juice, and some simple syrup.

When you are making a sour cocktail, you should keep in mind that the lemon and the simple syrup are going to overpower the liquor you choose. I would never recommend using something like Old Dan Tucker or Kentucky Gentleman, but there is no need to break out the Pappy Van Winkle. A nice Jim Beam or Maker’s Mark would do nicely. If you want a little more spice, you can use a rye whiskey as well.

Whiskey Sour

2 oz. bourbon
.75 oz. lemon juice
1 tsp. simple syrup

Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake it well. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. You can make it look fancier by adding a lemon wedge. You can also enjoy it, as many people do, over ice in a non-chilled glass.

For any bartenders reading, or other cocktail enthusiasts, you may ask “Where is the egg white?” Many people will argue that a tablespoon or two of egg white should go into it, which would give the cocktail a smoother, thicker mouthfeel and add some foam when you shook it with the other ingredients. It is also a potential health hazard. It is disputed whether or not that ingredient should be added, but you may if you wish. Jerry Thomas did not add it, so neither will I.

Whiskey sours, and sours in general, are light and refreshing drinks that are about due for a major comeback. Simpler cocktails are making a comeback, and this is one of the simplest there is. Combine that with the bourbon boom that is happening, and soon the whiskey sour could be back among the most popular cocktails in the country. Ready to start the trend?

Welcome to Dayton Beer Week 2013!

August 15, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

It is here! Who says there is nothing to celebrate in August?

Beer has flooded the country. In 2010, there were fewer than 1,800 breweries in the United States. And there were zero in Dayton. Fast forward to 2013, where there are over 2,500 breweries in the United States. Dayton is seeing its own brewing growth spurt, with the Dayton Beer Company, Fifth Street Brewpub, Toxic Brewing Company, Lock 27 Brewing, Yellow Springs Brewing, Eudora, Star City Brewing, and many others that I am sure are in the works. Beer tastings have also expanded all over the city. Brewtensils has been offering not only supplies, but classes in brewing everything from a traditional lager or pilsner to experiments on the far ranges of the flavor scale. This is the environment the 4^th Annual Dayton Beer Week will be awakening to this weekend, inviting all of Dayton to step out and discover some of the beery goodness themselves.

There are going to be some big events celebrating beer this weekend as the party kicks off at Kitty Hawk Golf Course with the 3^rd Annual Pints, Putters, & Pink Balls-2 Club Golf Scramble benefiting the Breast Cancer Foundation. Registration starts at 12:30 PM for a 1 PM start. Get out your beer gear on Sunday and join all the floats and fun for the 4^th Annual Beer Pride Parade in the Oregon district, starting at 4:30 PM at Dublin Pub (of course). The good folks at 5^th Street Wine and Deli will be having a pre-parade tasting starting at 1 PM, so you can get an incredible seat for the festivities. For those of you who are a little more health conscious, Widmer Brothers is sponsoring Biking for the Beer of It Tuesday night. It begins in West Carrollton and ends after a 10 mile ride at A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg. They are very considerate, making sure you are well hydrated with a selection of beers at the midway point. The last major event of the week will be AleFest at Carillon Park (who is also setting up a historic brewery). You can try out all of the Dayton breweries, explore the growing gluten-free beer offerings, and just generally enjoy over 375 beers from over 150 breweries. That is, of course, if you are not beered out by that point.

Beer weeks ends with a bang, celebrating over 350 craft beers!

It is not just the big events that make this week special. Restaurants all over the Miami Valley are going to be celebrating in some form or another.

Monday:

Rouge will take over the draughts beginning at 5 PM at Jimmy’s Ladder 11. They will be featuring the Double Chocolate Stout, Hazelnut Brown, and Imperial IPA. After you’ve had your beer, you can keep the glass!
From 6 to 9 PM, you can help South Park Tavern fight off the Dogfish Head invasion they are anticipating. Grab a pint and pitch in!

Tuesday:

Cincinnati favorite Mt. Carmel Brewing Company will be taking over some taps at Blind Bob’s with their Summer Wheat, Harvest Dry Hopped ESB, and others. The festivities there start at 4 PM, and you get a souvenir glass to take home with you!
What goes better with beer than pizza? Spinoza’s will be having a Full Pint Brewing Company beer dinner from 7 to 9 PM.

Wednesday:

Ohio beers are going to be taking over two bars at the midway point! Chappy’s Tap Room and Grille will be featuring a Great Lakes Brewing Company infused firkin from 5 to 7:30 PM. Blind Bob’s will be the downtown center of the Ohio beer takeover, featuring native beers from 5 to 9 PM.
An incredible beer dinner will be going on at Twisted Root, featuring Merchant du Vin beers like Samuel Smith and Orval Trappist Ale. Five beers and five courses for $50, all of it starting at 7 PM.
If you are continuing your pint glass collection, Southern Tier Brewing will take over the taps at Taggart’s Pub. They will be featuring their 2XIPA and Choklat beers.

Thursday:

Start your palates! Lucky’s Tap Room will be having a Firkin Drag Race to the Finish! The casks will be tapped at 6 PM, and go until they are empty.
Enjoy some Ballast Point beer at the Milano’s Atlantic City Subs in Beavercreek, and take home another pint glass! The festivities will go from 6 to 8 PM.
Columbus favorite Elevator Brewing will have the run of taps at Archer’s Tavern beginning at 5:30 PM.
C’est Tout Bistro is planning a beer dinner featuring Unibroue beers from Canada.

Friday:

The Trolley Stop will be rolling out the red carpet on the second last night of Dayton Beer Week. They will be featuring rare beers like Bell’s Black Note, and good music that night from 7 PM to midnight.
Raise your glasses! From 6 to 7 PM, King’s Table will be featuring a stein hoisting competition featuring Sam Adam’s beers.
Are you still shy about craft beer? The Arrow Wine on Lyons Road will be having an Oskar Blues beer tasting from 5 to 7 PM. If you purchase a four or six pack of these very good brews, you will also walk out with a special gift.

This is not even remotely close to the full list of events for the week. Many restaurants and bars will be having specials on a wide range of beers. Look over the full menu of events and plan your week accordingly.

This is a nice start to the week…

While you are out exploring Dayton, there are a few things you should remember while doing your tastings:

When you taste, it is very similar to tasting wine. You want a little foam on the top. You also want to look at and sniff the beer before you taste it, to see what aromas are coming off of it.
Do not hold the beer in direct light when you look at it. You get the best idea of color when you look at it in indirect light.
Give it a little bit of a swirl in your glass. This stirs up the carbonation a little, allowing more of the aromas to be released. Don’t underestimate the importance of scent when tasting your beer!
Hold the beer in your mouth a little bit, allowing it to roam all over your tongue. Enjoy the flavors that come out as it is in your mouth. Take a mental note on how thick the beer is. This is known as mouthfeel.
Allow the beer to warm up SLIGHTLY before you drink it. As with wine, a little bit of extra warmth unveils deeper flavors that may not be otherwise obvious.

And while you are going to Beer Week events:

Car pool. Parking is going to be very limited for some of these events, and the citizens are going to be out in force. Getting more people in one car is going to be helpful for everyone.
Get there early. You want to make sure you get there in enough time to get seats! Make sure you call the venue and check out the details.
Drink plenty of water. This is going to serve a twofold purpose. First, water will help cleanse the palate between each beer, giving you a better idea of how each beer tastes. Secondly, it will help you avoid a worse hangover than you might normally have.
Do not eat spicy foods before you go to an event. You do not want your taste buds to be still burning from the Nuclear Hot wings you just ate. Eat a little something; just tone it down.
Go to the dark side. If you are not at a pre-set beer tasting, start off with some of the lighter beers, and go to the darker ones. The darker beers tend to have heavier flavors and be thicker, which can linger a little longer.
Designate a driver. No explanation needed.

It has been a busy few years for the craft beer scene, and this is the year it looks like it is going to explode in Dayton. This is the time to go out and taste new beers, find new favorites, and meet new friends. There are so many events going on during the week we would love to know which ones you are most looking forward to. Leave a note in the comments, and we will see you around town. Cheers!

Experience the Best of Downtown During the Aug. 2 First Friday

July 26, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Roaming performers, saxophonist Tyrone Martin and steel drum player Joseph Glenn, entertain the crowd during the July First Friday.

Art. Music. Shopping. Food. Fun. First Friday in downtown Dayton is about all of these things.

This free event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, throughout downtown. The August First Friday is always one of the year’s largest, and this year promises to be the same with the range of activities taking place. Roaming performers — the McGovern Ceili Dancers, acoustic duo Pourover and juggler Tony Steinbach — will provide entertainment throughout downtown.

If you plan to enter the Downtown in Focus photo contest, be sure to bring your camera along. From 8 to 11 p.m., most of downtown’s buildings will be lit for photographers who would like to capture city nightscapes to enter in the competition.

Just a few events taking place during the Aug. 2 First Friday are listed below:

Are you ready to rock? Canal Street Tavern (308 E. First St.) is presenting a tribute show by American Pink Floyd. The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $12. Call 937-461-9343.

In honor of the second anniversary of Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.), the store will throw a party to celebrate with all its customers. Entertainment will be provided by DJs Mike Wishnewski and Matt Freeman and henna artist Lily Whitehead. Boston Bistro will cater, and a $2 sidewalk sale will be held. Work by artist Robert Walker also will be featured. Call 937-241-9434.

The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet for two rides this month at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, (220 N. Patterson Blvd.). The first will ride leaves at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. Rides are free of charge and all skill levels are welcome. This month’s route will go past the downtown dog park, hit spots in Old North Dayton and surrounding areas (DATV, Mike Sell’s Potato Chips, Charlie’s Deli and Whitewater Warehouse) and head down the Mad River bike path back.

Synergy Incubators will produce their fourth First Friday Food Truck Rally. Street Food is all the ragea and Dayton Food Park (2oo S. Jefferson St.) will have 14 of Dayton’s food trucks lined up from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. After you grab some grub, browse through the booths of local artisans that include jewelry, homemade soaps, pottery and other crafts.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Great Dayton Flood, the Dayton Visual Arts Center (118 N. Jefferson St.) is showcasing artwork by local artists around the theme “Water, Water Everywhere.” Visitors can talk to the featured artists from the exhbit. The gallery will be open until 8 p.m. Call 937-224-3822.

Green Baby (31 S. St. Clair St.) will exhibit work by local artist Bley Hack, offer free chair massages to visitors and host a sale on select children’s items. The store will be open until 8 p.m. Call 469-8665.

Miami-Jacobs (110 N Patterson Blvd.) will host a Summer Block Party. HOT-FM 102.9 and WROU-FM 92.1 will broadcast live from the event, and entertainment includes a photo booth, indoor cornhole tournament and outdoor games. Call 937-668-0213.

As part of the First Friday Salsa Music Series, Son del Caribe will play live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark (111 E. Monument Ave.) on the MetroPark Pavilion Stage. Experience sounds that include salsa and other styles of Latin dance music. Call 937-274-0126.

Sew Dayton (16 Brown St.) will showcase artist-of-the-month Craig Galentine, creator of the The Kokeshi Clan. A group of local children will be selling lemonade for Hanna’s Treasure Chest outside the store and the winner of the “Make It Work” contest will be announced, along with the next challenge. Call 937-234-7398.

Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub (101 Pine St.) presents Cutthroat Freakshow by Dirty Little Secrets. This off-the-beaten-track show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 for 18 and older. Call 937-224-5653.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website. Call 937-224-1518 or email info@downtowndayton.org for more information.

To Your Health, Happiness, and Prosperity – National Anisette Day

July 2, 2013 By Brian Petro 1 Comment

Such a lovely bunch of flowers…

Anise has a long and flavorful history. It is mentioned in the Bible as a lesson not to be stingy to the Lord. It marched with Caesar as a treat for his troops, possibly one of the first candies developed. The Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians all used it to help digestive ailments, from upset stomachs to bad breath to indigestion. The Romans went so far as to bake it into mustaceum cake, where it was used with other herbs to aid in digestion. It was used for medicinal purposes as well as in cooking to add stronger flavors, or balance out sweetness. As time continued, more and more uses were found for this aromatic and powerfully flavored herb, from cosmetics to liquor. On July 2, we look to its use in liquors as we celebrate National Anisette Day.

Anisette is a generic name used for a liqueur that is primarily flavored with the herb anise, giving the drink a black licorice flavor. Sugary syrup is added to tone down the flavor ever so slightly. Anise grows mainly in the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece, but has spread through the world. Many of those countries also have created their own distinct anisette variations: in Greece it is known as ouzo, in Turkey it is called raki, in Syria, Egypt, and Israel it is known as arak. It is believed that Marie Brizzard, the popular French liqueur company, started to make anisette in 1755 with their other flavored options, helping to spread the popularity of the flavor through Europe. The Spanish fell in love with what they call Anis del Mono (“the monkey’s anisette”), the French created pastis and another infamous liqueur, absinthe. The Italians developed both white and black sambuca. All of them have their own variations of sweetness from the sugar added to the base spirit.

You can find this example of louched anisette at Pasha Grill in The Greene.

The flavor of licorice is a strong one, and anisette is rarely found without something mixed in it. The popular mix of choice for anisette in its many forms is water, whether you are looking at an elegant absinthe fountain or just pouring equal amounts of water and reki in a glass to create Lion’s Milk. One reason is the water dilutes the flavor, making it less intense and easier to drink. The other is to create and effect call louching, where the latent oils that are in the anise refuse to bond with the water mixture, giving the beverage a cloudy look. This is rarely done with sambuca (thought it would work), but the Italians came up with a unique solution to help cut the flavor of the anisette. They serve it with three coffee beans floating on top of it, calling it sambuca con la mosca, sambuca with a fly. The three beans represent health, happiness, and prosperity. You can do it with more or less, but it is considered bad luck to do it with an even number. After you drink the sambuca, you can chew on the beans to enhance the rich anise flavor.

Looking for it in this area can be difficult. Some of the more craft cocktail oriented places like Salar and Rue Dumaine may have absinthe or sambuca as aperitifs or digestifs to have during your meal, or for use in cocktails like a sazerac, Café de Paris, or typhoon. If you are looking to try an excellent louched drink, look to Pasha Grill for Yeni Raki, one of my favorites. Absinthe, sambuca, and ouzo are also common to find in liquor stores like Arrow Wine if you are feeling adventurous and want to bring some home for your own personal trials in cocktails.

From candy to medicine to cocktails, anise has proven to be a versatile and coveted plant. Its flavor profile, similar to a sweeter black licorice, is something people either love or hate. It blends well with other flavors in cooking as well as in adult beverages, helping to tone down bitter flavors and enhance sweeter ones. Over the Fourth of July weekend, with all of the family and friends you are going to be seeing, you have an opportunity to gather around a glass of something unique after a good meal and toast to each other’s heath, happiness, and prosperity.

July 5 Event to Feature Dance Lessons, Classic Movies, Contests, and Live Music

June 24, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Downtown’s next free First Friday event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 5. To celebrate the holiday weekend, many restaurant and stores are offering a variety of activities and entertainment for downtown visitors to enjoy. Events include art exhibits, live music, dinner and drink specials, retail sales, and special events will be featured at a variety of downtown venues.

Some of the highlights for the July 5 First Friday are listed below. A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website.

Food Truck Rally – 200 S. Jefferson St. (near the Dayton Convention Center): Synergy Incubators hosts the July First Friday Food Truck Rally, featuring Zombie Dogz, Go Cupcake, Ringo’s North Star Mobile Eatery Caribbacanas,Fressa Truck, G’s CUE BBQ Horseless Buggy Eatery, Tik’s Thai Mobile, @The Monchon, Kona Ice and Missouri Avenue BBQ from 5:00pm – 9:00pm

American Pi (37 S. St. Clair St.) is celebrating a new collaboration with “Life in Letters,” a local handcraft décor store. Visitors can create unique and personal pieces using photos taken in the Dayton area that resemble letters. For First Friday, the owners of “Life in Letters” will be at the store to meet with anyone who comes by. The store is open until 8:30 p.m. Call 937–938-7890.

Cincinnati artist Gregory Sitg will be showing light paintings at Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.). Call 937-241-9434.

The Collaboratory (33 N. Main St.) will feature an exhibition by artist and designer Misty Thomas-Trout that is a visual representation of her personal journey into self-awareness. Enjoy drinks and food with while getting to know the artist. The Collaboratory will be open until 8 p.m. Call 937-732-5123.

The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet for two rides this month at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, (220 N. Patterson Blvd.). The first will ride leaves at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. The July ride will include a tour of the McPherson, Grafton Hill, Five Oaks and Santa Clara District neighborhoods.

As part of the First Friday Salsa Music Series, Latin band Cla’ve Son will play live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark (111 E. Monument Ave.) on the MetroPark Pavilion Stage. Visitors can learn some salsa steps while listening to great music. Call 937-274-0126.

Sew Dayton (16 Brown St.) will offer treats from the PNC 2nd Street Market and showcase work by fiber artist Pat Weaves. Those who stop by are encouraged to partake in a DIY “Make It Work” contest. Participants will be given three pieces of textiles and given the challenge to create something new from them. The contest will run through the end of July. Call 937-234-7398.

Kicking off the Cool Film Series at Victoria Theatre (138 N Main St.) is the classic comedy “The Apartment” starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine and directed by Billy Wilder. Free popcorn and soda are offered in the lobby and an old-fashioned sing-a-long begins 30 minutes before show time. Tickets are $5. Call 228-3630.