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

Yellow Springs

Harvest Mobile Cuisine: Fresh, Local, & Affordable

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Harvest Mobile Food Truck

The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax are no different than other Daytonians.  We have full time careers, love our family, and we chase Food Trucks around town.   As you know, mobile food cuisine is currently ‘all the rage’ in the Miami Valley.

One of our favorites,  Harvest Mobile Cuisine is a Dayton food truck owned by Patrick Sartin, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.  After working in various kitchens across the country, Patrick bought a food truck with the goal to offer comfort foods that use local produce at an affordable price.

Harvest Mobile Cuisine is one of the most popular food trucks in Dayton and has a legion of loyal customers.   Follow them on Facebook and check out their website harvestmobilecuisine.com to find out where they are gonna be rolling off to next.  Its a local Food Adventure on the “go” ..

Must Eats:

Nothing better than a Local Wrap in one of the best dining rooms in Dayton… Five Rivers Metro Park

  • Harvest Fries– These are not your average fries!  They are a mixture of white potatoes & sweet potatoes, seasoned with fresh herbs and served with Sriracha ketchup.
  • Humble Farmer– A salad made with Patchwork Greens, a variety of seasonal vegetables, creamy goat cheese and tossed in Harvest Vinaigrette.  One of the reasons we love this salad, is that it’s constantly changing!  Order it one time and your salad might be made with fresh picked strawberries and asparagus…..the next time it might contain sugar snap peas.  You can count on the fact that it will always be fresh!
  • Local Wrap– Our favorite rendition of this wrap so far consisted of Hill Family Farms Chicken, Jackson’s local Strawberries, Asparagus, & Goat Cheese on a Whole Wheat Tortilla Wrap.  This tasty offering is also served with your choice of fruit or Patchwork Greens.  We highly suggest the Patchwork Greens!
  • Harvest Burger– We love Harvest Mobile’s take on America’s favorite sandwich!  It consists of a Turkey Burger, Roasted Garlic aioli, White Cheddar and Patchwork Greens on a warm bun.

Please browse through our photo album below for some killer pics.  Harvest Mobile Cuisine, one of the best Food Adventures on four wheels !

Want daily food fun?  “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE,

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<a href=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/123/1744249/restaurant/Dayton/Harvest-Mobile-Cuisine-Spring-Valley”><img alt=”Harvest Mobile Cuisine on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1744249/minilink.gif” style=”border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px” /></a>

The Food Adventures Crew Peek Into Yellow Springs Brewery!

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PSSST!! Come here….  wanna peek?  Even though the tasting room doesn’t open until April 13th, Food Adventures got a sneak peek of the new Yellow Springs Brewery on 305 N. Walnut Street.  We think you’re gonna like what you see.  The brewmasters have been busy.  Their beer has been in production for a few months.  Various brews bearing the Yellow Springs Brewery label are already being served in local restaurants.

We sampled a few craft beers and they were delicious.  Our favorite was a beer called the   “Little Bike Brown.”  It is a stout beer with a full bodied, rich taste.  All of the beers are brewed using local Yellow Springs water.    The brewery tries to use other local ingredients in the brewing process whenever possible.

Good pints. Beer model not included!

The tasting room is decorated with a local flair.   The bar is made of an old bowling lane, once used in an alley in Yellow Springs.   How is that for original and unique?  They plan to continue the local theme by adorning the walls with local artwork.  The tasting room grand opening is scheduled for Sat, April 13th from 1-9pm.

Other future plans for Yellow Springs Brewery include an outside patio.  This would be wonderful spot for a Food Adventure in the summer months and suitable stop for thirsty cyclists using the bike path.

This place is going to be a hit.  What’s not to love?  Good local brews, and a tasting room that has a lot of character just like the beer.    Upon opening, Yellow Springs Brewery will sell pints of beer and growlers.   Their motto is “crafting truth to power.”  Make sure you stop in and grab this powerful taste of Yellow Springs, sample some local brewmaster’s works, and pick a favorite of your own.  This brewery is yet another reason to make Yellow Springs your destination for a little getaway.

Comment below if you are excited to try Yellow Springs Brewery !!

For more FOOD ADVENTURES  “like” us on FACEBOOK HERE !!

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Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Band Spotlight Volume 4

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Wheels

As the Downtown Dayton Revival Festival approaches, we here at Dayton Most Metro are highlighting all the bands that will be bringing music to the masses.  Here are four more acts that will be performing.

Wheels

From the pleasant city of Yellow Springs, Wheels are ready to give the crowd an incredible show.  Recently, the band released their second album, Big Feeling.  To help fund the equipment needed to self-record all of their own albums, including their newest one, Wheels decided to call upon the help of their fans and others and set up a Kickstarter account.   The band set a goal of $3,000 to help pay for several studio equipment, which included microphones, software, and computers.

Their seasoned sound is a collection of different styles-classic rock and roll, with folk and bluegrass influences.  Their love for Ohio comes alive in some of their songs.  The most common thing you hear about this quintet is that the fact they are so young.  Don’t let this fool you.  Wheels bring a style and sound that is well beyond their years.

Red Wanting Blue

Columbus, Ohio brings us the alternative rock band Red Wanting Blue.  The band has been touring for over a decade now, gaining fans one by one throughout the United States.  Red Wanting Blue take pride in letting it be known that will do what it takes to make fans in every stop.  In return, Red Wanting Blue is emerging as one of the top indie bands in the county.
The bands lyrics tell stories of being on the road, the people that meet while remembering where they have come from.  The band’s sound bursts at the seams with passion, which gives theirstage show one that keeps people engrossed from start to finish.

Early this year, Red Wanting Blue released their 9th album, From The Vanishing Point.  According to the band’s website, the album ‘sheds some of Red Wanting Blue’s small-town sensibilities as it evolves into the world-class rock n’ roll outfit that audiences have believed in for years and marks an official move to the national stage for a band that will always remember where it’s from’.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

In the western parts of Massachusetts in 2003, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers were formed.  Kellogg and the Sixers have an unashamed way about them and their music has given them a rabid fan base.  With a roaring sound of rock, coupled with folk and country flavor, the band’s lyrics are about their lives, and the world around them.  They sing about their relationships, past and present.  They sing about wisdom given to from family.  It gives you a very intimate feel, and just connects you with the group even more.

Gift Horse is the latest work from Kellogg and the Sixers, and it will be the last album for a while.  The band posted on their website back in July that at the end of the year, they will be going on hiatus.  The reason for the planned break, according to the band, is that band needs to ‘explore other facets of life’.  In the meantime, the band plans on bringing their wild stage show to the Dayton festival.

Kristy Lee

 

Kristy Lee is one of the few female acts taking the stage during the two day festival.  From her home in Alabama, Lee will be bringing a rawness that will no doubt leave people with their mouths wide open.  Her vocals are rich with that trademark Southern soul sound.  Lee’s lyrics are filled with heartbreak and anger.  However, with the pain of losing love, the healing is the bond that forms with the crowd, singing along with her.  Raise The Dead, Lee’s recent album, talks about starting all over again, and finding your way.

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See all of our Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlights

See the New Studios at WYSO’s Open House

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Editor’s Note: submitted by 91.3FM WYSO

On Sunday, June 24, public radio station WYSO will hold an open house at their new studios at 150 E. South College Street in Yellow Springs.

The new WYSO studios moments after going live on the air on May 1, 2012 (photo by Dennie Eagleson)

From 1pm til 5 pm, there will be live music and spoken word events in the new, expanded performance space. Visitors will have a chance to tour the new facilities, meet WYSO staff and resource board members, and to record a greeting in one of the new production booths.

On the same day, WYSO will officially power up to fifty thousand watts. A new transmitter and antenna have already been installed and tested. WYSO has also launched their annual fiscal year end fund drive and will be “selling watts for WYSO.”

Listeners can “buy” watts for two dollars each and help WYSO raise funds. Everyone who gives two dollars or more during June will receive a certificate.

During the Open House on June 24 there will be many musical and spoken work guests including Wheels from Yellow Springs, Dayton blues band Miss Lissa and Co and Ohio Heritage Fellow Rick Good, with more performers to be announced soon.

“Our open house will be fun and family-friendly,” says WYSO general manager Neenah Ellis. “ We’ll have snacks and drinks available and activities for kids as well.”

In addition to four consecutive hours of live music and spoken word guests, hosted by WYSO Music Director Niki Dakota, visitors will be allowed to record themselves and their families in new WYSO production booths. “We hope people will come and see what a community-friendly new space we have,” says Ellis.

Antioch University, which holds the WYSO license, invested one million dollars to renovate the first floor of the former Kettering Research Lab building for WYSO. The upgraded broadcast facilities were paid for in part by a matching federal grant.

“Antioch invested in WYSO because they recognize our value to the community and to the university,” says Ellis.

Homemade Goodness at Sunrise Cafe

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In order to retain our sanity, Food Adventures must leave the “bubble” of the suburbs and get back to food basics.  The village of Yellow Springs, Ohio is the perfect destination to achieve this feat.  Yellow Springs has scenic parks to hike, eclectic shops to explore, and some of the tastiest eateries to fill a belly.  One of our favorite places to eat is the Sunrise Cafe.  Located at 259 Xenia Avenue, Sunrise Cafe offers a full service menu which also includes a kid’s menu.  The quality of food is exceptional due to the fact that they use local produce and don’t own a deep fryer or microwave.  The small dining room is usually pretty packed, so the virtue of patience might have to be drawn up.  Keep in mind…….homemade food takes time to prepare and it’s worth it!

 

We decided to try the Huevos Rancheros which can be ordered in a half or full size portion.  Corn tortillas, black beans, two eggs (with the yolks intact!), salsa, and sour cream.  There is nothing better than breaking the yolk and opening the flood gates onto the black beans for a tasty combination.  The other dish  we tried was the breakfast sandwich which contained local eggs, cheese, and sausage on a homemade english muffin.  No fast food restaurant’s breakfast sandwich can compare!  Higher quality produce and your hands are not dripping with grease!  The sandwich also came with a side of breakfast potatoes which complimented it perfectly.

 

 

Breakfast Sandwich with local Eggs, Cheese, & Sausage on a homemade English Muffin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try the Sunrise Cafe the next time you venture to Yellow Springs, Ohio and taste the difference of good, local produce!

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Check out the full menu and weekly specials from Sunrise Cafe by clicking here![album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/SunriseCafe/]

 

Sundog 9 – Call for Entries

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Do you know (or are you) a high-school or middle-school student (grades 8-12) interested in film? Check out the Sundog 9 Film Festival and submit your short film for consideration at this great contest! Students submit films, get together for a public adjudication where everyone learns a little something, and enjoy the premier where all films are viewed on the big screen. It’s a great opportunity to meet other aspiring student filmmakers and have a lot of fun.

From the Sundog Programmers:

High school and middle school students, grades 8-12, are invited to create and submit short films to the Sundog 9 Film Festival, premiering Sat. May 12th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Little Art Theatre (in downtown Yellow Springs). Schools in the Greater Dayton-Columbus-Cincinnati areas compete in this regional event, where approximately $1500 in cash and prizes will be awarded in a variety of film genres which may include narrative, experimental, documentary, animation, public service announcement, self-portrait, and music video. In addition, shout-outs for best cinematography, special effects, screen writing, etc. may be given as deemed by the judges.  Sundog mascot, Moxy, will also be there to greet the audience and to present a special award for the best entry with a dog theme. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Entry deadline is 5:00 p.m., Tues. April 24th.  Submissions may be delivered or mailed to:  Sundog 9 Film Festival, c/o Yellow Springs HS, 420 E. Enon Rd., Yellow Springs, OH. 45387. There is a fee of $3 for each entry.

Students and their teachers are also invited to attend the open adjudication, Friday, April 27th, 9:00 a.m. at Fairmont High School, (3301 Shroyer Rd., Kettering, OH. 45429) in the Recital Hall, where a panel of media professionals will screen entries and offer constructive criticism to young filmmakers. Lunch will be provided by festival sponsors.

Sundog Film Festival originated in Yellow Springs in 2003 and is funded by the generosity of downtown businesses and caring individuals.  Ongoing support from YS Arts Council and partnership with FilmDayton have allowed this event to receive greater exposure while continuing to achieving its primary goal of “raising the bar for media arts education.”

Sponsors are needed and any donations of cash, gift cards, or merchandise to use for prizes will be greatly appreciated.  Sponsors will be listed in all promotional materials, including programs and will receive a keepsake poster to hang in their store.  Please contact festival director Melina Elum at melum@ysschools.org. for more information.

The Hairy Art Palace in Yellow Springs

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Welcome to the Hairy Art Palace where women with hairy arm pits create art with yarn, floss, felt, paint and laughter.  Meet Hairy Mary, play I Spy with the art (win a prize) or try the other goofy art games and puzzles, enjoy wine and the black and white food table (that’s black and white food not the table.  Well actually the table’s black too.) and of course view Awesome Art.   The Jafagirls have created a funhouse of interactive art.  If you’re willing to crawl along the floor you can even see the “The Dog Gallery.” Then listen to a radio interview with Bitty the dog.

OK that’s my opening,  Corrine and I have been working like dogs (not Bitty, he’s lazy) getting this show together.  We are psyched and getting into the sweaty armpit part of the process.  Will we have the gazillion details done before the Friday the 14th opening?  Yes!  And “Yes” we will take baths before the reception.

Speaking of hairy armpits, we will have Portable Hairy Armpits for you to try on.  A Photo op if you dare.

The Jafagirls, Corrine Bayraktaroglu and moi, Nancy Mellon do street art in Yellow Springs.  Since I have to go back to work, details, details, what follows is “the details about who, where, why, when”  from the delightful Deb Housh, the extroardinare Gallery Coordinator for the Yellow Springs Arts Council:

The Yellow Springs Arts Council presents “Hairy Art Palace”, an exhibit of mixed media works by local “infamous” artists, Nancy Mellon and Corrine Bayraktaroglu, aka the JafaGirls. A Third Friday Fling Opening Reception will be held on Friday, October 14, 6-9 p.m. at the YSAC Gallery, 309 Xenia Avenue.


The show will present a mixture of works in media ranging from traditional to contemporary, as well as photography that showcases recent street art projects. The JafaGirls are best known for their Knit Knot Tree of 2008, which picked up international press and was written about in the Washington Post, NY Times, Boston Globe, International Herald Tribune, among other news sources. That project sparked a flurry of other knit bombing, felt flowering and guerilla art acts and displays by the JafaGirls in Yellow Springs.

They use processes and forms of art often considered too ladylike, too old fashioned or irrelevant for “high” art, and they blow those preconceived notions out of the water. Nancy and Corrine craft for a purpose—to bring community together, to encourage questioning of one’s surroundings, to make people smile, and sometimes to convey strong messages about politics and culture.

Works by the JafaGirls are highlighted in a newly released book entitled Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In, which will be available at their show.

For more information about the JafaGirls or a private viewing go to http://jafagirls.wordpress.com or email jafagirlart@yahoo.com. For more info about Yellow Springs Arts Council, visit www.ysartscouncil.org


The Hairy Art Palace  will be open during the Friday 14, Art Stroll 6-9 p.m. and Artist Studio Tour Saturday, October 15, noon-6pm and Sunday October 16, noon-4pm. Additional extended hours will be Saturdays from 10am-1pm October 22 and 29th. A YSAC special event, “Experience Saturday”, will close out the show on November 5 from 7:30-10pm.

Bring quarters for the Art Ball Vending Machine! P.S. I’m back.  Friday the 14th starts off a grand art weekend in Yellow Springs, Art Stroll Friday night and Saturday and Sunday are the Yellow Springs Artist Studio Tours. The Scarecrow Festival will also be going on in town.  I saw a spooky, Steam Punk, headless lady being created by an artist for Wavelength Salon.  They are going to be all over downtown Yellow Springs.  See you in the Springs!

Art On The Lawn in Yellow Springs

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What do you think?  Can a dog paint?  You get to decide for yourself this Saturday August 13th at Art On The Lawn.  The featured artist for this 28-year-old Fine Arts and Crafts Fair in Yellow Springs is a Great Dane.  He has been in the show for 2 years now and the artists at Village Artisans (who run Art On The Lawn) decided that this year they would make him their featured artist.  OK, I loved his work, I’ve met him but I still had this little doubt at the back of my mind.  Can a dog realllly make art?

So here is the inside scoop about Mozart Dane.  Straight from Beth Mack of the Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue “Mo is a very temperamental artist.  He prefers to paint in his own room, (he has his own studio in his home,) when it is very quiet with very few people around.   He has to be in the mood to paint, and if he is not, he simply refuses to.

Being a non-profit organization, we are always trying to think of new ways to raise money for the rescue.   A bunch of volunteers were brainstorming one day and someone came up with the idea of selling items with a paw print on them. We tried several Danes and they could not run away fast enough. They did not like the feel of the paint on their paws and wanted nothing to do with it.  Then we tried Mo.

At first we had to coax him with American cheese, but not anymore.  (Good thing because he was gaining too much weight!)  He will not allow any other dogs around and only one or two people- and it has to be people he knows very well.  He has a futon that he lies on.   We pour paint onto paper plates, he chooses what color he wants to use and will simply put his paw into the paint and start patting the canvas.  If he does not want to use a color, he will not use it.  When he is finished painting, he is finished.  No amount of coaxing or American cheese will get him to paint more.  The only human assistance he receives is if he is doing a 24” x 36” canvas  – that’s when we turn it to make sure the entire canvas gets covered.

We often have people ask if they can commission a painting with only certain colors in it.   The problem goes back to the fact that if he doesn’t want to use a certain color, he wont use it! ”

Mozart Dane lives at the Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue a no kill shelter that is dedicated to saving and placing abused, abandoned, and neglected Great Danes.

Come this Saturday and make up your own mind about dogs and art.  For me, I’ve decided Mozart Dane is an artist and isn’t life full of wonderful surprises!

Art on the Lawn is a juried Fine Arts and Crafts show taking place this Saturday, August 13, under the green trees, at Mills Lawn, 200 S. Walnut Street from 10 am – 5 p.m.

Come to Yellow Springs and enjoy the art from over 100 artists, including Mozart Dane who happens to be a dog.

See you in the Springs!

Gotta Dance? Do it in Yellow Springs!

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Do you find yourself grinning and “Woo Hooing” when someone says let’s go dancing?  Have I got a night made for you!   On Saturday July 16th Yellow Springs will be packed with opportunities to dance.

Dance Event #1

At 6:30p.m. and 8 p.m.  The Show—a Springfield-Yellow Springs based rock trio will be performing original, high-energy music that spans genres from garage and surf, to punk and funk! This musical event accompanies a 6-9 p.m. art exhibit called Synesthesia , featuring concert posters by Ryan Henry & guests. Henry’s designs are influenced from the Art Noveau and Psychedelic poster genres. It takes place at the YSAC Gallery Space and in the beautiful Garden in the back at 309 Xenia Ave.  It’s a free event!

For more information on The Show, go to www.myspace.com/theshowwillgrow

Dance Event #2

7-10pm Dance Piazza @ the Art Park—100 Corry Street is another free event! [yframe url=”]

DJ JuJu’s Dance Piazza is an outdoor international dance party. From 7-8 p.m. on July 16th, Jill Christie of the Dayton Ballroom Dance Club will be demonstrating Swing Dance and encouraging anyone who wants to dance, to try it out.

Then from 8-10pm DJ Juju will spin Latin dance and other world music including Afro-beat, Bhangra, Middle Eastern, club, old-school and R & B.

Judith “Juju” Wolert-Maldonado is a photojournalist, documentary filmmaker and DJ living and working in between Yellow Springs, Ohio, New York City and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Judith says” When in the Buenos Aires province, I frequently attend a weekly outdoor festival, the “Feria de Mataderos.” Each Sunday, thousands of Argentines gather in the closed-off streets to dance the day and night away to the live, diverse sounds of Argentine folk music. If there is an empty ground space at this festival, it quickly fills up with dancers or musicians, just regular folks who enjoy the camaraderie and freedom of dancing and playing out in the open, because they can.  During the Argentine dictatorship of the 1970s and early ’80s, violent curfews and censorships eliminated any sort of festival or public arts events. “

Dance Piazza is also taking place on the following dates with dance instructors featuring different kinds of dance for each event.

JULY 2 – Bhangra (Punjabi Folk Dance) with Karanvir Singh

AUGUST 6 – Mexican Folk Dance with Nuestro Orgullo youth dance troupe

AUGUST 20 – Flamenco Dance & Guitar with Mariya Tarakanova & Brent Del Bianco of Flamencotalk

SEPTEMBER 3 – West African Drum & Dance with BabaaRitah Clark

SEPTEMBER 17 – Appalachian Clogging & Old Time Music with Rick Good (formerly of Rhythm in Shoes) & Friends

The Dance Piazza will be cancelled in case of severe thunderstorms but will carry on under shelter in light rain! *

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More info: (937) 430-2505 or juju70@msn.com

Dance Event #3

Then there is Ballroom Dancing Under the Stars

9:00 p.m.- 11p.m.  At the Antioch Amphitheater.  Directions to The Amphitheater can be found by visiting www.yskp.org or calling 767-7800.

Ticket are $5.00

Ballroom Dancing Under the Stars will feature live music, lots of prizes, great dancing and a cash bar. After the performance of the Cotton Club (YS Kids Playhouse is performing the Cotton Club, an original Jazz Musical at the Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m.) as the applause dies down, and the stars come out, the sets will be spirited away, a cash bar will magically appear (it’s all magic in the theater) and the band will begin to play.  It’s time for Dancing under the Stars!  (If you like to dress up wear a Jazz Era costume. there will be prizes for costumes too.)

So that’s the line up for Saturday evening on July 16th but I can’t resist telling you about one more opportunity to dance that is going on earlier in the day.

It’s a Belly Dancing  Workshop with one of my favorite dancers.

Saturday July 16th from 2:30-3:30 Janna Mueller will be teaching Intro to Belly Dancing . Her prices are great!  For individual’s it’s only $15, for a Mother/daughter $25 for two, or if you bring a friend (two people sign up together) it’s $25 for two.

Janna is the director of the Egyptian Breeze Belly Dance troupe.  If you have ever gone to the Yellow Springs Street Fair, you’ve seen them.  Janna teaches belly dance to women and girls of all ages, shapes and sizes.  I’ve had friends take her workshops and they say it’s a lot of fun, there’s loads of laughing and letting loose.  You get to learn the basic moves of belly dance, try on belly dance hip scarves and get dancing! To register contact Janet at: 532-3950 or E-Mail- dancewithjanna@yahoo.com You can visit Janet’s web site at- Egyptianbreeze.com

All these dance events are part of the Yellow Springs Summer Experience-July 15-17.  To find out about other fun events (and there are a lot of them!) going on during the Summer Experience go to: yellow-springs-experience.org

Yellow Springs Street Fair is Coming!

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Street Fair is Coming!

Plans for summer events are really brewing around Yellow Springs.  The Chamber is full of signs ready to go out and huge maps of booth positions.  Artists are dropping in with questions.  You can feel the energy in the air.  Street Fair is coming June 11th 9 a.m.-5 p.m.! Everywhere I turn, artists are working feverishly to get a booth full of pottery, sculpture, paintings, hand-crafted clothes, bags or unique jewelry ready for you.

One of my favorites is Jennifer Float’s booth with her colorful and whimsical paintings.  Jenny is a happy painter.  She has a very high “Awww” factor.  Everyone smiles when they see her work.   For the last 2 months, every time I see Jenny shop sitting at Village Artisans (an artist co-op in Yellow Springs) she has half-done canvases stacked on every surface and a brush in hand.  Jenny doesn’t do much sitting when she shop-sits.

So, you probably know about Street Fair, but do you know about some of the other cool events being planned for this summer?  On June 17th, the Friday after Street Fair, is Yellow Springs’ Art Stroll from 6-9 p.m.  One of my favorite shows is happening that night.  Every 2 years is the Miniature Show at “would you could you In A Frame,” at 113 Corry Street. This year, fifty-two artists have created over 100 pieces of fabulous, tiny art. Included are 3-D works, paintings, embroideries, encaustics and more, all no larger than 3 inches x 2 inches.

Art by Lance Rudegeair

The new gallery in town is Springs Gallery in King’s Yard, 220 Xenia Avenue. It will have its Grand Opening celebration during Art Stroll.  I’ve already had a peek inside and  loved the art.  Many of their artists will be present at the opening.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery, 309 Xenia Ave. is having a great reception that will include art, live music and belly dancing.

Also on Art Stroll night, the Art’s Council in partnership with the Jafagirls is going to have a truly disgusting, Interactive Public Art Project at the Art Park at 100 Corry Street. The world’s first Traveling Gum Wall will be there. This summer and fall the Traveling Gum Wall is going to be popping up all over town, serving as a fundraiser for the Arts Council.  Gum is sold for a buck a piece.  You buy the gum, chew, chew some more, squish it onto the Gum Wall, and then sign the back.

Whoops, almost forgot, the Gum Wall will be at Street Fair too at the Arts Council’s Oasis,  309 Xenia Ave.

Much more is going on during Art Stroll, Art Sale at Village Artisans, live music, beer making demo, wine tasting, Free Art Friday,….

Maybe I better explain Free Art Friday.  It’s a movement around the world to leave art on the streets for anyone to find and take home. It’s been a while since the Jafagirls of Yellow Springs have done a Free Art Friday. But the word is out, Friday the 17th there will be art for the finding.  (Check the trees!)

Quick run down of other offerings for the summer:  Twice a month, 1st and 3rd Saturdays, will be “Dance Piazza” with DJ Juju at the Art Park, 100 Corry Street.

From 7-8 p.m. there are dance instructors to show steps to anyone who wants to join in.  From 8-10 p.m. It’s an international Dance Party with DJ Juju.

Here is a list of the styles of Dance taught for the first hour of each Dance Piazza. The last  two hours dance any which way you please!

  • JUNE 18 – International Folk Dances with Miami Valley Folk Dancers
  • JULY 2 – Bhangra (Punjabi Folk Dance) with Karanvir Singh
  • JULY 16 – Swing Dance with Jill Christie of the Dayton Ballroom Dance Club
  • AUGUST 6 – Mexican Folk Dance with Nuestro Orgullo youth dance troupe
  • AUGUST 20 – Flamenco Dance & Guitar with Mariya Tarakanova & Brent Del Bianco of Flamencotalk
  • SEPTEMBER 3 – West African Drum & Dance with BabaaRitah Clark
  • SEPTEMBER 17 – Appalachian Clogging & Old Time Music with Rick Good (formerly of Rhythm in Shoes) & Friends

July brings : The Cotton Club” a YS Kids Playhouse jazz musical and  the “Yellow Springs Experience.” July 15th –17th three days and nights filled with the “Cirque Carnival,” Live music and Dance, Wellness and Spa Sessions, Nature Hikes and Art Workshops.  Woo hoo!  Tell you more about that later.

See you in the Springs!

Art Weekend in Yellow Springs

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It’s a bit mind-boggling. There are almost too many art events going on in Yellow Springs this October 15th-17th weekend…… nah!

Friday night is Art Sroll, and I am really looking forward to that. But I’ve already told you about Art Stroll in my last blog. Though I do have 2 new offering to add to Friday night’s mix:
At 8 p.m. you can stop by the Gardens of 100 Corry Street for a free outdoor theater performance of- “Hey that’s a Nice Bike “ created by Vanessa Query. A second performance at 9 p.m. will be in the courtyard in front of Sam &Eddies on Xenia Ave.

From 5p.m.-9p.m, in King’s Yard, Mike Garrett will be carving Tikis.  Mike is a great Tiki Carver, I can’t wait to see this!

Big breath, get ready, here’s the rest of the weekend-

On Saturday is a “Couples Adventure.” If you’d like something new to do to keep your relationship growing or just want to have fun with your love, here’s a list of 5 new experiences that you can have together on Saturday the 16th.
1. “Healing and relaxation comes when you drum. ”Make a drum filled with your spirit and then later learn to drum together. In this special workshop at Wild Gourd Studio you can each make your own gourd drum with gourd artist Cynthia McDonald. Cynthia plays a lovely, haunting Native American flute and the drum. She has drums in her studio for you to try.
2. A new way to care for each other. During a Thai-Yoga Massage workshop, you’ll learn how to help each other with a deeply relaxing form of bodywork that combines assisted stretching derived from yoga with acupressure style massage and energy balancing. The instructor, Jen Ater, traveled to Thailand to learn with masters this healing bodywork of Thai-Yoga Massage.
3. Bliss out with a great combo-a relaxing private yoga class followed by Swedish massage sessions for the both of you. Janet Baer offers this private session at her beautifully decorated old farmhouse with a labyrinth in the garden.
4. Declare your love forever. Work with Sarah Strong, at Strong heArt Studio and an old time printing press to hand print your own love poster.
5. Create a masterpiece together with New Orlean’s artist Jennifer Float. In Jenny’s Cork and Canvas Class you’ll drink wine, party and make art.
You can sign up and pay for any of these activities at www.getawaysforwomen.com

You need to sign up by Friday morning.

Both Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. is Yellow Springs Artist Studio Tour and Sale. It’s the one time each year that some of Yellow Springs fabulous artists open their studios to visitors. You get to see how they make their art, what tools they use, watch demos, talk with the artists and purchase art. It’s a fascinating peep into an artist’s life. This year there are also 1-2 guest artists at each of the 8 artist’s studios, so you get the opportunity to meet a couple of artists at each stop on the tour.
Download a map at www.ysarts.org This is a free event.

For a great end to a wonderful day, on Saturday from 5 p.m.- 10 p.m. you can stop over at the “Artoberfest” for a music festival and Beer Garden. “Artoberfest” will be held at The Barr Property on the corner of Limestone and Xenia Ave.
During “Artoberfest”, you can enter your favorite beer container in the “Finest Stein” contest to be judged by local artists and celebrities between 7 and 8 pm. Seasonal beers, wine and food will be available and live bands will perform. Brewing and other food and drink demonstrations are planned. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Advanced tickets can be purchased online at www.yellow-springs-experience.org

On Saturday from 6:00-8:30 p.m. is another reception for an exhibit called “Emerging Visions: Antiochians Make Art” It’s at the Herndon Gallery, in South Hall at Antioch College. The show features paintings, prints, and works on paper and tile by 6 alumni artists.

As always, there is more going on, but I’ve run out of steam. Hope you get a chance to join the fun in Yellow Springs this weekend! If you meet up with me, (I’ll be the one in the black ball cap with Jafagirls written in hot pink across the front) say hi!

Third Fridays in Yellow Springs

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On Third Friday, there was a fiddler playing in the moonlight in the first garden of Alan Macbeth’s fantastical building on Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs. On the side of the building is a beautiful, warm mural of an African woman and her child. To get to the Yellow Springs Arts Councils Gallery you pass under the swooping brick arch and enter by the fountain. There is another garden in the back with tables and chairs to sit and enjoy this enchanted, peace filled space.

The show I came to see was a whimsical combination of Sharon Mohler’s sculpted miniature stories in the round and Karen Russell’s colorful textile quilts and paper art. For a month beforehand Karen had been reporting on face book about how she just couldn’t stop herself making these gorgeous tiny paper boxes. It was amazing to see the final results when she put them together. Sharon’s tiny sculpted stories are heart warming; they are frozen moments from “three generations of memories.” She calls them Sharon’s Songs. On her web site she says: “Life has been a bumpy road for me, but it has never been dull. I am blessed with a good memory. I can remember things that happened when I was only two years old. So these works are called my “songs” because they are the ballads of my life.” Sharon once told me that in her home she has stacks of hatboxes everywhere, lovingly filled with these sculpted stories.
Sharon and Karen’s work will be up at the YSAC Gallery through October 31st
Since there are 2 artists they decided to have 2 receptions. So you have a second chance on October 15th, this coming up Third Friday to meet the artists and see their work.

On my way back to visit some of the other art receptions on Corry and Dayton Street, I was pulled in by the joyful live music cascading out the open doors at the Emporium. I stood on the sidewalk and watched the musicians laughing and jamming together with people of all ages dancing in the glow of the Emporium’s golden light. Right in front, two little bitty girls were gyrating like mad. The Emporium holds a wine tasting with live music every Friday night.

Across the street on Xenia Avenue, there were drums being played and Soul Fire Tribe, the fire dancers of Yellow Springs, were dancing and whirling fire sticks and hoops. I can’t just walk by when they are performing, I had to stop and join the crowd ooohing and ahing.

September was a perfect Third Friday Fling. But if you missed that one there is a very special one coming up October 15th. Two times a year, Yellow Springs puts on an art stroll. (I know that sounds confusing, the September Third Friday that I just described sounds like an art stroll. Third Fridays often have art receptions but usually not to the degree that Art Stroll Night is dedicated to them. There is added effort for all the businesses/galleries and restaurants in town to have new art, live music and great food. Plus many more people come out to see the art and chat with each other. It’s sort of the friendly super bowl of Art Strolls for Yellow Springs.) Traditionally all the spots with a reception that night have balloons out front.  Also traditionally Art Stroll is from 6-9 p.m. but it often goes on later.

This year Art Stroll is in memory of a beloved Yellow Springs artist who passed away this past year- Eddie Eckenrode. At Sam & Eddies Open Books, 232 Xenia Ave. (one of my favorite Yellow Springs’ shops for getting unusual cards and birthday presents,) there will be an Art Reception to celebrate Eddie’s new permanent collection, in the upstairs gallery. On display will be an amazing collection from and history of an Ohio artist’s life.

I’ve got to let you know right now that I am not going to cover all the places with receptions, new art up or wine tastings and live music for Art Stroll. I can’t, you’ll just have to come and discover them yourselves!

But I’ve got to tell you about 2 of the art receptions because I am completely biased about them.

The first one is at the Village Artisans at 100 Corry St. Village Artisans is a Co-Op of 20 local artists. I have happily been one of them for 6 years. We are oil, acrylic and water color painters, potters and wood turners, carvers and inlay artists. We work with stones, gourds and precious metals to make jewelry, ornaments, bowls and drums. We are calligraphers and philosophers, textile artists that quilt and embroider and sew and make fabric bowls and wall art. We work with cameras and computers and stained glass. We make books and author books. And pretty much everyone makes cards. (I sure hope I didn’t forget anyone!)
The Village Artisans is putting on the Dare 2B Square show for the month of October. All the art is 12”X12” and is being sold for $100.00 our reception is on (I bet you guessed it) Art Stroll, October 15th from 6-9 p.m. We have over 20 extra artists from this region that are being showcased and then there is the home crew from Village Artisans who are also well represented. And if I do say so myself it is a great show. Come talk to the artists and enjoy our wine and cheese and other goodies.

The other reception that I am totally biased about is at “would you, could you In A Frame” 113 Corry St. The “Stitch Gasp” show is going to be totally weird and totally wonderful. The artist is Corrine Bayraktaroglu aka Jafabrit, (and my Jafagirl art partner.) She has been on an artistic journey from oil paint to graffiti art to stitched art that is fascinating. At her reception on Art Stroll night you will get to see all the stages from art journals to paintings to glorious hand stitched art. Besides, you’ll get to hear the stories behind the art. Stories told in a delightful, non-reverent British way. It will be fun, I promise you.
Art Stroll in Yellow Springs, 6-9 p.m. October 15th- Be there or be square. (Where have I heard that before?)

Monday Night Dinner & A Movie Deal

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In a very affordable package the Sunrise Cafe and the Little Art Theatre have partnered to present a Monday night dinner and a movie package for just $20.  The catch- you have to arrive in Yellow Springs for dinner by 6pm to take advantage of the this deal to make the 7:30 showing.

The Sunrise Cafe is known for using locally grown and organic food  and has many vegan and vegetarian option. There is no deep fryer or microwave in the restaurant,

Thai Peanut Tofu

so you can count on lots of fresh, home made options.  There is a special menu to choose from for the Dinner & a Movie promotion and it starts with  your choice of soup or salad. The entree choices include Sunrise Crab Cakes, a 5oz Waguy Sirloin, Thai Peanut Tofu, a Surf & Turf option and several pasta and risotto options as well.
Desserts change weekly and according to  the restaurant they’ve been featuring a lot of homemade sweet potato or pumpkin baked goods lately.  The package does not include drinks, tax or gratuity. And for drink options, be sure and check out the extensive wine list or enjoy one of their signature cocktails like the tart raspberry martini or even a blueberry fizz.

The Sunrise Cafe is located at 259 Xenia Ave and Little Art is just down the road at 247 Xenia Ave in Yellow Springs.


Where’s the Art in Yellow Springs?

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photo by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

Sometimes visitors to Yellow Springs ask, “Where’s the Art?  I heard this was an art town but there aren’t rows of galleries like other art towns I’ve visited.”

Here’s my answer “the whole town is a gallery.”  Art is everywhere in Yellow Springs, you sit on it – the mosaic benches and the painted daisy benches.  You lean against it- the knit and felt covered benches.  You can touch it on the poles in the knit graffiti.

Visit the public restrooms in the Train Station and look up.  It’s a Loo with a view! Local artists started the Chamber Pot Gallery 4 years ago.

Walk behind Xenia Ave. in Keith’s Alley and see the ever-changing murals. You might catch an artist painting one.

You drive past murals and sculptures on Xenia Ave. and Dayton St. coming into town.

We sneak art in everywhere.  Going for a walk in the glen?  Stop in for a map in the Glen Helen Building and bingo! someone has hung a new art show in the atrium.

Hungry? Get a bite to eat at the Winds Café or the Sunrise Café and you are surrounded with a beautiful art show that changes every month.

Going to listen to the live band at the Wine Tasting at The Emporium?  Whose show is on the walls tonight?   Love the   Pizza at Ha Ha’s?  Check out this month’s featured artist.   On Corry St., Williams Eatery has a couple of regular artists who keep their walls filled with color and wonderful scenes of the Glen.

If you go to see an art film at The Little Art Theater there’s a visual art show hung in the lobby. That’s a double art whammy.

This past month, at the Corner Cone, you could get a scoop of ice cream and depending on the day listen to live music, watch the 10 Minute Play Festival or explore the Art Phone Booth.

Then there are the galleries- Herndon Gallery on the Antioch Campus, Would you, Could you In A Frame on Corry St., the Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery on Xenia Ave and the new kid on the block- Art Happens in Kings Yard.   Plus there are 2 long established artist co-ops, Yellow Springs Pottery and the Village Artisans.   Or go see the John Bryan Community Pottery with its magnificent ceramic mural on one side and it’s painted penguins on the other side of the door.  It is right behind the John Bryan Building at 100 Dayton St..  Inside ceramic artists are working at the wheels and firing the kilns day and night.

Many Fridays, you can find free art pieces left around town by the Jafagirls.

O.K. there’s much  more but I think I will end with a challenge mystery.  Can you find these art pieces?  They are outside, in plain view, in downtown Yellow Springs.

photo by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

1. The Giant Nose- including nose hair

2. A Lion’s Head

3. A Vampire Bunny

4. The small, white Art Box that changes what’s inside from time to time.

5. The mural on a ceiling.

For useful links on upcoming art events visit the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce

A public art map is available at Yellow Springs Arts Blog

Ruckus Roboticus releases The Chicks EP

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Local turntable master, Ruckus Roboticus has spent the last few month working on remixes of other artists’ materials.  This Saturday night (July 17th) is a celebration of Ruckus’ latest original effort, The Chicks EP.  It’s being released on his on own imprint, Dance Or Die Records, and features remixes from Frankie J (The Sound Republic), Hot Mess (Dirty Circuit / Drumz), and DJ Wood (Good Groove).

The release party is at Peach’s Grill in Yellow Springs and will feature sets from Ruckus himself and  local DJs Ill Poetic and Skratchmatik.  Admission to the 21+ show is $5.

Here’s one of the tracks from The Chicks EP
Chicks (Original Mix) by Ruckus Roboticus
THIS JUST IN: You can hear the radio debut of tracks from The Chicks EP this Friday night on WYSO during Around the Fringe.  Rev Cool and Andy will be spinning the tracks and offering you a chance to win a free download of Ruckus’ new EP.  You can hear it on WYSO 91.3FM, Friday night 8pm-midnight.  Thanks to Andy Valeri for the tip!

Gettin’ geeky with Super-Fly Comics

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Super-Fly Comics at 132 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs.

Remember 7-Eleven in the 1980s? The ubiquitous convenience-store chain was something of a temple of sorts for kids like me who grew up during the era of Pac Man and Reaganomics.

Was it the day-old hot dogs that lured me into the brightly-lit snack shack?  Nope.

Was it the allure of  icy smooth flavorful Slurpee’s that drew me back to the orange and green?  Wrong again.

The thing that I saved my quarters for was not Big Gulps or Snickers bars (well, maybe a few Snickers bars).  What I craved –  even more than the sugar – was comic books.  The comic book was somewhat of a deity to me back in the day.

And the spinner rack was a shrine.

Comics specialty stores popped up in the 1990’s and they quickly became the new destination for geeks to get their weekly fantasy fix.  Though the comic industry peaked in the mid nineties, and independent comic book stores started to disappear, you could still find your favorite funny books in national bookstores like Barnes and Noble and Border’s.

However, it became harder for the loyal, die-hard comic book fans to locate a shop that understood them, attended to their nerdy needs and didn’t have associates that resembled ‘Comic book Guy’ Jeff Albertson from the Simpsons animated television show.  A good comic shop needs to cater to that resiliently loyal fanbase who loves comics, yet still be inviting enough for the casual customers who don’t know the difference between Kryptonite and a cryptogram.

True believers, I have found such a place:  Super-Fly Comics in Yellow Springs.

Thacher Cleveland and Anthony Barry, co-owners of Super-Fly, talked to DMM about their love of the comics medium, the mechanics of a good ( and bad) comic book movie and the future of the industry.

DMM: Tell me about how you got started selling comics?

TC: We both used to work over at Dark Star Comics and Used Books.  We made the owner an offer to buy her new comic business –her subscription services and the stock — and move it over here into a separate store.  She wanted to focus more on used books, and things of that nature.  She accepted, and we brought it over here. It’s grown since then.

Thacher Cleveland (left), and Anthony Barry of Super-Fly Comics.

DMM: When was this?

Thacher Cleveland: This was August of 2007.

DMM: So, were you guys always comic book fans?

TC: Yeah, definitely.

Anthony Barry: I don’t even remember a time in my life when there weren’t comics around.

TC: We actually have what I am 98% sure was my first comic that I had ever got on display [in the store]:  An issue of Batman that my mother had bought for me when I was home sick from school one day…I was probably 8 or 9 years-old.  That’s sort of my first distinct memory of getting and reading a comic.  It sort of grew from there.

DMM: When did you start working at Dark Star?

TC: I started working there in 2002, and began managing in 2004.

AB: [2004] was when I got hired over there.

DMM: Is it safe to describe you guys as comic book geeks?

AB: Oh yeah! [Laughs.]

TC: Yeah, we’re pretty much into a lot of geeky stuff  in general.  When you’ve been around them and enjoy reading them as much as we do, it just becomes sort of a lifestyle.

DMM: Comic books have always had a stigma as being for kids.  What’s the average age of the people who walk through your doors?

Super-Fly's ample lighting, bright colors and open layout create an inviting atmosphere for browsing

TC: It’s hard to say.  I would say that a lot of our regulars are guys over 18.  We don’t see as many younger kids as we would like.  For the most part, its become less of a “Hey, comics are for kids” and more of the notion that comics are for people that enjoy reading them.  Even a lot of our casual guys are of the older variety.

DMM: What was the concept for the store early on?

TC: We wanted a comic shop that was really inclusive for everyone.  There’s a stereotype of comic shops as being, you know, dark and dungeous.  It couldn’t be a comic shop just for “us”  or people that weren’t willing to devote every second of their day to comics.

Comics aren’t just superheroes.  There’s so much other stuff out there.  There’s all kinds of fun genres being explored. There are historical stories being told.  Autobiographical stories being told.  It’s so diverse.  We wanted a shop to be as diverse as the comics medium is.  That was pretty much our goal going into it.

So far, people seem to be responding to that.  And we appreciate it.

DMM: We’ve seen a lot of comic book movies, in the last decade or so.  What’s your opinion of Hollywood’s love affair with comic book characters?

TC: I think it’s great when [the studios] treat the source material respectfully.  I think a lot more movies, nowadays, are being made by people who understand and enjoy the comics.  You have more people working in the entertainment industry that grew up on comics than the previous generations.

When they’re done well with a keen eye towards staying true to the source material, then it’s fine.  In a lot of cases, it increases people’s exposure to comics.  When the Watchmen movie came out, we had so many people wanting to come in and get the graphic novel to read before they saw the movie.

AB: It’s a mixed bag.  We saw exponential sales with the Watchmen film.  We don’t tend to see as much of a bump with movies like Iron Man.  Those are characters that are already known.  Sometimes, and I’m looking at the movie Wanted, for example, the movies can do a disservice when they change the story so much that it’s almost unrecognizable.  People come in and go,”Hey, I want to read the book that the movie was about.”  And, the movie was dramatically different from the book.  That’s not doing anyone any favors.

Super-Fly hosts art shows, in-store gaming events like HeroClix and HeroScape and dance parties featuring live music.

DMM: With devices — like Apple’s iPad– distributing comics electronically, are there any concerns from you guys regarding the future of the bricks-and-mortar comic book retail store?

TC: That’s probably the number one question that comic retailers across the country are wrestling with.  I think what it comes down to is this:  If you have a good shop– a shop that people like coming to– then you’ll be fine.  If you’re providing them a good experience, have a good selection of product and you’re friendly, then people will come back.

There are always gonna be people that want something for free…or for less.  But I like to think that we provide a really good experience and a good environment.  I hope that people browse through the free and cheap stuff [on the iPad] from the ‘Big Two’ (Marvel and DC) and see something they like and start looking for a good shop.

AB: I’ve yet to see a digital reader I’m satisfied with…although, it’s just a matter of time before that comes along.  Also, a lot of comics readers are into the ‘collectability’ of comics and possessing [the books.]  There’s really no replacement for coming into a store and talking to people who know what they’re talking about.  They ability for someone to recommend books or just have someone to share your experiences with…you can’t replace that.  The customer/shopkeeper relationship that develops over time is certainly better than any computer.

DMM: What, do you think, is Super-Fly’s competitive advantage over other comic shops?

TC: Again, I would say selection and customer service.  We’ve also received a lot of feedback from our customers that they like the way our store looks; they like the way us and our staff treat them.  We special order for people.  We ship, for free, within Ohio for people who can’t make it to Yellow Springs.  We try to put in as much effort as we can to making the entire experience really good.  I hope that all shops are doing that.

AB: We provide a quality experience.  The competition isn’t just other comic shops — it’s online,  digital retailers and sites like Amazon.  You really have to provide a unique experience.  Like Thacher said, we special order things for people all the time.  But even if we can’t get it for them, we’ll tell them where they can.  We’ll at least make the connection for them.  I feel, that’s what people value the most; we assist them in finding what they’re looking for.

Super-Fly Comics is located at 132 Dayton Street in Yellow Springs, Ohio. You can reach them at (937) 767-1445 or superflycomics@gmail.com.
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday Noon – 7pm
Wednesday through Saturday 11am – 8pm
Sunday Noon – 7pm

facebook.com/superflycomics

superflycomics.com

“Tell ’em DaytonMostMetro.com sent ya!”

The author wishes to thank these two gentleman for their time.  He would also like to add that, despite his attempts, he has yet to successfully develop a method of irradiating spiders in an effort to gain super strength.  He also believes that microwaving spiders was probably not a good idea.