Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
Strawberry Season has arrived in Troy! As the Community is gearing up for the Troy Strawberry Festival (June 7th & 8th) you can take part in the Strawberry Spirits Trial that will be taking place throughout the City.
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Esther Price Candies is inviting chocolate lovers to embark on a sweet summer adventure with its new Candy Passport Trail. The three-month event, running from May through July, encourages customers to visit Esther Price retail locations in Cincinnati and Dayton to collect stickers and earn discounts.
Shoppers can pick up a Candy Passport booklet at any Esther Price store now. By visiting all participating stores in either Dayton or Cincinnati, customers can earn a 15% discount on their next purchase. Those who complete both trails will receive a 40% discount.
Doug Dressman, CEO of Esther Price, said, “At Esther Price, summer is the perfect time to slow down, share something sweet, and make memories that stick. For generations, our chocolates have marked life’s quiet celebrations. This season, we’re simply inviting fans to keep writing that story with us.”
Participants have until July 31, 2025, to complete the trail and claim their rewards by bringing their completed passports to any Esther Price retail location. Fans are also encouraged to share their journey on social media using the hashtag #EPCandyPassport for a chance to win additional prizes. A special Father’s Day giveaway is available on the Esther Price website until June 9, 2025.
Complete the Dayton Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Dayton area to receive 15% off your next purchase.
Complete the Cincinnati Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Cincinnati area to receive 15% off your next purchase.
Conquer Both Trails: Visit all participating stores in both Dayton and Cincinnati areas to receive 40% off your next purchase.
Bring in your completed passport by July 31st, 2025, at any Esther Price retail location to claim your reward.
Locations: Dayton
Cincinnati Locations:
Applebee’s All You Can Eat is back – and better than ever! Now for a limited time, guests can enjoy an unlimited feast of Applebee’s savory Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders with NEW dipping sauces for only $15.99, when dining in.* Plus, all orders are served with endless fries!
Mix, match, and get saucy with Applebee’s All You Can Eat menu featuring a wide variety of flavors, sauces, and proteins including:
“Every combination is a win when it comes to our All You Can Eat Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders,” said Reid Leslie, Vice President of Marketing, Applebee’s. “Whether starting with Riblets or Chicken Tenders paired with your favorite two sauces, followed by Double Crunch Shrimp, or sticking with your favorite – the combinations are endless!
But the abundance and variety doesn’t stop there. Guests can sip back and relax with Applebee’s Bacardi Buckets in three tasty tropical flavors including the NEW Strawberry Daq-A-Rita, Rum Breeze Bucket, and Party on the Beach Bucket or Applebee’s Cerveza & Sips, featuring the $6 Watermelon Mana Margarita featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ultra-premium Teremana Tequila Blanco, triple sec, watermelon, and lime.**
Plus, guests of all ages can enjoy Applebee’s NEW Dirty Fountain Sodas! Guests can “dirty up” their favorite soda with a swirl of cream, whipped cream, and a cherry for $1 more.
To find your local restaurant to dine in, visit Applebees.com/restaurants
Starbucks announces the return of Summer Berry Refreshers, a line of berry-forward Refreshers with flavored popping pearls at the bottom of each drink, a brand-new Strawberries and Cream Cake Pop and the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso all available as of today at your favorite Starbucks location
-Returning Summer-Berry Refresher:: A sweet summer blend of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors mixed with water, lemonade or coconutmilk and shaken with ice. These beverages are poured over Raspberry Flavored Pearls.
-NEW Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso::Starbucks Blonde Espresso combined with new Horchata syrup that delivers a fusion of cinnamon, vanilla and rice flavors shaken together with ice and topped oatmilk.
-NEW Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop:: Strawberry Cream mixed with buttercream, dipped in chocolaty icing and finished with a strawberry design.
GRAMMY Award-winning country music legend Dwight Yoakam brings The Cosmic Roundup & Rodeo Tour with special guest The Mavericks to Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center on Saturday, September 27.
21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner and country superstar Dwight Yoakam’s first new album in nine years, Brighter Days, is out now on Via Records/Thirty Tigers. Listen HERE.
Written and recorded over the last three years, Brighter Days features 12 brand-new songs written/co-written by Yoakam, as well as three seemingly disparate covers—“Keeping On The Sunny Side” by the Carter Family, “Bound Away” by Cake and “Time Between” written by Chris Hillman of The Byrds—artfully woven into the same body of work in the unmistakable style that could only be Dwight Yoakam.
At once timeless and timely, Yoakam self-produced Brighter Days, infusing a modern appreciation for country music’s history with the trailblazing rock and roll spirit of California. The result is an album that reflects a sense of craftsmanship and immediacy, capturing the quintessential Dwight Yoakam “cool” that has set him apart from his country contemporaries since the beginning of his legendary career. As always, Yoakam’s lyrics throughout the album are both deceptively effortless and profoundly poignant. The album was mixed by world-class engineer Chris Lord-Alge.
Dwight Yoakam has sold over 26 million albums worldwide, with five reaching the #1 spot on Billboard. He is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner. He has 12 Gold albums and nine Platinum or multi-Platinum albums. Yoakam is the recipient of the Artist of the Year Award from the Americana Music Association, the prestigious BMI Country Awards’ President’s Award and has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received a Lifetime Achievement Honor at the 2024 Americana Music Awards. He has collaborated with everyone from Beck to Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack White. He has toured with the likes of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Hüsker Dü. Yoakam’s last album, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars…, was released in 2016. Rolling Stone Country raves, “Yoakam sounds right at home on these new versions,” while NPR Music praises, “You can hear Yoakam making masterful choices on every phrase.”
In addition to his musical career, Yoakam has appeared in more than 40 feature films including Sling Blade, Panic Room and Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky with Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig, as well as a role in the Amazon series “Goliath.” Over the course of his storied acting career he has worked with the likes of Jodie Foster, Tommy Lee Jones, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and more.
In 1977, Yoakam left Kentucky for Nashville to embark on a music career but found that the Music City was moving away from traditional country roots to more pop-country. He found himself better suited to the post-Bakersfield movement and became one of the founding fathers of the L.A. Cowpunk Scene influenced by second-wave rockabilly and punk alongside X, Los Lobos, The Knitters, Rank & File and The Blasters.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, May 23 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
We started with saffron tea and raisin cookies. Then I tried a slice of her cake. “The cakes are similar to those found in Europe” she explained. “They are less sweet than most American cakes and have layers of cream and fresh fruits. The cookies are a traditional Iranian recipe.”
Think you know Dayton? Think again. We’re continuing our “Discover the Unexpected” series with a splash, a climb, and a dash of gravity-defying fun. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a weekend wanderer, or just someone tired of the same ol’ summer activities, Dayton’s got some wild cards up its sleeve. Here are 7 unexpected recreation experiences that prove this city is anything but average!
No ocean? No problem. Surf Dayton is redefining inland adventure with stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater kayaking, and even river surfing—right in the Great Miami River. Whether you’re a pro paddler or trying it out for the first time, Surf Dayton makes waves in all the right ways.
🌟Unexpected Factor: River surfing in the Midwest? That’s next-level summer.
Hidden among the trees at Aullwood Audubon are massive, whimsical trolls crafted by artist Thomas Dambo, built entirely from recycled materials. These gentle giants spark curiosity and are perfect for families, nature lovers, and selfie enthusiasts alike. It’s an eco-adventure that’s both mysterious and magical.
🌟Unexpected Factor: Giant trolls in the woods? Yep, and they’re kind of adorable.
Housed in a beautifully restored 1890s church, Urban Krag offers indoor climbing walls that reach up to 56 feet high. Whether you’re bouldering or belaying, it’s the perfect vertical playground for climbers of all skill levels—and the stained-glass windows make it feel like a cathedral of adrenaline.
🌟Unexpected Factor: Rock climbing meets gothic architecture? Only in Dayton.
Tucked inside Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a 65-foot-tall tree tower with panoramic views that will make your jaw drop—and your Instagram pop. It’s a peaceful yet exhilarating climb, surrounded by lush gardens and butterfly habitats.
🌟Unexpected Factor: It’s like a treehouse for grown-ups. With better views.
This one’s for the two-wheeled rebels. Mike’s Bike Park is the Midwest’s largest indoor bike park, offering 50,000 square feet of ramps, jumps, and trails for BMX, MTB, and everything in between. Newbie? They offer rentals and lessons, too!
🌟Unexpected Factor: Ride like a pro—indoors, rain or shine.
Designed by Dayton native and pro skater Rob Dyrdek, this state-of-the-art skate plaza in Kettering blends street and park-style elements. Whether you’re perfecting your ollie or just rolling through, it’s a skater’s paradise with serious street cred.
🌟Unexpected Factor: A pro-designed plaza in a city park? That’s how Dayton rolls.
Paddlers, rejoice! Dayton’s downtown riverfront is home to engineered whitewater features ideal for kayaking and watersports. Bring your own gear or rent nearby—then ride the waves just steps away from the city skyline.
🌟Unexpected Factor: Urban kayaking with a view? Yes, please.
This post was created by Destination Dayton and originally appeared on their website.
With the absence of their elected representative, concerned citizens of Ohio’s 10th Congressional District gathered on Thursday evening for a grassroots “People’s Town Hall” at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. Organized to address pressing local and national issues, the event offered a platform for residents to voice their concerns directly, despite Congressman Mike Turner’s decision not to attend.
Rose Lounsbury emceed the People’s Town Hall. Photo by Libby Ballengee
An empty chair on stage symbolized the Congressman’s absence, underscoring what many attendees described as a lack of accessibility and accountability to constituents.
Speakers at the event covered a wide range of issues currently affecting District 10 residents, including the impact of recent state and federal policy changes on immigration, Social Security, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, and layoffs of government workers.
“This town hall is about people standing up for each other, especially when our leaders won’t show up to hear us,” said one local attendee. “These are life-or-death issues for many in our community. We deserve to be heard.”
Speakers from The People’s Town Hall. Photo by Libby Ballengee
The town hall drew attendees from across the district, including retirees, veterans, public workers, and families concerned about the direction of policy decisions that directly affect their lives. Several speakers called for more transparent and responsive representation in Congress, and urged community members to stay engaged and active.
While Congressman Turner declined the invitation to attend, organizers say the event marks only the beginning of ongoing efforts to bring constituent voices to the forefront.
The People’s Town Hall was coordinated by a coalition of grassroots advocates committed to elevating civic engagement and local accountability, including Melissa Rodriquez, Leslie Merry, Kim Senft-Paras, Rose Lounsbury, and Laurel Kerr.
Attendees were encouraged to follow up with action items, including checking their voter registration status, signing the local petition against Ohio House Bill SB1, and contacting their representatives about their concerns.
Deepika & Jay
After just 3 years in business Gulzer’s Indian Cuisine has moved. The new space more than doubles the seating going from 73 seats to 168, which includes private space to reserve for meetings or events. But don’t panic, they are literally moving just next door to the former Flyboy Deli spot at 219 N. Patterson Blvd, across from the Day Air Ballparkb downtown.
Deepika Singh, who owns the restaurant with her husband Jay, was kind enough to give me a tour, but was quick to point out that all the finishing touches were still in progress as I was taking pictures. She says they really weren’t looking for a new place, but when the space became available, it just seemed like the right thing to do. She also hinted that they’ll hold on the space next door and that may become an American restaurant in the future.
The transformation of the space is impressive, bringing in the bright colors, wall accents and more to create an Indian flare in the eatery. The Singh’s are proud to offer a sanctuary wher people can escape the stresses of daily and simply enjoy moments of good food and good company.
A bigger space means a bigger buffet and an addition of an ice cream cooler as well. The buffet is available for lunch, seven days a week and offers many vegetarian options.
You can now sit at the bar and enjoy a mango lassi, cocktail or a bottle of wine with your meal.
Or grab a table across from the bar.
One of two area’s that be reserved for private events:
Also with the new space, a new menu, with Owner Jay and his father, Paramjeet, are the chefs. Tbey are best known for recipes from the northern region of India, especially their Karai dishes – which blend three sauces cooked with ginger, garlic, onions, and pepper as a base. In Indian food its all about the curry and gravy’s are the foundation for each dish and then flavors are built from there. Here’s just a peek of the menu:
219 North Patterson Blvd
Dayton, OH 45402
937-985-9420
contributed photo
Springboro, OH 45066
937-907-5010
Mon – Thurs 11am -3pm, 4-9:30pm
Fri 11am -3pm, 4-10:30pm
Sat noon – 10:30pm
Sun noon – 9:30pm
It’s your favorite Culture Celebrator here again with a question.
How is dating in the Miami Valley in 2025?
As a culture guy, I like discuss all facets of popular culture, including local culture. And a big part of any local culture is its dating scene. I’m genuinely curious about the social landscape of the Dayton area when it comes to meeting new people. If you are familiar with my work, I’ve written about this topic before. Dating habits can reveal other social information that can be very useful for think tank discussions among social scientist types.
So, if any of you are single, how do you date? Where do you go to meet people? What kind of potential mate are you looking for? Are you even looking? What online dating sites do you use? Is dating easy these days in the Dayton-ish area? Or is it difficult?
If you’re a fan of my content, you know the drill. If you’re a newbie, give me your answers either in the comments section of the social media site you read this article on, or, you can send them directly to me at [email protected]. Let’s rock out…to culture.
A stunning 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Bob (1746cc Milwaukee-Eight Engine, 15,600 miles) has been donated to Breast Wishes for a special raffle! This bike has had just one owner, and she’s thrilled to support our mission—helping bring joy to those living with breast cancer.
She hopes this raffle gives someone the chance to ride a Harley who might not otherwise be able to afford one.
Raffle Details: Tickets: Buy online: $50 each or 3 for $125
Only 200 tickets will be sold—incredible odds!
They must sell at least 100 tickets or all purchases will be refunded by 6/21 Sales close: 6/14
Winner drawn live at the 16th Annual Chrome Divas Ride on June 14th Don’t miss your chance to ride away for a cause!
Saturday, June 14, 2025
This ride starts and ends at the Union VFW Post 5434. Registration starts at 10am and kickstands up at noon.
Breast Wishes Foundation was started to honor the memory of Kelli James, who lost her battle to breast cancer at the age of 40. We granted our first wish in 2017 and now average about 100 wishes per year. Each wish is $1,500 and we rely on the generosity of our community to make these wishes come true!
Zen Grill at 2821 Wilmington Pike is now open, between Jersey Mike’s Subs and Wingstop in Kettering! Owned by Hannah & Bob Hannah Huang, say their meals are a balance of simplicity and taste—grilled proteins, crisp vegetables, and fragrant rice, elevated with their signature sauces. It’s everything you love, with nothing you don’t.
The express hibachi menu is thoughtfully crafted to highlight fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and the timeless art of Japanese cooking.
All food will be cooked to order with customers choosing the base, meat, vegetables and sauces for their bowls. Their signature sauce for the bowls is a yum yum sauce (a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet sauce), but other options include ginger, teriyaki, soy or siracha sauces.
Discover the beauty of less at Zen Grill—where flavor speaks louder than words.
Zen Grill
2821 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH 45419
937-716-1369
Tues – Thurs: 10:30am – 9pm
Fri – Sun 10:30am – 9:30pm
The initiative brings strangers with different political beliefs together for a conversation — not to debate politics — but to simply get to know each other as people. WYSO and StoryCorps are inviting the southwest Ohio community to join the nearly 6,000 people in 50 U.S. states who have participated in a One Small Step conversation.
In collaboration with StoryCorps and other community organizations throughout southwest Ohio, we invite you to meet someone new—a fellow resident with different perspectives from you, who you might never talk to otherwise—for a meaningful 50-minute conversation.
WYSO is one of just four stations selected nationally to host One Small Step in 2025.
With participant permission, these conversations will be preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
We’re teaming up with civic organizations, churches, and other community groups and leaders to spread the word and connect southwest Ohio residents from all backgrounds who are ready to take One Small Step. Do you want to get your group or organization involved in the effort? Contact Ryann Beaschler for more details.
We’ll be matching participants and hosting recorded conversations throughout 2025.
Matching Partners & Preparing:
The One Small Step Experience:
Participant Agency and Privacy:
How WYSO Works with These Recordings:
Rob’s Restaurant and Catering in Brookville has new owners. Chad and Heather Pennington are the The husband and wife team are the 3rd set of owners to lead this family friendly eatery. Opened originally in 1976 by Bob and Brenda Kilgore, it was then purchased in 2003 by Joe and Shelley Swartztrauber. Joe passed away in 2017 and Shelley posted today on her facebook page that she has officially retired. Here’s an excerpt from her post:
Shelley
“Rob’s has been a family business from the beginning with generations of family and friends working here. To the hundreds of people who have worked here through the years, I thank you. I’m sure you all have at least one memorable story to tell.
“Rob’s Restaurant & Catering
705 Arlington Rd
Brookville, OH 45309
(937) 833-3310
“Last year’s 10-year party was an absolute blast – we had such a great time, we thought, why not do it again?,” said Nick Bowman, Co-Founder and VP of Sales & Marketing. “It’s the perfect way to kick off summer – cold beer, smoked foods, good friends, and live tunes”.
The party kicks off at noon, rain or shine, with festivities expanding outdoors under a tented lot and featuring the beloved Trotwood Trailer, live music and DJs all day, and a lawn-chair-friendly setup perfect for hanging with friends.
The tap list is stacked with fan favorites like Fly Light Lager, Gamma Bomb IPA, and Ermal’s Belgian Style Cream Ale, alongside limited releases like Trotwood Lime and the long-awaited return of Magic Melon Watermelon Gose and SeñorWITa Mexican Style Witbier. Guests can also look forward to the debut of Gamma Juice IPA (available on draft), Superdelic Double IPA (available on draft and in cans), as well as Agave Spring Maibock aged in Tequila Barrels (available on draft and in bottles). Plus of course Warped Seltzer and housemade soda cans too!
On the menu: Outside you’ll find house-smoked brisket and pulled pork sandwiches along with classic beef hot dogs. Inside, the kitchen will be firing up a full lineup of crave-worthy options including Tater Bombs, smoked wings, burgers, sandwiches, and more – designed to pair perfectly with a pint (or two).
Music Schedule:
12–1pm: DJ Set
1–3pm: Benny Hill (acoustic Americana, rock, country)
3–4pm: DJ Set
4–6pm: Steven Gregory (singer-songwriter vibes)
6–7pm: DJ Set
7–9pm: Nothing But Treble (acoustic trio)
9–10pm: DJ Set
So grab your crew, bring a lawn chair, and come raise a glass with us at the Warped Wing 11th Anniversary Beer Bash & Urban Smokeout!
