DMM Columns

INNOVAtheatre Brings For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf to Dayton This February

February 19, 2026 By Dayton937

Dayton’s artistic pulse is set to thrum with poetry, movement, and powerful truth-telling as INNOVAtheatre presents For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, the iconic “choreopoem” by celebrated playwright Ntozake Shange. This landmark piece of American theatre arrives at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in downtown Dayton for a limited run February 20-22, 2026, offering audiences an intimate, unfiltered exploration of Black womanhood.

Originally premiering in 1976 and coined a choreopoem — blending poetry, dance, music, and drama — Shange’s work follows seven women through interwoven monologues that traverse love, trauma, resilience, reclamation, and sisterhood. Each performer embodies a color of the rainbow, using vivid language and evocative movement to bring their stories to life. Themes in the piece are rich and deeply human, confronting issues from abandonment and violence to joy and collective healing.

INNOVAtheatre’s production features a mature, sophisticated ensemble that promises to honor the emotional depth and narrative courage of Shange’s vision. Performed within the evocative space of the Edward A. Dixon Gallery — itself hosting Resilience, a Black History Month art exhibit — this staging invites audiences into an immersive experience that blurs the line between gallery and stage.

Performances run:

Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available now, with general admission offered on a first-come, first-seated basis. Patrons are encouraged to be mindful that the production contains mature themes, including discussions of mental health, domestic violence, loss, and strong language, and is recommended for ages 16 and up.

This presentation not only honors a seminal work in American theatre but also underscores Dayton’s commitment to bold storytelling and inclusive cultural programming. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Shange’s choreopoem or experiencing it for the first time, this production is poised to leave a lasting impression long after the final bow.

Fête Grand Opening at The Silos

January 5, 2026 By Lisa Grigsby

Local chef & entrepreneur Whitney Kling opens Fête at The Silos Sun, Jan 4th from 11am – 6pm.⁣

Fête — meaning “party” in French — brings the colorful, flavor-forward food that made her previous business, Top Knot Salad Delivery Service, a Dayton favorite. Fête celebrates bringing people together with meals coming over food. Expect fresh bowls, fresh salads, crave-worthy sauces, and signature new dishes like enchiladas verdes (which Whitney says is her favorite menu item). ⁣

Expect beloved bowls, fresh salads, crave-worthy sauces, and signature new dishes like enchiladas verdes. Designed for everyone, the menu features vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, celebrating food as a moment of joy, flavor, and connection.

The self taught cook, who is also a recipe developer, writes a weekly food column in the Dayton Daily News, “”But First, Food.” In just a couple weeks Kling will add a
to-go cooler, so you can pick up meals to take home. Also their online ordering will be set up very soon.

With Fête’s opening, The Silos now features its full lineup of local food vendors, including Chef Dane’s Nood Bar, Kung FuBBQ and The Burger Bistro, making it the ultimate destination for eating, sipping, and gathering.

Fete at The Silos

Tues – Thurs: 4–9 PM

Fri: 4–11 PM

Sat: 11 AM–11 PM

Sun: 11 AM–6 PM

This Must Be the Party hits the stage this Friday at The Brightside

April 10, 2023 By Dayton Most Metro

One of the most celebrated music events in Dayton during the last decade is back! This Must Be the Party is a local super group who performs a fantastic tribute to The Talking Heads. Fans love the complete recreation of the classic album and documentary film Stop Making Sense that they perform! Catch them for an exclusive show Friday April 14, 2023 at The Brightside, in downtown Dayton.

Few bands are as well-known in the music industry as the Talking Heads. The band, which was founded in the middle of the 1970s, contributed to the development of a new musical genre that would later come to rule the radio in the 1980s. The Talking Heads were one of the most innovative and forward-thinking bands of their period with their special fusion of rock, groove, and New Wave. It’s no wonder that Dayton audiences love this tribute show!

Due to the Covid shutdown, This Must Be the Party hasn’t performed since 2019, so this is a highly anticipated event! The best part is that part of the proceeds from this show go to benefit The Seedling Foundation, an organization that supports the arts magnet at Stivers School for the Arts. It’s a musical celebration to support music education!

If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing this amazing show already, you know how much fun to expect! (Pro tip: Wear comfortable shoes!) This go around, there is a very special guest joining the show. Sammi Garett, from the national touring acts Turquaz, Cool Cool Cool, & The Bump Assembly, is flying in from Brooklyn to join the crew! She’s an absolutely fabulous singer and performer, and she’s excited to perform in Dayton for the first time.

Local original band, Intergalactic Space Force, is kicking off the show at 8:30pm, shortly after doors open. They were Dayton Battle of the Bands finalists last year, and always love an opportunity to perform at The Brightside.

After the Stop Making Sense headlining show, if you’re still ready to boogie, Freekbass will be making his Brightside debut with a “Solo Grooves” after party.

If you get hungry, the venue has coordinated with Phat & Rich to be on site to serve your needs. The Mexican inspired cuisine is a hit with concert goers, so go hungry and hang on the Brightside’s awesome patio between sets.

If you’re looking for a place to pre-game, organizers recommend going to Tender Mercy for their amazing cocktails. “Not only is Tender Mercy our neighbor, they are one of the primary sponsors of this event!” event organizer, Libby Ballengee told us. “Their sister restaurant Sueño, is an amazing spot for dinner too, but I’d get reservations first!”

This Must Be the Party promises to be one of the most memorable events of the spring!

*The band includes: Khrys Blank, Nathan Lewis, Patrick Himes, Brian Hoeflich, Erich Reith, Aaron Holmes, Matt Byanski, Eric Cassidy, Nathan Peters, Christopher Corn, Brian Spirk, with special guest Sammi Garett.

HOW TO GO?

When: April 14, 2023

Where: The Brightside Music & Event Venue, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton, OH

– $30 Advance General admission tickets (highly recommend purchasing advance to guarantee spot)

– $35 Day of show

TICKET LINK: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/69946/orders/new

NATIONAL BUSINESS ETIQUETTE WEEK, JUNE 2 – 8, 2013

May 31, 2013 By Leah Hawthorn Leave a Comment

Protocol and etiquette are no longer relegated to the international diplomatic community. Knowledge of business protocol & etiquette is necessary for anyone engaged in local or global business and exchange. We must be an enjoy for the firm we represent, equipped with knowledge and understanding of business and social customs of the person with whom we are negotiating. It is this know-how that will bring success.

TOP TEN BUSINESS ETIQUETTE TIPS

1. Enter a room with confidence and authority. You are in the spotlight. Use it to your advantage. Entering a room and quickly heading for the food or drink station is counterproductive. Never suh into a room. This allows you to see key people that you would like to meet and network with.

2. Stand tall and keep great posture while networking. If you slouch, or have bad posture, you look like you don’t really want to be there and you also look tired. The correct posture will give you one inch in height and will lose you 10 pounds.

3. Smile. The first thing you should do while you enter a room, shake someone’s hand and small talk, is smile. No one wants to talk to someone that looks uninviting.

4. Know what appropriate and inappropriate eye contact is for business. In the U.S., direct eye contact is a sign of trust and confidence, and is a must while networking. If you are doing business with other countries and cultures, research the eye contact in that country. Some countries expect more eye contact than we do in the U.S. and some expect much less.

5. Always give a firm handshake. Make sure you give a smile and great eye contact while shaking somneone’s hand. If doing business in the international arena, it is said that the American handshake toned down just a bit is worldwide and acceptable.

6. Properly introduce yourself. “Hello, my name is Brian Smith. I am the new Manager for Time Travel Agency”. Always say your name and who you are representing.

7. Know what is acceptable and unacceptable to talk about in the business arena. Stay away from politics and religion. Small talk is an art and it takes practice. Remember, if you are meeting someone for the first time, and they are not your best friend, knowing who you voted for and what religion you are might change the way they think of you. It’s only human.

8. Accept someone’s business card with respect. Make sure you look at it before putting it in a respectable place. Hand the business card face forward so the person you’re networking with doesn’t have to turn it around. Always carry a business card holder or keep your cards in the side pocket of your jacket, easy to access.

9. Cell phone’s should be turned off or on vibrate. If you need to take a call, excuse yourself and step outside.

10. Last, but not least, focus on the other person you are networking with. There is nothing worse than to network with someone you don’t know and they have told you their life story and don’t ask you who you are or who you are with. Make sure you take the time to let the other person sepak. Let them know you care about what they have to say as well. Ask them what company they are with and how they got started in their business.

True succcess isn’t attained by only taking the easy path; it’s achieved by walking through rough and bumpy terrain, even it it gets a litt painful and scary.

Business Casual or Casual — That — Is The Question!

April 2, 2013 By Leah Hawthorn 1 Comment

Last week my husband and I were in New York. We were going to an incredible restaurant called “Del Frisco’s”. This is a nice restaurant – white table clothes, great wines and a’la carte menu. I wasn’t sure what the proper attire for this restaurant would be. Yes, I know, I am an image coach and I should know these things, right? But, what is proper attire in Dayton or California may not be acceptable in New York.

I called the restaurant and they said business casual. When I heard my husband repeat it over the phone, I said, “Jeans”? I said this because the difference between business casual, casual and weekend wear seem to be an issue everywhere. My husband asked, “Jeans?” They immediately said, “Of course. A lot of people wear jeans in our establishment.” I quickly realized that business casual in New York can mean jeans with a jacket, as I saw much of when I was there.

It seems there is always a question: What is the difference between casual and business casual for the workplace. In the Midwest, if someone said business casual to me, I would immediately tell someone that khakis were appropriate with a shirt and no tie, or simply a shirt, jacket and khakis. Women, well, we have a lot more options.

In California, you wouldn’t dress the same for business as you would in the Midwest or New York. If someone said formal business attire in New York, you will probably find yourself walking into a sea of black suits. Formal business attire in the Midwest may be a suit, but could be beige or neutral with some color mixed in. Formal business attire in California – well, that’s another story. It is extremely casual on the West Coast, so I would probably have to make that phone call before I showed up for an interview or meeting. And remember, there is no shame in calling and asking. Rule of thumb; Err on the side of formality and you will always be dressed properly.

Here are some guidelines for casual, business casual and formal business attire. And I lean hard on the word “guideline.” Proper business attire will vary depending on the business or your profession. Proper business attire for an engineer may not be the same proper business attire for an attorney. There is a protocol (rule) to everything, and this is a guideline for Business Attire — erring on the side of formality.

There is so much more that goes into proper dress. Dressing for business internationally is an article all its own. Accessories, makeup and hair are also another article. There just isn’t enough room in one article for everything. This may not be the answer for everyone, but it’s a place to start. Let the comments begin. Enjoy!

BUSINESS ATTIRE GUIDELINES:

CASUAL FOR MEN: Open-collar shirt without a necktie or dress polo shirt with jacket – cotton trousers (khakis) with golf shirt – slip-on leather shoes (e.g., loafers) – jeans, sneakers and sporting attire, only if allowed by your dress code.

CASUAL FOR WOMEN: Simple skirt, casual slacks, or khakis – pumps, low heels, or flats – sandals (only as appropriate) – blouse, knit top, or sweater, jeans, sneakers and sporting attire, only if allowed by your dress code.

BUSINESS CASUAL FOR MEN: Sport coat with open-collar dress shirt or turtleneck – slacks with open-collar dress shirt – no necktie – slacks or cotton trousers such as khakis – dress shoes or loafers.

BUSINESS CASUAL FOR WOMEN: Blouse, knit top, or sweater set – slacks or simple skirt – conservative dress – coordinating jacket (optional) – pumps, low heels, or flats – hose with skirts/dresses.

FORMAL BUSINESS ATTIRE FOR MEN: Dark business suit – sport coat and slacks – crisply laundered shirt – necktie – dark socks – dark shoes.

FORMAL BUSINESS ATTIRE FOR WOMEN: Jacket with matching skirt or slacks – jacket with coordinating skirt or slacks – conservative accessories – conservative jewelry – closed-toe-shoes – hose with skirts/dresses.

Facebook’s Big Announcement? Graph Search is here.

January 17, 2013 By Michelle Ton Leave a Comment

As I’m sure many of you have heard by now, Facebook made a pretty big announcement yesterday – users will now be able to perform searches throughout the social networking site on people, places and things. Graph search is going to allow users to do more than just search for “Suzie Smith.” It’s going to let user ask questions like “what other friends of mine like the city of Dayton?”

Graph search also lets users search for things nearby – which can prove pretty useful when you’re in an unfamiliar city. That feature specifically puts Facebook more in line to start moving towards a “Yelp” like app – allowing it to serve a greater purpose than just status updates and photo sharing. Is that really the best use of Facebook though? I’m not sure.

Unfortunately, this new feature is still in the beta stage. The good news about that, is that it gives YOU the opportunity to clean up your online profile a bit before graph search hits a bigger audience. Venture Beat recently put out a good article about some things a user should consider and take action on.

Here are my takeaways.

Take a look at all the pages you like and groups you’re in. As VB states, saying that you like a band named something maybe inappropriate, might not be a major deal on a lower level – but when you aggregate that search using graph search – it could turn into something really inappropriate pretty quickly. If anything you think is questionable, it’s best just to delete, unlike, and leave.

Make sure you delete using your activity log. Deleting items from the news feed that you posted, or from your timeline profile – doesn’t really delete them. More or less, all that really does is hide them in Facebookland. You’ll want to go to the activity log on your profile and delete out of there and then it will no longer show up in search. EVER.

Check your privacy settings. It should be a no brainer by now that whenever Facebook updates something site-wide, that you should check your privacy settings to make sure nothing has changed. Luckily, with their last update, the privacy settings are easier than ever to find. Whatever your privacy settings are set as will be honored by graph search. So you if you only allow certain people to see your birthdate of February 2 – only those individuals will be able to see that you are included on a graph search for people born on February 2.

And again – this is still sitting in beta testing stage – so only a handful of users will have access to it at this point, which means you have plenty of time to start sifting through and prep yourself for what’s to come.

Social media for natural disasters

November 1, 2012 By Michelle Ton Leave a Comment

In the aftermath of Hurrican Sandy – aka Frankenstorm – I’ve affirmed a couple different things. First, east coast superstorms are real and no state or city is ever really “safe” from having a natural disaster come their way. Second, social media is king when it comes to getting the most information in a state of emergency.

I think when it comes down to it, nothing beats major news networks like feet on the street reporters. Like our local WHIO eye witness reports, each one of us has the power when it comes to sharing information that is most relevant to those in our local areas. Many of us are already active on social channels – such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We’re already sharing photos and status updates with our friends and family, and often its the only way to communicate when power lines are down.

As one tweeter says:

Social media often times also helps speed up recovery efforts. It puts those in charge in contact with those on the scene. Probably the most powerful of all communication tools, in my opinion, social sharing is the most valuable and most effective because it allows us to share and take information from those whom we are familiar with – those whose opinions matter the most.

Here are some tips when engaging with others during a natural disaster:

On Twitter, make sure you find out and use what the hashtag is. For example, #Sandy – so that others can easily follow. You may also want to add a hashtag to your location – #Dayton – so people who are monitoring what happens in a particular area know exactly where you’re tweeting from
On all social channels, be smart about what information you’re sharing. Fact check it. Nothing is worse than sharing false information when it can spread so quickly through social.
No one likes photoshopped photos. Be authentic and transparent
Don’t be selfish. Put more information up than what directly affects you. In times of crisis, people want to help and need you to tell them how to best do that.

What are some ways you’ve used social media during a natural disaster?

Airport Etiquette — Does it Exist?

October 28, 2012 By Leah Hawthorn 1 Comment

I was flying to Florida for business a few months ago. Since I was going to a business meeting, I was in a business casual suit. I made sure that I wore dress flats so my feet wouldn’t kill me walking long distances in the airports. This is how my parents taught me to dress when I fly. And most people do dress appropriate in public while flying, but it’s amazing the things you see before, during and after a flight! I am sure the people reading this are thinking the same thing.

If you travel frequently, you may have asked yourself this at one time or another: Is there airport and airplane etiquette? Yes, there is!!! Remember the day when flying was something special? Boarding a plane in pajama pants, T-Shirt, flip-flops – unthinkable!!!!

Yes, with every decade, America becomes more and more casual. Restaurants that used to require sports jackets, now will allow you to enter in denim – and I don’t mean dress denim. I have even seen T-Shirts in some of these establishments. Even understanding that we must move along with the times, and times are changing, I would have never thought I would have witnessed what I did a few months back.

I arrived early, as many of us do, so not to miss my flight when I saw it: A pair of hot pants in the airport. Oh, no – these were homemade hot pants. You say, what does she mean by homemade? They were old sweat pants that had been cut off barely below the buttocks. This was someone who shouldn’t have been wearing hot pants in any situation. To match her homemade hot pants was a low, low, low-cut top. Now, to make matters worse, she sat down right in front of me, took her flip flops off so she could get a little more comfortable. Oh, you think I’m done, don’t you?! She was talking loudly on her cell phone most of the time. I tried not to look but, again, she was sitting not more than six feet right across from me. Finally, after about 15 minutes, she told the person on the other end of the phone, goodbye.

Now, comes the scary part. Did you know that there is a new cell phone holder? Oh, yes, there is! It’s called a cleavage holder. She had one. She put her cell phone right in her cleavage, and there it stayed even while standing in her zone line to enter the plane.

I really thought hard before I wrote this story. But then I thought that this type of scenery at various airports is happening far too often. Where does it end? If you’re going to Disney, do you simply put on your flip flops, swimsuit and cover-up in order to save time? When is it considered visually offensive?

Plane Rule: Do not bring your snakes on the plane

Here are a few Airport and Airplane Etiquette Tips:

Attire: Dress with respect to others. Not everyone wants to be visually offended.
Cell Phones: If you need to take a phone call in the airport or on the plane before takeoff, please make it brief, or move to an area so you are not distracting to others. Remember, other people may not want to know your latest business deal that just came through, or about the hot date you had last night. Talking on cell phones in a public place IS NOT private.
Be patient: Wait until your zone is called. There is no reason for you to hurry up and wait your turn. They will call your zone. Then get in line. This keeps traffic moving at a comfortable pace.
Where’s The Fire: When you get on the plane, again, take your time. I have seen people knocked in the head because someone was rushing to shove their carryon in the overhead compartment. And the same goes when exiting the plane. Pushing and shoving will not get you off the plane any faster.
Seat Kicking: Please don’t kick the seat in front of you.
Walking in the aisles: Be observant of others while walking in the aisle. Try not to walk into people seated in the aisle seat, and they should try to keep their feet out of the aisle as well.
Reclining Your Seat: When reclining your seat, remember that there is someone directly behind you, and they might have their tray table down. Recline your chair slowly.
Help Others: If there are friends or family members that have been separated, and you are traveling alone, help them out. It just might be you the next time. Offer your seat if it puts them together.
Lend a Hand: If you see someone is having trouble putting their carryon in the overhead compartment, lend a hand.
Drinking: Remember, alcohol is intensified when you are at high altitudes. Don’t over drink.

I know there are many more areas that bother people when they fly. I would love to hear what upsets you the most when you are in the airport or while flying.

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Midwest Fashion Week Kicks Off Wednesday

October 16, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

According to a recent article from TIME Magazine Midwest Fashion Week is the innovator for Fashion in the Midwest. Founded in 2006 by Haitian born designer Berny Martin of Catou Designs, Martin began designing clothes at the age of 8 and gone on to open several store front locations nationwide and has been showcased during BET’s RIP the Runway and New York Fashion Week.

Midwest Fashion Week kicks off on Wednesday October 17 in Indianapolis and according to Martin this will be one of the most diverse shows ever with designers coming in from Europe, Pakistan, India, South America, the Caribbean, and of course from all across the Midwest! “We are proud to present the designers; they come from various cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions, economical status, and more” said Martin in a statement.

Martin and Midwest Fashion Week has done it all from community work, helping small businesses, discovering Supermodels, and creating a connection between fashion and sports designing custom suites for players on the Indianapolis Colts, and yes even lending a helping hand right here in Dayton during the city’s first Fashion Week in July.

Here’s a look at Midwest Fashion Week line up and for ticket info please visit http://www.midwestfashionweek.com there will be no tickets sold at the door.

When: Wednesday October 17, 2012 doors open at 6pm

Where: The Arts Garden, Indianapolis, 110 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Designers: Ali Robbins & Josie Wharton, Catou by Berny Martin, Jhanelle Baker,Lanae Monique by Lanae Stovall, and Poppy Seeds by Danisha Brown & Krista Alter

When: Thursday October 18, 2012 doors open at 6pm

Where: The Arts Garden, Indianapolis, 110 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Designers: Ana Lyn by Carole Anne Housman, Electric Image by Carole Toole, Derek Hill, Gorgeous Ways by Parul Aneja, and Madame Couture by Securittee Brown

When: Friday October 19, 2012 doors open at 7pm

Where: The Arts Garden, Indianapolis, 110 West Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

Designers: Pesévérer (PRSVR) by Brandon Williamson, Anton Alexander by Anton Babich Ayesha Ibrahim, Gidi by Taneasha Prunty, Zathan Marcs,Perfection by Francesca Alejo, and Replica by Sharon Evans

When: Saturday October 20, 2012

Where: The Blue Lounge, 240 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Event: Fashion Industry VIP Reception

Fashion Changing Lives

October 5, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

On Saturday, October 6^th WDTN Channel 2’s Marsha Bonhart will Emcee the We Care Arts local celebrity fashion show. We Care Arts provides manual arts therapy workshop experiences for physically, mentally and emotionally handicapped individuals to enhance self-esteem and learn job skills.

Some of the local celebrities from the community will include, Judy Dodge, Ohio State Senator Peggy Lehner, and Kettering Mayor Don Patterson. Also modeling will be some of the We Care Arts clients.

Tickets are $30 for the lunch and style show and the event kicks off at 10am at the Mandalay Banquet Center and the theme for this years show is “Fashion Changing Lives”. The fashions for the runway will be provided by Kohl’s of Centerville and their will be venders from Dove Chocolates, Mary Kay Cosmetics, HandZenFeet, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Savona Restaurant, and Party Lite.

For more information on We Care Arts please visit their website at http://www.wecarearts.org.

The Anatomy of Dayton Fashion Week(Part 2): The Success Stories

September 3, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

International Fashion House Azucar

The bar was set high for the Inaugural Dayton Fashion Week, what started out as just a fun idea grew and grew and in the age of social networking word soon traveled outside of the city, outside of the state, and oh yeah outside of the country!! Who would have thought that little old Dayton, OH would cause such a stir in the Fashion World that even the people at Italian Vogue’s party during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami would be talking about us and watching us…after all this was just the first one! The designer submission for DFW 2013 have already started rolling in starting with South Africa’s International Fashion House Azucar who has already signed on!

In this first year, we faced it all controversy, skepticism, criticism, and attempts of sabotage, yet we were lifted up each time by friendships, support, faith, determination, shared visions, encouragement, opportunity, and outreach, making dealing with the negativity from a handful of individuals much easier to ignore and here we stand today with success in our hands.

In the days and weeks leading up to and following Dayton Fashion Week, I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions from a huge sense of accomplishment to asking myself if I ever wanted to be a part of something like this again…especially since I wasn’t in it for personal gain; I was and still in it because I love this city! Each time I thought about throwing in the towel I was reminded and motivated by those who stood behind me and had my back when we faced adversity, next to me when there was work to be done, and in front of me when it came time to take the lead and show the world just who and what Dayton Fashion week was and is all about. I found that the support far out numbered the naysayers…and I can proudly look back at our first year with ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS!!

The success stories that have followed in the past couple of weeks speak for themselves and have made it all worth it, starting with:

“The Face” of Dayton Fashion Week

Celebrity photographer Rich Jackson was in the building during Dayton Fashion Week doing some scouting. Rich has been credited

DFW Model Olivia Nichols wearing designs by Dlang Ferguson, Jewelry by Serket, photo by Rich Jackson

with discovering some of the today’s top models and entertainers. During his stay here in Dayton he hand selected 9 models from Dayton Fashion Week that caught his eye during our Kids Couture and Ready To Wear shows. Including Jessica Ventus, Kayla Holts, AjA Howard, Ashley Jones, Grace Langshaw, Dana Langshaw, Erica Skrylac, Jeanne Kinne, and Olivia Nichols who was named “The Face” of Dayton Fashion Week; Olivia has gone on to do other shoots with Rich for national campaigns!

Abercrombie & Fitch signs Dayton Fashion Week Model

Model Josh Reid signs with Abercrombie & Fitch

Joshua Reid was discovered while walking the runway of Dayton Fashion Week by scouts from Abercrombie & Fitch who were in attendance and as of today Josh is officially the newest face of A&F!

“The Hidden Gem”

According to McKinley Pierre, the Executive Producer of Miami, FL based fashion series Inside Couture Dayton designer L’Amour Ameer stole the show! From his creative runway presentation to his multipurpose multifunctioning designs—“Look! Up on the runway!! It’s a bag, it’s a—wait for it…wait for it…Wow it’s a jacket??” Mr. Ameer’s showcase during DFW had people cheering in their seats and left the people from Inside Couture in awe naming him the “Show Stopper” and “Hidden Gem” of Dayton Fashion Week!

Sew Dayton Opens for Business!

What can I say about Dayton designer Tracy McElfresh other than the fact that she was a God send during DFW! Not only was she one of our most popular designers appearing with us on Living Dayton, FOX 45 In The Morning, and appearing in F.I.Q. Magazine but when Junda suffered her stroke days before the kickoff of DFW Tracy stepped up, took over some of my duties and became my right hand woman when it came to answering most of the contractual questions being asked of me by designers. So, I’m super excited for her new business Sew Dayton; in conjunction with Activated Spaces Tracy and her business Partner Jesy Anderson will open their own clothing shop complete with original designs from Tracy, hand bags designed by Jesy, and they will even offer sewing lessons! Located in the Oregon District across from Thai 9, Sew Dayton will open its doors this Friday Sept 7!

Sarah Tyrchniewicz of Pretty In Dayton

Pretty In Dayton gets invited to the Big Apple

Another God send was Fashion blogger Sarah Tyrchniewicz of Pretty In Dayton, like Tracy, Sarah stepped up and took over some of my duties when Junda fell ill and helped us to keep the ball rolling. And in the process, her honest, sincere, and edgy writing style caught the attention of designers who are participating in New York Fashion Week which kicks off this week! They invited her to sit in the audience and do what she does best give her thoughts and opinions on the latest fashion trends hitting the runway and the streets! Though she had to decline the late invites we’re pretty confident that Sarah and Pretty In Dayton will continue to capture the fashion worlds attention!

Photographer of the Year!

Dayton Fashion Week Photographer Lamar Pacley has been nominated for Photographer of The Year for the 2012 Ohio Hip Hop Awards! Lamar played a huge role in the success of Dayton Fashion Week, from scouting models, shooting the cover of F.I.Q. Magazine, and working with the designers to name a few. Lamar definitely has our vote you can vote for him too at http://survey.websitegear.com/launch/29437/173!

Moving Forward

Photographer Lamar Pacley of Shuttereye Photo

These are just a handful of the success stories that have unfolded in the last couple of weeks from members of Team DFW! I’ve been approached about creating a Designer Incubator for the Midwest, Dayton Fashion Week caught the eye of producers from Naomi Campbell’s new reality show “The Face” and requested some information about several of our models, Dayton Fashion Week models and designers will be on a big screen near you soon after being cast as extras and stylist for a feature film being shot locally, DFW Events Manager Cindy Gaboury is writing for a new magazine called Envision Chronicle, you’ll also see the work of one of DFW’s models on a national hit show soon, and DFW Designer and CEO of Midwest Fashion Week Berny Martin will be showcasing his Spring 2013 designs during New York Fashion Week Emerge Show just to mention a few more!

The Inaugural Dayton Fashion Week has made its mark in the Fashion Industry and Fashion Weeks from across the country and fashion insiders from around the world have reached out to us for support and to help us grow to make it to the next level! The 2012 Dayton Fashion Week consisted of a lot of educating, trial and error, lessons learned, adjusting, adapting, communication, and corrections. Coming into this year we only had 3 people who were familiar with Fashion Weeks– myself, Junda, and one other model– now we have 300! The planning for the 2013 Dayton Fashion Week is currently underway. Stay tuned for details on how you can become a part of the planning process! For more information on Dayton Fashion Week be sure to “Like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/daytonfashion .

The Anatomy of Dayton Fashion Week: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Part 1)

August 3, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Lawd a mercy…where do I even start?? When I first heard that someone was trying to bring a Fashion Week to Dayton in September of 2011, I immediately got excited and went to work on trying to find out who this Junda Morris-Kennedy person was, I called, I wrote, I googled, I Facebooked, pretty much I stalked her until she finally responded!! I offered my assistance thinking that this Dayton Fashion Week thing was just going to be a cute little fashion show—BOY WAS I WRONG because This “Dayton Fashion Week Thing” turned out to be an International Fashion Spectacular that can only be summed up into three categories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly…of course there was more Good than anything else.(que Ennio Morricone please)

The Good

The Friendships: Excuse me while I get a little teary eye’d and sappy but in the course of the past 10 months I had the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people and even better we became more than friends we became a family.

To the models, I want you to know how much I love and respect each and every one of you! As a former model myself, I set out to do for all of you the things that I wish I had accomplished in my career! Modeling isn’t an easy career to break into and all too often your hard work, passion, and dedication are dismissed and go unappreciated because you are “just a blank slate” and I want you to know that you are more than that. From the very first calls that we made to you after the casting calls and hearing your excitement and even tears of joy made me feel like a Fairy Godmother making a dream come true. And every event thereafter you went out and represented Dayton Fashion Week and let the whole world know that we had officially arrived on the Fashion Scene.

To the designers, WOW is all that I know to say!! Actually Wow and Thank You! It wasn’t an easy process finding designers to be a part of the first year of Dayton Fashion Week. I remember sitting at Junda’s house going over plans for the casting call and being really worried about the lack of commitments that we had from designers and doubting whether or not we could go on as planned with DFW. But in true DFW style we continued to reach out and slowly but surely you all answered the call, stepping out on Faith and risking your names and reputations to be a part of this Inaugural event. To say that I was blown away by your presentations throughout the week would be the understatement of the century! Your drive and push to make this event the success that it was will never be forgotten. I’ll be hitting some of you up soon for my custom orders!!

To the Photography team, Lamar Pacely, Robert Coyle, Pete Bradow, Krissy Mills, Cj Kim, and Cliff Fennell, I don’t know very many if any photographers let alone photographers as talented as you all are, who are willing to give up so much of their time voluntarily. You rose to the occasion with each phone call and yes even the last minute cover shoot calls!! If a picture tells a thousand words then your efforts made it a thousand and one!

To the Hair and Makeup Team— Great job Angelica Ross DFW’s Creative Director of Cosmetics, Elite Hair Academy, Stacia McVey, and The Hair Gallery. McKinnley Pierre of Inside Couture said it best, “Dayton Fashion Week’s Hair and Makeup team was better than any such teams that I’ve seen in Miami Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and L.A. Fashion Week, so my hat’s off to them.” What more can I say?

To Maha Kashani—thank you so much for welcoming me to your hood!! lol From the very moment that I contacted you about DFW. You jumped on board and worked your butt off to make sure that this event was a success. You are Dayton, you are the bomb, you are the best, you are amazing, you are fabulous, and all of the positive adjectives that you can name but most importantly you are my friend. Without you and your work there wouldn’t be a Dayton Fashion Week.

To Junda Morris-Kennedy—We did it!! This was not an easy journey, we climbed up the rough side of the mountain together and I’m honored to call you more than a friend you are my sister. We put in countless hours in planning, we worked together, cried together, we even disagreed a couple of times, and when push came to shove…we always had each others back and like real sisters we toughed it out, stepped out on faith, kept God first, and kept on climbing to the top of that mountain. Thank you so much for taking me under your wing and teaching me another side of the industry, for believing in me, and allowing me to be a part of a positive event for the city I love! I love you from the bottom of my heart.

The Bad

In the days and weeks leading up to Dayton Fashion Week we were rocked by a series of tragedies that shook us to the core. Junda suffered the loss of several family members back to back and 6 days before the Kickoff to Dayton Fashion Week on July 18 at the age of 37, Junda suffered a stroke. I was thrown into the leadership position and was faced with answering a challenging question…Will DFW continue? Not knowing all of the details of the business end of things, I called a last minute emergency meeting that was opened with prayer led by DFW Event Manager Cindy Gaboury and the number of people that showed up and the outpouring of support I received gave me the strength to go on and reaffirmed that cancellation WAS NOT AN OPTION!!

On Friday July 20, DFW’s Executive Producer and MTV’s Made Coach Kyle Haggerty, called his best friend to pick him up to take him to the airport to fly into Dayton and help with Dayton Fashion Week’s preparations. The weather was bad that day and his friend never arrived because he had been killed in a car accident on his way to pick up Kyle leaving him completely devastated and cancelling his trip to be a aprt of DFW.

On Sunday July 22, our Director of Public Relations Tamieka Kent had to step down from her DFW duties when she received a phone call requiring her to leave town to be at her mother’s side who had emergency open heart surgery.

The Ugly

I’ll keep this short,in the days leading up to DFW and when Dayton Fashion Week was struggling to survive after being rocked by back to back to back tragedies there were attempts made to kick us when we were down by those who we bent over backwards for the most to help and accommodate. Did I mention those were FAILED ATTEMPTS??

Back To The Good

Surely you didn’t think that I was going to let the ugly outshine the good right? As McKinnely Pierre the Executive Producer of Inside Couture told me when he called to check on me the other day. “Don’t let a couple of barking dogs steal your joy, especially when you have hundreds of silent ones standing behind you who have your back”. This is only the beginning and you know my motto Dayton Fashion Week #ItJustKeepsGettinBetter 2013 here we come!! News Flash WE ALREADY HAVE DESIGNERS FROM BRAZIL, LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA, INDIA, JAMAICA, AND YES DAYTON GETTING READY FOR 2013

Stay tuned for Part 2 and be sure to check out our Facebook Page to see all of the wonderful images captured by Dayton Fashion Weeks Photographers at Facebook.com/daytonfashion.

Theatre Etiquette

July 26, 2012 By Leah Hawthorn 2 Comments

I am a proud grandparent to an 11-year-old granddaughter. Her name is Taylor. Now, Taylor happens to be into acting and singing. And, of course, being her grandparent, I think she is the cat’s meow when it comes to talent. So, when she was given the leading female role in Oliver, I couldn’t wait to see her. Theatre etiquette doesn’t just stop at The Shuster, or Victoria Theatre. Theatre etiquette should carry through, even in a high-school or grade school performance. My daughter had arrived early and saved my husband and me a seat in the theatre to see Taylor perform the role of Nancy. We are approximately ¾ the way back. The lights start to dim. You know the feeling you get when the production is about to start.

Excitement! Right as the lights dim, a woman, who probably had a child in the production as well, sat right in front of me. Now that’s no big deal, you say. She should be welcome to sit anywhere she likes, but she was a rather tall woman. Not only was she tall, but she had tied all of her hair into the largest beehive bun that I have ever seen! Why didn’t she simply wear a hat! I had to lean to the left and right to see around her. Okay, that, I can deal with, but still – really?!

The music starts and the curtain opens! What does my beehived friend in front of me do? She holds up her ipad to record the entire play. Yes, ipad, not ipod, or iphone — but ipad! I could not believe my eyes.

Here are a few Theatre Etiquette Tips to pass on:

Cell phones are a no, no. If you need to, set your phone on the lowest vibrate that there is, where you can feel it, not see or hear it. Even the light from the phone can be distracting to others. If you have children and baby sitter issues, try to sit where you can get out without distracting others if you have to take an emergency call.
Please……try not to talk or whisper during a performance. You and the person you are talking to are NOT the only ones in the theatre. You can be heard.
Be courteous. If you have to leave for any unexpected reason, saying “excuse me” and “thank you” is always welcome.
Don’t subject others. If you are sick, and have been coughing, be kind and give your ticket to a friend who won’t do so. If you happen to cough during a production, use a Kleenex or hankie to muzzle the sound, or excuse yourself if need be.
Try to sit still. I know you have been at a production, or even a movie, and had the back of your seat kicked. And if you are with a child, please share “no kicking the seat in front of you” before entering the theatre.
Don’t wear hats or high hairdos. Be aware there are people behind you. If you are extremely tall, try to pick a seat on the isle or in the back if you can. Never pull an ipad out to record the performance, even if videotaping is allowed! It has been done!!
Singing along. Only sing along with musicals if it is appropriate. There are some musicals that the crowd should clap and sing along. There are some musicals where it is inappropriate. In other words, follow the crowd.
Dress appropriately. You do not have to wear a tuxedo or ball gown, but the theatre is still the theatre. Dress like you are going to something special. Flip flops, jeans and t-shirts are not appropriate.
Drinking. Don’t over drink at intermission or before the performance. You don’t want to appear sloppy and you will want to remember the performance.
Photography. If there has been an announcement “no photography allowd”, flash or video, don’t do it. There is always someone who ignores the rules and has to cross the line. It is distracting to others.
Be patient. When entering or leaving any event where there is a large crowd, it may move slowly. There is nothing worse than someone bullying their way through the crowd to get in or out of the theatre, movies, or even an airplane. Be courteous to others. They want to get in and out swiftly as well. Where’s The Fire??!!

To sum up Theatre Etiquette: Have fun, smile and enjoy yourself. There’s nothing like the Theatre!! “I’m ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille”.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPjhEsZr8Nw’]

The Top 10 Reasons Why Dayton Fashion Week Is a Must See Event

July 20, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Dayton Fashion Week Takes place July 24-28

Alright everybody, after months of planning, promoting, talking about, writing about, through all of the ups and downs that we have experienced—Dayton Fashion Week is finally here AND IT’S GONNA BE HAUTE!!! The Schedule is as follows:

July 24 Fashion For A Cause Local Celebrity Fashion Show at the Masonic Temple 6p-9p
July 25 Dayton Most Metro Presents Fashion In Downtown at Court House Square 4p-9p
July 26 Kids Fashion Collection at The Bainbridge Hall the show starts at 6p
July 27 Ready to Wear Collection at the Dayton Convention Center the doors open at 5p show starts at 6:30
July 28 Haute Couture Doors open at 5p show starts at 6:30p.

For those of you who have been living under a rock and haven’t heard about Dayton Fashion Week or maybe you were a little skeptical about whether or not Team DFW could actually pull off an event of this magnitude, or maybe just maybe you’ve heard about it and just needed a little reminder about all of the great things that will be taking place this week. So I’ve compiled a Top 10 List of why Dayton Fashion Week is a Must See Event!

10. Dayton Fashion Week was named a “Must See” Fashion Event of The Year by F-Politique Magazine in London England.

9. Dayton Fashion Week is being Executive Produced by Kyle Haggerty MTV’s MADE Coach.

8. Dayton Fashion Week will be covered by Miami, FL based fashion series Inside Couture and word is Dayton Fashion Week was on everyone’s lips during the Italian Vogue Party last week during Miami Fashion Week.

7. Dayton Fashion Week will be covered by Phoenix, AZ based Fashion-Faces Magazine and Television Show who also featured Dayton Fashion Week models during the Cover Model Contest for F.I.Q. Magazine.(What’s F.I.Q. you may be asking well check out Reason # 2 on why Dayton Fashion Week is a Must See Event but don’t skip Reasons # 6-3)

6. Dayton Fashion Week is featuring over 90 of the hottest models from around the world and close to 80% of them are from right here in the Miami Valley!

America's Next Top Model Contestant Laura Kirkpatrick Phot by Jonathan-Mannion

Do you wanna be on top? That’s right America’s Next Top Model Cycle 13 Runner Up and Cycle 17 All-Star Contestant Laura Kirkpatrick will debut her Grumbage Line during Dayton Fashion Week and she’s bringing some of her America’s Next Top Model friends to strut their stuff on the runway of Dayton Fashion Week.

4. Dayton Fashion Week’s After Party at Club Vault will feature performances by American Idol’s Season 8 Contestant Ashley Mendez and DJ Trick who has toured with Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake, and will be hosted by Spokes Model and Actress Gigi

3. Dayton Fashion Week gives back, from day one Dayton Fashion Week has made giving back and reaching out to the community a priority! Whether it’s collecting can goods during Casting Calls, to participating in builds for Habitat for Humanity, getting a little muddy volunteering during the Mud Volleyball for Epilepsy Tournaments, to raising money for the Hospice of Dayton and Clothes That Work. Dayton Fashion Week is here to make a positive impact on the community.

Dayton Fashion Week Model Raynel Scott prepares to install some insulation during Dayton Fashion Week Habitat For Humanity Build

2. Dayton Fashion Week will debut the HOTTEST Fashion and Lifestyle print magazine the city has ever seen. F.I.Q.(Fashion Index Quarterly). All ticket holders to the July 27&28 events will receive a complimentary copy of F.I.Q. Magazine featuring 68 pages of some of the most talented writers, designers, models, makeup artist, hair stylist, photographers, community figures, and business owners and the very first issue is dedicated to and featuring the talented people of the Miami Valley Area.

1. Dayton Fashion Week is featuring 22 of the world best designers! We have International designer s like Bothdol Fashions from Nigeria, National Designers like 1847 & Co, and to make this journey complete we are featuring local designers and Boutiques: Temiki Jewelry, Kerapa by Sonya Mills, Jamilla Jones, Tracy McElfresh, J’Norreh by Nakeisha Maroney, Gill Mart & Co., L”amour Ameer, Joli Boutique, Pieces of Style, Serket Jewelry, and Love The Limelight by Amy Longo.

Well there you have it folks the Top 10 Reason’s why Dayton Fashion Week is a Must See Event!! And if you still aren’t convinced why you should check it out well—BECAUSE I SAID SO!! No but seriously, Dayton Fashion Week is being put together by close to 300 volunteers from the CEO Junda Morris-Kennedy to yours truly Caressa Brown the Director of Operations we haven’t drawn a single pay check for planning out this event. We believe in the City of Dayton and the talent that it possesses. We want to grow a new market here to help retain the talent that the city and surrounding areas has to offer. The designers have been investing their own money into the designs being showcased, the models, photographers, makeup artist, hairstylist have been giving freely of their time working hard to make this event successful, our sponsors have faith in us and are committed to seeing our vision thru, and last but not least DAYTON not only ROCK BUT The DYT is FIERCE!!!! Dayton Fashion Week #ItJustKeepsGettinBetter

Win a Chance to Walk in Dayton Fashion Week at the Dayton Dutch Lions Game July 18

July 16, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Models lined up outside in the cold and rain for Dayton Fashion Weeks Casting Call

Did you miss out on your opportunity to be seen during one of Dayton Fashion Weeks casting calls? Were you not lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to be scouted while grocery shopping like DFW models Jaylin Snider and Maoly Ricardo? Well, Dayton Fashion Week and the Dayton Dutch Lions F.C. Soccer team are giving you one more opportunity to strut your stuff before a panel of DFW Scouts, Leo The Lion, and oh yeah hundreds of fans in attendance cheering on the Dutch Lions Men’s Soccer team during half-time on Wednesday July 18, 2012. The game starts at 7:30pm at Miami Valley South Stadium located at 3737 Upper Bellbrook Rd., Bellbrook, OH, 45305.

The Inaugural Dayton Fashion Week has taken the Fashion World by storm, named a “Must See” Fashion event of the year by London Based fashion magazine F-Politique, and will feature international, national, and local designers, models, and media. Dayton Fashion Week kicks off on Tuesday July 24 and runs thru Saturday July 28. DFW models are receiving once in a lifetime opportunities including taking part in seminars conducted by Executive Producer McKinley Pierre of Miami based television show Inside Couture and Celebrity photographer Rich Jackson who discovered Jessica Sutta of the Pussycat Dolls, they are receiving Runway lessons by MTV’s Made Coach Kyle Haggerty who is also the Executive Producer of Dayton Fashion Week. Dayton Fashion Week models have been featured in Fashion-Faces Magazine out of Phoenix, AZ, and this just in DFW models will be featured in Europe’s Fashion & Styles Magazine just to name a few.

The Dayton Dutch Lions and their Orange Legion have been taking the USL by storm and on July 20-21, former Dutch National Player Bryan Roy will be in town conducting a Skills Clinic for kids. The Dutch Lions will be raffling off tickets to each of Dayton Fashion Weeks events during the game on July 18, including the Fashion For A Cause Local Celebrity Fashion Show featuring both the Dutch Lions Men’s and Women’s Teams and Nixon Dias #4 Defender and one of the top DJ’s in the Netherlands will be mixing it up on the 1’s and 2’s for the event as well; proceeds from the raffle will be given to a charity of the Dayton Dutch Lions choice!! For ticket information for Wednesday’s game please visit the Dayton Dutch Lions website at http://www.daytondutchlionsfc.com and “Like” them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DaytonDutchLionsFC . For more information on Dayton Fashion Week please visit http://www.daytonfashionweek.com and “Like” their page at http://www.facebook.com/daytonfashion.