Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
Saint Anne’s Cheese and Dayton Rotary are raising funds for a new Dayton K-9. Make a donation and you’ll have the chance to submit a prospective name for the working dog.
All proceeds from Cheese in the month of April will go towards this community project as well as match your donations. You can make an online donation here.
There is a magic in Wright State’s ARTSGala. Maybe it’s The Dance? The Theater? The Voice? The Films? The Orchestra? Maybe it’s the fact that Wright State continues to provide the area, the nation, even the world with graduates that lead the way in the creative arts. Or maybe, just maybe, the magic is the event itself!
People have been longing for ARTSGala to return to her glory following a long and arduous pandemic. The two year hiatus appears to be over. Saturday, April 9, WSU will be be chock full of student performances in all kind of art forms. The event, 7pm-12a, will be held in the Creative Arts Center. ‘We are back,’ says Joe Deer, Artistic Director of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures at Wright State University. ‘You can feel the excitement. There is so much to engage with at this year’s Gala. You can see selections from Sweet Charity; see sets designed by film students; hear some Broadway, Disney and Shakespeare; and of course, opera, dance and the orchestra!’
Deer beams. He knows the community enjoys this sort of ‘arts theme park.’ ‘Folks can rove where they please and enjoy whatever they choose. The event is truly immersive. It’s a unique approach to the Arts, and it’s popular! I have always said it feels like a cruise ship without the water!’ Deer goes on, ‘and what I mean is great entertainment, excellent food in elegant dining rooms, a piano bar, great wine, craft beer, bourbon, specialty cocktails and even cigars!’
With all of that said, the Gala is really about raising money to provide scholarships for students of the arts programs. (Of note, the Gala has raised $3 million for the scholarships since its inception.) Another unique facet of the evening is the ability to talk to the WSU students about their experience. It keeps the night intimate and personal.
One of the more popular parts of the ARTSGala is the coveted silent auction. Mobile bidding is used for more than 100 items at the event. You can bid on everything from art to luxury items.
Entertainment. A Great Cause. Dreams Realized. And A University Committed to the ARTS. It really doesn’t get much better than Wright State’s ARTSGala!
Tickets to this year’s big event are $300 each and can be purchased at www.wright.edu/artsgala. You can also go to www.wright.edu/artsgala/why-support-artsgala to hear real world experiences from some of the college’s arts students.
For the second year in a row, the Miamisburg Merchants Association (MMA) are hosting a Bourbon Raffle to help raise funds for our Miamisburg businesses. Raffle tickets are $50 each and the bottles are divided into 5 prize levels.
Package #1
Nashville Barrel Company Private Barrel: Is a 9 year Rye, the oldest barrel NBC releases. When we went to buy our first barrels of whiskey, we bought bourbon, but the first barrels we bottled were actually rye. This rye is comprised of 95% rye and 5% malted barley varying in age statements and available for picking. Ask anyone who’s tried one…they don’t disappoint.
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2021 Barrel Strength: Non-chill filtered and bottled at a 114.2 proof, the 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch features a 16-year-old Bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 14-year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV.
WhistlePig 12 year Old World Rye Private Barrel: WhistlePig’s vanguard of finishing lies within our Old World Rye, Aged 12 Years. A Rye styled by Old World sensibilities at 86-proof. This whiskey is the marriage of three finishes, each with their own distinctive flavor profiles. After maturing for 12 years in New American Oak, the spirit is divvied into one of three barrels –Madeira (30%), Sauternes (60%) and Port (10%). Finished to perfection and blended into a symphony of flavor. It started as a grand experiment and ended as the first Rye whiskey of its kind, giving you Rye in all its glory.. and then some. Just like a fine wine, our Old World Rye’s rich fruit and spice notes are great with an epic meal.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Private Barrel: Smooth Ambler Old Scout Bourbon – Custom is a hand selected barrel of 5-year old, high-rye content (36%) bourbon, bottled at cask strength, without chill filtration. The customer chooses from a selection of unique barrels and decides which barrel fits their desired flavor profile. The barrel is bottled with a custom stamp on each bottle and hand-signed. Mashbill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malt. A high-rye bourbon. Distillation Process: Continuous column distillation. Aging: Approximately 5 years old, non-chill filtered.
Stagg Jr. Batch 15: Each year, Buffalo Trace releases two batches of Stagg Jr bourbon. Stagg Jr. is the lowest priced offering of any barrel strength bottle from Buffalo Trace. It wears no age statement (though it is rumored to have barrels as young as 5 years old and as old as 10 years old) and is non-chill filtered. Batch 15 is technically the first batch of 2021 because Batch 14 was first recorded for sale in December 2020. For its relatively short life, Stagg Jr has impressed fans with its powerful punch of flavors. It is not as unique as other bourbons but everything it does, it does well. You can usually expect a mouthful of cherries along with lots of heat and a nice sweetness. Tannins like oak and tobacco can be found, but not as much as in a bottle of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (which is its main competitor).
Woodford Reserve LTD Release Series 16: But the main draw was that the blend was largely made up of 11 and 17 year-old barrels. And while it’s not talked about much, I have no doubt that some barrels as young as 4 or 5 years old also made it in the blend too. Having barrels that were allowed to age this long is extremely rare for any Brown-Forman brand (of which Woodford is a part of) because they use heat-cycled warehouses. These warehouses age whiskey faster than traditional methods involving only mother nature. Since more bourbon evaporates with every heat cycle it goes through, it typically reaches full maturity in half the time of a standard distiller. If you didn’t know already, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester typically pull their barrels for bottling at around 4 to 6 years old. Anything older than that runs the risk of it being empty when it’s time to dump it.
Woodford Reserve LTD Batch 17: The Five-Malt Stouted Mash is said to be a ‘rich and darkly robust’ expression of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey. “Five-Malt Stouted Mash is an expression unlike any other we’ve released before,” master distiller Chris Morris said. “The rich, roasted malty stout flavours mingle with bright touches of baked fruit, crisp spices, and orange zest for a unique Woodford Reserve experience.” In Kentucky, a fermented grain mash is traditionally called ‘distiller’s beer’, with distillation converting the liquid into whiskey once barrelled. The Five-Malt Stouted Mash contains flavours of a traditional heavy-style beer.
Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel: Is a 9 year aged bourbon, aged in warehouse S on the 5th Floor. Crafted in the birthplace of bourbon with techniques dating back to pre-Prohibition, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is matured in the deepest No. 4 alligator char barrels. Individually bottled at barrel proof and non-chill filtered to guarantee maximum flavor, each barrel has its own personality yet still captures our signature toffee and vanilla tones. Rich oaky notes meet an intense spiciness, which creates a robust taste that is best experienced right out of the bottle.
Package #3
Reservoir Rye: In the crowded world of “High Ryes” on the market,we are proud to offer the highest with a 100% rye mash bill. Sourced from just outside Richmond’s city limits, our rye provides an intense, sharply spiced profile that is not too sweet.
Blood Oath Pact 7: A masterful union of three well-bred bourbons. One, a 14-year extra-aged ryed bourbon. Two, an 8-year ryed bourbon. And three, another 8-year ryed bourbon, finished in sauternes wine casks from the Bordeaux region of France for a balance of sweetness with additional spice.
Maker’s Mark Honey Crisp Blossom: A popular small batch bourbon, produced at the Maker’s Mark distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon, first introduced in 1953 by “Bill” Samuels Snr, produced with the assistance on none other than a certain Julian ‘Pappy’ Van Winkle. The oak staves used for the final period of maturation were selected by Honeysuckle and comprised 4 “baked American pure,” 2 “seared French cuvee,” 1 “Maker’s Mark 46”, 0 “Roasted French Mocha” and 3 “toasted French spice.”
Booker’s “Boston Batch”: Every batch of this product carries a name that references the brand’s colorful history. This batch is named after the production site where Booker Noe first started his distilling career. The distillery, now renamed the Booker Noe Distillery, is located in the small community of Boston, Ky. The facility was purchased by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in the early 1950’s as a second distilling location to increase production capability at the time. Because Boston was removed from the day-to-day of the Booker’s flagship Clermont, Ky. distillery, Booker was able to “experiment with whiskey a bit more and really learn about bourbon-making process,” the company says. “Some may say this is where he found his love of experimentation.” That plant was his life for more than 40 years.
Package #4
1792 Sweet Wheat: Crafted with sweet and delicate wheat instead of the more traditional rye, this bourbon is quite distinctive from most. The soft wheat delivers a subtle and smooth taste with gentle layers of flavor. Each sip expresses a harmony of sweetness and dryness.
1792 Full Proof Private Barrel: 1792 Full Proof is Barton’s sort of cask strength bourbon. I say “sort of” because full proof doesn’t exactly mean cask strength, but rather the white dog’s barrel entry proof, in this case 125 proof. Technicalities aside, 125 proof is virtually cask strength as most cask strength bourbons are 110-130 proof (55-65% ABV) anyways.
Blanton’s Private Barrel: Aged for 6 to 8 years. It is aged in Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace, which is the only metal-cladded warehouse at Buffalo Trace and was commissioned for construction by one of the distillery’s early leaders, Albert B. Blanton, shortly after the end of the Prohibition era. Being metal, the warehouse transfers heat quicker than brick warehouses, which allows for more rapid aging.
Weller Antique: Has a balanced and full-bodied flavor to satisfy your taste buds. This spirit originates from the forward-thinking mind of the distiller William Larue Weller, the first to use wheat instead of rye in some of his whiskey recipes.
Package #5
Michter’s Fort Nelson Select Rye: hailing from one of America’s first distillers, this whiskey is made from the highest quality American Rye and matured in a hand selected charred white oak barrel. It is then further mellowed by their signature filtration.
Michter’s Fort Nelson Select Bourbon: is made from a carefully selected mashbill that features the highest quality American corn. It is then matured to the peak of perfection.
Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye: A single barrel product, each barrel of Michter’s US1 Barrel Strength Rye is bottled at its particular alcohol level at the time of bottling. The majority of barrels in the releases range from 107 to 112 proof. To savor it is a unique experience for anyone who enjoys rye whiskey.
Mammoth 12 yr Single Barrel Rye: With an aggressive nose of spice, namely cloves and nutmeg, you’ll know well before the first sip that this 12-year-old is anything but shy. Of course, that’s to be expected at 62.5% ABV. An undiluted sip brings a biting (but still incredibly pleasant) mouthful of buttered and honey-dipped toast generously dusted with cinnamon. With a few drops of water, the honey challenges the butter for prominence.
You must be 21 years of age to purchase a ticket. Tickets can be purchased from now until March 3 online. Winners will be drawn on March 4.
The fact that Dayton was recognized on the Travelocity list of 25 Most Giving Cities in the U.S. is no surprise to us at Dayton937.com. Having put together the most comprehensive list of charity events in the region for the last 13 years, we’ve seen how many people are willing to give back and help others in this community. We’ve got a list of area fish fry’s that make a difference to so many and each week, Old Scratch Pizza has Cones for a Cause Program that has raised over $30,000 dollars for area charity’s in the past year and Warped Wing Brewery, Dewey’s and Milano’s, are just a couple of the local businesses that have established fundraising programs.
It’s hard to choose which events to support each month, but here are suggestions for February Fundraisers:
Join Friends of SICSA for their annual Bark n’ Bling at SICSA Pet
Adoption & Wellness Center! The event will take place in the Humane Education Center each day.
With your ticket booklet you’ll have a coupon to get up to 3 donuts from each participating vendor from Feb 11-Feb 21. Each vendor’s page will list hours for their business so you can plan your adventure. Participating vendors”
Ashley’s Pastry Shop, Bear Creek Donuts, Donut Palace, Duck Donuts, Evans Bakery
Glazed Donut Eatery, Hole N One Donuts, Jim’s Donut Shop, Stan, The Donut Man
The Donut Haus Bakery, The Neighborhood Nest
Proceeds benefit Miami Valley Meals, which recovers and transforms donated food to provide bulk meals to organizations that feed the hungry in our community.
Thousands of undie runners in cities all across the U.S. come together, whether it be in-person or virtually, to support those affected by NF, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and affects 1 in every 3,000 births. Cupid’s Undie Run kicks off with drinking and dancing, then we jog it out with a mile(ish) run and end it all with an epic dance party!
Due to the overwhelming generosity of our donors over the past two years, we are having a second Book Fair in 2022! We’ll have a smaller amount of books this time (no media, puzzles or games) and they are unsearched and unsorted! This will mean a less complicated setup for us and more of a treasure hunt for book shoppers!
Join the Greater Dayton LGBT Center at thisAnnual “Bowling For Pride” Fundraiser on February 26th!
Game 1 ~ 8 to Eat, Game 2 ~ Bingo Bowl, Game 3 ~ Garbage Bowl. Rainbow Strike Jackpot $100.00.
$20 each bowler includes shoes. But bring money for the raffle – over 100 prizes up for grabs!
For more charity fundraisers around town, check our Dayton937.com calendar.
The 23rd Annual Bud light Barstool Open North is a unique opportunity for teams of 4 to battle it out on an indoor, traveling, 9 hole, miniature golf course all to benefit and enhance the lives of children and adults with disabilities at United Rehabilitation Services (URS).
On Saturday February 26 teams of 4 will test their skills on the putting green one hole at a time. Teams are asked to report to their selected bar at 10:30 am. on the day of event to sign in and pick up their scorecard. Teams are responsible for bringing their own putter and golf balls. It will be a shotgun start at 11am with scorecard due no later than 6pm. Teams will follow the “course” traveling to 9 different local bars enjoying free food/snacks from each location. There will be raffle prizes throughout the course and there will be prizes for the best team costume. The top 3 teams will win additional prizes (not to mention bragging rights)!
The 9 participating bars this year are : Rip Rap Roadhouse, Little York Tavern, Submarine House Vandalia, Wings, Irish Club, Bolts Sports Cafe, Spitfire, Oscar’s and Corner Club.
Team of 4– $180 (includes tournament entry for 4 people, food/snack)
Sponsored Team of 4– $250 (includes tournament entry for 4 people, food/snack, business name/logo at each of the 9 participating bars)
You do not want to miss this! Space is limited! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.Registration deadline: 2/24/2022
For more information please contact Amber Maham at 937-853-5464).
There are also opportunities for enthusiastic volunteers to help with the Bud Light Barstool Open. Click here for more information on how you can help on the day of the event.
Created last year as a pandemic safe event, here we are again still dealing with Covid, so Planned2Give is bringing back The Dayton Donut Fest on Tour for a second year. Kicking off Feb 11th, ticket buyers will have 11 days to visit the 11 participating donut shops and pick up sweet treats. Buy your tickets online and they will be mailed to you, so order them now to make sure they get to you in time. Tips from festival veterans last year include arriving early- the best flavors sell out quickly. Get a box and collect several donuts for a taste test later at home and finally remember, you don’t have to eat them all at once- you can spread your visits out. Festival goers are encouraged to share pictures of their adventure using the hashtag #DaytonDonutFest and there will be prizes for the favorites.
With your ticket booklet you’ll have a coupon to get up to 3 donuts from each participating vendor from Feb 11-Feb 21. Each vendor’s page will list hours for their business so you can plan your adventure.
Confirmed Participants:
Ashley’s Pastry Shop
21 Park Ave Dayton, Oakwood
Satisfying our sweet tooth for over 30 years, owner Theresa Hammons is always trying new flavors, but we have to tell you her apple fritters were a huge hit amongst festival goers last year.
80 S. Main Street, Miamisburg
Owner Ryan Tripp worked at the Springboro Donut Haus while growing up and then went out on his own to open this shop in downtown Miamisburg. He then went back and bought the Donut Haus a few years later.
5264 Salem Ave, Dayton
5115 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights
Since 1971, the Donut Palace has combined your classic donut shop. WCheck out their peanut butter glazed, cream-filled eclairs or apple fritters.
1200 Brown Street Suite 115 Dayton
Your visit here starts with a freshly baked hot vanilla cake donut and then you pick your toppings. Glaze it, cover it in sprinkles or ice it in salted caramel or raspberry- it’s truly a custom donut.
700 Troy St Dayton
Second generation bakery owner Jennifer Evans puts some amazing flavors into her donuts. Try the Coconut curry cake donuts (pictured below) or their butterscotch cake donuts.
607 North Detroit Street, Xenia
Opened during the pandemic in the summer of 2021 Glazed has been a big hit in Xenia.. Owner Clay Fillinger worked in the donut business while he was a firefighter. Now he’s into creating tasty donuts full time, like the one pictured below: Do’nut Go Bacon My Heart
2739 West Alex Bell Road, Moraine
122 E National Rd, Vandalia
Serving up donuts since the 1950’s Jim’s has 22 cake donuts alone and 40 varieties in all.
Stan, The Donut Man
1441 Wilmington Ave, Kettering
There’s nothing fancy about it, but for over 50 years Daytonians have been stopping here to pick up a dozen.
305 W Central Ave Springboro
The Donut Haus Bakery has been offering delicious classics for over three decades and is open 24 hours to fulfill your cravings!
313 W. Main St. Fairborn
Offering delicious gluten-free/allergy friendly and KETO baked goods.
Proceeds benefit Miami Valley Meals, which is a chef-led effort to recover donated food and transform it into prepared meals for distribution through organizations serving the hungry. Their unique model allows them to intercept food that would otherwise be wasted, and redistribute it to those in need throughout the community. Since the project’s inception in March 2020, they have served 283,000 free meals through 72 partnering organizations across 34 zip codes. Learn more about them.
The Friends of SICSA Bark n Bling jewelry and accessories sale is coming up and they are still looking for donations. Could you check your jewelry drawers and closets to see if you have any jewelry, purses, scarves, or like items to donate to SICSA’S Bark n Bling sale? ALL donations happily accepted, but particularly unwanted gold and precious jewelry since gold prices are high right now ( even broken gold jewelry is perfect!). Declutter your lives and donate to a great cause. Contact Heather at [email protected] to donate or drop off at SICSA during open hours with a note that it is for the jewelry sale.Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals (SICSA)
172 Washington Church Rd,
Dayton, OH 45458
937.294.6505
Adoption Center Hours
Monday-Saturday: 12 – 7pm
Sunday: 12 – 6pm
The Springfield Arts Council is hosting a bourbon raffle to benefit the programs of the Springfield Arts Council.Raffle DRAWING held THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 at 7pm
(need not be present to win.)
To help raise funds, SICSA SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center they are bringing back Mediocre Pet Portraits again this year! For a donation of just $10 on Giving Tuesday’s Facebook Fundraiser, they will have one of their “artists” create a unique portrait of your pet!
To have your portrait completed, you will simply donate $10 to the fundraiser, and comment your pet’s photo beneath your donation. They’ll then give the photo to one of their resident pet Picassos. Once they’ve finished their masterpiece, SICSA will take a photo and comment under your donation.
Feel free to share the picture with friends online to encourage them to join in the fun!
Then, beginning on Tuesday, December 7th, you can stop by our Adoptions Lobby to pick up your portrait.
For the 2nd year in a row, We Care Arts annual Cookie Walk will actually be a drive through. You’ll select a one, two, three or four pound box of cookies ($8/pound) and yes, there is a nut-free version available. Your cookies will be packaged for you for easy pick up.
You can order your cookies online now and pick up will be on Saturday, December 11th from 10am – 2pm at the Berkeley Center location at 3035 Wilmington Pike in Kettering. Proceeds from the Cookie Walk will benefit We Care Arts clients to increase confidence and artistic skill. We Car Arts believe in the healing power of creating and producing art that transforms physical, developmental, and mental challenges into a future rich with possibilities
Two nonprofits are teaming up for a unique fundraiser to help families and children with life-threatening medical disorders and critical injuries. RMHC Dayton and A Special Wish Dayton will be holding a special plane pull event at Dayton International Airport on September 18.
A plane pull is when teams of friends, families, coworkers, service groups and more work together to pull an airplane the fastest. Each team can have up to 20 members. The plane is a CRJ700 which weighs 55,000 pounds. Dayton-based PSA Airlines is donating the use of the plane for the day. Dayton International Airport is offering the space for the event at no cost to organizers.
RMHC Dayton provides a place for families of children receiving medical care to stay overnight at no cost to them for as long as they need. It also serves families of in-patient children through the Ronald McDonald Families Rooms inside Dayton Children’s Hospital and inside Emmett’s Place at Miami Valley Hospital.
“The pandemic forced us to cancel all of our indoor fundraising events, but it never stopped us from serving the families who need us most. Now, we need the community’s help to continue that mission,” said Erika Ward, Donor Relations & Signature Events Manager.
A Special Wish Dayton grants wishes to both children and adolescents from birth through age 20. It serves Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Shelby and northern Warren Counties.
“A Special Wish Foundation is excited to be partnering with RMHC Dayton. Both organizations provide unique services to families who are facing challenging situations,” said David Seyer, Executive Director of A Special Wish Dayton.
“For ASW, the Plane Pull will provide much needed funds to help grant over 85 special wishes to local children with life-threatening illnesses.”
The plane pull is designed to be a safe alternative to traditional indoor fundraisers. It will be held outside to allow social distancing and masks are required.
The event wouldn’t be possible without the support from PSA Airlines and Dayton International Airport.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to show its strength and raise money for a worthy cause,” said Gil Turner, director of Dayton International Airport. “Beyond that, it also is a really fun and exciting event. Who can say they were strong enough to pull a plane?”
“PSA is proud and excited to support this amazing cause. We are looking forward to seeing the strength of the community and these teams versus the CRJ 700!” said Jenna Arnold, Director of Communications and Marketing for PSA Airlines.
Teams can sign up now at https://www.planepulldayton.org/.55,000 Pound Plane To Be Pulled For Fundraiser
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery proudly announces this year’s annual fundraiser, the Boonshoft EcoBash – A Fresh Air Affair, to be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 7 to 11:00 pm.
The Boonshoft Bash is always an exciting, black-tie optional, one-night-only affair that gives patrons a chance to fund science education throughout the coming year.
The Bash theme this year is ecofriendly, and the Museum invites guests to join us in our commitment to become more aware of our responsibility for stewardship of the Earth.
We have made conscientious efforts in reducing our use of plastics, replacing lightbulbs with LED, turning off lights, adding composting for zoo waste, and planting raised bed gardens to grow fresh vegetables for our zoo animals. We are also increasing our recycling efforts, and we are seeking to add an environmentally friendly café! The café will offer healthy and quick food options along with STEM-oriented educational programming. Live music will be provided by Velvet Crush!
Celebrate the reopening and exciting future of this amazing Dayton learning center that offers STEM education for all ages.
The EcoBash features three levels of tickets and experiences this year:
6:00 p.m. – VIP $250 per person
Special cocktail, small group behind the scenes experience, dinner, and lawn party and open bar.
7:00 p.m. – Dinner $200 per person
Special cocktail, dinner, and lawn party and open bar.
8:00 p.m. – Lawn Party $100 per person
Lawn party: music, finger foods, access to museum, outdoor fun with live music and games and 3 drink tickets – more can be purchased at the event.
You may purchase tickets online
The artists whose work will be up for bid are some of Dayton’s most notable including Zachary Armstrong, Willis “Bing” Davis, Katherine Kadish, Evelyn Mahrt, Mychaelyn Michalec, Richard Malogorski, and Bruce Soifer. Additionally, The Co’s new curator, Michael Goodson, has added an impressive list of work from nationally-renowned artists including Ann Hamilton, Ohio resident and celebrated “sensory” and fabric installation artist; Donald Moffett, New York AIDS-era activist, designer, and celebrated painter; Carrie Moyer, New York artist and Whitney Biennial Alum, best known for her vividly-colored and textured abstract paintings; American photojournalist/photo-anthropologist, Bill Owens, whose 1973 book Suburbia is considered one of the seminal photobooks of the 20st century and features, in newer editions, a forward essay by filmmaker Sofia Coppola; Detroit-based artist Beverly Fishman who creates powerful abstract paintings that address technology and the pharmaceutical industry; and Brooklyn painter, Fred Tomaselli, who is represented by one of his infamous silkscreens in which he colorfully reimagines the events of Hurricane Katrina on the front page of The New York Times. Each of these works will be accompanied by a monographic book signed by each artist.
Willis Bing Davis, Ancestral Spirit Dance #588, 2018, oil pastel, 40 x 32 in. Image: John Sousa
Simultaneously, The Co will present an Online Auction beginning on June 23 through June 27, 2021 with over 60 works of art that represent a curated selection of the most accomplished and compelling artists in the area, as well as a selection of virtual and in-person art encounters. Virtual art encounter packages include a Guided Watercolor Painting Lesson; Wine Tasting with Argentinian and Tuscan Selections; a Q&A with the elite of Broadway’s theatrical professionals; a Coaching-Vocal-Choreography Session; and a Grandmaster Chess Lesson. In-person packages include Glassblowing with Jim DeLange; a Custom Mural by Mural Machine; and Exclusive Columbus and Cincinnati Art Tour with The Co’s Curator. Viewing and bidding on artwork and experiences is available at no cost, but you must register to bid.
Katherine Kadish, Falling Flowers 16, 2012, wax monotype, 41 x 33 in. Image: John Sousa
Additionally, The Co will offer a Grand Prize Raffle for the chance to win the opportunity to host the first Cocktail Party in The Co’s New Galleries for up to 25 guests and includes select wines, craft beers, light bites, and music. Grand Prize Raffle Tickets are available now at The Co’s downtown location or at thecontemporarydayton.org and are $25 each or 5 for $100.
Clothes That Work today shared the results of their 2021 Men at Work campaign following a special virtual awards celebration on Thursday, May 20, and named Tyler Greenwood, from The Greentree Group, the 2021 Clothes That Work Ambassador of the Year.
This year’s event featured 25 local businessmen and community leaders who campaigned as Role Models for votes to earn the honor of Clothes That Work’s Ambassador of the Year. Each vote purchased was a $5 donation to Clothes That Work, and people were encouraged to vote for their favorites. The men engaged in three weeks of themed competitions, and results were tallied to determine the overall winner.
The 2021 Role Models earned the most votes ever received during the annual Men At Work campaign. The men collectively secured 5,887 votes, and when combined with sponsorships and special event revenue, they raised just over $40,000 to support Clothes That Work’s programs and services. Greenwood took home the title of Ambassador of the Year by securing 2,266 votes and personally raising $11,330 for the organization…a new record from a Men At Work winner.
Mark Brewer
Additional awards were given to the weekly themed competition winners including:
“The dedication, enthusiasm and hard work from all of the Role Models helps us make a difference in the lives of our clients,” said Clothes That Work Executive Director Cindy Garner. “We raised over $40,000 making it our most successful campaign ever. Every dollar of the money raised goes directly to the Clothes That Work mission to clothe, educate and empower individuals to prepare them for employment success and help build a stronger 
Dayton workforce. This campaign inspires our job seekers and shows them that being a Role Model is attainable for them as well.” Men at Work was created seven years ago with a simple goal in mind: to engage men in the mission and vision of Clothes that Work. For years, the organization mostly served women, but today, men make up more than 58 percent of Clothes That Work clients. Collectively, Men at Work has generated over $190,000 to support the organization’s programs and services.
The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) has announced a new at-home fundraising event, Backyard Ball, taking place on June 26. Featuring a special selection of appetizers, wines and special surprises in a commemorative Party Pack, this online fundraiser takes the place of the museum’s traditional Art Ball gala. The DAI made the decision not to hold Art Ball in 2021, for the safety of guests and staff, and began planning for Backyard Ball earlier in the spring.
“We are excited to present Backyard Ball, a fresh, new take on Art Ball! We know how much the community treasures Dayton’s oldest gala, and this format allows the museum’s friends and patrons to continue their support. Our Art Ball chairs, Ariel and Brian Walker, along with the members of our Associate Board, have created a fun and festive event to welcome the first days of summer,” said Dayton Art Institute Director & CEO Michael R. Roediger.
As with the traditional Art Ball, Backyard Ball will be themed around a featured artwork from the DAI collection. Event chairs Ariel and Brian Walker have chosen Janet Fish’s Embroidery from Uzbekistan (2008) as the featured artwork for Backyard Ball.
Backyard Ball Party Packs go on sale May 26, at www.daytonartinstitute.org/artball.
Two levels of Party Packs are available, Patron and Grand Patron. Each includes two bottles of wine, a specially designed cocktail-hour party box for two guests and access to an exclusive online party taking place on June 26. Grand Patron packages also include an additional bottle of sparkling wine and a floral centerpiece from The Flower Shoppe.Grand Patron Party Packs are $395 each and Patron Party Packs are $295.
Each Party Pack includes: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and Terre d’OroRosé; an appetizer box from Kohler Catering featuring various mini appetizers, charcuterie board and desserts; and access to the online party on June 26. The upgraded Grand Patron level includes a bottle of Mumm sparkling Rosé and a floral centerpiece from The Flower Shoppe, specifically inspired by the Backyard Ball featured artwork, Janet Fish’s Embroidery from Uzbekistan.
Backyard Ball also includes a Grand Draw Raffle, featuring five prize packages of gift cards valued at $1,000 or more. Each gift card was purchased by a DAI Associate Board member or DAI staff member from local Dayton businesses that usually donate gift cards to the Art Ball raffle.
Ariel Walker
“This year, we really wanted to show our support for our beloved Dayton businesses who generously donated to Art Ball in previous years,” said Ariel Walker, Backyard Ball chair. “We know local businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and we just wanted to show the same generosity they’ve shown this event and the DAI.”
Raffle tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online atwww.daytonartinstitute.org/artball beginning May 26. A Party Pack does not have to be purchased in order to purchase raffle tickets. Raffle winners will be drawn on June 26.
“We hope that our museum friends will host a Backyard Ball of their own and celebrate the DAI as we reach the end of the pandemic. This fundraiser is vital to us coming out of the COVID-19 crisis financially sound and stronger than before,” Roediger said. “The exclusive online party will include music, wine tasting presentations and a special gallery tour of previous Art Ball featured artworks from the DAI’s collection, as well as many other surprises,” Roediger said.
Party Packs are only available for a very limited time and must be purchased in advance via the DAI website. Sales end June 16, with pickup taking place at the museum on Saturday, June 26, from 3 to 5 p.m. This is a pickup-only event; Party Packs cannot be shipped. The DAI will announce additional details about Party Pack pickup in early June. The online party begins at 8 p.m. on June 26.
All proceeds from this new fundraiser help benefit operations at the Dayton Art Institute.
Party Pack and Grand Draw Raffle purchasers must be at least 21 years old and residents of the state of Ohio. Participants who place orders are asserting that they are 21 years old or more and are Ohio residents. Participants must produce a valid photo identification, including proof of Ohio residency and age, when picking up Party Packs. No exceptions will be made.
The Dayton Art Institute collection galleries are open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a visit, go towww.daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278).
Feb 11- 21