Charity Events

Dayton’s Bocce Classic: Respect the Balls

May 19, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

John Pirelli Lodge President, Jim Balsamo at the Sons of Italy Bocce Courts

One of America’s biggest Bocce Ball tournaments is coming to Dayton, and it is all about respect, capeesh? Respect the balls, the court, the tradition and a game where anyone can play and be competitive. The Food Adventures Crew will be a big part of this weekend which also includes a Friday food truck rally and Sunday’s Garlic Fest.

The John Pirelli Lodge/Sons of Italy will be hosting the 2016 Bocce Classic from July 15th – July 17th this year, and they are looking for players! This annual event draws young and old from many states. Even players from Canada drive down to attend, and you can participate too !

Which one is closer?

Teams of 4 will descend upon the bocce courts behind the Bella Villa Hall and will be rolling balls from morning ’til night. Some of you may know this site as the same spot of Dayton’s Italian Festival aka the “Fall Festa.” 2015 Bocce Classic Champions, The Doepker Family and Scott Davis look to defend their title, in what promises to be a fun-filled tournament weekend.

Not sure how to play bocce ball? It is easy to start. It is a mixture of bowling and shuffleboard. The object of the game is to roll your four bocce balls as close to the little “pallino” ball as possible, while preventing your opponents from doing the same. It is that simple. Many players develop their own strategies and rolling styles. Want to learn the rules of Bocce ? Then click here for the Dayton’s Bocce Classic Rules Page.

Brian Andzik is a Bocce Regular

Want to know more about The Bocce Classic, one of the feature Bocce Ball Tournaments in the United States?

HERE IS THE SKINNY:

WHAT: THE BOCCE CLASSIC, a BOCCE BALL TOURNAMENT

WHERE: 2625 County Line Rd, Dayton, Ohio

WHEN: 3 day tournament starts evening of July 15th, and ends in the Championship Game, Sunday Evening July 17th

HOW: CLICK THIS LINK to SIGNUP YOUR TEAM

COST: $270 per team, includes a steak dinner Saturday night, beer cups, and discounted drink prices during Sons of Italy’s Food Truck Rally July 15th and Garlic Fest, July 17th. Sounds like a Food Adventure, so The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax will be there.

Bocce Ball

WHY: A significant portion of the proceeds go to local scholarships and local charities

They are expecting about 60-70 teams of four to participate in this year’s event. There is even a BEGINNER BOCCE BASH Friday night hosted by UpDayton, 5pm-9pm.

HISTORY OF BOCCE BALL IN DAYTON:

Thirty years ago the Bella Villa Hall had 2 bocce courts. The floors of the courts were sand and limestone dust. They would have to bring out a rug and a rope, and drag it up and down to smooth the court between matches. Now the courts are made from artificial turf.

Then in 1995, the John Pirelli Lodge in Dayton Ohio, decided to host a tournament to promote the game and their Italian heritage. There were five clay courts and 40 teams. Orignal Bocce Classic Founders Ed Guerriero, Pat Mosconi and Mike Longo grew the tournament and it is now the unofficial “Ohio State Championship of Bocce”

Now, The Bocce Classic is a 3 day event played with over 60 teams and attended by thousands of spectators. There are now six partially covered bocce courts that even have night lighting. The Italian lodge looks to keep the feel of the original tournament while introducing bocce ball to more people in the Miami Valley. Pasta, steak dinners, and authentic Italian food help make a great bocce tournament.

2016 may be the “Year of the Bocce Ball” in Dayton, with all of this added interest. But for some, it has been a tradition for decades. Let’s meet some of Dayton’s bocce legends and purists.

DAYTON’S BOCCE’S “MUST MEETS”

— EDDIE “BOOM BOOM” GUERRIERO: This mild-mannered fixture at the Sons of Italy love the bocce and food as well. One of the founding members of the tournament, he is still active in bocce and lodge committees. We don’t know why he is called “boom boom.” We will leave that up to your imagination.

Rinaldo Stolfo with Kevin Sorice, Bocce Classic Chairman

— RINALDO STOLFO: This active 86 year old has played in the bocce league for 10 years and is an avid ping pong player with his partner who, get this… is 94 years old. He likes bocce because you meet a lot of new friends. Many of you Rinaldo as the former owner of his famous Dayton bakery which he retired last year.

— JIM BALSAMO: Current President of the lodge and bocce enthusiast who tells us his father got him into the game. Jim loves bocce ball because anyone can play, “16 years old to 86, male, female, it doesn’t matter.” Jim also says just because you have experience, sometimes is doesn’t matter. Games can take twists and turns. Jim says “One minute you think you’ve got it figured out and the bocce gods look down on you and that’s all she wrote.” Jim also notes that sometimes you gotta teach the players to add the scores correctly, even the veterans forget.

Bocce Classic Coming July 15- July 17th

— BRIAN ANDZIK: Bocce League veteran who has not missed one game in 17 years. He even played a season on crutches. Now that’s dedication, folks. Brian has also been a leader on the lodge council. He got to play on one of the original teams with the legendary DiPasquale brothers.

— TONY CICERO: From Racine, Wisconsin has played bocce his whole life. Tony has won bocce classic twice. He says playing helps, as he grew up with a bocce court in back yard. It is a game of strategy. A feel comes naturally, he says.. Tony’s wife plays in the women’s league and was the MVP of her team.

— NICK D’AMICO: Nick has been helping out with the Special Olympics Bocce Ball for 20 years. Last year they had 78 athletes

Championship Roll – John Doepker 2015 Bocce Classic Champ

with special needs play bocce ball in the Olympics. Nick has been playing bocce ball all of his life. He remembers playing in alleys as a kid on Stone Mill Road.

— THURSDAY is WOMENS LEAGUE at the John Pirelli Lodge – and we will have a full report on them, soon !

So now you know a little more about Dayton area bocce and its tradition. Come out and watch the Bocce Classic , or enter the tournament. They would love to have you.

Want to join the Italian Club? You must have Italian lineage in your family, and the cost is $40 per year. Club members are eligible to play in a bocce league that costs $40 a year.

Measuring for accuracy

All ages love bocce

Throwing the stones

86 year old Rinaldo Stolfo playing Bocce

Mr. D’Alessandro

Talkin bocce

Bocce Court

Ready to roll

Help us Pick a Fight with Cancer!

May 3, 2016 By Dayton937

Even pacifists agree that cancer needs its butt kicked. More and more people realize how cancer affects family members, friends, co-workers etc. It’s hard to find someone that cancer hasn’t touched in one way or another. So we are asking you to help us Pick a Fight with Cancer.

This Thursday, May 5th at the Engineers Club of Dayton, Mike Nichols will be hosting the Pick a Fight with Cancer Wine tasting from 6 – 9 pm.

This great event is to celebrate those who have survived cancer, those angels cheering on from heaven and to support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Mike Nichols states: “Wine tasting event honoring the FIGHTERS. What better venue to lead the charge to support blood cancer research than the historic Engineers Club of Dayton. This historic venue was founded by innovators such as Edward Deeds and Charles Kettering whose inventions changed our world. We ask you to join us for an evening of hope to help render this disease powerless. With every sunrise there is hope and a world of possibilities.”

Along with food and delicious wines to sample, craft beer will also join the party. Giveaways and auction items will attend as well to help round out this wonderful soirée. Dr. James Budde from the Rahn Dental Group has provided a zoom whitening gift for one of our attendees. Square One Salon has graciously donated an Aveda Gift basket, Elsa’s South will provide several treats, dance lessons from Arthur Murray, skin creams from Tel Aviv, Israel and gifts from Rodin and Fields have been donated as well.

Tickets are available at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pick-a-fight-with-cancer-tickets-22797351492 or if you would rather pay at the door, tickets are $30 for one person or $50 for couple (couple meaning significant other, family member or bring a friend!)

So come out, join us and the FIGHTERS as we celebrate their triumphs and lend our support in picking a fight with cancer!

Submarine House Crowns Champ, Announces Expansion

April 17, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Andrew Oakes, 2016 Super Duper Cheesesteak Champ

A big crowd watched the Super Duper Cheesesteak finals Saturday afternoon at The Beavercreek Submarine House. Of course your source for Dayton food scoop, Food Adventures was on hand. After an hour of build up, they brought out the cheesesteaks like the Star Wars “Imperial March.”

The crowd grew silent, the judges looked at the stopwatch.. and GO.. the contest was on. Nine Champions from each individual Submarine House store around Dayton, were now facing each other in an “eat-off” that has become an annual tradition.

The Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge is where you must eat a 16 inch long Super Duper Cheesesteak in under 16 minutes.

“Super Duper” in Submarine House language means a 16 inch cheesesteak with triple the meat, triple the cheese, and the “works” toppings. The works is onions, mushrooms & peppers cooked with the steak, mushrooms, and topped with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and hot pepper relish.

NO SUBSTITUTIONS, NO CHANGES, you must eat the sandwich “as is.” This challenge is a true Food Adventure! Not for the squeamish, this contest is fast paced. Don’t blink, or you could miss the finish !

As the nine contestants took their first bites, 3 leaders emerged, 2015 champ Aaron Smith, 2013 champ Andrew Oakes and 2014 champ Clayton Naylor. They chomped, they chewed, and almost spewed, but instead washed it down intermittently with water.

Now the scoop on what happened next…..

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Submarine House’s 16 Inch Super Duper Cheesesteak

— The Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge benefits Dayton’s Children’s Hospital. The Submarine House owners, Jason and Brody Danner, started the event by presenting a check in excess of $15,000 to the hospital’s charity fund. What an incredible donation.

— Andray Simmons, a young man who is the goodwill ambassador from Dayton Children’s Hospital was introduced to the crowd. Andray is battling sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder. He thanked the crowd for the charity support, and the whole place erupted in applause. A touching moment for the crowd and Andray, who was there with his family.

— More money was given away as they drew a $500, $1,000 and $10,000 cash prize for 3 different, lucky Submarine House customers! It was insane!

Chef House Judging the contest with the Paparazzi everywhere

— Then came the eating contest… Judging the contest were Chef House and the Big Ragu from Food Adventures, Lisa Grigsby from Dayton Dining, Brian Jarvis from Beavercreek City Council, WHIO’s Larry Hansgen, K99’s Frye Guy, and finally Sallie Taylor, Zac Pitts, and Katie Kenney from Living Dayton TV show.

— The winner was …. ANDREW OAKES, from the Centerville store, with a time of 1 minute, 36seconds. Andrew becomes the first ever “two time” champ. A close second was Clayton Naylor and close third was Aaron Smith. Both men were literally a few seconds away from winning. Trophies were passed out, photos were taken, and interviews made.

— SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Jason and Brody Danner shared the information with us, and Larry Hansgen announced to the crowd… Submarine House will be EXPANDING. The Centerville Submarine House is moving to a larger location on 725 where the old Blockbuster Video was located. There will be a Submarine House opening up in Huber Heights in the old Fifth Third branch at 5376 Taylorsville Road. (((BOOM! A Food Adventure is gonna take place there soon !)))

So that’s it folks, another year of cheesesteaks in the record books.

As the fans and “paparazzi” left the building, we all promised to do it again next year. In the meantime, order a Super Duper Cheesesteak for yourself. There is a reason they call it “16 inches of heaven.”

Promise us that you will check out the photos below from the event, and follow Food Adventures on Facebook, by clicking HERE.. Dayton’s #1 food blog for restaurant photos, dinner events, TV spots, festival fun, charity events, cooking classes and Food Adventures like this one… from Beers to Bananas Foster, we eat it all.. no rules.

Submarine House owner’s Brody and Jason present Children’s Hospital with a $15,600 check

It’s official, Chef House declares 2016 Submarine Champ Andrew Oakes

Are you rrrready ???

Chef House, Andrew Oakes and the Big Ragu

Hungry contestents

Andrew Oakes and Ambassador from Children’s Hospital, Andray Simmons

Andray Simmons, Dayton Children’s Hospital’s Goodwill Ambassador addresses the crowd

The new champ is interviewed by WHIO’s Larry Hansgen

The Big Ragu eyeballs just HALF of a Super Duper Cheesesteak !

4th Annual Ladies Arm Wrestling Sunday!

April 29, 2015 By LIbby Ballengee

What do you get when you combine Sunday Funday, The Trolley Stop, and a dozen women in crazy costumes? The 4th Annual Ladies Arm Wrestling tournament of course! It’s only one of THE most outrageously fun charity events in the city. This year’s event is Kentucky-Derby themed, so come grab a mint julep and get in on the fun!

The event is hosted by the volunteer organization, PUSH Dayton (Professionals United for Sexual Health), which benefits Planned Parenthood. Typically proceeds from these events specifically help fund exam rooms updates in the downtown Dayton facility. The group also raises awareness about safe sex and access to health care – but in a fun way!

This year’s event runs from 7pm – 11pm this Sunday May 3rd at The Trolley Stop in the Oregon District. Get there on time to catch the “Parade of Wrestlers” – so you can get your brackets ready – and then promptly after the battles begin! Pre-sale tickets are available online for $10 (http://bit.ly/1De8DXN), or at The Trolley Stop in person. You can also snag a pre-sale ticket in front of Clash Consignments (also in the Oregon District) during First Friday evening activities on May 1st. Day of tickets are $15. Special VIP tickets are $40 – and trust me – the view is worth the ticket price!

Nite at the Races : 6th Annual Event to Prevent Homelessness in Dayton

October 22, 2014 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The GDAA Rent Foundation Charity

Time for all you local Dayton supporters to put your money where your mouth is… the horses mouth, that is …

Want a fun way to support a charity that helps prevent homelessness in Dayton? Then attend the 6th Annual “Nite at the Races” event on Nov 7th at the IUE HALL on 1675 Woodman Dr. in Kettering.

Held each year by the Rent Foundation, which is the charity enterprise of the Greater Dayton Apartment Association, the event promises to be a great time.

Races are shown on a big screen and you can bet and win cash! Some of the food confirmed will be Frickers Wings, Johnny’s Slice of NY Pizza and a Hot Dog Bar !

Did we mention endless beer? Come out and pull some tabs, buy some raffle tickets and jockey your way to the front of the line to make a bet.

The Greater Dayton Apartment Association has been helping needy families since 1993. They have made real results, affecting lives of dozens of Dayton area families.

This event is critical to building charity funds to be able to assist families in 2014 and 2015.

WHAT: BET CASH, WIN CASH on HORSE RACES PLAYED ON THE BIG SCREEN

WHAT ELSE: PULL TABS and RAFFLE PRIZES

COST: $15 includes endless beer, food, and soft drinks !

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

WHERE: 1675 Woodman Drive at the IUE CWA HALL (Parking in the back)

WHY: Raise money for the GDAA Rent Foundation, who pays rent to families through unforeseen crisis or hardships, thereby preventing homelessness.

Bring your friends for a nite at the “track.” There are so many ways to win at this great event!

So saddle up, get out of the gates and head to 1675 Woodman Drive IUE CWA Hall on November 7th at 6:30pm!

Support a charity while just horsin’ around !

Check out our photo gallery below of some of the past year’s RENT FOUNDATION NITE AT THE RACES !

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Stivers Showcase of Student Films

May 8, 2014 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, the 20^th of May, at 7:30 pm, at The Neon Movie Theater on 5^th Street,
Stivers School for the Arts, Film/Video and Animation Studio
will Present THE SHOWCASE

This eclectic compilation of short films includes absurdly comedic work, as well as hard hitting documentaries.

Some of these films have already won national and regional awards. Following the show, there will be a Q & A with the student filmmakers.

Tickets will be $5.00 during the pre-sale and $7.00 at the door. Tickets are available at the Neon box office and at Stivers in room 1206, the Film/Video and Animation Studio.

The Showcase has been going on for over 7 years and is the culmination of students work for the 2013-2014 calendar year.

These students are in either the Film/Video or Animation class. They range from 7^th graders to graduating seniors. Most of these students are visual artists taking this class as an elective.

All proceeds go towards updating and replacing equipment in the video and animation studio. We have a huge turnover of students and have to deal with broken equipment.

Additionally with the constant changes in the industry we also have equipment that just requires updating. Donations of equipment or money are always accepted.

Alvoro Leite and Alex Mangen are the studio directors. Both are graduates of the Wright State University Motion Pictures Production Program and have over 20 years of teaching and actual production experience between them.

The Show Must Go On- The Rubi Girls- One Night Only!

November 26, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 2 Comments

Thanksgiving- the kind of holiday where you slave in the kitchen, spend time with the family, eat turkey for dinner, express thanks for the great people in your life, eat turkey sandwiches, shop, eat more turkey, watch football and start to really wonder how you are related to those people!

So lets face it, by Saturday night you’re going to need to get out! May we suggest you make plans to head downtown and catch The Rubi Girls as they make their traditional Thanksgiving appearance with The Show Must Go On. For those of you who haven’t seen one of their shows (gasp) we should warn you- they are a little risque (and sometimes as the night goes on they can get just downright nasty (but in a good way)!

Grown men dressed as women, dancing, singing and performing in a way that will have you laughing and screaming! Together over 25 years The Rubi Girls perform only to raise funds for AIDS related causes. Having to helped raised over $1,000,000 with their shows and calendars, The Rubi Girls have a cult following in Ohio.

Rumor has it that this may be the largest cast for a Rubi Girl Show ever! With over 14 Rubi Girls, who range from their 20’s to their 50’s, the “ladies” will perform to holiday classics as well as some of the latest pop hits. The costumes alone are works of art. and you always have to wonder what the newest version of The Rubi Dance will be…

VIP seating, which is the front 5 rows is already sold out, but you can reserve your general admission tickets online for just $10, they’ll be $15 at the door- if still available.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

UE-CWA Union Hall- doors open at 7pm, show begins at 8pm
313 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OHBenefitting AIDS Resource Center Ohio

Food for Thought: Charitable Food Adventures

November 8, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

As the holidays approach, many charity functions are in full swing. Food Adventures is honored to participate in and support over 40 local charities, all of them are close to our hearts. Three of these special events are coming up in November, and we would like to share them, because they need your help and support. So please if you can, take some time to attend these functions for people in need.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8th – RENT FOUNDATION’s “NITE AT THE RACES” at the IUE HALL at 1675 WOODMAN DR.

—What is this charity? Helping families in crisis since 1995, the GDAA Rent Foundation pays rent for needy families who are facing temporary hardships. Whether an illness, death in the family or some other tragedy, this charity helps prevent homelessness by helping real people locally who are living in apartments. This charity is administrated through the Greater Dayton Apartment Association and could use your support.

Event Website click HERE Charity Website click HERE

—What is this event? Event features 10 horse races on the big screen, endless beer, soft drinks and food for $15. Bring extra money to bet cash and win cash on the races, also raffle drawings, pull tabs and more. Dayton Most Metro’s own Big Ragu is the emcee for this event! Lots of good eats and drink for a Food Adventure !

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17th – MIAMI VALLEY ADAPTED SPORTS WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL EXHIBITION at the NUTTER CENTER:

—What is this charity? Miami Valley Adapted Sports provides recreational and competitive sporting opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities. MVAS has programs that promote physical fitness, character building and friendship. One of the goals is equal opportunities for disabled individuals through education, training and networking.

—What is this event? A wheel chair basketball game where the Miami Valley Adapted Sports kids take on the staff of Children’s Medical Center

Event Website click HERE Charity Website click HERE

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22nd – AMBUCS CHILI COOKOFF at the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS COLESIUM:

—What is this charity? The South Dayton chapter of AMBUCS is a charitable service club, and one of 4 chapters in the Dayton area. They provide free-of-charge, specially built tricycles called AmTrykes to facilitate therapy of disabled children and adults. AMBUCS also provides ramps for families in need of mobility help and pays scholarships for physical therapy students.

—What is this event? Various local restaurants put their chili to the test and you vote for the winner! Price includes all the beer, soft drinks, wine, hot dogs and chili you want! Also try you luck at casino games located around the fairgrounds coliseum. You want a Food Adventure for a good cause? This charity event is just the ticket.

Event Website HERE Charity Website: HERE

AMBUCS chili cookoff includes beer and hot dogs too !

We love calling Dayton our hometown and we are grateful to be a part of these worthy charities. The people involved and the organizations are first class. Remember, life is an adventure (sometimes a Food Adventure), so please give back to the community and support these noble causes.

For our foodie friends who were expecting a typical Food Adventure article with succulent pics this week, we are throwing you a bone below with a photo of our waiter Julio bringing us a “Thurman Burger from the Thurman’ Cafe in Columbus.” Make sure you check out the gallery below for various photos from the 3 charity events featured in this article.

Want more from Dayton Dining’s serious eaters? Then “like”Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

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Bring Your Pet to Dinner! Yes, really!

November 5, 2013 By Lauren Smith Leave a Comment

Grab your pet and prepare to set sail with the Humane Society of Greater Dayton! On November 9, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton will host its annual Pet Afflaire, a fun, formal, pet-friendly event held at the Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presidential Way in Dayton.

This year’s theme is sure to please both pets and diners – the room will be transformed into a cruise ship experience for dinner, cocktails and plenty of pet appetizers for your four-legged friends. In keeping with the theme, the Humane Society, along with Holland America Line and Huffman Travel, will raffle off a 7-day cruise for two to either Mexico or the Caribbean. In addition, attendees can participate in the live and silent auctions.

Reservations can still be made by contacting the Humane Society at (937) 262-5920, and patrons even have the option of buying an entire table for “table patron” status. Can’t make it to the event but still want to help out? Donations can be made through the Humane Society’s web site. So, let’s do a recap. Why should you set sail with the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and the S.S. Pet Afflaire on November 9?

– A fun, pet-friendly event that boasts hundreds of guests and their four-legged friends
– A chance to win a 7-day cruise for two, amongst several other awesome prizes
– Dinner, cocktails and plenty of entertainment provided for patrons and pets
– Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and help find loving homes for animals in the community

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton web site at www.hsdayton.org.

Greater Dayton Apartment Assoc. to Host 5th Annual “NITE AT THE RACES” this Friday

November 4, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

“Nite at The Races” Scheduled for Friday November 8th

Endless beer, soft drinks and food for 15 bucks? And it benefits charity? Who wouldn’t sign up for that? Oh yeah, and there is gambling too !

This Friday night at the IUE / CWA Hall at 1675 Woodman Dr. the Greater Dayton Apartment Association’s charitable arm, The Rent Foundation, is hosting a fundraiser where you can bet cash and win cash prizes.

All proceeds benefit the RENT FOUNDATION, a Dayton charity that pays rent for families who are in crisis in the Dayton area.

WHEN: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 8th, 2013 from 6:30pm – 11:00pm

WHAT: NITE AT THE RACES for the RENT FOUNDATION charity – 10 horse races will be shown on the big screen, you can bet cash and win cash !! TONS of Raffle Prizes !

WHAT ELSE: BEER ! FRICKERS WINGS ! JOHNNY’S SLICE OF NY PIZZA ! SOFT DRINKS! CHILI! MEATBALLS! and MORE ! ALL YOU WANT OF EVERYTHING !

PRICE: $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

Beer and Food included in ticket price !!!

WHERE: 1675 WOODMAN DR. in KETTERING AT THE IUE HALL next to the Root Beer Stande.

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Call the Greater Dayton Apartment Association before Friday at call the GDAA for tickets. 937-293-1170, or show up and buy tickets at the door !!

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT THE FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE HERE !!

SUPPORT A GREAT DAYTON CHARITY, and maybe walk away with some cash !!

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S.W.O.R.D. To Hold Charity Fencing Tournament

November 1, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

A fencing and epee tournament benefitting Saint Jude’s will be held on November 9, 2013 at S.W.O.R.D. at 813 Leo Street in Dayton, Ohio. The event will start at 10 AM with a 9 AM registration time for participants.

S.W.O.R.D. is the South Western Ohio Recreation and Defense School started in 2012 in order to serve the Dayton community of martial artists and has expanded over the year to serve the Dayton dance community as well as providing a venue for banquets, film festivals and film classes.

Fencing has long standing roots going back thousands of years but was codified in the form that is known now across the world in the late 17^thCentury. The form developed to allow combat exercises with a sword that were not necessarily deadly but still utilized the same sword combat forms. Epee is a modification of the fencing tradition which does away with some of the more esoteric rules found in traditional fencing.

The tournament is open to participants who are class C and below as ranked by the USFA rating system. But you don’t need to be a fencer to attend – the general public is welcome to observe the action.

The price of admission for competitors is $25.00 for one weapon or $40 for two weapons. There is no admission fee for attending to observe the event. Prizes for the competitors include USFA rating standings and trophies. Food and drinks are available for purchase during the daylong event.

For more information on this event and S.W.O.R.D. please contact William DeVan, founder of S.W.O.R.D., at 937-223-5569. More information is also available at S-W-O-R-D.com or on Facebook at SWORDayton.

Carroll HS Tennis Tourney Honors Memory of Woman Missing Since1985

September 20, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

Jennifer Schmidt, 1984 Carroll Alumni who went missing in 1985

JENNIFER LEE SCHMIDT MEMORIAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT

This Saturday, September 21st from 9am-3pm, the Carroll High School Girls Tennis Team will be hosting a tournament in memory of 1984 Carroll graduate Jennifer Schmidt.

Jennifer disappeared and was feared abducted in August of 1985, while a student at Purdue University. Sadly, she was never found. Her memory lives on through this Saturday’s event which features many of Dayton’s best high school girls tennis players.

Local High School Tennis Teams featured in the tournament:

Carroll High School, Tippecanoe, Brookville, Beavercreek, Kenton Ridge, Catholic Central HS, Valley View and Wayne High School.

The event will be held at Thomas Cloud Park in Huber Heights.

Jennifer’s parents, Donald and Johnni Schmidt, will be there to support the tournament in her honor.

*******************************************************************************************

GRILLING FOR A GOOD CAUSE

There will be a makeshift grill and concession stand that will benefit Carroll HS girl’s tennis, featuring burgers, hot dogs, etc. Breakfast, lunch and dessert will be served.

Also, Dayton Most Metro’s own food guys, Superfry & The Big Ragu will be donating their time as “Guest Grillmasters” and helping raise money for local girls’ tennis teams in Jennifer’s memory. They will cook to order for players and fans alike

Please come out and grab a bite to eat and support Dayton area female athletes this Saturday at Thomas Cloud Park !

**SPECIAL NOTE: There is a chance of rain this Saturday, so in the event of a rain out, the tournament will be held Sunday at the same times 9AM-3PM at Thomas Cloud Park.

2013 Ohio Ride for Autism Run July 27th

July 25, 2013 By Mike Ritchie Leave a Comment

courtesy of Make It Fit Foundation

The fourth annual Ohio Ride for Autism Poker Run will be held Saturday, July 27^th at 10 a.m. at C&A Harley Davidson 7610 Commerce Place, Plain City. Event proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks, Make It Fit Foundation, Ingram Autism Research Center, Recreation Unlimited, the Autism Society of Ohio, and the Lettuce Work Foundation. 500-1000 participants are expected as event organizers hope to raise $30,000 for Autism Research. Proceeds will also help buy IPads for, Cookies for IPads to help kids with autism communicate with the outside world.

Registration begins 9 a.m. with a $10 entry fee at C&A Harley Davidson in Plain City, with the run ending at 4 p.m. at Quaker Steak & Lube on Lyra Drive in Columbus, with stops at The Waldo American Legion Post 605, Waldo Ohio, Recreation Unlimited in Ashley and The Mudflats Bar & Grill in Galena during the day. There will be activities and festivities at the finish line including a live auction, raffles, drawings and more.

This is the events fourth year and the Make It Fit Foundation is honored to have Boyd’s Tire & Service Centers, C&A Harley Davidson, Quaker Steak & Lube, Thunder Roads Magazine, Beckner’s Custom Cycles and Glassburn Body Shop as Official Event Sponsors.

Make It Fit founder Mike Hoover is overjoyed by the attention and support shown by the community. “I’m incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support and effort we receive from our volunteers, participants, sponsors, donors and the media. What makes The Make It Fit Foundation work are the people that give themselves to collectively make a difference and they see it happening around them. We’re moms, dads, friends, strangers and regular people that get together for a common cause and have fun doing it and it helps others.”

“With autism affecting 1 in 88 families the number of people whose lives have been impacted have grown astronomically. We feel that we’re all in this together and together we’ll do all we can to make the most impact possible with every dollar raised.”

The Make It Fit Foundation is 100% run by volunteers and every dime made, other than expenses does directly to areas where we feel we can make the biggest difference.

“It’s truly a humbling and almost spiritual thing to see hundreds upon hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts and bikers spending their precious time and money to do something good and 100% completely unselfish.”

Rubi Girls Event Features Film

July 13, 2013 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

Film is a powerful medium for education, advocacy and entertainment. Jonathan McNeal, who many know as the manager of The Neon Movies downtown, is a filmmaker with a story to tell. He created a short that shared some of the stories of the Rubi Girls and their great work in HIV/AIDS awareness and entertainment. McNeal’s film is a centerpiece of a special event planned for August 3 – their Decade of Decadence Party.

The Rubi Girls documentary premiered in San Francisco in 2003 and has garnered awards and played around the world. In celebration of the tenth anniversary, The Rubi Girls invite you to their Decade of Decadence Party and Film Screening. Combining live performance, interview and archival footage, the documentary not only traces the history of the group and their madcap antics, but also attempts to redefine the term family values. The evening will include the film screening, a live Rubi Girls show and a Q&A followed by the kind of after party you’d expect to be thrown for this milestone event. The after party will include a DJ, a few additional Rubi performances, hors d’ouvres catered by Veritas Events, operator of Roost and Leo Bistro at The Dayton Art Institute, cash bars and other terrific Rubi surprises. (More info and tickets)

The Rubi Girls are Dayton’s beloved, comedic drag troupe…who now have helped to raise over 1 Million Dollars for HIV and LGBT-related causes. What started as something just for laughs on Rubicon Street in the late 1980’s has blossomed into a FUNdraising phenomenon. FilmDayton spoke to filmmaker and Rubi Girl Jonathan McNeal to learn more about the evening and his experience with how his film has sparked conversation and advocacy.

Q: How long have you been involved with the Rubi Girls and what has your experience been like?

I’ve been with The Rubi Girls since the late 1990’s. I was a fan first…a groupie even. Once they found out I was a film student, they asked me to start videotaping their shows. Eventually, as I got closer with the group, I started taking the camera backstage, too. (Backstage was just as fun as what was happening on-stage.) After a year or more, I started to really become part of the family dynamic that was happening, and they eventually asked me to start performing with them. Though I never would have asked on my own, it was what I wanted all along.

Q: How did the idea for a documentary come about?

I did research on a different documentary for about a year, and I determined it would be too expensive to pursue. A friend said, “There’s a great story happening right in your own backyard. It might be familiar to you, but it’d be a fresh story for a lot of people.” That’s when I decided to start exploring the idea and asking if The Girls would be game.

Q: Even as a group insider, did you learn anything from the process of creating the film?

I was still relatively fresh to the group when we started filming. Though I had performed for almost two years with the troupe, I had missed out on over a decade of their evolution. Asking questions and digging for answers taught me a lot about the history that I didn’t know. In addition, the process of making the documentary helped me realize why the group was personally so important to me.

Q: Where has the film been shown and what kind of reception have you gotten?

The movie premiered in June of 2003 in San Francisco. Immediately after that first screening, numerous LGBT film fests invited THE RUBI GIRLS to screen at their festivals. That was a really great way to see the country…it played in Seattle, Chicago, Reno, Atlanta, Fire Island and many other cities. Audiences loved the movie and loved the Girls, and a few awards were garnered along the way.

Q: What’s your feeling about bringing this film back to the public 10 years after its creation?

It’s great to bring the film back to the community where it all started, but interestingly, the movie has had continual play since its premiere. Several colleges and organizations have used the film over the years for various reasons – either as an educational tool or part of a festival or celebration.

Q: What’s the goal of the evening for you?

The goal of August 3 is true with the mission of The Rubi Girls. We want to create a space that is vibrant with fun and creativity…that also allows us to spread the word about what’s important to us and our causes. We always bring some component of HIV/AIDS awareness to our shows, and fundraising is a major aspect of what we do. The Rubi Girls have now helped to raise over 1 Million Dollars for HIV and LGBT-related causes…and that’s something we’re very proud of. The money raised during this event will be split between The Dayton Art Institute (to be used for sound upgrades in their auditorium) and RubiBenefits (to assist with a variety of causes that we support).

Q: And anything else you’d like to share/add?

The support of the Dayton community has been incredible. The love from the press, the admiration and generosity from the fans, and the willingness to assist from so many local businesses has been instrumental to our success. This embrace, combined with the success of the documentary, has allowed us to spread our message to numerous cities across the country, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

Join the Rubis on August 3 to support RubiBenefits and help with sound upgrades for the DAI auditorium.

Ticket Information

Help A Girl Out!

July 12, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Your invited to an Open-House Fundraiser to Help Support the New RubiGirl Clubhouse!
Please join us Friday July 12, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at our new pad. The Clubhouse is located at 1207 Wayne Avenue right next to Ghostlight Cafe! This will be your chance to see the magic behind the curtains, check out the closets and even see the wig wall,

In exchange the Rubi Girls are asking for a ‘Whatever You Can Do To Help’ Donation at the door to help us keep our mission of ending HIV alive and well! Comprised of elementary school teachers, a clinical counselor, a filmmaker and business owners, the group began performing for one another in an attic during college. What started on Rubicon Street has turned into a group with a cult following that have raised over $1,000,000 for HIV and LGBT causes with their annual Show Must Go On and performances and even a film!

Come join the Fun!
Bring your camera as we will be in full face!
‘Help A GIRL OUT!’
and see this magnificent new Home to Dayton’s Fabulous RUBIGIRLS!

Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Wedding Gown Sale

July 6, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Brides Against Breast Cancer contributes to programs for cancer patients, their families and caregivers. They are bringing the “Nationwide Tour of Gowns” to the Hilton Garden Inn in Beavercreek on July 19th & 20th to help ensure that people impacted by cancer have the resources and information they need in their battle with cancer. Funds raised Durning the Tour of Gowns fund programs and services that are FREE to cancer patients, their families and caregivers. Some of the programs include support groups, children’s programs, exercise classes and more. Their goal is to ensure that no one in this country has to face cancer alone.

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There will be a VIP ‘Unveiling of the Gowns’ Reception Friday, July 19th from 6-9pm for a $20 tax deductible donation .
Enjoy coffee, tea, entertainment and giveaways. You will be among the very first in the Dayton area to browse through, try on and purchase your selections from our large inventory of gowns, before general admission begins!

The show Saturday, July 20th opens at 10am and runs through 5pm and admission is a$5 donation. It will provide brides-to-be with an opportunity to find their dream gown – at an incredible savings, while contributing to services that provide education, information and outreach to men, women and children affected by cancer. Show sales include hundreds of new, name brand and designer gowns, as well as lovingly worn gowns in various styles and sizes, and they also offer a convenient layaway plan. More than half the gowns presented during each event are new designer gowns that arrive directly from designers, manufacturers and bridal retailers. Most gown prices range from $99 to $799 with designers gowns valued up to $3,900. Gowns are available in sizes from 2 to 24and they also offer accessories including veils and tiaras.

If you have already said “I Do,” please consider donating your gown to BABC, and your donation is tax deductible. Please download and complete this form to include with your donation. Your donation will help contribute to programs for cancer patients and their families.

You can also volunteer to work the event, with shifts including set up which includes moving racks, setting up displays and more. Or you can experience the joy of assisting a new bride as she chooses her “dream gown” during the shopping event. Groups of friends, co-workers or families are encouraged to sign up together.

Brides Against Breast Cancer will contribute $2 million dollars this year to help people impacted by cancer. Among the numerous free programs supported are children’s programs, support groups, exercise, and nutrition classes. Other programs include Camp No Worries, Cancer Education Series, and Ask the Doctor. 71 cents of every dollar raised from the Tour of Gowns goes to programs and services for those impacted by cancer.