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Day of the Dead Celebration, Mural Unveiling, Holiday Gift Buying at November First Friday

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Pick up holiday items such as these festive ornaments at DVAC’s Art to Buy gift gallery, opening this First Friday.

Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2.

Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community program will host a Day of the Dead Community Ofrenda Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. with a parade in the Oregon District. The parade will begin on Wyandot Avenue, near Hauer Music, and will continue down East Fifth Street. The community is invited to participate in the parade, led by artist and musician Michael Bashaw and students from Chaminade-Julienne High School and Stivers School for the Arts. The parade will end around 6:30 p.m. at Missing Peace Art Space, 234 S. Dutoit St., just off East Fifth Street near Stivers School for the Arts. A reception will run until 10 p.m. at the art gallery with food provided by Taqueria Mixteca. The reception will feature an exhibit of community art created for the occasion.

Fair trade retail store Peace on Fifth will host its grand opening in its new location at 510 E. Fifth St., where it will share space with art studio and shop Gallery 510 Fine Art. Peace on Fifth will take over part of Gallery 510’s art gallery space at the front of the store, and the businesses will continue to operate as two separate stores coexisting in the same space. For First Friday, Peace on Fifth will host a fair trade food tasting in the store.

Peace on Fifth, a sucessful Pop Up Shop from the first round of Activated Spaces’ program, will move into a new space in Gallery 510 Fine Art and will host a grand opening during November First Friday.

With the holidays just around the corner, visit downtown retail stores and art galleries to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift.  The Dayton Visual Arts Center and CADC both will host openings of their holiday gift galleries, featuring unique gift items made by local artisans, and K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS will host a handmade arts and crafts event. Several other art galleries will host show openings, and retail stores will feature items for the holiday season.

A new series of murals along East Third Street will be unveiled, with a meet-and-greet reception with the artists held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the nearby studio of Hamilton Dixon, 811 E. Third St. This album of photos shows the mural project in progress. Look for the murals on East Third between Keowee and Webster streets.

A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.

Foy’s Hulks Up For Halloween

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Lou Ferrigno as the Incredible Hulk

Saturday October 20th Foy’s Halloween Store in partnership with the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce brought in fitness celebrity and actor Lou Ferrigno. Known for his body building prowess and memorable TV appearances as the angrier side of David Banner, he was the winner of the IFBB Mr. America Title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe Titles. He also appeared in the body building documentary Pumping Iron. From 2000-2007 he played himself on the CBS Sitcom King of Queens and in the 2009 feature comedy I Love You, Man. Ferrigno hung out with fans, signed autographs, posed for pics and walked around Friday evening socializing with the locals. This is the first national celebrity appearance booked by Foy’s and Fairborn. Store owner Mike Foy met Ferrigno in Columbus at an Arnold Classic a few years back and inquired about a future appearance. It took a little time but the deal was done.

Foy’s store is the only year round Halloween supply stores in case you feel the need to scare someone and it’s a different season. There are six different Fairborn stores showcasing Foy’s items. There’s a special age appropriate Halloween store for kids where little ghouls and zombie princesses can roam around without getting too scared. Of course for the older Hellraiser or Hot Vampiress there’s a tailor made adult store for costumes on the bigger side and other attire more on the devilish/devious side of Halloween fashion.

The original Foy’s in Fairborn (photo by Juliet Fromholt)

This year marks their 83rd anniversary and they’re celebrating with a first ever Halloween Festival. Friday October 26th from 4-11pm and Saturday October 27th 10am-11pm. Friday’s costume judging for the 48th Annual Spooktacular Parade will begin at 6pm at the YMCA with prizes awarded for 8 age groups plus pets based on originality, cuteness and whatever scary, creepy stuff one can put yourself into. Parade will start at 7:30 traveling to the maiming stage area on Main Street. There will also be all day Amusement Rides, so if you spin, twirl around, go upside down enough times you’ll walk like the undead anyway. Saturday the 3rd annual scary cardio craze Zombie Walk will commence dragging feet from the Great American Legion at 8:30pm. Hosted by The Fairborn Community Center, Pre-party starts at 7pm with make-up, raffle, photo ops and optional blood bath (cleanliness is next to Godliness). There is a $5 entry fee. Other festivities include a Zombie Thriller dance performed with grave skill at 9 followed by a Gene Simmons Impersonator.

Also on Friday The Fairborn Community Library wants you to be in a one of a kind ‘lively’ music video for their YouTube channel. Professional videographer Scott Cornell will be filming the zombie part of a Halloween tribute to the Thriller video at 8pm.  Zombies created at 6:30, get there early. There are multiple parts for dancers who would usually devour books with their eyes and…..braaains. This is an all ages event so no blood or gore even during after-hours operation. Zombie make-up will be provided if needed. Also if you know or can learn The Thriller, grizzly ghouls from every tomb will be needed Saturday at 2pm for the Thrill The World dance around the main stage. Go to www.thrilltheworld.com.
Next year Foy’s plans to bring in Butch Patrick aka Eddie Munster and might have a few upcoming Halloween surprises straight from Haddonfield.  So you have no excuses to be bored next weekend. Come and join the fun, friendly, fiendish atmosphere and all day entertainment and scare up a good time.

Entries Sought for Eighth Annual “Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays” Contest

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The Dayton Holiday Festival is looking for the area’s most creative confectionary decorators to compete in the eighth annual Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest on Friday, Nov. 23. Located inside the Old Court House at Third and Main streets in downtown Dayton, entries will be judged and displayed for public viewing that day only, during the Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights from 4-9 p.m.

Visitors to the Dayton Holiday Festival check out a winning gingerbread house during last year’s competition.

Stir up your icing and your imagination! All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this free contest by entering a gingerbread house in the youth (12 and younger), teen (13-17), adult (18 and older) or professional category. Entry forms and a complete list of contest rules are available for download at www.daytonholidayfestival.org.  Forms may be submitted to the Downtown Dayton Partnership at 10 W. Second St., Suite 611, Dayton, OH 45402 or by e-mail to [email protected]. Entry forms are due by Wednesday, Nov. 14.   

Get rolling and win dough! Traditional houses, replicas of buildings, a purchased kit or even cardboard entries are permitted (as long as all exposed surfaces are covered with edible materials). First place in each category will receive a prize package featuring a variety of items. Awards also will be given to second and third place winners in each category. In addition, one amateur and one professional house will be selected as the “Best Houses on the Block” and each will win a $500 cash prize.

The 2010 winner for “Best House on the Block.” The creator of the gingerbread house that wins this category will receive a $500 cash prize.

“The entries get more creative each year,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “The imagination and skill that goes into creating each of these gingerbread houses makes for a really special exhibit ― it’s always a fun part of our holiday season kickoff.”

Contest entries are to be delivered to the Old Court House between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, Nov. 23. They will be judged from 2-4 p.m., and the winners will be notified by telephone. All contest winners will have the opportunity to be recognized on the Main Stage in Courthouse Square before the Grande Illumination tree lighting ceremony at 7:45 p.m.

The Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest is supported by media sponsors Community News Group Dayton and Mix 107.7 FM, along with community sponsor the Downtown Priority Board. The contest is part of the month-long Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by OneMain Financial and sponsored by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, City of Dayton, Montgomery County and the Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund. For more information on the contest and other activities that are part of the Dayton Holiday Festival, which this year is marking 40 years of kicking off the holiday season in the Dayton region, call 937-224-1518 or visit www.daytonholidayfestival.org.

Welcoming the movies to Dayton – and your house!

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Production companies reach out to the local nonprofit FilmDayton for help in securing the best locations for commercials, films and television program. Now FilmDayton is reaching out to the Miami Valley for help in learning about more film-friendly homes, businesses and locations.

Are you excited by all the buzz about the growing film industry in Ohio? Do you want to support it without FilmDayton launched the Reel Treasures of the Miami Valley contest for you!

You don’t have to be a glamorous movie star or an award-winning filmmaker to get in on the growing film industry in Ohio. The old cliché that “Everything in life is location, location, location” is true for those in the business of film making. Setting the scene is an early step in projects from television series to a critically-acclaimed indie film to a major summer blockbuster.  FilmDayton wants that step to be taken in the Miami Valley, and you can help make it happen.

“Our region has so many possibilities – cozy houses to large mansions, unique restaurants and shops, great classic cars and antique farm equipment, interesting warehouse districts and cutting-edge medical centers, and urban, suburban and rural treasures. This diversity of locations can help our region attract film productions and put money in the pockets of some property owners,” says Megan Cooper, Director of FilmDayton.

FilmDayton, a regional non-profit organization seeking to foster the local film making community, has announced a competition to find the varied locations in the greater Dayton area.  The competition is open through November 17.  If you are the owner of a home, business, property or facility and like the possibility of seeing your location in a movie, this is the contest for you.

FilmDayton serves the entire Miami Valley; submissions from Montgomery, Darke, Miami, Shelby, Clark, Champaign, Greene, Warren, Preble and Butler Counties are encouraged. It’s vital that the locations database be able to accurately reflect the diverse landscape across our region to be competitive and give all people across the Miami Valley a shot to be considered.

How important is the right location? Multiple reality shows seeking businesses, restaurants, exotic pools, interesting homes, and haunted locations are interested in filming in the Miami Valley – but they need to find the right spot. Feature filmmakers are currently in conversation with FilmDayton and looking for the perfect location.

We’re Doing Fine, by acclaimed New York-based filmmaker Djuna Wahlrab, will film in the Dayton area in Spring of 2013 and the team has begun the search for the right locations. A furnished side-by-side double and a hospital setting are high on their list of location needs.

Helping build up the region’s locations database is a vital step for our growing film community. Cooper says, “When FilmDayton gets the call that a production is looking for a farm house near a stream, an office in a high-rise, or a thriving local business – having a photo to get to the director immediately will make us more competitive with our colleagues across the state.”

Often requested locations include furnished houses of all sizes, medical centers and schools. But Cooper says that being prepared for anything requires a complete database of photos from all people willing to welcome a film production to their property.

When True Nature, the drama and supernatural thriller written and directed by Patrick Steele, filmed in Dayton familiar locations like a beautiful historic mansion, a downtown office building and a local restaurant were featured.

There’s benefit in it for the property owner, too. Typically, productions pay for use of the house, property, land or object. But beyond the financial benefit – you may get to see your place on the big screen.

Reel Treasures of the Miami Valley – How to Submit

The process is simple, but please note that ONLY the owner (and the person who grants permission) of the property, item or location has the authority to submit to the contest.

First, take a clear, low-resolution photo from a solid angle.  Include your name, physical address of location and contact information with the photos. Here are some photo taking tips!

To encourage some friendly competition, FilmDayton will invite industry insiders to review the submissions and select top submission from the following categories. Top photos may be featured on the FilmDayton web site. Categories include:

  • Industrial/Warehouse
  • Arts (galleries, theaters, auditoriums, etc)
  • Open Spaces (parks, gardens, farms, water, etc)
  • Residential (homes of all sorts – include a second shot of special features)
  • Businesses (offices, storefronts, restaurants/bars, etc)
  • Medical/Hospital
  • Era Location Shots – Examples include office from the 70s with authentic furniture and shag carpet, a fully-furnished kitchen from the 50s, etc
  • Special Props – antique cars/farm equipment, unique kitchen items, etc…

Thanks to partner Dodd Camera, two overall winners will get our top prize of a digital camera. In addition to their many Dayton stores, Dodd Camera is now open in Cincinnati near the Kenwood Mall with a gigantic selection of cameras, lenses and accessories plus a rental department including a rental studio.

More information can be found at www.FilmDayton.com. The contest ends on November 17, so grab your camera today and show the rest of the country that locations all across the Miami Valley are worth immortalizing on film.

Submit your photo to:

FilmDaytonLocations@gmail.com

Include your name, physical address of location, and contact information.

BeardCon 2012 – At Their Beardest

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(Editor note: after reading Shana’s post-BeardCon article, be sure to read our pre-BeardCon 2012 feature “BeardCon: The Cutting Edge Of A Hairy Subject” by J.T. Ryder on the subject of the beard culture in Ohio and beyond)

Anyone who knows me is painfully aware of my obsession with beards. Through it’s continues rise and fall, the trend of facial hair is something I’ll never cease to adore about men. Those manly enough to grow one that is. So of course, I was ecstatic when approached by Dayton Most Metro to attend BeardCon as their media correspondent to cover this momentous event. At the risk of sounding ridiculous, it may or may not have been one of the best days for me in 2012 and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend.

Both a learning experience and a pleasure to attend, BeardCon Ohio’s Third Charity Beard and Mustache Competition and Festival took place on October 6th in Columbus. Their promise? To see, feel, learn about, and live facial hair at the first ever Beard Convention! Styling demos, facial hair product expos, beard games, an opportunity to meet some of the finest beardsmen (which I did) and beardswomen from all over the globe, all topped off by a grand beard and mustache competition to finish the night.

Over the course of history, men with facial hair have been ascribed various attributes such as wisdom, sexual virility, masculinity, or a higher status; says, Wikipedia. I just happen to find them sexy – from nicely trimmed to gnarly and outrageous. This beard lover does not discriminate. I could go on and on about my love for the bearded ones but I’m sure you’re more interested in the day, background and winners of the competition. I had an opportunity to sit down with Nate Stevens, one of the integral individuals in planning and hosting BeardCon and member of The Gem City Gentlemen of the Gilded Beard to ask a few questions. Nate’s a great guy and again, I’m thankful he took the time to speak with this drooling beard fan. Here’s the Beard deets:

Nate Stevens with a BeardCon 2011 participant

DMM: What is the true inspiration for the conferences?

Nate: “The reason for all of our events are essentially the same, and BeardCon is certainly no exception. When we started this club about 3 years ago, we established a few basic goals: to have fun, to foster unity amongst those who decide to wear facial hair, to promote acceptance of facial hair and derail discrimination, and most importantly, to support our local community and give it some small niche to be proud of. BeardCon is the culmination of a year of very hard work in pursuit of those objectives.”

DMM: How do you pick your themes and any idea what next year’s will be?

Nate: “We don’t necessarily set out to establish a theme each year, we just kind of start planning the event, and so far the ‘theme’ has more or less revealed itself to us. It sounds cliche to say that we let it happen ‘organically’, but that truly has been the case”

DMM: It’s not cliche at all, they’re quite creative geniuses these beards.  How was this year different than the last two? Did it live up to your expectation?

Nate: “It’s difficult to say at this point how successful the event was financially, as those details are still coming together. During the event, the core group of us are so busy making sure everything happens the way it’s supposed to, that the whole thing is a blur, and it’s tough to get a read on it until the aftermath begins to settle. What I can say is that the response from the attendees and the community has been SO positive, and that the new elements we introduced to this year’s event (discussion panels, styling demos, etc.) were a huge hit. The competition was, as always, just spectacular, and we are so grateful to our beloved state of Ohio and the facial hair community for helping us hit another home run this year.”

DMM: The convention left me impressed, sad I didn’t make the last two..but uber excited for 2013.  Why Prostate Cancer? Would you consider supporting other one issue causes in the future or do you have a personal connection to PC?

Nate: “Supporting Central Ohio Men Against Prostate Cancer made sense to us on a number of levels. First, I think it’s fair to say that prostate cancer is a man’s disease, and beards are a man’s gift from nature. Why not use the blessing to fight the curse? The disease has impacted some members of our club and their families, so there are those among us for whom the cause is more personal. Also, we aim for maximum impact with our charitable fundraising, so finding a smaller organization that combats a global affliction on a local scale was a perfect fit for us. We do, however, support other causes and organizations with other events, big and small, and are always open to new endeavors for the good of mankind.”

Bearded Philanthropists. Need I say more?

Among the vendors and wandering gild men there were also bearded ladies and bearded wee ones. Informative panels like in the video below were also a part of this awesome convention.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dxhLpODj6jo’]

I will say that I feel a little self conscious about this healthy little beard obsession of mine, having met such great people at this convention. To come together for such a great cause is admirable; I give two thumbs up to them for making it fun to attend. Below is a list of winners from the competition. For more information and to find out when the next Bearded affair will happen, visit their site or “Like” Beard Team Ohio on Facebook. Whether Bearded or a fan like me, you don’t want to miss whatever remarkable event these dudes come up with for next year!

2012 Beard-Con Winners

Full Beard Styled:
1. John Buckler, Michigan
2. Lyman Robertson, Michigan
3. Chad Roberts, Virginia

Full Beard Natural
1. Neil Moherman, Ohio
2. Myk O’Connor, New York
3. Jeff Langum, New Jersey

Full Beard Groomed
1. Cody Corcoran, Tennessee
2. Kyle Muston, Michigan
3. Joel Andrus, Michigan

Partial Beard Styled
1. “Taxi” Phil Jones, Ohio
2. Colin Cousins, Ohio
3. Chris Newman, Ohio

Partial Beard Natural
1. Dan Roberts, New York
2. Dustin Hall, Ohio
3. Scotty “BigStyle” Lees, Ohio

Moustache Styled
1. Nathan Wilson, Wisconsin

Moustache Natural
1. Albert Dennis, Ohio
2. Sheraz Sadiq, Ohio

Fake Beard – Most Fantastic
1. Lindsey Stinner, California
2. Ashley Brown, Virginia
3. Emily Ann Fette, Kentucky

Fake Beard – Most Realistic
1. Micki Martin, Ohio
2. Deb Smith, Ohio
3. Mrs. Cousins, Ohio

Kids Fake Beard
1. Gavin Dunham, Ohio
2. Mya Harrel

See you next year Beards!

Get Informed – Updayton Election Forum

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On Wednesday, October 24 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm updayton will host its fourth annual Election Forum. Attendees this year will hear both sides of State Issue 2 and will have the opportunity to question County Commission candidates on their plans for Montgomery County. The forum will take place at Dayton Liederkranz-Turner (1400 E. 5th St.) and will be moderated by the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Region.

Updayton’s Election Forum is the exclusive pre-election event dedicated to accepting questions on behalf of local young talent and then connecting them with candidates and issues of importance to them. “Our annual election forum bridges the gap between our target audience and elected officials by bringing the season’s hottest races and issues straight to these young voters,” says Shanon Potts, the updayton Advocacy Chair.

All are welcome to attend, regardless of age or county residency. Questions and important issues may be submitted in advance for consideration online to [email protected], subject line, “updayton 4th Annual Election Forum.

Invited participants include:

  • Incumbent Debbie Lieberman and challenger Ashley Webb for Montgomery County Commission
  • Incumbent Judy Dodge and challengers Dave Vore and William Pace for Mont. County Commission
  • Speakers from both sides of Issues 2: Ohio Redistricting Amendment

 

How to attend:

Where: Dayton Liederkranz-Turner, 1400 E. 5th St., Dayton

When: Wednesday, October 24, 2012; 5:30 Registration/Networking, 6-8:00 pm Forum

How: Free to attend, but please RSVP to [email protected]

Updayton is dedicated to spurring economic growth within the region by attracting and retaining young talent. As part of its mission, updayton advocates to local, state and national leaders to make the Dayton area more appealing to young talent.

(submitted by Laura Estandia of Updayton)

October – Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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Domestic Violence is a difficult issue to understand. This year, with the help of local elected officials, October has been declared Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Unless you’re educated on the topic, you may not understand why women stay or how serious the issue is. Why would you stay with someone hurting you? Domestic Violence is a cycle that is hard to break.  A victim cannot safely leave the situation without outside support, resources, and the confidence that she can make it on her own. Many don’t know that the period of time after a woman leaves is the most lethal and dangerous time as the batterer is more enraged than ever. I’d like you to meet Annie* who called the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline several months ago. She is 35 years old, with four children, living in a local suburb with her husband of 11 years. Her husband, who had always been controlling,  had recently become physically violent.  Now their oldest child was beginning to act out. Annie heard that Artemis offered therapy for children exposed to domestic violence. She wanted help for her son, but wasn’t sure she could afford it. Her husband controlled all the finances in the household, so paying for therapy was not an option. Annie’s Artemis advocate assured her that we never charge clients for our services. She invited Annie to come in to the Artemis office and meet with an advocate face-to-face.

It was several weeks before Annie found a safe opportunity to visit us. After talking with an advocate and learning about her options, she decided she was not in a position to leave her abuser: often a woman is in the greatest danger when she leaves her abuser. With the help of Artemis staff, Annie made a safety plan for herself and her children. Today, Annie is using skills she learned at Artemis to stay safe. She is making plans to leave the relationship safely when the time is right.

This is where you come in. It is through the community involvement, education, donors, and volunteers that Artemis is able to support its mission of leading the community in its commitment to end Domestic Violence. For over 27 years, Artemis has been serving the community and local victims of Domestic Violence. Over 6,000 victims receive services annually from Artemis as 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. “Most people underestimate the frequency and severity of domestic violence in our community. Imagine living with someone, sleeping beside someone, who has threatened your life! Victims have strength and resilience, and information can use those skills to live a life free of violence” stated Artemis Executive Director Patti Schwartztrauber.  Artemis services are based on the following beliefs:

  • Victim safety is our first priority
  • No one deserves to be abused
  • Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a social justice issue
  • IPV in its predominant form is violence against women
  • IPV is rooted in male entitlement and a historical devaluation of women
  • When women and men are not afforded equal rights, intimate partner violence is perpetuated
  • Battering is a learned behavior
  • Battering is a choice
  • Men are part of the solution
  • Batterers exert power and control over their partners and feel entitled to do so
  • Situational violence is a different phenomenon from intimate partner violence
  • Services for victims should be empowerment based
  • All victims are entitled to services
  • There is a high correlation between Intimate Partner Violence and child abuse/neglect
  • Abusing a child’s mother negatively impacts the child
  • Providing therapy to children who witness Intimate Partner Violence and its effects helps break the cycle of abuse and can promote healing
  • Domestic violence will continue until the community insists that it ends

Artemis provides many services, including a 24-hour hotline, utilized by Annie* in our client story above. This hotline is available for victims to speak to an advocate, create a safety plan, and receive general support from a trained advocate. Victims are also offered court accompaniment, support group opportunities, assistance with general needs, and multiple other services. Also, because Domestic Violence affects everyone in the home, child therapy is offered to those children suffering behavioral and emotional issues after witnessing DV.

How you can give back: As we enter this holiday season many children of Artemis’ clients are in need of gifts. We want every child to have happy holiday memories by supplying them with 2 items they need (clothing) and 2 items they want (toys).  However, we do like to empower the mothers by allowing them to purchase the gifts for their children through donated gift cards. If you are interested in donating gift cards or sponsoring an individual family you may contact Sarah at 937.531.5709 or [email protected]

*Annie’s name has been changed for safety reasons.

(submitted by Artemis Center)

Grab Your Mask for Dayton’s Party of Parties “MASQUERAGE”

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As charity fund-raisers go, the AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s Masquerage has earned a reputation as being an over the top, all out bash.  The masked ball was dubbed  Dayton’s Party of Parties by  Ron Rollins of the Dayton Dayton Daily News several years ago and  this themed event has continued to grow.  Started in 2002 by Square One Salon owners Brent Johnson, Doug Henderson and Josh Stucky at Therapy Cafe, the party has grown and moved across town, to such unusual venues like The Merc, The Foundry and it’s latest home- the Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

Designer Chris Newman

Hundreds of volunteers will spend the week transforming the two story white barn into a fantasy set, under the direction of designer Chris Newman, owner of Cheeky Monkey, an interior design and faux painting company.  Newman volunteered in 2009 to help with one room at the Circus themed event that year, as then stepped up the next year as the creative visionary behind the Heavenly Pleasures and Sinful Delights 2010 Masquerage.   In 2011 the ARC Ohio party celebrated a Decade of Decadence, bringing back some of  the scenery and entertainment of the past 10 years.

Masquerage 2012…Where Evil Can Be Tempting will pay homage to Vixens and Villains.  This theme was chosen to encompass a wide range of costume possibilities- from Gangsters and Molls of the 2o’s and 30’s, to B Movie Vixens, and without a doubt there will be some Disney villains like Cruella De Vil, Ursulas and  Maleficent.  While costumes aren’t required, over the years more and more of the crowd has gotten into the spirit, and  last year about 70% of the crowd were decked out. But the one thing that is required of all party guests is a mask, and whether you choose an elaborate professionally created head, a mardi gras mask or have one painted on, your options are endless.  Make up Artist Kelly Heuss explains “the painted on masks are the most comfortable, as often the plastic ones get pretty hot and sweaty when you’re dancing the night away. ”  You can make an appointment with Kelly  of www.airodynamic.net to get a mask painted on at Square One Salon, the Beauty Box and Mac cosmetics counters are also offering the service.

Cake Hope & Love’s Red Velvet Cupcakes will help raise $ for Masquerage.

What makes Masquerage more than just a dance party is the entertainment.  Over the years there have been Aerialists dangling from silk ropes, escape artists, contortionists, dance crews, fire dancers, knife throwers, and more. While ARC Ohio won’t reveal the line up for this year, they promise to continue the tradition of sexy, sultry and super eye catching performers.

And what’s a party without great food.  Chef Matt Hayden of Scratch Catering has created amazing munchies over the years and always has something tasty planned.  Cake Hope & Love will be featuring some sweet treats this year and has even gone a step further by offering to donate a a portion of all proceeds from the sale of their red velvet cupcakes from their Beavercreek store to ARC Ohio.

All  guests will be welcomed with a Jaegermesiter cocktail and Yeungling Beers and Buckeye Vodka are the barsponsors this year.  General admission tickets are $50, which is exactly what it costs ARC Ohio to administer one HIV test.  Testing is provided free to anyone who asks, and the test is a swab of the cheek with results in just 20 minutes.

If you prefer to attend Masquerage as a VIP, splurge for the Red Ribbon Lounge tickets, which include valet parking by Lexus of Dayton, face painting, all of your drinks, appetizers, entry into the 2nd floor lounge and the always coveted Swag Bag for $150.   Tickets can be purchased online  or at Square One Salons, Lexus of Dayton or Ghostlight Coffee. Tickets will be available at the event, but will cost $10 more there. The party starts at 8pm and runs til 1am, but the fun won’t end then, the official Masquerage After Party is hosted by MJ’s Cafe at 119 W. Third Street.

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Dayton Most Metro Ticket Contest

Dayton Most Metro is a proud sponsor of Masquerage and we’ve got a ticket hook up for three of our loyal readers!  Just fill out the form below, and then leave a comment telling us that YOU want tickets to go to Masquerage from Dayton Most Metro (and what VILLAIN or VIXEN you might go as)  – we’ll announce winners on Wednesday October 17th after 3pm – GOOD LUCK!

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our winners:

Carol Narigon

Jamie McQuinn

Annette Looper

SummitUp – The Bowman Connection

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David Bowman head shot

David Bowman

Facebook had just 100 million members around August of 2008. That is just a little less than the population of Mexico at the time, which would have put it at fourteenth in the world. The number of Facebook users has recently eclipsed  1 billion people, putting it at third in the world in terms of world population, just behind India. That is a massive amount of eyeballs looking to connect to something: entertainment, information, conversation, the list is endless. Since that explosion, everyone from major companies to small businesses have been trying to harness the power of this ever expanding opportunity to connect. It has become a source of innovative campaigns and beautiful disasters. It is a new frontier, and everyone is still looking for how to make it work for them.

David Bowman was one of those people. He had just come back to Dayton from seeing a presentation from Chris Brogan, and was discussing the experience with Sara McCatherine over lunch. The idea was to bring the top speakers from all over, at the edges of the fledgling explosion of social media, and bring them here. Thus the seeds of SummitUp were born. Through plenty of work and hustle, the first SummitUp in Dayton (2009) was brought to life. Every year it has been growing as social media grows, and this year is no different. David took some of his precious time in the final weeks before the Tuesday, October 16th event to answer a few questions about social media for us.

DMM: Your first degree was in political science. What attracted you to marketing from there? Did you see it as a natural extension, or did your interests change?

David Bowman: In college I was drawn to political science, as it was something that was inherently interesting to me.  I did well in Political Science classes, so decided to major in it, as I really had no idea what I wanted to do professionally.  I had considered becoming an attorney for a while, but ultimately the law did not appeal to me.  Instead I went to work in the business world, where I migrated into sales.  From there I came to discover the field of marketing and have never looked back.  Eventually I got my MBA with a concentration in Marketing, where I began to get a deeper understanding of the field.  In the end, Marketing and Political Science are both based in understanding needs and influencing human behavior.  The principles I learned in Political Science are directly applicable to my job, and probably give me a bit of a different perspective on things.

SummitUp Logo

Another year, another batch of wisdom.

How have you liked your teaching experience so far at the School of Advertising Art (SAA) ? What are some of the things the students are teaching you?

Teaching at SAA has been amazing.  It is one thing to believe you understand something.  It is something else entirely to have to understand something well enough to explain it to others in a way that is clear and compelling.  I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to teach Marketing at SAA.  It is making me a better practitioner of my craft and the energy, creativity, and curiosity of my students is inspiring.

DMM: What is the biggest challenge to creating an event like this, where you will have a significant cross section of new users and seasoned veterans looking for something to take away?

DB: SummitUp is challenging in that we want the event to be appealing to early adopters of technology who demand complexity and bleeding edge information while at the same time delivering content that is accessible to newcomers too.  Compounding things is that fact that the event is a collaborative volunteer effort with a focus on keeping prices low so that we can attract and educate the largest number of people possible.  The goal of the event is not to maximize profits, but rather to maximize the potential of those who attend.  We do our best to attract exceptionally talented speakers and presenters to the event, often at a fraction of their typical speaking fee or for free.  We then pass these savings on to attendees in the form of very affordable ticket prices.  Ultimately, the event has an incredible team of volunteers who work very hard to make sure that those who invest the time and money to attend get value from coming to the event.

DMM: What do you think is the biggest hurdle people have to understanding the value and potential of social media?

DB: People get lost in the incredible amount noise and dizzying pace of change.  Author Clay Shirky describes media as the “connective tissue” that holds us all together, which is a great way to think of it.  Social media is simply about people communicating with one another, and all media is now social.  If people keep things in the perspective of finding ways to use communication to build real and lasting relationships, social media is fairly simple to understand.

DMM: What brands are the best story tellers in the social media realms?

DB: Starbucks, Zappos, Amazon, and Southwest Airlines are some great examples of national brands that are using social media successfully and in very different ways.  Locally, brands like Dorothy Lane Market, Olive, and Dayton Children’s are all great examples.

DMM: What do you see brands or people doing on social media that frustrates you?

DB: Not listening, participating, or considering the opportunity to use social media as more than just a push marketing tool.

DMM: How do you see social media platforms evolving over the next five years?

DB: More mobility, more video, more speed, more content, more noise, more people, more, more, more.  Hopefully, what brands choose is to more carefully integrate social media with marketing strategy.  A recent Duke University Study cites that over 16% of organizations describe their social media efforts as “not at all integrated” with their overall business strategy.  This is something that must and will change, as brands begin to understand the real value that strategic integration can deliver.

DMM: Will social media become more integrated into the media department, or is this a new entity?

DB: They will become one in the same.  Traditional media is still alive and well, but it is becoming ever more social.  As best practices are established and technology matures, social media will become the tradition.  Anytime you have disruptive technology changes it takes a while for people to make sense of it all.  Eventually people begin to figure it out and then shift their focus to execution.  This is currently happening right before our eyes.  It is an exciting time to be a marketing professional.

Books full of storiesDMM: Social media professionals are still wrestling with how to prove the value to CEO’s, CIO’s, and other C-suite people. Are there certain numbers that offer more proof of value than others? It is ROI, or something else out there?

DB: It is ROI but that has to be framed in the context of customer equity.  Social media has the ability to strengthen relationships.  The ROI is less about the platforms and technologies and more about the actions and responses created through them.  Ideally, marketing professionals are moving toward an integrated approach to marketing.  This is more akin to systems thinking as opposed to trying to compartmentalize things.  The revolution in technology requires a paradigm shift.  It is no longer only about impressions or mass attention.  Now it is about connections, loyalty, and long term brand equity that can only come from focused, ongoing communication.

DMM: Are there any social media platforms out there that you can see emerging as a major player over the next few years?

DB: Certainly Pinterest has already shaken thing up in the last year.  Google+ will continue to evolve and grow, particularly as Google continues to integrate it with organic search.  There are countless other projects and platforms emerging to solve niche problems and connect niche audiences.  I will not pretend to have a crystal ball, but I can tell you that we will likely be talking about a whole new mix of tools by this time next year.

David has once again helped to organize an amazing event, bringing talents like Todd Henry, Rohit Bhargava, and Tim Schigel as keynote speakers, and a diverse group of other professionals to run a wide range of breakout sessions. SummitUp tickets are available by phone only, so call and make sure that you have yours. This is going to be a great opportunity to learn about the basics, meet and connect with new people, or refresh and recharge your batteries with new insights. We look forward to connecting with you this Tuesday!

 

Volunteers for Dayton!: Opportunities Oct. 9-16

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Your weekly round-up of ways to get involved in Dayton’s urban revival!

Downtowners and others helping with the Litehouse Community Garden this weekend. A few learned about it through our group and helped make lighter work of a big project!

Train and fund your neighborhood!

  • Nonprofit training: Though not always necessary, some of our urban neighborhood associations and revitalization groups areincorporated as tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofits. On Oct. 19, the WSU Nonprofit Leadership Alliance will present a daylong workshop on more effectively managing your nonprofit, with a keynote by the director of the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Associations, and presentations by our local United Way and FilmDayton. Sign up to help your group run as smoothly as possible!

  • $$$ for your ‘hood: If you do have your 501(c)3 status, you can apply for the next round of discretionary grants from the Dayton Foundation, but you have to attend their November 7th orientation to do so. Register by November 1.
  • Speaking of neighborhood 501(c)3s, since not all neighborhoods have them and they can be a lot of work to set up and maintain, I’m curious if establishing a city-wide fund/fiscal agent would be helpful – it’s something I might like to organize as part of a larger effort. Share your feedback in our group.
  • Public Space $ Awards: Do you know a Dayton public space deserving of a considerable cash award? Nominate them for the Rudy Bruner Award.
  • Take your social media promotions to the next level: A few years back, DMM Publisher Bill Pote and I led a training at City Hall on using social media for community groups and projects. We’ve come a long way from the few Facebook pages that existed back then, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. Neighborhood marketing gurus and others can register now for the SummitUp “Social Media Confab” at Sinclair Community College on October 16. Brian Petro and I will report back for Dayton Most Metro.
  • Need ideas for bringing your community together? I was recently reminded of two of my favorite lists out there, a poster I used to have on my wall, “How to Build Community” has been circulating around Facebook. Another similarly helpful list has been compiled by the Harvard Kennedy School, “150 Things You Can Do to Build Social Capital.” Give ’em a read and share with your neighbors!

Other opportunities

  • The all-volunteer Yellow Cab community art space needs more volunteers to join them! Specifically, they need people to serve refreshments at the Day-Con hackers’ conference after-party on Oct. 13, and staff to help drivers park in their lot during Hauntfest on the 27th. E-mail Jeff Opt for more info.
  • The Day of the Dead celebration that we mentioned last week is now seeking donations of supplies for papier-mache parade puppets, and I’m thrilled that they’ve already received some from our group members! Bring extra newspaper, flour, jugs of Elmer’s glue and fabric pieces in bright blue, orange, purple and yellow. Goods can be dropped off at Missing Peace Art Space, on Dutoit behind Stivers. Contact Cityfolk’s Jean Howat Berry for more info.
  • updayton’s Streetvivial team will be doing some initial preparations for our pocket park at Xenia & McClure this weekend. We’ll prep/prime the mural wall & plant trees Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10am (and probably get lunch together at the market after) and then come back Sunday at 1 to apply chalkboard paint. E-mail me to sign up.
  • Show your art on downtown streets! The new deadline for the last round of Activated Spaces artists installations is this Friday. As an artist, you’re undoubtedly putting a lot of time into your work – get it seen out on the streets and help bring some color downtown in the process!

http://www.visualartillery.net

 

SummitUp, A #Socialmedia Confab

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In the 1920’s, radio broadcasters were looking for more. They knew they had a great way to deliver information into the homes of everyone in the country, but how to get sponsors to buy into it? Radio up to that point had been informational; mainly news and politics delivered in factual and dry terms; nothing really compelling to listen to. Advertisers were not seeing much of a return from the money they were investing, and were leery about investing more. Broadcasters needed to create something that would attract a different audience; an audience that was around the house all day, and was going to make the decisions on what household goods to buy. They decided that fresh content should be mainly about families, and how they lived their lives. They wanted this content to appeal to the housewife, as if they were looking into another person’s house without leaving their own. This new content attracted sponsors in the early 1930’s like Proctor and Gamble, who used these shows to help promote their soaps like Oxydol. Thus was born the “soap opera”, turning what once was used to just a platform for delivering information into a money maker. The Golden Age of Radio boomed, and the soap opera, and eventually the sit com and variety show, boomed with it.

Now, being eighty years removed from radio soaps, marketers are all facing the same questions in a new realm that once simply provided information, or a way to connect, and a few small advertisements. How do we get more Facebook “Likes”? What do we need to do to get more Twitter followers? What makes something that is visually compelling on Pinterest, so we can pin it and tweet about it? And how do we get all of these people we are interacting with to go somewhere to buy our product? On top of that, how do we measure all of this so when people in the C-suite start asking questions, we have good answers for them? We are all asking these questions, some of us longer than others. As we all wander, searching for the same answers, we have a few intrepid people that have found some of the edges of this new realm, and brought back new and exciting information to share. The marketing community of Dayton has helped to organize some of these people at Sinclair Community College on October 16th, 2012, for SummitUp, a full day marketing communications, public relations, and digital information conference.

This event is a major undertaking, involving the efforts of not only many of the top talents in the area, but a small army of volunteers. David Bowman, Chief Marketing Strategist for The Ohlmann Group and one of the organizers of SummitUp, states they want it appeal “to early adopters of technology who demand complexity and bleeding edge information while at the same time delivering content that is accessible to newcomers too.” The speaking talent this year is top notch, with major keynote speakers, local brilliant talent, and opportunities to meet all of the top marketing and communication talent in the area. On top of that, the volunteers help to make the event as affordable as possible to the widest number of people, so more people can experience it. “Ultimately, the event has an incredible team of volunteers who work very hard to make sure that those who invest the time and money to attend get value from coming to the event.”, affirms Bowman.

The day begins at 7 AM at breakfast. It is going to be a full day, and you are going to need all the energy you can get. The first keynote speaker of the day will be Todd Henry, creator of the website and podcast The Accidental Creative, as well as the writer of the highly praised book The Accidental Creative, How to be Brilliant on a Moment’s Notice. He is an expert on how to build an environment that encourages the generation of creative ideas. His podcast interviews some of the top creative minds across a wide variety of industries, and offers insights about everything from generating ideas quickly to getting over the dreaded creator’s block.

After his speech, every attendee will be able to attend multiple breakout sessions. There are twelve sessions total, given by some of the best business and social media thinkers in southwest Ohio and Indiana. Each of the sessions is offered twice in back-to-back time frames, so everyone will have a chance to see six of the speakers. Eight of the sessions will happen before lunch, and the final four sessions will happen after lunch. These breakout sessions are designed to give every attendee the greatest chance to bring the right information back to help the social media and communication strategies of your company.

Lunch will be served around noon, and then it will be time for the second keynote of the day. Rohit Bhargava is the a founding member of one of the largest social strategy groups at Oglivy as well as a professor of Global Marketing at Georgetown University. He is a proponent of bringing the human touch back into the marketing world, touting the importance of being likeable as a major factor in success. He is the author of several highly rated and incredibly popular books, Likeonomics (his most recent book) and Personality Not Included. His books are not just something to read; Likeonomics also offers a website full of useful exercises and ideas to help make you and your brand more likeable, and attractive, to future clients.

[dropshadowbox align=”right” effect=”lifted-both” width=”320px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]SummitUp
Sinclair Community College, Building 12
October 16th, 7:00am – 4:30pm
Full Day Ticket Member Pricing: $119.00
Full Day Ticket Non – Member Pricing: $159.00
Click for Tickets[/dropshadowbox]

The final keynote of the day is at the end of the last group of four sessions. If you are familiar with the name of the person who is presenting, you have certainly seen his work on multiple websites. His name is Tim Schigel, and he is the chairman and founder of ShareThis, which has their widgets for social media sharing scattered across the Internet. Tim has done innovative work for some of the biggest firms in the country, from Apple to Procter and Gamble. The impetus behind ShareThis was to start measuring how people share the interesting things that they find outside of search engines, and that involves tracking how people use social sites to share. What is getting shared? How is it getting shared? And what is the future of measuring and sharing data?

The transition to social media presents a new set of challenges, much like the first pioneers into radio media faced. Whether you are in traditional media or cultivating pin boards, if you are new to the game or still think fondly of your AOL marketing efforts, SummitUp is a great way to develop your skills in this new realm. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and a bevy of other new platforms are out there for people to use, integrate, and broadcast from. This is a fine opportunity to take advantage of all this brilliance in a local environment, at a great price. Connect with the best talent in Dayton and beyond, and take your marketing efforts to the next level. We all hope to see you on October 16th!

Patterson Canal Parkway: Connecting Downtown Culture

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Image: MorrisTerra www.morristerra.com

For years, Dayton city planners and downtown advocates have heard the same remark over and over:  downtown has many individual assets, but they need to be better connected physically. If one parks for a Dragons game and then walks to bars in the Oregon District, or watches a movie at the Neon and goes for a stroll to Riverscape, the pedestrian experience tends to leave something to be desired.

Pylons to tell the story of the canal

That will soon change with the completion of the Patterson Boulevard Canal Parkway Project, a half-mile, $2 million complete overhaul of the pedestrian amenities between Second and Sixth Streets. Elements include new landscaping, lighting, historical signage, sidewalks and crosswalks.

“Through conversations and focus groups for the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan,” says Sandy Gudorf of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, “we heard a clear desire to make downtown more walkable and connected, and its eastern edge is our strongest residential area. We’re excited that the City of Dayton has acted so quickly on this critical infrastructure.”

Reinterpreting the Past

The Winters monument is currently being re-installed after many decades in storage.

The City of Dayton is implementing the project with funds from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, who helped define the project with a focus on the history of the Miami-Erie Canal. Its story will be interpreted through text and graphics on striped pylons.The canal ran from Toledo to Cincinnati and crossed Dayton through the path that is now Patterson Boulevard. Construction began in 1825 and lasted twenty years, providing physically demanding work for many Dayton residents and growing our size considerably. Though it was a key shipping artery, the canal struggled to compete with rail throughout its life and suffered a final death blow with the 1913 flood, yet wasn’t filled in for a quarter-century.

Another relic from Dayton’s past – a monument removed from the old library site – has been unearthed from a City of Dayton storage yard after fifty years. The former fountain is being installed at the eastern edge of Cooper Park, greeting pedestrians on the Canal Parkway. The monument was dedicated to Ambrose Winters, a lawyer credited with rallying support for much of Dayton’s early streetscape infrastructure. Project manager Amy Walbridge says, “As a citizen of Dayton, I am so very happy about this.  While it’s important to look forward, it’s good to look back and see what great work the citizens of Dayton who came before us did for this community.”

The new public sculpture ‘Fluid Dynamics’ will be installed in conjunction with the Canal Parkway Project.

Looking Forward to a Thriving Downtown Neighborhood

Even prior to construction, downtown residents began embracing Patterson Boulevard as the important center to their emerging neighborhood. Last year a group of volunteers made dramatic improvements to the triangular greenspace at Fourth Street, with new seating, landscaping, and art. That small park will see even more transformation with the upcoming installation of the major new public sculpture ‘Fluid Dynamics’ by local artist Jon Barlow Hudson. The sculpture was commissioned thanks to a $55,000 donation from the Pflaum family and its pedestal has already been constructed as part of the Canal Parkway infrastructure.

Some of the new lighting that will brighten the downtown landscape

Downtown resident, realtor, and Priority Board Chair Steve Seboldt senses new enthusiasm for downtown living. “I think the rapid sales of the townhouses by Simms [Patterson Square] shows that people are interested in the livability of downtown. The improved walkway on Patterson will encourage people to walk to Oregon and around Downtown.”

Construction for the Canal Parkway is scheduled to be completed in the first half of December 2012.

WSWO Announces Annual Record Sale Blowout

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Vinyl collectors, mark your calendars for November 10th and 11th when low power FM radio station WSWO will hold its annual record sale.  A wealth of music will be available for sale in an event that benefits the community station.

Local sponsors have donated various items for raffle prizes to raise additional money for the station, including a new USB digital turntable and record care accessories from Omega Music in downtown Dayton.

Known as “Ultimate Oldies Radio,” WSWO 97.5 & 101.1FM airs material that charted during the first 3 decades of rock and roll and is accented with jazz, R&B and cross over religious & country artists, also broadcasting Wayne Warrior sporting events and community based religious programming.  The record sale is the nonprofit station’s biggest fundraiser of the year; the rest of its budget is fleshed out by listener donations and sponsorships from local businesses.

WSWO is still taking music donations through November 1st of gently used 45’s, LP’s, CD’s & cassettes (no 78’s) as well as working turntables & jukeboxes. Donations can be taken to The Heights Cafe’ also located in the Huber Center, or arrangements can be made through the station.

 

Volunteers for Dayton!: Opportunities Oct. 2-9

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Your weekly round-up of ways to get involved in Dayton’s urban neighborhoods.

Give Back in the Halloween Spirit!

Volunteering for Hauntfest helps raise funds for the Oregon District!

  • The Oregon District Business Association needs volunteers to sell tickets and serve beer at its annual Hauntfest on Fifth, October 27, 7pm-1am. It’s a great way to meet people and see all the crazy costumes! E-mail Mike Martin to volunteer and ‘like’ their page to stay in the loop. There will be a special beer booth to fundraise for Garden Station – e-mail Lisa Helm to help there. And if you can’t help out, be sure to attend – $5 tickets will be available this First Friday in front of the old Boulevard Haus.
  • Dayton’s costumed Party of Parties, Masquerage, will be held at the Fairgrounds again this year and needs volunteers for everything from selling drinks to taking pictures to simply showing off your “hot body.” Masks required! Sign up at their VolunteerSpot page for this Oct. 20th event. Since 2002, over 10,000 Masquerage volunteer hours have helped raise $1 Million for the Aids Resource Center.
  • I normally don’t feature for-profit organizations here, but I think it’s cool that we have a haunted house downtown. So if you’re favorite pastime is scaring people, sign up to volunteer at the Wayne Avenue Haunted Butcher House on the eastern edge of the Oregon District.

    Step up to help Dayton celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Photo: www.tomascastelazo.com

  • Historic Huffman neighborhood volunteers will be dressing up their beautiful Victorian residences for a Halloween-themed Spirit of Huffman home tour, Oct. 13-14. Your admission will fund neighborhood activities and improvements throughout the year!
  • Not exactly Halloween, but similar – Dayton’s Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) organizers need volunteers for their Community Offrenda, First Friday, Nov. 2, 6-10pm. The Offrenda is organized by Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community program and Missing Peace Art Space in partnership with an array of Hispanic, school, and neighborhood groups as well as local artists. It will feature workshops, a parade, party, and exhibition. Please contact Missing Peace via e-mail or at (937) 241- 4353 if you’d like to volunteer. And if you would like awesome events like this to continue, please give to Cityfolk’s Post-Festival Campaign at their website.

 

Other opportunities:

  • Can you spare a few bucks to build a bocce court?

    Celebrate the Freedom to Read: The East Branch library in Dayton’s Walnut Hills neighborhood needs volunteers to read aloud for 30 minute or 1hr time slots during Banned Books Week (Oct 1-6). They have a collection of ‘challenged’ books to read from so all volunteers need bring with them is their voice and their enthusiasm for the freedom to read. They are hoping to have readers during all open library hours (MTTH 9:30-8:30; WSa 9:30-6). Contact Samantha or call the branch at 496-8930.

  • Deadline extended for St. Anne’s park fundraiser! St. Anne’s Hill residents hope to raise $1000 to match their City mini-grant for Terry park improvements, including an ornamental gate, bocce courts, and landscaping. Regardless of where you live, can you give $10? If we all give a little to neighborhoods outside our own, we’ll have some great parks! (Plus, you’ll feel entitled when you go there to play bocce.)

    Would this be helpful in Dayton? Image: timebanks.org

Discussions in our group

  • One topic of discussion I raised in our Facebook group is whether there is interest in starting a Time Bank for Dayton. This involves a network of people earning Time Dollars for every hour spent helping others in the network, which they can spend having someone else help them with a project. The exchanges are tracked using simple online software. It’s an incentive for volunteerism, can be helpful for anyone short on cash, and helps build community connections. Share your thoughts here.
  • Another topic that’s been debated in multiple spots this week is what to do with the recently-acquired Hughes Supply property that the City of Dayton recently acquired for development. Obviously it’s a sweet location, being right on the eastern end of the Oregon District at Fifth and Wayne. There are lots of good ideas out there, but the overwhelming majority of commenters on Dayton Most Metro, updayton, and our group hope it becomes a grocery store (BTW – If anyone’s interested in a downtown food co-op, I’ve got a group for that too). What do you think?

Don’t forget to e-mail me your items and report back your successes! And send pictures of your costumed volunteering!

 

Fashion Without Boundaries

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The 3rd Annual I Am Fashion Show takes place this Thursday September 27, hosted by Casanav Simmons and Christian Richardson; I Am Fashion will feature designers from Dayton, Springfield, Columbus, and Cincinnati including Misti Creations, S.T.Y.L.E.S. by Sheree, and the events producer Aaron Washington and also have live performances by the WRHH Dance Team and Beau Wellington.

The events producer Aaron Washington, who is also known as Dourjé is an aspiring stylist and assistant to local Fashion Designer Sonya Mills of Kerapa Design House.  Washington says that this event is significant for the Miami Valley area and credits Dayton Fashion Week for creating an awareness of Dayton’s growing fashion movement. “Dayton Fashion Week changed my life and allowed me to meet a lot of likeminded individuals who share the same goals and visions that I have for this community” He added “I don’t believe in following trends, I believe in making something that you believe in, owning it, and selling it to the world—Fashion has no limits, it is without boundaries”

I Am Fashion is being held at the 801 Union Hall located at 313 South Jefferson St., Dayton, OH 45402 and starts at 6pm.

 

 

 

 

Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities Sep. 25-Oct. 2

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Get to know your neighborhood

The City of Dayton and it's 64 official neighborhoods. Image: City of Dayton

Some of our most effective urban revitalization comes from the city’s many neighborhood associations, yet a lot of my well-intentioned friends have never been involved with their local group. Some of them don’t even seem to know what neighborhood they live in. (No, all of Southeast Dayton is not Belmont like your realtor told you.) So I thought I’d take a minute to share with you the City of Dayton neighborhood directory and map, divided into 64 unique planning districts. Sometimes the planning district name might not be the same as the common neighborhood or historic district name – for instance Five Points is now known more as Wright-Dunbar and Historic Inner East as St. Anne’s, Huffman, and Newcom Plain. I also asked our Facebook group members to help me compile a list of neighborhoods with a web presence and here’s what we came up with. Let us know what we missed in the comments section below. Once you find your neighborhood, introduce yourself at their monthly meeting!

Get Involved

Twin Towers neighborhood teens meet with updayton to plan a new park for their neighborhood

  • Our updayton Streetvival team is moving forward with plans to turn a vacant lot at the heart of the Twin Towers neighborhood (Xenia & McClure) into an outdoor ‘reading room’ and performance space with an interactive chalkboard mural. This month we met with the neighborhood association and teens from Peace Academy and Camino de Vida after school programs. In October we will host a Fall Work Weekend to lay the groundwork for completing our pocket park at Xenia & McClure in the spring. Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10am (prep/prime wall and plant trees) and Sunday, Oct 14 at 1pm (paint chalkboard). Contact me to get involved.
  • The “Old” Yellow Cab Building is a 7,000 sqft grassroots community arts space at the eastern edge of the Oregon District near Garden Station; both began as initiatives of the Circus Creative Collective. They could always use help from handy volunteers, and in particular are looking for someone with HVAC experience to get furnaces up and running in their garage performance space. Let Jeff Opt know if you’re that person, or if you’d like to use the space for a creative event, contact Christina Lewis.
  • Garden Station still needs more volunteers at their weekly Saturday morning work sessions. Show up at 4th and Wayne from 8:30am to noon and Lisa  will put you to work!

    Bike Miami Valley found some great volunteers for their valet through this column, including these UD students!

  • What to do with that vacant lot?– Got some energy to help clear the weeds next door? Get a head start on next year’s season by registering with the City’s Care A Lot program. Or learn how to take it over as your own through Lot Links.
  • The Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence is hosting a community discussion on what you can do to reduce violence in your neighborhood, Thursday, Sep. 27, 5:30-7:30pm, Northwest Recreational Facility. A nice overview on Dayton’s innovative community policing and its chief can be found here.
  • Walnut Hills Delivery Crew – The mayor’s ‘hood, Walnut Hills, is building a team to hand deliver its new newsletter. So if you live in Walnut Hills, leave a comment here.
  • The last alley sweep of the year will be in Historic Huffman. I’m sure they’d welcome extra hands from everywhere!: Jeff Heath, 301-8556
  • Quick & affordable housing – Check out this cool video of how 100+ Habitat volunteers raised a house in eight minutes last Saturday. To volunteer in the future, visit their website.
  • Don’t forget the downtown dog park cleanup we mentioned last week! Deeds Point, Saturday and Sunday, Sep. 29-30, 9am to 1ish each day. Bring your dog, gloves and any brush removal tool you own. Contact Karen Stephens, 510-6900.

Just For Fun

Volunteers led creative PARK(ing) Day activities in the parklets, from yoga to stories to drumming.

  • Yarnbomb Dayton (or just knit)! – Noticed any colorful ‘knit graffiti’ around the Oregon District? It was probably the work of the Oregon Sip-n-Stitch, which meets every 4th Thursday (e.g. this Thursday) at Deaf Monty’s Inn Port d’Vino from 5-8. Open to any ‘portable handcrafts.’ Wine, beer and light snacks are available for purchase; BYO snacks to share are welcome. Contact Margot.
  • Yogic takeover of the boulevard! When the famous Olmstead Brothers designed South Park’s lovely Park Drive boulevard in the 1880s, I bet they never imagined dozens of yogis praticing their sun salutations. Join the first-ever Yoga on the Boulevard with Practice Yoga, Friday, Sep. 28, 6pm.
  • Meet your Salem Avenue-area neighbors at the Festival of Neighborhoods, Saturday, Sep. 29, 3-6pm, Grace United Methodist.
  • Blanket concert – The Patterson Park neighborhood has planned a community concert on their commons. Sunday, Sep. 30, 6-8pm.

Don’t forget to e-mail me your items and report back with your successes!