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Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

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Taste of Jerusalem Opens 2nd Location

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Mohammed

Babylon Mediterranean Cuisine in Miamisburg has been bought and converted into the 2nd location for Taste Of Jerusalem. 

The Miamisburg restaurant opened a couple of weeks ago, according to one of the owners, who are all family.  The original location in Fairborn has been open about 4 years. They serve up some of  the  most authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavor you’ll find in the Miami Valley. For  Mediterranean lovers, their cuisine is guaranteed to please the taste buds with authentic Jerusalem food.   

I ordered their lamb bowl, which was served over rice with tzatziki, onion, parsley and hummus. They offered me a taste of the chicken schwerma, which was juicy and flavorful. 

The menu is the same at both locations. And don’t worry; if it’s your first time trying something, they’ll be happy to offer you a taste of something.

Mixed Grill Kabob

Stop by and experience the Taste of Jerusalem and tell them DaytonDining Sent you!

Taste Of Jerusalem

9656 Springboro pike, Miamisburg

3800 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn

Hours:

Mon – Sat 11am – 8pm
Sun noon -8pm

 

Jack Pohl Moves To Anchor Desk on 2 News

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WDTN-TV has named Jack Pohl as evening co-anchor of 2 NEWS.

“For three decades viewers have seen Jack on the sidelines with a camera covering local sports and we’re excited to see him expand his talents to the news side of the anchor desk,” said Melissa Jones, WDTN-TV & Dayton’s CW Vice President & General Manager. “Jack was born and raised in the Miami Valley, like many of our on-air talent and we know he’ll take great pride in delivering the news each night in the place he’s called home.”

Pohl was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and is an alum of Centerville High School.  He went on to attend Wright State University.

Pohl joined the 2 NEWS team in 1995 as a reporter and anchor and has been the 2 Sports Director since 2002.

Pohl will be joined by Brooke Moore and Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brian Davis to co-anchor 2 NEWS First at 4. He’ll also co-anchor 2 NEWS at 5, 6, 10 and 11.

“After years of covering sports in every corner of the Miami Valley, I have always felt completely connected to this community and look forward to delivering the news alongside Brooke Moore,” said Pohl. “This is my hometown, I’m proud of it and appreciate all the support from our loyal Channel 2 viewers.”

Pohl, a father of two, enjoys skiing and biking in his spare time. He’s also been blessed with five grandchildren.

Young’s Dairy Celebrates 156th Birthday

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Young’s history begins in 1869 when relatives of the Young Family built the red barn.  Hap Young bought the 60-acre farm and house shortly after the end of World War II.  For the next 10 years, Hap and his three sons, Carl, Bob, and Bill, farmed the 60 acres, plus up to 500 additional rented acres.  They grew grain, raised hogs, and milked cows.

In 1958, the Young Family decided to try to sell  Jersey milk directly to the public.  The first sales room was a modest operation.  They built a 10’ by 10’ room onto the end of the milk room.  The equipment was also modest – some glass jugs, a refrigerator, a cash drawer, and the honor system.  The customer would drive up, open the refrigerator, get his gallon of milk, leave an empty jug and the money, and drive away.

There was a market for farm fresh milk, so in 1960, we build and opened their first real dairy store.  They started dipping ice cream in this store.  They also added other dairy products, like cheese, and snack foods.  This building is attached to the big red barn and is where they make our ice cream today.

In 1993, we added the first activity at Udders & Putters – an 18-hole, farm theme miniature golf course.  1995 marked the first year for our driving range.  1996 saw the addition of a state of the art 9 position batting cage which features softball and hardball pitching machines.

We opened a new full-service restaurant, The Golden Jersey Inn in 1998.  This beautiful timber frame building restaurant features great country style food with a generous helping of friendly service.

In 1999, they built Barnabe’s Walnut Grove, to host group picnics, family reunions and company picnics. Located just south of our popular Udders & Putters area,  Barnabe’s Walnut Grove can easily serve groups with  home cooked meals and delicious homemade ice cream from 50 to over 5,000!  They built an additional 18-hole miniature golf course in 2000 to keep up with the demand for miniature golf.

They added Cowvin’s Fast Slide in 2008 – a 30’ slide with a couple of bumps on the way down. They started making Young’s Farmstead Cheese in July 2009.  Uusing only milk from their herd of Jersey cows to make the cheese, they make Cheddar, Colby, Baby Swiss, Jersey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gouda and Fresh Cheddar Curds.

They continue to make improvements each year, adding  new walking paths, installed ball dryers and a cover home plate area so they can operate the batting cages in the rain and have added to the landscaping around the farm. In 2017 Young’s on the Moove, their food truck hit the road.

Last July  they added Cowtherine’s Carousel, This carousel comes with COWS  and is located just north of the Dairy Store. The building is enclosed and heated for year-round use.

Young’s is celebrating their 156th Birthday January 17th – 20th, 2025 with the following promotions:

Udders & Putters Specials: $1.56 for rides on Cowtherine’s Carousel, games of miniature golf and medium buckets of golf balls

Young’s Farmstead Cheese Specials:

50% off of our two different samplers featuring eight of our farmstead cheeses made on our farm from our delicious Jersey cow milk.  Bring home (at least) one of each sampler.

Dairy Store Specials:

$1.56 off all cones, all burgers, Deep Fried Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds, Chedda Cheese Crispys, 4 Pack Homemade Buckeyes, 1/2 Gallons of Homemade Ice Cream and kid’s meals

FREE — A Souvenir Young’s 156th Anniversary mug included with purchase of any burger, kid’s meal, cone or cheese curds, while supplies last.

OR GET A MUG WITH ANY:156th Birthday Sundae- Two scoops of our Sea Salty Double Caramel ice cream covered in hot fudge, whipped cream, chocolate chips and a homemade brownie for $9.25

Root Beer Float 0 A scoop of Young’s homemade Vanilla ice cream floating in Mug root beer. $7.25

Udders & Putters Specials:

$1.56 for rides on Cowtherine’s Carousel, games of miniature golf and medium buckets of golf balls

 

BaconFest Is Back at Dorothy Lane Market

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Nearly everyone loves bacon and there’s no better way to seize the sizzle (and day) than with a few crispy strips! Make every bite count and join DLM  for  BaconFest as they celebrate DLM Uncured Bacon, lifetime free of antibiotics and always without added nitrates/nitrites. From its mouthwatering aroma to its crave-worthy flavor, this skillet superstar has inspired us to create a sizzling selection of bacon-centric creations throughout our stores and online. BaconFest runs through Jan 21st at all three Dorothy Lane Market locations.

Don’t miss the chance to savor all of their seasonal bacon treats, from breakfast to dinner (and even dessert) don’t miss a bacon beat: Smoked Maple “Bacon” Latte, Bacon Cheddar Focaccia, Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops, Encrusted Mac & Cheese with Bacon, Maple Bacon Baby Cake, Cajun Bacon Cheddar Sausage, and so much more!

They are even featuring over 25 bacon inspired recipes on their website to inspire you and have a section where you can send a bacon gift to a friend.

Here’s a checklist of all the bacon goodies being featured:

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Dayton Battle of the Bands kicks off at The Brightside!

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The 5th annual Dayton Battle of the Bands kicks off on January 16, 2025 at The Brightside Music & Event Venue. This exciting music series, presented by the venue along with Venus Child Productions and Sound Valley, highlights up-and-coming original bands across a variety of genres.

The series runs for 6 weeks, every Thursday from January 16, 2025 through February 27th (skipping Feb 20th for sold out Kim Deal concert). The winner of each week moves onto the Finale, held in the Brightside’s Ballroom on Sat, March 8th.

The playoffs result from a 50/50 mix of audience and judges’ votes. Every attendee receives a ballot upon entry and utilizes ranked-choice voting to select their top three favorite bands. Each week, music industry insiders and special guests serve as judges, with their votes carrying greater influence.

“Despite the ‘battle’ name, this series has been such a fun way to discover so much of the creative talent brewing in Dayton,” organizer Libby Ballengee shared with us. “Maybe you’ll find your new favorite band!”

The participating bands get professional photos to add to their press kit and the chance to audition for bookers from around the city including Levitt Pavilion, Blind Bob’s, Oregon Express, and more! This year, Dayton Battle of the Bands is partnering with Concert Archives to offer bands consolidated feedback from judges.

Photo by Jordan Lynn Freshour

For the Finalists who perform in the Finale, they all receive a video of one of their songs performed live, which is provided by Sound Valley. This is such an awesome asset for the band’s press kit. They also receive cash prize, free pizza for rehearsals from Dayton Pizza Factory, among other perks.

For the grand prize winner – they get all above plus an EP recording session with Dayton Sound Studios, a spot on Levitt Pavilion Dayton’s summer schedule, free t-shirts from Little Monster Printing, and $1000.

Past winners include: The Katawicks, Bohemian Funk, crabswithoutlegs, and Freakquency.

More details about Dayton Battle of the Bands can be found at their website: daytonbattleofthebands.com

HOW TO GO:

The Brightside Music & Event Venue (905 E 3rd St. Dayton, OH)

  • Jan 16 – Week 1 – Alternative / Rock
  • Jan 23 – Week 2 – Singer-Songwriters
  • Jan 30 – Week 3 – Hip Hop / Rap / R&B
  • Feb 6 – Week 4 – Hard Rock / Metal / Punk
  • Feb 13 – Week 5 – Americana / Bluegrass / Folk
  • Feb 27 – Week 6 – Funk / Jam / Reggae / Ska
  • March 8 – Finale featuring the winners from each week

7pm doors open / Music 7:30pm – 10pm

All ages

$10 advance, $15 at the door

Tickets & information available at
https://www.daytonbattleofthebands.com
Or https://www.thebrightsidedayton.com/

White Castle opens reservations for Valentine’s Day

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Reservations are now available via Open Table at the more than 300 participating White Castle locations nationwide for Feb. 14, from 4 – 9pm.

The increasingly popular QSR dinner, which launched in 1991, features hostess seating, tableside service and Valentine’s Day decorations.  The chain encourages not just couples, but friends and families to join in the festivities as well. Per the brand, “tens of thousands” of customers join the chain on the holiday each year.

“Everyone can enjoy love at White Castle … without the inflated price tag,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle in a release. “Our Castles go all out to make Valentine’s Day dinner special.”

In addition to the regular White Castle menu, on Feb. 14 guests will also have a choice of a $5 Sloppy Joe Combo, which consists of two Sloppy Joe Sliders, small French fry and small soft drink, or a $6.99 Sloppy Joe Six Pack, which consists of any combination of six Sloppy Joe Sliders.

Members of the chain’s loyalty program Craver Nation will also have access to special deals beginning on Feb. 14, including BOGO free dessert on-a-stick, $5 Sloppy Joe Combo upgrade, BOGO French Toast Sliders and BOGO Breakfast Sliders. Customers with the Craver Nation app can participate in a “Bonus Quest” by placing an order Valentine’s Day, which will earn a BOGO Free Combo Reward.

McDonald’s New McValue Menu Offers Lots of Options

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In 2025 customers can get even more than they expect with McDonald’s new McValue™ menu, which features all-day savings, every day at U.S. restaurants nationwide. The new McValue platform offers more variety, choice and flexibility – for every occasion. Fans can mix and match with the new Buy One, Add One for $1* offer and fuel up for less with the popular $5 Meal Deal**.  

Plus, they’re dropping even more offers in the App courtesy of McValue – including free medium fries with a $1 purchase every Friday in 2025 and a free McCrispy TM chicken sandwich for new App users.

Hungry for more?  McDonald’s celebrating this major news by partnering with lifelong McDonald’s fan John Cena. From iconic movie roles to impromptu motivational riffs, Cena is always delivering more than what fans expect, making him the perfect McValue ambassador.

“I always talk about ‘earning my sunset’ and there’s nothing like heading to McDonald’s after completely crushing your day,” Cena says. “I’ll admit – it’s tough to choose between some of my favorites sometimes, but now I don’t have to. The fact that fans can mix and match with the new McValue menu to get great deals on the food they love is going to be an absolute game-changer.”

Cena is ready to show you the McValue ropes – follow along on McDonald’s social channels to see how he gets the most out of McValue and his go-to Buy One, Add One for $1 combo (spoiler: it’s a Sausage McMuffin and Hash Browns). 

McValue at McDonald’s is all about getting more than you expect, so we’re celebrating the launch of the platform by offering fans MORE all month long. During the first few weeks of 2025, they’re partnering with 16 different brands to roll out more than $3 million in promotional offers. From $1 subscriptions to YouTube TV to 20 minutes of free wi-fi on American Airlines to a Tinder Gold Premium Access subscription, fans can go big with a McValue mindset for a limited time – our treat! Simply interact with McValue ads when you spot them on your favorite platforms for the potential to unlock free credits, upgrades and ad-free entertainment while supplies last.  

So, if you’re manifesting savings this year, watch out for our content on your favorite platforms and head to your local restaurant to see how much more you can get with McValue, today.

 

 

Oyster Fest Returns to Lily’s

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Oyster Fest 2025 is back this month at Lily’s!  Now in its ninth year you can enjoy oyster specials from Wednesday, January 15th, through Sunday the 31st, during dinner service only.
“I had my first oyster ever when I worked at a Japanese fine-dining restaurant in Chicago starting in 2005. I have to admit, it was not love at first slurp. It took me until I moved to Louisiana where oysters are a way of life for me to become a convert and now I love them any and all ways, though the Oyster Shooters we do with choice of bloody mary mix and vodka or sake and ponzu sauce are a tribute to that first way I ever had an oyster are a favorite for sure,” said owner Emily Mendenhall.

Mendenhall says the Lily’s kitchen team works to create and serve a variety of oysters, some raw, some fried, an oyster po-boy and of course oyster shooters. Here’s what you’ll find on the menu:

Lily’s Dayton
329 E. 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

937-723-7637

Lunch
Wed- Fri 11am – 2pm

Dinner
Wed, Thurs & Sun 4:30pm – 9:00pm
Fri and Sat 4:30pm – 10:00pm

Brunch
Sat & Sun 10am – 3pm

Reservations are highly suggested! Walk-in parties are still welcome.
Please give us a call or book your reservation through Tock or on our website.
937-723-7637

Submissions Now Open for Emerging Visions Youth FilmFest

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Emerging Visions Youth FilmFest is the only festival of its kind in the greater Dayton Region.

At Emerging Visions Youth FilmFest (Previously “The FilmDayton High School Film Festival”), our mission is to empower and celebrate the creative voices of young filmmakers in grades 6 through 12, providing them with a dynamic platform to showcase their unique perspectives and innovative storytelling. As a vibrant extension of FilmDayton, a distinguished regional film commission in Ohio, that advances the art, craft and business of film in the greater Dayton region, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community that nurtures artistic growth, cultivates cinematic skills, and encourages the exploration of diverse narratives.

What makes this festival unique is the educational opportunity provided to students and teachers through our open judging event. Student are invited to screen their films in front of a panel of professional filmmakers and receive real-time feedback from the panel and their peers. Based on panel’s decision, the winning films will be screened at our Festival, the host theater for the final screening is TBD, and will be based on demand required and capacity needed to facilitate a pleasant viewing experience for filmmakers and guests.

Formerly the SunDog Film Festival which originated in 2003, previously participating schools include Centerville, Greenville, Kettering Fairmont, Hilliard Davidson, Kings, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Stivers School for the Arts, The Miami Valley School, Upper Arlington, Wilmington, Yellow Springs, Ferguson MS, McKinney MS, and Franklin Jr. High.

Submit now via Film Freeway.
  • Earlybird Deadline
  • Regular Deadline
  • Notification Date
  • Event Date
Awards & Prizes

The top three films from each category will be screened at the Festival

The top 3 films in each category will be recognized as award winners, with the top winner in each category awarded a small prize package (TBD).

Additional Awards – Awarded a certificate:
– Best in Show – Highest scoring submission across all categories
– Judges Choice – A submission that is chosen by the judges to be recognized
– Best Storytelling – A submission selected by the judges that shows exemplary storytelling
– Best Cinematography – A submission selected by the judges for exemplary cinematography
– Best Wardrobe (Includes hair and makeup) – A submission selected by the judges for exemplary wardrobe and costuming
– Best Editing/VFX – A submission selected by the judges for exemplary editing or visual effects
– Best On-screen Talent – One person chosen from the submissions that showed exemplary acting, hosting or voice-over

Submissions MUST have been produced in the last 18 months (23/24 – 24/25 school years), be a student enrolled in a 6-12th grade educational institution in southwest region of Ohio. Submissions created as part of class assignments are accepted, as well as submissions produced independently outside of class assignments.

Your submission’s total runtime (TRT) must NOT exceed the five minute time limit. Credits are included in your TRT and credit runtime must NOT exceed 30 seconds.

All music and other copyrighted material (images, videos, etc.) used in the films must be properly licensed.

It’s BOGO time at Buffalo Wild Wings

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According to a press release we received on behalf of Buffalo Wild Wings, we know that for a limited time, the restaurant will be offering four days of BOGO deals every week. Mondays through Thursdays, the chain will be offering different deals to satisfy our cravings and our taste buds.

So what exactly are the BOGO deals that we can expect at Buffalo Wild Wings?

B-Dubs  offers Buy One, Get One 50% off traditional wings on Tuesdays and Buy One, Get One Free boneless wings on Thursdays. The deals are available for dine-in, takeout or delivery to give guests four- straight days of deals

 

New BOGO Burgers at Buffalo Wild Wings added to weekly deals

“On Mondays and Wednesdays, Buffalo Wild Wings burgers are now Buy One, Get One Free for
a limited-time only – that’s two burgers for the price of one, twice a week!

 

BOGO Burgers_with text
New BOGO Burgers at Buffalo Wild Wings added to weekly deals

Depending on what day you go to Buffalo Wild Wings, you will be able to save some money on some menu favorites.

 

 

 

Bill Franz’s Buy Local Spotlight: Noah Faler

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Today’s Buy Local Monday conversation is with Noah Faler at Yellow Springs Pottery

Yellow Springs is a great place to buy local. It’s filled with locally owned restaurants, locally owned shops and art by local artists. Whenever I’m in Yellow Springs I like to stop by Yellow Springs Pottery, a cooperative retail store run by nine excellent ceramic artists. Recently I talked with the most recent artist to join this co-op, Noah Faler.
“I was a visiting artist here last summer” he told me. “Then they invited me to join the group. Yellow Springs Pottery has been around for 51 years, and has always had wonderful pottery for sale. I remember walking through the store when I was a high school student, marveling at the work. Now I’m selling my own work here; its my dream.”
“This shop is a great place for people who would like to start collecting work by local artists, because the nine ceramic artists here have such different styles. There’s something here to appeal to everyone. And there’s a wide range of price points.”
“My own work is always evolving. I like to push forms and patterns. Sometimes I try a new pattern or a new shape and explore it, one piece then inspires another concept.”
I asked about three pieces that had a geometric design that included orange – not a typical pottery color. Noah picked one of them up and showed me how the pattern was interesting, but very different, when viewed from the side or from the top or from the bottom. I asked Noah how he learned to be a potter.
“I started making pottery on the wheel when I was a student at Xenia High School. I loved it and took all the ceramics courses they had. Then I took a break from pottery for a while but found that I really missed it. I found myself back on the wheel and I’ve had my hands in clay ever since.”
“Three years ago I quit my job and committed myself to pottery full time. I make my work in my home studio in Spring Valley, about 20 minutes drive from here. I also teach pottery fundamentals at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton. I love inspiring others to take the wheel.”
Kings Yard
222 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Hours
​Sun – Fri 12:00 – 5:30
Saturday 11:00 – 5:30

Dayton’s Fastest Growing Podcast ‘DDQ’ Gets Pick-Up for Year 2!

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Dayton is known for its love of the arts and its dedication to theater. Thanks to the podcast ‘Dayton Drama Queens’ we get to go behind the scenes and meet those folks that make these iconic entertainment venues tick. In it’s first year the podcast featured: Jonathan McNeal-the Neon Movies; Brent Johnson-The RubiGirls; Darren Brown-traveling ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show‘; Philip Drennen-Off Broadway, ‘Big Gay Jamobree’; Shaun Yu-Classical Dayton; Kathleen Clawson-Dayton Opera; Mike Griest-DAI; Dan Zehringer-WSU Arts and Music; David Moyer and Mackensie King-TheatreLab Dayton; and Kappy Kilburn and Emily Wells-Human Race Theater Company. Check out this sizzle reel from Season 1.

The podcast, which is available on Spotify, iHeart, Apple and Amazon, has gained in popularity over the last few months and is now coming out with new episodes weekly.  The podcast also has a video component when viewed on YouTube. ‘DDQ’ is hosted by Joshua Stucky and Philip Drennen and is filmed at the Mitosis Studio on Jefferson in downtown Dayton.

With another season, which begins filming in January 2025, the hosts are looking to extend their reach in the Dayton area, bringing to light more amazing arts in the Miami Valley. ‘You’ll be amazed what we are finding in the area. Kids’ theater, choruses, banjo groups….you name it! Dayton has it. We want to highlight it!’ Highlights from Season One :

The podcast had a rocky start. Just as they got the ok to begin production, Drennen was off to NYC to kick-off his show ‘BGJ.’ Stucky was left to host the first few episodes alone, but Drennen helped complete the season. If all goes well, the ‘DDQ’ group hope to start doing some live remotes throughout the year at local events.

If you know of a group or individual that would like to be part on the podcast’s success, you can always contact the hosts at [email protected].

 

$5 Bowls from KFC are Back

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To kick off 2025, KFC has decided to bring back the bowls. So if you want tasty chicken, delicious sides and meals that combine both of these things, then these  chicken loaded bowls are gonna be your jam.

First off, we have to start with the newest addition to the bowl lineup. In this case, it is their new Nashville Hot Loaded Fries Bowl. If that sounds delicious, that’s because it is. This bowl features, crispy fries, pickles, their iconic coleslaw, the Original Recipe chicken nuggets, and of course a Nashville hot sauce on top. If you like a kick with your chicken, this is the bowl to try.

Of course, that’s not the only bowl they have on the menu to keep you warm this winter. There’s also a Nashville Hot Mac & Cheese Bowl, a Nashville Hot Famous Bowl, a classic Mac & Cheese Bowl and finally their iconic Famous Bowl.

Nashville Hot Loaded Fries Bowl
Bowls are Back: KFC Launches New Nashville Hot Loaded Fries Bowl + Five Bowls for Just $5

While the Nashville Hot Loaded Fries Bowl features fries (obviously), the other bowls are either mac & cheese or mashed potatoes as the base carb. Fans have picked the Mac & Cheese Bowl as the ultimate favorite. But if you want a kick of heat, then giving that Nashville Hot mac & cheese bowl a try is a must.

Even more exciting than the fact that we have these five bowls to fall in love with is the fact that they are just $5 each. Yes they will only be around for a limited time, but KFC is  excited for these bowls to be part of thei winter menu.

Popeyes New Louisiana Garlic Wings

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Rolling out just in time for playoff season, Popeyes bold new flavor is tossed in a buttery, garlic sauce with its Cajun flavors of New Orleans.

The 6-piece chicken wing flavor is marinated and tossed in a garlic-infused buttery sauce inspired by the Cajun flavors of Louisiana, bringing this bold new flavor from the tailgate to the couch nationwide.

“Sticking to our New Orleans roots? Now that just makes sense!” Amy Alarcon, VP of Culinary Innovation. “Especially in a year where such a big event is happening in our back yard, we needed to make sure our distinct Cajun flavor was tied to one of our signature wings, so that whether you attend the big game in Louisiana or watch from your house, you can get a real taste of New Orleans.”

Louisiana Garlic joins an already stacked lineup of Wing Flavors, both bone in and boneless, including Ghost Pepper, Sweet ‘N Spicy, Honey BBQ, Roasted Garlic Parmesan, Signature Hot, and Honey Lemon Pepper. The Louisiana Garlic flavor can be ordered for Popeyes’ classic boneless wings or spicy bone-in wings. Like all other flavors, it can also be ordered as an à la carte side dipping sauce.

 

How to Help the People of Los Angeles Dealing With Fire Disasters

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According to the state-run site Cal Fire, there are five active wildfires, including the now-contained Sunset Fire which burned dangerously close to the heavily populated and iconic areas of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

According to reports, tens of thousands of acres of land have been scorched to the ground, with more than 2,000 homes, businesses, and houses of worship destroyed down to their foundations.

The fires — rare for this time of year — raged out of control mostly due to gusting hurricane-force winds which blew embers for miles, igniting new fires which quickly leaped from building to building. Though the winds have died down, Los Angeles is under a red flag warning with the probability of high winds returning tonight and tomorrow.

Although we’ve seen reports of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Tom Hanks losing their homes, with a population of nearly 10 million people, Los Angeles County is home to millions of regular people who will have no jobs or even homes to go to.

Making an appearance on the Tonight Show last evening, Jamie Lee Curtis (who personally donated $1 to relief efforts), fought back tears as she said her entire neighborhood was destroyed by fire. She pleaded with the public to donate to the American Red Cross and to assemble an emergency evacuation kit filled with papers and medications should you need to escape your home at a moment’s notice for any reason.

 

If you want to donate to the American Red Cross or other relief efforts, here’s a list of places to start. This is not a complete list, so if you have a favorite organization, please share it in the comments below or send us a note and we’ll update this list.

American Red Cross provides shelter for families, serves meals, supports emergency responders, provides medical care, and delivers emergency relief supplies.

World Central Kitchen provides food to evacuated families and first responders.

Los Angeles Noah’s Legacy Fund provides care for animals affected by the wildfires.

Baby2Baby provides diapers, food, formula, and hygiene items to families

California Community Foundation provides funding to nonprofits aiding fire recovery and rebuilding.

California Fire Foundation provides immediate financial assistance to wildfire victims.

Direct Relief delivers medical supplies and financial aid to health facilities across Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation provides critical equipment, technology, and emergency resources to support LAFD crews.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provides emergency food assistance to people affected by the wildfires.

Pasadena Humane is rescuing, sheltering, and reuniting pets with their owners.

United Way of Ventura County provides immediate financial relief to communities affected by the Palisades Fire.

Canine Rescue Club provides shelter for displaced pets.

Los Angeles Pet Food Pantry provides food for pets through its pet food pantry.

Gobble Gobble Give provides food and shelter for Los Angeles’ homeless.

Habitat for Humanity provides assistance in rebuilding homes.

For updates on the situation in Los Angeles County, visit LAFD.org.

Roost Closes After 13 Years in the Oregon District

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Roost, an Oregon District staple since November of 2011 operated by owner/Chef Dana Downs, showcased a menu of Italian dishes with a modern approach. This past August they rebranded as Culina, offering a small plates with a “fine casual” service model.

After just 3 months Downs announced November 14th  “While the change to the Culina concept from Roost has been well received, our loyal customers have spoken -So much so, that the decision has been made to return to the Roost Italian offering classic Roost entrees and sneaking in some of Culina’s most popular small plates.”

Fast forward to January 2025, the restaurant closed for a week long winter break.  Then suddenly the social media presence for Roost/Culina disappeared, reservations were turned off on the website and posts on the Instagram accounts were taken down and then the entire site was taken down.  We reached out to Chef Downs, but have heard nothing back.

Just a bit ago we were able to confirm the following communication was sent to Roost staff from owners Dana & Katherine Downs:

“Thank you all for your hard work and dedication during the holiday season. We deeply value the effort each of you has contributed to Roost, and it has been a privilege working alongside such a talented an committed team.  

After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to terminate al employment relationships at Roost, effective immediately….We are currently engaged in discussion with potential buyers for the restaurant, and they have expressed interest in retaining the current staff.”

The email continued with info about final paychecks and W2’s and wished them the very best in their future endeavors.

After so many years of great food and service, we hate when a restaurant goes out like this and we hope the entire staff lands on their feet quickly.