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DMM's Best Bets

Jane’s Best Bets (10/6 – 10/10)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

This past week was wonderful…and very unique!  I witnessed an elephant in a living room (well, sort of), found out that Minster wasn’t lying about serving beer in half-gallon plastic jugs, and was able to enjoy some fish and chips at my alma mater’s fish fry.  But most importantly, the Browns captured their first win of the season!  (Sorry all you Bengals fans out there.)  Anyways, here are some of the wonderful things going on in Dayton this week!

On Wednesday, row your boat to Otis Redding’s favorite place, The Dock, for their 16th Anniversary.  In order to celebrate, there will be 16 dinners offered at 1994 prices!  Or continue the German Oktoberfest tradition at Hawthorn Grill, as they will be featuring a German menu.  Afterwards, check out the Modern Masters Exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum at the Dayton Art Institute for its final week in Dayton.  Or head to The Neon to experience what I experienced this weekend – The Elephant in the Living Room …which by the way, is a wonderful documentary that features many things Dayton.  Although you may be skeptical of my opinions since I’m by no means a film critic, the movie has earned two “Best Documentary” awards from actual film critics!

On Thursday, get out your Altoids after you experience Cooking with Garlic at the PNC 2nd Street Market.  Just don’t try out your new found cooking skills on a date.  In the evening, speed over to the Dayton Art Institute to see Soul Express as part of the DAI 2010 Vectren Just Jazz Series.  And, if you are a writer, have always wanted to become one, or like me, you just have a passion for your topic but no formal writing experience, head to the Kettering-Moraine branch of the Dayton Metro Library for a presentation entitled The Courage to Write.

On Friday, there will be lots of opportunities for professional development!  All you business people will want to start the day off right with the Dayton Chamber Breakfast Briefingat the Dayton Racquet Club.  Afterwards, check out MAGNETIC Content! – Create, plan and position relevant content that will captivate your audience, which is sponsored by New Media Dayton.  Bring your autograph book as there will be “ROCKSTAR-like” panelists, including our very own Bill Pote, the wonderful founder of DaytonMostMetro.com!  If you are looking to enhance your creativity in the workplace, sign up for the Creativity – Steroids for Your Career workshop at Groundz4Living.  If you are a community advocate, you’ll want to register for the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference, which will be going on over the course of three days at the Dayton Convention Center and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  In the evening, fly like Superman…Up, Up & Away with McCoo & Davis, as they perform with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.  (You can also find more information about the event by clicking here.)

Saturday is festival day!  Make your way to Waynesville for the famous Sauerkraut Festival or to Yellow Springs for the Yellow Springs Street Fair (check out the DMM article on this event here).  Or, if you haven’t been to enough beer festivals in the past few months, check out the Miami Valley Beer Fest at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, where all proceeds go directly to the Resident Home Association, a non-profit that works with adults who have developmental disabilities, providing them with supervised living assistance and other services.  So, if people ask you why you’ve been drinking every weekend, you can just tell them it is for a great cause!  If you are grieving the fact that Dayton Oktoberfest is over, you can still drink German beer, eat cabbage rolls, and experience live music at the Dayton Liederkranz Oktoberfest! If you want to help kids, be sure to purchase your ticket ASAP for the ‘Help Me, Help Kids’ Wine Tasting and Silent Auction for Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is also on Saturday.  It is more than just wine and a silent auction – there will be food, fun, and live music by Matt Scholp.  Plus, you will walk home (or perhaps take a cab home) with a wine glass and a t-shirt!  A few friends and I attended last year and had such a great time that we are planning to go again this year, so I hope to see you there!

On Sunday, after you go to church, head to the Dayton Art Institute for Musica! Fall Concert – Saints & Sinners.  Musica!, Dayton’s professional choir, will be performing music from a wide variety of musicals, such as Les Miserables, as well as a set of spirituals.  Or watch Cleveland’s second win of the season on FOX as they take on the Atlanta Falcons.  (Apparently this event is not listed on the DaytonMostMetro.com calendar.)  If you’re not wise enough to be a Browns fan, check out the Modern Masters from the Smithsonian American Art Museumat the Dayton Art Institute, as Sunday is the last day for it.  Or, drive down to Waynesville for the Sauerkraut Festival.  And finally, to wind down the busy week, participate in the Free Intro to Yoga classat Practice Yoga on Fifth.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What did the football say to the punter?
“I get a kick out of you.”

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/29 – 10/3)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It was great seeing so many of you at Oktoberfest at the Dayton Art Institute this weekend!  Although Dayton’s Oktoberfest is officially over for the year, October is just beginning this week.  You’re probably thinking, “How in the world could this happen?”  I did too.  However, when I asked my buddy Jeeves, he told me that in another part of the world, Munich, Oktoberfest actually starts in September and ends in October.  Having this mystery solved, hopefully we can all sleep well tonight.  But before hitting the hay, let’s check out our options as Oktober…I mean October…begins.

On Wednesday, head on over to the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet for the SO Percussion: Workshop & Jam Session.  There are opportunities for audience participation, so if you have always dreamed of playing the triangle, here is your opportunity.  Are you a high school student?  If so, I’m surprised you’re reading this.  If not, do you know a high school student?  If you answered yes, encourage him/her to check out the College Prep Night presented by Fifth Third Bank at Fifth-Third Field.  Plus, there is an opportunity for those who RSVP in advance to win a $1,000 scholarship!  If you love flowers, consider going to Going Green in Dayton at GalleryBlue Man Group St. John, where you will have the opportunity to look at photos, sketches, and paintings by local artists of over 120 wild flowers in Dayton environments.  And finally on Wednesday, if you’re looking for something that is unique and fun, check out the Blue Man Group as they perform at the Schuster Center.  Although they describe themselves as blue, I have heard they are actually mauve…“mauvelous” that is!

On Thursday, Give the Best Pint in Town at the Community Blood Center! if you didn’t have the opportunity to do so last week.  While you’re there, get your very own, super cool Octoberfest t-shirt!  If you are looking for pointers on how to write grants (i.e. how to get free money!), check out the Southwest Ohio American Association of Grant Professionals Regional Conference at Atrium Medical Center.  If you grew up always wanting to be a princess, head on over to the Nutter Center for Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics.  Also, Tinker Bell (a.k.a. the “hottest fairy of them all”, according to a five-year old boy I know) will make an appearance.

On Friday, if fashion is your thing, check out the BRAVO! Fashion Show and Champagne Brunchat the Sinclair Ponitz Center to benefit the Dayton Opera.  If you’re feeling like a Friday after-work happy hour is in order, consider heading to Arrow Wine’s Centerville location for their 13th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration…which betcha by golly wow is actually in October!  On Friday night, downtown is definitely the place to be.  Head over to The Neon for a sneak preview of the award-winning documentary, The Elephant in the Living Room.  Or, before the weather gets too cold, get that bike out and join the Courteous Mass October Ride.  If you enjoy the outdoors, then you will definitely want to check out GearFest at Eastwood MetroPark.  This outdoor festival will feature athlete demonstrations, competitions, camping, the latest products/gear, and music!  Also, while downtown, check out First Friday, which will feature a variety of entertainment options, from live music to art galleries to bonfires!  (For more info on First Friday, click here.)   Or, head on over to the Firefly Building’s amazing rooftop for Pecha Kucha Dayton Vol. 5, which will involve snacks, drinks, social networking, and idea sharing with eight creative presenters.  And if you don’t mind the drive and would like to experience Oktoberfest again, head up to Minster for their version.  Although I’ve never been, I’ve heard that Minster’s Oktoberfest is famous for serving beer in half-gallon plastic jugs!

On Saturday, get off that couch and check out the 33rd Annual Spring Valley Potato Festival.  If you enjoy learning about other cultures, head over to Middletown for Middfest International 2010 Celebration of Botswana.  All you music fans will want to experience the Dayton Music Fest, which will feature numerous bands playing at several different Dayton venues.  If you want to be one of the first ones to get a pumpkin, head to Young’s Dairy for the 34th Annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival.

Also on Saturday…All you motorcycle lovers better rev up your engines and speed over to Thomas Cloud Park for the Pink And Chrome – Ride for the Cure for Susan G. Komen for the Cure! And in the evening, even though the “official” fish fry season hasn’t yet started, check out the Fenwick High School Fish Fry, Monte Carlo, & Silent Auction night…where all proceeds raised will support student athletes at my alma mater!  Also, Minster Oktoberfest, The Elephant in the Living Room – Movie, and GearFest will all still be strong options!

On Sunday, check out the 2010 Harvest Fest at Garden Station Community Garden and Art Park.  Or, head to one of the many events you may have missed this week/weekend:  the 33rd Annual Spring Valley Potato Festival, the 34th Annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival, Minster Oktoberfest, Blue Man Group, The Elephant in the Living Room – Movie, or Midfest International Celebrates Botswana.  It’s truly going to be a “mauvelous” week in Dayton!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What would you get if you crossed two fish with two elephants?
A pair of swimming trunks.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/22 – 9/26)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Wow, it’s hard to believe that it is officially autumn!  And in Dayton, do you know what “falls” in autumn?  If your answer is leaves, sorry, you only get partial credit.  Although leaves do fall in the autumn, there are also many fun festivals and events that fall during this time of the year!  So let’s not waste anytime in checking out our options for the first week of fall!

On Wednesday, head to the Community Blood Center to Give the Best Pint in Town, as blood donations are vital to the health of our community.  Whether you’re a pessimist or optimist, it really doesn’t matter.  You can “B Negative” or “B Positive”, as the Community Blood Center is accepting of all types!  Plus, you get a cool Octoberfest shirt for donating, which will be just in time for Oktoberfest going on at the Dayton Art Institute this weekend!  Speaking of blood/health issues… are you tired of hearing biased opinions when it comes to our nation’s health care bill?  If so, join HYPE (Helping Young Professinals Emerge) and the Troy, Tipp City, Covington, and Piqua Areas Chamber of Commerce for the presentation, Demystifying the Nation’s Health Care Bill, which will discuss an un-biased, non-partisan view on this important issue.  In case anyone is wondering, I am by no means a politician (my friends tell me I’m too honest), nor do I have any political agenda.  Also on Wednesday…if you enjoy outdoor activities and would like to volunteer at GearFest this year, make sure you attend the GearFest Volunteer Orientation.  Or, if you had a rough day, perhaps you need a glass of wine, so check out the Pina Winery in Napa Valley Tasting at the Wine Gallery downtown.

On Thursday, put away your iPod for the day and tune into Mix 107.7 for their Radiothon for RMHC (Ronald McDonald House Charities).   The event is happening all day (6:00AM-7:00PM), so even if your boss doesn’t let you listen to music at work and you work the standard 9-5 job, you still have 5 hours to be listening!   You will also be able to make donations online and at some McDonald’s locations.  Also Thursday…if you enjoy the theater scene, there are several plays from which to choose:  Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. at Town Hall Theatre, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at La Comedia (dinner and a show), and August: Osage County at Wright State’s Festival Playhouse, which is about an Okalahoma family.  I’m not sure why they didn’t just call it Oklahoma.

On Friday, if you don’t already have lunch plans and enjoy networking with other area young professionals, head on over to Murray’s Place for Generation Dayton’s ‘4th Friday Lunch’.  If you are a UD grad like me and are itching for an excuse to make it back on campus, check out the ArtBeat Festival of the Arts, which will feature local and student performing groups, as well as food and art vendors.  In downtown Tipp City, check out the Tipp City Mum Festival.  Although the theme of this year’s festival is Law Enforcement, “Mum’s the Word!  You Have the Right to Remain Silent”, you can see I’m not good at keeping mum about it…I just hope I don’t get in trouble for mentioning it here.  If you’ve decided to spend Friday night at The Greene, be sure to check out the 80s cover band Stranger.  And if you want to preview the Dayton Art Institute’s Oktoberfest, listen to the band Velvet Crush, and avoid the crowds, be sure to purchase tickets for their Preview Party, which is also happening on Friday.  And, if you have extra tickets, feel free to send them my way!

On Saturday, get your walking shoes out to support one of two great causes.  Participate in the St. Vincent de Paul – 2010 Friends of the Poor Walk or the Great Strides – Walk for Cystic Fibrosis.  After getting your exercise in, if you’re the “sweet” type, head to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds for the Chocolate Festival.  And if you’re the “salty” type, the Germantown Pretzel Festival is the place to be.  Or, if you’re the healthy type, head over to Lebanon (the city, not the country) for the Country Applefest or to the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm for the Aullwood Apple Fest.  If you’re the shy type, head back to the Tipp City Mum Festival.  If you enjoy Hispanic food and breaking piñatas, then check out the Hispanic Heritage Festival and Flea Market at College Hill Community Church in North Dayton.  And, the “must attend” festival of the week is the DAI Oktoberfest, which will feature live entertainment, unique arts and crafts, and a variety of beers and international foods.  Plus, if you attended the jumpstART event last week, you will be able to get in free with your admission pass!  Or, check out this article to find out more about Oktoberfest AND how to win tickets from DMM!  Also, just in case outdoor festivals are not your thing and you’d instead prefer to kick back and watch movies, make a trip to The Neon for the LGBT Film Festival, where several films will be featured, including Top Drawer Shorts, A Marine Story, and Violet Tendencies.

On Sunday morning, head to The Winds in Yellow Spring and then to The Little Art Theatre for Brunch and a Movie.  Or, check out one (or more!) of the festivals you missed or liked so much that you want to explore again!  The Aullwood Apple Fest, the Tipp City Mum Festival, the Pretzel Festival, and DAI’s Oktoberfest will still be happening places to be!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why did Humty Dumpty have a great fall?

He wanted to make up for a lousy summer.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/15 – 9/19)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

This past week was a blast!  One of the highlights for me was Urban Nights, where I was working the corner of Third and St. Clair.  That really doesn’t sound right, so perhaps I should clarify – I was in charge of one of the pianos downtown and my job was to encourage people to play a tune or two.  Thank you to all who stopped by to “steal the spotlight”…I enjoyed watching you tickle those ivories and hearing about all the fun things you experienced as part of Urban Nights!

Although it’s true we have to wait until May 13, 2011 for the next Urban Nights, there are plenty of other good things to choose from this week!

On Wednesday, if you were inspired by the belly dancers performing at Urban Nights, perhaps you’ll want to go to Kira’s Oasis to try it out for yourself with their Bellydance Class.  Or, you could get a little dirty and head to La Comedia for dinner and the show, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  While there, be sure to try their famous Sweet Potato Souffle – it’s delicious!  And if neither of these events tickle your fancy, head on over to The Neon for the Foxy Film Festival for a special screening of the 70s hit movie, Foxy Brown.

Moving on to Thursday…is your house (or office) so disorganized that it looks like it came right out of an episode of Clean House?  If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to head to the Professional Enrichment Series:  Giving the Gift of An Organized You at Sinclair.  If you are interested in sports, fitness, and nutrition, then check out the Air Force Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo at the Nutter Center, which is also going on Friday.  In the evening, all you movie buffs will want to go to The Neon for the Media That Matters Short Film Festival, which will include several short films that tackle a variety of social issues.  There is also an article on DMM about this event with plenty of details, so check it out!  If you’re a young professional, then attending the ‘Jump into the DAI’ JumpstART Party for Modern Masters is a must!  For only $10, you get free admission to the Modern Masters exhibit, two drink tickets, food, and an admission ticket to Oktoberfest later this month!  I LOVE great deals!

On Friday, there is no need to watch the Food Channel – you can sharpen your cooking skills by heading to PNC’s 2nd Street Market for Market Meals to see live demonstrations.  If you’d rather have somebody cook for you, that’s okay too.  Head on over to Riverscape for the Taste of the Miami Valley.  I have gone there for the past few years and the food is amazing – no matter your taste preferences, there is something delicious for you!  Plus, there will be live music and cooking demos!  Also in the evening, if you are an animal lover, consider supporting SICSA by eating terrific food, drinking cocktails, and bidding on some wonderful silent and live auction items at their Red Dog Charity Auction.  Speaking of red dogs, I wonder if Clifford will be there.  And if you like children’s theater and you’re “wonder”ring what you should do, then head on down to Town Hall Theatre for their production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.

On Saturday, there are plenty of fun things to do if you’re not participating in the Air Force Marathon, or if you’re not too tired after running, walking, and/or skipping.  I am actually skipping it, as I have not been disciplined enough to train for it…although I totally admire all of you runners out there!  If you enjoy fashion, lunch, and shopping, all the while supporting adults and youth with disabilities achieve greater independence through art, then you’ll want to attend Fashionable Scarecrows – We Care Arts Style Show 2010.  If you have young kids, then you will definitely want to check out The Dayton Mothers of Twins Club’s Fall Clothing & Equipment Sale.  Although I don’t have kids of my own, I have heard about it from several people who have found great bargains there on infant/kids clothes, equipment, and much more!  No need to have twins to be able to shop…it is open to the public!

If you have a “German” Shepherd, then you will want to take him to his very own version of Oktoberfest…Barktoberfest at the Centerville Library.  There will be pet vendors, contests, games, and more!  If you don’t have a German Shepherd, you can bring another type of dog, as I’m pretty sure dogs don’t discriminate.  If you missed the chance to taste some delicious food at the Taste of the Miami Valley or loved it so much that you want to go back, head on over to Riverscape.  With the help of the DMM Calendar, I “found” another great event for you while you’re downtown – the Found Art Show at c{space to benefit Garden Station.  If you’re looking for a family friendly event, again, downtown has it!  Bring the kids or grandkids and head on over to Fifth-Third Field for Dragons Movie Night with Heater and Gem.  For your “entertainment tonight,” the movie E.T. will be shown and the Green Team will be performing fun skits.  If you enjoy classic and antique automobiles and motorcycles, consider heading to Carillon Park for the Concours d’Elegance Preview Party (Concours d’Elegance is on Sunday).  There will be delicious food, drinks, music, entertainment, and a variety of auction items.  If you’re in Miamisburg, then you’ll definitely want to dance in the street while the Fries perform in between a Taste of Wine and T.J. Chumps.  And if you live north of town, you can always head out to the Taste of Troy!

On Sunday, if you’re looking for something corny to do, head on over to Young’s Jersey Dairy to eat some yummy ice cream and to navigate Cowvin’s Corny Maze.  See, didn’t I tell you I liked corny things?!?!  If you want to go way back in time to the 1600s, check out the Ohio Renaissance Festival.  And finally, if you’re a fan of antique and classic cars and motorcycles, park yours over at Carillon Park for the Fourth Dayton Concours d’Elegance.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week.  Drum roll please…

How does a dog stop a DVD player?

It presses the “paws” button.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/8 – 9/12)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Hello wonderful DMM readers!  I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend and didn’t have to labor…or at least too much.  It was my high school reunion this weekend, but I did manage to make it to some of the Dayton festivals going on and I LOVED seeing all the wonderful people out there having fun!

There is another great week in store for you with even more festivals so I hope you are ready!  Get your smartphone calendar out (or, if you’re old-fashioned like me, your pencil and paper one) and arrange your schedule so you can fit in as much fun as possible!

On Wednesday, treat yourself to dinner and a margarita at Carmel’s for Fajita Madness.  Afterwards, get your toes tapping at Oregon Express with C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks.  Or bring out your Little Tikes trike (well, a guitar and a mic may be a better choice) and head on over to South Park Tavern for the Rock n’ Roll Play Date with Jay Madewell…and you thought play dates were just for kids!

On Thursday, support a wonderful cause and bring your spare change to McDonald’s for the Ronald McDonald House Charities DAY OF CHANGE.  The Notorious B.I.G. said “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” so that might be our cue to give a little bit back.  Who knew that rappers could be so wise?!?!  If you have a hot date planned for Thursday night (or if like me, you really just love your mom), head on over to PNC 2nd Street Market to make your own flowers for that special someone as part of Fall Flower Arranging.  And if you don’t have a hot date, no worries!  Head on over to Generation Dayton’s ‘Thirsty Thursday’ at Beef O’Brady’s in Centerville to meet some awesome young professionals in the area for social networking!  And if you do have a hot date, perhaps you will want to head on over to the Crowne Plaza Stars Lounge to see the John Slate Trio.  Also, just to clear up any misconceptions – I am by no means a dating expert nor is this a dating advice /“Sex and the City” type column.  If you are looking for dating advice, you may want to…or rather NEED to look elsewhere.

Friday is a tough day for you if you have difficulty making decisions, as there are so many events from which to choose!  Head on over to the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest for some sauerkraut and good German beer, the Dayton Greek Festival for some amazing gyros, or the Italian Fall Festa for some more foods whose names I don’t know how to pronounce.  For those of you asking, yes, I am a speech pathologist; however, I never took classes in German or Italian.  I just eat the food.

Friday is also the evening to be downtown!  Check out Urban Nights (a must attend event), which happens only twice a year.  It is like Meijer’s in that it’s a one-stop shop for the city of Dayton.  You will be able to check out downtown’s art, music, retail, urban living, nightlife, and dining options.  If you enjoy cycling, I also hope you consider riding with the Urban Bikes at Urban Nights.  My mom says, “Don’t forget your helmet.”

Saturday has too many options to choose from as well!  Again check out one of the many festivals going on throughout the weekend:  the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest, the Dayton Greek Festival, and/or the Italian Fall Festa.  In addition, check out the 10th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at Riverscape (just going on Saturday).  If you love arts and crafts, head on down to Miamisburg for the Miamisburg Starving Artists Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival.  Don’t let the name fool you…there WILL be food there!

Also Saturday…do you have an old formal that has just been taking up space in your closet?  Then consider donating it to the Clothes That Work 2nd Annual Royal Dress Drive to help underprivileged teens in the area attend their high school formals.  If you feel the need to burn off all those calories from all the eating and drinking you have been doing at festivals lately AND support the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association, consider participating in the SPIKING ON CRIME Sand Volleyball Tournament at Setters.  If you love live music, head on over to Jackass Flats for the 5th Annual Miami Valley Firefighter/EMS Memorial Association Concert.  And finally, in the evening, if you enjoy getting dressed up, listening to live music, dancing, eating great food, and supporting a great cause (listed in no particular order), head on over to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for the Boonshoft Gala:  ReDiscover.  You are sure to discover a great time!

On Sunday, if you’re not watching the Browns game, consider heading out to Guitar Fest at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville or X Fest at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  If you have a pooch that could use a good washing AND enjoy a good glass of wine (you, not your dog), head on over to A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg for Wine, Washes and Wet Noses.  All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.  If you’re like me and can’t get enough of elé Cake Company’s buttercream icing, check out their Buttercream Fest 2010.  They’ll have lots of fun things including live music, food, crafts, a cruise-in, and a 5k (probably to balance out all those amazing buttercream treats they will have)!  And if  you didn’t get to make it to all those weekend festivals or had such a good time that you would like to go back, the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest, the Dayton Greek Festival, and the Italian Fall Festa will still be going strong!  Gosh, I feel exhausted just talking about all the stuff going on this week!  Decisions, decisions!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week.  Drum roll please…

I went to the library to try to find a book on indecisiveness but I couldn’t decide which one to pick.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (9/1 – 9/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

First of all, thank you for all the wonderful feedback with regard to the first edition of Jane’s Best Bets on DMM!  I feel so honored to have your support!  It just confirms what I already know…that the people in Dayton are truly the best!

Hopefully you had a terrific (beer) week last week…and a good DD.  Perhaps you were able to sample a new beer and learn a thing or two.  I personally learned that there are more beers than there are calories in a McDonald’s Big Mac.  To name a few, I discovered a blueberry beer, a raspberry beer, a watermelon beer, an apricot beer, and a banana bread beer.  Who knew that drinking could be so healthy?!?!  (Disclaimer 1:  I am not a registered dietician or MD.  You may want to talk to your healthcare professional before making these beverages a part of your daily diet.  Disclaimer 2:  I am not a lawyer either, so don’t trust that disclaimer 1 is properly worded.)

Anyways, with last week being such a busy week, you’re probably thinking there isn’t much going on this week.  Wrong!  Get ready to celebrate the beginning of September…and another wonderful week in Dayton!  Plus, it’s a holiday weekend to boot!

On Wednesday, head on over to the first day of the Montgomery County Fair.  Don’t worry, if you can’t make it, you’ll still have five more days to check it out!  Or bring the whole family to watch the Dayton Dragons play against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (I wonder if there is any relation to A-Rod) for their Friends and Family Night.  Also, give yourself a day off of cooking and don’t feel guilty about it because it will be for a good cause!  For every meal sold at Coco’s, $1 will be donated to the Victoria Theatre Association’s Physicians for Kids as part of the Coco’s Cares – Dine for a Cause Program.

If you have ever thought about starting your own business, head on over to “One-On-One Business Counseling” provided by the Dayton Area Chapter of SCORE at the Dayton Metro Library’s Main Branch on Thursday.  Also on Thursday, if you’re a fan of smooth jazz, check out the J.T. Fedrick Band as part of the Dayton Art Institute’s 2010 Vectren Just Jazz Series.  Kill two, three, or four birds with one stone by also visiting the Modern Masters Exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Investigation Destination:  Science and Math in Art Exhibit, and/or the Prints from the Great Depression exhibit.  If you’re an animal lover like me and don’t feel like killing ANY birds, then head on over to The Greene to see First Call Acoustic.  And finally, if you like to sample delicious food, you MUST  head over to the Fraze for “The Taste”.  Experience multiple “tastes” from places like Tumbleweed, the Oakwood Club, Belmont Catering, and Fleming’s.

On Friday, learn what people are thinking about you without them having to say a word at Generation Dayton’s Lunch with Dan Edwards presenting “Body Language“.  I need to ask him how to improve my poker face, even though I have no intention of turning into Lady Gaga.  Speaking of ladies, later on in the evening, head on downtown for Ladyfest 2010 at c{space (which continues through Saturday) or Dayton’s First Friday, which will give you an opportunity to explore many of Dayton’s artistic offerings.  If you enjoy biking, join the Courteous Mass Ride with fellow cycling enthusiasts.  Or have fun listening to Stranger, a super fun 80s cover band that is playing at Sharkey’s.  I still remember what my parents said about talking to strangers, so if you go, just be careful or bring your mom and dad with you.

On Saturday, start your day off right by heading to the PNC Second Street Market for breakfast and a little shopping with some of their amazing vendors.  Another “must attend” event is Alterfest, which has been a Labor Day weekend staple in Dayton for many years.  No matter your age, there is something for you to do, from great live bands (Saturday’s lineup includes The Johnsons, The Fries, and This Side Up) to rides and games to their famous chicken dinners.  If you don’t feel like taking a chance with the weather at Alterfest, then check out the Producers at the Dayton Playhouse or get tickets to the Sandra Rutledge Jazz Show at Gilly’s.

On Sunday, the fun continues at Alterfest with several bands performing, including Spungewurthy and Last Call, along with the other festivities.  Or head on over to the Holiday at Home Festival where there will also be numerous things to do, including listening to live music, singing karaoke, and arts and crafts booths.  This is a family friendly event, as there will also be activities for the kids.  If you enjoy reggae music, head on over to the Michelob Dayton Reggae Festival. And if music from from the 50s, 60s, and 70s is more your style, then check out the band Legend at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville.

And finally on Monday, if you’re not having friends and family over for a cookout to celebrate Labor Day, Kettering is definitely the place to be.  You can still celebrate “at home” with the annual Holiday at Home Parade in Kettering.  Following the parade, again check out the numerous activities going on in Kettering as part of the Holiday at Home Festival, including an auto show (only on Monday), arts and crafts, and live music from The Fries, as well as music from some other great performers!  And, if you would like to BE one of the entertainers, you will have the opportunity to do so.  Just check out the karaoke going on there.  Or, if you haven’t had an opportunity to go to Alterfest or the Montgomery County Fair, this is your last chance for the year!   So, with so many great things to do, you have absolutely no excuse not to celebrate the holiday!  And if your boss is actually making you labor, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.  Just don’t count on anything.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week.  Drum roll please…

Did you hear the joke about Labor Day?  It works for me.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (8/25 – 8/29)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Time and time again, I have heard people say, “There is nothing to do in Dayton.”  Usually it is pretty difficult to ruffle my feathers (probably because I don’t have any), but this phrase really gets my goat!  As a Dayton native and huge advocate of the city, I know there are TONS of things to do in Dayton…and my goal here is to prove it to you!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jane Krebs.  For those of you who do know me, my name is still Jane Krebs.  Each Wednesday, I will be bringing you Jane’s Best Bets – a weekly column devoted to informing you of some of the best events going on in and around our wonderful city.  To give you a little history, Jane’s Best Bets actually began a little over a year ago when I started emailing a group of friends and family about fun events going on around town.  The concept grew and grew and today, that email reaches more than one-hundred people.  And now, I feel so fortunate to bring it to all of you – the wonderful readers of DaytonMostMetro.com!

I am a person of many interests and am involved in many wonderful organizations in our community, such as the Red Cross Associate Board and Generation Dayton.  So whether you’re a sports fanatic, a food guru, art enthusiast, community service advocate, or a music junkie, you have definitely come to the right place.  Dayton has something to offer you…and it is my job to show you!

Also, for those of you who have not seen a “Jane’s Best Bets”, in addition to featuring fun events, it also features the signature “Dumb Joke of the Week”.  Perhaps not my readers’ favorite part, as those who know me would describe me as VERY corny (think the “Laffy Taffy” type).  So, if you are corny, I think we’re going to get along just fine.  And if not, that’s okay too – just feel free to shake your head because after all, I’ll never know!

So, without further adieu, here are your best bets!  It’s Dayton’s very first Beer Week, so if you like beer, then this is definitely your week.  If you don’t, however, there are plenty of other fun things for you to do!

Starting on Wednesday, check out one of the many beer tastings going on as a part of Dayton Beer Week, such as the Abita Beer Tasting Event at Rue Dumaine, the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, the Beer and Wine Throwdown at the Culinary Company, the Stone Beer Dinner at Thai 9, the Dogfish Head Beer Dinner at Dorothy Lane Market, the Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest Release at Fox & Hound, or the Stone 090909 Vertical Epic Tapping at Chappys.  That sure was a mouthful!  Speaking of mouths, perhaps you like to use yours to sing.  If so, you’ll want to head to the 88 Club for ‘Wild Out’ Karaoke Wednesday.  Or, if you’re a bookworm who likes a good bargain (don’t we all!), check out the Wright Library Book Sale, which runs through Sunday.

Then on Thursday, continue to celebrate Dayton Beer Week by sampling more beer at another tasting, such as the Troegs Beer Tasting at the Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, the Mt. Carmel Beer Tasting at a Taste of Wine, or the Goose Island Beer and Cheese Tasting at Spinoza’s.  If you’d rather check out opportunities to be out and about in the great outdoors as opposed to chilling and sipping a brewski, you may want to check out Five Rivers MetroParks’ Intro to Backpacking Class.  Or, check out the Kim Kelly Orchestra as part of Big Band Nights at the new Pavillion at Riverscape!

On Friday, support local farmers by going to the Xenia Farmer’s Market.  If you’d like to meet other young professionals in the area, check out Generation Dayton’s 4th Friday Lunch, followed by Generation Dayton’s 2010 WPAFB Tour (open to Generation Dayton Members).  I know several people who attended this event last year and said it was great!  Later in the evening, check out some live outdoor music – one of my favorite things!  Some options are the Websters at Sharkey’s (very fun cover band!) or Funky G at The Greene (FREE)!  And, if you enjoy festivals, check out the Lebanese Festival to sample authentic Middle-Eastern food and pastries, watch some belly dancing, and enjoy all the other things festivals have to offer including amusement rides and poker (I guess this column is about “bet”ting after all!).  Or, if you feel like going to another beer tasting, check out Red Carpet Night at the Trolley Stop, where there will be many different beers to try!

I’m hoping you can save up some energy during the week because Saturday is the big day – the 12th Annual AleFest Dayton at Carillon Park!  If you like beer at all, then this is one event you won’t want to miss, as you can choose from over 300 beers to sample!  At Riverscape, check out the African American Cultural Festival.  Or, if you didn’t get to check out the Lebanese Festival Friday, now is your chance.  If you’re a Jimmy Buffett Fan, check out the 3rd Annual Concert, Fish Fry & Benefit with the Parrots of the Caribbean.  Just be sure you don’t put Margaritaville in your Garmin – you may get lost.  And, if you love the 80s, go to Mix 107.7’s Summerfest at the Fraze to see Blondie and Cheap Trick!  “One way or another,” I’m sure you’re going to make it a great Saturday!

And finally on Sunday, if you’re not too exhausted – head back to Carillon Park for WYSO’s FREE Summer Concert featuring the Rev Cool Arkestra and Dance Ensemble & C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks, or go to Stubbs Park in Centerville to see Lone Raven.  Or if you feel like just kicking back and reading a book, I know where you can get one at a bargain!  Head on over to the last day for the Wright Library Book Sale where a bag of books is just $2.00!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week.  Drum roll please…

What did the farmer say when he picked up the corn?

“Aw, shucks!”

(See, I told you I was “corn”y!)

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!   And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!