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The Featured Articles

Kayak For A Cure

July 2, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

kfac-daytonJoin Great Miami Outfitters and the Miami Valley Region in our fight against cancer by kayaking for a cure on Saturday, Aug 10th.   Funds raised through Kayak for a Cure – Dayton are donated to American Cancer Society (ACS) whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life for people living with cancer.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. An experienced kayaker will paddle with each group of six (6) paddlers. Participating paddlers must be at least 16 years of age or older, and minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. We encourage participants to bring their own kayak or canoe. A limited number of kayaks will be available for rental. Kayaks, paddles and PFDs can be rented for $20 for participants that do not have their own. Canoes are welcome. Light breakfast items will be available prior to the paddle and lunch and entertainment will be provided after the paddle. Kayak For A Cure shirts will be presented to all participants who register prior to Saturday, July 27th. Direct questions to Dan Schlegel, Event Chairperson at [email protected]

When & Where is the Event?
Kayak for a Cure™ Dayton will take place Saturday August 10th from 9:00 am to about 2:00 pm. The event will be held in Miamisburg, OH at Linden Ave. Bridge Park.

What is the fundraising goal and what organization benefits?kayakcure 1
This is the first event of this kind in the Dayton area and we hope to raise $12,000, with $10,000 to be donated to the American Cancer Society. A final check will be sent from Kayak For A Cure. The additional $2000 raised will offset the cost of putting on the event, unless of course, we receive other donations. Event expenses may include such things as permits, insurance, t-shirts, portable toilets, food and beverages, and miscellaneous printing. Ask us about sponsorship to help offset these expenses, so that the maximum donation can be made to ACS.

Can I bring my own kayak or canoe?
YES. Registered participants are encouraged to bring their own kayak/canoe, paddle(s) and PFDs. You will need to drop your boat off at the launch point in West Carrollton prior to checking in at the registration booth in Miamisburg at the Linden bridge access. Please drop your boat and gear off prior to 8:00 AM, then drive to Miamisburg Linden Avenue bridge where you will park your vehicle. A shuttle bus will take you back up to the launch point in West Carrollton. You will end up at your car in Miamisburg after the paddle trip.

What if I don’t own a kayak or canoe? Can one be provided?
If you do not own a kayak or canoe, there are a limited number of rental boats and equipment available. Rental includes a paddle and PFD. The registration fee is $20 more to include the rental equipment, and are available on a first-come, first-registered basis.

The Event Schedule
The event begins and ends in Miamisburg at the Linden Avenue bridge.
8:00 am – Check-In at registration booth
8:15 am – Welcome, Intro and Information
8:30 am – Shuttles take participants up to West Carrollton at the launch point
9:00 am – Launch in West Carrollton and float down the Great Miami River to Miamisburg (approximately 5.5 river miles). The paddle trip will take approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
12:00 pm – Lunch, Door Prizes & Entertainment
2:00 pm – Event concludes – (After-party at a local restaurant to be announced!)

What is included?
All participants will receive the following:
• A river paddle trip from Miamisburg to West Carrollton – includes people shuttle service.
• A T-Shirt (FREE if registered by July 27th)
• A Light Breakfast
• A chance for door prizes (Items to be announced). Registered participants will receive one (1) door prize ticket with entry fee, PLUS one additional ticket for each additional $50 raised.
• Lunch after the paddle trip, with live acoustic music!

Registration Fees
Advance registration is required. We are limited to 84 participants. Participants must be at least 16 years of age or older.

Register ONLINE HERE.

Or you can make a check payable to “Kayak For A Cure – Dayton” and mail to PO Box 1966, Miamisburg Ohio 45343. Please include a completed Registration Form.
$100 registration – bring your own boat.
$120 registration – includes a kayak, paddle and PFD (life vest). Limited kayak availability.
An additional door prize ticket for every additional $50 raised by each registered participant. Great door prizes to be announced!
Money raised, minus expenses, will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

2013 Local Sponsors
Great Miami Outfitters
City of Miamisburg
City of West Carrollton
Five Rivers MetroParks

About Kayak For A Cure
Kayak for a Cure™ was launched in 2006 by a group of twenty-somethings in Vancouver, BC, from an idea that started right here in DAYTON. Our group was eager to start something special – something scalable and fun while providing legitimate funding to the American and Canadian Cancer Societies, respectively. Something that could build community, provide an amazing one-day kayaking experience and raise money for cancer research and prevention. Kayak for a Cure™ is a volunteer-run organization and gives 100% of their proceeds to charities close to their hearts. Each summer, in cities around the United States and Canada, paddlers – both beginners and experienced – climb in to plastic boats and cross waterways, bays, lakes and channels for two reasons: an excuse to have a great day in the outdoors with some amazing people, and to be part of the solution: fund the research that leads to cures for all types of cancers.

 

This post courtesy of Explore Miamisburg.

Filed Under: Canoeing/Kayaking, The Featured Articles Tagged With: American Cancer Society, Great Miami Outfitters, Great Miami River, Kayak for a Cure

Saluting Dayton’s 2012-13 Theater Season

June 28, 2013 By Russell Florence, Jr. 3 Comments

AVENUE Q production pic

James Oblak with “Princeton” and Annie Kalahurka, Brett Travis and Andrew Ian Adams in Avenue Q.
Photo by Scott J. Kimmins

From a glamorous Berlin hotel to a den of blood-thirsty vampires, Dayton’s 2012-13 theater season contained a slew of high quality, entertaining components.
Currently enjoying great success with the hilariously naughty “Avenue Q,” the Human Race Theatre Company impeccably produced a splendidly character and ensemble-driven, marvelously choreographed “Oliver!,” a wonderfully transformative  journey that absolutely typified the joy of embracing musical theater anew.  The organization’s decision to promote and encourage new plays was also evident, specifically its Midwest premiere of Janece Shaffer’s funny and poignant relationship comedy “Managing Maxine” which could be a huge hit in regional theaters across the country. The Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Broadway Series deserves praise as well for delivering first-rate national tours of “The Addams Family,” “American Idiot,” “Dreamgirls” and “Rock of Ages”  to name a few. Interestingly, the Victoria’s brief engagement of the delightfully risqué “Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody” was a bold move that paid off tremendously.
Within community theaters, the Dayton Playhouse had a very commendable season bookended by two strong Sondheim presentations (“Side by Side by Sondheim” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”) and heightened by the totally refreshing, delectably spooky thrill ride that was “Dracula.”  The Dayton Theatre Guild, a haven for eclectic premieres, gathered fine ensembles for its engrossing productions of “100 Saints You Should Know,” “Ghosts” and “The Pillowman.” Playhouse South continued its pleasant upswing with “Legally Blonde” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” The consistently imaginative Zoot Theatre Company particularly excelled with “The Hobbit.”
On collegiate stages, Wright State University effortlessly restored “1913: The Great Dayton Flood” and pulled out the stops for an absolutely elegant, vocally striking production of “Grand Hotel: The Musical.” Sinclair Community College primarily scored with a very touching local premiere of “Intimate Apparel” and a cohesively joyful “Godpsell.” The University of Dayton supplied an impressive, fascinating look at Edward Albee’s “The American Dream” and “Zoo Story.”
On Saturday, August 3 at Sinclair Community College’s Charity Early Room, Dayton’s theater community will gather for the 10th annual DayTony Awards, honoring the achievements of designers, performers and productions across the area as voted on by 10 participating collegiate and community theaters. The event will be held in conjunction with the 12th annual Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame induction celebrating scenic and lighting designer Darrell Anderson, actor/designer/director Chris Harmon, producer John Kenley and director Kay Frances Wean. Kenley and Wean will be posthumously inducted.
Assessing the 75 shows I saw over the past 12 months, here are my picks (winners are in bold) for the season’s outstanding artists and productions.

RACE

l to r) Bruce Cromer, Richard B. Watson, Alan Bomar Jones and Julia Pace Mitchell in Race
Photo by Scott J. Kimmins


BEST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Lombardi, Human Race Theatre Company
Managing Maxine, Human Race Theatre Company
Race, Human Race Theatre Company

BEST LOCALLY-PRODUCED PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL
Avenue Q, Human Race Theatre Company
Next to Normal, Human Race Theatre Company/Victoria Theatre Association
Oliver!, Human Race Theatre Company

BEST PROFESSIONAL TOURING MUSICAL
The Addams Family, Victoria Theatre Association
Dreamgirls, Victoria Theatre Association
Hair, Springfield Arts Council
Mary Poppins, Victoria Theatre Association
Rock of Ages, Victoria Theatre Association

dracula

Jared Mola in Dracula
Photo by Art Fabian

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
100 Saints You Should Know, Dayton Theatre Guild
Dracula, Dayton Playhouse
Ghosts, Dayton Theatre Guild
The Hobbit, Zoot Theatre Company
The Pillowman, Dayton Theatre Guild

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Dayton Playhouse
Legally Blonde, Playhouse South
Little Shop of Horrors, Playhouse South
Side by Side by Sondheim, Dayton Playhouse
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dayton Playhouse

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
1913: The Great Dayton Flood, Wright State University
The American Dream/Zoo Story, University of Dayton
Intimate Apparel, Sinclair Community College
The Miracle Worker, Wright State University

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Funny Girl, Wright State University
Godspell, Sinclair Community College
Grand Hotel:  The Musical, Wright State University
Spring Awakening, Wright State University

American Idiot

(l to r) Jenna Rubaii and Thomas Hettrick in American Idiot
Photo by John Daughtry

BEST NEW WORK
Gingerbread Children, Human Race Theatre Company
Managing Maxine, Human Race Theatre Company
Nureyev’s Eyes, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody, Victoria Theatre Association
Under a Red Moon, Human Race Theatre Company

BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT
Ain’t Misbehavin,’ Central State University, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Zoot Theatre Company
American Idiot, Victoria Theatre Association
Crazy for You, Muse Machine
Into the Woods, Wright State University Senior Class
Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody, Victoria Theatre Association

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Alex Carmichal as Count Dracula, Dracula
Alexander Chilton as Jerry, Zoo Story
Edward Furs as Vincent Lombardi, Lombardi
Patrick Hayes as Katurian K. Katurian, The Pillowman
Jared Mola as Osvald Alving, Ghosts
Richard B. Watson as Jack Lawson, Race

Miracle Worker

(l to r) Kate Mueller and Cyndii Johnson in The Miracle Worker
Contributed photo

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cassandra Engber as Anna Reardon, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Lisa Howard-Welch as Helene Alving, Ghosts
Cyndii Johnson as Anne Sullivan, The Miracle Worker
Marcy McGuian as Marie Lombardi, Lombardi
Jana Robbins as Maxine Levine, Managing Maxine
Marva M.B. Williams as Esther Mills, Intimate Apparel

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Brad Mattingly as Pseudolus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Con O’Shea-Creal as Bert, Mary Poppins
James Oblak as Princeton and Rod, Avenue Q
Jesse Sharp as Gomez Addams, The Addams Family
Desmond Thomas as Seymour, Little Shop of Horrors
Gary Troy as Fagin, Oliver!

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Charity Dawson as Effie Melody White, Dreamgirls
Melissa Hall as Fanny Brice, Funny Girl
Katie Pees as Kate Monster and Lucy T. Slut, Avenue Q
Trisha Rapier as Diana Goodman, Next to Normal
Sara Sheperd as Nancy, Oliver!
Carly Snyder as Polly Baker, Crazy for You

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Bruce Cromer as Charles Strickland, Race
Alan Bomar Jones as Henry Brown, Race
Sean Jones as John H. Patterson, 1913: The Great Dayton Flood
Charles Larkowski as Pastor Manders, Ghosts
Jared Mola as Robert Renfield, Dracula
Matthew W. Smith as Eliot, Opus (Dayton Theatre Guild)

100Saints

(l to r) Barbara Jorgensen, Maximillian Santucci, Alex Carmichal, Katrina Kittle and Corinne Engber in 100 Saints You Should Know
Photo by Craig Roberts

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Catherine Collins as Mrs. Dickson, Intimate Apparel
Jenna Gomes as Grandma, The American Dream
Barbara Jorgensen as Coleen, 100 Saints You Should Know
Caitlin Larsen as Mother, Frau Graf and Kathryn, Gingerbread Children
Julia Pace Mitchell as Susan, Race
Sherri Sutter as Dotty Otley and Mrs. Clackett, Noises Off (Brookville Community Theatre)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Ian DeVine as Jack, Into the Woods
Drew Helton as Moritz Stiefel, Spring Awakening
Joseph Medeiros as the Artful Dodger and Widow Corney, Oliver!
JoNathan Michael as James “Thunder” Early, Dreamgirls
Christopher G. Smith as Ken Page, Ain’t Misbehavin’
Justin Talkington as Eddie Ryan, Funny Girl

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Michelle Liu Coughlin as Christmas Eve, Avenue Q
Elana D. Elmore as Muzzy Van Hossmere, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Jennifer Fogarty as Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family
Kelli Locker as Herself, Godspell
Shawn Storms as Gary Coleman, Avenue Q
Michelle Weiser as Rose Brice, Funny Girl

BREAKTHROUGH MALE PERFORMANCE
Darren Brown as Rudolf Nureyev, Nureyev’s Eyes
Jon Hacker as Melchoir Gabor, Spring Awakening
Mathys Herbert as Otto Kringelin, Grand Hotel: The Musical
Joseph Risner as Michael, The Pillowman
Maximillian Santucci as Garrett, 100 Saints You Should Know
David Thomas as Jimmy Smith, Thoroughly Modern Millie

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Taryn Lemmons as Elizaveta Grushinskaya, Grand Hotel: The Musical
Katie McCarthy as Elle Woods, Legally Blonde
Abby McLean as Millie Dillmount, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Cari Meixner as Audrey, Little Shop of Horrors
Kate Mueller as Helen Keller, The Miracle Worker
Hayley Penchoff as Katherina, The Taming of the Shrew (Sinclair Community College)

OLIVER

(l to r) Joseph Medeiros and Blaise Bouschard in Oliver!
Photo by Scott J. Kimmins.

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
D. Tristan Cupp and J. Gary Thompson, The Hobbit
Tony Dallas, The American Dream/Zoo Story
Richard E. Hess, Race
Natasha Randall, The Pillowman
David Shough, Dracula

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Kimberly Borst, Godspell
Marya Spring Cordes, Grand Hotel:  The Musical
Joe Deer, Avenue Q
Alan Souza, Oliver!
Scott Stoney, Next to Normal

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Debbie Blunden-Diggs, Ain’t Misbehavin’
Lula Elzy, Crazy for You
Spencer Liff, Oliver!
Robert Longbottom and Shane Sparks, Dreamgirls
Suzanne Winland, Grand Hotel: The Musical

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Michael Amico, The Miracle Worker
Chris Harmon, Intimate Apparel
Josh Hollister, Ghosts
David Shough, Dracula
Terry Stump, The Taming of the Shrew (Sinclair Community College)

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Dick Block, Avenue Q
David A. Centers, Oliver!
D. Tristan Cupp, Ain’t Misbehavin’
Pam Knauert Lavarnway, Grand Hotel: The Musical
Terry Stump, Godspell

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
Carol Finley and Robin Farinet, Ghosts
Kathleen Hotmer, The Taming of the Shrew (Sinclair Community College)
Mary Beth McLaughlin, The Miracle Worker
Barbara Pontecorvo, Dracula
Shirley P. Wasser, The Hobbit

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
D. Bartlett Blair, Grand Hotel: The Musical
William Ivey Long, Dreamgirls
Carrie Robbins, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Victoria Theatre Association)
Molly Walz, Oliver!
Ayn K. Wood, Ain’t Misbehavin’

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
Anita Bachman and David Shough, Dracula
Andy Balmert, The Hobbit
John Falkenbach, Ghosts
Danielle Ferguson, The Miracle Worker
John Rensel, Under a Red Moon

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Matthew P. Benjamin, Grand Hotel: The Musical
Robert L. Clements, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Cedarville University)
Erin Jones, Spring Awakening
Natasha Katz, Mary Poppins
John Rensel, Oliver!

Funny-Thing

(l to r) Jamie McQuinn, Brad Bishop, Brad Mattingly and Saul Caplan in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Photo by Art Fabian

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
Ben Borton, Kyle Himsworth and Matthew J. Evans, The American Dream/Zoo Story
Bob Kovach and David Shough, Dracula
James Dunlap, The Miracle Worker
John Lamm, The Hobbit
Andrew Stroud, 1913: The Great Dayton Flood

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Craig Cassidy, The Addams Family
James Dunlap, Grand Hotel: The Musical
Kyle Himsworth, bare: a pop opera (University of Dayton)
Brian Retterer, Oliver!
Brian Ronan, American Idiot

BEST VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN OF A PLAY
Shaunn Baker, Lombardi
Danielle Ferguson, 1913: The Great Dayton Flood
Stephanie Lefeld, The American Dream/Zoo Story

Dreamgirls

(l to r) Tonyia Myrie Rue, Jasmin Richardson and Charity Dawson in Dreamgirls
Contributed photo

BEST VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Darrel Maloney, American Idiot
Zach Rosing and Ben Phillippe, Avenue Q
Howard Werner, Dreamgirls

BEST ORCHESTRA
Ain’t Misbehavin,’ Musical Director: Ramon Key
Crazy for You, Musical Director: Timothy Olt
Dreamgirls, Musical Director: Jon Balcourt
Funny Girl, Musical Director: Scot Woolley
Grand Hotel: The Musical, Musical Director: Scot Woolley

BEST PROPERTIES
Sarah Gomes, The Hobbit
Jennifer Kramer, Intimate Apparel
John Lavarnway, The Miracle Worker
Wendi Michael, Stefanie Pratt and Deidre Root, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Heather Powell, Oliver!

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 

  • Andrew Ian Adams and Annie Kalahurka as the Bad Idea Bears in Avenue Q
  • Amanda Barker, Gabe Bowling and Alice Moran in Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody
  • Director Joe Beumer, lighting designer David Corson, musical director Ben Spalding’s orchestra and the cast of Centerville High School’s production of Sweeney Todd
  • Jim Brown as Audrey II (Voice), Little Shop of Horrors
  • Kathy Clark and Laura Dell’s vocal interpretations in Side by Side by Sondheim
  • D. Tristan Cupp’s puppet design for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Zoot Theatre Company), Avenue Q and The Hobbit
  • Scenic designer Gion DeFrancesco, puppet designer Patrick Hayes and Maximillian Jansen as Rapunzel’s Prince for Miami University’s production of Into the Woods
  • Bryon Dobbs and Nancy Perrin’s piano accompaniment for Side by Side by Sondheim
  • The cast of Gingerbread Children: Andrew Ian Adams, Kay Bosse, Jamie Cordes, Charity Farrell, Caitlin Larsen, Jacob McGlaun, Robin Post, Matthew W. Smith, Scott Stoney and K.L. Storer
  • Bob Crowley’s Tony Award-winning sets for Mary Poppins
  • Geoffrey Garratt’s recreation of Matthew Bourne’s choreography for Mary Poppins
  • Stacy Gear’s choreography for A Chorus Line (Beavercreek Community Theatre)
  • Helen Gregory’s music direction for Oliver!
  • Patrick Hayes’ makeup effects for 100 Saints You Should Know
  • E. Cameron Holsinger’s recreation of Jerry Zaks’ direction for The Addams Family
  • Adam John Hunter’s recreation of Kristin Hanggi’s direction for Rock of Ages
  • Michael Mayer’s direction, Steven Hoggett’s choreography, Christine Jones’ Tony Award-winning set design and Kevin Adams’ Tony Award-winning lighting design for American Idiot
  • W. Stuart McDowell’s recreation of his staging for1913: The Great Dayton Flood
  • Gregory Meeh’s special effects for “The Addams Family”
  • Jared Mola’s makeup effects for Dracula
  • Director Fran Pesch and the cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore: Amy Askins, Barbara Jorgensen, Elena Monigold, Annie Pesch and Gayle Smith (Young at Heart Players)
  • The male ensemble of Oliver!: Nicholas Belton, Blaise Bouschard, Ian Devine, Adam Lendermon, Joseph Medeiros, Chris Shea, Jonah Sorscher, Scott Stoney and Gary Troy
  • Chris Newman’s prologue illustrations for Dracula
  • Stephen Schwartz, Debbie Gravitte and Scott Coulter in Stephen Schwartz & Friends (Wright State University CELIA Distinguished Visiting Artist Series)
  • The Rock of Ages band under the musical direction of Brandon Ethridge
  • Ben Riddlebarger’s artwork for The Pillowman
  • Stivers School for the Arts’ productions of Godspell and Teach Me How to Cry
  • J. Gary Thompson’s original music for The Hobbit
  • Earnest Tremble’s piano accompaniment for Ain’t Misbehavin’
  • Basil Twist’s puppetry for The Addams Family
  • Shirley P. Wasser’s contributions as puppet artisan for Avenue Q

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton, On Stage Dayton Reviews, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Dayton Theater, Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame, DayTony Awards

Why??

June 27, 2013 By Scott Sliver 30 Comments

8e767afe23024f80ecfb9a925b0efb30Why??

I have been asked that question a hundred times. “Why would you sell your house in Beavercreek and move to Dayton?”

I have been around Dayton for most of my life. I grew up in Eaton, just 25 miles west of Dayton. I attended the Montgomery County Join Vocational School (now Miami Valley Career Technology Center) my junior and senior years of high school. Then off to the big city I went, to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I earned my degree in Visual Communication.

 

Soon after graduation, I landed my first ad agency job at Flynn/Sabatino located at Fourth and Ludlow Streets in downtown Dayton. My first apartment was on Grafton Ave., just across the river. I remember running into one of my high school buddies during that time. He asked what I had been up to. When I told him I was working at an ad agency in Dayton, he responded with, “Oh… Hit the big-time, eh?”

 

I literally laughed out loud.

 

tumblr_lif3hwxMDQ1qa37rzo1_1280

Times Square circa 1985

After two years I quit my job, sold everything and moved to New York City. I had a friend that had moved there after college.

 

Most would agree that I had a pretty charmed agency career. I was hired as an art director at Bozell Jacobs just a few days after I moved to the city, where I was assigned toMerrill-Lynch and Holiday Inn accounts. I also met my wife Bonnie there. She was from upstate New York, but had migrated to the city to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, earning her BFA with a Minor in Art Education.

 

I remember people assuming that because I was from Ohio that I must have grown up on a farm. My standard answer was, (with the blankest expression I could muster up) “My dad was a State Farm agent… we lived in town… but I did milk a cow once on a field trip in the third grade.”

 

I know they viewed me as this helpless kid from the middle of nowhere. (Often referred to in the city as “fly-over!” (New York, L.A., maybe Chicago. Everything else you just fly over.) I was 22.

 

167511_10150364949790613_1407765_n

With my bride Bonnie, May 24, 1986 in New York, NY.

After a year and a half in New York City I was offered a position at an agency back in Dayton. (Back then I used to say I had been exiled to Dayton.) I had married and my wife we were expecting our first child.

 

What all those New Yorkers didn’t realize was that I considered myself to be the George Baily of my hometown. (Jimmy Stewart’s character from “It’s a Wonderful Life.) “I’m shakin’ the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I’m gonna see the world!”

 

By the time I was in high school I was telling people I was from Dayton. Who had ever heard of Eaton, Ohio?

 

As a child I can still remember riding into Dayton and the thrill of seeing the I-75/35 interchange! All those layers of overpasses climbing higher and higher! I remember my grandfather telling me stories of helping with the recovery effort from the flood of 1913. My mom grew up on Cleveland Ave. in Dayton, just off Smithville. She graduated from Patterson Co-op. My older sister got a job at Wright Patterson Air Force Base after high school and married a guy from Old North Dayton who attended grade school at Our Lady of the Rosary.

 

Obviously our family always had one foot in Eaton, one foot in Dayton. My orthodontist’s office was on Salem Ave.! After bouncing around from city to city (Cincinnati, Tipp City, Brookville, Beavercreek), we find ourselves in a new season of life. We are officially “empty nesters.”

 

3½ years ago we had this idea… to sell our house in Beavercreek and return to our urban roots. (Granted, Dayton is not Manhattan, but it is our home… And it’s the hub of this region.) Our youngest daughter still had one year left of high school, and plans to wed the following summer. And we had a house to sell.

 

We spent the next 3½ years heading down this path. We weren’t all that interested in McPherson Town, Oregon District  or South Park. All great options, but we wanted to live right downtown. In November of 2012 we sold our home. $20,000.00 in repairs and upgrades over two years, and six months on the market. And we had to take $6,000.00 to the closing table. (Obviously we were really committed to this idea.)

 

IMG_4655

Our home at FirstPlace

Once it sold, we were faced with, “What do we do now?”

Our dream has been to purchase a building downtown and renovate it into a really cool loft apartment. But it became painfully obvious that wasn’t going to happen in any reasonable timeframe. So, after crashing at my sister’s house behind the Art Institute for a few months, we elected to settle into an apartment at FirstPlace on West First Street and give ourselves a chance to catch our breath.

 

We love living downtown.

 

I remember the exact place and time when I felt the coin drop and I realized I really do love Dayton… Driving through downtown on I-75 about to merge onto 35. (At that time the Reynolds and Reynolds clock tower was still at that location.) I turned to my friend and began talking about how much I love Dayton and how there are so many people in need and how our city needs revived!

IMG_6926

The western view from my window

 

 

We now have front-row seats for the I-75 construction through downtown! It’s active with over 90,000 cars passing by each day. We get to watch the weather roll in, and the sun set every night from our 7th floor domicile! I can tell you every time there’s a Dragon’s home game, or when the Life Flight takes off from Miami Valley Hospital. We have discovered some great places to eat, and they aren’t all on Fifth or Brown Streets. (Tank’s, Coco’s and Olive to name a few.) We love walking around RiverScape! Especially when the fountains are turned on!

 

Sure, Dayton pretty much shuts down early in the evening unless there is an event at the Schuster Center or Victoria Theater… But those events happen pretty frequently! In the few months we have lived downtown, Shrek the Musical, the Addams Family and Mary Poppins have come to town. Not to mention Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and Myth Busters-Behind the Myths! On the first Friday of every month there is a FirstFriday Art Hop, and in the spring and fall, Urban Nights. Countless festivals and other events at Courthouse Square sprinkle the calendar.

 

I could go on, but you get the idea.

 

Again, Dayton isn’t Manhattan… I get that. I also get that some of my urbanite friends poo-poo places like the Greene. I understand that when some refer to Dayton, it’s boundary-specific. But I’m not one of those people. I love all that this region offers. (Did you know seven counties border Montgomery County?)

 

I love that Dayton holds a major league record for consecutive sell-outs (Dragons/Fifth-Third Field.) I love that Dayton holds more patents per capita than any other city in the country! I love that Dayton topped the list of “Happiest City to Work In” by Forbes in 2012! I love that when President Obama wanted to take the British Prime Minister to a basketball game, they came to Dayton’s own U.D. Arena! I love that we are home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force! (Even though we didn’t get one of the retiring space shuttles… I’m still bitter about that!) Did you know that Martin Sheen recently stopped by the Foodbank? I could go on…

 

I would be amiss if I failed to mention the Wright brothers in this diatribe.

 

And, have you seen the new 50+ million dollar GE Aviation Research facility being built near U.D.?

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The view at sunset from our highrise.

 

Yes, I am well aware most of our automotive industry dried up and blew to Mexico. I realize that our only remaining Fortune 500 Company (NCR) moved to Atlanta, GA. Such is life. At the time, it felt like the final nail in the coffin.

 

But I am so tired of hearing people say, “Dayton is dying.” Dayton is NOT dying. It is reviving. There are signs of life everywhere you look. Dayton is no different than any other small-to-mid-sized-city in the U.S. Most cities like Dayton are struggling to keep businesses alive and keep kids in school. Most inner cities are constantly fighting crime or the perception of being unsafe. Many businesses relocate to more suburban areas. I get that… I do.

 

But there is a movement abroad to see Dayton flourish again. To see Dayton become the innovative city for which it once was known. We have some great up-and-coming young leaders in our community via Generation Dayton.

 

You may not love Dayton the way I do, but I would challenge you to step outside your comfort zone a bit and give Dayton a chance. Take in a show at the Schuster or take a stroll though any of the amazing Five Rivers MetroParks scattered across the Miami Valley. Come downtown on a Friday or Saturday night. Or better yet, stop by the PNC Second Street Market on a Saturday morning. You may be pleasantly surprised!

 

And, maybe… just maybe… you’ll love Dayton, too!

 

@ScottSliver (Sly-ver)

The voice of I Love Dayton! on Facebook. Executive Director of The Hope Foundation of Greater Dayton. Pastor at the Vineyard Church in Beavercreek. New media enthusiast with a degree in visual communication. http://hope4dayton.com [email protected]

Filed Under: Community, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Scott Sliver

100,000 People Expected at Food Filled Americana Festival

June 27, 2013 By Dayton937 3 Comments

Look down the street, hungry people as far as the eye can see !

July 4th will mark the 40th annual Americana Festival in Centerville.  Wouldn’t you know that The Big Ragu & Crew are veterans of practically every single Americana Festival over the years.   We can’t think of a better way to celebrate America’s Independence that a brisk walk through the intersection of State Route 48 and Franklin Street, sampling food selections from various vendors.  With over 100 spots to eat, this is a perfect opportunity for a summer Food Adventure.   From typical festival fare like funnel cakes and to healthier choices like salads and grilled chops, there is something for every taste bud on hand.  The food tour stretches from the center of town, down through Benham’s Grove and the Activity Center Park.   French Fries, Deep Fried Snickers, Roasted Corn, Chinese food and Gyro Vendors are just some of our favorites on the yearly hit list.  We would be amiss if we didn’t mention the various icons that will be open along the street such as Bill’s Donut Shop, City BBQ and Graeter’s Ice Cream.  You can even enjoy a Marion’s Pizza near the classic car show in their parking lot.  Ohhh Americana, how we love thee!

Hey there, Pork Chop !

If you need the scoop on one of Dayton’s largest festivals, here you go:

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— July 4th events start at 7:30am with a 5k Run/Walk – Always a nice start to a guilt free Food Adventure

— Parade starts at 10am sharp near Centerville High School and typically lasts until 11:30am

— The Street Festival runs from 11am-4pm with over 300 vendors (many of them food booths)

— Festival ends with a Fireworks Display at Centerville High School Stadium at 10pm

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

Now for the rumbling stomachs that sound like a fireworks grand finale, here are your Food Adventure MUST EATS !

MUST EATS:

— Nothing says independence like a mouthful of powdered sugar and fried dough, so get yourself a damn Funnel Cake

Nothing says Independence like Powdered Sugar and Fried Dough

— Grilled Pork Chops – Various vendors are serving up these chops that weigh as much as a small dumbell

— Roasted Corn – More than knee high by the 4th of July, don’t forget the brush and buttery dip option

— Gyro’s – The Greek vendors at this event never disappoint.  Grab a Gyro with the works, which sometimes includes some Caesar’s Salad lettuce on top

— Philly Cheesesteak – A little known secret of the festival is that some vendors fire up the grills as early as 9:30am.  We took advantage of this one year.  We also should have taken a tums.  Huge, mouth watering, stuffed sandwiches.  Just look for the banner “Italian Sausages & Philly Cheesesteaks”

— Deep Fried Snickers – Ok, so admit it, you have always wanted to try one.  If you like rich foods and gooey chocolate, give it a whirl.  It is like a small, powdered corndog with chocolate inside.  Everyone should try these just once.  Put it on your July4th bucket list.

— McDigger’s Pub – Go inside and grab a cold libation at the corner of Elm and East Franklin St.  They also grill burgers and sausages on the patio.  This is the only bar we know of where a round of drinks costs about the same as a local Moose Lodge.  Just aim your beer burps the other way, please.

Whether you grab a pretzel donut or a grilled chicken wrap with Uncle Sam on stilts, this shindig is as much a celebration of taste as a celebration of the stars and stripes.  So get yourself to the center of Centerville and see why this festival is one of the biggest in Dayton.  Are you a veteran of the event?  Then comment below and tell us your favorite bites from the Americana Festival!

Your hometown foodies Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu wish each and every one of you a happy 4th of July.  Enjoy the local street food and more on this warm summer’s holiday.  This festival definitely shows off “America the Beautiful !”

Browse through our photos below, they will light your firecracker !  “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !

[flagallery gid=45 name=Gallery]

Filed Under: Dayton Dining, Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: 48, 4th, 725, activity center, Americana Festival, benham's, benhams grove, Big Ragu, BIll's Donuts, cakes, Centerville, chicken, Chinese Food, city bbq, corn, Dayton, deep fried, event, fest, festival, Fireworks, food, Food Adventure, Food Adventures, fourth, franklin, funnel cake, graeters, grilled, grilled chicken, gyro, ice cream, independence, July, Macdiggers, Marions, Marions pizza, pork chops, pretzel donut, roasted, salad, snickers, street, Street Fair, street food, twinkie, vendors, wrap, wraps

City of Dayton Proposes Commercial Development of Garden Station, Organizers Plead To Save Community Garden

June 26, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 3 Comments

 

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The following letter was published late tonight on Garden Station facebook page:

 

Warm Greetings, Supporters and Volunteers of Garden Station,

It is with a heavy heart that I must let all our supporters know of plans of the City of Dayton to potentially destroy Garden Station in its current form to make way for future “development”.

Last year the City purchased the whole block south of us, the old HD building, and I was leery of their intent. I invited City officials on tours of Garden Station and inquired about future plans that might affect us. I was assured that they were looking at the block south of us for development and not the property we lease. In January I was informed of the posted RFQ “as a courtesy” by the Assistant City Manager Shelley Dickstein and asked for meetings with her and Nan Whaley. Their position was that we are on development property and in order to attract the best developers they had to include our property as an option, but developers may choose not to use it. They were supposed to let me know who submitted proposals after the January 31st deadline but I have not heard back.

Recently I have heard through the grapevine that a developer has been selected and plans are made. I do not know what those plans are but have heard from many community leaders including priority board members that once the city announces their plans it is often too late to act.

I am asking you, our supporters and creators to ACT by calling, emailing and mailing our officials to ask for:

1. Garden Station to remain on the site we currently occupy as an amenity to potential housing/retail developments on the block south of us as well as existing residents.

2. Furthermore that our property be preserved as green space under a land trust organization, with occupancy by Garden Station as long as the property is maintained at an acceptable level.

3. Include your reasons for keeping Garden Station and tell what your personal connections are to Garden Station

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A group of HS students from Ginghamsburg church planted 2 figs, 2 chestnuts, a persimmon, 1 apple, some yarrow, bee balm and fennel and 1 serviceberry.

I know there are over 1000 of you who personally have done physical labor to build Garden Station and over 100 community groups and businesses who have contributed to its creation! Garden Station uniquely represents the heart and soul of Dayton better than any other place in our city, through unique local artwork, music, community events and connecting our citizens to each other!  Like the Whos in the beloved Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hears a Who” we need to make our voices heard that WE ARE HERE! 

SOME BENEFITS OF OUR “DEVELOPMENT” AS GARDEN STATION TO THE COMMUNITY:

 

We are a unique attraction in downtown Dayton and have had visitors from all over the world stop to see us. We are on several travel sites including Roadside America and Trip Advisor. So many other “attractions” seem like cookie cutter copies that every city has. We have unique outsider art from all kinds of residents, examples of sustainable building techniques, demonstration gardens including a new food forest, a permaculture fixture that other cities brag about http://www.weather.com/home-garden/beacon-food-forest-20130620 , and we host all kinds of community groups from elementary students to UD and Sinclair student to the AARP.

 

We are providing education and demonstration of sustainable living practices in a time where more and more people are realizing the environmental frailty and nutrition-lacking aspects of our current food system. Our EarthFest was the largest Earth Day festival ever held in Dayton with over 30 free workshops for the public and over 30 local organizations participating. We are educating our neighbors to become more food secure and developing a more resilient local food system by training urban farmers in partnership with Omega CDC, Antioch College and Miami University. We are providing fresh, local organic food from our gardens to the public on Sundays when there is no other outlet for local food available in Montgomery County. We are providing fresh local organic food to seniors at Jaycee Towers and have the only rentable wheelchair accessible community garden plots in the area. Over 20 neighbors have community garden plots at Garden Station as well, including many urban dwellers without green space of their own.

 

We serve as an outdoor community center hosting all kinds of community organizations including meetings and non-profit fundraisers, art and music festivals, free music for First Friday featuring local bands, the Really Really Free Market, workshops, community potlucks, bonfires, rallies, weddings and more. Students from all over the Miami Valley from Elementary School to University have come for tours and volunteer days to learn gardening, art and green construction techniques.

 

We are an urban green space that serves all our area residents, created entirely by over 1000 community volunteers and donations, and over 100 community organizations and businesses.

  

Garden Station is created BY the community, FOR the community!

Please let our officials know you support keeping Garden Station as a community-created green space and the reasons you want to keep us!

Thanks for all your support! Garden Station exists because of support from our whole community!

Humbly,

Lisa Helm

Volunteer Garden Station Manager

www.facebook.com/gardenstation

www.daytongardenstation.org

[email protected]

937-610-3845

 

Please write, email AND call!

Mayor Gary Leitzell

City Hall, Second Floor

101 W. Third Street

Dayton, Ohio 45402

937-333-3636

Fax: 937-333-4297

[email protected]

City Commission Office

City Hall, Second Floor

101 W. Third Street

Dayton, Ohio 45402

937-333-3644

fax: 937-333-4297

[email protected]

Commissioner Matt Joseph – [email protected]

Commissioner Dean Lovelace  – [email protected]

Commissioner Nan Whaley – [email protected]

Commissioner Joey D. Williams  – [email protected]

City Manager – Timothy Riordan   937-333-3600 [email protected] City Manager Shelley Dickstein  – [email protected],    [email protected] (937) 333-3600

Planning & Community Development Director – Aaron Sorrell – 937.333.4209 333-3670  [email protected]  [email protected]

 

Filed Under: Community, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Garden Station, Garden Station Community Garden and Art Park

A Quick Guide to Bike Commuting

June 25, 2013 By Dayton937 6 Comments

imagesThe first day of Summer came with the first air advisory. The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission asked people to reduce pollution by using transit, sharing rides, and riding bikes. Searching the internet about bike commuting provides an abundance of information. Some of it is really helpful, but some make bike commuting out to be a very complicated and dangerous thing. From personal experience, I can say it does not take special equipment to get started, and as far as safety is concerned, while I have had some “close calls,” mostly at street crossings, keeping my eyes open and not expecting car drivers to watch out for me has always kept me safe. So how does one go about riding a bike to work? What kind of bike works? What clothes are suitable? What is the best route? What else should be considered? Here is how I get around.

Obviously, the first thing is the bike. Any bicycle, that is safe, will do. If the bike has been standing for a while it should be checked by a professional. There are a couple of things, I like, that make life easier. I want to have fenders on my bike. A fair weather rider might not need them, but I prefer to tumblr_lvvh6eEp0C1qdcsdoo1_500commute without concerns of getting the infamous “skunk stripe” down my back if I hit an unexpected shower or can not avoid a puddle. Most bikes have fender mounts, for the ones without, there are fenders with zip-tie-like mounts available; your local bike shop is your friend. A chain guard can also come in handy, especially if the rider does not want to roll their pant leg up. A greasy gear imprint on suit pants or just the leg is never fun (I have a bleach pen in my desk, in case I manage to get one anyway). The third must-have for me are a rack and bike bags. I do not like back packs or messenger bags, I sweat under the straps and I prefer to arrive at work as sweat-free as possible. That is a concern very specific to me, though; many riders use regular bags and are perfectly happy with them. Lastly, no matter how old the bike, if it is not locked properly it might get stolen. A good lock is important. The City of Dayton also offers bicycle registration.

A lot of people seem concerned with wearing special clothes to ride to work. Maybe they worry about showing up to work sweaty and possibly stinky, or they assume that Lycra is needed to ride a bike, I do not know. I ride in my work clothes. I read in a comment on Corporette once, “Stop thinking of your commute as exercise.” I could not have worded it better. The ride to work does not have to be a crazy work out. I pace myself; if I get too warm I just take it easy and cool off with the wind before I arrive in the office. Of course, being a woman gives me the opportunity to wear plenty of skirts and dresses, that helps, but pants in natural fibers, which breathe, work just as well. A pair of spinning shorts under a skirt is a good idea if modesty is a concern. If I work up a sweat despite all my efforts I have some Paper Shower packs in my desk, consisting of a big wet wipe and a paper towel. They are pricey, and baby wipes and regular paper towels work probably just as well. I prefer Paper Shower because they are single serve packs; they do not dry out if I have no use for them for a while. The only thing that does not work for me are pencil skirts. They are simply too tight. Luckily, Sew Dayton is working on a class on how to convert a pencil skirt so it can be expanded for the ride and then zipped back up to its original form in the office. Other than that, on a warm day a blazer should probably go into the bag or stay in the office, and a rain coat, that packs small, can be a useful investment.

Google-Bikethere-circleRoute planning might be the biggest concern for new riders. Google Maps has a bicycle option above the address fields, that is a good place to start. The directions are in beta, so pre-riding the route on a non-work day might help, insuring the directions do not lead through something like a turnstile, which has happened to me. This also helps with getting an idea on how long the ride might take. If street riding does not feel safe, sticking to the bike paths as long as possible and then using side streets is a good option. Courteous Mass Dayton holds rides every First Friday, great for anyone who wants to try out riding in the streets with experienced riders. Another option is Pedal Pals from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. Pedal Pals was designed to match up bike commuters with the same routes. If distance is a concern, a last mile solution could work. It means that commuters drive their cars closer to the work place, then park along bike path and ride the bike for the rest of the way. Five River Metro Parks has a list of good access points. The City of Dayton is planning on approaching businesses along the bike paths to provide a couple of parking spaces for interested cyclists, but this system is not in place, yet.

What else is there to say? If there is no place to lock up the bicycle during work, asking the building manager or HR if it is alright to bring it in does not hurt. It worked for me (friendly persistence is key). Bike commuters, who work downtown, might want to check out the Bike Hub.

Down the road it could be beneficial to take a simple maintenance class. It helps to know how to change a tire, how to adjust brakes, and how to keep a chain clean. Bicycles for All offers different classes, so does Five River Metro Parks. The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission published brochures on basic cycling knowledge. And, like I said above, the Internet is full of information.

So, that is what I think about bike commuting, my suggestions might not be suitable for everybody, but it is a way to get started. I hope I could help some people out. If there are unanswered questions about bike commuting, Courteous Mass Dayton is hosting a Commuter Q and A at the Trolley Stop, Thursday, June 27th 2013, from 6-8pm. It is a great chance to meet with other commuters and the Courteous Mass Dayton people, get some help planning a route, and exchange knowledge.

Filed Under: Cycling, The Featured Articles

July 5 Event to Feature Dance Lessons, Classic Movies, Contests, and Live Music

June 24, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

image002Downtown’s next free First Friday event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 5. To celebrate the holiday weekend, many restaurant and stores are offering a variety of activities and entertainment for downtown visitors to enjoy. Events include art exhibits, live music, dinner and drink specials, retail sales, and special events will be featured at a variety of downtown venues.

Some of the highlights for the July 5 First Friday are listed below. A complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday is available on the DDP website.

MVMFA_logo circletagFood Truck Rally – 200 S. Jefferson St. (near the Dayton Convention Center): Synergy Incubators hosts the July First Friday Food Truck Rally, featuring Zombie Dogz, Go Cupcake, Ringo’s North Star Mobile Eatery Caribbacanas,Fressa Truck, G’s CUE BBQ Horseless Buggy Eatery, Tik’s Thai Mobile, @The Monchon, Kona Ice and Missouri Avenue BBQ from 5:00pm – 9:00pm

American Pi (37 S. St. Clair St.) is celebrating a new collaboration with “Life in Letters,” a local handcraft décor store. Visitors can create unique and personal pieces using photos taken in the Dayton area that resemble letters. For First Friday, the owners of “Life in Letters” will be at the store to meet with anyone who comes by. The store is open until 8:30 p.m. Call 937–938-7890.

Cincinnati artist Gregory Sitg will be showing light paintings at Clash Consignment (521 E. Fifth St.). Call 937-241-9434.

The Collaboratory (33 N. Main St.) will feature an exhibition by artist and designer Misty Thomas-Trout that is a visual representation of her personal journey into self-awareness. Enjoy drinks and food with while getting to know the artist. The Collaboratory will be open until 8 p.m. Call 937-732-5123.

The monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet for two rides this month at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, (220 N. Patterson Blvd.). The first will ride leaves at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. The July ride will include a tour of the McPherson, Grafton Hill, Five Oaks and Santa Clara District neighborhoods.

As part of the First Friday Salsa Music Series, Latin band Cla’ve Son will play live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark (111 E. Monument Ave.) on the MetroPark Pavilion Stage. Visitors can learn some salsa steps while listening to great music. Call 937-274-0126.

sewdayton_logoSew Dayton (16 Brown St.) will offer treats from the PNC 2nd Street Market and showcase work by fiber artist Pat Weaves. Those who stop by are encouraged to partake in a DIY “Make It Work” contest. Participants will be given three pieces of textiles and given the challenge to create something new from them. The contest will run through the end of July. Call 937-234-7398.

Kicking off the Cool Film Series at Victoria Theatre (138 N Main St.) is the classic comedy “The Apartment” starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine and directed by Billy Wilder. Free popcorn and soda are offered in the lobby and an old-fashioned sing-a-long begins 30 minutes before show time. Tickets are $5. Call 228-3630.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association and Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show that airs on Fridays from 8 p.m. to midnight on 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.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, DMM's Best Bets, Downtown Dayton Tagged With: arts, Dayton, Dayton Ohio, Downtown Dayton, First Friday, Oregon District, Things to Do, Things to do in Dayton, Victoria Theatre

Outdoor Dinner Theater in Dayton

June 24, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

zoot2Zoot Theatre Company is taking advantage of their new preforming home by introducing a summer outdoor series at The Dayton Art Institute! This casual, dinner theater concept makes use of the recently renovated Hale Cloister and guests can order tickets a boxed lunch or dinner and  a bottle of wine from Leo Bistro.

A Box, Bottle, and Play will consist of three outdoor productions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Dr. Faustus; and The Tempest. All three plays are written and adapted by noted local artist Brian McKnight.  The Series opened June 19th  with one of Shakespeare’s best known plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Famous for its comedy, Midsummer is the story of a pair of young lovers who plan to cast all aside and elope, but are interrupted when they are followed into the woods and become mixed up in a love triangle..er..quartet. The night goes comically awry when the four are caught in a quarrel between the fairy queen and king. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will  run through Sunday, June 30.

The second show in the Series, Dr. Faustus is by Christopher Marlowe and is about a notable mind within academia, Doctor Faustus. As he pursues his studies so zoot1rigorously he becomes bored with the limits of theory, feeling that he has attained all the wisdom that is possible in the earthly realm. He continues his pursuit of power and knowledge elsewhere, ultimately making a pact with the devil. Dr. Faustus will open on Wednesday, July 10 and run through Sunday, July 21.

The Series will end with another Shakespearean classic, The Tempest. The show follows Prospero after he has been deposed from his dukedom by his own brother and cast to sea. After being deposed, he and his daughter Miranda live stranded for years on an island filled with spirits. When Prospero discovers that a ship carrying his brother and the King of Naples is near, he uses his skills as a powerful magician to crash their boat onto the island’s shores and orchestrates a plan to regain his rightful position. The Tempest will open on Wednesday, July 31 and will close on Sunday, August 11.

Audience members may choose from Leo Bistro’s two meal options; a smoked turkey, provolone, and sundried pesto Panini; or a roasted Portobello and brie Panini with apple arugula salad. All meals include kettle chips or a side salad and a chocolate chip cookie. Meals also include lemonade, iced tea, or water.
Show Times:

Wed, Sat & Sun 1pm,

Thurs & Fri 7pm

Tickets run $20 per show, subscriptions are available for all three shows for $51.00 per person. In addition, audience members are able to purchase a delicious boxed meal for an additional $10.00 per person and a bottle of wine for $15.00 per bottle. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale.   A limited number of $10 “Tweet Seats” are available for Saturday & Sunday performances. For more information, call 937.223.4ART or visit www.zoottheatrecompany.org.

The Zzoot-logo-coloroot Theatre Company was founded in 2006 as a professional puppet and mask company. Based in Dayton, OH, Zoot is the resident theatre company in the NCR Renaissance Auditorium at the Dayton Art Institute where it produces both its Summer Series and MainStage Season, consisting of professional puppet and mask shows. In addition, Zoot offers puppetry and mask workshops for children and adults typically at schools and community centers. Proud to be a Dayton Original, Zoot also maintains studio and rehearsalspace in downtown Dayton and partners with many local schools, colleges, and arts organizations. In the past, Zoot has worked with Alter High School, Oakwood High School, Central State University, The Muse Machine, The Dayton Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and designed and built original puppets for The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of Avenue Q in the Spring of 2013.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment, The Featured Articles Tagged With: The Zoot Theatre Company

Summer Sipping

June 21, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

Summer cocktail

Summer is here…and look what it brought with it!

The unofficial beginning of summer has become Memorial Day weekend. It is a long weekend, the weather has turned warm for the season, and pool and festival season kicks off during the extended break from work. The official first day of the season is June 21, during the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. When summer hits, everything changes. Fresh fruit is much more available, and you can get VERY fresh fruit at local farmers markets and Second Street Market downtown. This is also a perfect excuse to change up what you are drinking.

The craft beer distilleries have been summer beers for a month or two now, adding berries, peaches, melons, and citrusy flavors to provide some light flavors more in tune with the season. People are turning to lighter cocktails, looking to all flavors of mojitos, margaritas, or any other light drink. And of course, you need to hit the patio wherever you are at. The season to relax on a patio with friends does not last forever, so  get while the getting is good. But what to drink while you are out there? That is the real question. Here are some answers.

BEER

Shandies

Beer of your choice, typically a lager
Lemonade or lemon lime soda

Fill half a pint or other tall glass half way with your beer of choice. Fill the rest of it with the lemonade or lemon lime soda. Enjoy!

Shandies have been around for about a century, starting in Europe and spreading across the pond. Different places around the world use different regional mixers, but the general idea is the same. It is a drink with a little bit of an alcoholic punch, but mild enough to sip it all day long. Any beer can be used, but a good witbier can make a really tasty pairing.

Shandy beer cocktailCOCKTAILS

Lynchburg Lemonade

1.5 oz. Jack Daniels (it can be any whiskey, but seriously…)
.5 oz. peach liqueur
1 oz. lemon juice (about lemon)
.5 oz. simple syrup
Club Soda

Pour the whiskey, peach liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Shake well (10-15 shakes), and pour into a glass filled with ice. Top off with about an ounce of club soda.

The Lynchburg Lemonade has fallen on hard times. It has a bad reputation of being overly sweet, fizzy, and generally frowned on in this world of craft cocktails and more available ingredients. Jeff Lucas, a contributor to Serious Eats, worked out this upgraded version. It allows the whiskey to come forward, with the rest of the flavors there for support. This is one you can make in the comfort of your own house.

Paloma

1.5 oz. tequila (I have been enjoying Avion lately)
4.5 oz. grapefruit soda
A splash of lime juice

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the tequila in first, then the grapefruit soda and lime juice. Stir and enjoy!

While we like to drink margaritas to celebrate Mexican culture, Mexicans like to drink this very refreshing tequila cocktail. It is simple to make and perfect for a hot day out with friends.

Floridita (Or Hemingway Daiquiri)

2 oz. rum
.5 oz. lime juice
.25 oz. simple syrup
.25 oz. maraschino liqueur
.5 oz. grapefruit juice

Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until cold, and pour into a cocktail glass. Enjoy!

Hemingway needed to take a bathroom break.  A charming little bar in Havana, the El Floridita, was on his way, so he pulled in there to use their facilities. He saw the bartender mixing up a batch of daiquiris. The bartender noticed the famous writer and offered him a glass. Hemingway liked it, but he wanted his a little stronger, and without the sugar. A little maraschino liqueur and a lot of rum later, this delicious summer cocktail was born.

Mixed berriesStrawberry Sorbet

.75 oz. vodka
.75 oz. strawberry schnapps
4 oz. milk

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until cold, and pour in a tall glass filled with ice.

What is summer fun without a little ice cream? This is a richer drink you may want to consider as a dessert or a sweet treat. You can switch out any flavored schnapps you would like to make the ice cream your preferred flavor. You can even reduce the amount of milk to 2 oz., add 4 oz. of ice cream, and turn it into an actual shake. Add two or three fresh strawberries while you are at it!

WINE

White Wine Berry Sangria

1 750 ml bottle of white wine that matches your taste
.75 cup white rum
.5 cup sugar, less if you choose
.5 cup blueberries
.5 cup blackberries
.5 cup raspberries
.5 liter of ginger ale

Pour the wine, rum, sugar, and all of the fruit into a large pitcher and mix well. Put into the refrigerator for two hours, or until you are ready to serve. Just before you serve it, add the ginger ale to the mix.

Summer is a great time for berries. It is also a great time for white wine. It seems only natural to mix the two together for a light wine cocktail. You can up the tartness of the sangria by getting rid of the rum and switching it to .5 cup of limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur).

This is the season where families spend more time together and people go out and relax more. It is time to add some fresh flavors to the typical drinks you are enjoying. Where is your favorite patio to hang out on in Dayton during the summer? We would love to hear about it in the comments! There is a little extra daylight to burn today. Get out there and start enjoying it.

Filed Under: Dayton On Tap, Happy Hour, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Beer, berries, cocktails, cool, Dayton, Dayton Ohio, DaytonDining, hot, light, refreshing, rum, sangria, shandy, summer, Tequila, Things to Do, Things to do in Dayton, vodka, whiskey

Al’s Smokehouse: Ribs at 4am? YES !!! **$20 Gift Certificate Contest**

June 20, 2013 By Dayton937 10 Comments

Ribs that make you say “DAMN!”

You’re tipsy.  You are out late with your friends at the Oregon District or downtown, and you need  some food.  Well, Al’s Smokehouse and Cafe is the word on East Third.   Open until 5am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, it is the perfect spot to satisfy your late night hunger pains.   This little known Dayton secret serves up tasty, soulful selections from Ribs to Burgers at incredibly cheap prices.   Located  at 140 E. Third St, Al’s Smokehouse is also a great place to catch a quick lunch.  A Food Adventure is in order here ANY time.

Owner Al Shamburg learned cooking from his father who was from Treasure Island, Jamaica.   Al honed his culinary and catering skills over the past 20 years, building quite a reputation in Dayton and Springfield for incredible tasting food.  Through the years, this self-made-man worked hard to buy his equipment and finally open his own restaurant.  He has hired a great staff like his sister Stephanie, and head cook Tyrone, who worked in Dominic’s kitchen for 17 years.  The result is a delicious, affordable menu, with consistent quality.

 

HERE’s THE SKINNY:

Owner Al Shamburg & Head Cook, Tyrone

— Al’s Smokehouse Menu features fantastic BBQ, and delicious soul food like bourbon chicken and collared greens

— Open LATE on weekends til 5am for all you fellow Food Adventurers

— Breakfast served ALL DAY

— Prices so cheap, you won’t believe your eyes

— Friendly servers, veteran cooking staff and a no frills, casual atmosphere

MUST EATS:

— Banana Pudding: We are going to start with a homemade dessert that knocked our socks off.   Deliciously sinful, this is the real deal.  No canned stuff here!  Don’t expect us to share !

— The Smoked Pork Chop – Smoked and drizzled with secret marinades, it is almost like a steak.   The Big Ragu says this is the best pork chop he has ever tasted.

— The Ribs:  They are smoked for 8 hours, they are brushed with a signature bbq sauce.  Meaty and moist, they pack a wallop of flavor and the namesake of this restaurant.  Only problem is, they are so good that sometimes, they sell out!

“The Shamburger” – hand made, fresh patty

— “The Shamburger”: Hand packed and never frozen, the juicy burgers are good deal at 4 bucks.  Want to go full out?  Get the “Cry Baby” which is the Shamburger with a fried egg and cheese.

— Baked Mac n Cheese: Homemade and so good you will flip. Somebody in the kitchen knows what they are doing at Al’s Smokehouse!

— The Wings: Big and juicy, but the secret is in the tangy sauce.  Get the BBQ wings and be ready to lick your fingers.  You can try the other sauces later, like Jamaica Jerk or OMG Hot wings.  On Monday night the 50 cent wing deal is a steal !

— The Shrimp Cheesesteak: A seafood version of the famous sandwich.  Resembling a Shrimp Po’ boy, it is one heck of a sub.  Delicious!

Honorable Mention:  The Pulled Pork Sandwich is a solid choice.  Also,  we like the homemade Greens for an authentic soul food side.  Want to know a secret?  Al’s has a killer Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, and it isn’t even on the menu.  Ask for it by special request.

Food Adventures has found yet another unique spot for good food at reasonable prices .   We are serious eaters. We don’t do a “drive-by” one time visit to a restaurant and then write our articles.  Instead, we visit a place multiple times before it is worthy of a  Food Adventures share on Dayton Most Metro.   Al’s Smokehouse in no exception.  We have eaten almost everything on their menu.   From the Fish and Grits to the Pancakes and Home Fries.  The popular Bourbon Chicken has a honey and spice flavor with hint of Jerk seasoning.  You get a slight touch of Al’s Jamaican roots with this dish.   Al explained to us that his Bourbon Chicken is made with ‘small hen meat.’  He feels they taste superior to regular chickens.

Who else in Dayton makes Fish and Grits???

The story of this restaurant is simply a hard working family, who is putting their heart into this locally owned eatery.  So what are you waiting for?  If you are anywhere near downtown, or want a casual trip to the city for some grub, check out Al’s Smokehouse.  It isn’t fancy, just some tables and chairs.   But the FOOD.. aw the FOOD.. is some great decor, for the stomach!

Want to see more of Food Adventures?  “Like” them HERE on Facebook !

 

Who wants a $20 Gift Certificate to Al’s Smokehouse?  One lucky fan who comments below will be chosen at random.  Please tell us your comments about Al’s Smokehouse, below!  Let us know why you love Al’s, why you would like to try Al’s, or why you want that gift certificate ???  GOOD LUCK !!

[flagallery gid=44 name=Gallery]

Filed Under: Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: 140 E. third, 5am, Al's, Al's Smokehouse, banana pudding, Bbq, Big Ragu, Bourbon chicken, breakfast, Burger, Cafe, casual, cheesesteak, cry baby, Dayton, dining, Downtown Dayton, E. Third, fish, Food Adventure, Food Adventures, greens, grits, hamburger, late night, mac n cheese, macaroni and cheese, open late, pork chop, pork chops, Pork Tenderloin, pulled pork, ribs, Shamburg, shamburger, shrimp, Soul food, Stephanie, Third St, tyrone, wings

Dayton Habitat for Humanity ReStore Celebrates Grand Opening in New Facility

June 19, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

restoreDayton Ohio Habitat for Humanity kicked-off the grand opening celebration of the new location for its ReStore retail outlet at 115 West Riverview Ave. in Dayton to better serve local families.  The ReStore is a discount store that sells building materials, home improvement products, appliances, furniture and home decor to the general public. Find unusual, discontinued, new and gently used products at a great discount. Whether you are looking for that special bathroom sink, kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, paint, lighting fixtures or anything else for your home or rental property… shopping at the ReStore is a must. New inventory arrives daily.   Customers save at least 66% off normal retail prices and many products are recycled, keeping them out of the local landfills. ReStore is open Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm and Sat 9am – 3pm.

“We are so excited to open a bigger store with more inventory in our new space,” said Dayton Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Diane Graham. “We have always had a great selection of products and a solid customer base, but now our store is much more consumer-friendly and we have more items and can now accept additional donations.  If you haven’t seen our new facility, you are in for a treat!”
Founded in 1983, Dayton Ohio Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, volunteer-driven Christian ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to providing decent, affordable housing to families in need throughout Montgomery County.
Habitat for Humanity serves as a hand up, not a hand out, for qualified low income families. Families apply to earn a home of their own. Once accepted into the program, our “Partner Families” work alongside our many volunteers to build their house. They put in 275 to 550 hours of “sweat equity” and take approximately 40 hours of classes to prepare for responsible homeownership before earning their home. Partner families make a down payment toward the purchase of their home, which is then sold to them through an affordable, interest-free mortgage held by Dayton Habitat for Humanity. Mortgage payments are put into a revolving fund to build future homes.  For more information, visit www.daytonhabitat.org.

 

Filed Under: Community, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Dayton Habitat for Humanity, ReStore

Fifth Street Brewpub’s Birthday Bash on June 22 to Celebrate One Year as a Co-Op

June 18, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

196816_215924091869193_814905752_nFifth Street Brewpub (FSB), the first co-operatively owned brewpub in Ohio and the second to open in the nation, announced today that they will be celebrating their first birthday on Saturday, June 22 from noon to 12PM. The event will be open to both member-owners and the general public.

 

Fifth Street Brewpub’s birthday bash will include a variety of craft beers on tap, a raffle fundraiser, live music by local musicians, food provided by Dayton’s own food trucks, cupcakes made with beer and so much more.

 

Money raised via the raffle will go toward the purchase of the brewpub’s custom seven-barrel brewing system. “Tickets will be sold for $1 each or 6 for $5” said Membership Director Maureen Barry. “We are also asking attendees to bring in a new baby item if possible that will be donated to Catholic Social Service’s Teen-Parent Link Program. The first 100 people to donate a new item will receive a baby cupcake provided by High Spirits Cupcakes, a local business owned by our members-owners Roxanne and Mark Gabbard.” Attendees can bring in any of the following items: baby wipes, baby shampoo, baby lotion, and diapers (size 4 or larger).

 

FSB’s birthday bash will be a great celebration where anyone can eat, drink, socialize, catch a game on any of the HD TVs and listen to live music provided by local artists Ally Lewber and Dustin Vincent. FSB-branded apparel will also be available for purchase. The Brewpub will be open to the public and members Thursday, Friday, and Sunday as well, but the big party is Saturday… our birthday!  For a detailed schedule of events, visit Fifth Street Brewpub’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FifthStreetBrewpub. “This may be the last chance for non-members to join the brewpub at the one-time fee of $100 and own a share of the co-op before the price goes up to $125 and still take advantage of the membership gift set: one Fifth Street Brewpub-branded pint glass and four coasters” Barry stated. For more details visit www.brewpubgifts.com.

 

The grand opening of the brewpub is set for July 13th, but may be open a couple weeks prior to that for training and fine tuning. Co-founder and president Brian Young stated, “We are very excited to open in July and hopefully be brewing our own beer by late July.  It’s been a long time coming!  In the end, Fifth Street Brewpub is a community built by community.  Our motto is ‘building a community… one beer at a time.’  It’s an exciting time in Dayton!”

Filed Under: Dayton Dining, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Fifth Street Brewpub

Ohio Hip Hop Awards Summer Showcase Tour Stops in Beavercreek

June 15, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Eight years ago, the founders of the Ohio Hip Hop Awards & Music Conference came together with a mission to recognize those making a contribution in the Ohio urban music industry.  This ground breaking event has since grown to span a three day weekend every September,  bringing together thousands of industry professionals, artists and fans for networking socials, talent showcases, expert panels and industry parties.  The finale of the weekend is the red carpet awards show that recognizes Ohio’s best of rappers, singers, DJ’s, models, dancers, media outlets and numerous other contributors to a growing Ohio music scene.

 

jasonThe Ohio Hip Hop Awards board takes special pride in their several month process in which they directly interact with urban music scenes across the state to accurately represent the who’s who of each  market and give credit where it is due. This is done through the website www.ohiohiphopawards.com  where fans can nominate and vote in many different categories, such as best live venue, best college radio show, best club DJ, best album, best video and many, many more. In addition, every June the board members travel to eight different cities with the Ohio Hip Hop Awards Summer Showcase Tour, allowing local artists to compete in live performance showcases.

This year, the Dayton stop of the Ohio Hip Hop Awards Summer Showcase Tour will take place Saturday, June 15 at the live music venue One Eyed Jacks. Local artists are given the chance to compete for several valuable prizes that benefit their music career and exposure. The winner of the showcase will be given the chance to perform at either the Ohio Hip Hop Awards Show or Pre-party, an automatic nomination in the best live performance category, and inclusion in the Ohio Hip Hop Awards promotional material. The winner in the best live performance category will also headline the entire 2014 Ohio Hip Hop Awards Summer Showcase Tour.

The Dayton stop of the Summer Showcase Tour is hosted by local entertainment resource company Razdabar Sound & OHHAST12-1Management in conjunction with the Ohio Hip Hop Awards. Dayton’s very own nationally known DJ SKNO of the Core DJ’s will spin for the event, keeping the party live at all times. Urban music enthusiasts and supporters are warmly invited to come out and see the best that the Dayton music scene has to offer this Saturday. One Eyed Jacks is located at 2638 Colonel Glenn Highway in Fairborn, across from Wright State University. Doors open at 8pm, live performances to begin at 9pm. Admission is $10 at the door.

 

Filed Under: Dayton Music, The Featured Articles Tagged With: DJ SKNO, Ohio Hip Hop Awards, One Eyed Jacks, Razdabar Sound & Management

New Centerville Brewery, Lock 27 Set to Open June 21st + *****Gift Certificate Contest *****

June 14, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Owners Steve & Michelle Barnhart with Lock 27 Chef Aimee Saling

Here is something you will not see anywhere else, at least not this early.   A super exclusive, sneak peek at the brewery coming to Centerville called Lock 27.   The Big Ragu & Crew are not “Grand Opening ” hoppers.   In this case we are making an exception, because the person opening Lock 27 is a friend of ours.   Owner Steve Barnhart and his wife, Michelle are currently putting the finishing touches on the new brew pub located at 1035 S. Main Street in Centerville, not far from the new Kroger.  With plenty of buzz circulating around Dayton through word of mouth, and online, this brewery promises to be a popular spot for some good craft beer.  With the addition of Chef Aimee Saling, the food offerings will be a highlight as well.

Shrimp and Polenta: a Must Eat !

For the past 15 years, Steve Barnhart has literally been brewing beer as a ‘driveway hobby.’  His craft and interest grew into offering what now will be Centerville’s only “Gastro Tap Room.”    Fashioned after the pubs in London, this true mom and pop establishment will feature a rotating choice of in-house brews, hard to find bottled beers, and some popular craft brews on tap from other breweries.  It will be a relaxed atmosphere slanted towards adults, with good background music.  The front patio will eventually feature a communal table where patrons are able to enjoy drinks and bites outside.

Why the name Lock 27?  It is a tribute to Dayton.  Essentially at the turn of the century, Dayton was a river town, with traffic from the Erie Canal running right through the Miami Valley.   Lock 27 was an actual stop on the river near Miamisburg.  The rich history and river life of Dayton is mostly forgotten today.  Instead, inventions of flight are most often associated with the Gem City.

History lesson over, now back to the Food Adventure and what you need to know about Lock 27.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Bar area inside Lock 27

— London Style Gastro Tap Room that will feature 5 in-house brews, 5 out-of-house beers on tap, unique bottled beer and wine selections.   Bottled and tap selections will focus on an eclectic mix of regional and national brewers.

— The menu will consists of 15-20 items including tapas and paninis.  Lock 27 will feature many “sharable” plates for a communal feel of a European Pub.

— Craft Beers, made in-house will rotate seasonally.  They will be brewed 1 or 2 barrels at a time.  With small batches, there are no commitments and this will allow for a constantly changing, and evolving brewery.  IMPORTANT !! – Since the inspections and liquor licenses have just been approved, in-house beers are being brewed now, and will not be served until approximately 3 weeks after opening.

— Hours will be 4pm-Midnight on weekdays, and 11am-Midnight on weekends

 

MUST EATS:

House Wheat Beer – In this case a must drink.  This wheat beer is a white ale instead of  a traditional hefeweizen.  This brew is made with California common yeast, for a different flavor.  Refreshing never tasted so good.

The Salumi Plate – A unique, appetizer featuring exotic cold cut meats of Prosciutto, Coppa, Gin & Juice Pepperoni, and Dodge City Fireball salami.  This plate is perfect for sharing.   It is also served with glazed walnuts, almonds and miniature gherkin pickles.  The slightly salty and spicy tastes of the meats match perfectly with any alcoholic beverage.

Cuban Sandwich –  This delicious panini style creation features ham and pulled pork .  It also has Emmenthaler cheese, which is a superior Swiss cheese from Switzerland and France.  What makes the sandwich is the crunchy bread and the spicy garlic, aoili mustard.   It is served with a side of chips tossed in spices.

The Salumi Plate: Unique cold cuts, enough to share

Shrimp and Polenta: This dish is big on taste.  The spicy shrimp with serrano pepper and beschamel sauce, contrasts perfectly with the creamy polenta.  We could have eaten this stuff all day.  Chef Aimee has captured simplicity and bold flavors with this offering.

Honorable mentions include bottled beers that are off the beaten path like Fullers ESB and La Fin Du Monde.

IN-HOUSE BEERS

On the beer front, Lock 27 plans to be broad in coverage, as opposed to genre specific.  It is their intention to celebrate all beer styles, not just be known for specific subgroups like “IPA” or “Belgian”.     Lock 27 will brew to a seasonal rotation,  so the first beers will be geared for summer.  What beers will be the first offerings?  Expect to see a “Summer Stout.”  They have worked hard on this recipe, so that it is appropriate for warmer weather.  It’s not heavy, rather a lighter body thirst quencher, that still maintains stout characteristics.  It is a cross between traditional English & Irish stouts, and not a big Russian Imperial.

Wheat Beer and its Creator

Also , they will be brewing 3 other beers.  A house British ESB (Extra Special Bitter), a Saison, and a Pacific North West inspired Session IPA should all be available in the next 3-4 weeks.  They even have a nickname for their brew kettle.  It is called Scarlett Brewhansson, please give her a visit.

So get your taste buds prepared and get ready to quench your thirst, because Lock 27 promises to be a hot spot this summer.    The addition of this restaurant just may make South Dayton the new Craft Beer headquarters of the Miami Valley.

Thank you to the management of Lock 27 for giving Food Adventures  access to this EXCLUSIVE scoop.   Make sure you tell the management,  The Big Ragu” sent you !”  Good drink and good food is what you can expect from Centerville’s newest restaurant.   Unique styles as opposed to the standard fare.  The spread of craft and high quality imports on tap alone will be an attraction, not to mention the brewery itself.  Will it be successful?  We think it’s a lock !

***CONTEST***  Please register below and comment on the story below and tell us why you want a $20 Gift Certificate to Lock 27.  One winner will be chosen at random on Monday !![form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Want more brew and chew than you can handle?  Visit Food Adventures on Facebook and “like” us HERE !

[flagallery gid=43 name=Gallery]

 

Filed Under: Dayton Dining, Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: 1035 s main st., 1035 south main st, aimee saling, Beer, Big Ragu, brewery, Centerville, Craft Beer, cuban, ESB, fin la monde, Food Adventure, Food Adventures, ham, hefe, ipa, Lock 27, Main Street, Microbrew, polenta, proscuitto, shrimp, Steve Barnhart, Stout, weizen, wheat

Friends of the Dayton Arcade Claim There’s A New Deal and Restoration Will Start Soon

June 13, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro 3 Comments

Arco12

The following email was sent out yesterday, and promises more news will be revealed soon….

Dear Patient Friend of the Dayton Arcade,

It is with the greatest joy and excitement that we share with you the news from Dayton Arcade LLC-Gunther Berg which we received this morning.  This is truly an historic day for Dayton!

An agreement between Gunther and the newly formed Dayton Arcade Development Group (DADG) has been reached which will allow the Arcade plan to move forward.  The partners and members will be named in the next few days.

An additional agreement concerning the unpaid property taxes on the Arcade Complex has been reached between the Dayton Arcade LLC and Montgomery County.

A timeline for work on the Arcade complex has been developed and it is anticipated that the long awaited restoration will begin soon.

Because of your interest in the future of the Arcade, your past support and great patience, Gunther wanted you to be among the first to hear this important news!

We anticipate more activity for Friends and will keep you as aware as possible as the project develops.

With great appreciation for your loyalty,

Sincerely,

Joanne Granzow, Maribeth Graham, Susan Gruenberg and Leon Bey, Founder and President

 

Filed Under: Community, The Featured Articles Tagged With: dayton arcade, Friends of the Dayton Arcade

Apply Now for Activated Spaces’ Pop-Up Fall Project

June 11, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Pop-up DotsFor those who have dreamed of opening their own business, now is the time to give it a try and the place to try it is downtown Dayton.

Activated Spaces, an initiative to fill downtown storefronts, is accepting applications for temporary retail and service businesses to open downtown this fall as part of the fifth phase of its Pop-up Project. The project matches business owners and entrepreneurs with downtown property owners who have first-floor storefront space available for occupancy.

Interested retailers should fill out an application, which can be downloaded at www.activatedspaces.org, and email it to Jen Cadieux at [email protected]. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, July 19. Tenants will be selected the week of July 29, and retailers must be ready to open no later than Friday, Sept. 20, in time for the fall Urban Nights.  

Lease lengths will range from three to six months. The spaces will have varying lease rates, but will be leased below market value. Activated Spaces volunteers will connect retailers with commercial property owners, help make the space move-in ready, and promote the business during such events as First Friday and Urban Nights. Selected businesses will negotiate leasing terms directly with the selected property owner, but flexibility for the tenant is a priority.

Activated Spaces volunteers hope to build on the success of the Pop-Up Project’s first four phases. Six of the businesses that have opened as part of the Pop-Up Project are still open: Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.; Peace on Fifth, 508 E. Fifth St.; American Pi, 37 S. St. Clair St.; Vintage Barbershop, 110 W. Fifth St.; Sew Dayton, 16 Brown St.; Green Baby, 31 S. St. Clair St.; and All Pilates, 27 S. St. Clair St.

Commercial property owners interested in offering space to Pop-Up Shop owners should contact Jen Cadieux at 937-224-1518. Participating property owners are on the Activated Spaces website. Once a match is made, a limited amount of money is available to be distributed at the discretion of the Activated Spaces team for such purposes as offsetting utility costs, making cosmetic improvements to the space or other necessities for making the space operational.

Activated Spaces, a volunteer-led initiative spearheaded by young professional organizations Generation Dayton and UpDayton, has three main goals:

• reactivate and beautify vacant storefronts with creative displays

• encourage entrepreneurs, artists and community groups to occupy space for short- and long- term uses

• showcase downtown properties and increase interest and investment in available space

Activated Spaces is part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown. Those interested in volunteering with Activated Spaces should e-mail [email protected].

Filed Under: Downtown Dayton, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Business, Dayton, Dayton Entrepreneurs, Dayton Ohio, Downtown Dayton, generation dayton, updayton

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