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Pedals 4 Pancakes: How bicycle commuting can change your life

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Join Five Rivers MetroParks for the annual Bike to Work Day Pancake Breakfast, 6-9 a.m. Friday, May 18, at RiverScape MetroPark. Details at www.metroparks.org/biketowork

Who’s got two thumbs and can help save the world while saving some dough and burning calories? This girl! And that guy, and that girl, and that girl, and especially that polydactyl guy. That’s right, anyone can accomplish this earth-friendly laundry list simply by biking to work. Celebrate your two-wheeled liberation on Friday, May 18, with a free pancake breakfast at RiverScape MetroPark, compliments of your outdoorsy pals at Five Rivers MetroParks.

Since gaining status as a bronze-level bike-friendly berg, Dayton’s cycling population has grown. New initiatives include the City of Dayton’s program that will place 100 new bike racks in strategic downtown locations. Following in the footsteps of other cities that have proven the “if-you-build-it-they-will-come” strategy is effective, the bike racks should provide ample parking to some of downtown’s coolest spots. Bonus—no more circling the block like a parking space vulture or endless see-sawing as you attempt to squeeze your four-door sedan into a parallel spot that could barely accommodate the recently vacated Geo Metro.

Besides ample parking right next to your destination, swapping your car for the bike has myriad benefits. Let’s talk economics. Let’s say you fill your 14-gallon tank once every two weeks. If gas prices were to stay at a reasonable $3.50 per gallon (maybe there’s no turmoil in the Middle East because everyone went on vacation?), you spend about $1,274 a year on gas. Reduce that cost by putting your foot to the pedal instead of the pedal to the metal. Studies show us that 25 percent of all trips are made within a mile of the home, 40 percent of all trips are within 2 miles of the home, and 50 percent of the working population commutes 5 miles or less to work—yet 82 percent of these trips made that are 5 miles or less are made by motor vehicle!

Photo by Elzora.com Photography

What if you used a bike for those short trips? Even if you start small—one trip 2 miles away or less once a week for a year—you can still save some money. In my beautiful hypothetical world where gas prices hover at $3.50, you could save about $50 a year! If this doesn’t seem like a lot of money to you, please send all your extra cash my way because I’d love an extra $50 a year. I’d stop in the middle of the street to pick up a quarter!

If the wallet surplus isn’t enough motivation, how about the health aspect? Steady cycling burns approximately 300 calories per hour. If you cycle for 30 minutes every day you would burn 11 pounds of fat in a year. (This solves the mystery of how those bike commuters pack away thousands of flapjacks at our bike to work event every year and manage to avoid stretching out their spandex.) Bad knees you say? Pish posh! The Mayo Clinic suggests adding exercise like cycling to increase your mobility if you suffer from arthritis or other types of joint pain. Any way you slice it, using your bike is beneficial.

What? Being rich and fit don’t rank high on your personal goals? What if I told you cycling could make the world a better place? Recent studies reveal big payouts for bike-friendly cities. Researchers reviewed the effects of using a bike instead of a car in 11 different cities around the upper Midwest. Combining data on air quality, medical costs, mortality rates, car accidents and physical fitness, the research team discovered that if residents of the sample cities used bikes for just half of their short trips (less than 5 miles), they’d create a net societal health benefit of $3.5 billion annually from reduced air pollution, and net $3.8 billion in health care savings from those Midwest denizens being so trim.

Find a bikeway near you: www.metroparks.org/cycling

Of course because this is a Five Rivers MetroParks initiative, there is another ecological angle here. Those who drive 5 miles to work daily produce roughly 1860 pounds of greenhouse gases (CO2) into the atmosphere each year. It would take 133 fully matured trees per year to absorb those yearly emissions. Think about that for a second. Imagine planting 133 trees for your car alone. Now think about how many of your fellow commuters you see each day. We need another 133 trees to off-set the carbon from all those vehicles, and unless we’re willing to grow trees on a Cambrian-era level, we’re going to have to find ways to reduce our pollution.

If you think you have what it takes to start bike commuting but you’re not confident enough in your skills to make it to this Friday’s pancake breakfast, try taking the bike commuting class from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23. This program will include bike terminology, commuting equipment and trip and bike preparation. You’ll also get an overview of traffic laws, potential hazards, safe-riding skills and proper route planning.

Use the bike instead of the car. Start small—commute one short trip once a week and see how you like it. Uneasy about traffic rules? Check out the monthly Courteous Mass rides. This group-led ride will orient you to the rules of the road (Rule #1: Bikes are recognized as “vehicles” in the eyes of the law, so not only is it your right to ride on the road, it’s your legal obligation) in a safe environment. The group meets around 5:30 p.m. at Fifth Third Field on the first Friday of each month. Get in gear for your health, your finances and the environment!

Art in the Window

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Activated Spaces is back at it. Just in time for Urban Nights (whoo-hoo!), ten new art displays are up filling once-vacant storefront windows. As you’re out an about enjoying the food, music, fun, festivities, action, art, entertainment and more that comes with Urban Nights, keep your eyes open for Activated Spaces windows.  Just another way that downtown Dayton is becoming vibrant before your eyes – 10 art installations at a time.

From Activated Spaces:

It’s a brand-new season for Activated Spaces Street Team artists. This session’s theme is “Naturally Dayton.” We challenged local artists to  to focus on our beautiful outdoor assets.  Whether it’s a favorite spot is along the rivers, in a park, or a lush rooftop garden, we wanted to see unique perceptions of Dayton’s natural appeal.

And, boy, did they deliver! The great creativity, technical capability and unique visions of our artistic community are filling storefronts downtown starting on Urban Nights (5/11/12). Visit each window and find out how local artists interpreted this prompt to show off Dayton’s best natural features. Vote for your favorite by May 31!

Visit 100 E Third Street for:

Stop by Talbott Tower (131 N Ludlow) to see:

  • Philipe M. Payne’s triple pane glass visions of “MIAMI RiVERE DAYTON”
  • Spire Arts “Natural Dayton” installation to showcase work by artists affiliated with the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services.
  • Talia Shade’s view of how industry mixes with nature to form “Consolidation.”

See photography in Main Street Garage (223 N. Main) by:

Check out Biltmore Tower (210 N. Main) for:

  • The Dayton Creative Syndicate’s showcase of PNC’s Second Street Public Market for natural food and fun in “A Taste of Dayton”

Visit all of these great spots to see local art beautifying our city and vote for your favorite to win the People’s Choice Award! Thanks to our talented artists who explored our region through the theme Naturally Dayton and shared their vision of the parks, gardens, shops, farms, neighborhoods and more.

PLUS: Out of love for the project and sharing her art, interior designer Tracy Kraft’s great work is filling the Ohio EPA office at 401 E. Fifth Street. Tracy has added beauty to this window in the Oregon District and brightened up the day of many walking by. (See featured photo)

Tapping In!

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Like a beer lover’s Christmas…for a week!

You may not be aware of it, but we live in a Golden Age of beer. Outside of the major players in the beer game, there are just fewer than 2,000 craft breweries in the United States. It is estimated that majority of Americans live within ten miles of one of them. In the not too distant future, that will be true of Dayton as well, with the opening of the Toxic Brew Company. That number has come a long way since the 1970’s, when there were around forty breweries in the United States, and the dominant beer was the German style lager in the tradition of Budweiser. If you were looking for anything outside of that, you would have to find an expensive import. That is why the week of 14th to the 20th of May has been declared American Craft Beer Week by the Brewer’s Association. It is a time to celebrate craft brewing in all of its small batch glory.

There are three major criteria for what the Brewer’s Association considers a craft beer brewery.  The brewery in question has to be small, producing six million barrels of beer or less. To give you some idea of that size, Anheuser-Busch InBev sold 17.7 million barrels of Budweiser in 2011. Almost 18 million barrels of just one beer. Sam Adams, in comparison, sold 2.5 million barrels of all their fifty four beers released in 2011 combined.  The brewery has to be independent, meaning that less than 25% of the brewery can be owned by a member of the alcohol industry. Goose Island ceased to be a craft brewer when it became part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev Empire. Even if the holding company does nothing to the beer, it is not independent. It should also be traditional, having its flagship beer be all malt, or at least half of all its beers being malt-based. They also look for innovation, making sure that brewers are always pushing the edges of the styles to improve the product. And most craft brewers, since they depend on locaholics to spread the word of their product, tend to be very heavily involved in their community. This blend of distinct characteristics (small, independent, traditional, and passionate) creates a blueprint for a typical craft brewery.

The craft beer movement really did not begin until the 1980’s. In colonial times and up to the late 19th century, all breweries were local. They may have spread a little further than their own county, but with the limited technology of the day, they did not keep well and they did not travel quickly. It was not until the birth of the railroad and the advent of the refrigerated car that a beer was able to jump up and take over the country. Adolphus Busch was the man that made this leap (as well as a few others), and created a beer that was the same from New York to San Francisco. The big breweries, like Miller, Coors, Pabst, and others, grew from this point, crowding out all of the smaller competition. This downward spiral, aided by Prohibition, killed small breweries until 1965, when Fritz Maytag revived the Anchor Steam Brewing Company. Ken Grossman started to cobble together (literally) the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, using his passion for brewing and his knowledge of chemistry and engineering to create his beer. It was not until 1980 that the world saw its first drinkable batch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Six years after that, the Boston Brewing Company was born, and Samuel Adams became part of a wave of breweries that swept the nation. That wave has been building over the last fifteen years, and does not show any sign of stopping. It has grown so  big there are even social sites where people can share the beers they love, one of the bigger ones being Untappd, where you can check in to each beer, rate it, tweet it, and even include where you are enjoying it so others may try it.

Can you pick the most delicious beer from this line up?

Of course, you are going to want to celebrate this week. Before you start celebrating, you should write down that Ohio Brew Week is June 22-30 in Athens, OH and our own Dayton Beer Week is August 18-25. For this coming week, there are plenty of great places to check out craft brews in Dayton. Downtown, the Trolley Stop has a wonderful selection of craft beers, as well as a beer tasting on the first Wednesday of every month. If they seem a little full, you can walk down the street a little and check out Lucky’s  Tap Room. They have eighteen beers on tap, and a hand book they give you to make sure you have an idea of what each one tastes like. Blind Bob’s also has a marvelous selection of craft beers  and food, and is also within stumbling distance in the Oregon District. If you are looking for something a little further afield, the South Park Tavern has an amazing selection of craft beers on tap and by the bottle, as well as a fairly extensive selection in bottles and live music most days of the week. Traveling further south and closer to the Dayton Mall brings you to Chappy’s Tap Room and Grille. While Lucky’s has a good sized book of beers, Chappy’s has a novel. They also have some beer clubs you can join, so you can benefit from trying their rotating beer taps and work your way onto their Beer Wall of Fame. If you are looking to travel a little north of the city, there is Boston’s Bistro, “where bier tasting is an art.” They have an extensive and always rotating list of bottle and draught beers, as well as food specials every night of the week. If you are looking to just bring some beers home to try, Belmont Party Supply is the place to go. They offer a wide variety of six packs and single bottles of beer, and they are the ones that run the beer tasting for the Trolley Stop. So they really know their brews.

You can even go out next week and have fine craft beers for a good cause!  The Big Brews and Blues Festival will be going on Friday, May 18th to benefit Dayton Diabetes.  There will be over thirty craft beers for you to sample, as well as good food and live blues music to listen to. It is a great way to end the work week and support local charity. You can even get the heads of this esteemed website serving beer to you! Celebrity bartending at its finest.  With all of these options for the week of the American Craft Beer week, what is going to stop you from broadening your beer palate? And if you have a beer you think people should be trying next week, leave a note in the comments. Cheers!

 

Getting Fresh and Organic with The Food Adventures Crew

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Green B.E.A.N Delivers Fresh Fruit and Vegetables to Your Door

Farmer’s Markets are more popular than ever in a time when our country has an increasing desire for organic food products. People are more aware now than ever of the food they put into their bodies and are striving to improve their dietary habits.  Food Adventures is always trying new things.

You have seen the word “organic” placed on food labels, but what does it mean? Conventional foods can carry harmful pesticides and are fertilized with synthetic chemicals. Organic foods use natural fertilizers, devoid of synthetic pesticides. If you buy organic, you are decreasing your families’ risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. Organic foods also help reduce the amount of agricultural chemicals that affect wildlife and water quality, and organic produce also protect one of our nation’s most valuable resources — top soil. It’s something to keep in mind the next time you are buying produce, and a reason why Farmer’s Markets have been so successful over the years.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to them.  Food Adventures is grateful for the farm markets in Dayton.

We would like to introduce you to Green B.E.A.N. Delivery.  Sort of a “Farmer’s Market on wheels.” Green B.E.A.N. was started up by three college
friends from Indiana University in 2007, Matt Ewer, Beth Blessing, and John Freeland.  Their common goal is to provide healthy, local food and make it more convenient, accessible, and affordable. B.E.A.N. stands for: Biodynamic, Education, Agriculture, Nutrition(Try saying that fast three times fast!).  Green B.E.A.N. is a grassroots effort; a network of farmers and artisans providing customers with organic and locally made products. John Freeland is the Vice President of Green B.E.A.N. Delivery and contacted us to try out what they have to offer.

Orders are Delivered in Green B.E.A.N Coolers

We went to the Green B.E.A.N. Delivery website and set up our accounts. We found the website to be easy to navigate and place orders.  They have various
produce bins ranging in price from $35 to $49. They also have a ‘break-room bin’ which helps encourage healthy eating in the office.  You can also customize your order by choosing from forty different items that are in season. We decided to let Green B.E.A.N. send us whatever they wanted…..mystery is always more fun!

When the time came for our delivery, we were greeted at the door by a big green bin.  Food Adventure time !!!  This was exciting — like having a farmer’s market delivered right to the front door.  We both opened our bins like kids open up presents on Christmas Day.  Inside sits a cooler with an ice pack so your produce remains cool if you have to work a long day.  We ordered the $35 bin and were impressed with the amount of produce received.  Some of the produce we received included: broccoli, carrots, celery, mangos, avocado, grapefruit, apples, tomatoes, asparagus, potatoes, lemons, spinach, green beans, onions, and pears all fresh and ready to eat! Green B.E.A.N. Delivery also has an option to add groceries to the bins.  Some of the items offered include: dairy, meats, eggs, cupcakes, bulk foods, and beverages.

Lots of Fresh, Organic and Healthy Items to Choose From

When you sign up for Green B.E.A.N, you can choose to receive your bins either weekly or bi-weekly and you can cancel your membership at any time. The bins can either be delivered or you may choose to pick them up. Delivery areas include: Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, Louisville, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus. If you don’t see your location on the delivery map, give them a call at (513) 761-BEAN (Cincinnati-Dayton) or (614) 352-2845 (Columbus). Check out the website for membership information, recipes, and the online store.

We were very impressed with the quality of produce that we received and highly recommend Green B.E.A.N. Delivery. We would like to thank John Freeland of Green B.E.A.N. for allowing us to take part in a delectable delivery.  We received some incredibly fresh produce delivered right to our front doors without a glitch! Give Green B.E.A.N. Delivery a try by contacting them at www.greenbeandelivery.com or by phone.  Try going organic to improve your health and buy local to help out our communities!

Have you used Green B.E.A.N. yet?  If  so,  please comment below.

Dont forget to visit FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK and “like” our page by clicking HERE ![album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/greenBean/]

 

The Invisible Becomes Visible – This American Life Hits the Big Screen

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Radio Spectacular Comes To The Big Screen Via This American Life Live!

On May 10 the ultimate “shared experience” will be simulcast in over 550 theaters between the US and Canada as PRI’s award winning show, This American Life (TAL) brings radio to the big screen for the third time! TAL host and executive producer (and public radio rockstar) Ira Glass, serves as ring master for the cinematic event broadcasting live from NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in NYC. The Invisible Made Visible is the theme for this production, starring a veritable “whose who” of the public radio culture!

For starters, there are feature stories from Ira Glass himself, as well as regular contributors David Sedaris and David Rakoff and yet another regular, Mike Birbiglia, throws in a short film into the mix. Also joining these TAL all stars is the host of NPR’s Snap Judgment, Glynn Washington, as well as comic Tig Notaro, author Ryan Knighton (to the delight of Canadian TAL fans) and live music with audience interactive Android / iPhone App performance by the band OK Go. Original animation and projected illustrations will be sprinkled throughout the show plus special surprise guests!

BUT WAIT! There’s MORE! What, you may be asking yourself, would a radio show be without dance?  The Monica Bill Barnes & Company of New York is not only featured in this performance, but was the motivation behind bringing This American Life back into the cinema!  In a recent interview, Glass recounts how inspired he was while attending a live performance of Monica Bill Barnes & Company for the first time…

“There was something about they way they did their performance that reminded me of our radio show. There was something about the personality of it and the way the dances unfolded. They were just very good actors. The pieces seemed to be about moments of awkwardness and anxiety and the thought flashed in my head.” Glass went on to say that, “Our audience would really be into this, it’s just like our radio show…but it’s entirely visual, maybe we should think about doing another cinema event.”

I asked him how long it took from the actual moment of inspiration to the concrete production of this live show. He was surprisingly specific…

“I saw the dance show (I’m pulling it up on my calendar as we speak) June 4th, 2011, but we didn’t really decide to do it until September.” He cites being in ‘infinite editing mode’ on a Birbiglia film during the Fall of 2011 and preparing for the January 2012 Sundance Film Festival, for putting this live event momentarily on the back burner.

Yet, this moment of inspiration led Glass into a parallel universe to produce The Invisible Made Visible. For the better part of the last year, while continuing to work on the radio show, Glass found himself in “the weirdest period of my life” approving drafts from Disney animators, attending dance rehearsals, as well as working with the band OK Go in developing an interactive iPhone & Android app. To heighten the shared experience, the vision for the music app is to include 50,000 audience members in a musical performance with OK Go, similar to the bands 2012 interactive music video, Needing/Getting which aired as a Chevrolet commercial during the Superbowl.

“We basically tried to invent things that you could never do on the radio.” – Ira Glass

This production is not the only cinematic venture in the life of Ira Glass. In the summer of 2011 he co-wrote and shot a feature film with humorist and author Mike Birbiglia titled Sleepwalk With Me, which is based on Birbiglia’s This American Life piece of the same name which, in turn, was developed into a book and one man show. In January of this year Sleepwalk With Me received an audience award at Sundance Film Festival and will be go into general release August 24, 2012.

When asked what his thoughts were pertaining to the Invisible Made Visible project, he laughingly said, “I wished for a multi media adventure and I got my wish!”

When I asked Ira if fans could look forward to these cinematic/multimedia events on a regular basis, say every two years or so, he gave an enthusiastic nervous laugh, saying, “I have no idea if we’ll ever do it again! It is such an ambitious sort of undertaking that with all the animations and movies and things like that, it’s either going to be the most AMAZING thing that we have ever put on, or, it’s going to be a complete train wreck! There’s no middle ground! It’s going to be the greatest triumph of the shows history OR we will always look back on this day as the WORST thing that we ever attempted. Nothing in between is possible!” (more nervous laughter) “That is my promise to the audience!”

Judging from the success of the radio show, the brief stint of This American Life on Showtime and the last two cinema events, Glass doesn’t have much to worry about. The financial weight of this, the third, live show is much less daunting than the previous one in 2009. That entire production was funded from the pockets of TAL and was an extreme business risk.

“This time we’re doing it for the purest of reasons. It seemed like it would be fun for the audience and fun for us.” – Ira Glass

Even with the hefty price tag of such a production for a cinematic event like this, the thought of the possible higher revenue from Pay Per View is not as attractive to Glass as one might think. The impetus for taking on such a huge endeavor such as this may be explained by something Glass had been witness to in the past. As a huge fan of Howard Stern, Ira recalled how magical it felt to be in a theater with other fans and the moment of sharing the standing “O” when Stern entered the theater.

“One of the big advantages to doing it in a movie theater is, I know that when we’ve done our show live on stage, it’s exciting for people who are fans of a radio show to get together with a group of people who are fans of the same show.” Glass said.

Glass respects the intelligence of  the audience of This American Life, and leaves it up them to discern the difference between journalism and story telling. Briefly touching on the recent controversial Mike Daisey episode, Mr. Daisey Goes to the Apple Factory and the following retraction show in March 2012, Glass spoke to issues of fact checking and the responsibility of shows that deliver a mix of off beat news through entertainment.

Pertaining to the pitfalls that can occur with a show such as TAL, Glass said, “Truthfully, I would like to believe that the audience is sophisticated enough that they can tell the difference and that we don’t have to cue them.”

Even in light of his high regard for the audience, technical concerns and complicated timing during this live show is nerve wracking.

“I feel confidence in the material but, it’s a very complicated tech thing to pull off and so I feel very nervous about that.” Glass expounded on that thought by saying, “I feel confident or I wouldn’t be doing a show…but I go into it very, very worried. It’s also the excitement of doing things you’ve never done. Hopefully, with fear comes enjoyment.”

With all the anxiety that comes with producing such an ambitious event, Glass is equally excited about the format. He loves the energy and reaction of a live audience versus being in a sound proof production booth.

“It’s exciting to be on stage in front of people, especially with material that you’re excited to present! Maybe this is a bad thing to say because we have all these people collaborating, but I am most excited about my own part of the show.” Glass went on, saying, “I’m most excited about the parts I get to perform! There’s a story I get to tell at the top of the show and there’s another one in the middle of the show and their both going to be really fun to perform!” Taking on a giddy tone, his inner geek came out while talking about mixing music, quotes and cues live with an iPad. “It’s really fun to do!”

“I feel like we’ve been doing promos on the air and try to express to the audience, ‘No, no! I know I’ve promoted other things but this one is really unusual and special!’ and I don’t know how to wave my arms around enough and say, ‘We’re pulling all the stops out here! Even stops we didn’t know existed!’” Glass added, “I want to communicate to the audience, ‘We’re not kidding this time! You’re not going to want to miss this one!’ The stuff we’re making for the show is so exciting! The animation and the movie that Mike Birbiglia did…they’re so exciting that it’s really hard not to just show (it to) those to people and say, ‘See what we’re talking about?!?’…but then we don’t want to spoil it.”

Dayton, Ohio witnessed this “live” mix in the flesh last May (2011) when Ira performed his solo act at Victoria Theater, in support of WYSO. I was fortunate enough to be in the first class of WYSO’s  Community Voices as a producer training. Ira conducted our last class the afternoon before his show. He had a lot of great stories and practical advice. One thing that stands out with me even today was his advice on finding stories, which was pretty simple actually: “Do stories on things that amuse you.”

This American Life has always had its finger on the pulse of what amuses people. Whether it’s tragic or comical, it draws us in. They have done what radio of the past has done; given a shared experience using only sound. This live show is the rare event to bring us the sight that goes with it.

Things you should know before attending the show:

~ Dayton showings are at Regal Hollywood 20 at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, Dayton South 16 (near Dayton Mall), and Huber Heights 16. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased in advance here: http://www.fathomevents.com/originals/event/thisamericanlife2012.aspx

~ If you have an iPhone or Android and would like to participate in the live interactive “OK Go” performance, (imagine being encouraged to loudly use your phone in a theater), you need to get the App before going to the theater. Cell phone reception is poor in theaters for a reason, so don’t wait to download your App in the theater. You can get it via iTunes or the App store or for easier linkage, go here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/blog/2012/04/download-the-live-show-app

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Dayton Circus Sideshow Lucky 7

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Laurana Wong performs at Sideshow I

In 2006, local artist Laurana Wong had a vision to “expose the burgeoning underground art scene and interconnect it with the more established art community while bringing attention to Downtown Dayton through a grand-scaled and highly public display of the art that is so ripe in this town. The event will be free of charge and open to as wide of a population as we can reach. The guests will be at least as diverse as the involved…”  And that year in a vacant space in the Cannery, Sideshow was born.

This was (and still is) the quintessential do-it-yourself grassroots independent local art show in the region.  Artists and volunteers came together to prepare a vacant space that had collected decades debris and dirt.  A stage was built, walls for hanging art were added, a dumpster was filled – and through it all, tight bonds were formed between dozens of local artists all coming together to organize an awesome event.  That night on June 24th, over 60 artists and performers (including Laurana herself) put on an amazing show that had people mesmerized and speechless, with many shaking their heads in disbelief that they were “still in Dayton” – a phrase uttered at each of the following Sideshows that speaks both to how strong our independent arts community is, and how many in the region are still unaware.  After that first wildly successful Sideshow, The Dayton Circus Creative Collective was born, with a simple mission: “The Circus is dedicated to building a nourishing environment that will encourage community interaction, artistic collaboration, and the empowerment of the individual. We offer a place to create, perform, and share freely in the experience of living.”

Leesa Haapapuro - "Pot Luck"

Sideshow has moved around to different locations over the years, with one of the most popular venues being The Merc on Third Street across and down from The Cannery.  Next was the old Unicorn Bar at Third and Jefferson, then The Armory in the OD – and finally now at the permanent home to the Dayton Circus – The Yellow Cab Building across and down from Garden Station at 700 E. Fourth St.  This 7,300 square foot space was built in 1964 and has a mix of spaces including a large garage area, artist studios, community meeting rooms and event spaces.

This year on Friday, May 11 (Urban Nights), and Saturday, May 12  the Dayton Circus Creative Collective will present its annual multimedia extravaganza, Sideshow 7 – which will feature work by more than 50 artists and more than 20 acts by performers and bands. In addition, there will also be performance art on Friday, and a fashion show and fire spinners on Saturday evening. Admission is free, but donations will accepted to support The Sideshow and the Circus.

I talked to this year’s co-organizer Kate Ervin about Sideshow 7…

DMM: What will make this Sideshow different from past Sideshows?

Kate: All our Sideshows vary year to year based on the tastes of the organizers and locations. Since this our second year in our semi-permanent home at the Yellow Cab, we’ve been able to settle in a bit and make the space more comfortable, rather than working with a completely abandoned shell of a building. In recent years, I’ve wondered if the general public associated The Sideshow with Dayton’s very large dark/goth/horror scene, however we truly don’t intend to highlight any one subculture. Therefore I’ve made it my mission to fill the building with nothing but fun this year, with rainbow color, cartoons, and good luck symbols for our seventh year!

DMM: Why do YOU think people across the region should check out Sideshow?

Kate: As a community-based arts festival, you’re likely to experience the creativity of your friends and neighbors. Even more, YOU are invited to participate in any manner you see fit, whether or not you are an “artist”–we welcome the contributions of everyone (shameless plug for volunteering – click here!)

DMM: What are you personally looking forward most to seeing?

Kate: I’m especially proud of the artists who have taken up my call to “go big” and make interactive installations to transform the space. A trio of street artists–ETCH, Nate Harrah, and Neal Chaney–have been working long nights on a giant Rube Goldbergy/Plinko machine that will predict your future. Kat Keller, an MFA student at OSU, created an outdoor “sensory experience” room with lighting, sound, and visuals. Leesa Haapapuro stepped up to build and cater our food table this year, making it a beautifully-designed carnival game.

 

Dayton Most Metro is proud to be the Media Sponsor this year!!!

Performance Schedule for Sideshow 7

Friday May 12

6:00-6:30 Emevol

6:30-7:15 Father’s Day

Todd The Fox (with Lisa BunnyFooFoo) Photo Credit: Val Slayton

7:15-8:00 Todd The Fox

8:00-8:45 The Fair Shakes

8:45-9:30 Dan Raridan & The Calientes

9:30-10:15 C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks

10:15-11:00 The Show

11:00-11:30 Vag Speak

11:30-12:15 Jasper The Colossal

Jasper the Colossal - Photo Credit: Amanda Barbosa

12:15-1:00 The White Soots

 

Saturday May 12th

6:00-6:25 Two Suns

6:25-6:55 The Low Land Healers

6:55-7:25 Haunted Palace

7:25-8:05 Northwest Ordinance

8:05-8:15 Atomik Geisha Fashions

8:15-8:55 Skratchmatik with the Funk Lab Crew

8:55-9:05 Daddy Katz Fashions

9:05-9:45 Starving In The Belly Of The Whale

9:45-9:55 Nina Kahn Fashions

Dirty Socialites

9:55-10:40 Tim Pritchard and The Boxcar Suite

10:40-10:50 Cachet G! Fashions

10:50-11:30 Lurchbox

11:30-12:15 The Dirty Socialites

12:15-1:00 Oxymoronatron

 

Artist Lineup for Sideshow 7

Nicholaus Arnold

Josh Arnold

Kristin Bailey

Gary Blowers

Blue Sky Tech-Arts Collaborative (Terry Welker, Christina, Pereyma, Rodney Veal, Teresa Olivaria, James Balmer, Denise Brooks, and others)

Neal Chaney

Jennifer Clarke

Matt Coffee

Alessandro Cortez

Jeff Dabney

Laura Daniel

Megan Dooley-Smallwood

Jen Dyke

Kate Ervin

ETCH

Summer Rose Fig

Cherry Fullam

Christine Gaffney

Charlie Gast

Stephanie Gorby

Mike Guidone

Amber Gwin

Leesa Haapapuro

Don Habill

Nate Harrah

James Hayden

Steve Heman

Amanda Jasnowski

David Jewell

Kat Keller

Micah Kemplin

David Kenworthy

Braille Korp

Crystal Leisure

Christina Lewis

Richard Duerr Lober

Joey London

Melissa Lush

Agatha MacAlpine

Shayna McConville

Ali Troubadour

Tracy McElfresh

Sarah McLain

Sharon Middelchylde

Chesterton David Miller

Jonathan Missall

Gary Mitchell

Sharon Mohler

Lisa Newman

Michael Officer

Michael Profitt

Rachael A. Redolfi

Bill Reid

Heather Lea Reid

Ben Riddlebarger

Ron Rollins

Katherine Schwab

David Sloane

David Sparks

Spyder

Frank Travers

Julia Trimboli

Wendy Wagener-Harris

Tamra Wallace

Tom Watson III

Patrick Woehl

A Lawyer Walks Into A Comedy Club…

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Many of you may know that for years I owned a comedy club here in town.  Folks are always asking me who’s funny and to tell them when someone good is coming to town.  That’s hard for me to do, for a couple of reasons.  One- after 20+ years of seeing comic’s I became very jaded, what makes me laugh tends to be the obscure or the sick deviant stuff.  Another is that I really prefer to know what you like before I recommend someone.  I can send you to see  a squeaky clean show, political satire or  silly song parodies, but not every show is for everybody.  Every now and then there’s an act that I think is pretty all encompassing and this week the Funny Bone at The Greene has him, Paul Mecurio.  He’s an emmy winner for his work on The Daily Show!

Here’s what the Huffington Post has to say about Paul:

Paul Mecurio took an interesting route to becoming a comedian, beginning his career on Wall Street as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer and moonlighting in the clubs. Now he headlines comedy clubs around the country. Most recently, Paul launched Got No Game with Paul Mecurio, a new web series on HBOSports.com which tackles the world of sports with a comical look at the compelling stories and outrageous events away from the field through original sketches and one-on-one interviews. New episodes of Got No Game with Paul Mecurio will post each Friday through September 4.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JHDaq1yU9U&feature=relmfu’]
Mecurio has been featured on his own “Comedy Central Presents” half-hour special and has made numerous TV appearances including Late Night with Conan O’Brien,The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CNN, MSNBC, and many others. For his work as a writer on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Paul won both an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award (the Pulitzer prize for broadcast journalism). When he’s not on the road, Paul frequently opens for live tapings of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? Paul can also be heard on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show. As the “Image Makeover Guy” on Bob & Tom, Paul doles out advice on how public figures can improve their images. Paul’s “Consumer Man” pieces about life as a frequently aggravated consumer have been featured on Bob & Tom and in The New York Times Magazine.

You probably  know I do an interview with local Chefs called 10 ?’s.   Paul wanted to know if I could interview him to help get the word out that he’d be here, so  I sent him my 1o ?’s.  Here ‘s what he shot me back in 2 minutes.  And that’s a record for quickest answers!

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

Bob Costas interviews Paul as an "asterisk"

OXYCODONE–IT TRANSPORTS THE FOOD … AND YOU!

What ingredient do you dread?

URANIUM, VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH AS A REDUCTION SAUCE

What’s your favorite dish to make? 

CHEF BOYARDEE RAVIOLI … NOW IF I CAN JUST FIND SOMEONE TO OPEN THE CAN FOR ME, IT WOULD BE PERFECT

What’s your favorite pig out food?

PIZZA, ICE CREAM AND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, ALL AT ONCE … I;M A BUSY MAN

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

THERE’S S A GREAT DUMPSTER AT FIFTH STREET & WAYNE AVE

What’s your best advice for home chefs?

FLAME RETARDANT JOCK STRAP.

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

3 GANG MEMBERS AND DONALD TRUMP, SO I COULD WATCH THEM BEAT UP DONALD TRUMP WHILE I EAT — DINNER AND A SHOW.

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?

THE COLONEL –COME ON ELEVN HERBS AND SPICES?  ELEVEN!  THE MAN’S A GENIUS

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?

READ THIS BLOG POST AND WEEP.

(though I seem to remember some nights we spent at Diamonds with the Jokers staff…)

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:

I WAS COOKING PASTA AND FORGOT TO PUT WATER IN THE POT-THE PASTA WAS A LITTLE UNDERCOOKED.
So go check Paul out this week at Funny Bone, make reservations, shows do sell out and tell ’em Lisa sent you!  But remember there’s a 2 item minimum and don’t heckle, you’re never gonna be as funny as the pro’s and Paul is one of the best!

Architecture Week 2012 – Dining by Design

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AIA Dayton, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has been celebrating Architecture Week with 2 full weeks of events and invites the public to join them for 2 events this week that will highlight the urban culture of some of our favorite bars, restaurants and galleries.

Join a historic Bar Hop on Tues, May 8th from 6-9pm. You’ll Laugh and Learn as your tour guide, Terry Welker, AIA and Alexis Larson (former culture writer for the DDN and now with the Dayton Art Institute) give you a history of some of

Dayton’s oldest bars, artifacts, brewing and distilling history.  Tour will start at The Century with a history of the bar, bourbon history and tasting. Next you’ll

go to Jay’s for more Dayton bar history and the new Dayton Beer Company tasting.  Lastly we’ll head to the Oregon Express to see the famous train bar and relax on the upper deck as we watch the sunset with some craft beers and OE Pizza. Cost: $45/person. RSVP with form located  here.

 

Perhaps you’d prefer to “Sustain that smile” as your local art guides give you the highlights of Dayton’s art scene, give insights on collecting art and help you tap into the creative side of life over a private dinner at the acclaimed “Olive – an Urban Dive” whose locally sustainable food sources are magically transformed into seasonal masterpieces on Thurs, May 10th.  This tour will start at DVAC with the opening of Art & Arias where we see the new show and connect with the Dayton Opera over a glass of wine.  Next you’ll head to the New CADC and the Oregon District for a short stop at the Color of Energy on the way to Gallery 510 where gallery owner Loretta Puncer shares her insights on collecting for beginners and long standing patrons over a glass of wine.  Finally, we’ll stop briefly by Press, a coffee house gallery on our way to Olive for a relaxing private dinner party starting at 9:00pm.

 

Time: 6:00 – 10:00 PM

Leaders: Terry Welker AIA and Eva Buttacavoli (Executive Director for the Dayton Visual Arts Center)

Tour Maximum: 28 + 2 guides

Venues: DVAC, Color of Energy, CADC, Gallery 510, Press, Olive

Charge: $58 per person

Includes wine and appetizers, dinner at Olive

 

These events require a fee and this registration form sent via fax (937‐698‐6153) or email to the AIA Dayton office at [email protected].

 

The Mexican Connection

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No, really, this is how everyone dresses.

Cinco de Mayo is upon us! It is going to be a fun weekend of partying on Saturday, and recovering on Sunday. Cinco de Mayo is the day where we celebrate the heritage of Mexico, and their contributions to the culture of the United States, mainly through Corona and tequila.  We have been celebrating this holiday…well, in California…since the 1860’s. It did not really catch on as a holiday in most of the rest of the country until the 1940’s and 50’s. It really kicked into high gear in the 1980’s when beer and liquor companies discovered that there was a holiday their product could be integral in celebrating. The momentum has been growing ever since. In 2005 Congress (who it would appears loves a good party) wrote a resolution calling on the President to ask the people of the United States to celebrate the holiday. It had been going on for a long time before that, but now we had the blessing of the government to party.

Why on earth are we celebrating this holiday anyway? What is so special about the fifth of May? By the end of the 1850’s Mexico was flat broke. So broke, the president at the time, Benito Juarez, declared they country was not going to pay any foreign debt for two years. France, Spain, and England did not look too kindly on this, and sent their respective militaries to let the Mexicans know this. England and Spain sailed home after negotiating deals, but the French saw an opportunity to make a huge land grab in a destitute country. The Mexicans brought together a poorly trained army to face the well trained French one in a little town called Puebla de Los Angeles on May 5, 1862. The Mexicans were able to drive off the French in a battle that lasted all day. It was more of a symbolic victory; France brought more troops and ran roughshod over the country until the United States helped to drive the French out. Some historians feel that this little battle also helped to distract France from throwing their weight behind the Confederacy in the Civil War, who they had considered backing.

We celebrate this day like champs. There are festivals and parades in over 120 cities, and most people spend all day eating Mexican dishes and drinking Mexican beers and tequila. The Mexicans, however, do not really celebrate it outside of Puebla, where there are military parades and reenactments of the battle. Some places outside of Puebla enjoy some festivities, but not on the scale that we do in the United States.

So delicious looking...

Most people are going to go after a small number of drinks on this day. They will hit the Coronas, or maybe Dos Eqius, have a few shots of tequila, or maybe indulge in some margaritas. However, there is a much wider world of cocktails that are out there that use tequila. And other beers more popular than Corona. If we are going to celebrate Mexican heritage, let us take a look at what Mexican like to drink:

The Paloma

We all may be fans of the margarita when we go for authentic Mexican, but in Mexico their popular cocktail of choice is this one. And why not? It is made with simple and commonly found ingredients, and does not require any complicated preparations.

2 oz. tequila
.5 oz. lime juice
6 oz. Grapefruit soda (go with Jarritos for the holiday)

In a tall glass, combine the tequila and lime juice. Add your ice, then top it off with the grapefruit soda. Jarritos is available at Kroger, so finding it should not be difficult. Some recipes call for a pinch of salt as well, or a salt rimmed glass. If you want to do something a little fresher, just use grapefruit juice and top it off with some soda. Still fizzy and tart!

Sangrita

Nothing alcoholic, but something that Mexicans will drink as a chaser to their tequila. It is made with either orange juice (which it was made with originally) or tomatoes, and has a recipe that is not too far off from bloody mary mix. To enjoy it properly, you would take a sip of the tequila, then a sip of the sangrita to stop the burning. It is sold commercially, but here is a recipe you can make on your own, courtesy of Food & Wine:

2 medium cucumbers, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter
1/2 dried ancho chile, stemmed and seeded
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground pepper

  1. Cut two 3 1/2-inch lengths from each of the cucumbers to use as cups. Peel the pieces, leaving a 1 1/2-inch band of peel at one end of each. Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds, stopping just before reaching the bottom. Refrigerate the cups for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, toast the ancho chile over moderate heat until it begins to blister, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer the ancho to a work surface to cool.
  3. In a blender, combine the orange, tomato and lime juices with the onion and Worcestershire sauce; crumble in the toasted ancho and puree. Strain through a coarse sieve. Season the sangrita with salt and pepper and chill for 20 minutes.
  4. Pour the sangrita into the cucumber cups and serve.

Something tasty to wash it all down

Dulche de tequila

I found this one while doing my research, and it was too good to pass up. It contains a little bit of the history of the day, all in one delicious cocktail. It is a little bit French (Cointreau and cognac) and a little bit Mexican (tequila, agave nectar, and lime) all at the same time. How do you turn down something named “tequila candy” or “sweet tequila”?

2 oz. tequila (reposado or better)
1 oz. cognac
1 oz. Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
.5 oz. of lime juice
1 tbsp agave nectar (you can purchase it at Arrow Wine)
Sugar for rimming
Lemon wedge (garnish)

Wet the edge of the glass with the lemon and rim the glass with sugar. Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake well, and then strain into the glass. Use the lemon wedge for a garnish

Michelada

Beer drinkers, this one is for you. It is for you only if you like a little adventure in your beer, and some heat. Some places will fill the glass a quarter of the way full with tomato juice or orange juice, and then add the beer. You can always add more of the beer when you drink it down a bit. And darker beer, like Negro Mondelo, is highly recommended.

12 oz. beer (Mexican, of course)
1 lemon’s worth of juice
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 dash of soy sauce
1 dash of Tobasco sauce
1 pinch of black pepper
Salt (for the glass)

Rim the glass with the salt. If you want some more kick, mix the salt with crushed pepper. Mix all of the ingredients in a tall glass with ice. Pour the beer over top of it, stir gently, and serve.

Go out and enjoy the day! Try some different Mexican beers, like Negra Mondelo, Pacifico, or Tecate, have some tequila, and relax. If you are looking for some places to go and celebrate, our own event guru Lisa Grigsby penned an article about where to go celebrate the day around our fair city. Salud!

 

 

 

 

Get Out & Give Back Day Improves Community, Engages YPs

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Thanks to Carly Short Photography for covering last year's event!

They’re coming. On Friday, May 4, a sea of blue shirts will roll through downtown Dayton, leaving a wake of good karma in its path. That’s right, the annual Get Out & Give Back Dayton day has returned! The event is hosted by Generation Dayton but young professionals from all walks of life and varying professional organizations are participating. More than 100 volunteers will take up their shovels, hammers, dust mops, work gloves and other tools of do-goodery to spruce up the area. This event is important because it not only connects young professionals directly to the Dayton area, it reminds local residents of the positive attributes young professionals have and the amazing contributions we make to the city. In other words, us whipper-snappers do more than prop up the economy via beer and taco sales.

This is my second year participating in Get Out & Give Back Dayton day, and the aspect I enjoy most about this event is the opportunity to meet other YPs in a non-professional setting. How many networking events have you attended where you sit through one lame, Internet-template elevator speech after another? I like to loosen the ol’ corporate necktie every now and then and get to know someone on a more intimate basis. You find out a lot about someone when you have to trouble-shoot trash hauling or develop a synchronized mulch distribution strategy! OK, the happy hour at the end also helps meet new people, but we earned it, gosh darn it!

Volunteers will be mulching, planting, scrubbing, wiping, sweeping and digging their way across nearly 30 locations in the greater Dayton area. The event kicks off with lunch at the Excelsior Building (off Sixth Street in the Oregon District behind Jay’s Seafood), and later the mottled motley crew will convene at The Vault for well-deserved refreshments and regaling the day’s events.

***Updated with new rain date: Can’t make it to Get Out & Give Back Dayton day? You can participate in another cool project, this one by updayton’s Unifying the Divide bridge painting project taking place this Sunday, May 6. This service group is working to connect two adjacent neighborhoods—South Park and the Oregon District—via a pedestrian bridge that goes over U.S. 35. Sign up online for a shift.

Get Out & Give Back Dayton day is about more than donating a few hours of your time to a worthy cause. For lots of YPs, this is an introduction to many of these organizations and for some, their first foray into downtown Dayton. Engaging this group of people is an investment in Dayton’s future. Retaining young talent isn’t about members of any single professional organization—it’s everyone’s prerogative. What better way to help retain people than giving them a reason to care about their community? Now each time they walk past that landscaping (or drive past that overpass), they’ll remember the personal investment they made in Dayton. They’ll tell their friends about this cool place they visited for the first time (“yeah, it’s called the Dayton Visual Arts Center and they have some really cool exhibits right now. Want to check it out tonight?”). Most importantly, they’ve got one more reason to stay.

I can’t wait for Get Out & Give Back Dayton day; it’s a reminder for me that, even though I feel inundated with bad news about terrible people, I can and will make a difference in my little corner of the universe. I can fix something, I can make it better, and it feels great to know I have a couple hundred people who are on my team.

The Entrepreneurial Genius behind Meadowlark

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When you hear the name Meadowlark, does a sweet little, Snow-White-esque chirping bird come to mind?  Well fun fact—did you know this yellow-breasted, song bird is the state bird of Kansas?  Did you also know that a very chic restaurant located on Far Hills Avenue dons this same name?  The owner of the restaurant, Wiley as she likes to be called, is originally from Kansas, and felt this name was just perfect for her restaurant (learn more about Wiley from her 10 ? interview). She originally opened Meadowlark in September of 2004 on Miamisburg-Centerville Road, but a year ago this May, they made the move to a larger, more central location at 5531 Far Hills Avenue.  Meadowlark was able to take this step to a better location and bring in more clientele because of the hard work of Wiley and her best friend, Liz.  After hearing the story of Meadowlark’s development, I was truly inspired by Wiley’s entrepreneur smarts.

 This will be my last article for DaytonMostMetro, and when my amazing editor, Lisa, suggested that I should focus this article on the entrepreneurship aspect of a restaurant, I was a little worried.  At the University of Dayton, I don’t study business.  I have some general ideas of the business world, but I did not feel confident enough, at first, to tackle this task.  So after much research, I finally met with Wiley to discuss how she built her restaurant from scratch.  Hearing the entire story was truly moving, but before I jump to the details of this journey, I must thank Lisa.  Because of this article, I was pushed past my comfort zone.  By her pushing me to achieve more through this experience, I have gained so much knowledge and a different angle on the restaurant business.  So thank you, Lisa.  You have been the best editor I could have hoped for.  I am truly blessed to have been given this opportunity to learn so much.

This article has enlightened me to how many small details go into building a dream from nothing.  Wiley engineered the menu, the design, and the working dynamics of Meadowlark, which all contribute to the success of the restaurant, today.  During our interview, she explained how she’s mostly responsible, but it is also developed through collaboration.  One of the neatest things Wiley touched on was her sincere interest in her employees’ ideas.  She really emphasized how she loves letting the staff have input: “we’re always trying to improve.”  And one of the ways they accomplish this is in their staff meetings, where staff members are fully involved in the discussion.

Meadowlark’s menu is the same way: the eats really embody who Wiley is, but through the staff’s group effort, they have continually improved upon their selection.  “It’s really a reflection of my personal style. The menu is the whole point of having your own restaurant,” explained Wiley.  She’s a cook by trade, having first developed her culinary interests when she was given free range to make dinner as a child.  Her mother worked, so her aunt helped her in the kitchen and allowed her to develop her own culinary skills.  “It really wasn’t a thing to go to culinary school,” she pointed out, but some might even say her cuisine surpasses those who did attend school.

Wiley describes the design of Meadowlark’s new location as having “just evolved.”  She didn’t hire a designer, but rather trusted her own instincts.  They kept the same colors of the old location “for continuity,” including an array of red, yellow, and green.  With some luck, they tore down the dark-colored dry wall to find a beautiful brick wall that is still exposed today.  With the new space, they were also able to add a bar, which is illuminated in a beautiful, eye-popping blue.  Wiley made sure to tackle the simple issues, such as eliminating the noise problems by buying rubber flooring that looks wooden.  (I would have never known if she had not enlightened me to this fact!  It looks so real.)  With the addition of a couple of rustic doors and a few culinary touches (like frying pan lights!), the design was unique and complete.

Due to her success in the restaurant business, Wiley was able to offer some insightful advice.   First off, she really emphasized how it takes commitment to make the best food, environment, and service possible.  As an entrepreneur, she made this dream into a reality, but not without a lot of time and effort.  Wiley, herself, is one of the best examples of her second piece of advice: “strive to always improve.”  Through her commitment to hearing what others have to say, Meadowlark has grown tremendously, incorporating different interests of their employees, as well as the tastes of their customers.  Wiley’s last two pieces of advice apply to entrepreneurship, but also to life in general: “be generous and be nice, and support things you care about.”  Once more, Wiley provides a stellar example through her restaurant.  Meadowlark helps support public radio and local publications, and any donation request of the restaurant receives a gift.  While Meadowlark cares for the community, it is obvious that Wiley cares for this restaurant, her dream-made-reality.  With a lot of care, effort, and commitment on Wiley’s part, Meadowlark has become a success.

I would even deem the working dynamic of her staff as unique and truly special.  Through our interview, I could really tell she cared about her staff members.  She frankly stated, “I’m not looking to create an empire, just a good work environment.”  She emphasized how it’s truly important to her that her staff and customers want to come to Meadowlark every day.  “It’s important to create more opportunities for them, and it’s fun to figure out something new.”  Recently, Wiley helped incorporate their floor manager’s interest in beer into their bar menu; “it keeps me on my toes and them invested in their job.”  Their next project?  Wiley’s best friend, Liz, is really interested in pizza.  Meadowlark actually helped send her to pizza school!  So to test out the success of these pizzas with their customers, they have begun to open Meadowlark on Monday nights as a pizzeria!  Wiley’s plan is to test this for three to four months through the summer and occasionally serve a couple as a lunch special, in order to gather some feedback from their customers.  Who knows—maybe another restaurant will be born from Wiley’s will to help a best friend.

Thank you—Wiley, for this truly educational interview; Lisa, for providing this learning experience; and for all you Daytonians whom have read my articles this past school year.  It has been a pleasure writing for you all.

 

This is Mariah Douglas, signing off.

 

 

Meadowlark Restaurant

5531 Far Hills Avenue

Dayton, OH 45429

(937) 434-4750

Hours

Sunday: 10AM-3PM

Monday: 5PM-9PM (Pizza time!)

Tuesday-Thursday: 11:30AM-9:30PM

Friday-Saturday: 11:30 AM-10PM

Facebook

 

(Editor’s Note:  It’s been our pleasure to have Mariah as a DaytonDining intern this year, and help her explore the world outside of UD Campus.  We wish her much success in her future). 

Downtown Dayton’s Biggest Street Party Returns May 11

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Approximately 30,000 people come downtown for Urban Nights.

On Urban Nights, downtown will be teeming with activity and people ready to enjoy the dining, nightlife, art, music, shopping and housing that can be found only in Dayton. The next free Urban Nights will be held 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 11, in downtown, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village.

Click here for a complete performance schedule, map of participating venues, and list of all participating locations’ events and specials.

The Green Street Project, designed to celebrate all things green and promote environmental sustainability, will include interactive and art-making activities for the whole family, exhibits on green technology, games, and more on Main Street, which will be closed between Second and Third streets. The Green Street Project is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Montgomery County Solid Waste District and PNC Bank. Activities include:

• The Dayton Regional Green 3 Initiative will host fun and educational activities and booths to promote greener and more sustainable practices in the Dayton region.

• The Montgomery County Solid Waste District’s two mascots, Curby the Cardinal and Lucky the Ladybug, will be on hand, as well as its Extreme Recycling trailer.

• The Dayton Art Institute will lead a community art mural-making project using recyclable materials.

• Zoot Theatre Company will demonstrate its larger puppets and visitors will have an opportunity to create masks out of reused and found materials.

• Visitors can ride a segway, courtesy of Dayton Segway Tours; chalk the street; have their picture taken in an open-air photo booth, courtesy of Lift-Off Entertainment; and check out an eco-friendly bus from Greater Dayton RTA and the eco-friendly Buick LaCrosse eAssist, courtesy of Bob Ross Buick.

• The Victoria Theatre Association will provide activities inspired by the Broadway musical Wicked.

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights is a ride through the event’s action ending at Courthouse Square.

Urban Nights visitors can get around the event by participating in Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a community ride through downtown that starts at 6 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field. The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event trolleys to help visitors get around.

As visitors make their way through the Urban Nights action, those locals who are professional and amateur photographers and videographers are encouraged to capture some shots or footage to submit in the 2012 Downtown in Focus photo contest and a new video contest, Downtown on Film. This year’s photo contest will include a category highlighting downtown festivals and events, and the theme for the video contest will be “Summer in the City.” Details for both contests will be announced in early summer, with deadlines in August and winners announced at the Sept. 14 Urban Nights.

Live Entertainment on Six Stages

Roaming performers will entertain visitors throughout downtown and the Oregon Arts District, and stages will be set up throughout the Urban Nights area. A performance schedule follows:

Main Stage: Courthouse Square, sponsored by DP&L
5 to 5:50 p.m.                     Al Holbrook Band
5:50 to 6:10 p.m.              Circle Nerdz (breakdance crew)
6:10 to 7 p.m.                     Wheels
7 to 7:20 p.m.                    The Dropbacks (juggling duo)
7:20 to 8:10 p.m.              Hey There Morgan
8:10 to 8:30 p.m.               Soul Fire Tribe (fire dancers)
8:30 to 10 p.m.                   TOUCH

A variety of entertainment can be found on the Urban Nights stages.

Spotlight on Sinclair: Second and Jefferson streets by the Kettering Tower
5:30 to 5:50 p.m.               Sinclair Chamber Choir
6 to 6:20 p.m.                     Sinclair Opera & Musical Theater Ensemble
6:30 to 6:50 p.m.               Sinclair “Classical Café”
7 to 7:30 p.m.                     Sinclair Men’s & Women’s Ensembles
7:30 to 8 p.m.                     Sinclair Chorale
8 to 8:30 p.m.                     Sinclair Chamber Choir
8:30 to 9 p.m.                     Sinclair Gospel Ensemble
9 to 9:30 p.m.                     Sinclair Men’s Ensemble
9:30 to 10 p.m.                  Sinclair Gospel Ensemble

Community Stage: Corner of Third and Jefferson streets
Special thanks to Harvey Lehrner, owner of Don’s Pawn Shop, for use of the parking lot.
5 to 7 p.m.                           Performances by people from the community
7 to 10 p.m.                        Open call karaoke

MetroParks Pavilion at RiverScape MetroPark: Monument Avenue and Patterson Boulevard
5 to 5:30 p.m.                     Funklab
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.              Okay Lindon
6:30 to 7 p.m.                     Party Pleasers (DJ)
7 to 8 p.m.                            Son del Caribe
8 to 8:30 p.m.                     Party Pleasers (DJ)
8:30 to 10 p.m.                  Mojo Flo

Live on Five: In the historic Oregon Arts District next to the Trolley Stop 
6 to 6:45 p.m.                     David Burris
7 to 7:45 p.m.                    White Rabbit Band
8 to 8:45 p.m.                     Nasty Bingo
9 to 9:45 p.m.                     Ape the Ghost

Wright Dunbar Entertainment: Third and Williams streets
The Plaza Stage:
5:30 to 9 p.m.                     Tribute bands featuring the music of Jimi Hendrix, Santana and Bob Marley
The Lounge:
6 p.m.                                    Cyrstal Echols and line dancing
7:30 p.m.                             Big Gil and his Funky All Stars featuring Valeria
Grillin’ & Chillin’ Tent:
5 to 10 p.m.                        Master G spinning music for the dance tent
Gospel Karaoke Cafe:
5 to 8 p.m.                           Open mic with music by DJ Jerry Sanders

Art and More for Everyone

Art is at the heart of Urban Nights and often can be found in unexpected places.

In addition to the Green Street Project, several Urban Nights venues will host activities fun for the young and young at heart. Visitors can get their hands dirty at K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS,510 E. Third St., by working on the community art project the Xenia Avenue Mosaic Mural. Participants will have their name added to a plaque dedicated to the volunteers who helped with the project.

Garden Station on the corner of Fourth and Wayne will host a Rock Band challenge and an urban putt-putt golf course made of pallets and old tires. The CADC, formerly the Cannery Art and Design Center, will celebrate its grand re-opening in its new location at 35 S. St. Clair St. with art, games and more. My Father’s House Childcare and Learning Center,35 S. Jefferson St., will host entertainment by a clown and offer balloon animals for children and free snow cones. The Dayton Metro Library,215 E. Third St., will offer arts and entertainment for adults and children. At the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, visitors can enjoy free parking and family activities.

Tour some of downtown’s historical places during Urban Nights, including The Dayton Woman’s Club,225 N. Ludlow St., a landmark Victorian home circa 1848, and the 107-year-old First Lutheran Church,138 W. First St. Of course, lots of history can be found in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. Hop on the Wright Flyer trolley and celebrate Dayton’s rich cultural legacy at multiple locations in this historic area along West Third Street between Broadway and Williams streets. Visit the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and the Wright Bros. Bicycle Shop; visit business open houses; and experience art, poetry, food and live entertainment.

Visitors also can tour Activated Spaces’ Street Level Art Competition. Check out local artists’ displays of works focused on the theme “Naturally Dayton” in windows throughout downtown. Vote for your favorite artist by scanning the QR code in the respective storefront window. The Urban Nights People’s Choice winner will receive gallery space for an exhibition of his or her work at a local gallery or restaurant. Artwork can be viewed at:

• 100 E. Third St.: Bethany Ramsey, Robin Dakin and Amanda Sue Allen
• Talbott Tower, 131 N. Ludlow St.: Philipe Payne, Talia Shade and Spire Arts/Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services
• Main Street Garage, corner of Main and First streets: Mikee Huber and John Murphy
• The Biltmore, 210 N. Main St.: Dayton Creative Syndicate

While you’re touring about, check out some of downtown’s living options. The following housing units will be open:

• The Cannery Lofts,500 E. Third St.
• First Place,330 W. First St.
• The Landing,115 W. Monument Ave.
• Litehouse Living at Canal Block,135 N. Patterson Blvd.
• Patterson Square Townhomes,237 E. First St.
• St. Clair Lofts,35 S. St. Clair St.

Grown-Ups’ Night Out

Visitors never know what they might see during Urban Nights.

For those families who’d rather drop off the kids before exploring Urban Nights, Mini University at Miami Valley Hospital, 28 Hill St., and Montgomery County’s Mini University, 40 Vista View Dr., will offer discounted childcare. Care will be offered from 6 to 11 p.m., which includes dinner, for $30 per child or $50 for two children. All teachers have been fingerprinted and have completed background checks. Children must be pre-registered; call and reserve a spot at 224-3916.

And for those who’d like to get an early start on Urban Nights ― or stay late ― several venues will host events that fit the bill. The Crowne Plaza Hotel’s Stars Lounge will host “Start and Finish,” a dinner event to bookend Urban Nights, in the rooftop restaurant and lounge. From 4 to 6 p.m., enjoy a happy hour buffet of hors d’oeuvres, free to all bar guests. Join the “10 O’Clock Cast Party” from 10 p.m. to midnight for half-priced light dinners, including burgers, sandwiches and wings. In addition, the bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the Oregon Arts District and throughout downtown will keep the Urban Nights party going past 10 p.m. Click here for a complete list of downtown’s nightlife hotspots.

A weekend-long event also will open during Urban Nights and continue after the event ends. The Dayton Circus Creative Collective will host its seventh annual multimedia arts event, Sideshow 7, at the Yellow Cab building, 700 E. Fourth St. This two-day multimedia arts and music extravaganza includes an event after-party until 1 a.m.

Shop for a variety of one-of-a-kind items, such as original artwork; used and vintage clothing, furniture, records and books; gift items and much more. More than 20 stores downtown will offer sales and special events. Be sure to visit the new Pop-Up Shops:

• American π, 37 S. St. Clair St.: This gift and accessories boutique carries items made in the United States, including handbags, greeting cards, candles and food items.
• Arin 27 S. St. Clair St.: Shop owner and jewelry designer Brooke Medlin collaborates with Dayton’s creatives to showcase beautifully designed goods for self and home, along with Medlin’s line of jewelry. Visitors will be able to watch the creation process in action at Arin’s on-site studio.
• Vintage Barbershop 110 W. Fifth St.: This old-school, classic barbershop offers haircuts, hot steam towel shaves, facials and more.

Of course, all this running is bound to make a person hungry ― and thirsty. More than 30 downtown restaurants, taverns, coffee shops and nightclubs will get into the Urban Nights spirit by offering themed drinks and menu items, special discounts, hosting arts events, and more. For example, look for volunteers from the City of Dayton’s Sister Cities outside Boulevard Haus, 329 E. Fifth St.; check out brewing demos at Press, 257 Wayne Ave.; try one of the more than 60 bourbons and view an exhibit of sculptures by artist Ron Hundt at The Century Bar,10 S. Jefferson St.; try a pint from a firkin of craft beer at Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery,520 E. Fifth St.; and enjoy music by Puzzle of Light at Jay’s Seafood, 225 E. Sixth St.

Urban Nights is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from PNC Bank, Montgomery County Solid Waste District, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Bud Light Lime, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Mix 107.7-FM and the Ohio Arts Council.

Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information or call 937-224-1518.

Food Adventures at Dayton’s Best Chinese Buffets

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Big Ragu at Asian Buffet with a Rice Krispie Tower and Crab Leg on top

Gluttony.  Local Dayton Chinese buffets are the perfect place to feed this deadly sin.  Sure, The Big Ragu and Crew have reformed themselves and would rather visit North China Restaurant or China Cottage.  However, once in a great while, we feel the need to hit the troughs at a local Chinese Buffet.   Where else can you get all-you-can eat General Tso’s Chicken and stir fry green beans next to some pizza?  There are so many Chinese Buffets to choose from, and your Food Adventurers have hit almost all of them.  So let us share with you some of our favorite things about those local places with tin pans, large spoons, and some unidentifiable dishes.

Don’t spread bullcrap at trying to “keep it as healthy as possible” because you are trying to impress a nagging mom of two.  Instead, hit the crab rangoons, and dessert. We have also upset more than one buffet runner and cook by scooping up the last of the coconut shrimp.  This deep fried shrimp dish can be found at many of the buffets, and if you see it, you better make sure you get out of our way.

The Big Ragu goes for the fried shrimp and fish dishes, big surprise, huh?  But the Big Ragu is also known to put raw oysters, mussels, peel and eat shrimp, and crab legs into legendary piles on his plates.  He also shares the love of sushi, and has made many of those chefs earn their money.

Where are some of our favorite spots and their strengths?

Check out this Official Food Adventure Hit List for feasts as massive as the Great Wall of China:

Always Piles of Crab Legs at Asian Buffet

Asian Buffet on Miller Lane in North Dayton:

A huge complex that used to house a Ryan’s Buffet,  is one of our favorites.  First, they are the only buffet that we have been to that does not skimp their crab legs.  For us this is a sign of love.  They pile huge mounds of crab legs on the buffet and keep them coming during the feeding frenzy, when other buffets leave an empty pan of cloudy water.  Asian Buffet also has a pretty decent sushi bar.  We found many choices and they were decorative and true to form.  Someone here is a legit sushi chef.  We also love the hibachi grill offered here.  Pile up your favorite raw meats and vegetables, and watch the kitchen staff stir fry it in your favorite sauce.  Overall this is probably our favorite Chinese buffet in the Dayton area, and we always leave miserably full, yet satisfied.

 

Golden Dragon on 725 in Centerville:

One of our more popular places to overeat, this place is a little pricier than the others, but their overall selection is one of the best.  For some reason, we have seen the most interesting characters at this buffet, maybe it is because of the interesting food.  The Big Ragu loves the whole tilapia dish served in a ginger sauce with scales on and bones in.  Tastes great if you can stomach the appearance.  We load up on Coconut Shrimp here.  Sweet milky goodness, and it tastes pretty fresh.  The huge salad bar is one of the freshest, and also features large peel and eat shrimp.  Another bright spot is that they have raw oysters on the weekends.  We like to visit some of our favorite staff members here including “Cherry” and “Chin.”  Other highlights include a small sushi bar that tends to have raw fish choices,  and a full hibachi grill.  they also have the best stir fried green beans in Dayton.  But beware, sometimes they will substitute the avocado and celery in the sushi with green beans or peppers, which is just wrong.

 

 

Hibachi Grill and Buffet on Stroop Road in Kettering:

Mussels in Cilantro Sauce at Hibachi Grill & Buffet

Another former Ryan’s buffet restaurant this buffet has a few new items that deviate from the norm.  We noticed they have a big more “American” food than the other Chinese Buffets.  We assume it is to appeal to kids.  The main attraction here is the Hibachi Grill with bigger quality meat varieties than other places.   They stir fry your choices right in front of you, and offer homemade sauces to cover your raw choices.  Two other things we really liked here were the hand breaded sole fillets, and the mussels marinated in a cilantro sauce.  In fact, the Big Ragu would say the mussels here are one of the best items he has had on a Chinese Buffet.    This place gets busy and has one of the lower prices of the other buffets, because they do not offer crab legs.

 

Eastern Buffet on State Route 741 in  Moraine:

Crab legs here and butter galore.  They have decent desserts and have recently added a sushi and hibachi area.  The choices are pretty much what you can expect from the other buffets.  Nothing outstanding but a solid original that the other buffets may have copied.

 

China Garden Buffet on Woodman Drive in Kettering and on State Route 73 in Springboro:

The Woodman restaurant was the scene of the famous “Ung Ghaa” episode.   One of the waitresses said “ung ghaa” after watching The Big Ragu get a heaping plate of crab legs.  Needless to say, he was not their favorite table on that night.   The crab shells flew on this Food Adventure.  They have nice decor with some of the paintings looking like HD televisions.  The food is pretty good here and the soft serve ice cream is one of the better things when compared to the other restaurants.  But be careful, if you take the last crab leg in the dish, you may get a raised eyebrow from the staff.  We are pretty sure we earned legendary status on Woodman Drive after our food quantities consumed here.  The Springboro location has some of the lowest prices we have seen for buffets, and is a steal of a deal for food offered.  They have hand breaded fish at the Springboro location, which looks to be tilapia.

 

QQ Hibachi Buffet on Wilmington Pike in Bellbrook:

One of the weaker ones on our list, this restaurant is typical of what you would expect.  If you are in a pinch it will do.  The strong point here is it is a very clean and new environment and their hours seem to be later than other buffets.

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We want to hear your feedback on these buffets!  Have you been to these places?  Is there a good one on the list that we skipped? Please comment below !!

Check out HUNGRY JAX, CHEF HOUSE AND THE BIG RAGU on FACEBOOK and “like” us by clicking HERE !!!

 

New Businesses Popping Up Downtown

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Peace on Fifth in the Oregon Arts District is a success story from the pilot phase of Activated Spaces' Pop-Up Project.

Peace on Fifth in the Oregon Arts District is a success story from the pilot phase of Activated Spaces' Pop-Up Project.

Three businesses will be up and running by May 4, the next First Friday art hop downtown, as part of the second phase of the Pop-Up Project, part of an initiative to fill downtown Dayton storefronts called Activated Spaces. The businesses selected for the second phase of the project are:

• American π, 37 S. St. Clair St.: This gift and accessories boutique will carry items made in the United States, including handbags, greeting cards, candles and food items. The store will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Arin, 27 S. St. Clair St.: Shop owner and jewelry designer Brooke Medlin will collaborate with Dayton artists and other creatives to showcase beautifully designed goods for self and home, along with Medlin’s line of jewelry that includes rings, earrings, personalized necklaces and more. Visitors will be able to watch the creation process in action in Arin’s on-site studio. Rotating guest artists will set up mini-studios in the store and spend two weeks working on a collection of products to be launched at every month’s First Friday art hop. The store will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 937-640-0117.

• Vintage Barbershop, 110 W. Fifth St.: This old-school, classic barbershop will offer haircuts, hot steam towel shaves, facials and more. Haircuts will be $12 and shaves and facials will be $16, with special pricing for seniors. “Our goal is open a classy, professional barbershop while doing our part to make downtown a better place and trying to influence other businesses to follow suit,” owner Ron West said. The barbershop will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 937-321-6165.

The women who participated in the pilot phase of the Pop-Up Project.

The entrepreneurs who participated in the pilot phase of the Pop-Up Project. Lisa Scott (far right) of Beaute Box extended her lease, as did London Coe (second from right) of Peace on Fifth.

These businesses have three- or six-month leases, although the hope is the business owners will extend those leases ― as happened in the pilot phase of the Pop-Up Project. Indeed, the second phase of the project builds on the success of its pilot, launched in November 2011 for the holiday shopping season. Two of the three business owners in the pilot extended their leases: Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St. In addition, Amore! Designer Consignment Boutique, 16 Brown St., which opened at the same time as the Pop-Up pilots, plans to remain open on a long-term basis, and Basho Screen Printing and Apparel, 521-523 E. Fifth St., opened in a space occupied by a Pop-Up retailer after becoming interested in the location due to the buzz surrounding the project.

Activated Spaces’ Pop-Up Project, which helped fill 2,300 square feet of retail space during its pilot phase, is led by volunteers from the young professional organizations Generation Dayton and updayton. The project is a strategic effort to fill vacant street-level space and spur interest in opening a business downtown that’s part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

“The Pop-Up Shops have helped enliven downtown while building on growing momentum for the center city,” said Tom Razauskas, who owns the building housing Beaute Box and the Vintage Barbershop. Razauskas and other participating downtown property owners have supported the project by providing reduced rental rates. “It has been refreshing to work with volunteers and business owners who really believe in downtown and are excited about its future.”

A kickoff event for the Pop-Up Shops will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 18. It will start at Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and end at Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St., with stops at all the Pop-Up Shops in between.  Raffle tickets will be sold that night $5 each, with all proceeds benefiting Activated Spaces, and prizes will be drawn at each stop. Additional details will be available soon at www.activatedspaces.org.

Basho Apparel

Basho Apparel was attracted to open a downtown location in part due to the buzz surrounding the Pop-Up Project. (Photo courtesy of Carly Short)

“The Pop-Up Project provides a low-risk, low-cost, flexible way to showcase local businesses while adding vibrancy to downtown,” said Shanon Potts, past chair of Generation Dayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “The long-term goal of the project is to convert temporary leases into traditional leases, while establishing downtown as a regional destination for shopping for one-of-a-kind items and retail services.”

“This project also supports local, creative entrepreneurs as they take a risk and test out their business concepts while bringing renewed life to downtown storefronts,” said Scott Murphy, immediate past chair of updayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “Visitors who support these pop-up shops will help to spur a more permanent retail environment in our downtown ― the next step in downtown revitalization.”

Visit www.activatedspaces.org or e-mail [email protected] for more information about Activated Spaces.

10?’s with Chef Matt Hayden of Scratch Event

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Chef Matthew Hayden

Chef Matthew Hayden credits his mom as being his first mentor in the kitchen.  Being a “sick kid” Matt missed many days of school and spent a great deal of time with his mother. She taught him to cook and how to channel his creativity into other useful skills. Matthew’s father Phillip travelled the world extensively and introduced Matthew to the cultures, customs, and cuisines of many different countries. His father instilled in him a strong work ethic, a sense of pride in his community, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

He graduated from Ohio University with a psychology degree, worked as a “smoke tester,” climbing smoke stacks and performing technical services for the EPA and local Engineering firms. He then spent time as a studio musician, and still writes and performs original music, in his spare time.  In the late 90’s Matt and his family purchased and operated the Centerville Pourhaus Tavern. Hayden’s next venture took him to Miamisburg, buying the old TW’s and reinvented it as The Chimney’s Inn.  Matt spent  eight years building his catering business while running the restaurant.  Last year he sold that building  to the Anticoli family, who now run Giuliano’s Tavern there.  This allowed Matt to open his next venture, which he calls his dream business: Scratch Event Catering.

 In the short time since he founded Scratch, Matt has earned a reputation in Dayton as a creative, forward-thinking chef and business-owner. He proudly offers his talents to his native city and devotes a great amount of time to his community. He serves in numerous non-profit capacities in Montgomery County: he is a trustee on the board of Dayton Opera, a member of Centerville Noon Day Optimists and Generation Dayton, and acts as a foodservice consultant for Aids Resource Center Ohio and numerous other non-profit organizations.  Matt is optimistic for Dayton’s future and will continue to offer his talents and creativity to the city that gave him the opportunity to succeed.

 

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?
At this moment, a common Indian spice blend called garam masala. For a chef that is compelled to explore new flavors continuously, a spice mix such as garam masala represents a stepping stone to endless possibilities. Because it contains numerous spices that are considered both savory and sweet to a western tastes, it can be substituted for cinnamon, traditional curry, clove or even cumin to tremendous effect. Imagine a apple with hints of cardamom and cumin or chicken salad with hints cinnamon and star anise….

What ingredient do you dread?
Im not sure I can say that I dread any ingredient. But if I did, I imagine it would be the ingredient that could only be prepared one way.

Seafood Gumbo with Crab Claws, Mussels, Shrimp, Chicken & Andouille Sausage!

What’s your favorite dish to make? Probably Seafood Soups and Stews – They are festive in nature and are indigenous to nearly every culture. E.g. New Orleans Gumbo, Ciopinno, Brazilian Moqueca, She Crab Soup, Clam Chowder, Bermuda Fish Chowder…. They all make my mouth water, and are an occasion in and of themselves.

What’s your favorite pig out food?
Chicago Hot Dogs and Pizza to name a few

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?
Real Mexican at Taqueria Mixteca, Un Poco de Todos at Las Piramides, Numerous Slices from Flying Pizza, Massaman Curry and Rangoon Sticks at Bahn Mai Thai, Brie Flatbread Pizza and Gnocchi at Savona’s , Whole Wheat Calzone at Ha Ha Pizza, Anything with Submarine House Pepper Relish on it, Tapas until I am blue in the face at El Meson and Anything that has been touched by Elizabeth Wiley, Jenn Disanto, Anne Kearney or my Mother in Law.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?
No one has a monopoly on good food, so get crackin !

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

dressed up deviled eggs


Led Zeppelin – background music whilst I cook.

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Anthony Bourdain for telling it like it is; Heston Blumenthal and Ferran Adria for thinking way-ass outside the box; Alton Brown for unearthing so much information and Rachel Ray for irritating me.

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?
Be with my wife!

 

You’ll be able to sample Scratch Catering at the upcoming Fleurs et Vin Festival on Sun, May 20th  at Carillon Park!

Change is in your hands with updayton

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It’s almost time for the annual updayton Summit!

What? You’re not excited? Well, maybe it’s because you don’t know what it is or how much it’s impacted the Dayton area. Allow me to fill you in!

updayton was conceived in 2007 as a way to attract and keep young talent through engagement, connection and empowerment of the young creatives in the Miami Valley. The organization partners with and is sponsored by other local organizations and businesses.

Current updayton Director Yvette Kelly-Fields says, “The Summit provides a platform for people to use creative thinking and problem solving to address issues that affect the attraction and retention of young talent to the region. We are starting to see the fruits of our labor as we see more young professionals moving into the downtown, opening businesses and filling local jobs.”

Former Director Scott Murphy said he believes the summit has helped to spotlight critical issues to help keep more young people in the region. He enjoys the energy and excitement associated with the event and said he’s “particularly proud of how we’ve been able to take the feedback we receive from Summit attendees and turn that into recommendations for local leaders.”

As a graduating college student, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard my fellow students complain there isn’t enough opportunity for them as young entrepreneurs around Dayton. They’d rather try their luck in a different city, or even a different state that seems to have better employment options.

But as the updayton site says, we can be the change we want to see, and it has been successful in its endeavors for community and economic change.

“Each project last year created both community and economic impact,” said Maria Norman, in charge of public relations for the organization.

In fact, the current iteration of this very website (Dayton MostMetro.com) was born out of the first updayton summit three years ago, when summit participants in a live survey of various community project ideas voted overwhelming for a comprehensive online resource for the Dayton Region.  Since then, the site has grown with the help of over 40 volunteer interns, writers and editors, and has become the go-to site for tens of thousands of people in the region wanting to connect with things to see, do and get involved with.

Winner of the "Unifying the Divide: Bridge Paint Project" - Dayton Wags

Currently, the Creative Communities project is continuing to work on a major beautification project between the Oregon District and South Park neighborhoods called “Unifying the Divide: Bridge Paint”. “This will raise the visibility of both areas and serve as a new attraction and destination point for the City for native Daytonians and visitors,” said Norman.

The focus this year is on increasing residents’ use of alternative transportation, aiding the integration of diverse immigrants in the area, reviving the Twin Towers neighborhood, and developing a sustainable program to improve community’s college students’ perceptions of downtown and encouraging them to participate in and experience all downtown has to offer. Also, for the first time, updayton will present a panel of experts in urban revitalization and who will show how they are changing the game in their community. They’ve been appropriately named, Game Changers.

“It  has been said, if you want to change the world, start with your city, start with the updayton Summit. Change starts there,” says Director Kelly-Fields.

The updayton Summit will be held on Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Dayton Art Institute. For more information or to register to attend, visit their website at updayton.com or check them out on Facebook.