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Jane’s Best Bets (10/12 – 10/16)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you have been able to enjoy these nice fall days!  And even if the weather does get bad this week, there are some indoor options along with the outdoor options!

On Wednesday, attend The Fundraiser’s Guide to Social Media at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  This is great (and free!) opportunity, particularly if you serve on a board or work for a non-profit.  And in the evening, you’ll be able to support one of those non-profits, Agape for Youth, by attending the Fostering Changes for Future Generations Gala at the Schuster Center.  At Wright State, listen to Arlene B. Mayerson, a national expert on disability rights law, as part of the Wright State University’s Presidential Lecture Series.  Listen to classical music as the Tiberius String Quartet from Rumania performs at the University of Dayton.  And if you want music you can jam to, then make your way to the Oregon District’s Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam or to Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band.

On Thursday, bring your kids to the 2nd Street Market for Pizza Making for Kids.  You’ve been making dinner for them for a while, so why not let them learn how to make dinner for you for a change?!?!  If you consider yourself a “techie,” then make your way to Brixx for Tech Town Thursday.  Attention all you vegetarians out there – don’t “wine” because there aren’t any food options for you, as McCormick & Schmick’s is offering a Vegetarian Wine Dinner.  In Centerville, listen to the music of Sean Jones (R&B and Soul) presented by the Miami Valley Community Concert Association.  Join some great young professionals in the area with Generation Dayton’s Thirsty Thursday at The Wine Gallery.  At Oregon Express, catch Theology on Tap.  Or make your way to the Schuster Center to listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, Romeo, Juliet & Prokofiev.

On Friday, aspiring artists should make their way to Wright State for Draw on the Walls.  If your kids love animals but you don’t want to bring them into your house (the animals that is, not the kids), take them to the Bison Hayride Tour at Heaven’s Corner Zoo.  Halloween is right around the corner, so make your way to the Spaghetti Warehouse for their Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre: ‘Costume Carousing’.  If you get a laugh when Jay Leno and David Letterman make fun of all things political, then be sure to make your way to Springfield to see The Capitol Steps, as they will take on a variety of current events…including the Octomom.  Head up to Yellow Springs for Fling in the Springs.  At the Schuster Center, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic with Prokofiev Meets Shakespeare.  You may have read the Cliff Notes in high school, but what is even easier (and more entertaining) is watching The Crucible live at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater.  And if you enjoy being scared, then make your way to the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park.

On Saturday, get your girlfriends together and participate in the Girlfriend Ride Dayton to benefit the Artemis Center.  This won’t just be any ride, as some stops along the way include a hand massage station, a chocolate fountain, and a wine tasting.  Or make your way to Fifth Third Field for the 2011 Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk.  At the 2nd Street Market, it’s Fall Family Fun Day, so be sure to bring the kids!  Typically, it would be inappropriate to bring your kids to the Funny Bone (unless they are your adult children).  However, in the afternoon, you will be able to take them there for the Family, Food, & Fun Comedy Magic Show.  And if you don’t have any, I have friends that would probably be happy to lend theirs to you.  If you live up north, make your way to the HarvestFest Street Fair in downtown Tipp City…it sounds like fun and it’s free!  In addition, in the evening, you will be able to hear live music by the 80s cover band Stranger.  In Yellow Springs, you’ll be able to attend Fling in the Springs.  If you enjoy German music, head to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club for their German Fall Concert.  Have some fun and support the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio with the Fall Treasure Hunt Road Rally…sounds like a mini amazing race!  You will be able to listen to music at both the Schuster Center (Romeo, Juliet & Prokofiev) and Victoria Theatre (The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra).  And finally, put on your mask and attend a major party in Dayton – ARC Ohio’s Masquerage…a decade of decadence, which will benefit the AIDS Resource Center.

On Sunday, make your way to Garden Station Sunday Market, which is the only Sunday Farmer’s Market in the area.  If you like to write, then attend the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop at Books & Co.  It says “free writers” so I wonder if they’re in jail for something.  Make your way to Belmont for their Neighborhood Jam Fest, which will feature food, music, drinks, artists, and a car show.  If you enjoy shopping, head to The Event Connection for the Home, Lifestyle and Craft Expo…after all, it’s not too early to start your Christmas shopping!  Listen to the sounds of the University of Dayton Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble at South Park United Methodist Church.  At Sinclair, catch a performance of The Crucible.  And if you’re looking for a little Sunday fling, then enjoy Fling in the Springs.

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

What did the mother buffalo say to her little boy when he went off to school?  Bison.

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

Have a great week Dayton!

Occupy Dayton, Wall Street… and The World

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Photo Credit: Marc A. Pitman

In a time of economic upheaval, the Occupy Wall Street movement has created national and international buzz that has become hard to ignore.

The movement is described as a “leaderless” movement by its organizers and participants. Even the OccupyWallSt.org website is labeled as “unofficial.” The website states the people involved with the movement have horizontally structured themselves. Basically this means everyone is a leader and organizer. As such they all have the same responsibilities and – most importantly – no one person is above another.

In recent weeks the movement has gained incredible momentum and taken root in many cities across the United States. The demonstrations have breathed new life into the debates over multiple issues, but largely focus on wealth inequality and corporate influence over government. Occupy Wall Street is a grassroots movement but it is clearly a potent one.

In fact, the occupy movement has become so strong that it has landed in our backyard: Dayton.

Like the Wall Street movement, Occupy Dayton emphasizes that they are a non-violent protest movement welcoming people from all walks of life to join with them. It’s even become something of a community that gathers and distributes supplies like blankets or food for fellow “Occupiers” within the crowd. They accept supplies like these as donations. Occupy Dayton also holds general assembly meetings to make decisions democratically where every protester who attends votes and has a say in decisions.

Photo Credit: Brooke A. Medlin

“Everyone that is a part of the movement is behind it,” said Shawn Cassiman, an organizer of the Occupy Dayton movement. “People are volunteering their skills and expertise in order to build the movement.”

Fellow organizer Christina Hull pointed out local issues that helped to spark the Dayton movement. “Dayton has been hit hard by corporations such as NCR, Mead, and GM leaving with our jobs and leaving a lot of Daytonians without an income or health insurance,” she said.

“We do not have millions of dollars to buy lobbyists to make sure our agenda’s are pushed or our voices heard,” said Hull. “This is the people’s movement. We all stand together as the 99% of American’s who want their voices heard.” She and Cassiman stated the Dayton group is not funded or run by any particular outside organization or political party. The support they receive comes from within their ranks.

Photo Credit: Brooke A. Medlin

Occupy Dayton held its first civil protest on the October 5th in Courthouse Square. Since then, the localized movement has begun to grow and has reached over 1,600 followers to date on its Facebook page. The organizers are moving quickly to utilize social media in the same manner as the overall Occupy movement.

Taking inspiration from the Arab Spring, “Occupiers” are tweeting, Facebooking, Flikring, tumblring, texting, and emailing their way into the forefront of the public’s awareness. This is no exception for our own Occupy Dayton movement. The Facebook group has successfully arranged and held three official gatherings with plans for three more listed for this week. Currently, they are working on setting up a blog and a permanent website to help their exposure and information accessibility.

Photo Credit: Marc A. Pitman

“We believe that Dayton is a great city with wonderful people and we want to bring awareness to them about corporate greed and it’s hand in our legislation,” said Hull. “This is America, the richest country in the world and our citizens are struggling for their lives on a daily basis.”

“This movement is for the long haul. It has to be. We haven’t even been around for a week, so we have some work to do,” said Cassiman. “Real change takes time, and can be messy.”

For more information on the Occupy Dayton movement, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/occupydayton and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/#!/OccupyDayton.

Tea’s On for Dayton!

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Dayton’s own hidden pearls of culture and class, the tearooms of Basically British and Twin Creek offer relaxing sophistication, delightful fares, and ornate gift shops for those seeking a mini-vacation away from the usual city scene. Either British or Victorian-themed, both of these endearing tearooms offer fresh luncheons, steaming pots of tea and delectable desserts served in the most traditional of fashions and the most comforting of settings.

Nixing the need to head “across the pond”, Basically British Tearoom and Shop serves up three-tier tea luncheons in Dayton’s own downtown. Terry Ronald, a native Englander from the town of Wallasey and Vicki Morris, Dayton-raised “Brit-at-heart”, own the British-influenced establishment. Originally opening in 1994 as a British Import Gift Shop that offered imported British candies, foods, teas and gifts, the shop has expanded to include a traditional British tearoom for anyone willing to make a reservation. Together the pair has charmed Daytonians by enticing visitors with imported tea, homemade cooking, and unrushed tranquility.

Basically British is located in the old building known as “The Cannery” at 502 East Third Street. High ceilings, deep hardwood floors, brick-laid walls, and elegant woodwork invites guests into a stylish yet invitingly “male-friendly” ambiance where, although roomy, reservations are a must. The tearoom of Basically British sets visitors up for a three-tier afternoon tea where each individual is granted a four-cup pot of freshly brewed tea from the 85 varieties offered on the in-house loose-leaf tea menu. The exotic tea varieties have not only been given international awards but each of the teas are available for by-the-ounce-purchase in order for your favorites to be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home.

To keep things interestingly unpredictable, the folks at Basically British change their lunch menu monthly in order to offer seasonal surprises that seem to never bore regulars. A few of October’s special offerings include a Woodland Fairy Acres spice island rose scone, an artichoke and mushroom-stuffed tomato and a maple cranberry cup.

Food is baked fresh everyday at Basically British and although a bit pricey for the typical “quick lunch” (at $22.95 plus tax per individual), the tearoom is meant to be an unhurried, peaceful and enjoyable experience. The goal of Basically British is to “to offer a tranquil setting for our adult patrons to enjoy” and thus, they do not allow infants or children under age ten among the tea patrons. Basically British serves tea Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 am until 3 am. Their exotic Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm.

A tad further down the streets at 19 East Dayton Street of West Alexandria, those seeking a more old-fashioned, Victorian style experience should try Twin Creek Tea Room and Ivy Parlor Gift Shop. Upon its original opening in 1993 by Melodie Dill and Pam Morneault as Twin Creek Town House Tea Room and Catering Company, visitors have eaten and sipped on the lower level tearoom and shopped at the upper level’s Ivy Parlor Gift Shop. The Ivy Parlor Gift Shop has now expanded to the entire upper level and since June of 2000, the initial owners of 19 East Dayton Street, Mark and Carolyn Ulrich, have run the tearoom and Ivy Parlor Gift Shop.

Twin Creek Tea Room is located in a restored Victorian era home where an enchanting atmosphere created by gracefully decorated tables, teapot candles, elaborate wicker chairs and romantic ambiance attracts visitors into a comfortablely elegant luncheon. The pleasant staff seems to genuinely care about the experience of the customers, offering friendly service, helpful suggestions and warm concern about the overall experience.

The menu of Twin Creek Tea Room is more extensive than that of Basically British’s and seems to offer larger portions for less expense. Twin Creek offers a variety of different menus, including the Summer Strawberry Sensations Menu, Weekly Lunch Specials, Panini Menu, Luncheon Menu, Children’s Menu, Specialty Coffee and Teas, Box Lunches, and Carry-Out Luncheon Combinations and Take-Out Items; all for under ten dollars.  A few of many menu selections include a ham pimento cheese panini, fresh layered vegetable sandwich, petite sandwich sampler, daily quiches, chilled layered carrot cake and warm apple dumplings, just to name a few. In the less elaborate realm of beverage choice of the Twin Creek Tea Room, they offer rooibo teas, chai tea lattes, espresso and a variety of cappuccinos and sipping chocolates.

All are welcome at the Twin Creek Tea Room and although reservations are welcome, they are not required. Lunch is served Wednesdays through Saturday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm but they offer private parties and catering upon request. Six times a year the tearoom takes reservations for Candlelight Dinners where dinner entrees change depending upon the occasion. The upcoming Sweetest Day Candlelight Dinner will be held on the 15th of October and the tearoom is currently taking reservations.

In terms of Dayton tearooms, Basically British and Twin Creek Tea Room each offer quite unique menu options, cultural ambiance and out-of-the-box lunch experiences for individuals, couples, and private parties alike. I would recommend both tearooms to the college student, curious adult and special occasion venue. As a wise lady by the name of Catherine Douzel once said, “Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.” Go ahead, embark!

Food Adventures Spice Things Up at Amar India

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Indian food.. some people love it,  some people cringe, others have never had it.  Being Food Adventurers means we try and experience many culinary things in life, some out of our comfort zone.  Enter Amar India, one of the fancier Indian restaurants in Dayton, located across from the Dayton Mall.

The Big Ragu and Crew have developed a taste for Indian food over the years, and for us it started with Amar India.  If you have never tried Indian cuisine, let us recommend this restaurant for your American pallet.

A great way to experience some Indian food and see what you like, is to go to their buffet lunch, where you can sample a number of dishes (usually appetizers and chicken and vegetarian entrees).  The buffet lunches are fairly cheap and again it is a great way to get a variety of items.  Dinner at Amar India is ordered off the menu only.  Amar India’s menu is fairly extensive, but to sort it out, the dishes are basically four types: vegetarian, chicken, lamb, and fish.  Each dish may be ordered on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the spiciest.

Our latest visit to Amar India started with our incredibly friendly and passionate waiter, Regendier.  He welcomed us and recommended a few menu items and was happy to be a part of our Food Adventure article and photos.  In our conversations with him, he shared his love for food, Indian culture, and Pro-Wrestling.  After some fun conversation, your humble F decided to order.

Vegetable Pakora is served with 3 tasty sauces

We started out with an appetizer, ood AdventurersVegetable Pakora.  For all intents and purposes it is a vegetable fritter or hushpuppy.  The Big Ragu was ecstatic because the item was deep fried.  We explored the accompanying sauces.  This appetizer was served with a tray with 3 cups of sauces.  The sauces were a green mint sauce, a spicy chunky sauce, and a sweet bbq-like sauce.  We thought the mint sauce was the best.

Then we saw a sight for sore eyes.  Our waiter was bringing out an order of our favorite side item, Garlic Nan Bread.  Amar India offers different types of Nan bread, which are homemade pita breads with different flavored ingredients cooked right into the bread.  We cannot stress enough, that an order of Garlic Nan bread is a MUST.  When coming to Amar India, we can’t function without it.

The Garlic Nan Bread Appetizer is Addicting

We have always had a love for an Indian dish called Saag Paneer.  It is a funny sounding dish, with a big taste.  It is fresh homemade cheese cubes cooked in spinach & light cream.  It was a perfect storm of spice and flavor.

The Big Ragu ordered Fish Masala.  This dish is marinated fish,  pan fried with tomatoes, curry and cream.  Ragu ordered spice level 4 and was sweating the whole meal.  The dishes are all served in oval metal bowls that look small, but the food is filling.  They serve the meals with a white rice that has some Indian flavor.  We were both stuffed after dinner.

Top to Bottom: Fish Masala, White Rice, Saag Paneer

Our check arrived with a candy treat, small little fennel pellets.  They taste like licorice, or as Ragu said “mini good-n-plenty.”  We asked our waiter if he would take a photo with us after the dinner.  He told us his heritage was Punjabi, and he primped his moustache before the picture by curling it with his hands.  He smiled, flexed and helped us cap off a great night with a few laughs.

Whether you have acquired a taste for Indian food or not, you really need to give Amar India a chance.  The dinners are reasonable at $13-$16 on average for the unique dining experience.  If you have not been there, it will be an experience your tastebuds won’t soon forget.

Love these “Dayton Foodies?”  Then become an OFFICIAL FAN of FOOD ADVENTURES by going to our FACEBOOK and clicking LIKE.

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Hot Talent Cool Gems Fundraiser Returns to Dayton

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The seedling Foundation has announced the return of the Hot Talent Cool Gems fundraising auction to support Stivers School for the Arts. The event is back by popular demand and is sure to be an evening to remember.

The seedling Foundation fundraiser is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 5th at Dayton’s Packard Museum with a 30’s-inspired theme. The event will hold a silent and live jewelry auction, have catered food, and feature artistic performances. So far, some of the high-interest items slated for auction are items gifted from celebrities like Martin Sheen, PBS celebrity chef Ming Tsai, Hope and former governor Bob Taft and others. The event took a break after it’s last appearance in 2008, but according to the foundation many supporters of Stivers have requested its return. Bill Pflaum, the president and trustee of the seedling Foundation, said in an interview that there will be a total of 100 pieces for the silent auction.

The Hot Talent Cool Gems will be catered by Coco’s Bistro, offering a wealth of gourmet hors d’oeuvres with a signature drink and dessert. The entertainment provided for the evening will feature student performances from all magnet areas of study at Stivers. Some of the night’s headliners will be the nationally recognized Stivers Jazz Orchestra and the dance program performance.

Stivers’ students, who often work elbow to elbow with professionals, are heavily involved in fundraising for their school and programs. Often, they raise money used to replenish art supplies and fund programs with their own art or performances. Pflaum gave a proud nod to the student fundraising efforts.

“The kids get very engaged,” he said with a smile. “They recognize that they have to put in if they’re going to get out, and they do. That’s a very strong ethic here.” He added that the seedling Foundation matches student fundraiser totals. The foundation is largely made up of Stivers student parents but also host community members on the board as well. Pflaum believes each person brings their own unique perspective and experience to the foundation.

The foundation hopes to bring in $50,000 worth of funding from Hot Talent Cool Gems. Pflaum believes reaching that amount is critical due to severe 2011-2012 school budget cuts. Like many other schools and organizations, Stivers has been hit by the downturn of the economy.

“It’s imperative that we get that community support to be able to sustain the kind of things that are happening for the kids right now,” said Pflaum.

For ticket prices and more information on the event or donations, visit the seedling Foundation’s website at www.theseedlings.org.

Stivers School for the Arts is a grade 7 through 12 public magnet school for the arts in Dayton with a national reputation for leaderships in arts education. Students audition to attend the school and once accepted are able to pick from eight areas of artistic studies (band, choir, creative writing, dance, piano, orchestra, theatre, and visual arts) to include in their education curriculum. The school is among the highest performing schools in the Dayton area.

Below is a television ad students at Stivers created with help and direction from their teachers.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx3Ux_lzGPU’]

Jane’s Best Bets (10/5 – 10/9)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It is going to be another great fall week in Dayton with plenty of things to do!

On Wednesday, it’s all about social justice, with a little theater and beer brewed in the mix.  At lunch time, attend the Awareness Luncheon at the Dayton Racquet Club to learn more about human trafficking or the Domestic Violence Vigil at Courthouse Square to remember the victims of domestic violence and to honor those survivors.  At the Schuster Center, you will be able to attend Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’.  And I didn’t forget the beer – there is a Beer Tasting at Trolley Stop, as well as a Beer Tasting with Beer Guru Charles at Rumbleseat Wine.

On Thursday, don’t miss your chance to get fresh produce at the Centerville Farmers Market.  You may have to wait another year for both Dayton’s and Minster’s Oktoberfests, but you will still have the opportunity to participate in Rue Dumaine’s Oktoberfest, with a special menu and beer selection!  One of the other great things about this time of year is pumpkin beer…and you will be able to have some with the Pumpkin Beer Tap Takeover at Spinoza’s or Pumpkin Beer Night at Thai 9.  And if you feel guilty about drinking beer, then pair it with religion with Theology on Tap at Oregon Express.  Wishing to jazz things up a bit?  Listen to Ed Clay and The Patrol as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute.  If you want to get involved in your community, join Generation Dayton for the event, Better Boards 101.  And at the Fraze in Kettering, participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

On Friday, if you enjoy discussing economic issues, then be sure to attend the Economic Summit on the Revitalization of Manufacturing at the Dayton Convention Center.  Friday is also First Friday downtown, so be sure to check out all the galleries, live music, demonstrations, the First Friday Scavenger Hunt, the Dayton Visual Arts Center’s Steamroller Prints: Flat-Out Fun, and much more!  At Victoria Theatre, “catch” The Flying Karamazov Brothers, whose show will involve music, comedy, dance, theater, and juggling.  Plus, there is a Buckeye Vodka Tasting prior to the show!  If you enjoy being spooked, then make your way to the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park in Middletown.  At the Schuster Center, Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ will still be showing.  And over at Sinclair, check out A Vintage Affair, in which you will be able to sample wines and unique beers, have a few hors d’oeuvres and desserts, take part in a silent auction, and enjoy jazz music.

On Saturday, kick-off your day with me at the Kickin’ It for Breast Cancer Fall Kickball Classic.  They have gone country at the 2nd Street Market with Saturday Live Music by The Johnsons.  Make a trip up to Yellow Springs for the Yellow Springs Street Fair.  Or make your “way” to Waynesville for the very popular Sauerkraut Festival – just be sure to get there early as it will be very “krauted”.  Oktoberfest celebrations are not over yet!  Head to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club for their Oktoberfest Celebration.  There will also be beer at the Big Beers & Barley Wines Beer Fest 2011 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  At Stivers, watch the amazing Dayton Contemporary Dance Company during their Fall Concert – Director’s Cut.  Attend Haunting Harmony at Centerville High School to listen to the Gem City Chorus, with some great guest artists including contestants from NBC’s The Sing Off. Or catch Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ if you haven’t yet had an opportunity to do so.

On Sunday, kick it into gear by participating in the 35th Dayton River Corridor Classic Half-Marathon & 5k Run/Walk.  Head to Stivers to see the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Director’s Cut.  Purchase some local goods at Garden Station Sunday Market.  In addition, you will be able to check out the Ohio Renaissance Festival, the Sauerkraut Festival, or Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’.

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

What do you call a clever monster?  Frank Einstein

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

Have a great week Dayton!

Food Adventures Devours the 2011 Dayton Oktobertfest

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Spaten Munich beer and Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest were on draft

This past weekend, we experienced one of their favorite Food Adventures to date. Daytonmostmetro.com generously provided us with tickets to the preview party at the 40th Oktoberfest which is held at the Dayton Art Institute.  Although we have both been to the festival many times in the past, this would be the first time going to the preview party.

On this Food Adventure, we decided to take separate vehicles and that was a big mistake!  It wasn’t too easy to find a parking space, so The Big Ragu who is always “fashionably late,” this time proved no different.

While Hungry Jax was waiting in the long entrance line, a frantic Ragu was searching for a parking space while developing a little case of road rage.  We were both pretty amazed at how many people attended the pre-party and had no idea that it would be this packed.  Nonetheless, feeling like VIP’s we developed our game plan and a night of ethnic gluttony started to ensue.

Bratwurst from Schmidt’s restaurant booth – Incredible !

The festival is pretty much a bunch of food booths from different companies and 2 tents of craft goods.  Yeah, we skipped the arts and crafts.  Jax headed over to the Schmidt’s Sausage Haus booth while the Big Ragu shimmied over the beer line.

Schmidt’s is located in the German Village in Columbus, Ohio and was featured on Man v. Food.  Hungry Jax ordered a bratwurst with sauerkraut and added on spicy brown mustard and horseradish.  The first bite was absolutely amazing and this was a sign of good things to come.  The beer booth had some general choices, but we decided to go for the Leinenkugel Oktoberfest and the Spaten Munich beers.  After the Big Ragu got the beer, he decided to go hit the food line.  Ragu really showed that he was in the Oktoberfest spirit by showing up with a German treat … wait, a Gyro from the Greek Orthodox Church booth!  Well, at least the gyro was good because he devoured it in about 2 bites.  At this time we were both very happy Food Adventurers, but that was about to change.

The Dreaded Limburger Sandwich

We headed to the next food stall and the sign read…..Limburger Cheese Sandwich.  Neither one of us has ever tried Limburger Cheese, so we decided to take one for the team and ordered one up.  The Big Ragu’s dad had eaten Limburger Cheese as a kid in New York, so we decided to call him up and see what we had in store for us.  Ragu Sr. found it pretty amusing that we were going to indulge in this thing and basically told us….good luck!  We decided to punish the Big Ragu for buying a gyro by making him take half of this sandwich.  We have both eaten to pretty questionable things in our lifetime, but this by far was the worst thing that we have tried.  We have a rule with Food Adventures….you must finish the whole thing.  The Big Ragu was the smart one here when teared up on the final bite, got teary eyed and spit the sandwich out in the trash can. We hope to never see another Limburger Cheese Sandwich again.

After we grabbed more beers, we headed over to Don LeDoux’s Cajun Restaurant booth and decided to go with the Crawfish Etoufee.  It was served on a bed of rice and was incredibly tasty with lots of crawfish in it!  The employees and owners were very friendly.  We definitely have to head up to Troy, Ohio and try this place out!  While the crew was talking to the Don LeDoux employees, Ragu suddenly showed up with a Weinerschnitzel sandwich that he bought at the booth next door.  He had to get the limburger taste out of his mouth.  We also visited briefly with the Kosmic Kettlecorn booth who had some tasty popcorn, and showed us how the process worked.

Meeting the local legend, Voltzy at his Oktoberfest booth

The next item that we tried was the highlight of the Oktoberfest for us….we finally tried a Voltzy burger!  This is by far, the best hamburger that we have tried so far…..you can definitely taste the freshness.  Voltzy came out and doused our burgers out with three different sauces, which put a sparkle in the Big Ragu’s eye.  One taste of these things and you will be hooked!  And the sauces give it some sweet heat!  The burgers were amazingly fresh, and Voltzy said the meat is never frozen.

We will both admit that before we met Voltzy, we were very intimidated by his reputation for being a hard A$$, but he was a great guy, with a good sense of humor, who we had a lot of fun with.  We are looking forward to a future food adventure at his restaurant!

At this point we were both pretty stuffed and we decided to do what anyone else would…..get another beer!  The Spaten was incredible and we couldn’t get enough of it.  Ragu also loved the Wisconsin brewed Leinenkugel Oktoberfest beer, but Jax stuck with the German Spaten Beer.  While waiting in the beer line, the Cream Puff Pastry at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus caught our eye.  While the Big Ragu loves his fried food, and Jax has a weakness for sweets.  The cream puff pastry was a gift send down from the Confectionary Gods and we loved every morsel of it.

Schmidt’s Restaurant has perfected the Cream Puff

This Food Adventure was a blast.  Our leiderhosen are a bit tighter after the food we consumed at this festival.  Sure, we ended up with a few drops of beer, sauce, and powdered sugar on our shirts, which housed our full stomachs, but it was all in a night’s work.  So we say, to honor Oktoberfest, Lisa, Bill and the crew at DAYTONMOSTMETRO.com who got us VIP tickets to this event, we say “Danke schön!”

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Did you go to Oktoberfest? What did you think about the food and beer selection
?

Please post a comment below!

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Lalah Hathaway comes to Dayton – with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

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(from Victoria Theatre Association)

R&B/jazz artist and “First Daughter of Soul” Lalah Hathaway will kick things off with a special concert on Oct. 2 at the Schuster Center. Hathaway burst onto the soul and jazz scene in 1990 with an auspicious self-titled debut album. The disc displayed a young artist who clearly had the pipes, but was also a developing song stylist, able to interpret both modern R&B and jazz. Her last name gives a lot away. She is the daughter of legendary soul performer Donny Hathaway and his talented wife Eulauhlah. However, while her name may have brought initial attention to some people, it was immediately clear that she is a true–and distinctive–vocal talent. With a style somewhat reminiscent of Patti Austin, but with a deeper, smokier edge, Lalah climbed to the top of the R&B charts with her debut hit “Heaven Knows.” Since those early days, she has had released several cds and partnered with countless talented musicians. Her latest solo effort will be released later in October. This special concert on Oct. 2 will start with a performance from Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, a unique and distinctly Dayton opening act not to be missed.

Who – Lalah Hathaway with DCDC

When – Sunday October 2nd, 2011 at 7:30pm

Where – Schuster Performing Arts Center

Tickets – Click Here

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WIN FREE TICKETS!!!

Fill out the form below to be entered to win a pair of tickets to see Lalah Hathaway and DCDC this Sunday at the Schuster Center – we’ll draw TWO winners tomorrow at noon… GOOD LUCK!

Contest is closed… CONGRATULATIONS to Lisa Scott & Deborah Sanders – each won a pair of tickets to see the show!

October First Friday to Bring Thrills and Chills

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Plan ahead for the next free monthly downtown art hop ― which will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 ― because there’s a frightening amount of fun to get into.

SMARmare's ghoulish performance in 2010.

A free outdoor performance of SMAGmare will be held in the Oregon Arts District next to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Set to popular music, SMAG Dance Collective, Zoot Theatre Company, Sandstorm Dance, musician Al Holbrook and local hip-hop dancers will present this tale of an evil woman luring her innocent sister to a moment of indiscretion between her mother and another man. The chance viewing causes the sister to lose touch with reality, and she creates a twisted vision of her mother and the lover as zombies controlled by her evil sister. Prepare for scares, surprises and even heartfelt moments as vampires, werewolves, the undead and the dead brought back to life, witches and warlocks, and fiendish ghouls manifest on stage.

First Friday also is a chance for visitors to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate from AAA Miami Valley by completing a First Friday Passport. Each month, AAA will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

Visitors can pick up a First Friday passport at participating locations (click here for a list). The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and once visitors have all four stamps, they fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Explore downtown with the First Friday Scavenger Hunt. Sponsored by updayton, participants should pick up a clue sheet in a First Friday Passport and be prepared to venture into the Oregon Arts District and along Wayne Avenue. Everyone who completed the hunt will end at a party at the Cannery Lofts, 500 E. Third St., featuring free beer, wine, snacks and a live DJ.

The First Friday Passport Program is a great way to explore downtown.

K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., will host Round 2 of Art-Off. The winners from Round 1 will battle new participants in this Iron Chef-like competition in which contestants compete with surprise materials. Audience members will vote for the artists, and Round 2 winners will compete for the Knot Award, a metal sculpture handmade by Hamilton Dixon, at a final event on Nov. 11. To sign up to participate, contact Kelly Sexton at 937-461-5149 or [email protected].

Steamroller Prints: Flat-Out Fun will be held on the street level of the Transportation Center garage on the corner of Fifth Street and Patterson Boulevard (near the former Greyhound Bus terminal) from 5 to 9 p.m. as part of the second annual statewide gathering of Ohio print cooperatives. Watch master printers from throughout Ohio create enormous images made by inking a 4-by-4 foot linoleum block, covering it with paper and rolling over it with a steamroller.

In addition, 45 smaller blocks carved by community members will be printed using this steamroller method. A limited number of blocks are available at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., which is hosting the event. Blocks are $10 each, which includes the opportunity to bring your block to the event, ink it and have it printed. Each participant will keep one print and the original carving; one signed print will be donated to DVAC.

Print co-op members from throughout Ohio also will participate in an open portfolio at ThinkTV, 110 S. Jefferson St., from 5-9 p.m. Many unframed prints will be exhibited and offered for sale for a very reasonable price.

Come taste Buckeye Vodka at the Victoria Theatre before the Projects Unlimited Variety Series presentation of The Flying Karamazov Brothers from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The tasting includes free appetizers. For more information and a special price for the show, call Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630.

Shakespeare for Life, a marathon relay reading of the Bard’s works, will start at 8 p.m. during First Friday. Free Shakespeare! and Optum Nurses for a Cure, a registered team with the Centerville chapter of Relay for Life, will present the relay 24 hours a day through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Blue Sky Gallery, 33 N. Main St. The event kicks off with a reading of Julius Caesar, with the goal of reading all 37 plays, 154 sonnets and five poems credited to William Shakespeare. The event is a fundraiser for Optum Nurses for a Cure and Free Shakespeare! To volunteer or make a conation, contact [email protected].


Each month, numerous downtown art galleries stay open late for the public.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours will host two tours highlighting local history. A tour of the Oregon Arts District will meet in the Jay’s Seafood parking lot at 5 p.m., and the Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will meet at Courthouse Square at 7 p.m. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact Leon Bey, tour guide, at 274-4749 or email [email protected].

A variety of roaming performers will provide entertainment (weather permitting). Courteous Mass, a community of bike-minded individuals, will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for an urban street cycling ride through the city and First Friday action.

Galleries and other venues throughout downtown will host exhibit openings, sales, live music and other special events, and restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Click here for a complete list of events.

Jane’s Best Bets (9/28 – 10/2)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you had the opportunity to sample some wonderful craft beers at Oktoberfest this past weekend!  Speaking of Oktoberfest, I am reminded of the fact that we switch from September to October this week.  I wish for you a great start into the new month…and here are some events that will hopefully help!

On Wednesday, join some amazing women for the Fourth Annual Women in Business Networking Conference.  At the Nutter Center, attend the Third Annual IBI/BBB Integrity Breakfast in order to get the inside scoop on integrity in the marketplace.  In the evening, after a hard day’s work (unless you work the 2nd or 3rd shift), make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for Dueling Bartenders.  If you have a high schooler or if you know one, encourage him/her to attend College Prep Night at Fifth Third Field…there is a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship!  Interested in green initiatives?  Learn about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program which helps to make vacant and foreclosed homes green at Green Drinks September at Franco’s Ristorante Italiano.  Don’t forget to bring your paintbrush and some green paint!  My mom says left handed people are the only ones in their right mind.  However, at Chappy’s, they’re having the Left Hand Weak Sauce Porter Tapping…so I am guessing that despite the fact that lefties may be in their right mind, they are the weaker of the two.  Yes, I am right.

On Thursday, don’t get too spooked out when you go to the Schuster Center for the ‘PhilharMonster’ Halloween Concert.  Check out UD’s Department of Visual Arts with their Open House, where you will be able to see their new studios, galleries, classrooms, and much more.  If you’re a woman who loves purses, you won’t want to miss the Girls’ Night Out – Purse Swap at the Melting Pot.  You may be able to “coach” some of your girlfriends into going with you as well.  Mix one part beer and one part religion and you have Theology on Tap, which will take place at Oregon Express.  Or make a trip up to Cedarville University for their presentation of  ‘And Then There Were None’.

On Friday, get geared up for Gear Fest at Eastwood MetroPark.  If you like to drink beer from half-gallon jugs, then be sure to go to Minster’s Oktoberfest!  Just a tip – you may want to rent a big passenger van so you only have to have one DD!  Attend The Fourth Annual Blue Moon Affair at the Schuster Center, whose proceeds benefit the Community Action Partnership’s Youth Empowerment Center.  And finally, if you enjoy music and dance, and would like to help assist in the restoration of historical outdoor drama, attend the Caesar’s Ford Theatre Civil War Ball at Hope Hotel and Conference Center.

On Saturday we jump into October…and you can jump right back into Gear Fest at Eastwood Metro Park.  Support We Care Arts by attending the We Care Style Auction at the Mandalay Banquet Center.  If you like the color green, then participate in the Green Energy Ohio Tour.  And if you like pink, then attend Pink and Chrome – Ride for the Cure at Thomas Cloud Park.  Attend Resolve It! Solve It! with Six-Step Problem-Solving at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  I’ve been told that their theme song is “Ice Ice Baby,” because after the workshop, you’re bound to be singing “If there was a problem, yo I’ll solve it.”  At the Dayton Art Institute, see Orla Fallon, a talented singer/harpist who has performed for the Pope as well as some former U.S. Presidents.  Enhance your cooking skills by attending El Meson’s Cooking Class.  I’m available if you need a taste tester!  You may have missed Oktoberfest this past weekend at the Dayton Art Institute, but if you make the trip up to Minster, you’ll be able to attend their version!  Have a unique dining experience at Carillon Park with their Tavern Dinners: Harvest Feast, which will feature a candlelit “hearth cooked and historically accurate multi-course supper.”  Or make your way to the Schuster Center for the Philharmonic Gala: Dance to the Music.

On Sunday, be sure to make it up to Minster if you haven’t yet for their Oktoberfest.  Does your pooch need a good cleaning?  Take him/her to A Taste of Wine for Wine, Washes & Wet Noses, where h e/she will be washed while you can sit back and enjoy a glass of wine.  And finally, at the Schuster Center, listen to the sounds of R&B/jazz artist Lalah Hathaway, with an opening act by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

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

A three-legged dog walks into a bar and says to the bartender, “I’m looking for the guy who shot my Pa.”

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

Have a great week Dayton!

Dining Your Way through Oktoberfest!

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It’s not quite October, but close enough that local restaurants are rolling out the Oktoberfest menus. Here’s a round up of the local specials heralding the Bavarian culture that has been celebrating these festivities since 1810.

Amber Rose kicked off their Oktoberfest beer special which allows you to enjoy your first Beck’s Oktoberfest, Amber Bach or Goose Island Harvest  for just 10 cents all month long.  The y will also feature a different schnitzel special each week and of course brats are available for lunch all month long.

Chef Keith Taylor at Savona in Centerville has a special menu offering options like wurst salad, warm potato salad, german slaw, wiener schnitael, beef rouladen, choucroute garni and apple strudel.  Taylor offers this menu in homage to his late mentor, Chef Dieter Krug, whom he worked under at L’Auberge and often was a guest chef at Savona, where they perfected them menu items.

L’Auberge is running a special 3 course pre-fixe meal for $25 until
Oct. 8th that includes:

First Course: choice of German potato salad or Bavarian sausage salad
Second Course: Octoberfest chicken with stuffing or roasted pork schank with red red cabbage
Third Course:  warm apple strudel

Rue Dumaine is offfering an Oktoberfest celebration on Thurs, Oct 6th.  You’ll have the option of a German beer tasting featuring Erdinger Hefewiezen Oktoberfest, Sam Adamas Oktoberfest  and Ayinger Oktoberfest – Marzen for $12 or pairing German wines with this special menu created by Chef Anne:

Sauerkraut balls over German mustard crème
Obatzda –Limburger cheese-butter spread, served with handmade soft pretzels
Hot slaw with apples and bacon
German potato** salad
Tartlet of Alsatian Munster and roasted mushrooms
–
Rinderrouladen served with potato puree and braised red cabbage – beef stuffed with a pickle spear, carrot stick, house made German-style ham and a smear of German mustard. It is seared then slow braised in beef stock. Served with Yukon potato puree and braised red cabbage seasoned with bacon, onion, red wine vinegar and sugar.

Grilled trout with celery sauce and Schupfnudeln (potato dumplings)

Gemischtes Würstchenteller- 2 varieties house made sausages served with kraut (with juniper, caraway, apples**, onions, bacon and beer), spaetzle and German mustard

Apple** strudel- phyllo wrapped apples with raisins, walnuts, sugar and spice
Petite Black Forest cake

** designated locally grown items

Former University of Dayton Flyer, Mickey Perry – “Making it Happen On and Off the Court”

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What embodies a well-rounded basketball player? Is it their dashing moves on the basketball court? Their ability to read the defense and create plays on the offense? Or could it be what they do off the court and in the classroom that makes all the difference in the intense game of life?

Mickey Perry, The former University of Dayton [UD, Flyers] basketball player, is a great example of what hard work on and off the court can bring if one applies themselves.

Perry was recently picked up by the Quebec Kebs, a professional Canadian team in the National Basketball League. The news comes just one year after Perry successfully completed his undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Dayton.

However impressive, Perry’s scholastic and basketball superstardom did not come easy by any stretch of the imagination.

Perry came from the hard streets of Maywood, IL, just outside of Chicago, where he grew up with his two younger siblings, mother and stepfather; however, he chose not to become a statistic and fall victim to the street life.

Perry’s road to the pros began at Proviso East, a high school that has produced NBA greats such as Boston Celtics Head Coach, Doc Rivers [played for Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs] and Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks [also played for Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics].

During Perry’s sophomore year at Proviso East he played alongside Shannon Brown, two-time NBA champion of the Los Angeles Lakers.

As one could envision, Perry had large basketball shoes to fill hailing from such an accomplished high school; however, Mickey never detoured from his dreams of obtaining a higher education and an opportunity to pursue a professional basketball career.

Perry was afforded an opportunity to attend college right out of high school, which was a dream come true for him and his mother. Perry said, “My mother always said if you pray and work hard enough, there is nothing you can’t achieve.”

Perry attended the University of Wisconsin [Badgers] in 2005-2007, which is a Big Ten conference school. During Mickey’s 2007 basketball season as a Badger, Wisconsin was ranked #2 in the nation.

Although Wisconsin was having an outstanding 2007 season, Perry saw little action on the hardwood. Perry played only half a season of basketball his sophomore year and red shirted during his freshman year.

Mickey left the Badgers to better his basketball opportunities and transferred to the University of Dayton, where he played the point and shooting guard position.

In 2010, during Perry’s senior year at the University of Dayton, the Flyers were able to clinch the National Invitation Tournament [NIT] championship game over the North Carolina Tar Heels, finishing out their season with a 25-12 record.

Even though that was Dayton’s first NIT title in more than 40 years, Perry said his biggest victory in 2010 came a few weeks later when he received his degree from his Alma Mater. Monica Magnificent McGee“I’m a student-athlete, not an athletic student. There is a difference,” he said.

Right after college, Perry played professional minor league basketball for the Dayton Air Strikers in the Premiere Basketball League [PBL] during the 2010 season. In Mickey’s brief time with the Strikers, he was able to become the 7th overall scorer in the league and made the All PBL 2nd Team.

Mickey mentioned that even if he had not had opportunity to advance in the professional realm of basketball that he would use his education to build a solid career in and around sports.

Perry said, “You have to have an A, B and sometimes even a C plan if things don’t exactly work out with the pro’s. If the pro’s don’t work out for me, I know I will definitely do something in the basketball arena like coach or teach at some level between high school and college. All I know is I am working hard for each and every opportunity I’ve received and if for some reason I don’t make it, I know I gave it my best shot. I am fortunate I have my education to fall back on.”

Perry’s first season with the Kebs starts in early October and in the meanwhile he is giving back through mentoring young athletes and substitute teaching in his old neighborhood in Maywood, IL.

Perry concluded by stating, “Skills and training camps will prepare you for the game of basketball, but being armed with your education will prepare you for the game of life. Take advantage of your educational opportunities to better your life and your chances of being successful on and off the court. “

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Calling All Outdoor Enthusiasts – GearFest is here!

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Editor’s note: please welcome Rebecca Weaver, another Dayton Campus Connect intern, to our Active Living section.

Outdoor families and enthusiasts of all sorts are welcome to join in the 2011 Five Rivers Metroparks’ GearFest, a multi-day event packed with all the Midwest Outdoor Experience has to offer. The fun-filled event takes place on Friday, September 30, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, October 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and not to mention parking and attendance is completely free!

GearFest has something to offer for all of our outdoor adventurers including camping, off-road races, regional music acts, competitions, a Friday and Saturday night beer garden, and much more! The two-day event has grown to be more than just a place to offer great outdoor gear, it has evolved to become a nature lover’s paradise. GearFest is one of the Midwest’s largest festivals celebrating the many thrilling activities mother nature has to offer.

On Friday night there will be the GearFest Off Road 5 K, the start of the National Slackline Competition, live music presented by WYSO including Front Porch Revival and The Spikedrivers, and a chance to watch the Earth Joy Tree Climbers. There will also be places and opportunities to try Backpacking, Fly Fishing, Geocaching, Skateboarding, and much more. Stop by the Subway Fresh Fit Youth Adventure Zone to learn about healthy and active outdoor lifestyles for the kids.

Saturday features the finale to the National Slackline Competition, Freestyle Whitewater Kayaking, speed rock climbing, a ski/snowboard competition, the Hub Trex Bike Ride, more live music presented by WYSO featuring the Buffalo Killers, and many other musical talents. There will also be a chance for guests to try many other activities including: disc golfing, snow tubing, kayaking, canoeing and much more.

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Not only will GearFest be the hot spot for some of the Midwest’s best outdoor fun, they will also be featuring some deliciously appealing food and drinks. This year’s food vendors include: All Souped Up, Bolaskos Concessions, Las Americas, Skyline Chili, Smokin’ Bar-B-Que, Kona Ice, and The Monch On. The Yakima Beer Garden will be featured on both Friday and Saturday night, and it will be hosted by Bonbright Distributors. All of the proceeds will be going towards the Mad River Mountain Ski Patrol.

Help GearFest in the effort to go green and reduce plastic cup waste by purchasing the world’s first and only Silipint, provided by Green Earth Outdoors. The Silipint is BPA free and practically indestructible, purchase one when you stop by the beer garden or pre-order one by calling Green Earth Outdoors (502) 475- 7455.

Enter the Ultimate Gear Giveaway for your chance to win your very own “Ultimate Outdoor Experience.” Simply like the “Get Out and Live” Facebook page and become automatically entered to win one of the many prize packs provided by GearFest sponsors. Some of the packages include items such as kayaks, mountain bikes, snowboards, skis, backpacks, and much more!

This year GearFest will be hosting many opportunities for all you nature nuts with a competitive edge. Along with the Gibbon National Slackline Competition, many other competitions will be taking place at the event as well. The featured events include the GearFest Off-Road 5K Run/ Walk, Colavita-Zipp Speed Time Trials Finale, Ohio Valley Cyclocross GearFest CX, “The Hunt for Shred October” Freestyle Competition, and the “Rock the Climb” Speed Climbing Competition. So if you’re seeking an outdoor escape this weekend, stop on out to Five Rivers Metroparks’ GearFest 2011, and grab yourself a breath of fresh air and some friendly competition.

Women in Business Networking – Helping you to Grow as a Leader

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Joni Fedders, President - Aileron

Aileron President Joni Fedders of Dayton and GE Capital Retail Finance President and CEO Margaret Keane of Ridgefield, Conn., will give the keynote addresses at “Growing as a Leader,” the fourth annual professional development conference by Women in Business Networking, Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Schuster Performing Arts Center at Second and Main streets in Dayton. Premier Health Partners is the title sponsor of the conference.

Fedders oversees the strategic direction and operational activities of Aileron, which helps private business owners understand where they want to go and apply sound business practices to help them get there. A former executive at The Iams Company and a two-time entrepreneur herself, Fedders was handpicked in 2003 by Aileron’s founder, successful businessman Clay Mathile, to build The Center for Entrepreneurial Education, which became Aileron.

Fedders will give the morning keynote entitled “Diapers, Deadlines and Dreams – Finding Alignment and Learning to Lead” and share her story on striving to achieve both professional and personal growth.

Margaret Keane, CEO and President - GE Money Retail Finance

Keane – who joined GE in 1996 and became a GE officer in 2005 – has held numerous positions within the organization at Vendor Financial Services, GE Capital, GE Commercial Finance, GE Consumer Finance-Americas and GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance. She began her career at Citicorp, where she worked in sales, marketing and operations for 16 years.

Keane will give the luncheon keynote entitled “Leading through Change.” Keane – who has led the financial services company through challenges and change – says her experiences contributed to her growth as a leader. She will share lessons learned.

Besides Fedders and Keane, WDTN TV2 news anchor Michelle Kingsfield will present the plenary session on “Taking Control of your Professional and Personal Healthcare and Life.”

Eight additional business experts will present six breakout sessions on diverse leadership issues. Presenters include:

  • Pamela Reichel, executive director, Premier Community Health
  • Kendra Ramirez, social media strategist, manager, Open Commerce, Ascendum Solutions
  • Diane Helbig, president, Seize This Day Coaching
  • Denise Dixon-Davis and Diane Dixon, professional coaches, 3F Coaching
  • Kelly McCracken, director of client relations, and Jean Webster, communications manager, Aileron
  • Dr. Patricia Larkins Hicks, founder and president, The Outcomes Management Group

Seven panelists will discuss “Knowing, Growing and Glowing: That’s Synchronicity!” moderated by Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders, executive director, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Panelists include:

  • Martine Meredith Collier, president and CEO, Culture Works
  • Pat Kanuckel, associate vice president, Victoria’s Secret Direct
  • Scott Koorndyk, vice president, Technology Commercialization, Dayton Development Coalition
  • Deborah Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner
  • Erin Paulson, director, Strategic Marketing, TriComB2B
  • Jenell Ross, president, Bob Ross Buick-GMC, Mercedes-Benz and Fiat
  • Stacy Thompson, vice president, regional compliance and community reinvestment manager, KeyBank Corp.

The conference will feature exhibits from 32 local corporations and small businesses. The Market Place Boutique, a one-stop-shopping mini mall, will feature 16 women-owned retailers.

The conference, which begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast, concludes at 5:15 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception and an event benefiting The Noble Circle Project, which helps women thrive beyond cancer. A portion of the proceeds from conference ticket sales will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region and to Artemis Center, Dayton’s domestic violence resource agency.

Attendees are asked to register in advance at http://womeninbusinessnetworking.com/2011ProfessionalDevelopmentConference.aspx.

About Women in Business Networking (www.womeninbusinessnetworking.com)

Women in Business Networking (WiBN) – the leading organization for women in business – provides forums for building relationships so women will achieve career and personal success through education, resources and recognition. WiBN’s circle of influence and frequent programs have reached more than 1,500 women living and working in the Greater Dayton, Ohio, region. Women from all walks of life participate in WiBN: leaders and employees of corporate, nonprofit and community organizations; entrepreneurs and small-business owners; and women in career transition.

Media contact: Tina Marker, President

Windward Design Group

937.456.2301 / 937.545.9654

[email protected]

Food Adventures Crosses Paths with the Hamburger Wagon

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In the past few years, we have noticed an influx of restaurants in Dayton claiming to sell “gourmet” hamburgers.   Many of these places allow you to add fried eggs, avocados, and even fried pickles to your burger for an additional cost.  We have enjoyed Food Adventures while pigging out of these places of course, but The Big Ragu and Crew are simple creatures, who like their burgers made simple.  If you are like us and want a great “old school” style hamburger, you need to head down to the Hamburger Wagon in downtown Miamisburg, Ohio.  The little white cart with the red awning is an institution in Miamisburg that has been serving up hamburgers since Dayton’s Great Flood almost a hundred years ago.

It all started in 1913, when a tremendous flood devastated the city, leaving many houses  and lives destroyed.  Thousands of people ended up living in tent cities.   Hot food was pretty sparse and this led Sherman “Cocky” Porter to dig out his families recipe for hamburgers and pass them out to flood victims.  The people loved the burgers so much, Porter decided to sell them on Saturdays in a little “Hamburger Wagon.”  They have been serving burgers ever since.

Smashing the deep fried burgers, and laying out the buns

Our endless journey for special dining places, led us to the “Burg” to enjoy some of Porter’s incredible hamburgers.  When Food Adventures arrived at the Hamburger Wagon, we were pretty happy to see only two people ahead of us in line.   If you have ever gone to the Hamburger Wagon on a weekend, there is usually a continuous line of people waiting to indulge in these wonderful hamburgers.  We decided to look over the menu and that literally took about 2 seconds. The menu has only four items on it: a single, a double, potato chips, and pop.   We didn’t dare ask for cheese because the sign states “No stinkin’ cheese or sloppy sauces”.  Hungry Jax was bummed about the no cheese rule while a sauce loving Ragu had to come to terms with the fact that he can’t destroy this hamburger with his usual arsenal of sauces.  We decided to comfort each other and go on with the Food Adventure.  We each ordered three burgers, a bag of chips, and soda.  We stood back and watched the magic happen.

Bun, burger, onion, pickle, pepper.. it’s that simple

Each little burger is thrown in a deep cast iron pan of hot grease and cooked up until it is nice and crispy.  Just imagine how large the Big Ragu’s eyes got when he saw the hamburgers go in the old fashioned deep fryer!  Once the burgers are done cooking, they are thrown on a bun, topped with a pickle slice, onion, and a dash of pepper.  The burgers are then tossed into a paper sack and placed in our bratwurst looking fingers.  No wraps, just a napkin or two.  Maybe the lack of post cooking packaging is the way that the Hamburger Wagon shows they care about the environment.

The dining room choices are about as plentiful as the menu: you can either sit in your car or enjoy a nice cozy park bench.  It was a beautiful day out and we decided to sprawl out on the park bench and enjoy the weather and the burgers.  We absolutely loved the fact that we didn’t have to waste precious gorging time removing the piping hot burgers from any wrappers.   We were amazed just how good these hamburgers tasted.  We are considering starting a petition to rename the city Miamisburger.  We don’t exactly know what the recipe is, but we were told it’s a combination of hamburger, sausage, and corn flakes.  Whatever the recipe is, it’s absolutely amazing!  One of the most appealing things about the burgers is the “crunch factor.”  They are already crunchy from being deep fried and when you add the pickles and onions, the sandwich is taken to a whole new level.  Trust us when we say that these are some of the tastiest and most unique burgers that you will try.

Click on the incredible hamburger for a closer view

The next time that you are near Miamisburg, we highly recommend checking out the iconic Hamburger Wagon.  If you have been to the wagon, then we “spoke” too soon (groan).  The food is one of a kind, and you won’t go bankrupt while feeding your family. A single burger, bag of chips, and can of pop each cost $1.10 and a double burger rings up at $2.20.  We like this place so much we were sizing up how to roll the wagon away with us.  Maybe they would at least let us ride around in it for a while for a real Food Adventure.

Sometimes, good things can come out of a tragedy.  Due to an event like the 1913 flood, your grateful foodies The Food Adventure Crew, are able to enjoy these little hamburgers, with the big taste, today.

Have you been to the Hamburger Wagon?  If so, what are your thoughts on this legendary eatery in Miamisburg?

Visit FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking here! “Like” us to become an official fan !

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Jane’s Best Bets (9/21 – 9/25)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

What a great weekend!  I enjoyed seeing so many people downtown on Friday for Urban Nights!  And I enjoyed my first ever Air Force Marathon experience, which was also my first ever racing experience since running track in kindergarten.  It was great to see so many people come from all parts of the country and world to be in Dayton!  Although you may not be running around base this week, you may be running around town trying to catch some of these great events!

On Wednesday, put on your cocktail dress (for ladies only), eat some delicious food, and get out your credit card to bid on some amazing silent auction items at From Homeless to Homefull at Carillon Park.  Proceeds benefit Homefull, an organization in Dayton that helps to end homelessness.  If you enjoy drinking, head to The Caroline for the Epic Brewing Tasting.  And for some evening entertainment in the Oregon Disrict, head to Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam, Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band, or Blind Bob’s for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.

On Thursday, buy local produce at the Centerville Farmers Market.  Knitting has become a pretty popular thing to do and not just for old ladies, so if you’re interested, make your way to Books & Co. at The Greene for Daytime Knitters.  Couponing has also become popular with all those crazy couponing shows.  Get started with the trend by attending Couponing 101 at the Miamisburg Senior Adult Center.  They say not to mix religion and politics, but it is perfectly okay to mix religion and beer, as Theology on Tap will be happening at Oregon Express.  At the Fox and Hound in Beavercreek, you will be able to buy love and support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with the Bachelor Auction for a Cure.  And finally, scientists and wannabe scientists – make plans to attend the inaugural Dayton Regional Science Festival Ignite Innovation: An Evening with Paula Apsell (Executive Producer of the PBS series NOVA) at The Engineers Club of Dayton.

On Friday, attend the BRAVO! 2011 Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center or Ignite Innovation Lunch and Learn at the Schuster Center.  If you’re in the field of marketing/fundraising, then make your way to the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch for a workshop entitled, Writing to Make a Difference: How to Create Marketing Materials That Get Results.   At The Salvation Army Kroc Center, you will be able to attend the Human Rights & Dignity Banquet.  If you like mums, then be sure to attend the Tipp City Mum Festival.  Speaking of mums, it’s hard for me to keep mum about one of my favorite festivals of the year – Oktoberfest!  You can avoid the Oktoberfest crowds but still experience this great festival by getting your tickets to the DAI Oktoberfest Preview Party which is held Friday night!

On Saturday, start your day off on a healthy foot by participating in the Greater Dayton 5k Heart Walk and Run to support the American Heart Association.  Or take part in the St. Vincent de Paul – 2010 Friends of the Poor Walk.  Support Communication Services for the Deaf by playing in the Spikes for Tykes Volleyball Tournament at Setters.  Buy some great local products/produce at the 2nd Street Market and listen to live music by Old Skool, which will be playing a type of music I really like…the oldies!  Also on Saturday…several festivals will be going on, including the Germantown Pretzel Festival (Veterans Memorial Park in Germantown), the Chocolate Festival (Montgomery County Fairgrounds), Oktoberfest (Dayton Art Institute), and the Tipp City Mum Festival (downtown Tipp City).

On Sunday, head to the Garden Station Sunday Market for some great local produce.  Leap back into time by visiting a re-created 16th century English village with the Ohio Renaissance Festival.  And finally, remember that Sunday is your last chance to make it to the DAI Oktoberfest, the Tipp City Mum Festival, and the Germantown Pretzel Festival!

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

I went into the bank the other day and asked the teller to check my balance – she leaned over and pushed me.

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

Have a great week Dayton!