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

Archives for August 2009

Julia Child’s Imposters Wanted

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images-12Enter the area’s first “Fake-Off” Contest in conjunction with the Little Art Theatre screening of Julie and Julia. The event begins 0n Friday, Sept 4th with “Cocktails with Julia” at 6:30pm at the Winds Café featuring Julia Child inspired hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Then head down the street to the Little Art Theatre for a Julia Child “Fake-Off” Contest at 7:40pm. Contestants will dress up as Julia Child and offer a favorite Julia quote, cooking tip, or short skit. The screening audience will judge the contestants. The cocktail hour and contest will be hosted by special guest, Julia-Jean Child (actress, Rani Crowe). Winners will receive gift prizes. Come as contestant or spectator. Call the Winds Café to reserve your “Cocktail with Julia” (937) 767-1144. Event tickets are $20 (includes cocktail event, contest and screening). Tickets are $7 for Yellow Springs premiere screening of Julie and Julia and contest only. Winds Café, 215 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs; Little Art Theatre, 2 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs.

Julie & Julia, The Movie (taken from the film website)
Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powel in writer-director Nora Ephron’s adaptation of two bestselling memoirs Powell’s Julie & Julia and My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme.

Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends…until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

Finally a Food, Wine & Beer Festival north of town

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corks&forkslogoCelebrating  Fine Wines, Cool Brews & Tantalizing Tastes in a casual environment to benefit local charities, Corks & Forks will  debut Sunday, Sept 20th from 1-4pm. With over 100 wines being poured, a Belgium Beer Cafe, Chef Demonstrations and tastes from local restaurants, this first time festival is shaping up quickly.

Confirmed restaurants include The Buckhorn Tavern,
The Caroline, Chin’s Ginger Grill, Michael Anthony’s at the Inn at Versailles, Sopranos, Thai 9, TJ Chumps and Tony’s Italiain Kitchen, with more to come.  Miami Valley Grown, a new local foods initiative, will be showcasing farm fresh foods with local chefs presenting recipes that highlight the flavors of garden fresh products.

To help raise funds for the Blake LaForce and Wahid Abdullah Fund’s as well as Miami Valley Grown, a silent auction will also take place.  Some of the early highlights of the auction include a weekend use of a BMW convertible with picnic basket, UD basketball tickets with $100 to dine at The Pine Club, and gift certificates to local restaurants, shops and shows.

Tickets are just $45 in advance and can be bought online or at Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge.  Tables of 10 can also be reserved for just $500.  Day of event tickets will run $55, if still available.  Ticket include beer, food and wine samples as well as souvenir glassware for all guests.

Warped Comedy Warblings of Tim Wilson

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images-11Don’t let Comedian Tim Wilson’s slow southern drawl fool you, his wit is razor sharp.   Wilson puts a humorous spin on everything from gun control to the government. He ranges from talking about the frustrations of trying to reason with a bank teller to taking on construction workers that never get anything done.  “I don’t do observational comedy. I do kind of opinionated, issue-type stuff,” Wilson says.  “I’m kind of a curmudgeon.”

His humor, and opinions, get a frequent airing on syndicated radio shows -like Bob and Tom, heard locally on WTUE.

Watch Tim sing First Baptist Bar & Grill on Bob & Tom

Wilson is best known for such ditties as “The Jeff Gordon Song,” “Chucky Cheese Hell” and “First Baptist Bar & Grill,” which he refers to as “my Freebird.” Since inking a deal with Capitol Records in 1998, he’s released more than a dozen albums, including “The Real Twang Thang,” “I Should’ve Married My Father-in-Law” and “Hillbilly Homeboy.”  “I’m meaner than the Blue Collar Comedy guys, and I have more opinions,” says Wilson. “I like to find someone in the audience who is young enough to be my kid or my niece and explain to them how America is really supposed to be.”

Somewhere in between comedy gigs, Wilson got serious and co-authored a book with fellow comedian Roger Keiss.   “Happy New Year, – ted: Theodore Bundy and the Columbus Stocking Stranglings.” The book theorizes that Bundy, a notorious serial killer, killed one of the Stocking Stranglings in 1978, after escaping from the Glenwood Springs, Colo., jail. It also theorizes that Bundy, rather than William Hance, killed two prostitutes in Columbus. Georgia, Wilson’s hometown.

So whether it’s laughs or history you’re after, you’ll get both at a Tim Wilson comedy show.  Catch  his latest “philosophies” on the everyday frustrations of the working man to The Dayton Funny Bone Sept 17th -20th at The Greene.

Experience Oregon’s Award Winning Wines

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2001Even though Adelsheim wines–the pinot noir especially–rank among the very best that Oregon produces, David Adelsheim didn’t know, when he and his wife bought 19 acres on a hillside in 1971, that he was going to start a winery.   Says David: “When we started planting grapes, we sort of fantasized that we might make some wine down the road.”

Now,  Adelsheim wines are praised by widely as some of the best wine Oregon produces.  The Adelsheim Vineyard estate includes nine vineyard sites on the Chehalem Mountains, totaling 168 acres, and annual production has grown to 40,000 cases.

Second generation wine maker, Michael Adelsheim will be at Arrow Wine in Kettering on Sept 3 from 5-7pm hosting a tasting of their Willamette Valley wines.  Don’t miss this chance to taste some of Oregon’s best wines and while you are there have Michael sign a bottle or two for your collection.

Arts Exhibit to Celebrate Dayton’s Legacy of Creativity

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creativesoulThe Armory building will become the latest exhibition space in the Oregon Arts District, when it hosts Creative Soul of Dayton, starting Friday, Oct 2nd.    “Our goal is for Creative Soul of Dayton to include a wide variety of works representing the many talented artists, including students, in our community,” says Susan Byrnes, director of UD’s ArtStreet and lead exhibit organizer. “We hope all Daytonians with an artistic spirit will participate.  “This project is being designed to display the highest quality of individual artistic achievement in the visual arts.”

Prior to the exhibit opening, prize juror Eva Buttacavoli will select winning works in a variety of categories.  Buttacavoli is an independent curator and art educator who recently moved to Dayton. Previously, she was the director of exhibitions and education at the Austin Museum of Art, where she was recognized for creating art experiences that connect to everyday life and  was awarded museum educator of the year in Texas in 2006.

Three artists will be awarded best of show, and each will receive a solo exhibit of his or her work in Link Gallery in the Oregon Arts District, a sponsor of Creative Soul of Dayton, as well as exhibition and professional development consultation from Buttacavoli.

Creative Soul of Dayton also will include artist talks and other fun, educational activities throughout the month, with details available closer to the exhibit opening. A group of faculty, staff and students from the University of Dayton, Wright State University, Central State University and Sinclair Community College ― along with local artists, gallery owners and community members ― are organizing the exhibition.

It will be on display on the third floor of the Armory Building, 201 E. Sixth St., on the corner of Sixth Street and Patterson Boulevard in downtown Dayton, from Friday, Oct 2, through Friday, Nov 6, 2009.  An opening reception for the exhibit will be held during the free monthly downtown arts hop, First Friday, from 5‐10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, when award winners will be announced. A closing reception will be held from 5‐10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, during that month’s First Friday event.

Creative Soul of Dayton was inspired by the DaytonCREATE effort that began in March 2008, when “creative class” economist Richard Florida and his Creative Communities Leadership Project came to Dayton. DaytonCREATE includes five initiatives. One of them, This is Dayton, is aimed at building civic pride, and Creative Soul of Dayton is part of this initiative. For more on DaytonCREATE, see www.daytoncreate.org.

Urban Nights Seeks Volunteers, Community Performers

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urbannightsThe fall edition of Urban Nights is set for Friday, September 11, and you can help make it the best “walk on the creative side” ever!  One way to get involved is to become part of the Urban Nights Crew. Volunteers are needed to help serve as shuttle guides, walking guides, info table staff, survey crew members and more.  Volunteer shifts run from 4:45-7:30 p.m. and from 7:15-10 p.m. Or, if you have a creative talent you’d like to share with the public, you can apply to perform on the Urban Nights Community Stage!  Several “Dayton Originals” will be chosen from the pool of applicants to have their ten minute performances included as part of the Urban Nights entertainment lineup.  If you are interested in being an Urban Nights performer or volunteer, you have until August 31 to apply. Application forms are available at downtowndayton.org. For more information call Molly Eaton at (937) 224-1518, ext. 229.

Versailles FareFest-Food, Beer & Wine Festival

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farefestBilled as the First Annual Versailles FareFest, West Main Street in V-town will be blocked off for an event the likes of which have probably never before been witnessed in their quaint little village.  as they play host to an invasion of oenophiles from all over the Upper Miami Valley on Saturday, August 29th.

Now don’t be scared.  Oenophiles are not something found on cable television’s SyFy.  Nor are they are related to the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer.  And shame on you for thinking they might be seen on Dateline NBC!  Believe it or not, we have plenty of oenophiles in our very midst, and they are not scary at all.

To the uninitiated, an “oenophile” is a lover of fine wines.  These aficionados don’t just dwell in places like LA, NYC, or CHI-town.  Yes, they live in Darke County, too.  And they have been waiting patiently for this opportunity.  From 2:00-5:00 in the afternoon, the area around Fountain Square in beautiful downtown Versailles will come alive with activity.  There will be cool music, great wines, cold beers, and scrumptious food available for three of the best hours any late-summer afternoon could offer.  Want some details?  OK.

The price of admission for this prestigious happening is a mere $35 presale ($40 at the door).  Events such as this one customarily cost twice that amount and are wildly popular in such faraway realms as Lima and Dayton.  For that ONE LOW PRICE, FareFesters can sample wines from dozens of different vendors, hosted by our very own Winery at Versailles.  Up to 300 different wines will be available–all right there under the tents on West Main Street.  Wineries committed thus far are: Trinchero, Menage A Trois, Don Sebastiani, Wente Family, Foster Wine Estates, Penfolds, Rosemount, Louis Latour, E&J Gallo (premium), Louis Martini, Alamos, Easley Winery, Kenwood, Valley of The Moon, Lake Sonoma, Korbel, Specialty Wines (Italy), Banfi, Napa Ridge, Columbia Winery, Georges Dueouf, Volteo, XYZin. Just wander through the various booths and ask the pourers to fill your very own souvenir wine glass with a sparkling potable.  There is no limit.  Sample to your heart’s content!

Maybe wine is not your particular favorite beverage.  Beer, you say, is what you drink at any celebration such as this one.  Well, the FareFest will gladly take care of your request.  Whether you prefer an easy-drinking smooth brew or a glass of something a bit heartier, it will most likely be available from one of the many beer distributors on site.  Goose Island, Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegarrden, Becks, Samuel Adams, and the ever-popular Wooden Shoe will be there, along with a plethora of pilsners from all four points of the compass.

Of course, one must have something in his or her stomach in order to comfortably consume wine and beer for three hours.  Never fear.  The  Inn at Versailles will be the host restaurant for a profusion of top-notch chefs from all over.  A partial listing of restaurants that plan to be present with their own specialties includes:  Coldwater Café (Tipp City), The Main Street Bistro (Lima), Coco’s (Dayton), Ghyslain’s (Union City/Richmond/Indy), The Montage (Greenville), The Bistro (Greenville), Bake House Bread Company (Troy), Caroline’s (Troy), Davis Meat Co. (Sidney–doing BBQ), Toone P. Wiggins (Sidney) and obviously Michael Anthony’s at the Inn (Versailles).

If you still want more, here it is.  Higgins-Madewell, a very popular duo  will be performing on Fountain Square all afternoon.  Their folksy/bluesy style has been a big favorite at all sorts of venues from West Milton to New York City.  Just perfect for a brand new festival desiring to be just a bit edgy in terms of food, wine, beer, and music!  Maybe it’s time for you to broaden your horizons just a little.  Unlimited food, beer, wine, and music for only $35.  Wow!

The Versailles FareFest is sponsored by the Versailles High School Alumni Association, with proceeds going toward college scholarships.  Tickets can be obtained by visiting The Inn at Versailles or by calling (937) 526-3020 or by going online to www.innatversailles.com

Want to present an idea? Welcome to Pecha-Kucha Night in Dayton!

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pechakuchanight1“The sound of conversation” – that is the translation for the Japanese phrase Pecha-Kucha, which is also the name for a creative way of presenting creative ideas to an audience of – well, other creative people.  This new concept has taken the planet by storm, happening in over 100 global cities since 2003 when it was first thought up by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Tokyo’s Klein-Dytham Architecture (KDa), who sought to give young designers a venue to meet, network, and show their work and to attract people to their experimental event space in Roppongi.

Hmm, experimental event space – sounds familiar.  Ah yes, we have one of those here in Dayton: c{space!  Located at 20 N. Jefferson, this space was opened last year by a group of Dayton Create catalysts in conjunction with the Dayton Circus who set out to find an empty yet interesting urban space to hold independent street-level art & music events and other creative gatherings.  Its first event was the successful Ladyfest Dayton, and since then the space has hosted several interesting events as well as small groups working on all kinds of things from film festival planning to urban bicycle events.  And yes – your’s truly was part of that original group that made c{space possible.

Back to Pecha-Kucha… this presentation/networking event is unique in that it restricts presenters to 20 powerpoint slides at 20 seconds each, for a toal of 6 minute 40 seconds per presentation.  In other words, no long drawn-out boring presentations.  Personally I’d like to see EVERY committee meeting, board meeting, and business meeting follow this format!  But until that happens, I encourage you to check out Dayton’s version of Pecha-Kucha Night on August 27,  2009 at 6:30pm (more details at the link).  And there is already a second night scheduled for November 6 – this one is for Dayton AIA architects to quickly present their creative thoughts.  And if you think you have the goods to present at one of these, contact Jill Davis ([email protected] or 937-225-9307).

Beer Drinkers Unite!

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alefestblog1This Saturday, Aug 29th, over 3000 HopHeads and Beer Geeks will head to Carillon Park for the 11th edition of AleFest Dayton.  Joe Waizman founded this festival “to share my love of beer with others.”  He hopes folks  “will discover that AleFest and craft beers are an enjoyable & educational culture.”

With over 100 beers to choose from, having a strategy on how to experience AleFest is best. I asked local beer expert, Aaron Spoores (who sells beer for Cavalier Distributing and hosts beer tastings across the Valley) for his suggestions:

TIPS FROM AN EXPERT:

  1. Upon entering make your first beer be the one closest to you.
  2. Find a place to sit and examine the tasting guide, highlighting beers you want to taste and map out a plan.
  3. Taste from light to dark.
  4. Drink lots of water, in between beers and take a break to grab some food, too.  There’s plenty of beer, so enjoy and remember to take care of yourself.

Waizman adds, “Talk to the knowledgeable pourers & let them know your beer, wine, &/or food tastes so they can make recommendations. This is an excellent opportunity to sample beers  & styles you’ve not previously experienced, so step outside your list of favorites.”

TIPS FROM A CASUAL BEER DRINKER- My suggestions from attending the fest in the past:

  1. If there’s a huge line, there’s probably something special being tasted- check it out.
  2. Create your own rating system and take notes on your tasting guide.  (Things you remember  may not help the next time you go to order-Wild Blue sticks out in my head- but it was because I hated it…too fruity!)
  3. Bribe a teenager to pick you up when the event is over- you won’t want to drive home.
  4. Don’t make plans for going out that night- you’ll probably want a nap and a mellow night on the couch.

Look for an expanded offering of draught beers this year – about 30 will be available including Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Grassroots Saison, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, & Admiral Perry IPA, Chimay Trappist White, Goose Island Matilda, Pere Jacques, & 312 Urban Wheat.

Special  LIMITED Goose Island EDITION DRAUGHTS:

  • 2:30-Night Stalker Imperial Stout
  • 3:30-Demolition Belgian Strong Pale Ale
  • 4:30 Fleur Belgian Sour Ale With Hibiscus

TO GO: Sat, Aug 29th 2-6pm (they often let folks in at 1:30 so arrive early)
$30 in advance-they can be picked up at 30 bars & wine stores around town or  buy online, $35 day of event.
Admission includes 20 samples of craft beer, tasting glass and guide & live entertainment. Designated driver/non-drinker $10.00 – purchase at the gate. Admission includes a bottle of water and an AleFest sampling glass as you exit. Must be 21 years of age to attend.

Drive Less, Bike More

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Bicycle in PortlandPortland, Boulder, Madison, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Chicago – these are cities known to be magnets to young college graduates and the “creative class” that so many cities including Dayton are trying to retain and attract.  But what else do these cities have in common?  They are all known as some of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country according to a city ranking by the League of American Bicyclists – the standard for cities looking to capitalize on the growing popularity of the bicycle culture.  While Dayton must continue to work hard at attracting businesses that provide good jobs, we must at the same time be doing everything we can to make our city attractive for living – and bicycles can play a major role in that.

Columbus is the only Ohio city that ranks on the Bicycle Friendly Community list (bronze level), but Dayton has the potential to join and even surpass Columbus as a bicycle-friendly community.  Our region already enjoys one of the best recreational trail networks in the country, with main trails converging at Riverscape in Downtown Dayton where the region’s first bike hub is now being built.  We also have the new MetroParks Mountain Biking Area that is growing in popularity.  Imagine if we capitalized on these unique recreational assets by integrating them with a city and region-wide transportation network that encourages more people to use bicycles for short trips and even commutes to work.

There are few things as versatile and that transcend race, gender, socio-economics, age or even physical fitness level more than a bicycle – whether being used recreationally or for basic transportation.  By transforming our streets to be more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, we can:

  • Provide low-cost transportation options to those unable to afford automobiles as well as those that simply want to drive less
  • Decrease traffic congestion and pollution
  • Lower obesity levels by increasing physical activity
  • Add vibrancy and safety to our downtown streets
  • Allow people to spend less on gas and perhaps spend more in our local economy

The City of Dayton is taking initial steps by implementing the region’s first dedicated bike lanes and sharrows (shared lanes that are marked) when it completes the downtown two-way street conversions over the next several months.  It is a nice nod to the Wright Brothers that St. Clair Street will have one of these dedicated bike lanes, since it shares its name with a line of bicycles that the Wrights built and sold.  Added to groups like Courteous Mass (a grassroots urban bicycle awareness movement) and the Drive Less Live More campaign, we are moving in the right direction toward a comprehensive plan that aims to put Dayton on the map for bicycle-friendly communities.  This includes efforts as simple as expanding driver/bicycle education and awareness, and as complex as implementing bike share programs and “Complete Streets” plans that truly transform our streets from being designed predominantly for the automobile to being equally accessible to autos, bicycles and pedestrians alike.

We all know about the Wright Brothers and how their invention of flight has helped shape Dayton over the past several decades, though few would suggest that it is their prior work with bicycles that may represent the future for Dayton.  However, in this age of rising transportation costs, traffic congestion, growing obesity, climate change and culture shifts, cities across the country are discovering that the bicycle can play a pivotal role in the quest for economic prosperity.  It is time for Dayton to join this trend.

Join the first Miami Valley Cycling Summit this Friday at UD, where government officials, experts, community leaders and bicycle advocates from across the region AND the country will be presenting plans already implemented in other cities and ideas for us here in Dayton.  As of the time of this post there are over 275 registrants.

Photo Credit: kworth30 – Flickr.com