Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
…as one of the key influences on the start of this blog you’re reading, we were very saddened to hear today that the Dayton Daily News has canceled their Dayton Local Music blog written by Kris Neises due to “budget cuts” at the DDN. While we’ve done all that we can to keep you up to date on what’s happening in Dayton music, Neises’s work definitely kept us on our toes. Let’s hear it for a fallen comrade…
This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/
As part of their ongoing efforts to engage the local “young creatives” in the growth and transformation of our city and region, Updayton is holding its first Candidates Forum on Oct. 1 at c{space. All of the individuals running for office in the City of Dayton have been invited to this forum which will be moderated by the League of Women Voters, including:
City Commissioners Joey Williams & Nan Whaley, challenger David Esrati (top two vote getters get elected)
City Mayor Rhine McLin, challenger Gary Leitzell
Also, information will be provided on the levy that is up for renewal this November for Five Rivers MetroParks.
Get involved in helping to shape the future of our city by attending and asking the candidates how they feel about the issues most important to you. Please RSVP to Scott Murphy at [email protected] or 937-643-0691.
Check out this event on our DMM Event Calendar!
EDIT – I mistakenly included the Dayton Metro Library as a levy to be discussed but in fact only the Five Rivers MetroParks levy will be discussed.
…although Toronto outfit DD/MM/YYYY [allegedly there is no correct pronunciation of this moniker] issued their third album, Black Square, in their homeland last Spring to critical acclaim, it’s not until September 15 that the album will get a proper US release. Teaming with Brooklyn imprint Impose Records, the band will make this a cassette/digital only release. Cool with us. You can get in on that here. Additionally, the band will be hitting the road this fall with These Arms are Snakes. Tune in now…
MP3: DD/MM/YYYY “Digital Haircut”
TOUR DATES:
09/08 Hamilton, ONT Rokbar %
09/10 Brooklyn, NY Don Pedro’s – Cassette Release Party %*
09/17 Quebec City, QC Le Cercle
09/20 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry #
09/21 East Moline, IL Mixtapes
09/22 Chicago, IL Subterranean #
09/23 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room #
09/24 Rochester, NY Bug Jar #
09/25 Brooklyn, NY Shea Stadium #
09/26 New York, NY Mercury Lounge #
09/27 Cambridge, MA TT the Bear’s #
09/28 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie #
09/29 Washington, DC DC9 #
09/30 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 #
10/01 Atlanta, GA Star Community Bar #
10/02 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder #
10/03 Orlando, FL Will’s Pub #
10/05 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon #
10/06 Austin, TX Red 7 #
10/07 Denton, TX Rubbergloves Rehearsal #
10/09 Tuscon, AZ Plush #
10/10 Los Angeles, CA Knitting Factory #
10/11 San Diego, CA Casbah #
10/13 Visalia, CA Cellar Door #
10/14 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill #
10/16 Portland, OR Rotture #
10/17 Seattle, WA The Vera Project #
* = w/ Anamanaguchi, Graffiti Monsters
% = w/ Spiral Beach
# = w/ These Arms Are Snakes
This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/
…we can’t exactly be sure why every Labor Day in Dayton seems to be visited by grey skies and intermittent rain, making certain that no plans made will see fruition. Alas, it is our fate again this year…
…in keeping with the overcast conditions, we offer up new music from San Diego outfit Tape Deck Mountain. While the band’s name caught our eye, their mid-fi aesthetic certainly caught our ear. It doesn’t hurt either that the band’s lucid guitars swirling in and out in sheets of sublime and searing sonic assault sound perfectly at home alongside some of our shoegaze/slacker favorites from late 80s/early 90s…
…The band’s debut, Ghost [Lefse Records], is due out November 17…
MP3: Tape Deck Mountain “Ghost Colony”
This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/
If you work or live in Downtown Dayton and you’re looking for a new lunch place to try, do yourself a favor and check out Carmen’s Deli at the former Fifth Third Center (across the street from the Kettering Tower on Second Street). Formerly Swishers II Cafe (whose original location is still open), this newest lunch eatery to open downtown is already a hit with customers! They’ve got a simple yet full lunch menu that is quite inexpensive – price range is between $4.29 for a Hamburger to $4.99 for a Wrap Sandwich – wow! Get a Hero Sub and a drink for only $5.59!
But that isn’t even the best part… Haitham is the owner (he named the restaurant 
after his wife) and this guy has a magical ability to put a smile on just about anybody’s face! His electric personality is infectious – something that is unfortunately quite lacking in most places these days. I’ve been in about half a dozen times and everytime Haitham acknowledges me by name and always tries to strike up conversation with me. He sincerely appreciates every customer and goes out of his way to make everybody happy. Yes, Haitham at Carmen’s Deli truly gets the meaning of the word “Hospitality”!
Check out their Facebook Page, and next time you’re downtown looking for an inexpensive but delicious lunch be sure to give Carmen’s Deli a try.
You’ve heard them on the radio, tv and even the newspapers have gotten into the discounted restaurant gift certificate business. You might wonder if these deals are legitimate. They are! In exchange for the promotional value the eateries get from the advertising of these products, you get double your money’s worth in certificates. The most common offer is two $25 certificates for just $25, plus a couple of bucks for shipping and handling. Most are valid for about six months.
The catch- be sure to read the fine print-at some restaurants they are only valid for food, not alcohol, most will not give you change back, so be sure to use the full amount and most usually have a one certificate per visit limit.
Upcoming Offers:
Dublin Pub– on sale Wed, Sept 9th at 9am
Jay’s Seafood on sale Thurs, Sept 10th at 10am
The China Cottage on sae Thurs, Sept 10th at 10am
Michaels Dining & Jazz currently available
Madison’s Bistro – currently available
Los 3 Amigos– currently available
…if you’re reading this in d8n, we encourage you to stop and go outside. Now. It’s so nice out. Get away from yr computer and come back and read this after the sun goes down…
…moving on, you’ve got a couple of fun bills tonight in town. Over at Canal Street Tavern, Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks [pictured] headline a bill that also includes Jesse’s brother, Adam Remnant [of Southeast Engine] and newbies Yazoo Street Scandal…
…over at Blind Bob’s, local stoner rock provocateurs Marijuana Johnson headline a bill that includes local faves Toads and Mice and Suckerpunch Thompson [Pittsburgh]. See you out…
MP3: Jesse Remnant “Same Sun” [from the Squids Eye Records compilation Hi, We’re From Dayton]
MP3: Toads and Mice “Skull”
…oh, and just in case you needed a reminder, Toads and Mice and Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks will both be part of this next Sunday night…
This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/
“20something: The Songs of Kerrigan & Lowdermilk,” a new experiment in musical theater by Dayton, Ohio’s Encore Theater Company will make it’s American premiere on the roof of The Firefly Building in downtown Dayton, Ohio, September 10-12, 2009.
Facebook. Blogs. YouTube. Text Messages. This is the language of a new generation and no one captures what it means to be twenty-something in 2009 quite like exciting songwriters Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk. In 20something, Kait and Brian’s powerful, edgy, funny, and honest songs are performed raw and uncut by some of the Dayton area’s most talented twenty-somethings.
The show is personal and dynamic. Don’t expect to see the same show twice if you catch multiple performances. The cast has no script to memorize, each performance is their own, and each performer has their own story, centered on insightful songs such as “Run Away With Me,” “Pretty Girl Blues,” and “How to Return Home.”
“It’s fascinating to me,” says director Corinne Derusha, “the cast has figured out a way to relate to everyone…whether you’re in your twenty-somethings, or just remembering them.”
Beth Ann Wipprecht, who portrays “27” (cast members refer to themselves by the age of their on-stage alter-ego) has described the creative process of 20something as “…one of the most artistically gratifying productions I’ve been a part of.” Brandon Michael Fleming, “28”, states “I’ve been a fan of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk for four years and getting the opportunity to perform their work is very rewarding. I hope the audience appreciates this new form of musical theater that’s being produced.”
Don’t miss this “reality” musical experience where every performance tells a whole new story and every song explores a new truth.
“20something” is directed by Corinne Derusha, with assistance by David Brush. Musical direction is by Alex Horton. Cast members include Beth Ann Wipprecht, Brandon Michael Fleming, Katelyn Yeager, Madeline Casto, Tim Singleton, Valerie Reaper & Zachary Justus. The production opens September 10th for four performances on the rooftop terrace atop The Firefly Building at 123 Webster Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Tickets ($15, $10 & $5) are available through www.encoretheatercompany.com or by calling 1 (866) 967-8167. Adult Content. In conjunction with Dayton’s Urban Night’s event, Friday night’s 10pm performance will feature special $5 pricing for all guests aged 20-29.
During downtown’s Urban Nights event on Friday, September 11, at 9 p.m., Pacchia (410 E. Fifth St.) will launch groove., a regular weekend concert series which will host bands of multiple genres and styles each Friday and Saturday night, geared toward transforming the Oregon District restaurant and bar into Dayton’s destination hotspot for weekend fun.
groove. will feature bands of all styles and genres from both Dayton and beyond, a move designed to draw fresh audiences each night in addition to establishing a loyal customer base.
For over a decade, the downtown location was a popular venue for live jazz until eliminating regular music at the end of 2008 to focus on the dining aspect of the business. However, owners Steve Ramsey and Carla Carnahan have recently begun staging regular events after dinner hours in an effort to reach out to a younger demographic and maximize the potential of the space; Pacchia’s “Secret Sunday” rock shows and “Modern Mondays” with DJ Adam Sabin, both launched earlier this summer, have generated both interest and profit. With those results, Ramsey and Carnahan decided it was time to reinstate Pacchia as a cornerstone of the Oregon Arts District’s weekend nightlife scene and a vital element of the city’s heartbeat.
“We wanted to provide a venue for a broader range of age groups that can be both something a little more laid-back and upscale for young people, and something fresh and vital for people who are a bit older but still hip,” said Carnahan. “Through encouragement and assistance from Dr. Mike Ervin, a music lover himself, we’ve been able to take that first step.”
“We’re very excited to re-introduce live music,” Ramsey said. “For years, the name Pacchia was synonymous with quality live music in the Oregon District, and we look forward to presenting a spectrum of variety that can’t be found anywhere else in Dayton while continuing to offer delicious and affordable menu options and, of course, our signature cocktails.”
Dozens of music acts have already been booked for groove. through the end of 2009. The first month will host acoustic rock, slick neo-soul, straight-ahead jazz, high-energy R&B, and driving funk fusion, and future months will splash reggae, blues, punk, flamenco, bluegrass, and bossa nova onto the canvas.
Beloved Dayton institution Puzzle of Light will open the series at the Urban Nights afterparty with free admission all night, and Pacchia will stage an special three-day groove. kickoff party weekend from Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26.
September’s full schedule:
Friday, 9/11: Puzzle of Light (world beat/eclectic)
Saturday, 9/12: Bobby Streng Quartet, formerly Groove District (fusion funk)
Friday, 9/18: Abi Cook & Crew (soul-pop)
Saturday, 9/19: Ohio Jazz Coalition (straight-ahead jazz sextet led by Bill Burns, plus vocalist Pam Mallory)
**Three-day kickoff weekend party**
Thursday, 9/24: David Story (pop-rock)
Friday, 9/25: Trump Tight (R&B/funk)
Saturday, 9/26: Jared Mahone Band (acoustic pop)
groove. will run from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night at Pacchia beginning Friday, September 11, with the bar remaining open until 2 a.m. After 10:30 p.m. beginning Saturday, September 12, there will be a $3 cover charge at the door for ages 21 and up, and $7 for 20 and under.
Pacchia was opened in 1995 by Glen Brailey. Former Thai 9 investors Steve Ramsey and Carla Carnahan purchased the establishment in March 2008, and have continued the restaurant’s established tradition of providing high-quality food and beverages in the heart of the Oregon District.
For more information about groove. visit facebook.com/pacchiagroove.
Dayton Music Fest (DMF) started because founder Dan Clayton “felt that there was a lack of focus on the Dayton Indie Rock scene. We have some great music coming out of our fair city and we thought that we should get the word out to more than just the 18-21 crowd that already knew.” This will be the 5th year for this Indie Rock Fest held in Dayton’s historic Oregon Arts District. To see which bands will be playing, just click on the link above.
He make no claims of being all inclusive or of being the last word on who you should listen to. What the Fest is trying to do and have always tried to do is open some doors to some clubs that bands like these might not have played before, put the bands in front of crowds that might not have ever seen them before, and have the bands be a part of something bigger than the sum of its parts.
In talking with Dan you can tell this is truly a labor of love. He wants nothing more than to make Dayton a destination for people who want to see the great music this town has to offer.
HOW TO GO:
WHEN: Sat, Oct 3, 2009
WHERE: Canal Street**, Gilly’s, Oregon Express, Blind Bob’s, Trolley Stop, Dayton Dirt Collective* and c{space*.
* all ages welcome
** 18 and up
all others are 21 and up
The Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival (presented by the Downtown Priority Board) provides a space for voices to be heard that aren’t often represented in mainstream media. The subjects range from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Generally, the festival highlights films that are made with smaller budgets. These movies go relatively unnoticed beyond the LGBT community, but they’re strong pieces of work that merit being seen.
The Edge of Heaven, a selection from last year’s festival, went on to be named one of the “Top 10” films of the year by many critics. Were The World Mine, last year’s opening night film, garnered a large following and won multiple awards around the world. In 2007’s festival, the short film Freeheld went on to win an Academy Award. This film was not screened anywhere else in the Dayton Region.
This year’s films include:
Friday September 25
Saturday September 26
Sunday September 27
This has become an annual tradition for both the Downtown Priority Board AND The Neon, and it brings people in from other cities like Cincinnati and Columbus. As a priority board member I’m proud of our continued support for this film festival.
Check out this event on the DaytonMostMetro.com Event Calendar!
