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

Archives for May 2011

Local rocker returns to play First Friday show

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Although she has performed live shows in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Alicia Grodecki says her favorite city to play is her hometown – Dayton.

Lucky for her, with two upcoming shows – First Friday @ 5 on June 3 and a slot at Canal Street Tavern June 18 – her band, Vanity Theft, will get to perform in the city she says is a great place for music.

This week, I talked to Grodecki about Vanity Theft’s new album, touring and the unbelievable experience she had in the recording studio.

“People call us a more badass version of The Killers, except girls,” she says of the band’s sound. “[When asked to describe it] I usually tell people to go listen to it.”

“Get What You Came For,” the latest from Vanity Theft, is a hybrid of dance and pop, with a little electronic feel and attitude. The songs cover a variety of topics ranging from relationships to growing up to just having a good time.

Earlier this year, the band piled in a van and played shows across the United States and Canada, promoting the new album.

“There are an infinite number of ‘best’ things about touring,” says Grodecki. “We see so many people and travel. The bottom line is we get to do what we love every night.”

She does admit being on the road has its downside. “It’s hard being away from home. You miss your family. Our longest van ride was 48 hours straight, but it’s always worth it when you get there.”

Vanity Theft will continue to tour during the summer, including a spot at the Summerfest music celebration in Milwaukee. Grodecki just found out the girls will be opening for Taking Back Sunday, one of their favorite bands.

“I freaked out,” she says. “It’s crazy.”

Playing alongside Taking Back Sunday is not Vanity Theft’s only brush with fame. Elton John was in the studio below them while they recorded their most recent album. The girls were not able to meet him because of his high level of security. But, Grodecki says, he cracked the door and they were permitted to sit outside the studio and listen to him sing.

Even after traveling the country, Grodecki says there is nothing like playing in Dayton. She notes the strong sense of community the city exudes. “It feels good to come home and show everybody what we’ve been doing.”

This Weeks Beer Tasting Bonanza

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It’s long been known that Dayton offers an array of wine tastings that rival towns twice our size, but in the last few months our local taverns have really been stepping up the craft brews they offer.

Here’s a quick round up so you can taste your way across town- be sure to click on the link for more detailed information on each event.

Tues
5-7pm Abita Beer Tasting at Rue Dumaine

Wed
7pm – Mike Scwartz from Belmont Party Supply hosts the monthly Trolley Tasting
9 beers and munchies just $20- arrive early this sells out!

5pm – Archer’s Tavern taps a new craft beer each Wed night

Thurs
6:30pm  Goose Island Beer Dinner at Dorothy Lane Springboro

7pm  Dogfish Head’s Hellbound On My Ale Tapping at Spinoza’s

7pm La Tappe Isid’or Tapping at Chappy’s

Fri

5-7pm Arrow Wine Centerville‘s Weekly Beer Tasting
There will be more posted as the week goes on, so be sure and check back.  Did you know you can choose the Dayton On Tap header under DatyonDining and you’ll get a weekly listing of beer tastings around town that’s constantly being updated located on the right column!  And if you know of a place that serves up some great beers, add it below in the comments!  Cheers!

Not an auspicious start…

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Before I start my car-less adventure (or as a friend read: careless adventure), I decided to practice. With a final destination less than three miles from my home and a beautiful sunny sky, testing out the newly prepped bike was a great idea.

I was meeting friends for one of those fun Dayton weekend festivals, so I didn’t have to be dressed up, but I was going for a certain level above shorts & t-shirt. So, fun strappy heels (with a solid back so they don’t fall off), crops and a blouse was selected. This was the perfect outfit for the destination as well as a short spring-time ride through a lovely local park.

Hills and Dales Park picture from Five Rivers MetroParks Web site

However, that short spring-time ride through that lovely park (aptly named HILLS and Dales) was a much larger challenge that I expected. Dear Lord, this must be why cycling is a sport!  The chain popped off due to my crazy gear-shifting in attempts to get up the first hill. A couple times (I’m ashamed to admit), I got off the bike and walked to the top of a hill. And of course, when I got where I was going, the sturdy bike lock that has been in the garage for over a year proved so sturdy that it was rusted shut. This was not the auspicious start to enjoying urban life on a bike.

What did I learn during this practice trip? Since I’m just days away from my week sans car (June 1 seemed so far away when I pitched this idea in February), I’m noting some important details. I’ll have to bring a bag along with me to hold some better shoes and perhaps a change of clothes. And I better check my route before I hop on that bike to make sure I’m avoiding the major hills (notice the lil’ caret like shapes, yup – HILLS).  And I’ll be buying a new bike lock.

Why do I share this embarrassment? Not because I want to dissuade anyone from embarking on a similar adventure, but rather because it demonstrates that even with excitement and research, nothing prepares you like experience. I’m done doing my homework about how this is going to work; I’m just going to dive in and find out.  I’m going to have more ridiculous failures like this, but at least they’ll only happen once. And if they happen to me, maybe they don’t have to happen to you.

Stay tuned for more successes and tragedies as I tackle the challenge of Driving Less and Living More. Next time you hear from me, I will officially be sans car. And (please), if you have any recommendations on things that work for you or pitfalls I should avoid, share your insights in the comments. Resources that will make this easier are always welcome!

MV Pride Week – Thank You For Being A Friend

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The Miami Valley Pride Partnership is planning a weeklong celebration of Pride for 2011. According to their website:  “As we celebrate pride we are ever mindful of our friends and allies that have helped us to achieve the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. It is to our friends and allies that we offer our theme for our 2011 pride celebration: Thank You For Being A Friend”.

The 2011 Dayton Pride Festivities will begin on Memorial Day, May 30th, with a celebration at The Stage Door.  On Tuesday May 31st the party moves to The Right Corner. On Wednesday June 1st the fun and frivolity extends to Club Masque for a night of exciting Drag. Thursday the celebration continues at MJ’s Cafe for an exhilarating evening of fun and entertainment.  And as the weekend approaches the events get bigger:

Fri, June 3rd 6:30pm  RoofTop Rubi

This dynamic, close-knit troupe of professional men has been performing since the late 1980’s. Comprised of elementary school teachers, an occupational therapist, a clinical counselor and business owners, the group began performing for one another in an attic during college.  Now over 20 some years later, the Rubi Girls have  traveled the country raising over $300,000 for HIV research and education.

Join Ann Roberts & John Smith as they host RoofTop Rubi  benefit for The Miami Valley LGBT Pride Partnership.   The evening will begin with drinks and food provided by The Dayton Women’s Club. Throughout the evening enjoy our fun filled Monte Carlo games and bid on our array of fabulous items during the silent auction.

$15.00 General Admission
$100.00 VIP Admission (Includes Admission for 2, Swap Bag and Sponsorship Listing)
For Ticket Information email: [email protected] or call (937) 697-1190

Sat, June 4th

Breakfast at 9am at MJ’s Cafe with the parade line up at 11AM.
10am: Rededication of Natalie Barney Historical Marker

Noon: The Parade:
The Dayton chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has been selected as Grand Marshalls of the 2011 LGBT Pride Parade and Festival on June 4th 2011. PFLAG will feature, in the grand marshall’s car, the family of Mary and Kevin Kirkendall along with their daughter Lillie and Elizabeth Gillespie, a proud PFLAG family who support their gay son and big brother, Noah. PFLAG Dayton has been active in the Miami Valley since 1989 offering support, education and advocacy. PFLAG seeks to promote health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families. They offer support to help families cope with an adverse society. PFLAG offers education to enlighten an ill-informed public all the while advocating to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.


If you would like to walk in the parade, please download and fill out the Parade Application. Once complete email to: [email protected]

Sat, June 4th , HIV Testing, Dayton Library 12-5pm

AIDS Resource Center Ohio is proud to offer an orally administered,
rapid result HIV test.  The test is free, painless, and quick!  The test is administered confidentially and anonymously by request and requires only a swab of cheek cells from inside your mouth.  Twenty minutes later and under normal circumstances, you will be presented with preliminary positive results about your current HIV status.   And did we mention that the test is free?

Sat June 4th Courthouse Square Entertainment Line-Up

12:30 – 1:00 Parade arrives at Courthouse Square

1:00 – 1:30  BLESSING OF THE DAY: Liz Stutzman
1:00 – 1:30 READING OF THE PROCLAMATION: Josh West and Bret Wendell
1:30 – 1:45 Ohio Royalty: Alexis O’Hara, Brent Fabian, Sinthia D’Meanor, Rob Austin
1:45 – 2:00 Sashay Lorez, Elegance Black Lourdes, Aleksandra Grimm, Summer Day, Daray Lorez
2:00 – 2:15 MJ’s Café
2:15 – 2:30 MJ’s Café
2:30 – 2:45 AWARDS: Kris Jackson

The 2011 Theme Award Recipient is The Honorable Rhine McLin

The 2011 Frontier Award: Recipient is The Honorable Lt. Wendy Stivers.
2:45 – 3:00 Host: Amaya Sexton, Macy Kirkland, Justin Pryde, Endurance, Queen B, Claudia Cruiz

3:00 – 3:30 TBA

3:30 – 3:45 Cherry Poppins, Jenni Hoag, Foxxie Lane, Tasha Salad, Tramp Towers

3:45 – 4:00 Sky Black and The Kings of Dayton

4:00 – 4:15 Delta Blake, Shampaine Lopez, Maqualia Jaa, Arykah Alvarez, Howard Wayne

4:15 – 4:30 Jackie O’Toole, JJ Lopez, Rachel Torrez Kolbe, Niomi Necoll Onassis,

4:30 – 4:45 Diamond Black, Daray Lorez, Ashton Brooke, Patterson Michaels

4:45 – 5:00 TBA

Sat, June 4th Prdeapoloza 1-6pm Masque Parking Lot

Special appearance by  recording artist Pepper Mashay! A family friendly event with entertainment, food, games, and more!! Plus Pepper and the Masque Hostess show that night!!!

Sat, June 4th 8pm  Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus @ Victoria

THE ULTIMATE BOY BAND REVIEW
Get ready to scream and faint with excitement as the DGMC thrills fans of all generations with a musical look at America’s singing heartthrobs – the boy bands! The chorus has scanned the decades from the ’50s to the ’00s and everything in between to find your favorite songs; you know, the songs you crank up and sing along to while you’re in the car. They are all here for you from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to the Beatles, the Osmonds, Crosby Still Nash & Young, the Village People, the Bee Gees, the Temptations.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased through  www.ticketcenterstage.com or from a chorus member.

Pride Night At The Neon

Sun, June 5th  2- 6pm Family Potluck Picnic

Ernst Park at 1030 E David Road will be the location for the family friendly cookout.  Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided.  Bring along a side dish or dessert. Fun and games will be planned for all ages to have a blast.

Thurs, June 16th  Pride Night at the Neon 7pm

We Were Here is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.

Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jCb68ZkwG0&feature=player_embedded’]

Sat, June 25th  Pride Dinner 7pm, Sinclair

The Greater Dayton LGBT Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary by hosting the annual Pride Dinner.   Featuring bawdy comic Suzanne Westenhoefer and  Dayton Police LGBT liaison Sgt. Wendy Stiver to act as key note speaker.  In both serious and light hearted ways, these two women will help the Pride Dinner celebrate Pride 2011. The evening begins at 5 PM with an impressive business and non-profit exposition with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. At 7 PM dinner begins and is followed by awards and recognitions, Sgt. Wendy Stiver’s keynote speech, and Suzanne comedy show. The evening ends with the annual Big Gay raffle drawing for many prizes.
Tickets are $45.00 with an early bird special of $40 per person or $400.00 per table of 10 if purchased by May 1, 2011.  Contact the Center for more info at 274-1776


Kick-N-Flava Play DAI’s Just Jazz

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Thursday, June 2nd marks the latest in the Dayton Art Institute’s Vectren Just Jazz series.  The concert will feature contemporary jazz/R&B act, Kick-N-Flava.  The six member band features Mike Allamby on saxophones, Jerry Hawes on keyboards, Claude Coatie on lead guitar, J.D. Williams on bass guitar, Brian Smiley on drums and percussionist David Matthews.

“We’re a high energy band. We’re feeling it, and we let you know we’re feeling it. Our music is like a breath of fresh air coming through an old cracked window on a lovely summer day,” says the group.

The Just Jazz series will take a break in July, but resumes on August 4th. The second half of the 2011 series includes:

  • August 4: Mark Lomax II
  • September 1: The Kathy Wade Quartet
  • October 6: Ed Clay & The Patrol
  • November 3: Khalid Moss & Michael Bashaw

All performances begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Shaw Gothic Cloister at The Dayton Art Institute. Admission is free for museum members and $8 for non-members. General admission tickets may be purchased at The Dayton Art Institute the night of each performance

Coveted Stamps Spark Compelling Fury

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Geoff Burkman and Amy Brooks in Mauritius

Cincinnati native Theresa Rebeck’s terrifically engrossing 2007 comic drama “Mauritius” receives an excellent local premiere at the Dayton Theatre Guild.

Sharply staged with subtle nuances by Saul Caplan, “Mauritius” concerns the sibling rift between half-sisters Jackie (a dynamic Amy Brooks) and Mary (a firmly unyielding Teresa Connair) who differ on the sentimental value of a family stamp collection they possess following their mother’s death. In Jackie’s eyes, the rare collection –  potentially worth $6 million and containing a one-penny and two-penny “Post Office” stamp printed incorrectly in 1847 on the titular island near Madagascar – is the quick answer to her financial problems, but Mary feels it should be preserved in a museum as a tribute to her late grandfather. This intriguing conflict is the source of the play’s emotionally compelling pulse yet the astutely woven inclusion of three colorful stamp aficionados broadens the material past familial baggage in an attempt to raise its suspenseful stakes while addressing the complex delicacy associated with bargaining and negotiating.

Brooks, in a strikingly meticulous performance rivaling Alison Pill’s turn in the original Broadway production, embodies Jackie with marvelous tenacity and gumption. With casually instinctive yet passionate flair, she transforms Jackie into a formidable force and an impressively quick study into the world of stamp collecting. She also beautifully reveals the hurt and agony set into motion by Mary’s absence as their mother grew ill and during her youth, winningly implying late in the play that Jackie was abused by her father. Still, one of her finest moments, arriving at the end of Act 1 as Jackie and Mary reach a breaking point in their struggle to compromise, is splendidly shared with Connair, who avoids seeming prudish or uncaring in a role that is borderline icy and detached.

Additionally, Geoff Burkman absolutely shines as the foul-mouthed, easily irritable and incessantly stringent Sterling, an intimidating businessman who craves the art of the deal and prefers to call the shots. Burkman’s piercingly calm and cool delivery of Sterling’s enticing monologue about commerce and the stark reality of transactions, in which “the rules become your enemy,” is a magnetic high point. Alex Carmichal is equally convincing as Sterling’s less menacing colleague Dennis. Pat Santucci completes the cast as Philip, an ethically challenged philatelist at the center of one of the play’s juicy twists.

Choosing to live in the past or present is a key concern in this appealing creation from Rebeck, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for “Omnium Gatherum” who recently wrote the pilot episode for next season’s NBC Broadway-themed series “Smash.” Jackie and Mary’s bickering battle tears them apart, but witnessing their journey is well worth your time.

Mauritius, which opened Friday, May 13, continues through Sunday, May 29 at the Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave. Performances are Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Act One: 54 minutes; Act Two: 53 minutes. Tickets are $10-$17. The play contains adult language. For tickets or more information, call (937) 278-5993 or visit www.daytontheatreguild.org

Available Bike Parking

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SO, you want to ride your bike around town, but you don’t know where to park it to keep it safe? I’ve heard enough complaints about finding parking for cars (even though there’s this great Web site), so before I started letting my bike be a source of transportation, I wanted to know where to park it. If I have a meeting across town, would have I have park so far away that biking wouldn’t be worth it? Are there bike racks available that will make a stop downtown or in the Oregon District feasible for a quick lunch? I wanted to know.

Two emails and I had a great answer. First email – Five Rivers MetroParks (a pretty solid cycling authority). From there I was referred to Andrew Rodney at the City of Dayton who has “working list” that he’s developing for this purpose. Disclaimer – this list isn’t verified up to 100% of his satisfaction, but props to him for sharing it with me (and by extension you).

Address Location Amenity Covered Landmark
318 E 5th St Sidewalk Rack No Omega Records
123 W. Third St Garage Rack Yes City Hall Garage
131 South Main St Garage Rack Yes Reibold Garage
207 E. 4th Street, Sidewalk Rack No Drake’s Gym
215 E. 3rd Street Sidewalk Rack No Dayton Metro Library – Front Entrance
215 E. 3rd Street Park Rack No Branch Dayton Metro Library – Drive up Window
200 W. 2nd Street Plaza Rack No Federal Building – North Side
E. 1st Street at Main Street Sidewalk Rack No Victoria Theater
Sinclair CC Campus Plaza Rack Yes Between Buildings 1 and 2
Sinclair CC Campus Plaza Rack Yes Entrance to Building 7
E. 5th Street at Perry St Plaza Rack No Behind Building 14
4th and Perry Streets Parking Lot Rack No North of Building 9, along Perry
Monument at Patterson Blvd Plaza Rack No Main gate to 5/3 Field
E. 5th Street at Brown St Sidewalk Rack No Oregon Express
107 N. Ludlow St Garage Rack Yes Schuster Garage
600 E 2nd St Sidewalk Rack No 2nd Street Public Market
16 S. Ludlow St Garage Rack Yes Fifth Third Center Garage
Monument Ave. at Jefferson Sidewalk Rack No Riverscape
1394 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
1001 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Cornerstone Bar and Grill
430 E. Fifth Street Sidewalk Rack No Blind Bob’s
237 E. Monument Ave Sidewalk Rack No Five Rivers Bike Hub
371 W. Second St Sidewalk Rack No One Stop Center, west side
237 E. Monument Ave Indoor Bike Hub Yes Riverscape Metropark
Monument Avenue at I-75 N/A Trail Access No Under I-75
425 N. Findlay Street N/A Bike Shoppe Yes Life Enrichment Center
1102 Gateway Drive N/A BMX Track No Gateway BMX Track
1600 Princeton Drive Front Door Rack No Northwest Recreation Center
2021 W. Third St. Front Door Rack No Greater Dayton Recreation Center
2730 Lyons Road Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA South Hub
122 Elmhurst Drive Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Westown Hub
1218 Falke Drive Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Eastown Hub
4 S. Main Street Sidewalk Rack No GDRTA Wright Stop Plaza
1134 Brown Street Sidewalk Rack No Starbucks

Saturday Beer Brunch

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Spinoza’s Pizza & Salads will present “Founder’s Cerise Cherry Fermented Ale” four days before the rest of the world!   In an exclusive agreement with Founder’s Brewing Company (Grand Rapids, MI), Spinoza’s will tap a keg of this unique seasonal brew at 10am this Saturday, May 28th, as part of their bi-monthly beer brunch events featuring hearth-baked breakfast pizzas.  The official release date of Founder’s Cerise is June 1st, so make plans for Spinoza’s Beer Brunch tomorrow morning and be among the first to taste this year’s batch.    Special musical guests Michael Teckenbrock & Brian Cashwell will be playing during this special event, which takes place this Sat, May 28th from 11am – 1pm.  Spinoza’s is located on the 2nd floor of the Mall at Fairfield Commons in the Sear’s wing.

Roadtrip Down To Taste of Cincinnati

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Every Memorial Day weekend in downtown Cincinnati 6 blocks turn into an amazing food feast.   Started in 1979, it is now the nation’s longest running culinary arts festival. Featuring more than 45 restaurants serving up delicious and delectable menu items it’s worth the drive down 75.  Head south and exit at  the Fifth Street exit, and you’ll practically run into the event.  Plenty of parking lots line the streets, just be prepared to pay about $5 to park.

Stroll down 5th street and you’ll be able to taste treats that range from curry chicken to baklava, strudel to strawberry shortcake.  Most tastes run $2-5 and there are plenty of beer, wine, soda and water booths mixed in among the food vendors. Click here for menu.

To accompany all the mouth-watering menu items available on the streets of downtown Cincinnati, this year’s festival will also offer beer and wine taste-ings on Fountain Square. Beer taste-ing will be on Saturday and Sunday from 4 – 5 pm, and wine taste-ing on Saturday and Sunday from 6 – 7 pm. Guests can grab a seat in prime Fountain Square location with a great view of the stage and sip away to wash down the fare they’ve sampled. The cost is $15 per person, or 2 people for $25, which includes a souvenir wine glass or beer pint.

Speaking of stages, there are 6 scattered throughout the taste, featuring various entertainment throughout the festival, including rock, blues, country and even some standup comedy during the evening. Click here for entertainment lineup.

Taste of Cincinnati runs Fri & Sat noon – midnight and Mon noon til 9pm.

Watch out Road (specifically you in the cars)

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We all got the news last year that Dayton is an official Bronze Level Bike Friendly Community. We’ve got the yellow bikes downtown (are there any left?) and the new tri-cabs popping up. There are bike lanes and sharrows through the city and trails that lead all around the Miami Valley. Bikes are gaining prominence in our fair city as the weather turns warmer. So, I needed to know the most bike-friendly routes and where I could park as I prep for my week without a car.

I turned first to the internet. MY GOSH there are so many organizations and people in the region promoting biking. Since this experiment is less about recreation and more about transportation, I first went to the bike/walk map provided by the City of Dayton. Overall it’s a great tool, but when I see that it claims that Wayne Avenue is a bike-friendly road (albeit for experts only), I’m not quite sure that the map represents my reality. I’ll stick to the beginner routes. I’ll also give the City props for a working list of places to park a bike downtown. Andrew Rodney is working on this, and although he’s not 100% satisfied with its level of completion, it’s something to work with.

This bike needs a little help...

I also appreciated the bike portal provided by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission – great recreational info, but the portal also provided links specifically for the Bike Commuter. And if I ever feel totally alone in the adventure there’s:  Courteous Mass, Bicycle Buzz Miami Valley, Dayton Cycling Club, the Outdoor Evangelist, Five Rivers MetroParks, the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, and many, many more organizations and individual bloggers that share their experiences. I’m all info-ed up and ready to go!

Except that my bike has been sitting in a cold, wet, and icky garage for the last year. Some years I attempt to clean it up myself, but seeing as I have to actually rely on it and not just take some happy spins around the block, I’m leaving it up to the experts. I hit K&G Bike Shop (they have three around the region) for a “tune-up” and to be sure nothing was going to break.

John Duerr at K&G is getting my bike road ready

Good thing I went for the experts. As soon as I got there with my bike, friendly manager John took it from me and pointed out that I already had it set up in a pretty unsafe way. Okay – good lesson. For my seasonal tune up, they cleaned and oiled and realigned and inflated. Pretty much the basics of making sure that it’s not going to fall apart when I hit my first pothole.

While I was there I even picked up a helmet. I can’t tell you how hard that was for me. I grew up in a time when my parents sent my siblings and I out on bikes for the day just to get us out of their hair. We never used helmets! We went all over the city and through construction sites (that we stupidly usurped as our own little BMX park) and through scraped knees and broken arms we still remained helmet-less. But (I guess) I’m older and wiser and now I’m driving down busier streets. This adventure requires a helmet – but at least it’s pretty.

So, I’m now ready to go. Watch out road, here I come!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3tBXChjafU’]

Dayton Band Playoffs Begin in June – Signups Now Open

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To me, the start of the Dayton Band Playoffs signal the start of the summer in the Dayton music scene.  This year marks the 29th year for the Canal Street Tavern series of concerts that are part friendly competition and part amazing opportunity to hear and be heard by audiences and other musical acts from the area.  Past winners include Magic Jackson, Shrug, Brainiac, The Method, just to name a few.

Signups for performers are now open via a downloadable form from Canal Street’s website – you can also pick one up at the club or call 927-228-2450 for more information.  Round 1 of the Playoffs will begin later in June – we’ll bring you those dates and all of the standings as the Playoffs unfold here on Dayton MostMetro.com.

Here’s last year’s winners, the Connoisseurs, performing the timely Apocalypse Waltz.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1aVZJtAz7s’]

Make the Music Happen by Volunteering

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Want to do a lil’ job that makes a major impact in keeping a fabulous and free festival alive in our community? Volunteer for Cityfolk festival! Interested volunteers should contact Kathleen Alter to select a shift.
VOLUNTEER TASK DESCRIPTION:

Cityfolk festival is requesting vibrant, outgoing volunteers to help us with the “You Make the Music Happen” suggested donation campaign. Due to a significant reduction in federal, state and corporate funding Cityfolk is asking for a suggested donation at the festival this year. We desperately want to keep the festival free but we need help to do that. We will have stations (manned by two people) at entrances and roving teams of two asking people for donations. Everyone who donates will receive a sticker saying “I Made the Music Happen”. This will ensure that people who donated money will not be asked multiple times for a donation. This is a not a high pressure sale, simply a chance to share the message about the quality of life that Cityfolk adds to Southwest Ohio.

Volunteers will be in teams of two and can choose to work at an entrance or be a rover in a designated area. We are looking for 30 people per day and the shifts are 3 hours. The buckets will be zip-tied shut and will be taken to the business office at the end of the shift. There will be no need to handle the money. All volunteers will receive a special shirt that say “Make the Music Happen” to wear while volunteering. If your groups chooses to volunteer you will be recognized in the festival program.
Other volunteer jobs include:  greet Festival visitors at the entrance gates, pour beer as part of the Beer Crew, make sure the artists and staff are well fed as members of the Hospitality Crew, and much, much more. Some new opportunities are available this year, so be sure to scan all the job descriptions if you’d like to try something different. There’s a volunteer job for everyone!
BONUS: Volunteers receive a great t-shirt. PLUS if you volunteer – you’re already downtown to attend one of the hottest parties of the summer!

Volunteer Shifts Available:
Friday, July 1
5:30 – 8:30
8:00 – 11:00

Saturday, July 2
12:30 – 4:30
4:00 – 8:00
7:30 – 11:00

Sunday, July 3
12:30 – 4:30
4:00 – 8:00
7:30 – 11:00

Info on the Festival: http://www.cityfolk.org/festival/festival.html
Cityfolk shares why they’re asking for a $5 donation: http://blog.cityfolk.org/2011/04/why-were-asking-for-suggested-donation.html

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Happy “Nouveau Rosé” Day!

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The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and it’s time for some light, warm-weather wines.  The flavors of rosé wines tends to be more subtle versions of their red wine varietal counterparts. The fruit expectations lean towards strawberry, cherry, and raspberry with some citrus and watermelon presenting on a regular basis.  Rosés are perfect for spring and summer, as they are served chilled and can be a refreshing accompaniment to a variety of warm weather fare. Rosé wines also top the charts for food-friendly versatility. So, if you are opting for “surf ‘n turf” rest assured that a rosé can handle both the seafood and the steak in one fell sip. It’s also a great picnic wine, as it tends to have both a lighter body and more delicate flavors on the palate, presenting a great wine partner for a ham, chicken or roast beef sandwich, along with a fruit, potato or egg salad and can even handle a variety of chips and dips. Rosés are also the perfect guest for a backyard barbecue, tackling hamburgers, hot dogs and even French fries and ketchup with ease.

Arrow Wine (Centerville & Far Hills Location) will be celebrating Noveau Rosé’s all day today (Thurs, May 25th) with tasting at both stores.

Here are a couple of quick tips in searching for a rosé:

  1. Drink a recent vintage – you don’t want an aged rosé.
  2. If you see “NV” on a bottle, it stands for “non-vintage,” meaning that there’s a mix of grapes from different vintage years.
  3. Many great rosé’s are available for $12- $15 a bottle.

Buffalo Killers To Unveil New Songs on Kaleidoscope, Perform at Peach’s Grill

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The Buffalo Killers

Tonight you can catch the Buffalo Killers live on the air on WYSO during Kaleidoscope.  They’re performing at Peach’s Grill in Yellow Springs on Friday, May 27th beginning at 10pm.  On tonight’s radio show, which begins at 8pm, the band will unveil some new songs from the album they’re releasing later this summer.  The local release party for “3,” is scheduled for Friday, July 15th at Canal Street Tavern.  The Buffalo Killers will be joined onstage by R.Ring, a collaboration between Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery that recently did a month long residency at South Park Tavern.  You can hear a preview track from “3” by clicking here.

Kaleidoscope airs every Wednesday night on 91.3FM WYSO and stream live on www.wyso.org.

Fear and Loathing…in Relationships.

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I’m finding lately that the best material for my column is that which derives directly from my own life, whether chaos or calm and depending on the week, the trials and tribulations of Shana are pretty amusing. Over the last week I have started to really see the affects of past relationships and how those experiences sometimes leave us jaded and apprehensive to enter a new one. I’ve been single for two years and felt for a long time that it was merely because I wanted to “find me.”  In part it has been mostly about that but the dark side of it has been more about me just being scared to do it all over again, sad but true. Though I’ve dated a few people here and there, my feelings were always questionable and it was more like I was doing it just to do it, not because I genuinely had feelings for them. If anyone I dated reads this, sorry but it is what it is…I just wasn’t that into you. I’ve been lucky up until recently though. By lucky I mean not having feelings has been an act of grace because once you do or I do rather, strange things start to happen. For me an alternate version of myself surfaces..awkward and socially inept. Hard to believe, I know.

Is it Them or Me?

One of the questions I’ve asked myself lately is whether or not I was just with the wrong type of guys and perhaps I need to steer completely away from that type and embrace something different? People have been telling me for months who would be perfect for me and the more I see what they come up with the more I realize that they haven’t a clue. I’ve have however been a person to type cast my dating life and the only three relationships I’ve been in were all similar in nature, how they started and how they ended. Was it them or was it me? In the last two years, I can tell you that I think without a doubt it was me. I rush things, I push and pry, I analyze and over think and all it did was land me into 13 years of something not right. Certainly not a waste of time, it’s just taken me a longer time to realize exactly what I want and what I deserve. I can tell from most of my friends who are single that we all do the same thing and I know my  married friends are thinking, “Thank God, I don’t have to go through that anymore.”  The blind dates, the setups, the online dating catastrophes .. I am pretty over it. I think I have the capability of knowing when someone deserves a second look, a third and fourth..so the steering committee in my life can take a seat. I will commend however, a few strangers for handpicking someone I was already interested in though, gold stars for them.

Don’t Ask My Neighbors. – The Emotions Had it Right.

The other problem, though I love them dearly, friends. They tend to allow their own jaded perspective interfere with rational advice giving. I offer the same kind of ridiculous advice myself so I recognize it now. Assumptions are really a cancer to any relationship and why do we so often seek the advice of others rather than going directly to the source? Dating is tough enough without the noise pollution of assumptions by others. No one could possibly know exactly what anyone is thinking especially someone outside of the situation. Yes, there are patterns and signs of things but there are also exceptions. If a guy doesn’t answer my text right away or call, most would say “Hey he’s not interested, move on. Can people be busy anymore, or just shy.. or want to take the time to get to know someone, where did all these rules come from?  What happens then is I start to pull away because we all believe what were told in some way and though we boast that we are confident in the decisions we make on our own, sometimes we really aren’t at all. We’re just under the influence of craziness, yes craziness.  Having feelings for someone can do that. My advice, take time to get to know someone. If something upsets you address it, let the person know why you feel that way and if it continues despite your mentioning, then you know .. yeah, they are probably not interested or don’t really care that much. Communication is a marvelous thing.  In general we make way too many assumptions in life. Everything depends on something and anything CAN mean anything. Why search for answers when most things are eventually made evident? Live for the day and whatever happens happens, it’s not going to change you unless you let it.

Did I let It?

Yes, but with good reason. I did need to find me. I recognized that after the end of the last relationship that the only person that needed to change was me.  The great thing to come of my “time off” is that I realize the benefit of things happening over time and I no longer think of dating as “Eventually I have to meet someone!”  Eventually tends to mean things need to happen within a certain time frame or they will never happen at all. That thinking is a very constricted way of living and not really living at all. Worry takes over and reading into things really is just worry. Worry is useless.

What Does Work.

It’s great to be attracted to someone but what I’ve learned is that attraction over time can fade and successful relationships in love are based on friendship and can not exist without it. Though I’ve never been a person who really weighs looks, none of my relationships were based on a real emotional connection immediately and I know that now. The connection happened over time with some but I was more in love with the idea of love than actually being in love. What I want is friendship, a person who I can be myself around someone who fully excepts the dork in me but also sees the extraordinary things in me that I sometimes don’t see in myself…and I in them. We are all going to be old and wrinkly one day, I really just want a person who can have a good conversation, is nice and makes me laugh. There’s not much of anything more attractive to me than that, well other than beards a love for coffee and an appreciation for nerds.  Whoever said that it happens immediately, that comfort level was wrong.  How could you possibly be comfortable with someone you’ve just met?  Take the time to get to know someone and don’t be scared of the outcome.  I think it’s okay to be awkward and shy, I’m starting to think that it may even really be a good sign. Whether a person is meant for you or not, nervousness may be a good thing…for me it means I can feel again. Something for a very long time I didn’t think possible.  I could have easily been the person to jump right into something new two years ago, but I didn’t .. sometimes it makes sense to hold out and wait.  Let go of what you think you need and want and let nature run its course. I’m okay with being the nice girl that finishes last if last means I end up with the right person at the right time and that’s not something I control.  I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason or a season..and that depends on you.

Hey, thanks for reading. Not sure if this helps you or not but it was therapeutic to get it off my chest.

Coming Up in Dayton Theatre: 05/26 – 06/08

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Thursday, May 26 – Wednesday, June 8, 2011

DTG: Mauritius

Dayton Theatre Guild: Mauritius

Yesterday, when friends asked about having a picnic on Monday, I returned the question with a confused stare until they prompted me that it was Memorial Day. Wow! The holiday seems like it has completely snuck up on me. And with it has come some break in the rain (just some) and the beginning of summer.
Even in the midst of cookouts and vacations, there’s still the opportunity to see shows in the Dayton area this summer and these next few weeks. This can be a great time to celebrate school letting out and the warmer weather, and what better way than by doing something creative? A few shows are closing this weekend, so make sure to catch them before they do!

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING SOON

right next to me

HUMAN RACE THEATRE COMPANY

The Story: A war widow, attempting to cope with her Marine husband’s death in Iraq, goes with her brother-in-law on a quest to scatter her husband’s ashes where he required, remembering and seeing flashbacks along the way in an emotionally moving and uplifting journey. This show premiered in an earlier and very different version as part of the Human Race Musical Theatre Workshops in 2009.
The Dates: May 21 – June 12, 2011
Tickets & More Information: Human Race Theatre Company

…SHOWS CLOSING SOON

La Cage aux Folles

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

The Story: George (a glitzy nightclub owner) and his partner Albin (also the glamorous changeuse Zaza)’s son is getting married… and in this musical, he brings his fiancee’s conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair. “The bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly [in this] tuneful and touching tale of one family’s struggle to stay together… stay fabulous… and above all else, stay true to themselves!”

Date: May 13 – 29, 2011

Tickets and More Information: Dayton Playhouse, DMM Review, DMM Preview

Mauritius

DAYTON THEATRE GUILD

The Story: Only together after the death of their mother, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare-and potentially extremely valuable – stamps. One sister embraces the stamp collecting, the other resists – but both are targets of three seedy, high-stakes collectors who are willing to do anything to claim a particularly rare find as their own.

Dates: May 13 – 29, 2011

Tickets & More Information: Dayton Theatre Guild, DMM Preview

One Short Day

…SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE THEATRICALLY MINDED


First Annual Talent Show

PLAYHOUSE SOUTH

The Basics: The talent pool in this area is great and diverse… and Playhouse South has selected 21 people of various ages, from singers and dancers to comics and beat-boxers, to show off their skills and compete for a $250 Grand Prize. Part of the contest is the audience’s ranking, so get ready to cheer for your favorite act!
The Date: Friday, May 27, 8:00 pm
More Information: Playhouse South

~KN