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Archives for January 2012

The Dramatic Moment & Character Studies at DVAC

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"Peaceful Protests" by Issa Randall

The Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC) presents two new exhibitions which celebrate the synergies between Dayton’s ethnic and cultural communities. The Dramatic Moment is a solo exhibition by Dayton artist Issa Randall that presents figures that emerge from layers of torn, burned and collaged paper to create a provocative statement on the power of images. The Dramatic Moment will feature an exhibition brochure with writings by guest essayist Peter Ainsworth, London-based photographer, and the artist. Character Studies, DVAC’s second Members’ show of the season, includes selected works from all mediums that express the spirit of “character.”

Dayton artist, Issa Randall, has a Bachelor’s of Art in Communications from the University of Dayton and Master’s of Art in photography from the University of Arts, London. His work explores many aspects of U.S. society, from the role of politics and media to the effects that life has on ones mental space. His exhibition, The Dramatic Moment, features large-scale mixed-media pieces with arresting surfaces and imagery.

"Don't Burn the Trash" by Issa Randall

Randall, along with new executive director Eva Buttacavoli, will serve as co- jurors for Character Studies. This juried members’ exhibit will feature a variety of artwork by DVAC members that address how we define and identify character.

About REACH Across Dayton

Both exhibitions were organized in partnership with Sinclair Community College and EboNia Gallery for the 19th annual REACH (Realizing Ethnic Awareness and Cultural Heritage) Across Dayton project. Founded by artists and educators Tess Little, Willis “Bing” Davis and former DVAC executive director Paula Recko, this year’s REACH initiatives include Gallery Talks by exhibiting artists at each venue, a community art project of collaborative relief prints organized by “Bing” Davis, and a Studies Conference featuring sessions that explore the theme “In the Spirit of Developing Character” at Sinclair Community College.
The Dayton Visual Arts Center provides art for the community and a community for artists. DVAC receives operating support from the Ohio Arts Council, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation. The DVAC gallery, at 118 N. Jefferson St., in downtown Dayton, is free and open to the public five days each week, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information, visit the Web site at www.daytonvisualarts.org or call (937) 224-3822.

Exhibition Dates

Jan. 17-Feb. 24, 2012

Exhibition Programs

Gallery Talk: Character Studies Artists & Community Art Project – Feb. 3, 6:15 p.m.

Gallery Talk: Issa Randall – Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Studies Conference: In the Spirit of Building Character – Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

at Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center

Closing Reception – Feb. 24, 5-7 p.m.

Where

Dayton Visual Arts Center

118 N. Jefferson St.

Downtown Dayton

Gallery Hours

11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday Closed Sunday & Monday

For more information

(937) 224.3822

www.daytonvisualarts.org

[email protected]

(from DVAC)

SoMoLo is here, are you ready?

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If you thought 2011 was the year for social, you were (partly) wrong.  2012 has barely begun and already boasts to top last year’s record with social media engagement and take it to the next level.  This year, it’s about what some may know as
With tablet sales majorly increasing over the holiday season with the launch of Kindle Fire, more people than ever have access to the internet and applications than ever before.  Marketers and retailers are trying to get our attention at every click of the mouse.  And we’re willing to engage – as long as we come out with the benefits.SoMoLo – social, mobile, local.  2012 means social needs to be accessible from anywhere and anytime and remain relevant to the user.

How do you make sure you’re receiving what you want? That takes a bit of planning.  For starters, check what email lists you’re subscribed to, what apps have access to your accounts, and what information you’re putting on the world wide web.  This will help make sure that advertisers see only what you want them to see, and in return, you see what you want to see.

Next, seek out local businesses that you frequent – or wish to frequent – and see what specials or offers they may have.  The best app to use is something like Yelp or Foursquare.  Both apps give you a chance to explore your area and see what specials are available through your tablet or smartphone.

Finally, if you don’t have a smartphone yet, fear not.  You can still use the search option on any social media site to find out about your local area.  Follow them on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.  You’ll be surprised at the abundance of information (and deals!) you can get – and it’s all right at the touch of your fingertips.

‘RED’ to Color the Loft Stage

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PAINTING by Richard Coatney

The New York Times calls RED “intense” and “exciting.”  The Chicago Tribune says it’s “stunning,” “compelling,” and “brilliant.”

The production of RED by The Human Race, Dayton’s own professional theatre company, will add at least one more adjective to the descriptions – “intimate.”  As highly-regarded as the big-stage productions have been, bringing famed artist Mark Rothko’s studio to life in the 219-seat Loft Theatre will make it an even more meaningful and personal event for theatergoers.

“What do you see?” asks Rothko in the opening line, and that line is the running theme of the play – what artists see, how they see it, how they hope viewers of their work will see it. RED manages both to be a look deep into the meaning of art and creation, and a scintillating study of Rothko, his relationship with his (fictional) assistant, Ken, and his conflicted views on commercialism.

What the audience will see involves a lot of painting, including preparation of a Rothko-sized canvas.

“It’s a glorious play,” says Human Race Resident Artist Michael Kenwood Lippert, who plays Rothko. “Rothko’s such an interesting character…he wanted people to use as much care looking at his art as he used in creating it.”

“It blew me away,” says Will Allan, who plays Ken. “Rothko’s larger than life, but Ken gives him another insight, while Ken gets invaluable lessons from Rothko.”

Michael Kenwood Lippert

Lippert is a very familiar figure through the Miami Valley, both from his performances with The Human Race, which go back to the company’s original production, Count Dracula, in 1986 and include such hits asOrphans, The Elephant Man, The Speed of Darkness and The Drawer Boy, and from his many years working in area schools for Muse Machine. He was a 2011 Governor’s Award for the Arts winner.

Allan is a local product, a 2005 graduate of Oakwood High School who now works out of Chicago, where he has been in two Jeff Award-winning Best Plays in the past three years (The History Boys and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?). He recently became an Artistic Associate at Timeline, which the Wall Street Journal calls the Best Theatre Company in America, and was one of the Chicago Tribune’s 2011 Hot New Faces in Chicago Theatre.

“Michael and Will together are just combustible,” says director and Human Race Resident Artist Richard E. Hess, Chair of Drama at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, “It’s fantastic.” Hess knows fantastic – the most recent of his many contributions at The Loft were Doubt, A Parable and I Am My Own Wife.

Mark Rothko

“On its surface, RED is a play about Mark Rothko, and it’s immense enjoyment to see a man like that come to life.” Says Hess. “Below that is the story of a man struggling deeply with immortality, with what one leaves behind. It’s gut-wrenching to watch an artist paved with such humanity.”

RED will include a collaboration with the Dayton Art Institute. During the run, the DAI will have a loaned Rothko work on display, and the institute’s gift shop is offering a 10% discount in January to buyers who show a RED ticket or stub.

Heather Jackson is Stage Manager for RED.  Mark Halpin designed the set, Lacee Rae Hart the costumes, Resident Artist John Rensel the lighting and Rich Dionne the sound, with Heather Powell is the Properties Master.

RED will have a Preview Night at The Loft Theatre January 19, with official Opening Night January 20 and performances through February 5. Tickets are available via www.humanracetheatre.org , by calling Ticket center Stage at (937) 228-3630, or at the Schuster Center Box Office. Student tickets are half price for all performances, and 25 seats at each end of The Loft are being sold for just $25 as part of The Human Race’s 25th Anniversary Season.

(from Human Race Theatre)

Dayton Remembered – From Prague

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Emily Ochs Carlile

(the following was submitted by Emily Ochs Carlile – a Daytonian now living in Prague, Czech Republic)

I was born and raised in Dayton… Well, born at Kettering hospital and raised in Oakwood. But I am definitely a Dayton native. From minute one, I lived in Dayton all my life.

Then I moved to Prague, Czech Republic. It was a spontaneous move, but I have now been here for a little over 11 years and am raising my two sons (age 6 and 8 ) bilingually… Most people think because I live in Europe I have this exotic life, but I have to admit, things are pretty much the same, except completely different…

Apart from the obvious differences, such as language, culture, architecture, history… the first thing I missed when moving here were the American grocery stores. My first job when I was 15 was as a cashier at Dorothy Lane Market on Far Hills. Being a kid in Oakwood, it was the only grocery store I knew. But little did I know it was the most fabulous grocery store. Ever! I would have paid a million dollars for a Killer Brownie or some Chicken and Grape salad… and pecans! The unavailability of simple things (or what I thought were simple things) was unbelievable to me. I couldn’t find a pecan in the entire city. Peanut butter, no way. Luckily things have a changed a lot since 2000, but I promise you, when I visit Dayton the first place I go is DLM.

Then I head directly to The Pine Club. Still the best steak ever! Dave Hulme watched me grow up.  Saturday night was Pine Club burger night at our house. I had my first house account at age 22. They serve dinner until midnight. Perfection. And since they are kind enough to put a few of their yummies in jars, I am able to bring some House and Blue Cheese Dressings and Stewed Tomatoes back to Prague with me. Too bad I can’t bring the onion rings….

After finishing school at Oakwood and Wright State University, the next natural step for me was to move to the Oregon District. My mom moved from Oakwood to the OD when I graduated from high school, so for the first few years out of school, it became my hangout. I had my coffee at the Oregon Emporium, my pizza at the Oregon Express, the Trolley Stop still had build your own sandwiches, Feathers  filled my apartment with bric-a-brac, and I had a Goodwill wardrobe. Over the years I rented apartments, houses and half-doubles on Green St. (3 different places just on that street alone!), Hess St., and of course The Samu on 5th St. By age 20 I had a job at Gem City Records, and at 21, Pacchia (and I continued with jobs at Coco’s, Blue Moon and Jay’s Seafood), was a regular at the Southern Belle (the original one on the corner of Green and Brown), ate at Wimpy and went to the movies at The Neon… I’ve missed the past 11 years of the Oregon District morphing – luckily some things still remain – Urban Krag, Coco’s, Thai 9… I miss them ALL!!! Every time I visit, I look forward to seeing the new things developing in Dayton – 3rd St, Atta Girl Art + Gardens, Press, Riverscape…

But of course, what I miss the most are my family and friends… It can get lonely living abroad, but knowing that Dayton is always there, waiting patiently for my visit or return, eases the homesick blues … I have to admit, there isn’t much I don’t miss about good ol’ Dayton, Ohio. Regardless of where I am in the world, Dayton will always be my home. After all, it’s where my heart is.

 

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Opens Friday at THE NEON!

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Hello Everyone,

It’s time to say farewell to THE DESCENDANTS – one of our big hits from 2011.  If you haven’t seen the film yet (or need to see it again), you only have through Thursday to see it at THE NEON.  On Friday, we will open a film that has been long-awaited by several of you and a “Top 10” for numerous critics – TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY.  For our other screen, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN will hold for another week.

I just found out that we will not be exclusive on TINKER TAILOR.  Though this is a big disappointment, I hope you’ll help us by telling your friends & family to please support this film at THE NEON.  Having a great opening weekend will help send the message to distributors that THE NEON is where people want to see smart, thought-provoking cinema.

Synopsis for TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: “The time is 1973. The Cold War of the mid-20th Century continues to damage international relations. Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, is striving to keep pace with other countries’ espionage efforts and to keep the U.K. secure. When things go awry, it’s up to top lieutenant, George Smiley, a career spy with razor-sharp senses, to get things back on track.” (Taken from Focus Features)  Based on the 1974 novel by John le Carre that “redefined the spy thriller,”  the new film stars Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy and Mark Strong.

Click this link to visit the film’s official site.

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

We have several organizations renting our space for special events in the coming weeks…so I’ll hopefully have more details for you by next week’s newsletter.

We hope to see you this weekend at THE NEON,

Jonathan

 

SHOWTIMES for Friday Jan 6 – Thursday Jan 12:

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (R) 2 Hrs 07 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  1:00, 4:15, 7:15, 9:45

Monday – Thursday:  2:30, 5:15, 8:00

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (R) 1 Hr 39 Min

Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30

Monday – Thursday:  3:00, 5:10, 7:20

COMING SOON:

As always, all dates are tentative.

Many of these dates will change.

In some cases, titles may disappear. 

Jan. 13   CARNAGE

Jan. 20   THE ARTIST

TBD   THE HEDGEHOG

TBD   SHAME

TBD   A DANGEROUS METHOD 

Introducing Dayton Fashion Week

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So what do you get when you combine the love for fashion with the love for the City of Dayton…?  You get city’s first ever Dayton Fashion Week!  In July 2012, the City of Dayton will be in the international spotlight by playing host to internationally known designers and models – and DaytonMostMetro.com will be bringing you the exclusive!  My name is Caressa Brown, and I am the Director of Operations for Dayton Fashion Week.  First, a bit about myself: I am a 20 year veteran of the modeling industry, signing my first professional contract at the age of 12.  Since then I’ve had contract offers with Click (Atlanta) and smaller markets, I’ve been a regional semi-finalist in the International Elite Model Look Competition, and after taking some time off I’ve been freelancing as a model for the past couple of years. Outside of the modeling industry, I am a graduate of Wright State University and a Community Voices Producer for 91.3 FM WYSO.

Dayton Fashion Week is being headed up by industry insider Junda Morris Kennedy who recently relocated to the Dayton area when her husband was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Junda has been an organizer and event planner for several well respected international Fashion Weeks including British Columbia, Baltimore, Miami, and the granddaddy of them all – the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York!  Upon her arrival to the Miami Valley, Junda quickly recognized Dayton’s potential and has a deep respect for our city’s artistic and innovative past and present with the hopes of making Dayton a future fashion capital!  And the future is looking really bright for Dayton Fashion Week, with sponsors like Milani Cosmetics, Buckeye Vodka, DaytonMostMetro.com, Elite Hair Academy, Beaute Box, and De’Lish Cafe coming on board!

Not only will Dayton Fashion Week be highlighting international designers, five will be making their international debuts during the 2012 London Fashion Week!  We will be hosting several industry related seminars and we’ll be bringing in other industry insiders like international runway coach Kyle Haggerty and the Director of New York Couture Week and designer Andres Aquino.   Dayton Fashion Week will be featured on Inside Couture TV ( based out of Miami, FL) and they will be looking for a local host to cover DFW for them so you’ll definitely want to check back soon for more details about the upcoming casting calls which will be held at De’Lish Café starting in February.

As a lifelong Daytonian, I can’t begin to tell you just how excited I am to be a part of this groundbreaking event for our city and I am honored to have this opportunity to bring you the exclusives every week, so check back regularly as I highlight the latest updates for DFW, shine the spotlight on the latest fashion trends, educate on the ins and outs of the modeling industry, and so much more! For more details on how you can become a part of Dayton Fashion Week check out our official website, “Like” us on Facebook and you can follow us on Twitter.

Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra – Bound for NYC

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(from The Seedling Foundation)

The Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra is going to New York to perform at Lincoln Center as distinguished student artists with the New York City Jazz Festival.  The festival features the best of college jazz performers plus four selected high school ensembles, and as winners of the 2010 Berklee College of Music National High School Jazz Festival, Stivers was not required to audition for the spot on the New York City Jazz Festival lineup. Festival managers heard the Dayton group in Boston and extended the invitation.

Produced by Manhattan Concert Productions, the New York City Jazz Festival will feature Kurt Elling, the Grammy-winning male vocalist, and Bob Mintzer, multiple Grammy Award winner, composer, arranger and Yellowjackets big band leader. The Stivers Orchestra will participate in pre-performance workshops under the direction of  Festival Artistic Director Steve Zegree – internationally recognized as one of the most respected jazz conductors and active as a pianist, conductor and jazz clinician.

Benefit concert scheduled

The trip depends upon the orchestra raising funds for travel and registration. A benefit concert featuring the Stivers Jazz Orchestra is scheduled for 8:00pm on Saturday, January 21 at Stivers Centennial Hall. The concert will feature one of America’s finest jazz trumpeters, Derrick Gardner. Gardner, who travels with Harry Connick, Jr. and the Count Basie Orchestra, is a distinguished composer, arranger, performer and teacher.  For over 20 years Gardner has headed the Jazz Prophets, a distinguished sextet in the tradition of the funky, soulful jazz sound Cannonball Adderly and Horace Silver. Gardner has also performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

General admission tickets for the benefit concert are $10. They can be ordered online at www.theseedlings.org or by calling 937-546-1675. Patron tickets are available at $50. Patrons are invited to a pre-performance reception with Derrick Gardner and will receive reserved seating. Patron tickets qualify for a $25 tax deduction.

Stivers Jazz Orchestra director Claude Thomas said of the Festival invitation, “In September, the Stivers Jazz Orchestra was invited to perform at the New York City Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room. The invitation followed years of national performances by our Jazz Orchestra at Boston’s Berklee High School Jazz Festival. We have competed at Berklee 3 times and won 3 times,  including 2011.  How do you get to Carnegie Hall? ….. practice. In the jazz world, you ask how do you get to Lincoln Center? The same way, plus playing for the Dayton community like in our January 21st concert to raise travel and registration funds. The Stivers Jazz Orchestra is one of only 4 high schools in the country invited to perform, an unbelievable opportunity and honor for theDayton community, our school and students, past and present who have worked so hard to make this invitation a reality.”

The concert is sponsored by the seedling Foundation, a 501 [c] [3] non-profit organization that supports arts programs at Stivers School for the Arts.

For more information call Bill Pflaum, 937-469-2662.

33 Things I’ve Learned in 33 Years – A Look Back…

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I just celebrated my 33rd Birthday this past New Year’s Eve. Over the course of the month of December I took a moment or two to reflect back on all that I have learned through the years. The lessons were a big hit on Facebook, so I figured I would compile them for my first post of 2012. Enjoy. Life is meant to be lived.

 33 Things I’ve Learned in 33 Years…

There’s no greater love then a Parent’s. You’ll wonder often why they make the decisions they do…but its usually in your best interest. You realize as you grow as a person they are too and that no matter what, through whatever…they will always love you.

Friends will come and go and those relationships teach you…they shape you. You fight, you hurt, you smile and have the best times of your life. Friends come and go…but those memories last a lifetime.

The people who say they’ll never hurt you sometimes hurt you the most. The guy who says he’s not that guy sometimes ends up being that guy. Its taught me that actions really do speak louder than words.

It’s normal to want to impress someone you like, but there is a line. Never change who you are because you think it will improve your chances with someone you care about. Be yourself and always, because the right person will love the real you. Irrational hot mess, goofball, brilliant and successful..whatever the case or your mood on any given day.. the right person will find all of you, the real you… stimulating.

Mean people suck.

Confident doesn’t mean you have to be the center of attention all the time. Confidence is being able to step out of the spotlight and still stand your own…still have substance. Confidence in a woman, is one of the most sexy and alluring characteristics. Unfazed by her surroundings always knowing who’s within.

Everything in life is a lesson. Everything.

No one is normal.

The first step to moving forward in life, is to let go of the things that weigh you down.

The thrill isn’t in the chase. Let go of chasing what’s wrong and let what’s right find you.
Your past may be blemished, but your future is a blank slate…never deny yourself a second chance.

Resolutions are dumb. Waiting until the end of one year to decide you’re doing something differently the following is a long time to realize you’re doing some things wrong. Challenge yourself every day to be better, not just a week before New Years Eve.

People will hurt you but more often than not, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them, or who they are. Jay-Z said it best, “You gotta, get that, dirt off your shoulders

Often things we want in life are easier to attain than we believe.

It takes one tiny step to embark on something you’ve been holding back on..and the only thing stopping you is YOU.

You don’t have to eat everything on your plate.

The Golden Rule is a great one to live by. Reciprocity.

First dates are awkward.

When you’re young, boys look at your boobs mostly. When you get older they still do, but the right ones dig your brains as well.

Star Wars is WAY better than Star Trek

Nerds are sexy.

Success …really is a mind state.

Arrogance is the most unattractive quality in anyone.

God Listens.

The truth will always surface, no matter how hard you try to conceal it.

No matter how many times you ask, boys will never put the toilet seat down.

It’s okay to leave the house in sweats, it really is..just always have lipgloss.

Fashion can be your saving grace when you’re feeling down.

Can your worries in life and let the wind take you where it wants.

After your first kiss, …you realize boys are pretty awesome after all.

Life is a journey without guidelines, a map, or TIMELINE. It’s what you make of it and the only person’s expectations you should live up to are your own.

THE BEST THINGS REALLY DO COME TO THOSE who wait.

and my final and most valuable lesson..

Whatever you believe, whatever you dream..whatever you desire to do, do so with your whole heart. Never ever let go, never let anyone tell you can’t or won’t be able to do anything. All things are possible. There will be ups and downs but always stand tall, chin up and smile at the world..especially when it’s difficult. In my weakest moments I’ve shined the most. If ALL that I have had to endure in life is what lead me here…then I wouldn’t take a single second back.

 

The Bruery – 4 Calling Birds review

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The Bruery 4 Calling Birds

I know, the holidays are over. But it is still the Winter season, and there’s still plenty of beer to be enjoyed! This one was consumed on Christmas Eve 2011.

4 Calling Birds from The Bruery is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, and is 11% ABV. This is part of the 12 Days of Christmas series. The Bruery will release a beer every year, and started with A Partridge in a Pear Tree. This is the fourth in the series. Each beer is made to be aged until the 12th year of the series (12 Drummers Drumming).

From The Bruery’s website:

Spiced Strong Dark Ale. The Twelve Days of Christmas series continues! We took inspiration from the traditional winter warmer for our fourth verse, integrating gingerbread spices into a robust dark ale. Notes of licorice & banana bread mingle with dark fruit, molasses and bitter chocolate for a perfect cold weather sipper!

APPEARANCE

The beer pours a deep, dark reddish brown – almost black. It had a mocha head with large bubbles, and disappeared quickly. As I drank, there was no head and no visible carbonation. Large alcohol legs grab the edge of the glass. Not a bad looking brew. [Read more…] about The Bruery – 4 Calling Birds review

Dayton real estate 2012: Prognostications, trends, and silver linings.

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2011 brought some changes to the Dayton real estate market. These type of crystal ball posts are sometimes difficult to write because my business might be very different than another real estate agent’s business. Some of us specialize in condos, or foreclosures, or investment properties. There are agents who specialize in lease-to-own, or upscale, or new builds. I’m sharing the things I’ve noticed, but as always, talk to a real estate agent for your specific needs.

A few things to keep in mind if you are buying a home: some markets are being driven by foreclosures or short sales. One of trends that seems to be emerging among foreclosures or cosmetically flipped homes is that are being listed at below market prices which creates a bidding war. In other words, a home hits the market priced lower than other homes and within days there are multiple offers on the property. It’s a good strategy for a seller to get at or above asking price so be prepared if you are looking at foreclosures- you may need to act fast, and might end up paying full price or more to get the home you want. Now this isn’t horrible in and of itself as long as the price supports updates you will be making so don’t panic, but also don’t get sucked into more for a home than its worth. Know what the neighborhood will support.

Short sales are a different beast altogether and while the process for buying and selling short sales has improved over the past year, you should still expect that they could take months to close. However, because short sales account for a large percentage of homes on the market, it’s worth it to plan ahead and take them into consideration. In many communities, distressed properties are driving the market, so if sweat equity doesn’t bother you, this is a good market for you. If you don’t want to do the work yourself, there are a few loan options available for owner occupants who would prefer to finance any repairs or upgrades. Programs like the 203k financing require preparation, organization, and stick-to-it-tiveness on your part, but the repairs have to be made by contractors and professionals. These trends will continue for quite some time in this area as housing stock ages and becomes more distressed.

The other big trend this year is in rentals and seller financing. People need a place to live, and while interest rates have hit record lows and there are lots of homes on the market, if you can’t get a loan, you can’t get a loan. Enter seller financing like land contracts and lease-to-own, and a market for rentals. If you are considering being a landlord, this is a good time to do that, if you are a seller looking for a way to create a niche seller’s market within this broader buyer’s market, this is a remarkable time to do that.

Speaking of trends, I want to point out that a few weeks ago it was reported that National Association of Realtors (NAR) got it wrong:

“All the sales and inventory data that have been reported since January 2007 are being downwardly revised. Sales were weaker than people thought,” NAR spokesman Walter Malony told Reuters. “

If you’ve been paying attention to what is happening in your own neighborhood, this should not be news to you. There are few established neighborhoods in the Greater Dayton area which haven’t taken a hit the last 4 years in particular, but for a number of neighborhoods in Montgomery County, this has been going on for years as those neighborhoods have been bleeding population for decades. It’s supply and demand and I don’t see us picking up in population for awhile. Now, shrinking should no longer be confused with dying, but it is a trend and that’s what we are concerned with for this post. So expect inventory to stay up. Land banking and planned demolition will be part of life in the Miami Valley. Again, this may or may not be doom and gloom, but it is change.

Still, the NAR is the national organization that is tasked with representing its members and they have become one of the most important lobbying groups on K St. When the NAR talks, our elected officials pay attention, but that doesn’t mean you should. If you want to know what is going on in your community, ask a local real estate agent to pull the stats for a particular area, because for us the market talks and in order to serve our clients, we listen to the market, not the NAR.

One more possible trend to be aware of: Because the real estate market has changed, many agents have left the business, some numbers suggest as much as 40-50% and I see this as positive. It’s anecdotal I know, but it seems that those agents who are left are highly professional and some of the best I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and to me, this is good news for everyone.

All the best to the entire DaytonMostMetro.com family- editors, readers, contributors, and here’s to finding more silver linings in 2012!

 

Where the money won’t be in 2012

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Plenty of Dayton-area folks couldn’t tell you where tiny Alpha, Ohio is. It includes about six blocks of Beavercreek between 35 and Dayton-Xenia Road, and has a population of less than 200 people.

But a financial investing firm based there for 40 years has the top-performing Small-Cap Fund in the nation, and its fund family now manages just over $3 billion. Alpha’s James Investment Research firm is thriving in markets that haven’t seen such bad times since the Great Depression. And the team’s annual economic predictions have been spot on for years.

Why should you care? Because even if you have no interest in finance and think investing is only for evil corporate bankers (a surprisingly popular myth that I believe prevents us “commoners” from directing money to better purposes), the insights shared in Economic Outlook 2012 are worth knowing.*

The annual presentation and Q&A isn’t about what stocks to invest in and what bond markets to avoid. It’s an objective, insider perspective on the state of the world and our collective future, based on thousands of hours of proprietary research.

And it’s free.

The 45-minute Outlook covers the state of the economy and how it got here, as well as where it’s likely to go. JIR staff review the effects of government intervention, the European debt crisis, political & social turmoil at home, and Americans’ shifting attitudes toward debt, energy and employment. It’s global context for what we will literally see right here on Main Street in the months to come.

Fair warning: JIR’s conclusions and recommendations are firmly on the conservative side of the spectrum, and Mayan calendar interpretations aren’t included in this year’s report. But whether or not you have investments of your own, you’ll benefit from having an advance understanding of the major political and financial changes in the year to come.

*Disclosure: I am a friend of the James family, which is why a freelance writer & three-time Burning Man participant like me even knows about something like an Economic Outlook.

***

To attend

Economic Outlook 2012, presented by James Investment Research

RSVP: By Jan. 3 at 937-426-7640.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 10. Doors open at 6:30 pm, presentation begins at 7 pm

Where: Schuster Performing Arts Center, 109 N. Main St., Dayton

Tips: Business attire recommended. Complimentary parking in the Arts Garage at 2nd and Ludlow. Bring tickets for validation.