Dayton937

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

Archives for January 2015

Brew Ha-Ha: Dayton’s First All-Ohio Craft Beer Festival

By

T7he Montessori School of Dayton is proud to announce the 4th annual Dayton Brew Ha-Ha, which will take place on Saturday,  Jan 31, 2015 at the school. This year’s line-up features the Miami Valley’s first all- Ohio craft beer festival. Proceeds from the event will go to the school’s capital improvement fund.

The festival honors the growth of the craft beer industry within the Buckeye state. With more than 100 breweries in the state (and growing), the event organizers traveled Ohio to produce a beer list that is representative of the breadth and depth of the state’s craft beer industry. Kevin J. Gray, the Co-Chair in charge of coordinating the beers for the event, said, “Look for beers from more than 40 breweries from Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, and points in-between. The event will feature breweries big and small, and will showcase both rare, hard to find beers and accessible beers for those just getting into craft beer.” All of the local breweries will be present with offerings that highlight the growth of the industry in the Gem City. A full list of the participating breweries can be found on brewhahadayton.com.

The event’s beer list has always had a regional focus. In the first two years, the event offered beers from the Great Lake States: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. In 2014, the Dayton Brew Ha-Ha hosted Dayton’s first Ohio vs. Michigan beer tasting (with the home team winning handedly). Although each year has seen exponential growth, the festival is committed to maintaining the event as a premier boutique beer tasting, where residents of the community can come to mingle, try regional beers, and learn more about the school and about craft beer.

10750287_1586368924932947_7350281437299961533_o

Brew Ha-Ha 2014 pictured here

The festival organizers have also added games of chance and a silent auction to this year’s event. Spin the wheel and earn cash or try your luck at the ring-toss to take home crafty prizes. Silent auction items include craft beer-themed gift baskets, as well as bigger items like a propane grill, an outdoor heater, or a cabin rental in southeast Ohio. Special event t-shirts will be on sale featuring the Brew Ha-Ha logo. Both men’s and women’s t-shirt styles and sizes will be available for purchase.

Fitting for an event held in an elementary/middle school, craft beer education will be a focus of the evening. Curious about what to try? Tasting guides will be provided to help attendees navigate the room and find beers that match their favorite flavor profiles. Attendees can also talk to one of the roving Beer Ambassadors, who can steer them in the right direction. Want to learn to brew beer? Members of DRAFT, the Dayton Homebrewing Club, will be on hand to discuss beer making at home. The program will also include clone recipes of several of the event’s beers, recipes put together by the staff of BrewTensils homebrew supply.

The school is located in Kettering, at 2900 Acosta Street. The event takes place at the school on Jan 31, 2015 from 6-10 pm. Tickets are $35 each which gets you a half pint tasting glass and ten tasting tickets.  Tickets and more information are available online at brewhahadayton.com. Paper tickets are available at Belmont Party Supply and Fifth Street Brewpub. Spinoza’s pizza will be cooked fresh on site. Pizza will be sold by the slice so bring your appetite!   During the last hour of the event, enjoy complimentary desserts and coffee to cap off a fun evening. Growler fills and individual bottle purchases will also open up during this time. Complimentary desserts will be served at the end of the evening.

Organizers are excited to announce that they’ve partnered up with Uber! New users can enter the promo code 15BREWHAHA and save $20 off of your first ride. Each ride booked between January 31 and February 28 provides a donation back to the MSD Capital Improvement fund, so stay safe and enjoy a free ride.

 

About the School

The primary purpose of the Montessori School of Dayton (MSD) is to offer a quality Montessori education for toddlers through eighth grade children. Our core goals are:

  • Provide a setting where children can develop in subjects at their own learning pace and be encouraged to explore new subject areas
  • Offer a classroom setting where teachers can freely observe and build relationships with their students to better provide individual academic guidance
  • Provide an environment and a method to encourage self-discipline
  • Offer mixed-age classrooms which support and encourage children to teach and learn from one another
  • Establish a lifelong love of learning
  • Provide students with the tools to create, develop and maintain a positive self-image
  • Develop a respect for other people and their differences
  • Develop an appreciation for their work and the work of others

 

Each Montessori classroom is carefully structured with free access to teaching materials encouraging each child to explore and learn for him/herself. We are dedicated to the Montessori method of education based upon Dr. Maria Montessori’s scientific observations of children’s almost effortless ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials. These observations of multiple learning methods evolved into her development of very specific materials, exercises and methods of presentation, allowing children to pursue their natural curiosity and to simply absorb a vast array of knowledge from their surroundings.Montessori Center of Dayton (MSD) was originally founded as a non-profit Montessori School in 1964 offering a true Montessori education to children between three and nine years old (pre-K through 3rd grade). In 2008, the school made the decision to purchase the current building with the intention of further expanding the curriculum to serve students from the toddler years (18 months) through the eighth grade. Through the purchase of the building, MSD has been able to expand and modernize the classrooms, refurbish the gymnasium and school stage with new flooring, stage curtains and lighting, and add to the extracurricular activities including art, foreign language (Spanish), band, chorus, theater arts and will soon add sporting activities.

Bowling For Babies

By

Stacked-logoThe Greene Community Health Foundation is “glowing” with excitement over an upcoming annual event for families looking for a little fun in January. The bowling lanes will come alive with glow-in-the-dark effects, exciting lights and music to support Greene County’s youngest residents!

Families and local businesses are invited to register a team of up to 6 people of all ages. If registering less than 6 bowlers, participants may be placed on a lane with other bowlers. Registration is now open and families and local businesses are encouraged to take advantage of the Early Bird Rate of just $20.00 per person by January 21st, 2015. Kids ages 12 and younger are just $15.00 each (no early bird rate for youth). After January 21st including the day of the event, the cost is $25.00 each for ages 13 and older. Advance registration is preferred so bowling lanes can be reserved. A special group rate is available for teams of 10 or more. This is a great opportunity for businesses to do some team building and staff strengthening exercises.

Frigid Temps Could Mean Frozen Pipes for Hundreds in Dayton Area

By Leave a Comment

Randy Mount, Owner of Ram Restoration has some tips on dealing with busted pipes this winter.

With the cold, frigid temperatures of the past week, comes a problem many of us do not think about.  It is the emergency of frozen plumbing pipes.  As the temperatures rise back above 32 degrees,hundreds of families and property owners in the Miami Valley will be dealing with flooded rooms, caused by frozen pipes.

The Problem:  As temperatures dip into single digits, many pipes in the home began to cool as well.  Some pipes are susceptible to becoming fully or partly frozen.  When the water in these pipes freezes and expands, it can cause cracks and breaks in some of the strongest pipes.  As the pipes thaw, homeowners may find themselves in a situation with water literally coming out of the walls.

We sat down with Randy Mount, Owner and CEO of Ram Restoration of Dayton, who has over 12 years dealing with flooding, and solving such emergencies.  “If a homeowner finds themselves dealing with flooding from broken pipes, it is important that they call a licensed restoration company to deal with the problem.”  Such companies deal with situations like these every day, and they will work with your insurance agent to make sure things go smoothly, and your property is restored to pre-existing conditions, before the flooding.  Randy says his faith based company finds satisfaction to helping those in need:  “We show genuine empathy to these homeowners who are going through so many emotions during a difficult, even catastrophic time.  We sympathize with their situation and assure them that everything is going to be alright, but it takes time.”

He goes on to say, “One of the most important reasons to use a certified company, is that you want to make sure they provide the proper expertise, equipment and follow through for the job.”  Mount explained that if cleanup is not done properly, homeowners can then be subject to mold left behind, due to improper drying techniques.  And as we have all heard, mold in your home can lead to a whole host of other nightmarish problems.

The first step is expert assessment of the situation.  The next step is water extraction and drying of affected areas.  Repairs to pipes are also done during these initial steps.

What the industry call “the putback” is the final step of the process.  This includes any repairs to drywall, ceilings, carpets and flooring.  In fact a quick response time may save items such the original wood flooring.  Some restoration companies only offer water extraction, while others offer construction services too.

 

182235850

Frozen Pipes can cause Splitting, Resulting in Leaks and Flooding

Tips when your house becomes flooded, due to broken pipes:

1) Turn off the main water line as soon as you discover flooding/leaking. Everyone in your house should know where to find the main and turn it off.   If it’s heated water that’s coming from the pipe, you should also close the valve attached to your hot water heater.

 

 

2) Call a certified restoration company to come to your house.  There are even some companies that  are available 24/7 and promise to have someone to asses the situation within an hour of the emergency.

3) Contact your insurance agent and inform them of the situation.  Getting a claim number and knowing your deductible are important tools in the homeowner’s decision making process.

Are you Insured? Many homeowners may find out, they are not covered from such floods.  That is why it is important to comb over your home owner’s insurance policy, and talk to your agent, to make sure you are covered.  It is your right to hire whatever restoration company you desire to conduct the work, the insurance companies may suggest a someone, but ultimately, it is the homeowner’s call.

Hopefully you won’t have to deal with such a problem so soon into the new year.  But for those who do, maybe you are a little more prepared for what may come.

[flagallery gid=130]

Flavors in Centerville Offering Healthy Meal Plans “To Go.”

By 1 Comment

Pizza boat - with Zucchini

Zucchini Boats from Flavors are Delicious !

Today, The Food Adventures Crew shows you an easy way to keep your New Year’s resolutions for healthy eating.  Flavors in Centerville continues to launch their “Meals by Flavors” option, where you can plan your healthy meals for the week.  You can pre-order 1 meal, or as many as you want.  Imagine that, full on, healthy Food Adventures in convenient packages!

We all love Flavors Eatery for their one-of-a-kind, healthy food specialties, that taste delicious.  They have so many dishes that taste amazing, yet are low calorie,  low carb and packed with nutrients.  When new owner, Ryan, bought the Centerville location from Elaine and Rich, he stayed true to their menu.  One of his visions was adding this meal program that helped him lose weight.

Now, you can get certain meals “to go” and keep your waistline healthy throughout the week.  With “Meals By Flavors” you can turn your resolution, into a lifestyle.

To stay skinny you gotta know the scoop.. so here it is…

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Ryan and his son

Centerville Flavors Owner, Ryan and his son

— The concept is simple.  Stay on track with your diet by substituting legumes and vegetables for your favorite carb foods.  The idea is to “fool” your tastebuds into  thinking you are eating your favorite foods.  A perfect example is using shredded Zucchini noodles instead of spaghetti or pulverized cauliflower instead of rice.  The menu is developed to taste good, and deliver all the nutrition and protein your body needs, in a low fat meal.  Simply stated, the flavors are so good, you don’t miss a thing because it satisfies your cravings.

— You must email [email protected] to request a menu, and to place your orders too .  Orders take approx 48 hours to prepare, and may be picked up at the Centerville location at 865 E. Franklin St.

— Orders are typically packaged in air tight containers, so that when refrigerated, they will last a few days.  Some dinners will last longer than others, depending on ingredients and packaging.

— Menu prices typically run between $6 – $12, depending on the dish.  Please note: the $12 meals were sometimes enough for two meals, and we have big appetites.

 

Now, we present a Food Adventures first.  Our all-time healthiest list of “Must Eats,” thanks to “Meals By Flavors”

 

MUST EATS:

 — ZUCCHINI PIZZA BOATS with TURKEY PEPPERONI  & MIXED GREENS SALAD: Hulled zucchini filled with marinara sauce, spinach, fresh basil, fresh oregano, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.  The boats are then topped with a little bit of thinly sliced, fresh mozzarella and turkey pepperoni.  (In the past we have also seen these offered with lean ground beef).  The result is a cross between a pizza and a potato skin, with hardly any calories.  Fantastic must eat, at the top of our list.

Stuffed

Stuffed Green and Red Peppers

— FISH TACOS:  The fish offered is usually Salmon and/or Tilapia, and sometimes Wahoo whitefish.  The fish is seared and served with a cup of spicy Boom-Boom sauce, two low-carb tortillas, and Flavor’s signature salsa loaded with lime and fresh cilantro. It also comes with a side of apple and vegetable slaw lightly seasoned and placed on a bed of fresh baby spinach.

— CHUNKY CHICKEN SALAD:  One of our Food Adventure faves, right off the flavors menu!   It starts with spinach and romaine salad with hand-pulled roasted chicken.   Also packaged are black beans,  apple and veggie slaw, sunflower seeds, cheddar-jack cheese, and of course, Flavors House Sauce.  Light, fresh and delicious, this chicken salad is a must eat, no brainer.

—ROASTED RED PEPPER PIZZA:  The dough is actually a low carb tortilla.  It is then loaded with spinach and roasted red, green, and yellow peppers.  Add to that a generous portion of chicken and cheddar-jack cheese blend. This meal is served with a side of buttered, poached carrots.

— AVACADO COOKIES:  Made with nothing except Avacado these dark black cookies are amazing and a guilt free treat.Salad

Honorable Mention: Red and Green Stuffed Pepper Dinner: A big meal of peppers stuffed with homemade refried beans, roasted chicken, spinach and topped off with salsa.  It is served with a side of mixed veggies.

Also the Smoked Brisket Salad deserves a mention. Thinly sliced smoked brisket on a mix of romaine and spinach leaves.   Meal also includes apple-veggie slaw. The salad is also topped with a bed of black beans, sunflower seeds, and Flavors House Sauce!

Flavors Eatery always pleases, and their “Meals By Flavors” program is no different.  Brillant usues of legumes, vegetables and sauces make guilt free seem so easy.

 

But our article doesn’t end here…. With Flavors Eatery there are 3 other important things we would like to mention.

 

**** 3 OTHER THINGS TO NOTE ***

Bottles of sauce at DLM1) The Flavors Eatery in Centerville now serves dinner every day until 9pm, except Tuesday and Sunday.  This is great news for many of us that enjoy flavors, but wished they had extended hours.  Our prayers have been answered!

 

2) There is a Flavors Eatery now in Downtown Lebanon, at 4 South Broadway, where Rich and Elaine have expanded their franchise!   They are running the new restaurant just like the original !  Stop in and say hello to this great mom and pop team !

3) Bottles of FLAVORS AMAZING HOUSE GARLIC SAUCE are available at Dorothy Lane Market.  What are you doing sitting there?  Grab a bottle already !  This sauce goes great on anything from chicken and seafood, to salad and nachos.

 

So get on your computers, email [email protected], and tell them you want the “Meals by Flavors” menu.  For those of us with a busy lifestyle, it keeps your diet on track during the week!

Want to keep on track with all the foodie happenings in Dayton?  Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook, and join the thousands that know, we set the cutting edge trends that other follow.  Keep up with the Food Adventures crew of Hungry Jax, Chef House, the King and the Big Ragu and comment on your favorite eateries.

Also – check out our 50 photos below of Flavor’s best items !

[flagallery gid=129]

Take Charge Of What Goes In Your Mouth

By

10402931_10152841031834730_3234295713656148046_n

El Meson owner Bill Castro (left) and Chef Mark Abbott

It’s the new year and for many that means a commitment to eat healthier.  And for just as many  of us, that only seems to lasts a couple of weeks.  To successfully change your eating habits, you’ll need to make changes in how you choose and prepare your food and that’s not always easy.

So El Meson’s Bill Castro and Chef Mark Abbott are hosting a class to teach us to Loose Weight, Cook Light and Healthy- on Tues, Jan 13th at 6pm that demonstrates how to make flavorful meals that will help you make the adjustment to a healthier lifestyle.

Bill Castro shares, “Americans tend to be the most overweight society, so we want to share with our guests how they can incorporate a more European style of eating, that still includes plenty of  tasty food.  It’s  not a diet, but a way to feed your body with healthy foods that will kick start your weight loss.”

 

KALE-1

 

 

Tuesday’s class will be a cooking demonstration with an opportunity to participate, a conversation and a meal with recipes you can take home with you. And like any event at El Meson, it will probably turn into a party and it wouldn’t surprise us if there is dancing involved,  too.  Did you know that El Meson hosts salsa dance parties the 2nd and 4th Wed of each month?

When you reserve your spot for $45, you can bring along a friend for just $30.  Taxes, gratuity and beverages are additional.  So call El Meson now to make your prepaid reservation at (937) 859-8229. Class size is limited and this will probably sell out.

El Meson is located at 903 E. Dixie Drive, just west of I75 at exit 47.
They are open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner Mon through Sunday.

 

 

Oregon District? Not this week! Downtown Dayton bleeds scarlet and gray

By

Football fever has gripped the Dayton region. With the debut of the NCAA’s national championship game featuring state favorite Ohio State University, fans everywhere are paying homage to the Buckeyes in the hopes of a national title.

Proclamation from Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley declaring the temporary name change of the Oregon District to the Buckeye District.

One downtown neighborhood went as far as a temporary name change to reflect their team solidarity. On Monday, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley signed a proclamation renaming the Oregon District to the “Buckeye District” from January 6 through the 12th when the Buckeyes will take on the Ducks from the University of Oregon.

In addition to the name change, several Oregon — sorry, Buckeye District — businesses are offering watch parties and specials to celebrate the big game, which starts at 8:30 p.m. Highlights include:

  • Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Head to the recently renovated and expanded Dublin Pub to watch the first-ever national championship game on Monday, Jan. 12. Cover charge of $10; all-you-can-eat tailgate buffet starts at 6 p.m. 224-7822
  • The Oregon Buckeye Express, 336 E. Fifth St: Happy hour prices start at 4 p.m., along with half-price on the restaurant’s signature specialty pizzas (dine-in only). 223-9205
  • The Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St.: Watch the Bucks take on the Ducks on the big screen and enjoy beer and food specials. 461-1101
  • Salar Restaurant and Lounge, 410 E. Fifth St.: Watch the big game in the lounge and take advantage of half-priced pizza and beer specials.

Make no mistake about where the Bucks-Ducks loyalties lie in downtown Dayton! For updates on more Buckeye District action, check out the Oregon District Business Association’s Facebook page.

Ballast Point Tasting Tonight

By

307 How do you make a World-Class IPA even better?  Add stuff…good stuff like grapefruit!

Stop by Spinoza’s, located at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek  tonight and sample San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing Company draft beers including the limited edition brew Grapefruit Sculpin.

Also featuring a fresh batch of regular Sculpin IPA (100 points “World-Class” on BeerAdvocate.com) as well as Grunion American Pale Ale (Gold Medal Winner at GABF) and Dorado Double IPA.

Keg tapping will start at 5pm.

Live music by Mark Gearo  from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

Hike Your Way Through Every Dayton MetroPark!

By

DaytonHikersLogo Join the Dayton Hikers New Year’s resolution challenge for 2015: hike at every park in Five Rivers MetroParks

The goal of the Dayton Hikers is to bring together those people who enjoy hiking and backpacking hiking. The Dayton area has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. With our Five Rivers MetroPark system, State parks and community parks, there are many nearby opportunities for day hikes. A hiker can easily find an enjoyable hike whether it is a shorter, easy hike or a longer, more challenging hike.

Dayton Hikers  welcomes newcomers to join whether you are a beginner or an experienced outdoors person. Their groups meets for both day hikes and overnight backpacking trips. Every Tuesday the Hikers Meetup Group, which has a membership of nearly 2000,  has a hike scheduled and you can find out more by joining the group.

The day hikes are  primarily in the Dayton area and their backpacking trips are to areas within a few hours drive. Most members are from the Dayton, Ohio area but anyone is welcome to join!

Lots of Fish To Fry In Dayton- Our 2015 Fish Fry Guide!

By

DMMfishfyIt’s Friday night: do you know where your fish fry is? It’s a Dayton culinary tradition that seems totally normal to people who grew up here, but may seem a bit random to visitors and transplants. Why fish? Why Friday? Why fried?

Well, we can already answer the “Why fried?” question. It tastes good and it’s the quickest way to cook a large amount of fish. But the event itself can be traced to medieval Roman Catholic Church history.

Friday is associated with the crucifixion of Christ – remembered on Good Friday during the Easter weekend – and so the day became one of abstinence – specifically, from meat. While beef or chicken were considered “hot” as they were the flesh of warm-blooded creatures, the flesh of fish was considered “cool” and thus got a free pass.

 

When Catholic immigrants  settled in Dayton, this practice came with them. During Prohibition, taverns – which could no longer sell the products that kept them in business, turned to serving food to keep the doors open (and perhaps sneak a few pints under the table). Fish was abundant and cheap, and frying didn’t exactly require cooking school.  Over the years churches realized that a fish fry was an easy way to feed the masses, create community and support the congregation.

Fish fries come in all sorts. You may find cod, walleye, lake perch if you’re lucky, or even bluegill. Beer-battered, lightly breaded, seasoned or not. Often the fish comes with coleslaw and fries or a baked potato on the side.  And of course beer, black jack, auctions and raffles have been added  to help raise funds for each respective parish/school.Visual

Ready for some fish? Check out these fish fries:

Holy Angels Parish Fish Fry
 Holy Angels Church Fish Fry
1322 Brown Street
Dayton, OH 45409
Friday Jan 9, 2015 6pm-Midnight
Our Lady of the Rosary Church Fish Fry
 Our Lady of the Rosary Fish Fry
22 Notre Dame Ave.
Dayton, Ohio 45404
Fri,  Jan 9, Fri, Feb 13
6pm-10:30pm
photo2 Eintract Singing Society
2707 Old Troy Pike
Dayton, OH 45494
Friday’s: Jan 9, Feb 6, Mar 6, April 10,
May 1, Oct 9, Nov 13, Dec 4   6-8pm
$14		  STPaulCatholicChurch-1000 St Paul Fish Fry
1000 W. Wenger Road
Englewood, OH 45322
Fri, Jan 23, 2015, 7-11pm
$15 advance/$18 at the door
carry out food 6-7pm  $10/per
  St. Albert the Great Fish Fry
& Silent Auction
3033 Far Hills Ave.
Kettering, OH 45429
Fri, Jan 23, 2015 7pm-Midnight		  helen St Helen Booster Club Fish Fry
605 Granville Place
Dayton, OH 45431
Sat, Jan  24, 2015 6pm-11pm
  Corpus Christi Fish Fry
527 Forest Ave
Dayton, OH 45405
Sat, Jan 31 6pm		 suicide-prevention Suicide Prevention Center
Winter Fish Fry Fundraiser
Marian Manor, 6050 Dog Leg Road,
Clayton, Ohio 45415
Sat, Jan 31, 2015   6-11pm
St. Mary’s Fish Fry
310 Allen St.
Dayton, OH 45410
Fri,  Feb 6, 2015 6pm-11pm $15		 [Company Logo Image] Hart Scholarship Fish Fry
Huber Heights Athletic Foundation
5367 Fishburg Rd
Huber Heights, OH
Fri, Feb 7, 7-11pm
St. Henry Monte Carlo Fish Fry
6696 Springboro Rd.
West Carrollton, OH 45449
Fri, Feb 7, 2015 7:00pm-Midnight
$12 Advance; $15 Door		 bi95ycav7dk1jeav7vcb6w0pwum St. Mary Church- Franklin Fish Fry
115 S. Main St.
Franklin, OH 45005
Friday’s: Feb 20, Feb 27, Mar 6,
Mar 13, Mar 20, Mar 27  4-7pm

Holy Trinity Fish and Sausage Fry
272 Bainbridge Street
Dayton, OH 45402

Sat, Feb 21

 Alter Knight Out Fish Fry
940 East David Rd.
Kettering, OH 45429
Fri, Feb 27 2015 7:00pm-Midnight
Dayton Rugby Club Fish Fry
IUE-CWA Local 755 Hall
1675 Woodman Drive
Dayton, OH 45432
Friday, Feb 27, 2015 6pm-Midnight		 Saint Peter Catholic Church Fish Fry
6161 Chambersburg Rd.
Huber Heights, OH 45424Sat, Feb 28
Carrolleer Fish Fry
4524 Linden Ave.
Dayton, OH 45432
Fri, Feb 21, 2015 6:00pm-Midnight

 

  Incarnation Church Fish Fry
55 Williamsburg Lane
Centerville, OH 45459Fri March 13
St. Anthony Catholic Church Fish Fry
830 Bowen St.
Dayton, OH 45410
Friday March 13, 2015   6 – 11pm		 logo-rha Partners Fish N Chips Fish Fry
Huber Heights Athletic Center
5367 Fishburg Rd. Dayton, OH  45424
Friday, March 13th 6-11pm
St. Francis of Assisi Fish Fry
6245 Wilmington Pike
Centerville, OH 4545
Fri, March 20, 2015		  logo_school St. Brigid Fish Fry
312 Fairground Road
Xenia, OH 45385
Fri, March 20, 2015   6- midnight
CJ Fish Fry
505 S. Ludlow St,
Dayton, OH 45402
Sat, March 21, 2015 6:00pm-11:00pm		 St. Charles Monte Carlo Fish Fry
4500 Ackerman Blvd.
Kettering, OH 45429
Fri, March 27
995162_534910146558765_1214128311_n Kettering American Legion
5700 Kentshire Drive
Kettering OH
?????		 Irish Club Fish Fry & Monte Carlo
6555 Dog Leg Road
Dayton, OH 45414
????

Can you help us?
You’ll notice we have some ??? We haven’t been able to find this year’s info for  the Irish Club,  St. Christopher, Knight of Columbus and the Kettering American Legion.And if you know of others, be sure and let us know and we’ll add them to the list.

‘The Last Five Years’ Review – Dare to Defy Productions – Falling In and Out of Love

By

Jason Robert Brown’s incredibly emotional and warmly intimate two-person, one-act musical “The Last Five Years” receives an endearingly performed, vocally splendid treatment courtesy of Dare to Defy Productions inside the Mathile Theatre of the Schuster Center.

 
In just 80 compelling minutes, “Last Five Years,” delicately directed with contemplative touches by Mackensie Vonderbrink, paints a fascinating portrait of twentysomething lovebirds in New York City particularly torn apart by differing career paths. Jamie Wellerstein, an emerging writer taking the publishing world by storm, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress longing for her big break, happily meet and eventually marry, but simply cannot make their relationship work. In a clever use of unorthodox storytelling, Brown tells Jamie’s story in standard, chronological fashion while Cathy’s journey progresses from heartbreak to joy. This conceptual device can be confusing, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the material, but it isn’t burdensome. In fact, the opportunity to piece together the entire journey from both perspectives is a fun challenge allowing the action to unfold with attention-grabbing fluidity without fear of becoming stagnant. The dual stories, vividly detailed and remarkably engaging in terms of relatability, appropriately intersect at Jamie and Cathy’s wedding, but separately entice throughout with terrific, character-driven panache by Wright State University acting/musical theater students Ian Benjamin and Kelsey Pohl.l5y
Benjamin, very memorable last season as Thenardier in WSU’s “Les Misérables,” is a strikingly sharp, mature Jamie, impressively navigating the difficulty of appearing adorably lovestruck, energetic and humorous, lovingly supportive, tearfully ashamed, and boldly committed to moving on without seeming arrogant, misunderstood or ambiguous. Musically, Benjamin specifically brings lighthearted spunk to the jaunty “Moving Too Fast” (featuring tremendous piano accompaniment by musical director Dean Brown) and fills the melancholy “Nobody Needs to Know” with ample heartache. Pohl, an awesome Kate last season in WSU’s “The Wild Party,” brilliantly conveys Cathy’s agitation, disgust, hurt, and hopefulness. In particular, her marvelously refreshing rendition of “I’m a Part of That” clearly finds Cathy questioning her place in Jamie’s life. Pohl’s lyric-driven finesse continues with exceptionally honest, wonderfully conversational, encore-worthy versions of “A Summer in Ohio,” “Audition Sequence” and “I Can Do Better Than That.” Due to the considerable technical complexities of Brown’s enthralling, melodic score, a mild hybrid of Stephen Sondheim and Billy Joel sensibilities, it’s great to see Benjamin, Pohl and pianist Brown skillfully rise to the occasion.

 
In addition to scenic designer Chris Harmon’s efficient platforms and large clock reiterating the material’s passage of time, the beautiful contributions of violinist Josh Van Tilburgh, bassist Parisa Samavati and cellist Rebekah Thompson greatly accent the proceedings. However, unfortunate sightlines occur for patrons seated toward the rear of the Mathile due to some numbers performed at the front lower level of the stage.

 
Even so, Dare to Defy, quickly becoming a musical theater force in the Gem City, delivers another hit.

 

“The Last Five Years” continues tonight at 8 p.m. in the Mathile Theatre of the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton, and Tues. Jan. 6 at 7:15 p.m. at Mimi’s Cafe, 4402 Walnut St., Beavercreek. Tickets to tonight’s performance are $20, and can be purchased by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visiting www.ticketcenterstage.com. For more information about the Mimi’s Cafe presentation, visit www.d2defy.com.

 

In related news, Dare to Defy’s 2015 season includes “The Songs of Hair in Concert” (March 13 and 14), “Assassins” (July 17-25), “Into the Woods” (Sept. 5 and 6), and “Godspell” (Oct. 9-17).

Dayton City Commission Names Warren Price City Manager

By

priceThe Dayton City Commission today announced the appointment of Warren Price as City Manager, effective January 12.

 

Price has 12 years of local government management experience serving in such roles as Chief of Staff (equivalent to City Manager), Public Safety Director, Public Services Director, Legal Counsel, Zoning Administrator, and elected official.  In addition, he has served in a leadership capacity on numerous boards and organizations within the public administration field.

 

Price’s career highlights include, serving as the Director of Safety and Director of Public Service & Chief of Staff for the City of Canton Ohio from 2009 – 2013.  In this role, Mr. Price was responsible for managing all municipal operations including directly supervising 15 department heads with executive management responsibility for over 1000 city employees.

 

“The City Commissioners and I believe Mr. Price is an excellent choice for this role.  He shares our priority of enhancing customer service to our residents and customers,” said Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. “This is the first time in 12 years that the City Manager comes from outside our organization; we believe that he will bring a new perspective on challenges and opportunities in the community.  His perspective will work well with the deep experience City employees bring to work each day and will lead to the best ideas being implemented in Dayton.”  Whaley continued,   “Working with enthusiastic citizens and committed business leaders, the City Commission and City Manager are ready to continue the progress we have already made in writing Dayton’s latest, greatest chapter. Dayton is proud to be a welcoming community and we are pleased to welcome Mr. Price to our team.”

 

“Dayton is a city of progress, innovation, and growth—a dream come true for any city manager looking for a community with the courage and fortitude to make progress, and even grow, in today’s difficult local government climate.  The people of Dayton expect and deserve a city government that provides the highest level of customer service at the lowest possible cost,” said Warren Price.

Commissioner Matt Joseph explained, “ We are pleased to have a number of strong candidates, from within the City of Dayton organization and from the local community, the state and the country.  Mr. Price emerged as the best match to the needs of Dayton now and in the future.  Mr. Price’s experience with the military, as an actively involved citizen, as an elected official, and as a city and county level official is exactly the kind of City Manager needs. I look forward to welcoming him to Dayton, to introducing him to the UD Flyers, and to working with him.

 

Price holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management from Malone University in Canton and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Juris doctorate from the University of Akron Law School in 2004.  He is also a veteran of the United States Navy serving from 1993-1996.

 

 

 

#

Some Opened, Some Closed – 2014 Dayton Restaurant Changes

By 1 Comment

Murphys Irish Pub opened this year in Bellbrook

Murphy’s Irish Pub opened during 2014 in Bellbrook

 

 

Here we go with a look back at last year’s Miami Valley food happenings.  That’s right 2014, the year in Dayton food.

Who opened? Who closed?

Dayton Dining & Food Adventures have the scoop on the restaurant movers and shakers of the Miami Valley!  So all you foodies, take a stroll with us down memory lane, and don’t forget a fork.

 

Newcomers to the Dayton food scene are as follows:

**** OPENED IN 2014 ****

1) TAVERN ON MAIN, Centerville: They dropped the Beef O’Brady’s moniker and went independent in 2014.  This Centerville pub, features a sports bar menu and 37 different beers on tap.

 

Peanut butter jelly sushi

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi from Sumera, Click to Enlarge

2) BASIL ON MARKET, Troy:  This summer saw the opening of this downtown Troy restaurant.  The bistro style menu features Italian dishes mostly, with steak, Irish and Thai dishes too. Call it a “completely global menu.”

 

3) TJ CHUMPS, Huber Heights:  The local growth continues as this sports bar funds an expansion into the Huber Heights market.  What can you expect?  More great food from steaks to salmon, as well as casual favorite like burgers and wings.

 

4) LITTLE YORK TAVERN, Troy: The former owners of LeDoux Restaurant, opened this expansion on Main Street in Troy.  People are drawn to their pizza menu and more!

 

5) AUSTIN LANDING CHAINS, Springboro: The Austin Landing development has a couple of restaurant additions, albeit chains.  Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill out of Charlotte, NC is an upscale version of J. Alexanders.  Also, a 15 year old breakfast chain, Another Broken Egg, opened to crowds in 2014 at the Landing as well.  You may also recall many people going ape over the opening of another chain with a cult following, Dewey’s Pizza.

 

Sea Jax sign

Sea Jax is another new star in 2014

6) CROSSROADS BBQ, Fairborn: Priding themselves on BBQ cooked low and slow, this eatery also offers wings, pizzas and sandwiches.  This family owned spot has a few signature items you gotta see to believe, like the “McGooey.”

 

7) LA COLOMBIANA, Beavercreek: Authentic Colombian restaurant located near the Fairfield Commons mall.  A family owned business, this unique dining experience that promises to be a cultural lesson in Food Adventures.

 

8) AREPA’S AND CO., Kettering:  The 2nd Street market veterans opened a second location in the area of Dorothy Lane and Wilmington Pike.  Maybe this is the restaurant that will finally take hold in that location.  Attractions are fresh Colombian comfort food, unique menu items and great patio dining in the summer months.

 

tuna tar tar

Tuna Tar Tar at Firebirds Grill, the new place at Austin Landing

 9) SEA JAX, Centerville:  Ron Sweeney teamed with sous chef Renee Cole to develop a menu of Specialty Burgers, Seafood and craft beers on tap. The place has been busy since its opening earlier in 2014 and they’ve just announced they’ll be open for lunch starting Jan 13th.

 

10) ZETLAND STREET RESTAURANT, Bellbrook: Up and coming chef Zachary Stringer, leads the way on this fine dining menu.   With tasty dishes like Bacon Jam Burgers to Ginger Miso Salmon, you cant go wrong.

 

11) CARILLON BREWING COMPANY, Dayton: Food and Beer Menu inspired by Dayton’s early settlers.  Look for a hodge podge of German and Irish inspired dishes, much of them comfort foods.

 

12) KETTERING  GRILL & CAFE, Kettering:  Located at 3800 Wilmington Pike they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Salads, Sandwiches, Seafood and Burgers seem to be the base of the menu.

 

13) SUMERA, Kettering:  Touted as “the American sushi company,” this place takes a unique direction with the sushi.  With inventions like the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll,” they make fans of people who aren’t sushi lovers.  They also accommodate the sushi lovers with traditional fare.

 

winaNS

Winan’s Chocolates is now at The Greene

14) WINAN’S CHOCOLATES, Beavercreek:  They opened a presence at The Greene in 2014.  It may be a perfect fit for shoppers to relax with coffees and candies while people watching on the patio.

15) THE OLD ARCANA, Arcanum: It’s a bit of a drive through farmland to get there, but the quaint homey feel of this restaurant was a much needed addition to the town. Serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner and some amazing bakery goods, and often featuring live music, too.

 

Unfortunately, some businesses bit the dust in 2014.  The Big Ragu, The King, Hungry Jax and Chef House, fondly remember these now defunct, Gem City eateries.

 

**** CLOSED IN 2014 ****

 

1) THE BAGEL CAFE, Kettering:  Locally owned breakfast and NY Deli style bagel shop with longtime ties to the Dayton area.  In slow decline over the past few years, unfortunately this eatery with the best bagels in town, couldn’t survive the down turn.

 

 2) THE FILLING STATION BAR & GRILL, Riverside: Linden Avenue bar and grill that once housed after-parties for the Gem City roller Girls.  We are gonna miss their wings and salads the most.  Good news is that some

 

Reeses sundae

Are Reese’s Pieces Sundae’s gone forever now that Friendly’s closed?

3) THAT CREPE PLACE:  Located in the Greene, they couldn’t muster the revenue to keep up with the rent.  Crepe lovers don’t fret, Crepe Boheme at the 2nd Street Market will fill your cravings quite nicely.

 

4) STACKERS, Dayton:  We were sad to see this locally owned sandwich shop close on S. Smithville Rd.  The place could not get a break, as it was targeted  by vandals and really never recovered from those losses.

 

5) PONDEROSA, Riverside: Although this long standing throwback near Airway Rd closed, there is still one more Ponderosa franchise in Englewood.

 

6) TWO CHINESE BUFFETS: Ichiban Seafood Buffet and Golden Dragon Buffet closed in 2014.  Both were located less than a mile from each other on 725 in Centerville.  Looks like we will have to search elsewhere for mounds of crab legs, and overflowing plates of stuffed mussels and sushi.

 

7) FRIENDLY’S RESTAURANTS: Five locations closed abruptly in the Dayton area during 2014.  Bad news for all of us who love Reese’s Pieces Sundaes and Clam Boats.

 

Amelias salmon

We are going to miss the Salmon from Amelia’s Bistro

 

8) CHAMMPS, Centerville: The unexpected closing of this chain was early in 2014.  Since then, we hear a new tenant is slated to move in during 2015!

 

9) AMELIA’S BISTRO, Bellbrook:  We were sorry to see this fine dining establishment go the way of the dinosaur.  They had some of the best salmon dishes in the business.

 

10) HAZEL GRILL, Miamisburg:  Located behind the Dayton Mall, this spot housed Dayton’s first Max n Erma’s restaurant for decades.  Sadly, the place could never create a large amount of positive buzz.  Since Hazel couldnt make it, we suggest Max n Erma bring back the telephone tables and the beer spicket shaped like two giant boobs.

 

11) TAGGART’S PUB, Dayton: After 17 years at the location on Patterson Rd., Taggart’s closed its doors.  We would frequent the bar for special events and Steak Frys after golf outings.

bread [pudding fromRoot 48 made with Bills Donuts

Root 48.. we will miss your Bread Pudding made with Bill’s Donuts !

12) WOODY’S BAR-B-QUE, Beavercreek: Cheap prices, good bbq and incredible homemade pies.  This closing hurt us, as we loved the owners and the food.

 

12)  THE TROPICS, Kettering: Rumored to be another casualty in the argument between parking lot rights during Fraze Pavillion concerts.  Sad to see, as we loved visiting their restaurant and seeing them at the AMBUCS chili cookoff.

 

14) TWISTED ROOT / ROOT 48, Centerville:  After a car literally plunged into the wall in the restaurant, then called Savona, things never were the same.  Another twist of bad luck erupted as the newly named Twisted Root faced a lawsuit to change their name.  Now enter Root 48, a casual version of Chef Keith’s creations.  For some reason the concept never caught on, and the place closed a few months later.

 

15) SIDELINE BAR & GRILL:  The newly revamped spot on the split of Woodman and Wilmington Pike, in the former Perkins/Starlite location.  We are going to miss their killer menu item, Deep Fried Babyback Ribs.  Unfortunately the fans never caught on to this sports bar, and it was forced to shut its doors.

 

16) GRANNY’s 4200 PLACE,  Moraine: We sure miss the great breakfasts, especially the biscuits and gravy and the  great homemade pies that were a staple of this homey place.

 

Fried Ribs - only in Dayton at sidelines.. not anymore

When Sidelines Bar closed in 2014, we lost the only Deep Fried Ribs appetizer in Dayton

In 2014, we also saw a Dayton Icon, Neil’s Heritage House, reduce their hours to only holidays and special events

 

Our Springfield friends who owned El Herradura Mexican restaurant, closed the doors recently, but plan to reopen in 2015.  We wish them success.

 

**** WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2015? ****

THE CORNER KITCHEN, Oregon District: Wow, how times have changed in the Oregon District.  Remember Sloopy’s,  the drunken 90’s meat market dance club?  Well, it is about to house a restaurant that strives to be a “finer diner.”  We look for great things from this place!

GINGER & SPICE ASIAN BISTRO, Dayton:  This Asian restaurant will be opening in late January on Brown Street. Owner Grace Peng has a long resume of cooking in some top shelf restaurants, including the long gone Steve Kao’s.

 

EL RANCHO GRANDE, Dayton:  Coming to the corner of Stewart and Brown Street, will be opening their 7th area Mexican eatery.

 

MACK’S TAVERN, Centerville: The yet unopened bar that won Dayton’s Best Bloody Mary contest, is slated to open in January.  Stay tuned for a sneak peek at the menu over the next few weeks.

 

THE DAYTON BEER COMPANY, Dayton: Thirty six taps have been installed and work continues on this 2nd location for Pete Hilegman, one of the pioneers of our region’s brewery explosion.  Located at 324 E. Second St, in the old Weiler Welding Building, just a quick walk from the baseball stadium.

 

PERSIS INDIAN GRILL, Miami Township:  In the spot that formerly housed Boosalis Baking (now located in Cross Pointe Shopping Center) it looks like  finishing touches are coming on the construction for this modern Indian eatery that will serve lunch and dinner.

 

AIRWAY KITCHEN, Riverside:  Where once there was a Ponderosa on Airway, there will soon be a greek buffet restaurant, owned by the same family that operates the Starlite Dinner.

 

Don't Tell So we promised not to name names yet, but 2 of our favorite south of town spots are both working on second locations and sadly we know of one other that will cease operations at the end of January…. stay tuned to DaytonDining for all the tastiest news in town!

Did we miss a place?  Who did we forget?  Please check our gallery below for photos of the new spots, and the other spots that are now closed forever.  Also, don’t forget to “LIKE” Food Adventures on Facebook by CLICKING HERE.    It’s a foodie paradise…

[flagallery gid=128]