Archives for December 2015

For The Dogs!

December 18, 2015 By Melissa Ledinsky

Daytonians ’tis the season for jam packed crazy schedules! With all of the holiday gatherings, shopping, functions, and so on happening it can be very easy to let exercise slide. Especially if you have one too many cups of eggnog. This Sunday is the perfect opportunity to get out outside with your furry friend and spend some time in nature, doing something active that is good for your health mentally and physically!

The Lost Creek Reserve will host the ‘Santa Clause Dogs’ dog social on Sunday, December 20, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. If your pooch is nice and plays well with others, bring him or her to the park dressed to impress. This is a great way for your dog to get some exercise and meet new friends! Mr. & Mrs. Claus will be there spreading Christmas cheer. Participants can walk, talk and show off their dog while strolling down the trail with the Park District Naturalist. This will be a fabulous time to experience the therapeutic effects of nature and pets together, while taking a break from the busy holiday season. Don’t have a dog? All good, you can still join this party and go for a nice hike with your new buddies.
Extra bonus: this event is free of charge, hooray!

There it is Dayton, a wonderful Sunday activity to enjoy with your four legged friend. The Santa Clause Dog Social is something that you do not want to miss since it is the last event of this type for 2015. Let’s all get out and get moving this weekend!

Restaurants Open on Christmas 2015

December 17, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Finding a restaurant open on Christmas can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for a fine-dining experience.

Of course you can always dine at Waffle House- they never close, but no matter where you dine out, please remember that the staff of these places have given up their holiday to serve you, so please tip generously, as working on a holiday is never fun, but should at least be profitable for those away from their families.

If you know of a place we missed, feel free to add it in the comments

Ajanta India Restaurant (937) 296-9200
3063 Woodman Dr, Kettering, OH 45420
11am – 8pm

Amar India Restaurant (937) 439-9005
2759 Miamisburg Centerville Road
1 – 7pm

Dad’s Family Restaurant (513) 423-0022
3131 S. Main St., Middletown
7am – 9pm

CJ Chan 937-259-9866

536 Wilmington Ave. Dayton, OH 45420

10:30am – 10pm

China Garden Buffet (937) 743-0888
675 West Central, Springboro
11am -9:30pm

Fairborn Family Diner & Restaurant (937) 879-9454
419 N. Broad St.
7am – 3pm

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks (937) 431-9200
4429 Cedar Park Drive (at The Greene) Beavercreek, OH 45440
10am – 9pm

Pasha Grill 937-429-9000 72 Plum St, Dayton, OH 4544012 -9pm

Shen’s Szechuan & Sushi (937) 898-3860
7580 Poe Ave Dayton, OH 45414
11am – 10pm

Starlight Dinner (937) 254-5000
2527 Smithville Rd, Dayton OH 45420
7am – 9pm

TGI Fridays
2022 Miamisburg Centerville Road Washington Township (937) 439-3743
2799 Centre Drive, Fairborn (937)429-0019
7777 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights (937) 236-3200
3pm – 11pm

Fricker’s
7 Area Locations
5pm – 2am

BBB Guest Chefs Cook up A Holiday Breakfast

December 17, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Enjoy made to order omelets, an amazing buffet consisting of eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, corn beef hash, tater tots, oatmeal, grits, fresh fruit, cereal and smoothies at John & Mark’s Holiday Breakfast!

This is going to be a great opportunity to do a little networking, take in the outstanding view from this venue, enjoy a delicious breakfast and support United Rehabilitation Services. All cash tips will be donated to United Rehabilitation Services.

Cost is free for the first 100 Accredited Businesses/Charities (2 attendees per business)*, 1 cent for Racquet Club members & $5 for others.

DVAC Call For Artists

December 16, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

2016 DVAC CSA(rt) strengthening the art community by supporting the careers of emerging artists and cultivating collectors

Six artists will be selected to receive a commission of $1,500 to create an artwork in an edition of 50. Artists will be selected through representative images from this application. DVAC CSA Committee will work with individual artists to approve final artwork for edition. Artists must commit to creating edition between notification (Feb 13) and deadline of July 1, 2016. Commission payment 50% at agreement signing; balance at delivery.

JUROR
Guest juror: James Yood, adjunct Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and contributor Artforum International.

ARTIST SUBMISSION CRITERIA
All artists are eligible to apply. Emerging artists (artists exhibiting less than 3 years are particularly encouraged.) DVAC seeks to present work of the highest level of craftsmanship, originality and contemporary style. All work must be structurally sound, safe, non-toxic and fit for its intended use. DVAC will not accept commercially-produced items or structures.
REQUIREMENTS:

Media
Images – Minimum: 1, Maximum: 5
Total Media – Minimum: 1, Maximum: 5

Media: any; but selected artists must commit to creating an edition of 50 artworks (photographs, prints, multiples, small objects, etc.) between selection (Feb 14) and deadline July 1, 2016.

APPLICATION FEE
Free for Current DVAC Members; $10 for non-Members

CURRENT DVAC MEMBERS
DVAC Member Waiver Code (at checkout). Questions, email Gallery Manager at [email protected] or call 937/224.3822.

Why CSA?
CSA-Community Supported Art is a self-sustaining economic model based on the concept of Community Supported Agriculture. The program’s products are created by artists and income is sustained by the CSA members (and possible partner organizations). CSAs are built upon connections between and the community.

Timeline
2015
December 9: Application Opens via callforentry.org

2016
January 16 or 21: Open discussion/feedback session 6-7 p.m.; 1-2 p.m.
February 8: Application Deadline
February 13: Artist Notification & Contract
February 14: Shares on sale to DVAC Members
February 21: Shares on sale to General Public
PENDING: Juror’s Talk: Why These Artists? (free & open to the public)
July 1: Edition Deadline & delivery appointment
August TBA Harvest Party / Delivery of artworks to shareholders

How it Works: For Shareholders
In February DVAC will announce the six artists commissioned to create art editions and unveil bios and examples of their work on the DVAC website. Images will be representative of what shareholders will receive. Fifty shares will be made available to the public for $650 per share. In August, DVAC will host the first annual DVAC CSA Harvest party at which shareholders will receive six original, signed works of art.

CSA Art is limited edition for CSA Shareholders only—unavailable elsewhere. CSA artwork is created for the DVAC CSA in limited editions. This is what makes it, like an agricultural CSA, fresh and local.

Audience & Shareholder Sales
DVAC has a reach of 3,500 artists, collectors, faculty, curators, gallerists, the media and the general public; and a membership of 600. Our audience appreciates contemporary art and fine craft. In 2014-15 DVAC helped artists receive over $72,000 in art sales commissions.

Your Television is Killing You

December 16, 2015 By Jason Harrison

My wife and I recently watched Jessica Jones, the extraordinary television series on Netflix. The show is weighty, dark, funny, thought-provoking, and fun. I’d read commentary about the female-driven superhero series from people I respect, and the show did not disappoint.

Once we finished Jessica Jones, we couldn’t help but watch another Marvel property on Netflix, Daredevil. If you’re counting that’s roughly 28 hours of television that we binge-watched in a manner of a few weeks. Great for keeping up with the zeitgeist and relaxing.

Terrible for almost everything else.

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey (based on 2014 data and released in July 2015), Americans watched television for an average of almost three hours per day. There were weekend days during our Marvel/Netflix binge-watching extravaganza during which we exceeded this average.

Probably the excuse I hear from people who don’t work out and don’t cook at home is lack of time. You see where I’m going with this television thing, right?

The only way to think about health and wellness is this: if you’re not exercising at all and not cooking most of your meals at home, then you have no time to watch television.

If you care at all about your lifelong health and quality of life, then you should construct your daily calendar along these priorities (in this order).

1.) Sleep — Block off 7 to 8 hours

2.) Nutrition — Schedule your grocery trips and build in time for food prep and cleanup.

3.) Exercise — When, where, and how will you be working out?

If you listed your top five priorities based on where you spend your time and what you do most consistently, what would that list look like? For many of the people I coach, initially that list looks something like this:

1.) Work

2.) Television

3.) Social media/online time

4.) Eating out

Candidly, I don’t often attack people’s television habits head on. I tiptoe my way toward the topic, even when I know right away that the person I’m coaching is watching hours of television. I’m wary because hearing that one watches too much television feels like the worst kind of judgmental and condescending rebuke. That’s a recipe for shame—not exactly the kind of relationship I like to have with my clients.

And yet I cannot escape the truth. The amount of television you’re currently watching might actually be detrimental to your health. Those few weeks of binge-watching decreased the amount I cooked, decreased the amount of sleep that I got, and decreased my level of readiness for work.

The difficult thing for someone trying to balance a healthy lifestyle with living a textured existence is we’ve never been in an era with more interesting choices on television. Very good television, like good literature, has the capacity to make us more empathetic, thoughtful souls. That’s not a bad thing. So I’m not here to tell you to give up television completely. But here are some guidelines you can use to make sure that your TV-watching habits don’t interfere with your health.

1.) Cut the cord: Getting rid of your 200+ channels will go a long way toward helping you eliminate the mindless flipping of channels that can suck away an evening better spent cooking, talking, and having sex. You’ll have to be more intentional about your TV-watching choices (by paying specifically for shows on services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu), which is exactly what you’re after. Cut away the fat.

2.) Don’t binge: Shows like Mad Men, Jessica Jones, and Breaking Bad demand binge-watching. Establish a rule for yourself or your house that you’ll never watch more than one show in a row. That way you can grab an hour in front of the television to unwind without losing hours of your life.

3.) Quality over quantity: Empty TV calories like terrible mid-season NBA basketball and HGTV reruns featuring wealthy people complaining about the backsplash in $500,000 homes are the equivalent of drinking Kool-Aid for lunch. Your time is better spent elsewhere (I promise).

If you have a team, then watch your team. Check out the Bengals’ game on Sunday, but don’t watch the 1 o’clock, 4 o’clock, and 8 o’clock games.
If you like using television to unwind, choose a show and watch it. But don’t binge, and don’t just turn on HGTV and let some house-flipping show lull you into a drone-like consumeristic sugar coma.

Ketttering Gas & Growler Stop

December 15, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

In the last several years the craft beer movement has found a solid audience in the Miami Valley. With 11 local breweries (soon to be 12, as Crooked Handle Brewing Co will open in Springboro anytime now) and over 40 local places to fill growlers in the area, beer lovers have grown a more sophisticated palate. The way they drink beer has changed. No longer content to pick up a 6 pack of what’s on sale, consumers are becoming much more discerning about the beer they want to drink at home.

Realizing that, Andy Elshire of the Town and Country Shell has just opened up a growler fill station located inside the recently remodeled gas station located at the corner of Stroop and Far Hills Avenue. The station underwent a huge renovation in order to stay on top of the trends in the gasoline, convenience store, and car wash industries These renovations make it unlike any gas station you will visit in the Miami Valley. The store now features a state of the art car wash tunnel, a large wine selection, and Krispy Krunchy Chicken and 15 tap handles of craft beer.

Elshire says it took over a year to get their D1 permit, allowing them to sell carryout beer. While he was waiting, he began researching other gas stations selling beer, visiting the “The Growler Stop” Cincinnati’s first growler pouring station outside of a grocery store or a brewery itself. They’ve been just over 2 years and Elshire just knew Dayton was ready to support one as well.

Opened just last Friday, Elshire shares he wants to feature many local beers. He says he’ll always have some Rhingeist and Madtree beers, and he’s looking forward to adding some Dayton Beer Company and Yellow Springs Brewery selections. He also encourages tasting, offering a flight of 4 beers for just $4, knowing that once you find the beer you like, you’ll likely take home a growler. He’s happy to fill any growler, or pick up one of theirs for just $5 plus the fill cost. Speaking of costs, looking over his price list, this might just be the cheapest place in town to fill your growler. A growler of Warped Wing Ermals was just $11, cheaper than you can get at the downtown brewery. The most expensive tap today was $16, which would get you a Troegs Mad Elf, Founders Breakfast Stout or Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Elshire even sprung for The Pegas Pressure filler, that eliminates oxygen which allows for a 30-45 day shelf life of your growler. It pours with no foam, no mess and superior taste! The Pegas system uses the same operating principle found in large beer bottling factories around the world, counter-pressure method. This method ensures the bottles are filled in the way that only automatic fillers can provide – without foam and at a rate two liters in sixty seconds. Pegas CrafTap gives the user the ability to use a wide variation of bottle sizes and shapes, so they can serve different sizes and bottle styles to fit the individual need of each establishment. The video below is representative of the Pegas system:

Another advantage for the Shell station, it will fill your growlers day or night, including Sunday’s whenever it is legal to sell beers. For the full list of what’s on tap, check their website or Facebook page. And if you’d like to gift the beer lover in your life with a fill or two, the Shell gift card will cover gas, beer and even a chicken dinner.

Local Concert Producers 3DMentional Brought Legendary DJ to Masque

December 15, 2015 By Kyle Rutherford

It’s difficult these days to find cities producing concerts with the best of old school electronic sounds. Usually one would have to travel to places like New York City, Chicago. Detroit and even overseas to find anyone showcasing these classical techno and house music sounds, along with the feeling of an old school rave. Thankfully for us Daytonians, 3DMentional Entertainment has been working hard to put on shows that give seasoned electronic fans a little bit of needed nostalgia.

3DMentional already hosted their yearly Yiiiikes Halloween party at the Venue on Third back in October, which exhibits the feeling of a warehouse style rave that was popular in the 90s and early 2000s. Due to contruction problems, 3DM had to move their yearly Snowed In event to Masque this past Saturday when they brought the legendary Josh Wink to town.

Josh Wink has been a staple in the American underground electronic scene going on 20 years. His style of big beat electronica, techno and acid house has helped achieve success overseas as well as land spots on the top of many Dance charts over the years. When 3DM announced their show with Wink, who was playing in Dayton for his first time, the city’s electronic community was ecstatic.

Walking into the second floor of Club Masque, one is used to hearing mainstream club tunes and bass heavy electronic beats played over their amazing Funktion One sound system. Saturday was definitely a change of pace for the club, but the vibe was thick and the atmosphere was perfect.

Daytonian Quixx started the night with some tech house, followed by Columbus young gun Coma Coz dropping some more new school house music sounds. Though Coma Coz is about half the age of everyone else that played that evening, he could definitely keep up with the rest of them and had concert goers dancing and grooving during the entirety of his set.

Cincinnati hero Bit Flip played a special tag team set with Dayton veteran Trip Turlington, bringing some of the heaviest bass to the dance floor. The two old friends worked seamlessly together, throwing together a mixture of breaks, heavy hitting house and bass music for the large crowd that turned out to dance. Dayton icon Matt Freeman and 3DM head honcho/Dayton staple Tony Desaro built the dance floor perfectly right before Josh Wink took to the decks. Their special blend of techno and acid house brought dance floor veterans the perfect amount of nostalgia, even when they were enveloped in the lights and lazers of a more modernized club sound.

Josh Wink’s set was downright perfect. He knew his crowd was there for the old school vibes, and he brought the exact flavor that they needed. Many of his selected turns were those he created in the 90s, including his famous “Higher State of Consciousness,” which is the track he decided to close his set with. Fans definitely reached that state of mind, with constant dancing feet and smiling faces throughout his set and the entire evening.

‘The Santaland Diaries’ Review – Human Race Theatre Company – Unhappy Holidays

December 14, 2015 By Russell Florence, Jr.

Christmas can be a time of goodwill but also a living hell as perceived by Crumpet, the Macy’s department store elf at his wits end in David Sedaris’ humorous if thin holiday comedy “The Santaland Diaries” based on his 1992 essay made famous on National Public Radio.

Presented as a season extra by the Human Race Theatre Company and adapted as a one-act, one-man play in 1996 by Joe Mantello, “Santaland Diaries” admirably thrives on Crumpet’s naughty, grumpy perspective as a 33-year-old slacker on the verge of reaching rock bottom. “I was $40 away from walking dogs,” he admits before launching into a series of comical and occasionally jaw-dropping misadventures as one of Santa’s busy helpers. Inside the hustle and bustle of Santaland, Crumpet eventually became a whiz at vomit duty and guaranteeing an African-American Santa upon request among other quirky responsibilities.

Under the personable direction of Race resident artist Scott Stoney, ensuring the script and scenes flow conversationally and with as much intimacy as possible, Race resident artist Tim Lile (amusingly costumed in gaudy garb by Christie Peitzmeier) exudes delightful exasperation. Lile has always been one of the Race’s funniest actors (he’s particularly comfortable in farce) and his comedic timing is greatly beneficial once again. One of his strongest moments involves Crumpet’s hilarious description of elf training including the use of sign language. And even when the script grows offensive or settles too long in off-kilter language, his delivery is so funny it’s easy to forgive the stinging barbs. In spite of a few moments of uncertainty on opening night when he called for a line, Lile is nonetheless in sync with Crumpet’s irritable aura and certainly fills the Loft stage. Granted, Stoney could have brought the action and set nearer downstage, but his decision isn’t a detriment considering the appeal of scenic designer Scott J. Kimmins’ colorful, retail-inspired winter wonderland complete with oversize throne chair.

“Santaland Diaries” may leave you wanting more but it’s an entertaining and welcomed respite from traditional holiday fare.

“The Santaland Diaries” continues through Dec. 19 in the Loft Theatre of the Metropolitan Arts Center, 126 N. Main St., Dayton. Performances are 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday. The play is performed in one hour without intermission. Tickets are $24. For tickets or more information, call (937) 228-3630 or visit www.humanracetheatre.org or ticketcenterstage.com.

Run for the Beer – A Casual Running Group Event

December 14, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Dayton Pint Night is a monthly casual group run and is free to all. After a few miles all are invited to a local pub or brewery to enjoy the local fare.

This month’s routes (you have a choice of a 1.4 mile for beginners and a 3.4 mile for those looking for a longer route) will be starting at American Health and Fitness at 59 S Main St in Miamisburg, and making a loop around the beautiful city of Miamisburg. The course we will end right back where we started, then the party will move to Bennett’s Publical.

Thanks to the friendly folks at American Health & Fitness, they are allowing the use of their state of the art facility to get ready for the race. So while you’re inside changing from your boring work clothes into your running gear, check out this great gym and see what all they have to offer.

Now for the part everyone has been waiting for…. beer! Bennett’s Publical has graciously offered to be the adult beverage sponsor. So after we burn off a couple hundred calories, lets head down to Bennett’s to add them right back on with a pint…. or two…. probably two… at least.

We are a group with a passion for 2 of life’s greatest pleasures…. running and beer!

A Big iPad … Or A Creativity Tool

December 14, 2015 By Rick Cartwright

Beginning with the Apple September announcement of the new iPad Pro, I struggled to understand the value of a larger iPad. I had an iPad Air 2, and thought I fully understood the value the new split screen functionality, multitasking and other new features of iOS9. But the idea of a 12.9 inch screen and the weight that would come with it … I was very concerned the portability of this new iPad.

I am a geek and love trying new gadgets, so I found myself placing an order for a new IPad Pro at 3:00am on November 11. I was pleased to see that it would be available for pickup at the local Apple Store the same day, so I placed the order. When I arrived at the store, they had one out for demo. My first reaction was shock and awe. “This thing is so huge”, I thought to myself.

Within a few minutes, I had very own iPad Pro in my hands, and as soon as I got home I had it up and running. Setting up a new iOS device can be very quick theses days, thanks to the ability to ICloud and the restore function. I just restored all the apps and data from my iPad Air. (I am not sure that is the best thing to do, but I did it anyway … It worked).

Initial Impressions
I was so struck by the resolution and size of the screen. With 5.6 million pixels , the display is amazing. Apple didn’t change the ratio of the icons and the arrangement of the home screen. They are using the same grid that is used on the smaller iPads, and didn’t optimize the layout of the home screen. Most people just say, ‘That’s a big iPad (or iPhone)’.

Aside from the display, I was taken by how light the iPad Pro feels. Yes, it weighs more than the iPad Air, but it’s balanced and feels comfortable. I am not suggesting you can use it in one hand it for long periods, but you can prop it up and get a lot of work done.

Speedy
This iPad Pro is fast. I always felt the iPad Air 2 was impressively fast, but this leaves that device in the dust. Editing pics, video, or processing large files; the iPad Pro is an extremely fast machine. The benchmarks are better than many laptops. Check out the numbers: Benchmarks – arstechnica

Accessories
Apple sells two accessories for the new iPad. The 1st is the smart keypad. I looked at the new keypad from Logitech as well, but I found that the Smart Keypad was far less bulky and I liked the feel of the keys. That may not be true for everyone and I suggest you try it out at the store to make sure the keys feel good you. I have used this on an airplane as well as in a coffee shop. It’s my keyboard of choice for the iPad Pro.

The other accessory that is a must is the new Apple Pencil. I am not going to get into a lengthy review, but let me just say that this is one of those really game changing devices from Apple. Palm rejection is great and there is almost no latency. It’s only downfall is that it didn’t improve my drawing skills. 🙂

Sound
This iPad has great sound. It has four speakers and the stereo is great. Here is how Apple describes it:

With four new high‑fidelity speakers built directly into its unibody, iPad Pro creates an audio experience as big as its display. The new design produces an engaging soundstage with three times the acoustic output of iPad Air. But it goes even further than that. iPad Pro automatically adjusts the orientation of the high frequencies according to how you’re holding it. So whether you’re playing a game or watching a movie, the sound of iPad Pro is more immersive than ever.

It is not a Sonos system, but if you are watching a movie, it sounds amazing.

Professional Apps
Microsoft Office is amazing on the iPad. For my professional career, I find myself exchanging Word, Excel and PowerPoint files with other people. I often present from the iPad using PowerPoint. I do this directly from the iPad, or even better, using my favorite, Keynote).

In my free time, I enjoy photography. The iPad has impressed me so much in this area. Pixelmator is an amazing photo editing app on the Mac, but it’s equally impressive on the iPad Pro. It early accomodates my photo editing needs. I also enjoy Procreate.

Adobe has added several professional apps as well. This review will not attend to review specific apps, but these apps are well done and worth looking at, especially if you do that kind of design work.

I use the cloud extensively, and find that I spend at least 90% of my computer time on the iPad Pro. Using the clouds with these professional apps really makes this an amazing experience.

Is this iPad for you?
It depends. If you are fairly mobile and do a lot of email, web browsing and business documents, you may find this to be a dream machine. It’s going to be limiting for people that do heavy video editing, code large projects, or similar activities. For people that are well invested in iOS, it makes the transition easier. It may push you to find new workflows, but don’t be surprised if you discover they are better than those old workflows.

Holiday Beer Tasting & Buffet

December 13, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Join us in celebrating Christmas a week early with a phenomenal beer tasting, holiday buffet, and live music featuring Josh Miller and Sydney Hoffacker.

Enjoy a taster pour of five amazing holiday brews and pick your favorite for a full pour. Take the glass home with you as well!

Only $20 per person!

Beers:
Rivertowne Sassamanash – Cranberry Wit
Troegs Mad Elf Ale – Belgian Strong Christmas Ale
Tommy Knocker Cocoa Porter – Winter Warmer Porter
Southern Tier Old Man – Winter Old Ale

The Orphan, The Poet’s Christmas Extravaganza

December 13, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

We are having our very own Christmas Extravaganza. Yeah, it’s an extravaganza.

We’re cordially inviting you to Canal Public House on December 18th, 2015 in Dayton, OH to join in the festivities.

Joining us will be our friends in:
Come Wind
Jetty Bones
Weathervein

25% of all pre-sale ticket sales will be donated to Toys For Tots. The extravaganza is open to all ages. See you soon ? [|]

Check Out Downtown’s Newest Gym

December 12, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

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Epic Life Fitness, Downtown’s newest Personal Training and Small-Group Fitness Studio at 118 N. Jefferson St. downtown, will hold an Open House Week December 14th-19th from 9am-8pm Monday thru Friday and from 9am-2pm on Saturday. Folks are invited to stop by, take a quick tour and find out more about the studio.

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Owner Scott Knisley

This new downtown fitness studio joins part of the emerging trend of upscale, boutique fitness centers that focus on private, one-to-one Personal Training with a licensed trainer. “We’re able to motivate and guide folks on their fitness journey with highly personalized, private fitness sessions,” says Scott Knisley, NASM* Board Certified Personal Trainer and Weight Loss Specialist who owns Epic Life Fitness; “People feel comfortable and safe in our studio. Plus, we’re also building a sense of community with our frequent H.I.I.T (High Intensity Interval Training) small-group classes called Catalyst.”

Sarah Caplan, who currently works out at the gym shares, “I’ve been a member of Epic Life Fitness for more than a year now, and I can say without hyperbole that it has absolutely changed my life for the better. I have lost over 80 lbs, but more than that, I love what I’ve gained — strength, energy, confidence and a sense of belonging at ELF. Its so much more than a ‘gym,’ its a community.“

During the Open House Week, people can stop in for a chat with Scott to tour the studio and even discuss fitness solutions, or to set up an appointment for a free fitness evaluation. Sarah told us about her first workout with Scott, “I was so nervous — even though I knew Scott personally — because I’d never done anything like this. There is such a sense of vulnerability going to a work out space. Scott immediately put me at my ease. He absolutely stresses the ‘personal’ part of personal training. He makes sure every client is comfortable, and shows you that its okay to be a little afraid. Being there at all is a big first step.”

Everyone that visits during the opening event will be registered for a drawing to win a one-month Personal Training package. Epic Life Fitness, llc and Scott Knisley can be reached at 937-371-8258, at [email protected] or epiclifefitness.com.*NASM is the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Find out more about them at: http://www.nasm.org/about-us/board-of-certification

Paige Beller: Standing Out On Her Own

December 12, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Sitting inside the packed Ghostlight Coffee on a cool late afternoon, Paige Beller stares straight into her cup of coffee and then proceeds to take another gulp. The look of exhaustion is all over her face as she studies the room full of patrons. Beller’s schedule has been rather full prior to meeting up with me; band practices and work have been littered all throughout the week. She also has been getting geared up for her live set recording at Canal Public House, which takes place on Saturday, December 12^th at 9pm. Seated on a stool, she gently places her large mug on the table that has been deemed to be a non-computer zone and brushes some of her short blonde hair away from her eye.

“This is the third coffee I’ve had today (laughs),” Beller softly says.

Living around the Cincinnati area growing up, Beller was “screwing around” on piano and four string guitar before she started to take music seriously at the age of fourteen. In the beginning of high school, Beller lied her way into a tryout with a local band, declaring that she had been in a group before. Beller’s time with the band was rather short-lived; playing lead over each led to two of the guitarist to break out into a fight at their first and only show-at a friend’s house party.

“It’s a shame,” Beller recalled. “One of the kids in the band was a like a prodigy. He was one of the kids that just started playing six months earlier and could just shred.”

As she takes another slip of what as to be now chilled coffee, Beller began talking about how the idea of doing a live recording came up. Scrolling through her individual website, you will hear tracks that have been recorded over the years; songs that Beller admits are not a clear representation of her today. She doesn’t believe in just putting music out as much as possible for people to listen to. With the live recording she has lined up, she pictures listeners will get a better sense of what kind of artist she is.

“If I don’t put my best foot forward, I only get ten seconds of their time,” Beller says when she talked about people listening to her music.

Beller also mentions another motivating factor was the homecoming of Patrick Himes. Himes is wildly regarded and respected in the Dayton area for his production on local artists’ albums. Living in Nashville for an extended period of time, Himes moving into town meant Beller had the opening to work with him. Himes knowledge and understanding of sound when it came to Canal Public House was another reason to have him join the project.

“Between his knowledge of the room and his engineering knowledge; the fact that it’s not going to be an analog recording, but he has the ear for that kind of thing-that’s what I want. That warmth in the room.”

The time in Dayton has been good to Beller. Her current workload offers up a variety of projects; bands that allow her to show her range in various platforms. The trio rock group Jasper the Colossal that Beller fronts and plays guitar in is currently wrapping up their follow-up to Liar. Another group Beller is lead vocalist/guitarist for is Paige and Belairs; who have been slowly putting together their debut for the past couple of years now (the delay in part is because of the band members other commitments). On top of those two include active roles in Duderus (guitarist), Mayliner and Sideshow Complex (drummer in both groups). The live show recording will serve Beller well as she now looks ahead to the next chapter in her musical career. The itch to go on the road has been weighing on her heavily as of late; incorporating a band that will have the ability and desire to come along for the ride.

“I’ve done some out of town shows here and there, just to see how it is. I like driving by myself; I get a lot of writing done that way. However, it’s much more fun explore new states with friends,” Beller says.

Beller finishes up her cup of coffee when I ask her if there is any nervousness leading up to the live recording. She answers by mentioning that she has been dealing with some illness the past couple of days; the change of weather has been the main culprit. The sickness has pushed Beller to have minor panic attacks every ten minutes, she adds jokingly. With all that said, Beller is confident that everything will work out.

“I want to make something that was going to stand out more,” Beller says.

10th Annual Santa Pub Crawl!

December 10, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Photo by Geek with a Lens Photography

The Gem City Podcast is proud to present the 10th Annual Santa Pub Crawl! This is a wonderfully fun event, especially with a big group of friends! The best part? It’s all to benefit The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation campaign. Every child deserves a toy for the holiday, and the folks at the Gem City Podcast are working hard to make sure that dream is fulfilled for the children of Dayton!

This year’s event is on Saturday December 12th throughout the Oregon District. To participate in the Pub Crawl, bring a $10 value toy or a $10 cash donation. Please do not put wrapping paper on the toy, as the Marine’s need to divide the toys by gender and age groups.

Make sure to also don your most festival holiday gear to be registered for fabulous prizes in the annual costume contest. Awards are given to Best Male, Female, Couple and Group, so get creative!

Registration will be held at both the Oregon Express Bar and Restaurant & The Dublin Pub from 5-8:30pm. If you are late to the party, please give your donation to a Marine or identified volunteer to get your Pub Crawl Passport.

After registration, you are free to crawl through the Oregon District at your leisure. The Passport you receive at registration lists the names of the participating bars: which includes: The Trolley Stop, Tumbleweed, Ned Peppers/Hole in the Wall, Newcombs, Blind Bob’s, Oregon Express, and The Dublin Pub.

Get a stamp at each bar and once you have that filled, turn it in at the 10pm costume contest at Blind Bob’s to be entered to win door prizes. There is no rush though! Organizers will also be pulling door prizes at the midnight after party at Dublin Pub. You do not need to be present to win.

There is lots of fun along the way, including the beautiful Bud Light girls will be on hand from 8pm – midnight!!

This event is made possible by generous sponsors: Heidelberg (Budweiser, Goose Island), Buckeye Vodka, Folio Designhaus, and Epic Life Fitness, as well as many businesses who donated to the door prizes.

Please be safe! Organizers have a free ride code from uber, for up to a $20 ride for new customers. Use code “santacrawl15” for first time riders.

Help the Gem City Podcast reach their goal of 1000 toys and have fun in the process!!

Little Big Town Headlines Country Bands Together Concert

December 10, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

It’s the BIGGEST concert in Dayton this year and it’s all for a GREAT cause! K99.1FM Country Bands Together Concert benefiting Dayton Children’s Hospital is presented by McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning and Joseph Airport Toyota and Hyundai.

The huge concert takes place Saturday, December 12th at Wright State University’s Nutter Center at 5:30pm

The concert lineup features

Little Big Town
Big & Rich
Parmalee
Maddie & Tae
Brothers Osborne

Tickets start at just $45 and are on sale now. – Get Tickets on Ticketmaster.com