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

Archives for July 2017

Christmas in July Giveaway!

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DaytonMostMetro.com and DaytonDining have a long tradition of celebrating Christmas in July!  It’s a simple way to thank you for reading and sharing about our local eateries.  We do our best to keep you up to date on all the tastiest news in the Miami Valley, and we’ve partnered with some of our favorites this week to offer you a chance to experience all their yummy goodness.

All you have to do is share this post, or the image below on your social media and tag @DaytonDining so we can see it. Leave a comment on which restaurant you’d like to visit and why.  Each day we’ll randomly select a winner and post it on our DaytonDining Facebook and twitter. Post it every day for the most chances to win! We’ll post our first winner Tuesday morning, and then each morning we’ll post another winner. Good luck!

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416 Diner Adds Specials & Discount for Those In Uniform

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The Oregon District’s newest eatery, 416 Diner  introduces their first breakfast and lunch specials; beginning Monday July 24th, stop in and try them out!

Black and Blue Burger-$10
Amazing Blue Marble Jack cheese slices melted atop 416’s black peppered burger*.

Heirloom Tomato Salad– $9.5
Beautiful heirloom tomatoes tossed with cucumber slices, red onions and chives, served on a bed of greens, and topped with
crumbled blue cheese.

Stuffed Breakfast Pepper Rings– $9
Sausage and cheddar inside rings of red and green bell peppers, topped with an egg* how you like it.

Serving daily from breakfast to late night eats, check out their full menu here.  416 Diner is now offering a 10% discount to those in uniform, including law enforcement, firefighters, nurses, military, teachers and social service workers, show your ID or badge and receive 10% off your meal!

Open 7am – 10pm Sunday through
Wed and 7am – 1am Fri-Sunday

Beery Christmas In July Tasting

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On Monday, July 24th Santa will be making a special appearance at Whole Foods and bringing some of the best holiday beers with him.  In this 2nd year event at the Washington Township grocery store, guests will enjoy 5 holiday beers, paired with 5 treats as they drink around the store.  This tasting takes place from 5-7pm and tickets are just $10 and you can pay upon arrival.  Live holiday tunes will help set the mood and you are encouraged to wear your favorite accessories! See the pairing list for Monday night’s event in the graphic on the right.

And while drinkers for this event must be 21 or over, little ones are welcome to tag along and a word or two from Santa may even help them behave to stay on his list of good boys and girls!
And bring your camera, you might even catch a great photo to use for your holiday cards!

 

Proceeds from this event  benefit Planned2Give (P2G), a local nonprofit organization that produces events to help local charities.  Formed in 2015, they’ve planned and executed fundraisers for Boys & Girls Club of Dayton,  Wright Dunbar Inc, SICSA, Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, BOGG Ministries, House of Bread, Dayton LGBT Center and The Rubi Girls.

 

 

This July event is a mini-preview of Beerry Christmas Dayton, which takes place on Sat, November 4th from 4-7pm in the lobby of the Kettering Tower. In it’s 3rd year, this evening features a couple dozen holiday beers, winter ales and other seasonal brews, each paired with a tasty treat. From Belgians and Barleywines to Stouts and Sours, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors.

Tickets for the November event will be on sale for just $20 at the event at Whole Foods or online. After Monday tickets will be $25 and the week of the event they increase to $30.

Free Relaxation, Meditation & Yoga offered at Fairfield Commons Mall

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Recently I interviewed the three Dayton Police Majors, asking them what we can do to preventatively to help defeat the opioid crisis. “Teach people coping mechanisms,” was the resounding response. They explained that often they encounter good people who simply don’t know how to handle life’s disappointments, so they turn to drugs. It made me wonder what coping mechanisms are best, and really work?

In today’s heated and divisive political climate, again, people are searching for ways to de-stress and get perspective. Again, what is the best way to do just that? Turns out, whatever reason you may be seeking inner peace, meditation is far and away, one of the easiest and most effective ways to handle these difficulties.

In the Dayton area, accessing meditation and yoga (a physical form of meditation), just got a whole lot easier! The Heartfulness Institute, an all-volunteer non-profit organization associated with the United Nations, has expanded their facility to include a space in the Fairfield Commons Mall. There, they are offering free Relaxation and Meditation sessions and donation-based Yoga classes! This is the Institute’s first location inside a mall in the United States!

What is their motivation? To provide those coping mechanisms people so

desperately need. The Heartfulness group feels it is part of their service to humanity, to teach these relaxation and meditation techniques, so that each individual, and ultimately the world, can find peace.

Heartfulness Meditation is practiced in over 110 countries around the world. The Beavercreek center at 3153 Lantz Road has been open since 2000. This will be a 2nd location for them inside the mall in Beavercreek. Please make a point to stop out for either the grand opening this weekend, or anytime you need some relaxation, peace and harmony. This is the perfect way to unwind!

Agenda for the Grand Opening of the Heartfulness Center in the Mall at Fairfield Commons:

Saturday, July 22nd, 2017 from 12-6pm. Lower Level near Elder Beerman.

12:30pm Inauguration and Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Bob Stone and Vice Mayor Julie Vann

1:00pm Dr. Gary Huber from Cincinnati to speak on Benefits of Meditation

1:30pm Brian Jones, Cleveland Heartfulness trainer to present on Heartfulness

2:00pm Experience of Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation

4:00pm Yoga with Janae Christopher (Ayurveda Yoga style)

4:45pm Experience of Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation

PS… Mark your calendar for their upcoming Heartfest Wellness Event at the Lantz Rd location on August 19th! Free! For more info click here.

Ambivalent Sci-Fi in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

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“Now … To find the guy that told me A Cure for Wellness was gonna do big numbers earlier this year!” Valerian (Dane DeHaan)  patrols in a scene Luc Besson’s latest sci-fi adventure VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS. Credit:  Domitille Girard Photo courtesy of STX Entertainment Motion Picture Artwork © 2017 STX Financing, LLC. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 

 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, Rihanna, Ethan Hawke, John Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Sam Spruell and Kris Wu

WRITER(S): Luc Besson (screenplay); Pierre Christin and artist Jean-Claude Mézières (French comic book/graphic novel on which the film is based) 

DIRECTOR(S): Luc Besson

 
WEB SITE: https://www.facebook.com/ValerianMovieHERE’S THE STORY: Years ago, species throughout the galaxy started joining forces on a structure very similar to the International Space Station and created a floating utopia called Alpha. Now, in the 28th Century, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner Loralei (Cara Delevingne) are police offers that work for the Human Federation, making sure to respond to any and all threats to that peace. So when a radioactive force is discovered at the center of Alpha, Valerian and Loralei are called in to figure out what is going on – a situation complicated by the nightmare Valerian had of a planet being wiped out. 


And as they begin their journey, Valerian and his partner (and girl of his dreams?) soon find out there’s a lot more to his vision – and what they’re investigating – than they ever dreamed. 

 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Die-hard sci-fi fans; people who love all of director Luc Besson’s works; Rihanna fans; people who thought the Star Wars prequels got a bad rap; Cara Delvingne fans;  

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? 



SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Given that the name of the film is Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, it is pretty easy to talk about how the film tries to do about 1,000 things in an attempt to be the ultimate sci-fi movie and only does maybe a tenth of them well. 


On the plus side, the film looks great in 3D as director Luc Besson and company actually use the technology well to immerse you into Valerian’s and Lorelei’s world. Additionally, Delevinge exudes a strong, silent sexy confidence as Lorelei and proves herself to be an intriguing character as does Rihanna, who’s performance is nuanced and should have no fears of being roasted the same way Ed Sheeran recently was for his Game of Thrones appearance. In fact, one might argue Rihanna’s character is the best thing about the movie, both in execution and significance to the story.


Unfortunately, that’s where the praise of Valerian ceases – for everything else about the movie seems to be a study in excess and how NOT to do a sci-fi movie from start to finish.


Complaining about something looking fake in a science fiction movie is kind of like going to a restaurant and complaining about not being able to come back to an all-you-can-eat buffet and complaining you can’t come back the next day to eat again without paying a second time: It’s dumb. That being said, the CGI in Valerian is a bit much at times as the inhabitants of Mul just look like the worst Avatar-inspired creatures ever. Next up, the story is a bit overly convoluted for a reason that is never explicitly explained in regards to why the bad guy (once the bad guy is revealed) is doing what he’s doing other than doing it for the sake of doing it. 


Adding to the problems is the fact that DeHaan’s character is just … flat … And shares as close to zero chemistry with Delevingne (show steals every scene they’re in together) as possible. Whereas his character is apparently supposed to be a cocky ladies man who has a soft spot for Lorelei but instead he just comes off as kind of a douche that she reluctantly cares about and is just waiting for him to learn his lesson. Seriously, out of all the performances in the film, Dehaan’s is about the least interesting of the entire batch – and that’s a problem. The advice Han Solo once famously gave advice to a young Luke Skywalker would seriously serve DeHaan’s character well in the movie. Sadly, that is not the case here. (Then again, it’s not quite as painful as watching Clive Owen and Ethan Hawke play the most over-the-top characters this side of John Turturro in those awful Transformers movies, complete with bad outfits to match.) Throw in Besson’s tendency to overindulge everything – be it cutesy characters in the form of the three Jar-Jar Binks-esque, platypus-inspired informations Lorelei deals or the über-cute little creatures that produce the pearls the Muls – a key species in the movie – value so dearly to the long-for-no-good-reason sequences that drone on, Valerian is an exercise in giving to every idea that sounds good without realizing how well they do or don’t fit together. It’s almost like he took everything people said they loved about The Fifth Element and forgot why people use editors (both video and script).

Likewise, the film wants to be funny when it should be trying to be taking serious and comes off as funny when it’s trying to be serious. Add in the fact it wants to be Star Wars (there a LOT of characters that look like they were hanging out at the Mos Einsley Cantina) and look like Avatar without achieving either well and throw in a bit of a preachy message (there’s one in there) and Valerian rolls out as an ambitious but overwrought mess.

Could be worse, though – at least it’s not Battlefield Earth.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

Sneak Peek into Garlic Fest Food Offerings

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July 21 thru July 22nd

 

Can you smell the garlic cooking? It’s no wonder, because this weekend is the long anticipated GARLIC FEST !
We are expecting a good crowd in the next couple of days, anchored by three events.

1) THE SONS OF ITALY FOOD TRUCK RALLY
FRIDAY JULY 21st,  5pm-10pm

2) GARLIC FEST – SATURDAY, JULY 22nd, 11am-10pm

3) THE BOCCE CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIPS  – all day, winners get $2,500

at Bella Villa Hall – 2625 County Line Road in Kettering

Below are the details and of course FOOD VENDORS EACH DAY and what they plan on  and selling for the day.  Come join the food, fun, bocce and beer – We even have a Prince Tribute Band and Ickey Woods!

**Please note, no pets are allowed on premises, except service animals.

 

 

Zombie Dogz is there Friday

You want some garlic food? We got it here !

And away we go ….

*****FRIDAY JULY 21st, SONS OF ITALY FOOD TRUCK RALLY*****
5pm – 10pm

—ZOMBIE DOGZ:
***Steak Thru the Heart Dog:
Red wine braised beef, Sautéed mushrooms, drizzled with a house made Garlic blue cheese dressing, and topped with fried onions.
***Lifeless Soul Dog:

Lots of chairs and tables, but a lawn chair is a geat idea to bring for the concerts

House made Garlic hummus, diced cucumbers, shredded carrots, banana peppers, feta cheese crumbles, and toasted pine nuts.
***Calling in Dead Dog:
House made white truffle and Garlic mac’n’cheese topped with parmesan Garlic cracker crumbs
***Brains, Limbs, and Toes (B.L.T) Dog:
Mixed greens, tomato jam, bacon, drizzled with Garlic aioli, and balsamic glaze.

 

The deep fried Holy Cannoli

—THE HOLY CANNOLI BOOTH:
***A Deep Fried Cannoli ! A Garlic Fest Original !

 

—BELLA SORELLA PIZZA:
***Fresh made dough pizzas, topped with local ingredients.  Pizzas are cooked in an 800 degree Wood fired oven.  Ready in about 90 seconds, the garlic, tomatoes and seasoning flavor in the sauce will make your day.

Bella Sorella PIzza

—THE WICKED WICH of DAYTON:
*** The infamous “Being John Malko-wich Sandwich”
Braised chicken with garlic marinara, mozzarella, feta, caramelized onions and banana peppers. Come find it today at Garlic Fest !
*** The “Lady Marmelade Sandwich”:
White Cheddar is melted below a bed of turkey, with a little bit of sliced almonds for crunch. All this finished off with cilantro and orange marmalade.
***Full Sandwich Menu

—THE SHORT ASS FOOD BUS:
***The Big Beefy
A garlic shredded beef, roasted for 10 hours. This might be the best thing you have ever put in your mouth.  At least that’s what their customers seem to say.
***Large Full Menu

 

—GYRO PALACE:
***Garlic hummus
***Chicken Shawarma with garlic sauce
***Traditional Gyros and Chicken Gyros
Garlic Tzatziki Sauce Available for the Gyros

 

—PA’S PORK:
***Roasted Garlic King Crab Mac-n-Cheese
Using our garlic exclusively from Mad River Garlic Growers
***Pete’s Schnitzel
With a basil scape aioli
***Pa’s Pico will also have ground scapes

A Gyro Palace Gyro

—SWEET P’S ICE POPS
***Cookies n Creme
***Strawberry
***Blueberry Lime
***Various other experimental flavors

 

Try the deliciousness of Sweet P’s Ice Pops

—PAINTED PEPPER FOOD TRUCK
***Roasted Sweet Corn with Cilantro Garlic Aioli.
***Full Menu

 

—DAYTON URBAN BBQ:
***Beef Brisket with Garlic Sauce
***Garlic Scalloped Potatoes
***Beans and Greens
***Full menu

 

Sundae’s from Ritters Custard

—RITTER’S FROZEN CUSTARD
***Five different ice cream sundaes
***Four different Italian Gelati Flavors

 

—HARVEST MOBILE CUISINE:
***Garlic Spouts
Fried brussel sprouts, uncured bacon, cider vinegar and roasted garlic
***Panzella Salad
Patchwork Gardens’ squash, peppers, cucumbers, and roasted garlic over artisan bread


***Roasted Garlic Melt

Crab Mac N Cheese from Pa’s Pork


Vermont, cheddar and goat cheese, patchwork Gardens roasted garlic, served on grilled 7-grain sour dough
***Humble Farmer Salad:
Patchwork garden’s beets, squash, goat cheese, walnuts and garlic scape pesto – add Local Hill Family chicken (optional)
***Local Smoked Sausage:
Keener Farm sausage, pickled onion, pesto on a steakhouse baguette roll.
***Land and Sea BLT:
Smoked Salmon, uncured bacon, goat cheese, roasted garlic aioli,
A staple at Harvest and a local favorite.
***Harvest TurkeyBurger:
Bowman Landes Free Range Turkey, white cheddar, Patchwork greens, garlic aoili on a ciabatti roll.

Harvest Mobile will be there Friday and Saturday

***Harvest Fries:
Russett and sweet potato with herbs and sriracha
***Poutine
Fries, chicken gravy, cheese curds
Harvest Mobile Cuisine always uses fresh, local produce and local products whenever possible.

 

—THE HAMBURGER WAGON
***Single and Double Burgers
***Potato Chips
Their motto is “We don’t need no stinkin’condiments”

A Double from the Hamburger Wagon

Burgers served with 100+ year old recipe topped with salt, pepper, onion and pickle

 

—RAJUN CAJUN GRILL:
***Jamabalaya
***Corn Bread
***Bourbon Chicken
Food prepared by a Louisiana native

—LATIN AREPAS:
***Various Arepas Sandwiches
***Caribbean Bowl
***Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Bean Bowl

 

*** Also Friday, July 21st 2017, we will feature:

—THE BEGINNER BOCCE BASH:

—THE BRECKENRIDGE BAND:

––ICKEY WOODS and PETE JOHNSON BOOTHS:

—BEER TRUCKS, MINI WINE BOTTLES, SOFT DRINKS, BOTTLED WATER:

 

 

Breckenridge Band

*****SATURDAY – GARLIC FESTIVAL*****
11am – 10pm

—SCHIAVONE’S
***Deep Fried Italian Meatballs on a Stick
***Other Italian inspired foods

 

—GIOVANNI’S RESTAURANT:
***Chicken, Garlic, and Veggie Skewers
***Meatball Patty Melt with Garlic Aoli on Garlic Toast
***Garlic Parmesan Corn on the Cob
***Strawberry Cannoli Cream Cone

Schiavone’s Meatballs

 

—SCRATCH CATERING
***Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites
***Full experimental gourmet menu

 

—GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK
***Street Gyros
Traditional and chicken
***Pork Belly Gyro
With roasted garlic sauce

 

—FRICKER’S
***Garlic Chicken Chunks
***Fries

Frickers will be there Saturday !

—FIRED UP MOBILE:
*** Wood Fired Pizzas made on the spot

Fired Up Mobile Pizza

—KONA ICE
***Various Sno cone flavors

 

—THE HOLY CANNOLI BOOTH:
*** A Deep Friend Cannoli – a Garlic Fest Original

 

—GYRO PALACE:
***Garlic hummus
***Chicken Shawarma with garlic sauce
***Traditional Gyros and Chicken Gyros
Garlic Tzatziki sauce available for the gyros

 

—RITTER’S FROZEN CUSTARD
***Five different ice cream sundaes
***Four different Italian Gelati Flavors

 

—THE HAMBURGER WAGON
***Single and Double Burgers
***Potato Chips
Their motto is “We don’t need no stinkin’condiments”
Burgers served with 100+ year old recipe of salt, pepper, onion and pickle

 

—RAJUN CAJUN GRILL
***Jamabalaya
***Corn Bread
***Bourbon Chicken
Food cooked by a Louisiana native

Rajun Cajun Grill – all weekend

—LATIN AREPA’S
***Various Arepas Sandiwches
***Carribean Bowl
***Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Bean Bowl

 

—DAYTON URBAN BBQ:
***Beef Brisket with Garlic Sauce
***Beans and Greens
***Garlic Scalloped Potatoes
***Full menu

 

Spicy Olive has a booth

—HARVEST MOBILE CUISINE:
***Garlic Spouts
Fried brussels sprouts, uncured bacon, cider vinegar and roasted garlic
***Panzella Salad
Patchwork Gardens’ squash, peppers, cucumbers, and roasted garlic over artisan bread
***Roasted Garlic Melt
Vermont, cheddar and goat cheese, patchwork Gardens roasted garlic, served on grilled 7-grain sour dough
***Humble Farmer Salad:
Patchwork garden’s beets, squash, goat cheese, walnuts and garlic scape pesto – add Local Hill Family chicken (optional)
***Local Smoked Sausage:
Keener Farm sausage, pickled onion, pesto on a steakhouse baugette roll.
***Land and Sea BLT:
Smoked Salmon, uncured bacon, goat cheese, roasted garlic aioli,
A staple at Harvest and a local favorite.
***Harvest TurkeyBurger:
Bowman Landes Free Range Turkey, white cheddar, Patchwork greens, garlic aoili on a ciabatti roll.
***Harvest Fries:
Russett and sweet potato with herbs and sriracha
***Poutine
Fries, chicken gravy, cheese curds
Harvest Mobile Cuisine always uses fresh, local produce and local products whenever possible.

Cooking Demos

***Saturday we are also featuring:
—FREE GARLIC COOKING DEMOS INSIDE BELLA VILLA HALL (free samples while they last)
Jackie Scanlan at noon,
Chef LeeAnne House at 2pm,
Chef Dana Downs of Roost at 4pm
Melanie Cedargren at 6pm

 

Blue Caboose band plays 2-5pm Saturday

ON THE STAGE:
—BLUE CABOOSE BAND 2pm – 5pm
—GARLIC EATING CONTEST 6:30pm
—FREE CONCERT 7:30pm- “PRINCE NIGHT” – a Prince Tribute Band

 

Come one come all,  Free Admission, Free Parking, Free Smells and so much fun to be had.  Visit craft booths and listen to good music while eating the areas best food.  Sound good?  Grab a beer too..

  • You may want to bring a folding chair for the concerts, and please no pets except service pets.

Dont forget the Prince Tribute Band Saturday evening… That’s free too!  See you in the PURPLE RAIN!

Garlic Eating Contest

15 Trucks are coming

Bocce ballers

Fired up Mobile – a look inside the oven

Kona Ice will be there

Scratch Catering

Chef House demo cooks

Bocce Championships

Meatballs !

Frickers Parmesan Garlic Boneless

Parmesan Corn from Giovanni’s

There will be Garlic

Prince Tribute band !!

 

 

Luminaries of Dayton: Frederick Olt

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Frederick Olt was born in Dayton on September 25, 1874. He was the son of John and Philipena (Linxweiler) Olt. After becoming a partner in the butchering business with his father, Fred decided that office work was more to his suiting and obtained employment with the Schantz Brewery as a bookkeeper. Frederick’s sister, Mary, was married to Adam Schantz. In 1904, he advanced to the position of cashier and in 1906, he decided to go into the brewery business with his brothers and started the Olt Brothers Brewing Company.  Mr. Olt married Laura H. Greve on April 6, 1902.

Fred Olt died August 28, 1958 at the age of 83. He is located in Section 101 Lot 2712.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Review – Epiphany Lutheran Church – The Man and His Movement

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Texting isn’t mentioned in the Bible. However, it figures prominently within Jesus of Nazareth’s final days as winningly interpreted in the Epiphany Players Drama Ministry of Epiphany Lutheran Church’s wonderfully contemporary production of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist/librettist Tim Rice’s classic 1971 rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the organization’s 27th annual summer musical.

 

Kean Petrello (Jesus Christ), Laura Jacobs (Mary Magdalene) and Brianna Russ (Judas Iscariot) are featured in Epiphany Lutheran Church’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Contributed photo)

Directed with stirring immediacy and intensity by Megan Wean Sears, “Jesus Christ Superstar” leaps forth as compelling and thought-provoking as today’s headlines. Set in contentious New York City (representing our currently divisive America), the show first and foremost uncomfortably stings as it should while remaining a cautionary tale of human folly. All the vital events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion and death are colorfully, grippingly and passionately executed by the 61-member cast. However, Sears takes the action to a fascinating new level with the aid of savvy multimedia/projections expertly designed by Bobby Morgan. Part of her artistic intent ponders what it would be like if Jesus was among us now, energizing “a movement of both rebellion and compassion.” In turn, seeing a throng of texts pop up on a big screen in excitable “Dear Evan Hansen”-esque fashion, including “I’m right next to JC,” makes the material feel instantly fresh. By the time apostle Simon Zealotes tweets a call to revolution in Times Square, it is an undeniable hallmark of Sears’ forward-thinking storytelling. And I dare not spoil how a certain cable news network vividly accents the drama or how a certain late night TV talk show host is flavorfully parodied. Bottom line: Sears has created one of the most relevant productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar” the Miami Valley has ever seen.

Still, without credible performances the production would lack true connection. Thankfully, the Epiphany talent pool, double-cast per tradition, delivers once again. Kean Petrello, a pop tenor tailor-made to play the kindhearted Jesus, genuinely exudes warmth, concern and soulfulness throughout. He offers a powerful yet introspective rendition of “Gethsemane” and brings great anger and overwhelming dismay to “The Temple.” As Judas Iscariot, dynamic vocalists Desmond Thomas and Brianna Russ are equally vibrant yet shady antagonists. Even so, due to the sheer rarity of a woman in the role, Russ receives special mention for exploring betrayal, fear, insecurity, and jealousy with marvelous complexity and a fitting punk-rock edge. In addition to jumping octaves like it’s a walk in the park in such numbers as “Heaven on Their Minds,” “Damned for All Time/Blood Money,” “The Last Supper,” “Judas’ Death,” and “Superstar,” the astute choices she makes in the pivotal Jesus-Judas power struggle and conveying Judas’ peculiar distrust and dislike of Mary Magdalene are simply remarkable. As Mary Magdalene, Kara Miller and Laura Jacobs offer beautifully sincere renditions of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” The genteel and introverted Miller interestingly contrasts the more expressive Jacobs, keenly aware of Russ’ vindictive Judas. Justin Matthews and Christian Schaefer excellently stir the conflicted emotions within Pontius Pilate, filling “Pilate’s Dream” with quiet melancholy and injecting ample bewilderment and rage into “Trial By Pilate.” Timmy Seiler and Chris Scharf are playful yet tough as flamboyant showman King Herod in “King Herod’s Song,” the only opportunity for Sears to choreograph with snazzy levity. Bridget Miley and Lily Cutler (Peter) and Meghan Rupper and Andrew Gochenaur (Simon Zealotes) are firmly grounded apostles. (Rice’s decision not to elaborate on Jesus’ relationships with his chosen 12 remains a script shortcoming). Imposing bassists David Egbert and Nick Kress (Caiaphas), crisply stern Rachel Woeste and Margo Russ (Annas), and terrifically menacing Brian Hoff, Kellie Dabb (someone please cast her as Madame Thenardier in “Les Misérables”) and Sam Layman (Priests) are also noteworthy along with lovely featured dancer Marisha Osowski.

Musically, the score drives with urgency under the direction of David Brush and his solid seven-piece offstage band. Some liberties have been taken with the score (the title tune is briefly introduced as a bluesy rock ballad) but these unique choices fuel the production’s character-driven pulse nonetheless. At times, the band sounds more distant than they are, but at the same rate, they don’t overpower the cast either which is an asset. Set designer Tristan Cupp’s gritty, urban vibe, Matthew Benjamin’s reliably evocative lighting, Maria Klueber and Lori Watamainiuk’s astutely assorted attire (casual wear for Jesus and the apostles; traditional biblical garment for Mary Magdalene; sophisticated business wear for the priests; stylish black and purple for Pontius Pilate), and Adrienne Ausdenmoore and Jason Hamen’s props effectively aid the storytelling. Ben Hale and Brayden Rittner’s sound design is unfortunately spotty so the cast should try to sing-out and enunciate more assuredly in order for the audience not to lose any of Rice’s witty lyrics.

If a “radical son of God” actually took this country by storm, a country enamored with cries of fake news and an insatiable desire to follow the latest social media celebrity, it’s not entirely clear how situations would transpire. But if you’re able to witness this “Superstar,” you’ll be treated to profound perspectives about faith, grace, hope, deceit, love, and sacrifice set against the backdrop of current angst that will linger in your mind for years to come. Don’t miss it.

 

“Jesus Christ Superstar” continues through July 23 at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 6430 Far Hills Ave., Centerville. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Act One and Act Two run roughly 50 minutes. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60 and over), $5 for children (5 and under), and $20 for front row seating. For tickets, call (937) 433-1449 ext. 105. Patrons are advised the show is double-cast (Jeffery Mack covers the role of Jesus). For more information, visit www.epiphanydayton.org or e-mail drama @epiphanydayton.org.

 

 

Montgomery County Grants For Artists

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Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) are pleased to announce the return of the Artist Opportunity Grant program for 2017.

The program, which is funded by MCACD and administered by Culture Works, provides grants to help artists take advantage of specific, imminent opportunities for professional development and the creation or completion of new work. Individual artists of all disciplines–writers, painters, photographers, actors, musicians, dancers, sculptors, film makers and more–are invited to apply. Applicants must reside in Montgomery County, and grant funded-activities must be completed during calendar year 2018.

$30,000 in funding is available for the 2017 grant cycle. Awards are expected to range from $250-$2,500 and cannot exceed $3,000. Artists can apply through the Culture Works website from August 1 through September 30, 2017. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel later in the fall.

In 2016, the first year of the grant program, six artists received funding to complete local and international exhibitions, artist residencies, and professional training in music and theatre.

“MCACD is happy to support individual artists through this partnership with Culture Works,” said Matt Dunn, Executive Director. “The District and the County Commissioners recognize the richness individual artists and arts organizations add to our quality of life. Artists can choose to live anywhere and we want them to live here and to thrive,” said Dunn.

“For the arts to flourish and enhance community life, there must be ideas, energy, and drive of individual artists. Artists cannot make these contributions without unhampered creative time,” said Culture Works Executive Director Lisa Hanson. “This is a remarkable opportunity for individual artists in Montgomery County. I look forward to seeing the life-inspiring work that these grants will help support.”

More details about the competitive grant process are available on cultureworks.org/artistgrants.

 

Cake, Hope & Love – It’s Jawsome To Be Six

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Cake, Hope and Love, a Beavercreek bakery that specializes in custom designed cakes and gourmet cupcakes, has been so busy they haven’t had time to properly celebrate their sixth birthday, which just passed in May. While business at the Fairfield Road store that is open six days a week (closed Sunday) stays constant, they’ve partnered with  Zombie Dogz on Brown Street so you can pick up their cup cakes there, cater cupcakes for the Dayton Dragons, offer delivery in a unique partnership with Uber,  expanded their offering to add jumbo cupcakes and gourmet doughnuts by the dozen, and if that doesn’t keep them busy enough, they’ve just recently launched their own retail line of sprinkles.

Owner Shannon  Teague shares, “we launched Sprinkled as a way to encourage creativity in home bakers (how I started). Plus, we will begin shipping soon! It’ll be a way for folks that have moved to get a little CH&L wherever they are.”  She says she got the inspirations from her “favorite Things, favorite flavors, favorite memories. Such as Starry Night Mix from Van Gogh.I am an art lover through and through.”

The price is $8 for each 4 oz bag. You can get between 40 – 50 cupcakes lightly sprinkled with each bag.  Down the road, they plan to also have additional bakery items to purchase. Stay tuned.

But back to that 6th anniversary celebration, Cake, Hope & Love will use the upcoming Shark Week, one of Shannon’s favorite promotions to mark the occasion.  Each year the bakery has made this a big deal, with special promotions and over the tops cakes and this year it looks to be even bigger.

Here’s what’s scheduled for Saturday, July 22nd from 11am – 5pm as posted on  Cake, Hope & Love’s Facebook page:

Kids coloring contest:
We’ll have color sheets (shark themed) and crayons for the kiddos to color. We will have 3 winners that will each score a FREE 6″ dessert cake! (Winner announced next week.) Make sure to put the name and number on the sheet so we know who you are!

Photo Selfie Booth:
The completely awesome Liftoff Entertainment – DJ & Photo Booth Services folks

will have a selfie booth here! You guys, I also bought a shark prop. SO. MUCH. FUN.

Cake Eating Contest:
Okay. This is going to be my favorite part of the day I think. We are only accept

ing FIVE folks for this. We will have a single layer cake that you must eat the fastest …. with no hands. Winner gets a $50 gift card from the bakery! First 5 folks that call the bakery with their name and number get the spots!

Cupcake Bar:
We are going to be baking up our cupcake INSIDE of ice cream cones. We’ll then have three flavors of buttercream for you to have scooped on and fun toppings for you choose from. Each cone will be $3.25

Zombie Dogz:
Some of my very favorite people ever are going to be here slinging some pretty amazing dogs! They’ll be open from 2-5 in the lower parking lot of the bakery!

Baked Goodies:
We will be baking up DONUTS, shark week cupcakes, shark cookies, brownies, and dessert cakes for the big red counter!

Raffle:
If you come in and buy half dozen regular priced cupcakes you can grab a ticket! This will put you in the drawing to win a $100 gift card! WOWZERS!

Costume Contest:
We will be having our annual Shark Bite Victim Contest going on all day. Come in dressed as a shark attack victim and score free cupcakes. The better the costume the more cupcakes you earn (up to 4 free).

Also, BONUS – The Paper Cottage will have ICE CREAM from 12-4 and all kinds of fabulous sales on their scrap booking supplies.

Cake, Hope & Love is located at

1490 N Fairfield Rd, Ste B
Beavercreek, Ohio
(937) 912-9253
Follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

DAI Looking For Museum Guides

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Museum Guides

The Dayton Art Institute is seeking dedicated volunteers for its new class of Museum Guides (formerly known as Docents).  Museum Guides are lively, lifelong learners whose passion for art prompts their desire to support the community and the museum by providing engaging experiences in the galleries. Managed by the education department to support its aims, this is a volunteer customer service role with specialized training to actively involve youth and adults with the museum collection and special exhibitions. Museum Guides represent a variety of interests that reflect those of our guests, including business, medicine, teaching, community volunteers, and art, among others. Volunteers are needed on weekdays, weekends, and evenings.

Hours/Time Commitment:

Cumulative nine-month training period.  During the initial six months (September – February), museum education and curatorial staff lead meetings to teach art history, its application to the museum collection, and gallery engagement strategies approximately once a week. Trainees will be introduced to pre-existing gallery experience outlines, then follow and assess eight guided visits over two months (mid-January through mid-March), including at least one each for schools, special exhibitions, drop-in visits and Saturday Sound Bites. During the period of mid-March to mid-April, trainees will partner with mentor museum guides to lead two gallery visits. To complete training, each candidate will successfully provide a guided visitor experience between mid-April and mid-May for staff and mentor museum guides that includes at least one original gallery engagement strategy.

During the training period, candidates will fulfill the role of a museum Ask Me Ambassador volunteer, committing two hours per month to assist visitors with way-finding and basic information in the galleries, and participate as assigned in the galleries for large museum events such as Oktoberfest and Passport to Kindergarten. When training is successfully completed, a signed 1-year commitment to the museum is required.

An ongoing training schedule follows completion of the initial training period and occurs monthly in large group sessions (generally 1st Thursday evenings and 3rd Wednesday mornings from August – April). Small group training sessions also take place each year: three for special exhibitions and one for The Lange Family Experiencenter, as well as those for revised or other new gallery experiences and engagement strategies. Museum Guides provide a minimum of 10-15 guided visits per year, which can be met by signing up for opportunities, taking substitute requests, and accepting requests on short notice. Each year, every Museum Guide participates in at least two large events supported by the education department, including Passport to Kindergarten, Oktoberfest, large school visits, or similar programs.

How to Apply:

First, carefully read the 2017 Museum Guide Overview and Guidelines.  Next, complete the Museum Guide Application and background check form and return to The Dayton Art Institute, Attn: Susan Martis, Ph.D., Curator of Education at [email protected]. Email is the preferred method for applying, with all attachments in .pdf format only.  The subject line of your email should include your full name and title of volunteer position (for example: Susan Martis, Museum Guide).  Please do not submit other materials such as cover letter and/or resume.

Download Museum Guide Overview and Guideline

Download Museum Guide Application

Download Background Check Form

Submission deadline: July 28

WTUE’s Breakfast with The Beatles “Memorabilia Day”

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Join us from 9:00 AM – Noon around the fountains in Lincoln Park Civic Commons for the 16th Annual Breakfast with the Beatles live-broadcast on 104.7 WTUE-FM.

It’s Beatles “Memorabilia Day.” Bring your favorite Beatle item to the park and share your story with other Beatle People!
Enjoy a complimentary Dayton Daily News Sunday edition plus special Beatles activities. A continental breakfast is available á la carte. Admission is FREE and open to the public.
Sorry, no cool

Fiona Inspires Chunky Chunky Hippo Ice Cream

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Greater’s Ice Cream has just announced that a brand new flavor- Chunky Chunky Hippo- inspired by the public’s infatuation with Fiona, the baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo. Born six weeks premature at just 29 pounds in January, less than 1/2 the weight of the  lowest recorded birth weight for a hippo.  Folks immediately fell in love and tuned in for updates from the zoo.  Fiona recently weighed in at over 325 and in now on track, hitting normal hippo milestones.

“There are two things in life guaranteed to bring a smile to your face – ice cream and Fiona, the baby hippo,” said Chad Yelton, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden vice president of marketing and communications

The limited-time flavor, a toffee ice cream base with salted, roasted peanuts and milk chocolate caramel truffles, will be sold in small batches at Graeter’s shops in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Oxford, as well as some sales at the zoo and at graeters.com.  The best part is a portion of proceeds benefit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

“Fiona continues to bring people together from all over the world in so many ways,” said Chad Yelton, vice president of marketing at the zoo. “We appreciate the support of Graeter’s and are excited to share this Fiona-inspired ice cream flavor with the community that has rallied around her for the past six months.”

 

Nominate a Woman of Influence

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Do you know an outstanding woman in the Dayton region who: demonstrates a commitment to YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women; provides leadership in her profession and community; and gives back to the community through her time, talent and/or resources? Nominate her for the 2018 Women of Influence Awards which traditionally take place in March at the Dayton Convention Center.

Since 1998, YWCA Dayton has set aside one special day to recognize and honor women in our community. They celebrate Dayton’s most influential women, all of whom have made a difference in our community through their dedication to the YWCA mission of empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Selection Criteria:

To be considered for the Women of Influence award, nominees must:

•Demonstrate a commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women
•Provide leadership in her profession and community
•Give back to the community through her time, talent and/or resources
•Not currently serving on the YWCA Dayton board of directors
•Not be employed by YWCA Dayton, including contract work

Before you nominate, check here to make sure they have not already been honored.

You can complete this nomination online here.  Deadline for nominations is September 15, 2017.

DVAC turning the CSA on Its Head

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Summer crops are popping up all over Ohio.  Tomatoes are finally red and sweet, the corn has grown six feet high, and summer squash is rising from the earth.  Summer is a time of plenty, but all the glorious produce you see around you didn’t just happen by accident.  Farmers and gardeners across our region put in the time many months ago to ensure a bountiful season.  They tilled and planted, and watched over their crop with intention.  Because of that hard work and commitment to their crops, many of us are lucky enough to have fresh produce, vegetables and flowers delivered to our door direct from our farmers through CSAs, or Community Supported Agriculture.

 

Now flip your perspective and imagine instead of a tomato, a painting. Instead of an ear of corn, a photograph, instead of a squash, a limited edition print.  You, as a community member, buy into your “farmer”, but instead it’s a group of artists, and at the end of the harvest you have a beautiful bounty of local, fresh, organic, humanely-raised art work. Annnnd like a traditional CSA, you don’t know exactly what veggies you’d get until you pick it up!

 

The Dayton Visual Arts Center has harvested the talents of four local artists, Amy Powell, Danielle Rante, Francis Schanberger, and Andrea Starkey to create 50 works each to be offered as a “share”– a portfolio of 4 artworks –2 photographs and 2 prints—to the public. Shareholders are invited to pick up their works at the DVAC CSA Harvest Pick-Up Party, on August, 8, at The Dayton Beer Company. But the best part is, everyone’s invited to see what all the fuss is about! Whether you’re already a shareholder or you want to just check it out , the party will be a blast—featuring live R&B oldies from the Old Skool Duo, and Brixx Ice Company pizzas. Admission is free for shareholders (and includes 1 DBC beer ticket) and $10 for all others.

What a unique opportunity to fall in love and bring home four beautiful, signed, limited edition 2D works of art by local artists!

 

This is the second year DVAC has invited art-lovers to be personally involved in nourishing the creation of art by some of the region’s most collectible emerging artists.  Last year’s round included six works of art by six artists and was a great success. This year, each CSA share guarantees four works of art by four talented local artists with the option for unframed, or framed work. DVAC still has shares available, and now is the chance to get the freshest artsy crops before the harvest is over.

 

With 25 years of innovative programming under its belt, DVAC continues to remain on the cutting edge by presenting exciting ways to connect artists and art lovers. The art CSA concept has been sweeping the nation for just a few years now, with cities including Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, and Raleigh, harvesting their local artist’s works and offering them up to hundreds of art fans. Dayton has long been known as an art town that rivals many others, even bigger in size, but with the development of DVAC’s CSA, DVAC joins a dozen other creative cities that are known for cultivating talented, emerging artists. How cool is that?

work by Andrea Starke.

With the purchase of a DVAC CSA you will receive one original artwork each from four exciting local artists whose work is not only coveted by Dayton friends and collectors, but who have shown in galleries from New York to Copenhagen, and been published in Elle, The New York Times and Time. Since February the artists have been posting works in progress, #dvaccsa #wip pics on their Instagram accounts. Take a look to get a glimpse of the artworks sprouting this year created solely for the DVAC CSA.  Just as farmer’s crops are grown specifically with the consumer in mind, your work of art is created just for you to hang on your wall with pride enjoyed for years to come.

 

An investment in your community, the creative artisans who capture nature, and our living world happening around you, and four new pieces of art for you to have in your home.  This opportunity won’t stay on the vine for long, so be sure to grab a share and enjoy the fruits of your community’s labors with the help of the Dayton Visual Arts Center CSA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artemis Gone Riding: A Cycling Event to End Domestic Violence

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Come join Artemis Center, Dayton’s Domestic Violence Resource Agency, for a fun-filled bicycle tour on the Miami Valley Bikeways Bike Path. Riders from near and far come together to raise awareness and cycle against Domestic Violence. Pick your best costume and rally your friends or colleagues to create a “pedal crew” and collect pledges before the event!