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

Archives for July 2017

One Day Intro To Kayaking Class

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One day on-water course taught by our certified ACA instructors.

Discover the joy of kayaking! Or if you already kayak, do you want to build on your skills and enjoyment? This one-day course is for you! Start your kayaking adventures off right by learning essential paddling and safety skills on calm water. This comprehensive course will cover equipment, strokes, paddling technique, capsizing, dealing with a swamped kayak, and re-entries. Come ready to get wet and have a good time on this skill and confidence building class. No experience necessary. We’ll show you that kayaking is an activity that everyone can enjoy.

 

Tropical Escape

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The first Hilton outside the U.S….and home of the original pina colada.

In 1979 the song “Escape” was written by a man named Rupert Holmes. He wrote in on a lark, about a man who is unhappy with his marriage, and goes seeking a woman through the personal ads in his local paper. After some correspondence, they agree to meet at a local bar. To the man’s surprise, the woman that he meets is his wife that he is so unhappy with. They realize that they have more in common than they thought, and live happily ever after. The song also lived happily ever after, being one of the most popular songs in the 1970’s, and one of the first number one songs of the 1980’s. It is the only song to be a number one hit on Billboard in two different decades. The writer of the song was proud of the fame and money that the song brought to him, but horrified that it was the only song he is known for. It was renamed shortly after it came out (with his reluctant permission) as “Escape (The Pina Colada Song).” July 10th is National Pina Colada Day, and while you may want to enjoy the song over and over on your iDevice, I suggest you try the drink that made the song such a hit.

Pina coladas (in Spanish, “strained pineapple”) are one of the few cocktails we have a solid date as to when it was introduced. On August 16, 1954 the pina colada was introduced to the world by a bartender named Ramón “Monchito” Marrero at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was tasked to create a signature cocktail that would service the high end clientele that was coming to hotel on a regular basis. The hotel already had a drink that involved coconut juice, Bacardi rum, and the newly introduced Coco Lopez, served in a coconut. The coconut workers went on strike about that time, and so they had run out of coconuts. Instead, the decision was made to serve the drink in the husk of a pineapple, adding the final flavor and giving birth to a new drink. They also substituted the traditional Bacardi for Don Q Gold rum. It was by most accounts originally shaken and strained over cracked ice. In 1978 the drink was named the national drink of Puerto Rico.

A taste of the tropics.

That is not the only story, but it is the most popular and consistent one. It is rumored that a pirate named Roberto Cofresí invented a similar drink at the beginning of the 19th century that he shared with his crew.  He did not write it down or tell anyone the recipe, so the drink died with him in 1825. The name of the drink was also mentioned in the magazine TRAVEL in 1922, without the coconut but adding some lime juice. Restaurant Barrachina, also in San Juan, claims to be the birth place of the modern pina colada. Bartender Ramon Portas Mingot added heavy cream to the mix and blended it with ice, creating the frozen libation we all know and love today. That was in 1963, and the restaurant has a plaque on the outside on the restaurant to commemorate the event.

When you order it today, it comes out frozen in a fancy glass, possibly with whip cream on top of it. Most places follow the same recipe, and there are very few variations on the drink. They do exist, like the Miami Vice (strawberry daiquiri layered on top of a pina colada), the Chi Chi (substitute the rum for vodka), or the Kahula colada (substitutes the rum for coffee liqueur).  If you want to make one at home, here is the recipe:

Pina Colada

2 oz. of light rum
2 oz. Coco Lopez (or other cream of coconut)
4 oz. pineapple juice
1 cup of ice
Maraschino cherry and pineapple wedge for a garnish

Add the rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and ice into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a hurricane or other tall glass, and garnish with the pineapple wedge and cherry. If you want to make it a little sweeter, add .5 oz. of heavy cream. There are also recipes with some Angostura bitters for some extra spice. To make the non-frozen version, put all of the liquid ingredients into a glass over ice, and shake well. Then strain the cocktail over ice into the hurricane glass. You can even take out the rum entirely if you want to.

Rupert Holmes may have regrets about his pina colada adventure, but a well made one is delicious and refreshing in the summer months. It is also a lovely reminder of warm Puerto Rican beaches and cool breezes coming off the Caribbean. Find a patio on July 10th, order one up, and relax. Salud!

 

Marion’s Piazza’s 52nd Anniversary Sale Starts Today!

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On August 19, 1965, after investing his life savings, Marion Glass opened a pizza restaurant at 460 Patterson Road in Dayton Ohio called Marion’s Piazza.

Marion’s Piazza

When Marion opened his restaurant, it was a first for pizza establishments in Dayton, as he offered seating for over 200 customers in his dining room (all other pizza parlors at that time only offered carryout service with no inside dining).

Marion selected the name Marion’s Piazza because he liked the idea of an outdoor cafe but realized that this concept would not be successful in Ohio’s climate.

Marion therefore, successfully brought the outdoors inside with an Italian piazza, or courtyard, and thus the name Marion’s Piazza was born.

Marion developed a thin crust pizza (now often referred to as “Dayton Style” pizza). conversationGlass-314x400By using only the finest ingredients on his pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and salads, Marion’s Piazza soon became a Dayton favorite!

To date, Marion’s Piazza has been voted “Dayton’s Best Pizza” in over 37 local newspaper and magazine surveys and has been rated “Second In The Nation of Independent Pizza Establishments” in Pizza Today Magazine.

 

Over the years, Marion’s Piazza has grown to nine locations in the Dayton area. Since dine-in has always been king at Marion’s Piazza (the nine locations seat between 275 to over 500 each), the restaurants have been a gathering place for sports teams, birthday celebrations, reunions, graduation parties and anniversary celebrations.

A longstanding relationship with Kenley Players Summer Theater from 1966 through 1995 brought many of Hollywood’s best known stars to Dayton and to Marion’s Piazza; stars like Frankie Avalon, Mickey Rooney, Joel Gray and Sally Field to name a few.

Daytonians Rob Lowe and Martin Sheen still frequent Marion’s Piazza when in Dayton. Of the over 250 Hollywood Stars to dine at Marion’s Piazza, Henry Winkler drew the largest crowd in 1975 when over 2,000 people made reservations to see him.

Marion’s Piazza has shipped thousands of its pizzas throughout the United States to former customers who have moved from the Dayton area. Even actress Pam Dawber, author John Jakes and singer Phyllis McGuire have had pizzas sent to them.

Although Marion’s Piazza founder Marion Glass, passed away in 2006 at the age of 92, the business continues to be owned by the Glass family and run by Marion’s son Roger Glass. Today, Marion’s Piazza is still serving its award winning pizzas the way it has for the past 52 years!

To celebrate their 52nd anniversary, Marion’s will be offering 52% off pizza’s with a coupon on July 9th- 13th.   According to Marion’s website you can get the coupon in the Dayton Daily News and also on the Local Flavor app and in the local reach magazine

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Get Free Chick-fil-A for Cow Appreciation Day

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Tuesday, July 11, 2017 is Cow Appreciation Day and Chick-fil-A is celebrating by giving away a free entree to any customers dressed up like a  cow!

The definition of this look is really quite liberal.  It can be cow-spotted accessories to a full cow suit!

So sport some spots and head to your nearest Chick-fil- A on Tuesday from open until 7pm and enjoy a free breakfast sandwich, fried chicken sandwich or even their new Smokehouse BBQ Bacon sandwich, really any entree, for free!  But you’ll still have to pony up for waffle fries and your drink!

Find the Chick-fil-A near you with the location guide on their website.

 

Dayton Eateries Make the Best Places For Mac and Cheese List

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Here’s another one of those lists put together by a National Media Company that specializes in content solution that empowers brands to connect with local consumers or Click Bait, if you will.  This company based in Westport Connecticut has published over 80 Best xxx in Ohio lists, and I just imagine it’s newly graduated young professional sitting at a desk googling to find places to fit the criteria of the the list they are working on today, who gets really excited when he/she also finds a listing with a picture.  But no matter where they come from, we all seem to get excited when we say a place we know on the list.

And with that said, please enjoy this list from AmericanTowns Media:

 

The 10 Best Places for Mac and Cheese in Ohio!

1. Mac N’ Melts, Perrysburg and Toledo, OH

Macs N’ Melts – Facebook

Mac N’ Melts prides itself on high-quality mac and cheese in a fast, casual, and comfortable environment. With always fresh ingredients in every dish, and a delightful array of unique spins on the classic, Mac N’ Melts will have you coming back again and again.

2. Noodles and Company, Beavercreek, OH

Noodles & Company – Facebook

Noodles and Company knows noodles. They’ve been in business for over 20 years, and since day one, their mission has been to provide real food without any preservatives or artificial ingredients. Just fresh, delicious food that the whole family can enjoy.

3. Keystone’s Mac Shack, Cincinnati, OH

The Mac Shack – Facebook

Mac Shack is a fast-casual dining establishment that only started last year, but they’re fast becoming a big name for fantastic mac and cheese. With nine different varieties of the signature award-winning dish, every one is made to order, from scratch, with locally-sourced fresh ingredients.

4. Lucky’s Cafe, Cleveland, OH

Lucky’s Café

Lucky’s Cafe is more than just the local diner where you can get a great bowl of mac and cheese, although that is undeniably true! It’s also been featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and multiple Food Network shows.

5. Press Grill, Columbus, OH

The Press Grill is, at heart, the Short North’s casual neighborhood bar and restaurant, serving drinks until 2:30 a.m., and delicious food until 1 a.m. So no matter what time you get a craving for the best mac and cheese around, Press Grill has you covered.

6. Corner Kitchen, Dayton, OH

At the Corner Kitchen, every dish they make, including the renowned macaroni and cheese, is prepared with love, made entirely from scratch with locally-sourced, fresh, and delicious ingredients every time that will have you coming back again and again!

7. Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Cincinnati, OH

Romano’s Macaroni Grill – Facebook

Romano’s Macaroni Grill has a trick up their sleeve for creating delicious macaroni and cheese among other dishes. That trick is sourcing all of their ingredients from small, family-owned Italian farms, and the difference is clear in the taste!

8. Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro, Miamisburg, OH

Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro opened its doors in 1986, and it wasn’t long before they became the premier location for great food in the Miami Valley, with some of the best macaroni and cheese you’re ever likely to experience. Try the mac and cheese with a side of award-winning barbecue for a winning combination!

9. Harrison’s, Tipp City, OH

Harrison’s Restaurant in Tipp City takes pride in providing great service and expertly prepared food. The delicious mac and cheese is a crowd favorite that brings families and individuals coming back again and again.

10. Fahrenheit, Cleveland, OH

Fahrenheit was created to provide the pinnacle of contemporary American regional cuisines, and the cornerstone of that is macaroni and cheese prepared in imaginative and distinctive ways that you’ll never find an equal to anywhere else

Fair-well to S. Main Street – Free Ticket Offer

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Montgomery County Fair opens this week

Next week will be the end of an era in Dayton.  The 165th Annual Montgomery County Fair will be historic, because it marks the last time the event will take place on 1043 South Main Street.  

2017 is the last time the fair will be held here

For multiple generations, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds has hosted this event. That all ends next Saturday July 15th.   So one last time, smell the funnel cakes and listen to the kids on the ferris wheel at the corner of main street.   But cheer up, this is one heck of a place for a Food Adventure.  So… Corn Dog lovers unite, this is your type of festival.  Farmers, carnival rides and special events will fill an action packed week.

 

Here are some old facts for you foodie history buffs….

FIRST FAIR HOSTED IN 1874
After Dayton failed to win a bid for the Ohio State Fair, the City decided to put on their own fair.  Dubbed the “Southern Ohio Fair,” the event started September 29th, 1874 at the place we all know as the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds’ saw over 100,000 vistors that week.

Now for this year’s event ….

FAMOUS VISITORS to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:
President Lyndon B Johnson in 1966, with First Lady – Ladybird Johnson

HERE’S THE SKINNY on THE 2017 MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:

Lots of good food


— WHEN: Monday July 10th thru  Saturday July 15 (8am- 10pm, except Monday ends 8pm)

— WHERE: 1043 South Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45409  (It is on South Main between Stewart and Apple Streets).

— COST: $8 per person, ages 6 and under are free, but the really BIG NEWS is FREE ADMISSION from 11am – 1pm Monday – Friday so you can eat lunch every day at the fair!    Also DMM has a $2 off coupon good on Thursday – just print and present at gate!

FREE TICKET OFFER:  Like and share this story and leave a comment below about your favorite fair food and we’ve got a few pairs of FREE ADMISSION tickets we’ll randomly give to those that comment below.

— WHAT: There will be swine, and horse races.  There are pie and cake auctions.  The fair even has  live bands, sheep judging and goat judging!  Rabbits, poultry, kiddie tractor pulls, a demolition derby, garden club and the list goes on and on.

 

Craft Booths

— FULL SCHEDULE:  For a list of EVERYTHING going on and to find what tickles your fancy, click on the link below.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENT
S

So what is happening in 2017’s fair?  You know the usual, livestock contests, pie contests, and 4-H activities. But we like to point out some of the favorites we are anticipating.  Horse races and Demolition Derby to name a couple!

HERE IS THE SKINNY on THE BIG EVENTS:

MONDAY – JULY 10th 
—7:00pm  501 Diesel Dirt Drags – at the Grandstands

TUESDAY – JULY 11TH

165th year

Good Food

—7:00pm TUG-A-TRUCK, at the Grandstands

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH
—7:00pm Truck/Tractor Pull, at the Grandstands

THURSDAY – JULY 13TH
—6:00pm Harness Racing, at the Grandstands
—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Shelby County Line,” in the Entertainment Tent

FRIDAY – JULY 14TH
—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Rolling Stone Rodeo, at the Grandstands”
—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers,” in the Entertainment Tent

SATURDAY – JULY 15TH
7:00pm: Demolition Derby at the Grandstands

 

This is a food blog. we would be remiss if we didnt give you our often imitated, but never duplicated “Must Eats.”

MUST EATS at the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:


— THE ASIAN CHICKEN WINGS at DAVE’S CONCESSIONS:
You can’t miss the huge “Broasted Chicken and Broasted Potatoes” sign that drapes this

Asian Wings

amazing booth.  Also, a huge grill teases the crowd with incredible aromas of chicken cooking.  But the thing to get here is the Chicken Wings.  Deep fried, served whole and drenched in any sauce you can’t go wrong.  Our suggestion is get the Asian Sauce.

 

The Donut Grilled cheese

— THE DONUT GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH at THE GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE BOOTH:
A glazed donut with cheese, pan grilled and with pickles and tomatoes.  It is sweet and a tad salty, but surprisingly good!  This kind of stuff is what Food Adventures is all about.  No rules, no whiners.


— THE BLACKBERRY COBBLER from JEAN’S HOME COOKING: 
Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this literally made our day.  It was like being

Cobbler

transported to your grandma’s house and the cobbler had just come out of the oven.  Get lost in this dish, and take in the taste.  The warm cobbler and the sun, melt the ice cream slowly for a creamy experience.  We promise you will be impressed.

 

— THE HUGE SWEET TEA’S:  
It is gonna be warm and humid, and nothing zaps that like an ice cold sweet tea.  They have a 99 cent size and a huge ass mega size.  Get the biggest one they have … you will kneel with thanks for this

99 cent Huge Sweet Teas

day saving item.

 

Don’t miss your chance to attend the event and say farewell to the memories in your own way.  Go ahead, party like its 1899.

In 2018 the  fair will move to Arthur O. Fisher Park in Jefferson Twp.   Go area and out it on your calendar for July 9-14, 2018.

Are you a Dayton Foodie? Then follow the food related antics of The Food Adventure Crew:  Chef House, Big Ragu and Hungry Jax as they open and explore every nook and cranny of Dayton related eats.   Love Food Pictures?  Then our Facebook site is your Graceland! – CLICK HERE TO “LIKE OUR PAGE

Dont Miss this chicken stand

 

 

 

Luminaries of Dayton: Leaving Pennies on a Grave

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There are many traditions that involve placing objects, specifically money, on graves. These traditions  are usually regional or customary practices and do not necessarily have religious connotations.

Large amounts of pennies which are thrown onto Benjamin Franklin’s grave by visitors each day are a symbol of good luck, and a nod to Franklin’s motto that “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

Some people hold to the tradition of leaving something of yourself when visiting a grave. If nothing else, a coin from your pocket serves as a marker of the passage and your esteem for the departed. It also signifies to any that pass by that the grave was visited and that the deceased is well loved and esteemed and has not been abandoned or forgotten. Coins are also an older form of leaving flowers, a practice prompted by the heavy Romanticism of the Victorian era.

Some believe that to leave a coin on a grave brings good luck. Students in some areas are known to leave pennies on the graves of their school’s founder in the hopes of good luck with exams.

Some are, perhaps unwittingly, mimicking the ancient tradition where gold coins were buried with the corpse in order to pay the toll charged by Charon, the boatman of the Underworld, for passage to the other side of the river Styx. It was considered sinful not to leave this toll with the dead as it would condemn them to forever wander the shores without end.

It is an old tradition to leave a penny at the grave site of a loved one as a gesture of deep love and understanding. Some coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America’s military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a tombstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier’s family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect.

Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited. A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.

In the United States, this practice became common during the Vietnam War, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier’s family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.

No matter what type of item you leave at a grave site, it is seen by others that the person is not forgotten.

At Woodland Cemetery, you will find that the grave sites of the Wright Brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar receives the most coins. The coins are picked up periodically and are deposited to the Woodland Arboretum Foundation to care for the grounds and gardens of the cemetery.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. 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 University of Dayton 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 Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Celebrate July- National Parks & Recreation Month at RiverScape

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The community is invited to enjoy an entire month of free, family-friendly outdoor events and activities this July at RiverScape MetroPark, located at 237 E. Monument Ave. July is also National Parks & Recreation month, an opportunity for individuals and families to get outside and celebrate nature and outdoor recreation together.


Music @ Lunch: Grab food from a rotating selection of food trucks, enjoy live music and free WiFi. Hours are 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Monday through Friday through Sept. 29.

 

Fitness in the Park: These free exercise sessions are held most Saturdays from 10 to 11 am. Participants should bring their own water bottles and towels or mats. Classes vary between Zumba and Yoga, and the class schedule can be found online at metroparks.org/RiverScape. Yoga sessions are sponsored by Bridge Credit Union.

 

R&B Hot Summer Music: On Friday, July 14, KICK-N-FLAVA takes the RiverScape Pavilion stage from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Sponsored by Bridge Credit Union, R&B Hot Summer Music features the best local and nationally-known R&B acts.

 

Big Band Nights: The public is welcome to enjoy classic instruments, upbeat tunes and dancing during two Big Band Night performances in June.

  • July 6, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm: The Kim Kelly Orchestra
  • July 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm: Barry Campbell Big Band with vocalist Elaina McCormick

 

The RiverScape Summer Music series concerts are free and for all ages. During R&B Hot Summer Music and Big Band Nights, the Café will be open from 7 – 9:30 p.m., featuring Jeni’s Ice Cream and a variety of beverages and snacks. Concertgoers should bring a lawn chair for seating.

 

Make your calendar for future RiverScape Summer Music Series concert dates atwww.metroparks.org/RiverScape.

 

Festivals: There are a myriad of community festivals and activities at RiverScape MetroPark throughout the summer. The public is welcome to enjoy the following festival this July:

  • Sun., July 16 (1 – 9 pm): Dayton Blues Festival

 

RiverScape Rentals helps riders explore the Dayton region’s more than 300 miles of paved recreational trails—the nation’s largest paved trail network—with cruisers, road bikes, tandems and child attachments available for rent. Push bikes are also available for toddlers so they can learn to ride. RiverScape Rentals is open weekends through Labor Day, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm Visitmetroparks.org/riverscape-rentals for more information.

 

The Fountain Snack Bar offers ice cream and snacks through Labor Day weekend, 11 am to 6 pm, with extended hours during special evening events. Visit metroparks.org for additional information.

 

The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights and interactive fountain also will be open through Labor Day.

 

While enjoying summer activities at RiverScape MetroPark, visitors also are welcome to watch paddlers in the new RiverScape River Run. Those who are interested in experiencing the feature may grab their gear and enjoy the beautiful seven-mile paddle from Eastwood MetroPark on the Mad River, through downtown to the Carillon Historical Park and University of Dayton area.

 

Masquerage Theme Release Party — Ticket Giveaway

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Since 2002, Masquerage has earned the reputation as Dayton’s Party of Parties, attended by hundreds of costumed guests for a an evening of dancing, drinking and decadence to benefit Equitas Health (formerly ARC Ohio).
Decor, costumes and entertainment for this extravaganza center around a theme each year, and that curiosity about the theme spawned an annual theme release party staring back in 2010.  The first Masquerage in 2002 , was dubbed A Celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom & Love.  It wasn’t until 2005 that specific themes shaped the masks required ball.

 

Here are to the best of my recollection the themes of Masquerage past:

Masquerage 2006

2015:  Viva Las Vegas
2014:  Dirty Little Secrets
2013: Once Upon A Time
2012: Vixens & Villains
2011:  A Decade of Decadence
2010:  Heavenly Pleasures & Sinful Delights
2009: An Evening of Fantastical Oddities and Astonishing Wonders!
2008:  A Sexy intergalactic Adventure
2007: A Glam Rock Odyessy
2006: An Evening of Divine Pleasure
2005:  Tribal

 

You can be amongst the first to find out the theme for the 2017 event on Wed, July 12th as The Dayton Racquet Club sponsors the reveal party from 6-8pm.  You’ll even get inspiration for costumes from the Runway Show produced Mary Kathryn Burnside of Clash Dayton.  Tickets are $25 and include light appetizers and a complimentary cocktail/beverage.

 

DMM TICKET GIVEAWAY: We’ve got 2 pairs of tickets for the theme release party (a $50 value).  You can enter the drawing for our giveaway by liking and sharing this post and leaving a comment below on why you should win.

Welcome cocktail from 2012 Masquerage

Party guests will also have the opportunity to get a $10 discount on tickets for the 2017 Masquerage, which will be held on Saturday, Oct 21st at the Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

Masquerage Tickets:

General Admission tickets — $65 presale/$75 @ door includes specialty welcome cocktail, complimentary appetizers, entry into the main event with night-long dancing and entertainment on the Main stage.

Red Ribbon Lounge tickets — $150 presale/$175 @ door includes all the benefits of the main event ticket PLUS exclusive VIP lounge with open bar, specialty food, VIP SWAG bag, and entertainment throughout the venue.

This year’s event represents one of the largest public opportunities to raise awareness and critical fund for HIV/AIDS medical care and treatment, HIV prevention (which includes PrEP), and a variety of other services like primary care, behavioral health counseling, and dental care – one of the highest unmet needs for those living with HIV.

Full Disclosure:  From 2009-2014 I was the Special Events Director at ARC Ohio and produced Masquerage. 

Tom Holland Swings into Superhero Stardom in Spider–Man: Homecoming

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“Man … I wonder if Deadpool got my text message …” Spider-Man (Tom Holland) chills out in a scene from Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. Credit: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures © 2017 CTM, Inc. All rights reserved. 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 

 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Tyne Daly, Bokeem Woodbine, Donald Glover with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey, Jr. 

WRITER(S): Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley; Jon Watts and Christopher Ford; Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers / Based on the comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko 

DIRECTOR(S): Jon Watts

 
WEB SITE: http://sites.sonypictures.com/spidermanhomecoming/splash/#ticketsHERE’S THE STORY: Having just finished up the events depicted in Captain America: Civil War, young Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is thoroughly enjoying his time as an “intern” at Stark Enterprises – especially since his internship is really just a cover so his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) doesn’t become suspicious of what he is really doing: Dressing in a special suit designed for him by Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) so he can become a crime-fighting superhero.


Tony, however, doesn’t quite trust the young Peter to go out and save the world, which is why he has his driver Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) routinely checking up on him and trying to dissuade him from biting off more than he can chew. After all, he is still in high school, hangs out with his equally nerdy best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and is on the debate team where he battles the indifference of Michelle (Zendaya) and Flash (Tony Revolori) for the attention of Liz (Laura Harrier).  


But while Peter is trying his best to keep Aunt May and Tony at bay while dealing with the regular pressures of high school, he soon will have to deal with another problem: Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), the head of a cleanup company that gets the shaft when the head of the Department of Damage Control shows up and takes over one his jobs. Undeterred to let yet another Tony Stark venture stop him from earning a living, Toomes later finds some alien technology that Damage Control forgot to take with them …


And this is how supervillians and superheroes, ladies and gentlemen, are made …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who liked Holland’s character in Civil War; people who disliked the “dark” Spider-Man as played by Andrew Garfield; those who prefer the character in his high school settings vs. his adult ones; anyone who doesn’t mind certain elements of Spider-Man’s mythology being remixed for the sake of another new film

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People faithful to the first two Spider-Man films; anyone who has very specific thoughts/ideas about Spider-Man and his suit; people who won’t like how the first series of films are/are not acknowledged

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Spider-Man: Homecoming is a solid film that benefits from the help of Marvel Studios’ direct involvement while at the same time leaves you with more than one “what about that?” question in your head.


A film that tries to meet every challenge facing it while at the same time sets itself up for a new series of them, Homecoming thrives due to the performance of Holland, who arguably captures the truly playful sense of being a high school kid associated with the Spider-Man character while at the same time showcasing he is a capable crime-fighter. Holland nails his interpretation of the spandexed-superhero, making his journey from novice to skilled fighter both extremely entertaining and unique to his movie. His interactions with Downey are about as perfect as they can be, all while maintaining the needed awkward teenager vibe that is essential to the Peter Parker character.


Likewise, Keaton is great, channeling the best elements of his more animated (in terms of energy, not actual cartoons) roles past (think Beetlejuice, but more subtle and terrorizing with the same absence of a potential conscious in most instances). Considering the general public’s lack of knowledge of the Vulture (who, in keeping with most modern super hero movie cannon, is not mentioned by name), Keaton definitely makes his villain a very formidable presence, both from setting up his proverbial turn to the dark side and, in the words of the artist formerly known as The Rock, knowing his role. In fact, as a whole, the film does a solid job of establishing its current characters into the Marvel Universe, making sure that the story fits and adds to the overall canon.


The problems Homecoming has, however, are ones that are innate to a franchise rebooting itself for the second time. Having gone from two great original films (let’s not talk about that third one) to a “darker” pair of follow-ups back to a more humorous one that treads on some familiar territory, Spider-Man: Homecoming – with his heavy dose of humor mixed with the infusion of the Marvel Universe as a whole – attempts to mix the best of all worlds but doesn’t always make you forget the worlds it already has lived in.


Harrier serves her role well as the object of Peter’s affection (always a source of conflict for our beloved hero) … But seeing how the previous sets of films have already seen him love Mary Jane Watson and (late spoiler alert) suffer through the life and loss of Gwen Stacy, seeing exactly how Homecoming sets up his future love stories and how they will play out. Likewise, seeing how in some films he has been the creator of his own suit, been able to shoot webs without the suit and now shifts to a suit made by Tony Stark (although that is somewhat explained later in the film), some fans will no doubt have a few nitpicky issues with whether the film is about Peter Parker’s transition from teenager to titan or about him figuring out his place as a superhero in the world. Of course, yours truly would argue why couldn’t it be about both, but you can’t please everybody. 


Last but certainly not least, as the creative team behind Batman Vs. Superman found out, it’s extremely hard to keep rebooting a character and mixing their origin story – or, as it is in this case, more of a “we’re just going from here now and the others don’t matter anymore” story and expect your audience to follow suit. Once the audience has an idea of what to expect, it’s virtually impossible to start over at zero and now have the expectations/limitations that come with the past rear their head in the present. But then again, that is kind of the neat trick that Spider-Man: Homecoming pulls off – because despite all of those lofty things to overcome, the movie does enough to stand on its own and stand on its own well. It’s web-slinging fun with a very capable cast, a great load of humor – Homecoming is probably the funniest movie not named Guardians of the Galaxy – and enough interesting twists and turns to make it a worthwhile entry into the Marvel Universe.

Where it goes from here, however, remains to be seen …

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

Nigerian Artist Showcases his Jazz Series

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Ben Ibebe is an internationally known African artist based in Nigeria. His works are held in major museums and private collections around the world.

Ben focuses on images of West Africa using vibrant, captivating and very tactile paintings in oil and mixed media. Featuring everyday scenes of Nigerian life, Ben’s unique impasto technique give each art work an almost three-dimensional surface, adding character to bright colors and geocentric composition.

Ben has returned to Dayton for the third straight year with 18 new works, including the first six pieces from his powerful “Jazz” series. You can catch a preview of the exhibit tonight, Thurs, July 6th from 5-8pm at The Front Street Building

 

 

 

 

Dive Bar Thursday – Patterson Pub

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Dive Bar Thursday Patterson Pub

Welcome to the Patterson Pub!

When I moved to the Dayton area in the late 1990’s, one of the first places I frequented for an adult beverage was Taggart’s Pub. It was close to my apartment and had a friendly atmosphere with inexpensive beer. Perfect for someone in a new city just out of school! As a bonus it was also a Browns bar, adding that little touch of home. Every Sunday, I would head over with other masochistic fans of Cleveland football and watch our team struggle, enjoying complimentary food far more than the football games. We were happy the team had returned to Cleveland, but it was painful to watch. In 2014, the owner of Taggart’s Pub announced he was going to move to a larger venue. Unfortunately for Dayton, that new space never materialized. Even as they were leaving their seventeen-year home, they announced there was going to be a new owner taking over the space. After an incredibly short closure, the Patterson Pub opened up and has been going strong ever since.

If you have not been to Patterson Pub (970 Patterson Rd Dayton, OH 45419) in a while, you need to come and visit. Other than the ownership, little has changed in this Belmont area staple. There are two main areas to the pub: the spacious front room and the much more intimate back bar. The front room holds three large televisions and all the dart boards you could want. Six steel tip and three plastic tip board are there for the throwing, with multiple dart leagues through the week and the occasional tournament. The back bar is just that. It is the place where the magic happens. There is plenty of room to belly up and watch television or play some digital golf while enjoying a beer or cocktail. They have held on to their Irish roots as a pub. Their reverence for a good Irish whiskey and all things green, white, and orange still shines. Along with the orange of the Irish flag, they are still proudly (or, after last season, not as proudly) displaying the orange and brown of the Cleveland Browns. Whiskey and football are two of their great loves. Yes, they still are a Browns bar and show their games on Sundays in the main room. Other games are shown in the back bar area, for reasons that will become clear.

Dive Bar Thursday beer and liquor

So much to offer a thirsty patron.

They offer beers for every palate, from $5 Miller High Life pitchers (when they have it on tap) to a nitro tap to infuse extra smoothness into a beer. While some craft options, like Rhinegheist’s Truth, are always on tap, they bring in a variety of other selections that rotate through the seasons. If that is not enough, there are bottles and cans that expand on the tap offering. They even have a variety of specials through the week, including happy hour pricing from 3 to 7 PM daily. That pricing includes cocktails as well. And yes, they do have a cocktail menu to order from. As with the beers, it changes with the seasons but always has at least one Irish whiskey cocktail on the menu. Their liquor selection is continuing to grow, with plans to add some local Belle of Dayton gin and expand their selection of whiskeys. They do offer the normal bar foods like pizza, nachos, pretzels, and pepperoni and cheese breadsticks known as Bosco sticks. You can bring your own food as well, and their neighbors at Corleone’s Pizza are willing to deliver right to the bar.

How friendly is this bar? Very. They are friendly to the service industry, with Monday night being their Service Industry Night. On a slow night for most bars, they offer special pricing for all of the other hard-working bartenders in the Dayton area. They are also still very friendly to Browns fans. They have continued the tradition of the Browns Club for the diehards that have suffered through over two dozen quarterbacks and one minor logo change.

Patterson Pub Cocktail Specials

Cocktail and beer specials! Just waiting to be enjoyed…

The games are shown on the televisions in the main room along with food, cooked by one of the patrons, for members of the club. For a small fee, you get a t-shirt, a lanyard with an ID card, a magnet with the schedule, and a host of other specials and benefits. If you have a group of fans that want a table for the season, there is a way to buy that as well. Not only that, but any patron who comes in for those Sundays can imbibe a special house made Bloody Mary. Not just the Browns fan. The spacious front room is also available for other events as well, with a small deposit.

Many of the traditions that made Taggart’s Pub a beloved staple in the community have been carried over to the Patterson Pub. The staff is as friendly as I remember and the atmosphere is just as comfortable. They are making their own inroads into the community, embracing their neighborhood and offering a friendly barstool and pint to anyone who stops there.

The Patterson Pub, located at 970 Patterson Rd Dayton, OH 45419, is open 3 PM to 2:30 AM daily. You can call them at (937) 296-9476 and follow them on their Facebook page for more information about events and specials at the pub!

Local Personalities Lip Sync For SICSA

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Inspired by the popular Spike TV show Lip Sync Battle, SICSA Pet Adoption Center  is staging a 3 round battle on Wednesday, July 12th at The Dublin Pub. As a part of the fundraiser, Pub owner Steve Tieber has agreed that the restaurant will generously donate 20% of sales all day long, just write SICSA on your receipt and that will signal the Pub to include your sales in the donation.

Local personality’s have agreed to take the stage at 6pm and lip sync to their favorite tunes as a fundraiser for the local animal shelter. Competitors will start the first round with a song selection of their choice.  The audience will buy their votes, starting at $2, and thereby pick the winners advance to the second round, where they’ll spin the song wheel for their selection, perform and  again the audience will vote two performers on to the finals. In this last round, both finalists will be give the same song to perform, the audience will again vote and the winner will be declared by 8pm.

Signed up to compete:

From Left to right:  Gina Ferraro  from Channel 99.9, local stand-up comedian Keith Irvin and Dayton.com’s own Amelia Robinson

Rodney Veal, host of Think TV’s “The Art Show, Steve Milano aka “The Big Ragu” food blogger and Zac Pitts, host of WDTN’s Living Dayton

 

And we still have two spots open!  If you’d like to compete send us an email.

How you can help SICSA:

Dine at Dublin Pub – 20% of lunch, dinner and late night donated to SICSA

From 6-8pm Vote for your favorite performer

 

Mammogram Comes To You- Schedule Your Appointment Now!

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Premier Health is making it easier for busy women to get their annual mammogram screening with its mobile mammography coach that travels to businesses, public venues and events throughout Southwest Ohio.

 

Equipped with advanced imaging equipment, the coach offers traditional 2D and Genius™ 3D Mammography™ technology to detect breast cancer.

 

Schedule a mobile mammogram by calling 844-453-4199. For more information about the process and locations, visithttp://www.premierhealth.com/mammo.

 

The following dates and times are open for appointments:

 

  • July 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dixon/McKinley Community Festival and Health Fair,196 Hawthorn St., Dayton OH 45402;
  • July 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Coffman Family YMCA, 88 Remick Blvd., Springboro, OH 45066;
  • July 13, Noon to 2 p.m. at Terrace Ridge Apartments, 1312 McKaig Ave., Troy, OH 45373;
  • July 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CVS Health, 710 N. Main St., Springboro, OH 45066;
  • July 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Miami Valley Hospital Medical Imaging- Springboro, 630 N. Main St., Springboro, OH 45066;
  • July 26, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Miami Valley Hospital Jamestown Emergency Center, 4940 Cottonville Rd., Jamestown, OH 45335;
  • July 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dorothy Lane Market Washington Square, 6177 Far Hills Ave., Washington Twp., OH 45459;
  • July 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for The Glover Foundation Inc.’s Football 101 for Women at West Carrollton High School football stadium, 5833 Student St., West Carrollton, OH 45449; and
  • Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at SureCare Medical Center, 360 W. Central Ave., Springboro, OH 45066.

 

Premier Health welcomes partnerships with area businesses and event organizers to bring the mobile mammography coach to their locations in the community. For more information, call 513-974-4794 or visit premierhealth.com/mammo.

 

Miami Valley Access To Justice Awards Nominations Wanted

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Individuals, organizations, and businesses in the Miami Valley will be recognized for providing extraordinary assistance to low-income and disadvantaged people in our community by helping them to gain access to justice and secure stability in their lives. Nominees may be an attorney or other advocate who has demonstrated concern and dedication to assisting individuals in need.

Honorees will be selected for the following: Lloyd O’Hara Public Interest Law Award that recognizes attorneys; Patricia Rousseau Community Advocacy Award for activism; and Community Impact Award for long-term enhancements for low-income area residents. (All nominees must reside in the Miami Valley and may not be employed by ABLE, GDVLP and LAWO.)

The awards will be presented at the Access to Justice Awards Celebration! to be held Thursday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center. The event is presented by Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (GDVLP) and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. (LAWO), organizations that provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families facing foreclosures, domestic violence, elder abuse, disability, public benefits and consumer issues, foreclosures, and immigration concerns.

Fill out the online nomination form here.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 21, 2017.

A selection committee, comprised of community representatives, will choose the honorees. If you have questions regarding the nomination process, please contact Karla Garrett Harshaw at (937) 535-4432.

Scene75’s 5th Anniversary Bash!

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Starting on July 5th, Scene75 will be celebrating 5 amazing years of making lasting memories, and we have plenty of awesome things in store for whoever decides to walk through our doors! We would like to thank all of our fans, guests, and the Dayton community as a whole, because without all of you, we would not be where we are today.