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Archives for March 2018

‘The Other Place’ Review – Dayton Theatre Guild – The Great Darkness

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In Sharr White’s riveting 2011 drama The Other Place, excellently presented by the Dayton Theatre Guild in its local premiere, successful neurologist Juliana Smithson faces the toughest battle of her life. Although she appears to be on top of the world, she realizes, at only 52, that her mental state is extremely fragile and beyond repair.

Jamie McQuinn (Ian) and Amy Askins (Juliana) in the Dayton Theatre Guild’s production of “The Other Place” (Photo by Craig Roberts)

Delicately directed with smooth transitions by Kathy Mola, The Other Place unfolds as an engrossing mystery, an intimate character study, and a visceral psychological drama. Events transpire non-linear, blurring the past and present, which forces the audience to take notice of even the slightest details. As Juliana attempts to disprove reality, she battles her husband, filing for divorce, and her doctor, trying to decipher the depths of her illness. The disappearance of her daughter is also a major factor, a major source of heartache, lingering throughout.
As the distraught Juliana, Amy Askins, last seen at the Guild in The Trip to Bountiful and commonly known for her comedic instincts, delivers her most powerful and dramatic performance. Serving as the play’s narrator, an astute choice by White allowing the audience to keep Juliana’s perspective paramount, she offers an engaging yet stinging flair. She is often personable yet occasionally explosive, a veritable loose cannon in many respects but understandably so considering the sheer complexity of dementia. Askins is particularly dynamic in two scenes accented by the admirable Jamie McQuinn as Ian, Juliana’s husband, and the beguiling Kayla Graham, a befuddled stranger offering compassionate understanding. The former concerns ongoing frustration about Juliana’s daughter (allowing McQuinn one of his strongest moments) while the latter centers on Juliana’s impromptu visit to the titular abode (designed as a fragmented remembrance by Chris Harmon) recalling better days for her and her family. Mark Sharp is also featured in various roles as The Man, particularly notable as a gentle presence in the final moments. The production also incorporates projection coordination by Gary Thompson and lovely beach photography and modeling by Cole Reamey and Rachel Mola, respectively.

Amy Askins (Juliana) in the Dayton Theatre Guild’s production of “The Other Place” (Photo by Craig Roberts)

Although White unfortunately doesn’t venture into enough of Juliana and Ian’s backstory, he nonetheless paints an emotional and relatable portrait of what happens when the mind betrays.

The Other Place continues through April 1 at the Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton. Performances are Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. The play is performed in 80 minutes without intermission. Tickets are $13-$20. For tickets or more information, call (937) 278-5993 or visit daytontheatreguild.org.

 

Passover Menu at Meadowlark

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Wiley and the crew at Meadowlark Restaurant, located at 5531 Far Hills Ave. in Kettering, debuted their special Passover Menu tonight and it will run through Saturday, April 7th.  Here’s what they are offering:

 

Early Spring Beet Salad with Herbs, Pistachios and Raisins! Beets, carrots and daikon are cut into long matchsticks and dressed with lemon and olive oil, tossed with toasted herb leaves, pistachios and golden raisins and piled juicily onto a swath of pistachio butter, as in rich nut butter, not dairy. The perfect first course when the weather is finally turning!

Smoked Whitefish Spread with Shaved Vegetables and Za’atar Matzoh
House-smoked haddock blended with cream cheese and a smidge of horseradish makes the perfect savory spread, set atop a salad of herbs with thinly shaved radishes, cucumbers, celery and tomato paired with matzoh baked with a brushing of olive oil and a sprinkling of za’atar, the Middle Eastern herb, sesame seed and salt mix.

Hummus with Spiced Lamb, Pinenuts, Parsley and Chile Oil
Warm, spiced ground lamb on smooth, cool hummus is a real treat, scattered with crunchy pinenuts and chopped parsley, then drizzled with spicy chile oil. Served with raw carrots and matzoh.

Chicken Marbella (pictured above) 
A classic New York roast chicken recipe, and just as good as it was when it took the Upper West Side by storm in 1982. Developed by a tiny food shop called The Silver Palate, the chicken is marinated in oil and vinegar along with capers, garlic, olives and prunes, then dusted with brown sugar and braised in white wine for an irresistible briny-sweet flavor. Served with the pan juices rice and broccolini.

“Everything Crusted” Salmon with Yogurt Sauce- Salmon Filet Crusted with an Everything Bagel Crust minus the bagel!

Red Wine and Onion-Braised Beef Brisket with Horseradish Gremolata
Beef brisket roasted slowly in wine and stock with onions that take on flavor and melt into the juices is the kind of supper that warms you from the inside out. Minced fresh horseradish, lemon zest and parsley is a delicious variation on traditional gremolata, brightening up the long-cooked meat with a jolt of freshness. Crispy Yukon potatoes, sautéed roasted carrots and asparagus and plenty of the to-die-for juices accompany.

Chocolate Coconut Meringue Cake
Thin layers of meringue packed with organic coconut are stacked and covered in bittersweet French chocolate ganache for the grown-up Mounds bar of your dreams.

Chocolate-Tahini Ice Cream Pavlova
Ben’s homemade chocolate-tahini ice cream sits on a crisp meringue base, drizzled with a rich banana caramel, flanked with slightly sweetened tahini sauce and strewn with a sesame seed-almond crumble. A riot of textures with wonderful sesame front and center.

Meadowlark’s Hours:

Monday            Closed
Tuesday – Thursday 11:30am – 9:30pm
Friday11:30am – 10:00pm
Saturday11:30am – 10:00om
Sunday Brunch  10:00am – 3:00pm

For reservations call (937) 434-4750

Day Yoga Beavercreek Opens April 2nd

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First day of classes is April 2nd! Between now and then stay tuned as we will be finalizing our schedule with many new classes and styles to choose from. Class passes with be

honored at all three Day Yoga Studio locations giving students more than 100 different classes to choose from!

It’s our amazing teachers and students that make this all possible and we look forward to seeing all of you in April at Day Yoga Beavercreek.

Luminaries of Dayton: Nathan M. Stanley

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Dayton Daily News, March 18, 1942
Funeral For N. M. Stanley To Be Friday

Funeral services for Nathan Myer Stanley, 76, of 1719 Radcliff rd., founder of the Stanley Manufacturing Co., whose death occurred late Tuesday night, will be held at the Boyer mortuary, 609 Riverview av., at 10 a.m. Friday. Officiating at the services will be Dr. Phil Porter, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, and Dr. C. Lee Scott, minister of First Unitarian church. Friends may call at the mortuary after 4 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. Stanley had been ill for more than a year but his death was immediately due to a heart attack. At the time of his death he was chairman of the board of the Univis Lens Co. Mr. Stanley was active in the Dayton Philharmonic association, was a member of the First Unitarian church and of the Dayton Bicycle club and Dayton City club. He is survived by his wife, Minnie J. Stanley; two sons, George F. Stanley, president of the Stanley Manufacturing Co., and Myer Hewson Stanley, secretary-treasurer of the Univis Lens Co.; five granddaughters; one grandson and one sister, Mrs. Eve Weiner.

Born in Exeter, England, Mr. Stanley as a youth became connected with the optical business, which his family followed in Exeter. When he was 18 years old, Mr. Stanley went to Canada with a cousin, Barnet Laurence, who was a wholesale optician in Montreal. During his early years, Mr. Stanley traveled the United States as a representative of the Laurence Company. On a visit to Dayton, Mr. Stanley was convinced by John Breen, then proprietor of the railroad station restaurant, that Dayton had fine prospects as a city.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Stanley opened up an optical department in the H. D. Carnell drug store at Third and Main streets. He followed this venture by opening up more optical stores and eventually becoming engaged in the wholesale optical business. Experimenting with glues in order to paste metal letters on glass doors, Mr. Stanley discovered processes that resulted in the establishment of the Stanley Manufacturing Co.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley visited England during World War I and there Mr. Stanley learned of a new type of bifocal lens. He purchased the American rights for the lens. In 1926, he started the Univis Lens Co., located in one room in the Third National bank building. The Univis Lens Co. had a plant on the old McCook Field site. The company was recognized as one of the nation’s principle manufacturers of high-grade bifocal lenses. This company and the Stanley Manufacturing Co., both monuments to the creative energies of Mr. Stanley, at one time employed 600 workers.

Nathan M. Stanley died on March 17, 1942. He is located in Section 121 Lot 262.

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.

Crafting a Career: Lisa Wagner

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Lisa Wagner, Executive Director, Levitt Pavilion Dayton

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In the beginning…

Lisa Wagner enjoyed her childhood with her extended family in Allentown, Pa. “I spent my leisure time with my cousins and they were like siblings”. She had freedom to play and roam the city, but “there was a lot of accountability. I couldn’t get away with anything”.

Everything changed at the end of 7th grade when Lisa’s nuclear family moved away to Dayton so her father could take a job with NCR. Lisa played volleyball, basketball and softball in 8th grade, but when she started high school, “I became intimidated about not fitting in”. Nonetheless, “I seemed to be able to fluidly move between all these sub classes of The Breakfast Club”.

What did Lisa do after high school?

Lisa wanted to go to Ohio Northern University to study law, but her father insisted she attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio to major in business. Lisa had other ideas. “I hated business and wanted to teach secondary math and went into the education department”.

When Lisa’s parents subsequently divorced, Lisa needed financing for her education. At that time, she had a summer job with Key Bank and they offered her a full-time job in loan operations. The offer included tuition reimbursement, enabling Lisa to continue part-time education classes at Wright State University. Time, however, became an obstacle. “I kept getting promoted and taking on more responsibility at the bank and I didn’t know how to do both”.

Did Lisa stay in banking?

In 1989 Key Bank moved its loan operations to Cleveland. They offered to move her, too, but Lisa declined, because she and her husband decided to stay in Dayton to raise their children.

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Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering, Kettering, Ohio

While Lisa was at home with her two children, a church friend opened Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering. As the catering portion expanded, he asked Lisa to join him. Since extra money was attractive, Lisa agreed help with that portion of the business.

In order to ensure she could fulfill her arrangements with catering customers, Lisa enrolled in the culinary arts program at Sinclair Community College. “I would sell it and then I would cook it. I’d load it up in the car; I’d go out and we’d serve it and then bring it all back and we’d clean it up”.

Eventually, Christopher’s catering got so busy, Lisa didn’t have time for school. “Christopher’s was nights and weekends and that’s when the classes were”.

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Lisa learned the catering business requires a proactive mindset. “You always have to be anticipating worst case scenarios” in order to provide solutions on the spot. “I always had to know where the nearest grocery store was in case I forgot something”.

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Did Lisa stay in catering?

After ten years of catering, “my body really started to break down, so I took a break”. In 2002, however, “the economy caught up to our family in a real way”. It was time to go back to work.

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Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton, Ohio

In 2003 the Schuster Performing Arts Center was under construction. Lisa saw a posting for a job there in event operations. She applied, and due to her catering experience, was hired by the Victoria Theater Association (VTA), which owns and operates the Schuster Center.

How did Lisa’s life change as she settled in with VTA?

In addition to its theaters, the Schuster includes a full service restaurant and bar, Citilites. Prior to the 2003 opening, “I was very involved in hiring all the service staff – Citilites and the catering staff”.

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Citilites Restaurant at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton, Ohio

Once the Schuster Center opened, Lisa became “the execution element”, managing all the details for events held onsite, including the flow, layout and setup, decoration, service style, etc. “I went from kind of working very part-time to working almost 70 hours a week. And we did not have a kitchen in that building until September of 2003 and we probably did close to $1,000,000 worth of catering prior to that”.

How did Lisa move from event operations to ticketing?

VTA surprised Lisa when they asked her to become the Director of their ticketing operation, Ticket Center Stage, and address the issues between Ticket Center Stage and its licensees, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, and Human Race Theatre Company.

Lisa’s reaction was, “What? I’ve never sold a ticket in my life!” The VTA assured her, “you’re really good with customers and you manage people really well”.

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Schuster Performing Arts Center Box Office

Nonetheless, she had a steep learning curve. “I spent probably the first month shadowing ticket agents. I sat in the box offices and listened and then I got on the phone and learned how to sell tickets over the phone”.

Lisa observed that the culture within the department did not promote collaboration and needed to change. In order to do that, “I spent a lot of time working on team building; I spent a lot of time asking for input. No matter what level you were within this little organization, I valued what they had to say. I spent a lot of time in the trenches with them”.

As Lisa worked to purge the negative dynamic, she also quickly identified two superstars. These two young woman “were very out of the box thinkers”, willing to approach problems from fresh angles. Working with them led to some of Lisa’s favorite moments: “seeing people that I have developed blossom and really enjoy their success”.

How did Lisa’s responsibilities grow?

In 2009 the CEO and President of the VTA, Dione Kennedy left to head another organization. During the subsequent management reorganization, the interim CEO and the new CEO and President of the VTA, Ken Neufeld, decided it made sense to have a person with culinary experience oversee the food and beverage team. Consequently, VTA created the Vice President of Ticketing and Hospitality position, and asked Lisa to fill it. There is no equivalent position across the country, because in other preforming arts centers “the food and beverage team is not an internal team”.

Lisa and VTA leadership believed the food and beverage operation was a brand connection, making quality control imperative. Regardless of whether catering is provided internally or by outsiders, if it is botched up, “people see it as a reflection of your venue”.

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Schuster Performing Arts Center

Periodically, Lisa asked her boss, Ken Neufeld, President and CEO, for additional challenges. As a result, he eventually added the audience services experience team to her portfolio. Managing that team fit into her hospitality focus, since the team manages the lobbies during a show, supervises the volunteer ushers, and solves any customer problems which arise before a show begins. Lisa led the team to give “the very best experience to the patron from the moment they walked in the door. And that was fun”.

How did Lisa grow into her career?

Lisa met with Ken Neufeld on a regular basis for wide-ranging conversations. “I was allowed to ask anything about the organization, the Board, anything”. Additionally, Ken encouraged her to consider further education. First, Lisa enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania – Executive Program for Arts and Culture Strategy, which featured virtual programs on strategic leadership, finance, fundraising, governance, and marketing.

In 2015, Lisa participated in the National Arts Strategies Senior Management Institute.  One of the Institute sessions was a thought-provoking career visioning process, which explored, “This is what I do now. Is this what I’m passionate about? What would I want to do?”

Lisa realized that “being connected to impact was really important to me”, but that much of what she was currently doing was more operational and “one off from the impact”.

Why did Lisa leave the Victoria Theatre Association for the Levitt Pavilion Dayton?

Lisa loved working with the VTA, but when she attended a community meeting about the Levitt Pavilion project, it intrigued her. “It ignited something inside of me”.

Members of the Dayton community organized the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion to develop neglected green space in downtown Dayton into a community-gathering place with access to the performing arts for all. In 2017 the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion was awarded a grant from the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundationto develop the Levitt Pavilion Dayton.

Lisa recognized that she had influenced VTA, but the concepts of impact and legacy sparked her. “I felt like this was a really great opportunity to be on the ground floor of this amazing community asset”.

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Artist rendering of the Levitt Pavilion Dayton

Consequently, she applied to be the new organization’s first Executive Director. “I was terrified of leaving a well-oiled machine, a $16 million organization to a start-up, but there was something really exciting about being part of the Levitt legacy”.

The Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, now serving as the Board of the new nonprofit organization, Levitt Pavilion Dayton, selected Lisa to become the first Executive Director.

The Levitt Pavilions’ premise is that free, high quality outdoor concerts will increase participation with the arts. “I know for a fact there are people that think they can’t afford an arts experience. If we give you a free concert, we’ve taken away that obstacle”. Beginning in the summer of 2018, Levitt Pavilion Dayton will present free concerts on the Pavilion’s lawn featuring high caliber and diverse local, national and international musicians.

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Artist rendering of the Levitt Pavilion Dayton stage

By increasing participation with the arts, the Levitt Pavilion Dayton will provide a place for residents “to come and connect. Not only connect to music, which I feel is one of the most beautiful universal languages in the world, but then also” to each other as they listen on the lawn. Lisa envisions “diverse socioeconomic generational people all sitting on the same lawn, experiencing a common experience” and sharing conversation. “’Hey, I forgot my mustard, would you pass me the mustard?’ All of a sudden I don’t care where you live, I don’t care what you do, you’re my neighbor now”.

How has Lisa’s work changed now that she’s leading the Levitt Pavilion Dayton?

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Levitt Pavilion Dayton job site; photo by Andy Snow

As the Executive Director, “I’m coming into a universe where now I have to be challenged in areas that I may not be as familiar with, such as a construction project or other nuances of a start up.

In order to open the Levitt Pavilion Dayton in time for the 2018 summer season, Lisa is working with the Board to build the new organization. Together they are engaging in big picture activities like strategic planning, mapping the organizational structure, hiring new staff members, programming and defining the customer experience, to ensure that everyone is invited, everyone feels welcomed and when the lawn is activated that audience members feel connected.

Lisa’s observations:

  • Be true to what feeds you
  • Be open to new experiences
  • Be open to new skill sets. “Don’t fear what you don’t know. Embrace it”
  • Recognize that “you’re not the smartest person in the room, that everyone around you offers you something that can either be put in your tool box for later or that can help develop you”
  • Network, network, network. “Make meaningful relationships, be honest, be humble, be authentic, be accountable”
  • Ask a lot of questions or for help. It’s better to admit you don’t know and do some research

Lisa believes her journey has prepared her for this new phase of her life. “Now I have the skill sets and I have the fundamental pieces of where I can do something, but it was the impact and the legacy piece and the passion of wanting to be part of a different conversation – it just felt like the timing was kind of all falling into place”.

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Last Call For Artists To Create Wine Label

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2017 Winner Ari Azzopardi

Les Vins Georges Duboeuf is a family-owned winery in the heart of the Beaujolais region of France with a rich history of collaborating with artists to create iconic labels for Beaujolais Nouveau, a young fresh wine released every year on the third Thursday of November (November 15, 2018).

For many years, the wine was released every year with a different artist-designed label and the annual reveal of the label and design was almost as exciting as the wine itself. The different label designs reflected the fact that every year, Beaujolais Nouveau is a new and different wine – each bottling a unique expression of that vintage and a preview of what is to come.

It is in this spirit that in 2017, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf held the first annual Nouveau Artist Label Contest. They have decided to continue the tradition and are again inviting artists from all over the U.S. to submit their own design that captures the joyous and exuberant qualities of Beaujolais Nouveau – all of the things that make it the perfect wine to share with friends, family, and loved ones – and a celebration unto itself.

This year, they are inviting professional artists to submit label designs that reflect the fresh, youthful, and vibrant qualities of Beaujolais Nouveau. The wine itself is bright, juicy, and fruit-forward. With more than a million bottles sold every year, Beaujolais Nouveau is a wine for and about celebrating. It is the first wine of the harvest, a harbinger of the holiday season and a reason to get together with friends and family.

Submission Details:

All submissions must be either uploaded via the submission form on our website or emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Nouveau Label Contest”.

Submissions should be submitted along with a high-res head shot and must be submitted in one of the following formats: PDF, JPG, EPS, AI, TIFF, PSD, PNG

Artists must carefully review and agree to the terms and conditions on our website before submitting. Please note that the winning piece of artwork will become property of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf and the artist submitting the work must have it in their possession; it cannot be a piece of artwork that has been previously sold or is otherwise unavailable.

Submissions must be original pieces of artwork that reflect the qualities of Beaujolais Nouveau – bright, celebratory, fresh. All submissions must have elements that relate to the themes of celebration, harvest, festivity, and vibrancy

Submission finalist from 2017

Submissions do not have to contain any text or label information – these will be added by our designer.

Multiple submissions are allowed as long as they are all received by March 30th, 11:59 PM EST.

 

Visitors to the site can vote and comment on the submissions they like best and a final selection of 10 will be chosen by a panel, with consideration of input from visitors to the website.

The final 10 will be posted to the Georges Duboeuf social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) for voting from consumers April 16-27, 2018.

A vote is considered a like, a comment, or a share across Facebook and/or Instagram and artists are encouraged to post to their social media channels as well to maximize votes!

The artist who created the label that receives the most votes within this period will receive a $3,500 grant and will have their artwork turned into a label that will be printed on more than a million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau along with a credit on the back label. To see last year’s winning lable, please click here.

Runners-up will have the opportunity to have their label designs presented for additional Nouveau Label opportunities, and if selected, will receive a grant ranging from $500-$1,500.

CareSource Names Next CEO

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Today CareSource is naming Erhardt Preitauer as its next CEO. Preitauer will succeed founding CEO Pamela Morris, who will retire in May 2018.

Preitauer is currently with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. He is the CEO of Horizon NJ Health which is the state’s largest Medicaid plan with more than $6B in revenue and 1 million members. Preitauer has an impressive resume that includes leadership positions with multiple national insurers.  He received his BS in Finance and Economics from the University of Nevada-Reno and his MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from Penn State University.

Preitauer will join CareSource on May 1. Pam Morris will work directly with Preitauer for several weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

“After an extensive nationwide search, we are extremely pleased with the caliber of candidate we found in Erhardt Preitauer,” said Kevin Brown, Chairperson, CareSource

Management Group Board. “He has an impressive background in leading government sponsored health plans and he has a proven history with mission-driven organizations with a holistic focus on the member. Pam has been a true visionary in the health insurance industry, and I am confident Erhardt is the right person to lead CareSource forward.”

Morris has served as the President and CEO of CareSource since its inception nearly 29 years ago. In October 2017 she announced her planned retirement. A social entrepreneur, Morris pioneered Ohio’s first mandatory Medicaid managed care program and built Dayton Area Health Plan. Under her leadership, CareSource has grown to become one of the nation’s largest Medicaid Managed Care plans, serving more than 2 million members in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and West Virginia.

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit nationally recognized as an industry leader in providing member-centric health care coverage. Founded in 1989, CareSource administers one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plans. Today, CareSource offers individuals and families comprehensive health and life services including Marketplace and Medicare Advantage plans.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves nearly 2 million members in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Georgia. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and works to put health care in reach for those it serves.

Dayton Pays Tribute to Franco

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Restaurant Entrance

Dayton has lost a friend.  Franco Germano, the restaurateur who started an iconic Italian eatery in Dayton 41 years ago, passed away this past weekend.  The 73 year old had bravely battled cancer over the past couple of years.  He never let up, he never quit.  He even visited his hometown in Italy recently.  Franco was a one-of-a-kind with a personality as big as his work ambition.

Dayton is paying tribute to Franco today, Wednesday March 28th, we will toast Franco and all are invited.  The event will be held at 5pm at FRANCO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 824 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402

Click here to see Franco’s obituary and funeral arrangements scheduled for April 2nd and 3rd, 2018.

The Big Ragu last visited with Franco at a retirement party for his longtime bartender/server Rick Busch.  It was quite a Food Adventure.  We got to sit and spend a couple of hours talking with Franco, and we were grateful.  If you have ever had a conversation with Franco, then you know what we mean when we say it was priceless.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the LIFE OF FRANCO GERMANO:

— Franco was best known for his “Franco’s Italian Restaurant” which he opened in 1976.  It has been an anchor in the Oregon District ever since.

Franco with 2 of his grandchildren

— Franco Germano was born in Italy and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960’s.  After a stint in the United States army, he began washing dishes at a local restaurant.  But he had dreams of one day opening his own place, with his own family recipes.

—Franco’s hometown was Duronia, Italy.  He had a huge aerial photo of his hometown on the wall of his restaurant which he referred to often.

— The native Italian was a very active member in various parts of the Dayton sports community.  His passion for playing soccer led him from adult leagues  to helping coach at Carroll High School.  Franco was also a football fan and was known for his passion for the Cincinnati Bengals and legendary tailgate parties.  He supported his favorite  local sports teams like the Dayton Dragons and UD Flyers Basketball as well.

—His restaurant is known for his “World Famous Spaghetti Dish,” which is an olive oil based mushroom sauce tossed in pasta.  Manicotti, Lasagna, and Calamari are other favorites on the menu.

Wed March 28th, 2018 5pm Francos restaurant will celebrate

SIDE NOTE FROM THE BIG RAGU:
Being a fellow Italian it was always fun seeing Franco.  I met him first in 2000, but had only started talking to him in the past few years.  He treated me like he knew me his whole existence.  We would talk about our family roots in Italy.  Franco would ask me questions about my heritage and I would ask him questions about Italy.  If we weren’t talking food or family, we always talked Bengals, Flyers Mens Basketball and local golf courses.  We also chatted about other local Italians we knew and the circles where most Italians hung out.  Franco was always very happy to hear how much we enjoyed his food.  I loved watching him cook on Living Dayton, and we talked about cooking recipes frequently.  He usually had a joke or a phrase during the conversation that was a memorable piece of advice.  It was fascinating to hear his life stories and I tried to learn from his experiences.  Our humble blog pays homage to a Dayton legend.  Thank you Franco, for over 4 decades of dedication.  We will miss you.

Follow Food Adventures on FACEBOOK HERE.

Enjoy our gallery below of great memories of Franco’s.

Franco’s World Famous Spaghetti

The Front of the legendary Franco’s

Italian Beer- Cheers to Franco’s accomplishments!

Another Italian Beer – here is the Franco! Salut!

Cheese Ravioli

Hometown Photo

Pasta and hot pepper flakes

Seating in the bar area

Calamari and toast

Dessert

Opened Oct 26 1976, over 4 decades of success!

Manicotti at Franco’s

 

 

McCoy on Movies: READY PLAYER ONE

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Steven Spielberg delivers a visually stunning arcade experience long on
optical treats with his adaptation of Ready Player One

“This is probably not the right time to work on our Kid N’ Play kickstep dance moves, huh?!” Samantha (Olivia Cooke) and Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) in a scene from Warner Bros. Pictures’, Amblin Entertainment’s and Village Roadshow Pictures’ action adventure READY PLAYER ONE, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Credit: Jaap Buitendijk © 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Village Roadshow Films North America, Inc. and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment, LLC. – U.S. Canada, Bahamas & Bermuda.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 

 


 

 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Tye Sheridan, Mark Rylance, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, T.J. Miller, Lena Waithe, Hannah John-Kamen, Simon Pegg, Philip Zao, Win Morisaki, Susan Lynch and Ralph Ineson

WRITER(S): Zak Penn and Ernest Cline (screenplay); Ernest Cline (based on the novel by)

DIRECTOR(S): Steven Spielberg 

 
WEB SITE: http://readyplayeronemovie.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Based on Ernest Cline’s immensely popular best-selling book of the same name, Ready Player One stars Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, a young man living in 2045 Columbus, Ohio. With most of society in a state of dystopia for unknown reasons, Wade lives in a slum known simply as “The Stacks” with his aunt (Susan Lynch) and her less-than-stellar current boyfriend (Ralph Ineson). And like many people, Wade spends most of his time by playing in an online video game system known as “The Oasis.” The creation of the eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance), the Oasis is more than just an online video game network, it’s the escape from reality of choice for just about everyone. 


And then Halliday dies – leaving behind a challenge that prompts just about any and everyone to log on to the Oasis: Find three keys and unlock an Easter egg that will result in the winner being given all the rights to Oasis. 


Wade – better known by his online avatar of Parzival  – is determined to win the prize as is his online best friend Aech (Lena Waithe) and fellow gamers Daito (Win Morisaki) and Sho (Phillip Zhao). But he’s not counting on is the presence of Art3mis (Olivia Cooke) and Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn); for whereas Art3mis is hoping to find the egg for a positive purpose, Sorrento is hoping to win to give his company Innovative Online Industries (IOI for short) the ability to monetize the Oasis and basically run the world. And since Sorrento has the help of I-Rok (T.J. Miller) to help him, the odds are heavily stacked against Parzival.


But then again, what’s a good video game without some impossible odds to overcome?

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who love Spielberg’s 80s work; those who love video games; those who liked the book and will be excited to see it brought to life on the big screen; fans of The Shining; people who love seeing 80s and 90s pop culture hidden like video game Easter eggs throughout a film

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People hoping for more details from the book; those who have zero interest in gaming, especially online gaming; parents upset that you can have one f-bomb in a movie and still receive a PG-13 film rating

SO IS IT GOOD, BAD OR JUST AWFUL? A film that feels visually built for generations of video game enthusiasts while blending in elements of classic Steven Spielberg films, Ready Player One is a visual masterpiece … With just enough acting behind it to back up that optical appeal.


Make no mistake about it, Ready Player One follows a lot of classic Spielberg young actor-led films to a “T,” just in a modern (or futuristic, if you will) setting with eye-popping visuals. Almost like the veteran director’s own Avatar, the digital scenes in One are amazing. The race and Shining sequences are nearly worth the price of admission alone, showcasing the type of imagery the creators of 4K Ultra HD must have dreamed of while perfecting the technology. 


Visuals aside, Ready Player One delivers an easily digestible story that, as mentioned above, has all the elements of a Spielberg young-actor driven story: 

  1. A young man who’s disconnected and/or has lost the adults in his life (√);
  2. A young girl that is going to make that young man come out of his comfort zone and/or mature once he gets over his own nerves (√);
  3. A group of fellow, young misfits that will assist our hero along the way (√);
  4. A villain with cartoonish qualities (note: this is ONLY in Spielberg films where the protagonist is young and not Indiana Jones style affairs) (√); AND
  5. A sympathetic, simple older character (a la Goonies) that seems out of place in the real world and needs the young protagonist(s) to understand him or her (√).
Sheridan proves himself capable in his human and avatar form of moving the story forward, but it’s really a team effort as he is at his best when interacting with his fellow gamers – especially when in avatar form. Of course, if you are not up on gamer culture or your 80s references, much of the fun of One will likely be lost on you as a lack of a frame of reference will severely hurt your understanding.
If it seems like I’m not saying too much about the story or the acting therein, there is a reason: While competent, the film is more an ensemble piece of technology and story held together by the compelling (if not “here’s my depiction of the ultimate sweetheart nerd’) performance of Rylance and the fascinating, engaging world of the Oasis. TJ Miller nearly steals the show as Sorrento’s avatar hitman I-Rok, delivering his trademark sarcastic quips with humorous fury whenever he gets a chance. That’s what ultimately makes the movie more of a great visual experience than an emotional one: One’s characters are better developed in the digital world than in its real one, even though that’s the one the film attempts to get you to embrace.
Then again, the film is fun enough to forgive those foibles and keep you plugged in from start to finish that Ready Player One will likely be a multi-player experience audiences will enjoy for years to come.

 

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

 

10 ?s with Chef Aaron Watson

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There’s a new face in the kitchen at the Dayton Convention Center, Chef Aaron Watson.  Technically he’s employed by Spectra by Comcast Spectacor, who handles the food service for the Center.

Prior to his recent move to Dayton Watson was the Executive Chef of Babalu Tapas and Tacos in Lexington, KY.  Owner Al Roberts described Watson as “very talented and energetic and outgoing with the public.”   He also described Watson as “very emphatic about working with local suppliers and  he built invaluable relationships with producers of local agriculture.”

Chef describes himself  as an over achiever, with hands on experience managing high volume kitchens, which is a good thing since his first big event in his new kitchen at the Convention Center will be the 2018 Delta Sigma Theta Debutante Ball this weekend for over 1000 guests.

Watson earned his Associates of Applied Business in Hospitality Management as well as Restaurant Marketing, Professional Chef and Human Resource and Management Certifications from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.

 

To help you get to know the new Chef in town, we asked him to answer our 10 ? interview and here’s what he had to say:

 

Duck Breast/Five Grain Rice Pilaf/Lemon Sabayon/Citrus Balsamic/Asparagus

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

Duck

What ingredient do you dread?

Vegetable Base…!

What’s your favorite dish to make?

Ossobuco

What’s your favorite pig out food?

Tacos

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

I’ve only been in Dayton for about 2 weeks. But I look forward to seeing what the food scene has to offer.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?

Volunteer to cook for a weekend at a local fine dining restaurant. It will be a life changing experience

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

Will Smith, Kim Jong Un, Dalai lama, Linda Blair. Reason: Pure entertainment value!

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?

Eddy Tancredi

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?

Biking, Hiking, Camping, Bush craft

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:

A fellow cook at the time had been working very long hours for over a week. Mainly shifts he had picked up to gain extra money. Stress was surmounting due to him working a second job and also holding the position of Pastor at a local Church. One night he comes over to me and asks if I can close his station so he can leave early. I told him I had been busy all night and have a lot to do closing my station already. He asked several other people to no avail. He then began yelling that no one will help him and then completely freaked! He started throwing hand fulls of baked potatoes into the oven with cans of Vegaline, threatening to blow us up. He than began slinging pans of ketchup and bbq sauce all over the walls while yelling about us not being a team. One of the cooks ran off the line in fear to get a manager from the FOH. At that point, the cook then scurried to gather all the hotel pans from the floor, emptied the oven of potatoes and pan spray. Then he ran in the back to the mop sink, grabbed the water hose and sprayed all the sauce off the walls, squigied the floor and stood in front of his station as if nothing ever happened? The manager finally comes back to the kitchen with an anxiety filled expression and sees everything running as usual. That was the day we all realized just how crazy Ed actually was! Things never felt quite as safe after that…

Male Revue Mania

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Hey ladies- if you like men in uniforms, cowboys, firemen, and guys who can move, then the male revue is the show for you.  But don’t expect the costumes to stay on for long- at they quickly strip the layers down to next to nothing, slicked with baby oil and gyrating muscles, as women scream, laugh and stuff singles in their g-strings. These  male dance revues are a great way to celebrate ladies’ night, a birthday, a bachelorette party, or a divorce, and these three upcoming events are ready to give you  a well-deserved night out.   So grab the gals, load up on the single and get ready for a night of hard abs, cute faces, sexy moves, and stripping dudes!

Friday, March 30th 8pm at Oddbody’s
The STUDS OF STEEL 

Doors open for seating at 7pm.  This show is 18 and over. Purchase tickets online.

Watch your favorite fantasies come to life through visual story lines, state-of-the-art lighting, sound design, theatrical performances and next-generation special effects that captivate the senses and inspire a unique and fun level of fan interaction. Studs of Steel Live is designed with the desires of contemporary women in mind, featuring a talented line-up of stunning studs sure to appeal to a variety of tastes.

VIP Stage Seating $30
100 seats are being reserved in front of the stage for this event. Only patrons with the VIP tickets will be allowed entry into this section for prime viewing of the show.

General Admission $20
These are general admission tickets, any remaining seating in the venue will be on a first come and first serve basis. These tickets will NOT have access to the VIP seating section in front of the stage.

DMM Tip:  Checkout the Groupon deal here.

Wednesday, April 4th 8pm at Wiley’s Comedy Club

Fifty Shades of Men Presents American Dream Men Tour

This show is 18 and over with a Two-item minimum purchase per person required.

When the music comes on, the sexy studs of the Dream Men Tour whip off their shirts and send audiences into a frenzy. The high-energy show pulses with excitement and abs as the dancers—many of them former Chippendales—pluck members of the crowd out of their seats for a little one-on-one attention.

VIP Seating $25

General Admission $20

DMM Tip:  Checkout the Groupon deal here.

 

 

 

Saturday, May 5th 9pm

Body Kings Pre-Mother’s Day Male Review

at Deja Vu Hall 4321 Salem Ave
doors open at 7pm.  Call Ryan for tickets 937-248-7370

General Admission $25 Table of 6 for $120

3 Doors Down and Collective Soul Tour Comes to Rose Music Center

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With more than 30 million albums sold, 18 million digital single sales, billions of streams and 12 iconic hits combined, 3 Doors Down and Collective Soul are inviting fans aboard The Rock & Roll Express Tour this summer. The amphitheater outing will kick off July 6 in Atlanta, GA and travel to 36 cities across North America, including a stop in Huber Heights, OH at Rose Music Center on Wednesday, August 8th.

 

Citi® is the official pre-sale credit card of The Rock & Roll Express Tour. As such, Citi® cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, March 27th at 10am local time until Thursday, March 29th at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass® program. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com.

3 Doors Down and Collective Soul will be offering their own VIP packages, which include band meet and greets, exclusive merch, and much more. More information can be found at www.3doorsdown.com and www.collectivesoul.com.

“Collective Soul and 3 Doors Down, that’s a big night of hits!! I’m looking forward to hopping on the Rock & Roll Express this summer, gonna be fun!” said Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down.

“It’s going to be an exciting summer! Not only are we going to be out with a great band, but also some great friends. I look forward to seeing everyone come out and rock with us and 3 Doors Down” said Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

Grammy Award®-nominated multi-Platinum Mississippi rock band 3 Doors Down has been captivating audiences around the world for nearly two decades. With 20 million albums sold globally, their success has been fueled by hits including “Kryptonite,” “When I’m Gone,” “Here Without You,” and “It’s Not My Time.”

Collective Soul rose to international fame in 1993 with the rock anthem “Shine.” The multi-Platinum quintet has a catalog of #1 hits under their belts that has helped shape and define alternative rock. They’ve sold over 20 million records worldwide and continue to average over one million Spotify streams per month. They were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2009. The band’s latest live album, LIVE, was released December 8, 2017 on Suretone Records.

Collective Soul will also perform at 3 Doors Down’s 15th Annual “The Better Life Foundation Concert” this fall. The event will take place at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC for the third year in a row on October 27th. To date, The Better Life Foundation has donated over $3 Million dollars to veterans, children, women’s and humanitarian relief efforts domestically and around the globe.

Tickets for the Huber Heights show will go on sale to the public beginning 11am on Friday, March 30th at www.Ticketmaster.com andwww.Rosemusiccenter.com. Charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000. *Ticket prices include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees.  Dates, times and artists subject to change without notice. All events rain or shine.

 

Ted Nugent Coming To The Rose

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Motor City Madman Ted Nugent will bring The Music Made Me Do It Tour to Rose Music Center in Huber Heights, OH on Tuesday, July 24th.

Ted Nugent has carved a permanent place in rock & roll history as the ultimate guitar-shredding showman, selling more than 40 million albums, performing over 6,500 high-octane live shows, and continuing to set attendance records at venues around the globe.

Nugent was named Detroit’s Greatest Guitar Player of All Time by readers of MLive, and his no-holds-barred career spans five decades of multi-platinum hits. From the ground breaking Amboy Dukes’ hit “Journey to the Center of the Mind,” to classics like “Stranglehold” (ranked in the Top 100 Classic Rock Songs and #1 Guitar Lick), “Cat Scratch Fever,” (32nd Best Hard Rock Song of All Time) Damn Yankees chartbuster “High Enough,” and cult classic “Fred Bear,” (the most requested song for radio airplay in Michigan & Wisconsin), Ted and his inimitable sound have been featured on VH1’s Behind the Music, A & E’s Biography and more.

For millions of passionate music lovers everywhere, Ted delivers the Ultimate Life Soundtrack. A Ted Nugent show is not just a performance—it’s a fire-breathing celebration!

 

Tickets for the Huber Heights show will go on sale to the public beginning 11am on Friday, March 30th at www.Ticketmaster.com andwww.Rosemusiccenter.com. Charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000. *Ticket prices include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees.  All events rain or shine.

Going Vegan, Going Out

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When my girlfriend and I committed to going vegan in 2014, we were concerned about where to eat out in the Dayton area. Turns out, Dayton is very vegan friendly (and more vegan friendly than a lot of other Midwestern towns). Most restaurants have some vegan option, be it a black bean burger, portabella sandwich, or hummus, but over the last 3-4 years, we’ve found a list of places in the Miami Valley that are very vegan friendly, either with a dedicated vegan menu or by making a few easy substitutions to menu items. Below are our frequent haunts, but this list is by no means exhaustive.

 

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Vegan Almond Joy Muffins

Start your day off right with a plant-based breakfast. There are a variety of places for vegans to brunch in the Miami Valley.

Although you might not suspect it from their name, Butter Café (1106 Brown St; Dayton, OH 45409) features an array of breakfast staples, including the best vegan pancakes in Dayton. And their lunch menu stars one of the Midwest’s tastiest vegan Reuben sandwiches.  As of March 30th, 2018, the Café also offers a late night walk-up window on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

Christopher’s oven roasted root vegetables and blistered tomatoes over pesto linguine. Garnished with fresh Italian parsley and pecans.

Christopher’s Restaurant and Catering (2318 E. Dorothy Ln.; Kettering OH 45420) has been a cornerstone of the Dayton area’s vegetarian and vegan set for years. While many establishments offer a tofu scramble, our favorite is the one at Christopher’s. And also Christopher’s has a full lunch and dinner menu and every Wednesday from 5-9pm, Chef Don prepares a new vegan special.

 

For an active weekend, start with brunch at Yellow Spring’s Sunrise Café (259 Xenia Ave; Yellow Springs, OH 45387). They feature a number of vegan breakfast plates, but make sure you try their homemade breakfast patties—they are unlike any other local vegan sausages. After eating, spend the day exploring Glen Helen or ducking in and out of the shops in town. If you find yourself still in the area at dinnertime, head back to Sunrise for their vegan dinner entrees as well as their craft cocktails.

 

Grub With A Pint

Lucky’s roasted red pepper linguini with fresh spinach, tomato and white onion. Topped with fresh basil.

Speaking of drinks, our favorite vegan-friendly establishment is Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery (520 E 5th St; Dayton, OH 45402).

Lucky’s does pub grub at its best and offers a large selection of both vegan and non-vegan dishes, as well as one of the best craft beer lists in town. They have a dedicated vegetarian grill and deep fryer, make their own seitan, garbanzo bean burgers, and quinoa patties, and grow much of their own organic produce. In late 2017, Lucky’s added faux chicken to their menu, updated their bread selections so that all breads are vegan, and made other menu updates to enhance their vegan selections. While the seitan cobra burger is an old favorite, I now gravitate towards the vegan chicken and waffles, while my girlfriend  craves the vegan friend chicken sandwich smothered in buffalo sauce and vegan cheddar. Not up for a full meal? Try the seitan nuggets or the vegan chili cheese fries. They also have reliable vegan selections for weekend brunch and feature Meatless Mondays specials every week.

Hairless Hare Brewery, located near the Dayton airport in Vandalia, is a great spot for pint before or after a trip out of town. About a year ago, they rolled out a vegan pizza line, making it a great spot for vegans and non-vegans alike.

Spent Grain Grill, located within Warped Wing Brewing Company’s taproom (26 Wyandot Street; Dayton, OH 45402), also features vegan-friendly pub food. Their loose grain sandwiches, made with spent brewing grains, are an innovative meat-free alternative to loose meat sandwiches. Or try one of their tacos. And don’t forget the tots.

 

 Last summer brought Melt Bar and Grilled to the Fairfield Commons mall. This Cleveland-based regional chain offers vegan (and non-vegan) grilled cheese sandwiches and makes many of their own vegan proteins, such as their seitan, tofu bacon, and vegan meatloaf. Their regular menu flags a lot of vegan options, but ask for the vegan menu,which extends the vegan selections and provides a lot of items you might not think can be made vegan. Don’t pass up the vegan Buffalo wings with vegan ranch.

The delicious vegan cheeseless “marinara” pizza with added veggies including lemon vinaigrette dressed arugula (ask that the dressing is kept dairy free) from Old Scratch Pizza, located at 812 S Patterson Blvd, in Dayton can hit the spot if you’re craving a pizza.

 

Trolley Stop in the Oregon District, (530 E 5th St; Dayton Ohio 45402) They have a great vegan red beans and rice and some really nice seitan, especially in their tacos.

 

Vietnamese Noodle Salad with grilled tofu.

Dressed Up Vegan

Looking for something fancier than pub food? Check out Meadowlark Restaurant (Lamplighter Square Shopping Center, 5531 Far Hills Ave; Dayton, OH 45429). Although their dishes skew omnivore, their revolving menu always includes one high-end vegan entree, and the knowledge staff is adept and helpful at navigating possible substitutions to ensure a high level of choice in dining. Stay for dessert—Meadowlark makes their own vegan peanut brittle and vegan ice cream that is amazing.

 

Wheat Penny Oven & Bar in the Oregon District (515 Wayne Avenue; Dayton, Ohio 45410) is the sister restaurant to Meadowlark and specializes in high-end pizzas, as well as plated entrees. Start your meal with the eggplant fries (just skip the yogurt sauce). All of their unique pizzas can be made with vegan cheese (including vegan cashew ricotta). Not feeling pizza? Try the cauliflower t-bone, which is poached, then grilled like a steak.

Polenta & Roasted Mushroom Ragout | caramelized fennel | roasted oyster mushroom | roasted tomato | creamy vegan polenta at Corner Kitchen

Corner Kitchen (613 E 5th St; Dayton, OH 45403), also in the Oregon District, is another vegan fine-dining staple. Like Meadowlark, they cater to all dining preferences, but they do a fantastic job of labeling dishes that can be made vegan and/or gluten free. A variety of small plate options pepper the menu, but for dinner, we like the polenta & roasted mushroom ragout.

Though Mudlick Tap House is fairly meat-forward, they also offer a great vegan option worth seeking out. Leave the cheese and aioli off the White Bean Tabbouleh Burger, or opt for a full entrée with the Sweet Potato and Kale Curried hash.

 

For the International Palate

Many international foods can be made easily vegan, especially Indian, Pho, and Middle Eastern. Similarly, most Mexican restaurants have vegetarian sections on their menu and can be made vegan by leaving off the cheese and sour cream. We like the taco salad and veggie huarache at Taqueria Mixteca (1609 E 3rd St; Dayton, OH 45403) or the veggie fajitas at any of the area El Rancho Grande restaurants (multiple locations).

Nanya Cafe combo plate

Dayton’s only Ethiopian eatery, Nanya Café in Dayton at 5214 N. Main Street, is a great option for delicious fresh vegan dining. The owner herself is vegan, and happy to help you explore the menu.  The Ethiopian coffee she serves up is also a don’t miss.

Thai food can also easily be made vegan, since most Thai restaurants include tofu as a protein choice. Thai 9 (11 Brown St; Dayton, OH 45402) offers the broadest vegan selection, since they never use fish sauce and have mock chicken and mock duck in addition to tofu. Thai 9’s atmosphere makes it an easy upscale dinner or lunch choice, even with non-vegan friends.

Singapore Noodles at Siam Pad Thai

For take-out Thai, we usually stick to Siam Pad Thai (3027 Wilmington Pike; Kettering, OH 45429). They do use fish sauce and egg, but will happily leave them off and the dishes don’t suffer as a result.

Arepas & Co now has several locations around town and offers a variety of vegan options. The vegan empanadas a great late-night treats, but don’t skimp on the platters with the fried plantains.

Food Trucks and Quick Food 

Several area food-trucks carry notable vegan options. Try Harvest Mobile Cuisine’s falafel fusion, which is a blend of burger and middle-eastern (but skip the tzatziki sauce). Drunken Waffle makes a throwback to childhood—vegan corn dogs, and Zombie Dogz carries vegan hotdogs in both their food truck and their storefront (1200 Brown St #150; Dayton, OH 45409). Although Pa’s Pork is an unlikely name for a truck with a great vegan option, they regularly offer BBQ tofu worth seeking out.

 

In addition to being a great place to pick up ingredients for cooking at home, 2nd Street Market (600 E 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45402) hosts several restaurants with vegan options, including The Chef Case and Azra’s Mediterranean Cuisine.  

 

Bibibop bowl

Vegans already know that Chipotle is a quick vegan staple, but a couple of other local fast casual restaurants also feature vegan-friendly grab-and-go cuisine. Fusian’s (multiple locations) roasted tofu replaces raw fish in their sushi rolls, and their company ethos is very vegan-compatible. The newly opened Bibibop Asian Grill (1200 Brown St; Dayton, OH 45409) also offers hearty fare with lots of fresh veggies in their take on a traditional Korean staple. Or try the very similar Kupbop at 3011 Woodman Drive in the Kettering Town Center.

 

 

Because Vegans Need Dessert, Too

Plant-based baked goods used to be trickier to find. Not anymore. We’ve already mentioned Lucky’s extensive vegan menu and it should be no surprise that they frequently carry vegan dessert. Butter Café also sells vegan cupcakes and cookies (we get them to-go and eat them at home later, since we’re always full from breakfast).  Whole Foods is a vegan shoppers dream, and we always opt for their vegan donuts and vegan ginger snaps as a snack while we shop.

Vegan Hazelnut Mocha Torte & a Vanilla Bean Gibraltar at Ghostlight Coffee.o and eat them at home later, since we’re always full from breakfast).

Need to caffeinate? Treat yourself to a cookie or muffin along with your vegan latte at Ghostlight Coffee (1201 Wayne Ave; Dayton, OH 45410). They have their own production kitchen and make a variety of baked goods, including vegan pies for the holidays (those are special order, so watch their Facebook page for details.)

And finally, treat your sweet tooth with a cupcake from Purely Sweet Bakery (3375 Dayton-Xenia Rd; Beavercreek, Ohio 45432). Once occupying a booth in 2nd Street Market, they’ve now moved into their own space in Beavercreek. You can special order cupcakes (including lemon cheesecake, buckeye, and more) and they do great cakes, including wedding cakes.  You can also  find them at Dorothy Lane Markets around town.

Other Resources

Dayton has a diverse and broad vegan community, so two other resources that we’ve found helpful are the VeganDayton Facebook and Meetup group (www.meetup.com/vegandayton) and Happy Cow. The Facebook group provides vegan tips, support, and events in a non-judgmental format. We’ve found it to be a fantastic source of news, including restaurant specials and food events. Happy Cow’s website offers a more comprehensive list of vegan and vegan-friendly places in not only the Miami Valley, but also across the country. Combined with a vegan filter on Yelp, we’ve used it to find fantastic vegan grub everywhere we’ve traveled.

 

Updated in March 2018.

Easter Brunch Options 2018

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On Easter Sunday leave your candy at home and hop on down the bunny trail to one of these restaurants serving up brunch or  lunch. Most require or strongly recommend reservations, so make yours as soon as possible.  This top section includes eateries with plated options, then scroll on down to see the buffet brunches.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Butter Cafe
April 1 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

The Easter Bunny will be here from 7am-3pm with us   Our eggs are always local and free range, our…

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3 course Easter Brunch

Carvers Steaks and Chops
April 1 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
$35

The three-course Easter brunch includes one choice from each course. Soup or Salad course: lobster bisque, spinach salad with honey…

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Ellie’s Restaurant Easter Brunch

Ellie’s Restaurant & Bakery, at the Mills Park Hot
April 1 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

This restaurant inside the Mills Park Hotel will be serving raspberry almond pancakes, smoked ham benedict and special bakery delights…

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Special Easter Menu

The Golden Lamb
April 1 @ 11:00 am – 6:30 pm

This historic, nationally-renowned restaurant is hosting a special Easter menu, including delicious drinks like Bumbleberry Soda and Maple Peach Spritzer.…

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Easter Sunday – Brunch & Fried Chicken Dinner

Lily’s Bistro
April 1 @ 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Join Lily’s for Brunch and Fried Chicken dinner on Easter Sunday, April 1st! Brunch is from 10am-3pm and then Chicken…

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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
April 1 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
$47

On Easter Sunday, join us for a three-course brunch starting at 10am, including a special children’s menu. Bring the whole…

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All You Can Buffet Brunch’s

Easter Brunch

The Caroline
April 1 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
$26

Join us for Easter Brunch at The Caroline on Sunday, April 1st for a delicious Easter Brunch from 10 am – 2 pm!…

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Easter Day Brunch Buffet

View 162 Restaurant & Lounge at Crowne Plaza Hotel
April 1 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
$28.95

We will be hosting our annual Easter Day Brunch Buffet, on Easter Sunday, April 1st from 10 am- 3pm. We…

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Easter Brunch Buffet

The Florentine Restaurant
April 1 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
$14

You asked we listened, we are open for Easter Brunch Buffet featuring all your favorites and more. $14 per adult…

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