Dayton937

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

Archives for September 2018

Salar Is Reopening!

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After a devastating fire that forced the local restaurant to shut down temporarily, Salar Restaurant and Lounge, located at 400 E. Fifth St. in Dayton, Ohio, will once again welcome the public on Sept. 27, beginning with three days of soft opening activities from Thursday through Saturday, followed by a grand opening party on Sept. 30 and regular service on Oct. 1.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has helped us rejoin Dayton’s culinary scene,” says Salar owner and executive chef Margot Blondet. “Everyone involved in reopening this labor of love has worked extremely hard to get us cooking again. We’re back with renewed energy and creativity as we provide the city’s residents and visitors a beautiful restaurant to gather with family, friends and colleagues to create new memories.”

The soft opening days will serve as fundraisers for Dayton Children’s Hospital’s Burn Program to help provide burn kits to families in-need that financially cannot afford to purchase the necessary medical supplies to treat injuries. Tickets are priced $10 per person, not including food, beverage, tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made online at salarrestaurant.com/event-tickets; space will be limited. Blondet has curated a selection of fan-favorite dishes for the soft opening days.

Salar with celebrate its grand opening with a special event on Sept. 30 from 5-7 pm. Tickets are required and can be made online at salarrestaurant.com/event-tickets. Complimentary food, beverages and live entertainment will enliven the ambiance. Salar will remain open until 9:30 pm, offering a select number of dishes and cocktails that restaurant fans have come to love.

Beginning Oct. 1, Salar will be open seven days a week. The bar will open at 4 pm and the kitchen will be open at 5 pm daily. More information regarding hours will be available at salarrestaurant.com.

Museum Day Offers Free Admission Saturday

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Saturday is Museum Day, a time when people are admitted free to participating museums across the country hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. The Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people on Saturday, September 22, 2018

There are several participating museums in the Miami Valley, including:

Springfield Museum of Art (Ohio) (shown above)

Since 1946, the Springfield Museum of Art in Springfield, OH has served the region as a premier destination for the promotion, preservation, study, and appreciation of historical and contemporary American artwork.

107 Cliff Park Rd
Springfield, Ohio 45504

Museum Hours:

Wednesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm
Sundays 12:30-4:30pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday

 

 Garst Museum 

The Garst Museum contains exhibits about Annie Oakley, Lowell Thomas, Native American culture, local military activities, pioneer life and prehistory. There is also a display of two streets of old village shops. America is presented through a wide range of artifacts. There is a Treaty room with over 1,000 artifacts, including the Treaty of Green Ville. The Lowell Thomas Birthplace was moved to the museum grounds and is open on weekends in the summer. The museum also features a genealogy library operated by the Darke County Genealogical Society and a gift shop

2o5 N Broadway St.
Greenville, OH 45331

Tues – Sat 10am – 4pm
Sun 1pm – 4pm

Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum

 Dedicated to the preservation of Bradford, Ohio’s railroad heritage, the railroad was once a significant part of Bradford’s economy, employing many who manned the trains, worked in the switching yards and in the roundhouse where steam locomotives were kept and serviced between runs.

The museum has restored Bradford’s former Pennsylvania Railroad BF interlocking tower and opened a museum in the former bank building. The museum contains photos and displays that will allow the visitor to journey through Bradford’s railroad history.

200 N Miami Ave
Bradford, Ohio
Hours:
Saturdays 10am-3pm  April through October
Or by appointment: Call  937-552-2196

 

For your free tickets, go to https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/museum-day-2018/

Family Friendly Show with Comedian Greg Warren

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Comedian Greg Warren is a favorite on the Bob & Tom radio show who has also appeared on “The Late Late Show” and “Comedy Central Presents.”  I’ve known Greg since back in the day when he was an emcee at my old club Jokers Comedy Cafe, when he still had a full time job at Procter & Gamble where he managed Jif Peanut Butter and Pringles.
When he told me was quitting his day job to become a comic full time I was nervous for him. But I needn’t have been.  Greg moved up quickly in the comedy world, and in 2002 he was tapped to appear at the Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in 2002.  He appeared on the New Faces of Comedy showcase and then went on to earn an appearance on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.
In 2009 he had his own Comedy Central Presents  1/2 hour special.  Taped at the Hudson Theatre in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, I still remember sitting in the audience of that  taping, so proud of the comic he’d become since his early Jokers days.
Here’s one of his most famous bits from his early days:  FluteMan

He’s continued to grow as a comic, adding appearing on BET’s Coming to the Stage on CMT Comedy Stage, on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and CBS’s The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as well as being heard on Sirius/XM Comedy.  His comedy albums  Running Out of Time(Sept 2013) and One Star Wonder(June 2009) hit #3 and #6 respectively in iTunes Top Comedy Albums.

He’ll be appearing at the Dayton Funny Bone this weekend this Friday through Sunday for his regular stand up show, but Sunday at 4pm he’ll be doing a special family friendly comedy show.  It’s a rare comic than can do comedy that entertains a late night audience, then turn around and so a show that is family friendly and not cheesy.  Greg has mastered this and you can  check out some of this show and hear what folks think of this show:

 

Catch Greg Warren this weekend:

Dayton Funny Bone at The Greene

88 Plum St, Dayton, OH 45440

Friday & Saturday  7:30 & 10pm

Sunday 7:30pm

Family Friendly Show   Sunday 4pm 

 

Deals for Pepperoni Pizza Day!

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Today, Sept. 20, is National Pepperoni Pizza Day!

Did you know

  • Pepperoni is America’s favorite topping (66%)
  • The other top 3 toppings are sausage (59%), mushrooms (53%) and bacon (51%)
  • 3 percent of Americans would rather eat pizza than have a boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year
  • Super Bowl Sunday is most popular day to eat pizza
  • Halloween is 2nd most popular day to eat pizza
  • The average American consumes 23 pounds of pizza each year

Pizza Deals for National Pepperoni Pizza Day

Pizza Hut
The deal: Buy any large menu-priced pizza and you can grab a $1 medium pepperoni pizza with the code “PEPPERONI2018.”
When: September 20

Domino’s
The deal: Grab the “Mix & Match” offer, which will get you two or more pizzas, pastas, bread bites, boneless chicken wings, and more for $5.99 each.
When: Ongoing

Papa John’s
The deal: Drop the code “PAPATRACK” and you’ll land 25% off any regularly-priced pizza purchased online.
When: Ongoing

Little Caesars
The deal: It’s pepperoni and then some. Get the limited-edition 5 Meat Feast pizza for just $9.
When: Ongoing

Cicis
The deal: Have yourself a pizza party with a medium pepperoni pizza to-go for $3.99. You can grab up to three per order.
When: September 20

We reached out to locally owned pizza stores, but did not get any answers for local deals.

Other Free Food & Deals on National Pepperoni Pizza Day

McDonald’s
The deal: Steer the car toward the Golden Arches because the roadside beacon is offering free fries on Fridays and $1 sandwiches any day from now through September 30. Both deals can be found on the McDonald’s mobile app.
When: Ongoing, but frequency varies by deal

Moe’s Southwest Grill
The deal: It’s Free Queso Day, and that means everyone is getting free queso and chips just for stopping into Moe’s.
When: September 20

Wendy’s
The deal: For a limited time, you can treat yourself to a 50-cent Frosty. You should probably dip some of those free fries from Ronald into the Frosty.
When: Ongoing

Dairy Queen
The deal: Use the DQ app to land a burger and a Blizzard for just $4. Hurry, before blizzards are a dirty word again. (And don’t forget you can get a totally free Blizzard for downloading the DQ mobile app.)
When: Ongoing

Panda Express
The deal: To celebrate the return of the Panda’s Honey Sesame Chicken Breast, get $3 off any online order of $5 or more with the code “HONEYISBACK.”
When: Through October 31

Jersey Mike’s
The deal: Every day this month you can get 10% off your order and a chance to win college football tickets when you use the code “SUBABOVE10.”
When: Through September 30

Making a Difference in Dayton: Jonathan Platt & Story Chain

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Story Chain started 3 years ago to help alleviate the loss and abandonment felt by children of parents who are incarcerated. Jonathan Platt was inspired by a Daddy and Me program in New York City.  In 2015 he began volunteering at the Dayton Correctional Institute with PowerNet.  That organization, led by Craig Powell, was dedicated to giving leadership skills to incarcerated individuals soon to be released.  Platt was able to pilot the Story Chain program to a class of 7 women who had 11 children.  Together they choose, read, memorize and record books for their children.  The workshops walk the participants step-by step through the process of choosing books appropriate for the the child, discuss the validity and impact, practice diction, rehearse lines and record their work.

Story Chain has tremendous potential to make a lasting impact. By sharing a book, hearing a voice and fostering a feeling of closeness despite the distance, can change the future for children of incarcerated parents.  This project was chosen at the UpDayton Summit to move forward and has received a grant from the Dayton Rotary Foundation to help fund it.

Want to find out more about this project?  

Join Jonathan Platt at Mudlick Tap House tonight from 6:30-8pm on the second floor  get important information about Story Chain visits starting soon at the Greene County Jail.

If you cannot attend and are still interested in helping with jail visits, or helping outside of jail with getting the MP3s to the children and their caretakers, simply post contact info below and Jonathan will reach out to you.

Nothing Bundt Cake Grand Opening Celebration

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Dayton’s newest bakery hosts their official ribbon cutting today at 11am, just across from Lexis Nexis.  Owners Jeff and Renee Hall chose to open this franchise, one of 260 Nothing Bundt Cake locations across the country, based on it’s commitment to high quality ingredients.   Real eggs, butter and cream cheese are what make their fresh baked bundt cakes so good.

When you walk into their shop, you’ll be greeted by a selection of 8-10 inch cakes, tiered cakes (which can feed up to 30) and miniature bundtlets as well as  bundtinis (bite sized cakes)  by the dozen. You’ll also find a selection of gifts, making this the perfect one-stop shop, where you can pick up cards, candles, balloons and the cake for your celebrations!

On Friday, September 21 cake purchases will benefit BOGG Ministries- the shop will be donating 20% of it’s sales to this local charity that serves the needy here locally.  On Saturday, September 22nd  you’ll want to be one of the first 59 guests in the doors when they open at 9am to win Free Bundtlets For a Year and later that day they will host a Family Fun Celebration from noon to 2pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing Bundt Cakes

9632 Springboro Pike
Miamisburg, Ohio
(937) 505-8484
Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm
Friday 9am – 5pm

Luminaries of Dayton: William Judkins Conklin, M. D.

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William Judkins Conklin, A. M., M. D., was born in Sidney, Ohio on December 1, 1844. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1866. He began the study of medicine with his father, Dr. H. S. Conklin, one of the most prominent physicians of the Miami Valley and graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in the spring of 1868.

In 1869, the Detroit Medical College placed upon him the ad eundem degree, a courtesy degree awarded by one university or college to an alumnus of another. In May, he was appointed assistant physician of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane, a position he held until December 1871 when he resigned to accept a partnership with Dr. J. C. Reeve. In 1876, he was appointed by Governor R. B. Hayes a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dayton Asylum for the Insane. From 1875 to 1886, he was a member of the faculty of Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio, first as professor of physiology and afterward as professor of the diseases of children. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Society, the State Sanitary Association, and the Montgomery County Medical Society. He was also a member of the surgical staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital and was also in association with Miami Valley Hospital.

Dr. Conklin was a frequent contributor to both medical and literary journals. In Dayton, he served as Director of the Merchants National Bank. In 1875, Dr. Conklin married Catherine Beckel, daughter of Daniel Beckel. Their son, Dr. Daniel Beckel Conklin, was associated with him in his medical practice.

William Judkins Conklin died on October 31, 1916. He is located in Section 52 Lot 1167.

El Toro’s Taco Tuesday Taking Dayton by Storm

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We splashed some free salsa on these Tacos !

It was 8:20pm on Tuesday night at the El Toro Restaurant across from the Greene with the Food Adventure Crew.  People were lined up in the lobby and jammed in the bar area waiting for a seat.  The hostess said it would be a 20-30 minutes wait.  This is the scene all day at Taco Tuesday, every Tuesday at El Toro Restaurants across the Dayton area.  The feature is $1 Crunchy and Soft Tacos all day.  And it has taken the Dayton area by storm.

 

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON EL TORO’S TACO TUESDAY:

— TACOS are 1 DOLLAR EACH

— Choose CRISPY OR SOFT TACOS

— Choose one of 3 meats: GROUND BEEF, SHREDDED CHICKEN, OR PORK

— Each Taco comes with shredded CHEESE and shredded LETTUCE.  One of our “fat kid tricks,” is pour the free tableside  salsa on your taco too, and of course a drop of the hot sauce in a bottle that sits at each table.

— Taco Tuesday Special is good all day from 11:00am – 10:30pm

Soft Tacos are $1 on Taco Tuesday at El Toro

 

The tacos are delicious and you can fill up for about 4 or 5 bucks and walk out stuffed.  The special price is about a third of what tacos are normally.  Throw in the free chips and salsa and you have a helluva deal and a cheap Food Adventure.    No wonder  El Toro has seen packed houses on Tuesdays.

 

WHERE TO GET $1 TACOS at EL TORO ON “TACO TUESDAYS”:

EL TORO BEAVERCREEK:  1375 North Fairfield Road, Beavercreek, OH 45432

EL TORO BELLBROOK:  4421 State Route 725, Bellbrook, OH 45305

EL TORO CENTERVILLE:  2335 Centerville-Miamisburg Rd., Centerville, OH 45459

EL TORO DAYTON:  2915 Harshman Road, Dayton, OH 45424

EL TORO ENGLEWOOD:  9190 N. Main Street, Englewood, OH 45415

Shredded Chicken and a Beef Crunchy Taco

EL TORO HUBER HEIGHTS:   8321 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights, OH 45424

EL TORO KETTERING:  448 Indian Ripple Road, Kettering, OH 45440

EL TORO MILLER LANE:  6770 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH 45414

EL TORO SPRINGBORO:  710 Gardner Rd., Springboro, OH, 45066

EL TORO SPRINGFIELD 1:  2100 S. Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45505

EL TORO SPRINGFIELD 2 : 2017 N. Bechtle Avenue, Springfield, OH 45503

EL TORO VANDALIA:  794 Northwoods Blvd., Vandalia, OH 45377

 

Not a taco fan or busy on Tuesdays?  May we suggest some of our patented MUST EATS ..

MUST EATS at EL TORO RESTAURANT: 

— GUACAMOLE DIP:
Perfect mix of avocado, onion, tomato and spices. We don’t know how they do it … they just do it.

— DINNER COMBO 18:

Guacamole Dip – the best !

A Chile Relleno, an Enchilada and a Chalupa.  The best of the best other

menu items.

— CHICKEN or STEAK FAJITAS:
Or get them “mixed” and they will include both chicken and steak. The sizzling fresh veggies and that charred taste in a tortilla is second to none. Ask for Sour Cream for sure,  hese.

— SEAFOOD CHIMICHANGAS:
The best ones in town by far.  A nice drizzle of white cheese sauce on top makes it a Tex-Mex Classic.

— Fried Ice Cream
End your night on a high note. A carmelized, honey ice cream creation with drizzled chocolate.

 

OTHER DAILY SPECIALS at EL TORO:

Monday:
12 oz Margaritas – $3.99

Tuesday:
12 oz Margaritas – $3.99

Chicken Fajitas

Wednesday:
24 Oz. Domestic Draft Beers $1.95

Thursday:
Bottled Mexican & Domestic Beers $1.95

Saturday:
Chicken Fajitas $9.99
Kids Meals $3.99

Sunday:
$1.99 Domestic Draft Beers (Budweiser, Bud Light, & Miller Lite)

 

That does it boss, get to El Toro with some hot sauce.  Our tip on Taco Tuesday- hit an early lunch at 11:30am and beat the crowds.

Make sure you get both some crispy and soft tacos.  It will make your Tuesday !

Visit us next week and every week for another Food Adventure article exclusively on Dayton Most Metro !!

Follow Food Adventures on Facebook HERE  

Feel free to browse more potos below and leave a comment…

Chile Relleno

Seafood Chimichanga

Taco, Rice , Enchiladas

Our buddy the King – cant pass up Fried Ice Cream !

Simple Soft Taco

Fish Fajitas

Seafood Chimichangas

Some of the best salsa ever…

Refried Beans and Rice

We doctored these up

Now we added Guac and sour cream

Soft Tacos

Crunchy Tacos with Salsa

Try the crunchy Shredded Chicken and a Beef Taco

The chemistry lab we always wanted

Chips and Salsa

One of the many El Toros

 

Land Acquisition Will Grow Wesleyan MetroPark Nearly 50 Acres

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On August 18 Five Rivers MetroParks closed on a land acquisition deal that will significantly expand the footprint of Wesleyan MetroPark. The land was purchased from the Calvary Mission Church through a Clean Ohio conservation grant and a significant donation from the church.

Grant funds totaled $311,000 and $215,000 was applied to the purchase of the property.

 

“Calvary Mission Church dreamed of this green space becoming a destination where the community could enjoy the outdoors,” said Eric Sauer, MetroParks planning manager. “By incorporating this space into an existing MetroPark, we can expand park amenities and connect trails, in addition to activating the space and making it accessible to the community, which is what the church envisioned.”

 

The 45.8 acres of acquired land contains ponds and portions of the Wolf Creek, which would offer new fishing and recreation opportunities to park visitors. The addition of this land also could help close a portion of a five-mile gap in the Wolf Creek bike trail and allow MetroParks’ conservation team to improve the land’s ecosystems.

 

“As part of MetroParks’ 10-year comprehensive master plan, we asked the community what they want to see from their MetroParks during public site plan meetings,” Sauer said. “We will do the same thing with Wesleyan MetroPark, considering the substantial addition of this new green space.”

 

MetroParks will begin the process over the next several months of cleaning up the space and selecting entrances that ensure neighborhood pedestrians have access to the area. MetroParks rangers will monitor the area, which will be considered one of MetroParks’ conservation areas until a community-based site plan can be completed. These natural areas are managed so that habitat for plants and wildlife take precedence.

 

Wesleyan MetroPark, located at 1441 Wesleyan Road, is home to Adventure Central and is one of Five Rivers MetroParks’ 18 clean, safe parks. Adventure Central is the result of a partnership among Five Rivers MetroParks, The Ohio State University Extension and 4-H Youth Development. Adventure Central’s positive youth development partnership is based on a proven model of long-term commitment and high touch integrated with opportunities to connect with nature. The result: strengthened values, lasting life skills and both an eagerness and confidence to explore life’s possibilities by building trusting and positive relationships with caring adults for the purpose of connecting youth and their parents with nature.

 

Free Family Concert Tonight

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Jim Gill believes in the power of play. The award-winning musician, who will perform a free concert at the Dayton Metro Library, has unique credentials among children’s artists. He is a child development specialist, having completed his graduate studies in child development, with a special emphasis on the study of play. Jim Gill’s Campaign for Play Concert is Tuesday, September 18, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Eichelberger Forum, 215 E. Third Street. The free event is an opportunity for the whole family play together.

A pre-concert storytime activity is offered 5:30-6:00 p.m.

“Families who arrive early can join our pre-concert activity to get geared up for the main event, and each child will get a special gift to take home,” said Julie Buchanan, Programming Manager. “ Advance registration is appreciated for the pre-concert activity. Call (937) 463-2665 or register at DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Events.

 

Jim Gill’s concerts are more than just a show to watch. He strums energetic rhythms on his banjo while the audience claps, sings, and dances to the silly and inspiring musical games he creates. Children, parents, and grandparents are all encouraged to sing and play together.

 

“Mr. Gill is a favorite among Librarians,” said Buchanan. “He has received five separate awards from the American Library Association for his recordings and books over the years.”

 

Gill has seven award-winning CDs of music play for young children. He is also the author of two children’s books. His unique writing style – combining word play and movement into songs – was inspired by 20 years of experience creating and leading play groups for families with children with special needs. He led weekly music play programs at numerous therapeutic and family support agencies in the Chicago area.

 

The Library concert is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Ohio Arts Council and the Crane Group.

 

For more information, visit the Events Calendar at DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Events or call (937) 463-2665.

 

 

Her Talks: The Men Speak

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“I am woman, hear me roar..” – Helen Reddy

And so, women have roared. And women have been heard. For a year, Dayton audiences have listened to the voices of women across the Miami Valley at Empower HER talk show events. Discussing topics ranging from traveling solo to parenthood to entrepreneurship to sexuality, Empower HER has hosted more than a dozen panel conversations. These real life, local, conversations have brought together hundreds of people to hear and be heard.

 

On September 19, 2018, Empower HER will be giving the microphone to men. Empower HER has always encouraged men to attend and participate, believing that the conversation is inclusive. At this one year anniversary special event, they will give men the platform so that their voices, too, will be heard.

 

The panel includes 4 men in the Dayton community who passionately dedicate their time in support of other men.

 

Aaron Paschal, owner of AP2Photography, created a platform for men to share their stories through his photo essay creation, Mortal Man. His work has been published in ESPN the Magazine, Ambition Magazine, Afropunk, CincyMusic and numerous online publications. Husband and father of 2 daughters, Aaron seeks to nurture the women in his life and believes that “being a man doesn’t give you a right to be jerk.”

 

Andrew White, founder of Indigo Life and Indigo Life TV, founded Dudes of Dayton as a way for men in the Dayton area to get together and support one another. Andrew believes that his key to his success is in serving others. With Dudes of Dayton, Andrew is creating a community where “you don’t have to have your shit together.”

 

Antoine Edmonson, hip hop artist, husband and father, creates music that explores the challenges, triumphs, and the mundane of balancing big dreams of touching the world with his music, being an intentional husband, and present father. Antoine admits that he is not perfect and that he is working things out. “I am evolving. I don’t have all the answers. Here is what I have learned.”

 

Tony Cali, owner of an Allstate Insurance Agency for 14 years, husband, and father to two grown sons, has provided service to the community via coaching soccer and softball, active with boy scouts, youth ministry, various business service clubs, and his newest relationship is now developing with Artemis of Dayton. When describing raising his sons, he talked about protecting yourself “without a foul” and having the courage to visualize the paths ahead of you and make a choice.

 

Join Empower HER at this special, one-year anniversary event, on Wednesday September 19, 2018 at 6PM at the new Brightside Event and Music Venue at 905 East Third Street Suite B, Dayton. Tickets run $10 and you can reserve online.

Empower HER was founded by Bridget Flaherty (Purple Shirt) and Jessika Meyer (Orange Shirt) of Dayton, OH. Their friendship sparked this movement with the intention of inspiring women to overcome their challenges and fears by facilitating conversations that remind you that you are not alone. At every event you will hear inspirational stories to remind you that your struggles, fears and challenges are normal.

For more information, visit www.empowerhertoday.com

Free Cake to Celebrate 71st Anniversary of U.S. Air Force

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To celebrate the 71st anniversary of the formation of the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the armed forces, the Air Force Museum Store will be serving free birthday cake to all guests that enter the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force the morning of Tuesday, September 18th.

 

“We celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Air Force with a big cake every year, and our guests really enjoy it so it goes fast.  The sooner you get here the better,” stated Melinda Lawrence, Director of Store Operations for the Air Force Museum Store.

About the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum.  With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space.  Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum.  For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

National Museum of the United States Air Force
1100 Spaatz St, Dayton, OH 45431
(937) 255-3286
Open Daily 9am – 5pm

Free Concert at Dayton Society of Artists

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Featuring COCOA – also known as the Composers of Ohio Cooperative for Acousic music. Original music for Brass Quintet by area composers from young to young at heart as played by Chris Jeffery, Chris Braun, Mary Emery, Rich Begel, and Tim Olt. New music also for the Viola played by Sheridan Currie; Hammered Dulcimer, by Amanda Roberts; English Horn by Candy Morris; Violin by Moria Levant; and String Bass by Chris Berg will be performed.

TIFF 2018 – Day #10 (Really Just Part of a Day)

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Hello NEON Fans.

Thanks for checking in.  I’ve been across the country and around the world over the past several days…all via the magic of cinema.  And I have broken my old record!  I saw 39 films over the course of 9.25 days at the incredible Toronto International Film Festival.  This is always a highlight of my year, and I have assembled quite a list of films that I want to bring to audiences in Dayton.

My last film of the festival was SHOPLIFTERS – a film that will almost certainly be nominated for “Best Foreign Film” in this year’s Oscar race.  “Equal parts incisive social critique and nuanced family portrait, the latest from Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda — winner of this year’s Palme d’Or at Cannes — follows a small band of marginalized misfits struggling to make ends meet in a merciless urban environment.”  This sad but charming film reveals itself in wonderful ways.  Familial relationships aren’t what they immediately seem, and even when things seem to get a little sinister, you can forgive some of the actions because you’ve walked beside the characters for a while and better understand their motives.  This film has a lot to say, and it was a great way to bid adieu to this year’s festival.

In the coming days, I’ll write a wrap-up and keep you abreast as to this year’s TIFF award-winners.

And don’t forget that we’ve got lots happening at THE NEON over the next several weeks.  From THE DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL to numerous special events…and of course our traditional engagements (some of which are coming from TIFF in the very near future).

Thanks for sharing in this little journey with me.

Hope to see you soon at the movies!

Jonathan

TIFF 2018 – Day #9

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Hello!

Things are certainly winding down here at TIFF.  I screened 3 movies today (which means I have now seen 38 films at the festival) and then I did a little shopping and eventually met some friends out for drinks.

My first film of the day was JEREMIAH TERMINATOR LEROY, directed by Justin Kelly.  First off, I think this is Kelly’s best work to date.  Many critics and industry folks I’ve talked to mention the fact that several projects have been done on this very same subject…and thus they aren’t necessarily interested in seeing the story again.  That said, I haven’t seen any of them, so I was interested.  “In this captivating true story, a young woman (Kristen Stewart) spends years playing the public role of Jeremiah “Terminator” LeRoy, an enigmatic and celebrated literary persona created by her sister-in-law (Laura Dern).”  This story is too bizarre to be true – but it is (and with MILLION LITTLE PIECES screening at this year’s festival, I guess it’s an interesting recurring theme – books that are later discovered to be untrue).  Laura Dern is maniacal and fun to watch, and I ultimately think this is a solid film that could easily find an audience.

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF JOHN F DONOVAN, directed by Xavier Dolan, was next on my list.  Critics have been savage regarding this next film from Dolan (the young director who has won awards at Cannes, made several films and still is in his 20s). This film is Dolan’s first English-language effort, and it has quite a cast.  Here’s the mini TIFF synopsis: “Xavier Dolan’s highly anticipated drama about a young man’s calculated reassessment of his infamous, and ultimately disastrous, childhood correspondence with an American television star features an all-star cast, including Kit Harington, Natalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Thandie Newton, Jacob Tremblay, and Ben Schnetzer.”  This film was hung up in editing for a couple years, and I think I can see why.  It has all the signature Dolan traits – and I have to admit I was entertained – I liked the story.  That said, it seems like some of the actors are in different movies.  Sarandon’s performance is so big and crazy that it doesn’t seem at all like the rest of the film…though Natalie Portman is a bit over-the-top, too.  Kathy Bates is superb, and Michael Gambon’s short scene is lovely.  The movie is currently too long, but I think it will eventually find distribution (at least via a streaming service).

COLD WAR, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, is the follow-up to Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winning film IDA (one of my favorites the year it played TIFF).  “Pawel Pawlikowski’s formidable romantic drama features two musical performers in postwar Eastern Europe whose discontinuous love story is hindered by obstacles of time, space, and politics.”  This film is full of absolutely gorgeous black and white cinematography (like IDA, the camera placement is brilliant), and the music (as well as overall sound design) is incredible.  This was a great film to wind up my last full day of the festival.

I have one more film tomorrow morning before I pack my bags and head to the airport.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Miami Valley Sports Festival

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The Miami Valley Sports Festival brings together multiple sports and people to celebrate Sport, Fitness, Health and Wellness in the Miami Valley. The Sports represented include Taekwondo, Karate, Kung Fu, Fencing,  Wrestling, Soccer, Boxing, Power Lifting, Judo, PowerX, Jiu Jitsu, Baseball and much more.