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

Archives for July 2019

Tokyo Grill Sushi & Hibachi Buffet Now Open in Washington Township

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I’ve been watching the old Rue Dumaine spot ever since it was announced that has been leased and would soon house Tokyo Grill Sushi & Habachi Buffet.  Yesterday I noticed it draped with flag and stopped in for lunch.  The server told me they’d opened quietly this past Sunday.

First impression – you can’t help but notice it’s been totally transformed and the blue walls are meant to invoke the feeling of the sea, according to owner Tony Huong. This 37 year old entrepreneur explained this is his 4th restaurant, with one in Virginia and two in South Carolina and has been in the business for 20 years.  Family friends suggested he come to Dayton because it was a friendly city. The old bar has been removed, but I was informed they applied for their liquor license 3 months ago and are still waiting for it to arrive.

Across the back of the restaurant is the hibachi line.  You are give an order form to choose your base (white or brown rice, noodles) and  a bowl to put your ingredients in.  You are welcome to select as many as you want from the  over 20 ingredients on the bar, and then yous get to the protein choices, which included pepperoni, Italian sausage, squid, Krab meat, chicken, pork and salmon and turn it in to the Habachi Chef. When your bowl is ready, they will bring it to your table.

If you prefer you can order a poke bowl.  Poke means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian and refers to chunks of raw, marinated fish — usually tuna — which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces. Their will be several to choose from, the classic which is tuna and several variations with crab and shrimp, salmon and a veggie tofu bowl.

Owner Tony Huong at the sushi line.

Along the west wall buffet you can begin your selections from coconut or tempura shrimp, mozzarella sticks, french fries, stuffed crab jalapeno, crab rangoon, and then there is a section of over 24 sushi rolls- fried tuna roll, yellow tail roll, sesame chicken roll, California roll, fried salmon roll, mango banana, dragon roll, spicy tuna roll, rainbow roll and more.   Huong let us know that he has two sushi chefs that each have over 15 years experience, so you can expect quality and variety on the buffet.

 

 

 

 

Tokyo Grill will also carry a full line of bubble tea, with flavors like Honeydew, Lychee, Coconut and Carmel Mocha as well as Pepsi products.

 

Tokyo Grill Sushi & Habachi Buffet
1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road
Washington Township

Lunch Buffet served 11am -4pm Monday -Saturday

Adults $12.95

 

Dinner Buffet Served 4-10pm and all day Sunday

Adults $18.59
Children 7-10 $8.99
Children 3-6 $6.99

The Chicken Spot – New Carryout is a Hit

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Store front of The Chicken Spot

People are flying in and out of the newest “to go” place on West Siebenthaler.  It is called “The Chicken Spot,” and is owned by popular local chef Anthony Head.   Anthony, or as he is  also known “The People’s Chef” opened the store just a week ago, but the word is out.  While we were ordering and getting our food, at least a dozen people stopped into the carryout, ready to get some delicious chicken.

Have you heard about The Chicken Spot yet?  Well here is what you need to know about this brand new poultry joint !

HERE’S THE SKINNY on THE CHICKEN SPOT:

— It is located at 3261 W. Siebenthaler Ave in Dayton in the corner of a strip mall

— Hours are listed as 11am -4pm everyday.

The ChickenHead Sandwich Dipped in Cdubb Gold

— It is carry out only, no dine in, just some pews to sit in while you wait a couple of minutes for your order to be freshly prepared.

— The Current Menu features 2 Chicken Sandwiches with options to dip the chicken breast in signature sauces.

— A Vegetarian sandwich, fries and dessert fill out the limited menu

The menu is limited for now, but packs some big punches in taste.  Rumor is the menu will eventually expand, but until then, here are our “must eats” at The Chicken Spot.

MUST EATS at THE CHICKEN SPOT:

Under the Medusa Sandwich dipped in Gem City Sauce

— THE CHICKENHEAD SANDWICH:
This one is easy going and so good.  It starts with a hand breaded chicken breast served on a bun.  It is that simple.  Fried Chicken purists will love this one.  We believe you MUST and we say MUST spend an extra buck and get the chicken breast dipped in a sauce.
Our favorites sauces were the:
CDUBB GOLD SAUCE: A sweet Carolina yellow sauce
GEM CITY SAUCE:  A BBQ sauce mixed with some Buffalo heat.

Other sauce dip options include: Lemon Pepper Glaze, Thai Garlic Chili, and Mac n cheese Sauce which good on waffle fries too.

—THE MEDUSA CHICKEN SANDWICH:
This is soulful, funky Dayton at its best.  You start out with a deep fried chicken breast on a bun (don’t forget to get it dipped in a sauce).  You then top it with collard greens, pickled onions and macaroni and cheese.  Oh its a little messy, but all that dripping is worth the taste.  It will put a smile on our face.  Thumbs up for originality on this one. It is delicious !

— WAFFLE FRIES:

Waffle Fries

The waffle fries were great !  They also have sweet potato waffle fries but we preferred the regular waffle fries instead.

— KENTUCKY BUTTER CAKE:
Melts in your mouth and takes you down South.  This is just a simple pleasure in life and had the Big Ragu saying OMG.  The cake is moist and will fill up.  Wow was that good.

— CINNAMON SUGAR CAKE:
So delicious and the icing makes the whole thing.  Just another slice of absolute heaven  This will bring you back to your mom or grandmothers baking memories.  Don’t miss grabbing a slice.

There you have it.  Just as quick as we stopped in for great eats, we give you our guide to “The Chicken Spot.” 

Kentucky butter Cake

Congratulations to Chef Anthony Head for his fantastic start and we look forward to coming back and getting out chicken fix again soon.  Our mouths are watering already just thinking about it .

Make sure you stop into this new carry out, and to use their motto:
“They can’t wait to feed you!”

For more Food Adventures. “like” us on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE

Look for our articles here EXCLUSIVELY on Dayton Most Metro each and every week.  Food Adventures is a food blog run by three foodies who tackle everything edible in Dayton!

Please browse more photos of THE CHICKEN SPOT, below.

Cinnamon Sugar Cake

Ordering desk and view into prep kitchen

Lobby – Carry Out only

Inside The Chicken Spot

The Medusa Chicken Sandwich dipped in Gem City Sauce!

 

Dayton Native Named Grammy Museum President

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The GRAMMY Museum® announced today the promotion of Michael Sticka to President of the GRAMMY Museum, with a contract that extends through 2022. As President, Sticka will continue to lead the Museum’s growth and sustainability strategy as an independent nonprofit arts organization and oversee all aspects of Museum operations, including curatorial, development, marketing, grants and awards, public and education programs, and more.

Sticka, who graduated from Carroll and got his bachelors degree in Economics fro the University of Dayton,  joined the Recording Academy in March 2014 and this executive announcement comes after a year of significant growth for the GRAMMY Museum under his leadership.

“Under Michael’s leadership and guidance, the GRAMMY Museum has not only secured substantial new investments from the Recording Academy and The Latin Recording Academy, but has also seen a tremendous increase in visitors, revenue from attendance, merchandise and event sales, and more,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy and Chair of the Board of Directors of the GRAMMY Museum. “The Museum’s growth and path towards cementing its status as ‘the’ steward and place where Music Has A Home, as well as its future financial and business well-being is reflective of and a testament to Michael’s strategic vision, impressive operational skills, and exceptional leadership.”

Sticka was critical in overseeing the Museum’s integration with the GRAMMY Foundation in 2017, where he successfully designed and oversaw a strategic planning process to evaluate and strategize for the future of the GRAMMY Foundation and GRAMMY Museum as a combined entity. After becoming Executive Director, Sticka also created the Museum’s Community Engagement Department. The department, in turn, strengthened the impact the Museum has within the community through family-friendly music education programming, ensured Museum representation within community groups, and continued to build the Museum’s university affiliate program. The department has also seen great success with programs such as “Sensory Saturdays,” LGBTQ panels, and women in music panels.

While in Dayton, Sticka was the founding Executive Director of The Zoot Theatre Company and was Vice Chair of the Xenia Planning and Zoning Commission.

McCoy on Movies: The Fast & the Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

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Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw delivers everything
fans of the series have come to expect and love

“OK – Luther the Movie vs. “The Rock” vs. “The Transporter” in a biggest box office draw wins triple threat match!” Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson, left in t-shirt) sits chained with his unlikely partner Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) while Brixton (Idris Elba) watches front and center in a scene from Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Credit: Universal Pictures © 2019 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Eliana Sua, Cliff Curtis, Eddie Marsan, Lori Pelenise Tuisano, Eiza González and Helen Mirren

DIRECTOR(S): David Leitch

THE BACK STORY: The Fast & The Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw centers around two men who could not be more polar opposites: Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is a hard-nosed, meat and potatoes, truck-driving badass who splits his time working for the DSS and being a father to his 9 year-old daughter Sam (Eliana Sua). Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) is a suave, suit-wearing former Mi6 agent with skillful hand-to-hand fighting skills to go with his beloved sports cars. His imprisoned mother Queenie (Helen Mirren), however, wishes he would reconcile with his sister Hattie (Vanessa Kirby) so she could see her kids together before she possibly gets out of jail.


As luck would have it, Queenie may get her wish because Hattie, who is currently a top-level Mi6 agent, just got framed for murdering the rest of her crew by Brixton (Idris Elba), a cybernetically-enhanced worker for a mysterious corporation named Eteon that looks to speed up the next step in human evolution … By releasing a super virus inadvertently created by Professor Andreiko (Eddie Marsan) with a 100 percent fatality rate. But guess who stole the virus and injected into her body before Brixton could get his hands on it, leaving her only 72 hours to live unless those capsules get taken back out of her body first?


Now with Hobbs and Shaw commissioned by their respective agencies to go recover the virus and save the world – and if they can in the process, save Hattie, too – these two dudes are going to have to learn to get along before they kill the bad guys … Or each other.
THE REVIEW: After eight Fast & Furious movies, you could say that the series pretty much has its formula down pat: You get a bunch of guys (and girls) who are equal parts pure sex and testosterone who in turn exhibit traditional values of family over everything, staying faithful to those faithful to you … And forgiving people who have been coerced into seemingly turning against only to find out they had good reason to do so and/or never did. Hobbs & Shaw continues this tradition, pausing only to add two big name comedic stars in roles that could have long-term implications, a precocious child in Sua’s Sam and another female lead that proves she can more than hold her own.In short, if you’ve liked the last say three or four Furious movies, you’re going to love Hobbs & Shaw which does everything in its power to prove the old adage of “too much of a good thing” never applies when you’ve got insane driving sequences, rampages of hand-to-hand combat and gunplay and a group of Samoans ready to throw down.

Evoking a strong “I hate you/No, I hate you more” vibe not seen working this efficiently since the days when Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte were also paired up against a clock, Hobbs & Shaw focuses on everything Johnson and Statham are good at: Kicking asses while dispensing quick one-upping one liners before turning to show the classic “badass with a heart” mode with their respective family members. Each actor makes all three elements of their characters work in a genuine fashion, never once feeling forced, out of place or silly in a way that would make an ever-so-tight-lipped Dominic Toretto smile.

Elba hits all his marks as the bad guy who doesn’t really view himself as the bad guy yet know why everyone thinks he’s the bad guy (besides all the killing), making his Brixton the baddest black Brit since Lennox Lewis was winning heavyweight titles. He fares well as a matchup for Hobbs and Shaw, playing his antagonist well in much the Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger vein of black supervillains. Likewise, Kirby more than holds her own as the tomboy girl all young boys would want to hang with before growing up into the girl next door you’d love to date … If she and/or her older brother didn’t beat you down first with their fighting skills.

Throw in a final showdown in Samoa that pays homage to both The Rock, er, Johnson’s wrestling roots (complete with a signature move by his cousin Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i) and the Fast & Furious longstanding foundation of family and you’ve pretty much got everything you need to make Hobbs & Shaw a worthwhile spinoff. (The three well-known comedic actors who also lend their talents to the film also carve out great comedy niches in their abbreviated screen time, making their roles more effective in the brevity.)

But for a franchise now nine films deep with at least two more on the way, brevity is not something Fast & Furious fans are going to have to worry about – at least not while Hobbs & Shaw has anything to say about it.

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

 

5 Expert Insights on Real Estate Inventory in the Current Market

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Across the country, we are seeing that the current housing landscape presents greater home values, low interest rates, and high buyer demand. All of these factors point to the strong market forecasted to continue throughout the rest of the year.

There is, however, one thing that may cause the industry to tap the brakes: an overall lack of housing inventory. Buyer demand naturally increases during the summer months, but the current supply is not keeping up.

Here is a look at what a few industry experts have to say:

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at National Association of Realtors

“Imbalance persists for mid-to-lower priced homes with solid demand and insufficient supply, which is consequently pushing up home prices.”

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist of First American

“Market conditions are ripe for increasing home sales with one glaring exception. The supply of homes for sale remains tight, keeping existing home sales below potential.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist of Realtor.com

“We’re not seeing as many new listings come up on the market…It was only 18 months ago that the number of homes for sale hit its lowest level in recorded history and sparked the fiercest competition among buyers we’ve ever seen.”


On a local level, Bob Jones at the Dayton Realtors said

“Average sale price climbed ever higher in June, and as has been the case for much of this year, new monthly records were set. The average sale price is the highest on record ever for the Dayton region.

“Sales of single-family and condominium units reported by Dayton REALTORS® in June totaled 1,529, a decline of nine percent from June 2018 sales. Meanwhile, the average price jumped to a record $195,303 and the median price hit a new high at $170,000, increases of six percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

“Listings submitted in the month of June continued to reflect the tight inventory in the housing market, with 2,041 entries, a drop of five percent from June 2018. For the January-June period, 10,494 listings were entered, a three percent decrease from the same period last year.”

On a micro-level, I just pulled stats for all single family homes in the Dayton City School District, regardless of zip code. I wanted to look at the absorption rate. In an “average” market, we see an absorption rate of 6 months. That means on average it would take 6 months to sell all the homes on the market, if no other homes were listed. As of this writing, there were 302 homes listed for sale, which gives us an absorption rate of 2.4 months. Great news for sellers!

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking of selling, now may be the time. Demand for your house will be strong during a period when there is very little competition, ideally leading to a quick sale and a great return on your investment.

 

Kings Island Free Weekends for Teachers, First Responders & Healthcare Professionals

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Over the next few weeks, teachers, first responders and healthcare professionals will have days they can go to Kings Island without having to purchase an admission ticket to celebrate the park’s “Community Appreciation Days” in August.

Teacher Appreciation Weekend

To celebrate the start of a new school year, Kings Island is offering free admission to educators August 2-4.

Educators who qualify for the free admission ticket include teachers, faculty and staff. A valid school employee ID, or a valid teaching license with a photo ID, must be presented at Kings Island to take advantage of this offer.

First Responders Days

Kings Island is honoring those who protect our community August 9-11 by offering free admission to all active fire, police and safety personnel.

A valid fire and police photo ID must be presented at Kings Island to take advantage of the public safety appreciation offer. Fire and police badges and identification cards are accepted only if accompanied by a photo ID. As all ID must reference specific fire or police duty, government-only issued IDs will not be accepted.

Fire, police and safety personnel who quality for free admission include firefighters, EMTs, uniformed police officers, state troopers, border patrol agents, investigators, evidence technicians, firearms examiners, crime lab technicians, 911 dispatchers, correction officers, hand writing examiners, intelligence analysts and investigative assistants.

Healthcare Professionals Days

Kings Island is honoring those who work in the healthcare industry by offering free admission to healthcare professionals August 16-18.

Any guest who presents a valid medical I.D. card, medical license or certificate in conjunction with a state-issued photo I.D. will qualify for free admission during Healthcare Appreciation Days.

Family and friends of teachers, first responders and healthcare professionals can purchase tickets online at the lowest price of the season.

 

Arts & Drafts is the summer festival you never knew you needed!

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Can you believe it’s August already? I know, me either. Back to school time is around the corner. This is the point in the year when you have to ask yourself if you’ve really made the most of these fleeting summer months. If you’re in need of a rockin’ outdoor party with sweet bands, hot BBQ, root beer floats, tasty brews, with a kid zone  – without going far from home – you’re in for a treat this Saturday. The cynic might say “Well that sounds like any other festival…” Actually, no – on top of all that – there is a tattoo convention indoors too! Whoa!
The We Care Arts annual Arts & Drafts Festival is a true entertainment extravaganza! Join the party from 2-10pm on August 3rd at the We Care Arts Berkeley Studio at 3035 Wilmington Pk in Kettering. All ages welcome! $10 at the door or pre-sale. Check out all the fun and special treats in store for festival goers below. Plus! All proceeds directly go back to We Care Art’s mission to turn disabilities into possibilities!

A variety of regional acts are performing at We Care Art’s Arts & Drafts Festival on August 3, 2019.

For Music Fan’s listening pleasure:

* 2pm – Doug Hart – longtime staple in the Dayton Blues community
* 2:40pm – Woodsii – a California girl who will steal your heart!
* 3:30pm – Christopher Heider  – a Dayton guitarist and Arts & Drafts enthisiast
* 4:30pm – Nasty Bingo – a special set from this outstanding folkadelic four piece
* 5:35pm – Founding Fathers – an innovative alternative band from Cincinnati
* 6:45pm – isicle – our “in between sets” DJ performs a live looping set to get ya movin’
* 7:30-9:45pm – Wolf Moon Revival – takin’ it home with blues rock for your soul
Plus we have Zac Pitts from Sound Valley as our emcee and Brad Denson rockin’ sound!
Thinking about getting a tattoo? Get one on site! Yes really!
* Dustin Clark, Artie Perkins, and Jenny Reeves from Truth & Triumph
* Blake Moran and Natasha Woolley from Unfiltered Ink
* Cody Torres from Blue Byrd Tattoo
For the Thirsty & Hungry, we are thrilled to serve Dayton’s best:
*Craft Beers & non-alcoholic beers from Warped Wing Brewery
*Cocktails using Dayton made Buckeye Vodka – with an *exclusive* Arts & Drafts drink: The Dayton Mule – featuring Warped Wing ginger beer with Buckeye Vodka!
*Food from Bricky Barrels Smoked BBQ – featuring a memu of smoked bbq ribs, pulled pork, chicken, hot dogs, smoked cheddar Mac and cheese, coleslaw and baked beans and more!
*We Care Arts will also be selling Philly Pretzel Factory and homemade root beer floats featuring Warped Wing root beer and Fox & Hound ice cream!

Wild Hearts African Zoo is bringing an animal or two for kids to check out at the Arts & Drafts Festival on August 3, 2019.

For the Kiddos:
*Wild Heart African Farm will be stopping by with a special animal! Adorable!
*Prime Time Party Rental has generously donated a load of games to play.
*Our new Programming Director Caitlin Cartwright will be face painting too!
HOW TO GO:
  • The We Care Arts annual Arts & Drafts Festival  from 2-10pm on August 3rd
    • Address: 3035 Wilmington Pk in Kettering.
  • Parking is available in nearby lots or residential streets.
    • Going to drink? We encourage you to get a ride, Lyft or Uber on your way!
  • All ages welcome!
  • $10 at the door or for pre-sale click here.

Funk Legends Join Together For Relief Concert

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The leaders of some of Dayton’s Legendary Funk Bands have joined efforts with Planned2Give, a non-profit fundraising organization, to raise funds to help the survivors of the recent tornados in their recovery process.

#937- Live, Legends for Relief is a benefit concert with some of Dayton’s top, platinum selling recording artists. The Ohio Players, The Original Lakeside, Zapp, and special guest Steve Arrington, among others, have graciously donated their time and talents to create this special performance in order to help in the recovery process of the Miami Valley’s affected areas.  The concert will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights, Ohio.  This effort is the vision of The Original Lakeside’s senior member, Stephen Shockley, and his wife, Brenda Lutz. Stephen Shockley said, “Sitting in the dark after the tornados, Brenda and I lit some candles waiting for power to be restored. When the power was restored, we turned on the television and saw Sinbad, the comedian, at the Arena in Trotwood participating in tornado relief work. I thought back to all of the shows we had done in the past, I turned to Brenda and said, ‘NOW IS THE TIME!’ Now’s the time for all these bands to come together to do a benefit concert for Dayton. We can do this!”

This concert is especially unique because of its historic nature. These bands that helped form a genre of music and put Dayton on the map as “The Land of Funk,” have never been on one stage together in Dayton. Shockley shared, “I’ve been in concerts a long time and felt like I could reach out and put all of the famous bands from Dayton together and finally do a concert for Dayton. We are all friends, but we have never all played together in Dayton, on the same stage, at the same time! We felt like it would be a historic concert for a spectacular cause, and when Brenda and I started reaching out, the response was so great that we were energized to go forward.”These Legendary Funk bands’ music has stood the test of time and has regularly been sampled by contemporary artists. Songs like The Ohio Players’ Love Rollercoster and Fire, Lakeside’s Fantastic Voyage and Zapp’s More Bounce to the Ounce, and many other songs, are recognized as the Dayton Funk Sound that had a major impact on the national funk music genre.

The money raised from the concert will be donated to the Dayton Foundation’s Greater Dayton Disaster Relief Fund. This concert is made possible by all of our partners and sponsors of the event. The support of the community will make this night a success for the Miami Valley region and those affected by the tornados.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug 2, 2019  at 11:00 AM

Lularoe Clothes Dayton After Tornadoes

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Approximately 20 local LuLaRoe boutique owners, in coordination with nonprofit partner New Path Outreach, are gearing up to distribute 5,000 brand new dresses, skirts, tops, and leggings to women affected by Dayton’s Memorial Day tornado outbreak. Women of all ages, shapes and sizes are invited to participate in a special clothing giveaway scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on July 29 at The Point Choice Food Pantry, located at 506 East Main Street in Trotwood. Event details are available at https://tinyurl.com/lularoelovesdayton.

Free clothing for women impacted by the Dayton area tornadoes

All women affected by the Memorial Day tornado outbreak, particularly those in Trotwood and surrounding Montgomery, Miami and Greene County communities, are invited to attend this event. Sizes XXS to 3XL will be available, and all items are brand new with tags. This event is made possible through a generous donation from California-based clothing manufacturer LuLaRoe, and all guests will enjoy a personal shopping experience thanks to local LuLaRoe boutique owners.

Additionally, Kosins Tents & Events is transporting all donated clothing to the event location, free of charge.

While each LuLaRoe boutique is independently owned and operated, local LuLaRoe retailer and national top seller Nicolette Winner says giving back and community are part of LuLaRoe’s culture. “The best part of owning my own boutique is helping women of all shapes, sizes and ages feel as beautiful as I already know they are. My friends and I just want local women to feel confident as they face the challenges of rebuilding that lie ahead,” she says. “They need to know they are loved.”

“We appreciate the generosity of LuLaRoe and their independent retailers,” says Executive Director William Lutz of New Path Outreach. “Partnerships like these allow us to help those that really need our assistance in new ways.”

New Path is a faith-based nonprofit organization providing charitable services to residents in Miami County and portions of Montgomery County, including Trotwood and Harrison Township. You can learn more about the organization by visiting its website at www.newpathserves.org.

The mission of LuLaRoe is to create freedom, serve others, and strengthen families through fashion. LuLaRoe is proud of the impact Independent Fashion Retailers are making in their communities. Since the inception of the company’s Community Support Incentive, which encourages retailers to support causes in their own communities, LuLaRoe has donated over $7 million to organizations around the country. To learn more, visit www.lularoe.com.

Its Military Discount Day at the Greene County Fair!

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The 180TH Greene County Fair ‘A Fair for All Seasons’ is in full swing now through Saturday, August 3, 2019 at the Greene County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Road. Xenia, OH. Today is Military Discount Day.

The Greene County Fair is the oldest fair west of the Alleghenies. A nice mix of rides, games, food & entertainment await fairgoers.  Plus, the 4H tradition continues with proud young people showing their prize-winning animals.

TODAY–  K-99.1 FM will broadcast LIVE from the fair 11am-1pm and WBZI 4pm-6pm. Tune-in or come and say hi!

SPECIAL #GreeneStrong EVENT SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2019

As our friends & neighbors still recover from the Memorial Day tornadoes, we are assisting too with your help. Admission to the fair Saturday, August 3, ONLY is just $4 with $1 from every admission and $1 from every ride wrist band purchased donated to #GreeneStrong through Greene Giving- Greene County Community Foundation. 

FAIR HOURS

Fair opens at 8am – 10 pm every day.

Daily Gate Admission $6 (9 and under free with a paying adult)

DISCOUNT DAYS:

Monday, July 29, 2019
Military Discount Day
(Show your Military ID – get in for $3)
  
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Family Day/ Food Pantry Discount Day in conjunction with our friends at FOX45/ABC22.
(Bring a non-perishable food item – get in for $3) Helping Local Food Pantries: We are counting on you to help us fill Greene County Food Pantries with nonperishable items.

Thursday, August 1, 2019
Senior Citizen Discount Day – get in for $3

FAIR RIDES:
Monday – Thursday July 29-Aug. 1, rides open at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31 is Family Night from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. wristbands will be priced at a discount with special giveaways for children.
Friday- Saturday Aug. 2 & 3, rides open at 1 p.m.

RIDE PRICES FOR 2019

Wristbands $18

Family Night Discount Wristband $13

GRANDSTAND EVENTS/ENTERTAINMENT
Monday, July 29 at 8:00 p.m. SMASH IT Demo Derby

Tuesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. Jimmie Allen & Riley Green Country Concert. VISIT www.GreeneCounty Fairgrounds.com for tickets!

Wednesday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m.            Harness Racing (Free)

Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m. Harness Racing (Free)
Friday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. OSTPA Truck and Tractor Pulls
Saturday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. ATV / Truck Drag Races (Practice at 2:00 p.m.)

WEEKLONG ENTERTAINMENT

High Flying Pages

First Bite Fish Tank 

MOST METRO Family Fun Pack Giveaway!

We’ve got 3 family fun packs to give away, which include 4 tickets to the fair and $40 in fair bucks!  If you’d like one, just share this post and leave a comment below!

 

For more visit www.greenecountyfairgrounds.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Coffee Hub & Bakery Now Open in Beavercreek!

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There’s a new spot for  coffee, and fresh homemade baked goods with a grain free option and DONUTS now open in Beavercreek!

The new shop is now open!

This second location of Coffee Hub opened today and will be serving specialty espresso drinks, coldbrew, drip coffee, homemade chai, hot and iced tea, frappes, donuts, gluten free baked goods, and more. In partnership with Purely Sweet Bakery, we also serve a huge number of delicious vegan, gluten-free food options!  Baker Dawn Somerlot Vaflor started offering her goodies at the 2nd Street Market, then Dorothy Lane Market picked up her line and last fall Jungle Jims began stocking her healthy baked goods. She then bought a former cupcake truck and started doing pop up markets around town.

That’s Dawn in front of the van with her crew.

Dawn’s healthier treats,  include Clean Eating (less processed), GF, Vegan, Raw/Organic), Paleo, utilizing local ingredients as they are available. She will often substitute coconut sugars, sucanat, raw turbinado sugars, date sugars, stevia, agave and raw, local honey from traditional refined white sugars. Development is under way for diabetic options utilizing stevia.

Coffee Hub

3375 Dayton Xenia Road
Beavercreek, OH 45432

Monday – Saturday: 6 AM – 4 Pm

*hours may expand after a few weeks

Local Startup Ella Bella Shipping Internationally

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Local startup Ella Bella Gluten-Free can now be found abroad!

The company landed its first international account last month, founder Mandy Groszko shared. She shipped one case each of her gluten-free flour, brownie, chocolate chip and sugar cookie mixes and two cases of her lactation cookie mix to a shop named Chisai-Bums in Okinawa, Japan.

“I am extremely excited, and just flabbergasted, that something I made and created is going halfway around the world,” Groszko said.

The Japanese shop is approximately 7,000 miles from Ella Bella’s home base in Fairborn, OH. Shipping was easier than anticipated — the presence of a US Air Force base at the destination allowed Groszko to use domestic pricing and domestic customs forms, all available on the USPS website, she said.

The Chisai-Bums store owner found Ella Bella through a closed Facebook group created for the community of mothers using cloth diapers for their new babes. The owner of a cloth diaper store in Fort Wayne that sells Ella Bella’s lactation cookie mixes posted a positive review of the cookies, along with a note about how she could sell them at a 100 percent markup.

The lactation cookie mix is the top retail product for Ella Bella, founded in 2012. Groszko launched the company when her daughter was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance.

“I wanted to be able to make a single chocolate chip cookie that she would eat and like and that my husband would eat and like,” she recalled.

She developed the lactation cookie mix two years ago after a conversation with her longtime friend Allison Hopkey Fullenkamp, owner of samozrejme, a Troy store featuring eco-friendly parenting products. The lactation cookie mix includes additional minerals and vitamins that help new moms produce milk.

Groszko sold the cookie mix at samozrejme for a year before she began marketing the product, she said.

Ella Bella is currently on shelves in 21 retail stores, primarily in the Dayton-Cincinnati-Columbus region. You can also find the mixes on shelves in California and Alaska — those shop owners also found Groszko through the post in the closed Facebook group before purchasing her products through FAIRE an online wholesale marketplace for retailers seeking unique goods for their stores.

“The dream is to get into a store in every state across the country,” she said. “I have a gluten-free product, the flour, that allows people to get back in the kitchen.”

The Ella Bella gluten-free flour is a one-to-one substitute for traditional flours, whether it’s in a roux, a fried breading or a baked good, Groszko said.

“You can cook your family recipes,” she said. “You can have that family connection, that communication, that love that happens in a kitchen, and then it’s good food to eat at the end, and those people who don’t have to be gluten-free also enjoy the food.”

Want to try the mixes for yourself? Order online or find a store near you!

Street Names of Dayton: Lowes Street

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Lowes Street off of Brown Street near the campus of University of Dayton

Dr. Joseph Edwin Lowes was one of the most prominent residents of Dayton where he was recognized as a distinguished physician and where his work contributed to the growth and building of Dayton. His interests included railroad building and he was the promoter of the street railway and interurban railway systems of Dayton.

Dr. Joseph E. Lowes

Dr. Lowes pursued his education at the age of sixteen years when he enrolled at the Cleveland Homeopathic College in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated in 1867, at the age of nineteen. When the law allowed him to enter into active medical practice he located in Dayton and took the practice of Dr. Jacob Bosler. He continued in the medical practice alone until he was forty-five years of age, at which time he admitted George W. Miller, of Cincinnati, into partnership. His interest lied in the development of the People’s Railroad Company and the Dayton Lighting Company. He was known to promote both endeavors and after about six years, he gave up the practice of medicine entirely so that he could give his undivided attention to his business interests. He was chosen president of the Dayton Lighting Company and at one time controlled the electric light plants of Dayton, Richmond, Indiana, and three Kentucky towns—Covington, Newport and Dayton. Additionally, he was the father of street electric railroads in Dayton as well as the traction railroads. He built and operated the road of the Dayton & Western Traction Company of Dayton, the Dayton & Northern Traction Company, and was just completing the line of the Dayton & Muncie Traction Company at the time of his death.

Dr. Lowes served as surgeon of the Third Ohio National Guard.  He was Surgeon General of Ohio on Governor Asa Bushnell’s staff and was active in preparing the Hospital Corps of Ohio for the Spanish-American War. He was a member of the Examining Board at the National Military Home at Dayton for fifteen years and for a number of years worked countless hours to improve public education as a member of the school board. In politics, he was a staunch republican and took an active part in city and national politics.

The Lowes Mausoleum

In Dayton, on December 28, 1868, Dr. Lowes was married to Miss Melozena Bosler, the only daughter of Dr. Jacob Bosler.  The death of Mrs. Lowes occurred in March 1870. In February 1878, Dr. Lowes was then married to Mrs. Emma J. Wheeler, a daughter of Ira and Mary Robbins, of Union County, Ohio. They had two children: Alberta; and Joseph E., who married Mary F. Schaeffer, of Dayton.

Dr. Joseph Lowes died on May 24, 1905 and is buried in Section 38 Lot 3391.

ALBERTA STREET is named for the daughter of Dr. Joseph E. Lowes. In October 1900, she married Mr. Ralph E. DeWeese who lends his name to DeWEESE PARKWAY.

 

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 and until 7 pm during Daylight Saving Time. 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.

Lyle Lovett Coming to Victoria Theatre

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Victoria Theatre Association’s Music Series presents 4-time Grammy®- winning artist, LYLE LOVETT AND HIS ACOUSTIC GROUP in an intimate concert at the historic Victoria Theatre, Friday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Ticket Center Stage, by phone at 937-228-3630 or online at ticketcenterstage.com.

Victoria Theatre Association’s Music Series presents 4-time Grammy®- winning artist, Singer, composer and actor Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers.

Whether touring as a ‘Duo’ or with his ‘Acoustic Group’ or his ‘Large Band,’ Lovett’s live performances show not only the breadth of this Texas legend’s deep talents, but also the diversity of his influences, making him one of the most compelling and captivating musicians in popular music.

Tickets for the Oct. 18 performance start at $52 and are on sale now at Ticket Center Stage, by phone at 937-228-3630 or online at ticketcenterstage.com.

 

For more information about Victoria Theatre Association’s 2019-2020 season, visit victoriatheatre.com.

McCoy on Movies: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

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Tarantino die-hards best suited to travel back in time for the hodgepodge buddy comedy/crime tale of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

“Hi … We’re also getting paid a ton of money for this!” Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) shakes hands with Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino) while Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) looks on in a scene from writer/director Quentin Taratino’s wild and wacky ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. Credit: Andrew Cooper. © 2018 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning, Timothy Olyphant, Austin Qualley, Margaret Qualley, Damion Herriman, Emile Hirsch, Mike Moh, Lena Dunham, Julia Butters and Kurt Russell with Bruce Dern and Al Pacino

DIRECTOR(S): Quentin Tarantino

THE BACK STORY: Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a man at a crossroads. His TV career isn’t fulfilling him and his last leading role just got canceled, hence the reason he wishes to transition into films … But he’s having trouble doing so. His longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), however, is just at peace with his lot in life, driving Rick to and from set while hanging out with his loyal pooch in his AirStream trailer home. 


But while Rick laments his falling star and Cliff tries to make him realize the sky isn’t falling with it, Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) is living the high life as Rick’s new neighbor. Married to hotshot director Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha), Sharon is enjoying a budding movie career and life with her husband … And her ex-boyfriend/hairdresser to the stars Jay Sebring (Emile Hirsch). 


While Cliff is living his life fairly carefree, things are about to change when he picks up a hippie hitchhiker (Margaret Qualley) who can’t wait for him to meet Squeaky (Dakota Fanning), Tex (Austin Qualley) and Charlie (Damion Herriman). But since Charlie is the leader of a “family” that has a very unique view on the world, things are about to change in a way that only can happen in a Taratino-helmed picture …

THE REVIEW: For a movie that’s 2 hours and 40 minutes-plus in length, you would be inclined to hope Once Upon a Time in Hollywood wouldn’t feel a bit (1) disjointed; (2) incomplete; (3) half-baked and (4) have some focus storytelling flair to match its visuals that are writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s homage to the last “golden era” of Hollywood. Instead, what you have are two movies in one: (1) A buddy comedy about an aging film star (DiCaprio’s Dalton) finding his place in the world and (2) a crime fantasy drama about the Manson family and a stuntman’s interaction with them.If that sounds a bit confusing to you, watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will make it clearer how they are connected … Even though you will likely leave the theater with feelings as mixed as the movie itself.

A man who loves to do things brash and big, there is no wonder why Tarantino would love to explore the world of Hollywood in the 1960s. Likewise, given his penchant for crime tales and revisionist history, there is plenty of source material for Tarantino to utilize. Instead, Once Upon feels more like exploiting all of the glitz and glamour before devolving into a live-action cartoon of South Park-level insanity but with Family Guy-like intelligence. (By the way, I like both cartoons, but let’s be honest: One has gone from frathouse humor to a near graduate studies course on modern socio-political issues while the other will throw out a Conway Twitty clip or a chicken fight when there isn’t a more involved punchline.) Once Upon instead is a hodgepodge of everything that Tarantino wants to cram into a movie; problem is, when you try to cram everything in, a lot of those things don’t get the time they need to develop. And when you have a movie that is trying to essentially be two things in one, it often doesn’t work. Once Upon suffers this fate as the true crime aspects – Tarantino’s take features real people, but isn’t exactly based on a true story – at times feel forced and Dalton’s story was worthy of its own movie, not one in which it shares it with another idea.

On a positive note, DiCaprio does DiCaprio things which prove his worth as one of modern Hollywood’s best actors with Pitt smiling and charming his way as only he can through his scenes. Problem is, that’s pretty much all Pitt does save for the film’s twisted final 20 minutes. His interaction with the Manson Family is a bit like a pro wrestling character: You either buy it or you just kinda go “meh.”

The real tragedy may be Robbie’s performance, or rather the lack thereof of it. Robbie does very little as Sharon Tate other than laugh, smile, giggle and hug – that’s it – but it’s not her fault. There’s really not much else to her role nor is she given any opportunity to showcase why she could have been a compelling person other than a tragic footnote in real-life Hollywood history. With so much that could have been done with the character, Tarantino’s tribute to her feels more like a caricature of her, needless to say it does not achieve the desired result.

The main thing that will stick with audiences, however, is that outside of the Dalton tale, the film feels grandiose, long as its runtime and just a really potluck of stories and storytelling. If Tarantino’s plan really is to retire after 10 films, he’s going to need a dynamite exit piece to atone for the Once Upon. For this is the equivalent to New Coke, Kanye West’s 808 & Heartbreaks, the last season of Game of Thrones and LeBron James leaving Cleveland to take his talents to South Beach. Sure, there will be plenty of die-hard Tarantino fans that will laud it as the greatest thing since his last greatest thing, but the causal fan may simply go “I get it … But was it really worth getting?”

For a film that attempts to entertain by celebrating and then exploring Hollywood’s Golden Age, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be fortunate to settle for anything close to bronze.

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

 

Dayton Celtic Fest Kicks off Friday!

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Saturate your senses in the sights, sounds, and tastes of our Celtic heritage. Discover the magic that keeps people returning to Dayton’s Celtic Festival year after year. Come and experience the rich traditions that we Celtic folk hold dear to our hearts.