Dayton937

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

Archives for June 2021

Dayton Air Show Ready For Takeoff!

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Headlined by the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the 2021 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger will launch its 46th annual show next weekend on July 10th and 11th at the Dayton International Airport. The Thunderbirds will be joined by other military favorites in the air including, the U.S. Navy Super Hornet and Legacy Flight demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III demonstration team and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team.

The 2021 show is back to its normal format and will feature many other top attractions and ground displays. Here’s a glimpse of the feature show flying attractions spectators will see at Dayton’s premier summer event:

  • AeroShell Aerobatic Team – This award-winning formation team will remind you of yesteryear when they thrill spectators with their four, 600-horsepower, radial engine T-6 Texan aerobatic routine.
  • Mike Wiskus – Watch this National Aerobatic Champion’s incredible performance in his Lucas Oil highly-modified Pitts aircraft “Super Stinker”. If you can believe it, he bought the aircraft on eBay as a wrecked airplane.
  • Jacquie B…Ladies, it’s Time to Fly – See this accomplished female aerobatic pilot put her Extra 300S aircraft through the paces. She spends time inspiring children to do great things. Go girl!
  • Shockwave – Powered by three afterburning jet engines producing 36,000 HP, Shockwave is the Guinness Book world-record holder for the fastest jet truck in the world at 376 MPH. Fans love it!

There will also be plenty to see and do on the ground:

  • Impressive aircraft displays – Tour over 50 aircraft from modern military to historic to unique civilian airplanes such as the massive Air Force KC-10 tanker, the Navy F-18 Super Hornet fighter, the Navy MH 60 Blackhawk helicopter, carrier-based Navy E-2D Hawkeye, and the oldest flying DC-3 Flagship Detroit and more.
  • Meet and greet the members of the U.S. military – Let the men and women of our military show you the impressive aircraft and equipment they use to protect our freedom. It’s a great opportunity to thank them for their service to our country.
  • Fun for the entire family including the CenterPoint Energy Kids’ Hangar, along with interactive activities and displays. Don’t miss out on the delicious food, beverages and souvenirs for your special day.at one of the greatest air shows in the country.“What an awesome show we have for you in 2021,” said Scott Buchanan, Chairman of the United States Air and Trade Show Board of Trustees, producers of the show. “It’s so great to be back. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Dayton, City of Vandalia, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, all the sponsors, volunteers, and fans for making the show possible. “This would not be possible without all of you, and we look forward to a sensational weekend,” he added.

    2021 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger tickets include the popular Pavilion and Blue Sky Chalet specialty seating options and the bargain Synchrony Family Four Packs and are now on sale at the show’s website, www.daytonairshow.com. Customers enjoy convenient print-at-home or print-to-mobile options on all website purchases.

    Deep discount general admission tickets are also available for purchase at over 100 Kroger stores in the Dayton and Cincinnati region.

 

North High Beer Tasting at The Caroline

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Join us on Wednesday, June 30th at 6:30 pm to try out some great new brews from Columbus’s North High Brewing!
Neil from Premium Dist. will be joined by Kelsey from North High to serve as our hosts for the evening, and will be our guide through a selection of delicious brews including:
  • FIVE PALE ALE- DRAFT
  • COVER CROP BLONDE ALE
  • GRAPEFRUIT WALLEYE-PALE ALE
  • HONEY WHEAT
  • BLUE 5 INHERIT STARS IPA
  • …AND MORE!

Tickets Now On Sale For Boonshoft’ EcoBash

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The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery proudly announces this year’s annual fundraiser, the Boonshoft EcoBash – A Fresh Air Affair, to be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 7 to 11:00 pm.

The Boonshoft Bash is always an exciting, black-tie optional, one-night-only affair that gives patrons a chance to fund science education throughout the coming year.

The Bash theme this year is ecofriendly, and the Museum invites guests to join us in our commitment to become more aware of our responsibility for stewardship of the Earth.

We have made conscientious efforts in reducing our use of plastics, replacing lightbulbs with LED, turning off lights,  adding composting for zoo waste, and planting raised bed gardens to grow fresh vegetables for our zoo animals. We are also increasing our recycling efforts, and we are seeking to add an environmentally friendly café! The café will offer healthy and quick food options along with STEM-oriented educational programming. Live music will be provided by Velvet Crush!

Celebrate the reopening and exciting future of this amazing Dayton learning center that offers  STEM education for all ages.

The EcoBash features three levels of tickets and experiences this year:

6:00 p.m. – VIP $250 per person
Special cocktail, small group behind the scenes experience, dinner, and lawn party and open bar.

7:00 p.m. – Dinner $200 per person
Special cocktail, dinner, and lawn party and open bar.

8:00 p.m. – Lawn Party $100 per person
Lawn party: music, finger foods, access to museum, outdoor fun with live music and games and 3 drink tickets – more can be purchased at the event.

You may purchase tickets online

Where To Get Your Red, White & Boom On

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Ever wondered why it’s a tradition to set off explosions of light in the sky on Independence Day? It’s certainly a day for celebration, but why fireworks? Well, the 4th of July history actually involves fireworks and you can thank famous historian John Adams for it.

During the first months of the Revolutionary War, after the 13 colonies had all voted in favor of independence from Britain, Congress began to write what became the Declaration of Independence. Before it was even finished and signed, an enthusiastic John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife stating how the occasion of America’s freedom should be celebrated. It read:

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival…It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

Adams was off by a few days, but the Fourth of July was most certainly celebrated in a way he would have liked.

The first organized Fourth of July fireworks were set off in 1777 in Pennsylvania and Boston (Adam’s hometown) one year after the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Pennsylvania Evening Post reported that “the evening was closed with the ring of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”

Here’s where to catch the fireworks locally:

Star Spangled Heights

Thomas Cloud Park 4707 Brandt Pike, Dayton

10a Parade 12p Flag Ceremony 1-8p Food Truck Rally, Kid Zone, Live Bands, Beer Garden, Petting Zoo, and much more….

Fireworks Viewing Party

Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co 109 W. North St. (Parking @ 102 W. Columbia St), Springfield

Join us in Downtown Springfield, OH as we enjoy National Trails Park + Recreation District’s fireworks: ‘Buck Creek Boom’ presented…

Star-Spangled Celebration

Vandalia Rec Center 1111 Stonequarry Rd, Vandalia

The Vandalia Star-Spangled Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 3, at the Vandalia Sports Complex. Food, music and fun…

Waynesville Light Up the Sky

Waynesville Bicentennial Park 837 Dayton Rd, Waynesville

7:00 Food – Drinks – Fun – Family 7:15 Sky Divers 7:25 National Anthem 7:30 Free Concert: Music by: “No…

Clark County Fireworks – Buck Creek Boom

clark county fairgrounds 4401 S. Charleston Pike, Springfield

The 26th annual Buck Creek Boom present by LWS Taxes, Payroll, & Accounting, returns this summer to celebrate America’s Independence…

July 4 Party in the Park and Car Show

Peace Park 70 E Dayton St, West Alexandria

The West Alexandria Celebration Committee will host the Annual July 4 Party in the Park and Car Show at Peace…

Free

Fairborn Parade & Firewrok

Downtown Fairborn Fairborn

Fairborn is the place to be for celebrating our nation’s independence. We kick it off on July 3rd at 2:00…

Troy 4th of July Concert & Fireworks

Treasure Island Park 409 N. Elm St, Troy

A high-energy concert by Rick K. Road Trip will be an exciting part of Troy’s July 4th event, presented by…

City of Kettering Fireworks – Go 4th!

Delco Park 1700 Delco Park Drive, Kettering

Celebrate Independence Day with us in beautiful Delco Park! The City of Kettering Go 4th typically includes entertainment, food vendors,…

Beavercreek Independence Day Celebration

Rotary Park 2260 Dayton Xenia Rd, Beavercreek

The City of Beavercreek is excited to announce the City will be hosting a 2021 Independence Day celebration! Although this…

Elvis Tribute & fireworks display

North Park Amphitheatre 195 Tamarack Trail, Springboro

New this year is a July 4th concert ending with a fireworks display. Bring your own seating—we’re ready for summer!

Englewood 4th of July / Fireworks Celebration

Centennial Park 205 Union Rd, Englewood

Englewood’s annual fireworks celebration at Centennial Park. The Civic Band will perform beginning at 7:00 pm.  Fireworks begin at approximately…

Americana Festival

uptown Centerville Centerville

The Centerville-Washington Township Americana Festival started in 1972 as a sidewalk sale promoted by the city’s downtown merchants.  This year,…

Red, White & Brew

The Mall at Fairfield Commons 2727 Fairfield Commons Blvd, Beavercreek

The event will include a beer garden sponsored by Yuengling, live music performed by Stranger, family-friendly activities, a Kids Zone,…

Free Summer Family Film Fest at The Neon

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Starting on July 3 at 11am, THE NEON and ThinkTV PBS will begin presenting a 10-week, FREE Summer Family Film Festival. Each week, doors will open at 10:30am, and tickets will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Featuring episodic shorts from popular characters in the PBS Kids library, these screenings will give an opportunity for families to enjoy the movie-going experience together in a budget-friendly way while keeping kids thoughtfully engaged over the summer.
Each Saturday will focus on a different program, and activity books will be available for children to take home after the screenings

 This film festival is made possible from the generous support of The RubiGirls Scholarship Initiative. Week #1 (July 3) will feature NATURE CAT.

Week #2 (July 10) will feature WILD KRATTS.
Week #3 (July 17) will feature DINOSAUR TRAIN.
Week #4 (July 24) will feature ODD SQUAD. (more title details coming soon)

Subterranean at Devil Wind Brewing

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Subterranean approaches improvisation with intent. Pushing stylistic boundaries and fearlessly exploring their musical journey while still presenting infectious grooves. This creates a unique experience at every live performance making each one a must see.
The show is free and open to the public.

Dayton at Work and Play: Artist Patty Brown

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Patty Brown of P.Brown Art with three of her “colorfield florals.”

I first met Patty Brown years ago when I visited her husband, artist Daniel Brown, at his home in Troy. Recently a friend suggested I might like art that Patty was posting online. I loved her work and was glad that Patty agreed to invite me over and be my first post-pandemic ARTIST OF THE WEEK.
“I teach art at Tippecanoe Middle School” she told me. “We spend a lot of time in class on aspects of color theory. I have the students make different colors and then experiment with how a color changes as tit is placed next to other colors. One day the students were enjoying their work with colors so much that they inspired me to do some similar things myself when I got home.”
“I’ve always made art, but this is the first time I’ve created a body of work with a common theme. I feel like I can push this in a lot of directions, trying different ways of combining a geometric color design with my freehand floral drawings. The response to these pieces has been great. I am doing quite a few commissions and I sell on facebook and instagram. Some pieces are also available at a wonderful flower shop in Tipp City called Always Blooming .”

The Great Miami River, Home of Ohio’s Best Smallmouth Bass Fishing

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When you think about having fun along Great Miami Riverway,  you might remember bicycling with friends on the bike trail, or eating a delicious strawberry donut at the Troy Strawberry festival. But there are a lot of people who only think about one thing: fishing.

Fishing is one of the most popular sports in the world, and the Great Miami River is one of the best rivers in Ohio to try and catch some fish – or at least have some fun trying.

According to data collected by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the Great Miami River:

  • Supports a very diverse fish population. In the Great Miami River, anbarry fishd its tributaries, you can fish for everything from bass, saugeye, crappie, northern pike, and catfish to rock bass. Especially abundant are smallmouth bass, but you might get lucky 
    and catch a unique species like hybrid striped bass or white bass.
  • Produces record-sized fish. ODNR’s Fish Ohio program recognizes anglers who catch fish of noteworthy size on Ohio’s rivers. Out of 30 of the different species caught, 22 were large enough to be recognized. That is more than other large rivers in the region.
  • Ranks as Ohio’s best river to catch large smallmouth bass. According to ODNR, the peak season for bigger fish begins in April and is steady through October each year.
  • Ranks as a top two riverin Ohio for Rock Bass and a top three for sauger.
  • Has produced noteworthy fish in every month of the year. But the best months are March through November.

On the Great Miami River, from 2014-2019, the largest noteworthy catches were:

“I’m passionate about fishing and fly fishing. ODNR’s data helps us understand  what kinds of fish live in the river, and the best time of year to catch them,” says  Barry Puskas, chief of technical and engineering services for the Miami Conservancy District. Barry’s day job helps our region’s flood protection system operate effectively, but his passion is also fishing.

Barry is an advocate for catch-and-release to encourage the conservation of fish species. “I believe the Great Miami is one of the best waterways to hunt for trophy-sized smallmouth bass in the region, and conservation helps those big fish get bigger”.

To find a great fishing spot on the Great Miami River, use our interactive map and trip planner. There are locations where you can fish from the riverbank, kayak, or motorboat. There is access for every age and ability.

So find your way to a fishing spot near you… on the Great Miami Riverway!

Five Rivers MetroParks Launches New Trailside Camping

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The Miami Valley now has a new option for spending a night beneath the stars: trailside camping.

These sites join MetroParks’ 23 existing camping options, which include front country campsites, accessible by motor vehicles, and backcountry campsites, accessible on foot. The trailside campsites support travelers without a motor vehicle who are passing through the region and need a place to stop before continuing their journey.

“Trailside camping fills a niche to support hikers, cyclists and paddlers who are traveling through Montgomery County on the paved trail network, water trails, and long-distance hiking and bicycle touring routes,” said Brent Anslinger, MetroParks’ outdoor recreation program manager. “These travelers may be out for a few days or on a multi-month adventure that covers thousands of miles. Trailside camping is one more critical amenity that welcomes adventure seekers to the area.”

 

The new trailside campsites are located along seven long-distance touring routes that run through Montgomery County:

The sites also support Dayton’s designation as a Trail Town of two long-distance trails, the Buckeye Trail and North Country National Scenic Trail, and build the region’s growing reputation as The Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest. Trailside camping also supports MetroParks’ 10-year comprehensive master plan and park master plans.

 

“Dayton is The Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest in part because of all the regional and national trails and routes that pass through the area, including Ohio’s only National Scenic Trail and only National Water Trail, among others,” Anslinger said. “It’s exciting to invite people traveling these routes — as well as anyone seeking multi-day experiences on Miami Valley Trails, the nation’s largest paved trail network with more than 350 miles to explore — to experience Montgomery County and the Great Miami Riverway in a new way.”

Trailside campsites are open year-round. Each can accommodate two small tents and up to six people, with a two-night maximum at the same site. Camping is by permit only but can be booked in advance or on the spot by visiting metroparks.org/reservations.

 

These primitive trailside camping sites are located in shaded areas with a restroom nearby in three MetroParks:

  • Island MetroPark, 101 E. Helena St. — located near the Great Miami River Trail and along the Great Miami River Water Trail on the northern edge of the park near a new prairie.
  • Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Rd. — located between the Mad River Trail and Buckeye Trail
  • Taylorsville MetroPark, 2000 U.S. 40 — located on the south side of the dam along the Great Miami River Trail

The cost to reserve a trailside campsite is $5 per night during peak season, from April 1 through Oct. 31, and $3 per night from Nov. 1 through March 31.

To develop its trailside camping options, Five Rivers MetroParks worked with local, regional and national partners that share the strategic goal of enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities that allow people to connect with nature. Partners include Bike Miami Valley, the Great Miami Riverway, Buckeye Trail Association, North Country Trail Association, National Park Service, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Adventure Cycling Association. Sources from these organizations can be provided upon request.

 

 

Dayton Playhouse- The Shows Will Go On!

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Dayton Playhouse has announced the  reopening of the Dayton Playhouse facility and their 2021-22 season – Roaring Into A New Decade.

“Our board and volunteers are thrilled to be back doing what we do best. We can’t wait to welcome our loyal audience members back as we, once again, bring intriguing plays and delightful musicals to life on our beautiful stage.” Matt Lindsay, Dayton Playhouse board chair. 

 

The Dayton Playhouse 2021-22 Season includes:

American Son

Written by Christopher Demos-Brown

September 17–26, 2021

Auditions: July 19 & 20

Directed by Tim Rezash

On the night a teenage boy goes missing, his parents end up at the police precinct trying to figure out what happened to their son.  Old wounds are reopened concerning race, fear, and their rocky marriage.  “American Son is not a subtle play; it barely feels like a play at all. With its unrelentingly high tension on every level — maternal, marital, societal — it’s more like a slice of a nightmare, with few contours despite its surprises.” – New York Times

The Great Gatsby

Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald adapted for stage by Simon Levy

November 5-14, 2021

Auditions: September 20 & 21 (tentative)

Directed by Annie Pesch

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s haunting story of the elusive millionaire is a favorite of so many. Watch as this beautiful story is brought to life on stage. The dialogue, costumes and set will capture the audience as Fitzgerald’s story is brought life.

Into The Woods

Book by James Lapine, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

January 14 – 30, 2022

Auditions: November 8 & 9 (tentative)

Directed by Tina McPhearson

This intriguing Sondheim musical blends some of the best-known fairytales with gorgeous, sometimes haunting music to create a story that won several Tony awards and captured the audience’s imagination. Watch as Sleeping Beauty, Jack in the Beanstalk, Cinderella and others weave together a musical story you’ll never forget.  “Into the Woods is a journey worth taking.” – Chicago Critic

August: Osage County

Written by Tracy Letts

March 4-13, 2022

Auditions: January 17 & 18 (tentative)

Directed by Jamison Meyer

This drama by Tracy Letts, was the recipient of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It  delves into a family tragedy that causes tensions to run high and secrets to leak. The Weston women are forced to examine themselves and their lives whether they want to or not. Welcome to Osage County, Oklahoma in the smothering heat of August. “Fresh and adroitly updated and conditioned to our time and socio-political climate.” – NY Post

Hello, Dolly!

Book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman 

April 29-May 15, 2022

Auditions: March 7 & 8 (tentative)

Directed by Brian Sharp

We roar out our first season of the decade with Jerry Herman’s classic show about Dolly Levi who puts her hand in there and arranges things! This timeless classic features such tunes as “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Ribbons Down My Back,” and of course, “Hello, Dolly!” Don’t miss this fabulous show…the perfect way to end a perfect season.

Season tickets for 2021-22 may be purchased at www.daytonplayhouse.com, or by calling 937-424-8477.   Messages may be left at any time and calls will be returned.   Season tickets are $80 for adults and $72 for seniors, students and military. Individual show tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors, students and military.

The Board and volunteers of the Dayton Playhouse look forward to safely welcoming our audiences back into the thoroughly-cleaned theater, following state guidelines.

The Dayton Playhouse is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH 45414.  The Dayton Playhouse is a community theatre providing outstanding theatrical productions to Miami Valley audiences of all ages for more than sixty years.  The Playhouse is nationally recognized for FutureFest, an annual festival of new plays, which takes place each July.

Lucky Star Introduces New Summer Menu Additions

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Lucky Star Brewery just announced it will be adding some summer menu items this Wednesday.  New additions include:
Jalapa-popper burger-Hamburger patty topped w/ jalapeño popper spread(jalapeños, cream cheese & bacon) all layered on a sesame seed bun served w/ a side of fresh cut fries.
Mexican street corn-corn on the Cobb w/ butter, cotija cheese, lime,salt & chile powder.
Fajitas(sorry no pic) steak, chicken or beans w/ grilled onions & bell peppers. Served w/ 3 flour tortillas, chips, sour cream & salsa.
Mexican fruit cup- a cup of fresh watermelon, cantaloupe & cucumbers topped w/ fresh lime juice & chile powder Mexican mix.
Staying on the menu – loaded fries
And  loaded nachos
and of course every Tuesday is taco Tuesday with a rotating menu of $1.50 tacos!

Lucky Star Brewery

219 S 2nd St
Miamisburg, OH 45342
(937) 866-2739
Hours:
Tuesday- Thursday: 3:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 3:30 PM – 12:00 AM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Rent A Bike in the Miami Valley!

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Take your adventure on two wheels. Want to rent a mountain bike for the day?  Renting a bike is easy—here are several places to rent bikes – from single-speed cruisers to tandem bikes to tag-along trailers for little kids

 

K&G Bike Center
They rent bikes by the hour, day, or week.There is a 2 hour minimum for rentals. Hourly rentals must be returned the same day. Rentals for more than 4 hours receive the daily rate. Full-day rentals must be returned within 24 hours from the time of rental. Since K&G is closed on Sundays, bikes rented on Saturday must be returned by Monday, noon for a one-day rental rate.  Road, Hybrid, & Mountain start at $8/hour, $32/day or $75/week

Located across the street from the Little Miami Scenic Trail for easy access.

XENIA

594 North Detroit St.
937 372-2555

Mon, Tue, Thu – Sat: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Link Dayton Bike Share

A hub-based bike sharing system in Dayton, Ohio. Users can purchase one time passes or memberships through the Link Dayton app to access bikes at 27 different locations in the Dayton area. Bikes in this system must be returned and locked to a bike rack (or other fixed object) in the designated hubs outlined in the app. The system offers a fleet of green bicycles dubbed Green Link and a fleet of electric bicycles (e-bikes), dubbed eLink.

PayGo – $1 to unlock – eLink: 15¢ per minute    Green Link: 10¢ per minute

Day Pass  eLink: $15 for 4 hours of ride time  GreenLink: $8 for 4 hours of ride time

90 Day Membership – $26   eLink: 10¢ per minute. Green Link: for 80 minutes of ride time per day, 5¢ per minute over included time

Click here for a map of where to pick up a Link bike.

RiverScape Bike Rentals

237 East Monument Ave.
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 278-2607

RiverScape MetroPark is positioned at the center of more than 300 miles of paved, off-street trails in the Dayton region — the nation’s largest paved trail network. You can rent bikes to explore this incredible bikeway network from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, at our RiverScape Rentals concession window. A variety of bicycles are available, as well as a host of bike attachments for your child.

Hybrid, Road bikes and youth bikes Rate –  $8/hr, $12/2 hrs, $20/3 hrs
Tandem bikes – Rate: $15/hr, $20/2 hrs, $25/3 hrs

Reservations required for the Monday – Friday rentals (9am – 5pm); walk-ups accepted on Saturdays and Sundays (9am – 2pm).

A public work stand is available for use all summer long. Pump up your tires or fix a flat; adjust a derailleur or brakes; and tweak other parts of your bicycle for free with our public work stand.

Mountain bikes are available for rent on select Saturdays and Sundays at the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area (MoMBA) 4485 Union Rd., Dayton, OH 45424
You can try out the nine miles of single track without committing to buying gear. Bring the little ones out — youth bikes are available. The Hilltop Flow Trail and Tot Track are perfect for getting the kids to try something new. Advance registration is required and fees must be paid at the time of registration. 937-275-PARK (7275) Registration will cut-off at 5pm the evening before each rental opportunity if the minimum number of participants has not been met.

Whitman’s Bike Way Bike Shop
18 N Main St
Miamisburg, OH 45342

Spice up your dating lineup with a bike ride around town or explore the trails for the day. We’re bound to have a bike that will fit you and your significant other comfortably.

Road/Cruiser/Hybrid Bikes –  $10 first hour, $4 additional hour
Tandem or Recumbent Rental – $15 first hour, $5 additional hour

Helmets, baby carriers, trailers, and locks are available for rent also. Hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly rentals are available. A valid driver’s license and credit card deposit are required for each bicycle rental.

Call (937) 384-0337 for availability or reservations.

We’re only 300 feet from the bike trail!

Tips for your bike rental

  1. Test drive the bike to ensure you are comfortable with the size, and style of the bicycle and that everything is working properly before you leave the rental area.
  2. Be aware and follow proper safety and rules of the road.
  3. In case of emergency pack a mini first aid kit.
  4. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses.
  5. Wear a backpack to hold all of the above.

Once you’ve got your bike rented, you may want to access info on where to bike- here’s a great resoure:

Cycling the Great Miami Riverway, there are 99 miles of river, paved trails, and connected communities in southwest Ohio. Check here for trail maps.  It will give you info on parking, restrooms and access points.

 

 

Dayton’s Newest Food Celebrity

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People often assume it is all about the food when I travel for bbq or to judge barbecue competitions. I will stipulate that the food is good, but the people I meet are more interesting than the food.

This past weekend was no exception. I was in Franklin Indiana for the Hoosier BBQ Classis, a KCBS sanction Master Series competition. This two-day competition brought more than 50 teams from across the midwest to a small town in South Central Indiana. I was most excited to see a few of my favorite teams, like Ale Yeah from Columbus Ohio, and the BBQ Bus father-son duo from Chicago.

Photo from instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire

Then I learned that Dayton Ohio’s own Erica Blaire, team Blue Smoke Blaire, would be in attendance with her mom for the contest. Still relatively unknown to most of Dayton, she has been the subject of lots of talk in Dayton’s online foodie community in recent weeks.

It only took one minute and I was able to find her among the dozens of other teams cleaning up after Saturday’s contest. Every team knew exactly who she was and where she was set up. One knock on her RV door and were sitting by her cooling smoker on Saturday afternoon chatting all things BBQ.

First of all, she is not like the other competitors on the KCBS circuit. Most of the field looks like me. Late 40’s, early 50’s, caucasian, a little overweight, and mostly male. Erica is none of the above. Dark skinned, decidedly prettier than the field, Law School grad, and formally trained as a sommelier. And. And. She’s featured on the current season of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl, Season 2.

Erica is not a caterer, she is not a seasoned competitor, but just like those other teams set up around her, she is passionate about perfecting the art and science of barbecue. And just like those other teams, she is generous with her time, stories, and her hospitality overflows. That is why the other teams have so quickly come to admire her and have welcomed her to the BBQ competition family.

Her journey is not the story I’ve heard from a hundred teams. Like her brand of BBQ, it is uniquely Erica. She holds a Psychology Degree from Wright State and attended Law School at Rutgers, followed that by practicing criminal defense in Miami Florida. Looking for a new challenge, she moved to Napa and pursued additional training as a Sommelier. That training further fueled her love for all things food and drink taking her to San Diego California putting that training to work in the finest SoCal resort hotels.

It was her return back home to Ohio where the bug for BBQ hit. As she told me, it was her dad that encouraged her to pursue BBQ. So she did. She jumped right into the deep end in the midst of the pandemic entering virtual and in-person contests.

Photo from instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire

While still a practicing attorney and new mom, it was her contribution to The Pitmaster’s Cookbook that put her on the map. This award-winning cookbook was a project that grew from a social media pitmaster group. Soon after, one thing leads to another, and she finds herself in Austin Texas cooking for Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, and Eddie Jackson for the 2nd Season of BBQ Brawl.

My love for BBQ has put me in the pits and kitchens in Austin, KC, and Memphis. I’ve met Tootsie and Clay, Aaron Franklin, Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s, Joe from SLAP’s, and chatted with Flora Payne in Memphis, but they were all BBQ famous before I ever met them. Erica is just getting started and soon you’ll hear her name and you’ll know that means Blue Smoke Blaire BBQ and Dayton Ohio.

Join me in following Erica’s journey on the Food Network, bluesmokeblaire.com, or at instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire.

Catch Season 2, Episode 2 of BBQ Brawl on Food Network this week. I’ll be watching and rooting for Erica, one of Dayton’s own, telling everyone I know, that I know her.