Tis the Season to get FUNKY with Dayton’s own Jah Sol and Solistic! It’s gonna be a First Friday dance party that you won’t want to miss! This is a semi-formal event, so don’t feel shy about strutting your stuff as we dance the night away.
December 3, 2021 at The Brightside – Ballroom Stage (905 E 3rd St, Dayton)
Archives for November 2021
Arctic Dash – A 6K full of obstacles, trail runs, and mud!
Back for our 9th year, the Arctic Dash is ready to push you to your limits once again! Our 6K Dash is known for its challenging and unique course, rugged terrain, and fun obstacles. With nineteen challenges included military themed challenges, mud crawls, cable crossings, and more! This a great race for fun runners, beginners, and elite athletes alike, with multiple age categories for male and female runners. There are plenty of chances to win a cool prize! 100% of proceeds go towards sending kids in need to camp next summer!
Recycle Your Holiday Lights!
Five Rivers MetroParks and Cohen Recycling are making the holidays greener by providing bins at seven MetroParks locations where residents can drop off holiday lights to be recycled. Recycling these lights supports MetroParks’ conservation mission, and Cohen will make a donation to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation based on how many lights are recycled.
Drop off unwanted lights at any of the following MetroParks locations through Monday, Jan. 31. Light strands should be loose and not in bags or boxes. Drop-off locations are contactless, but residents are reminded to wear a face covering when entering an indoor MetroParks facility.
- The following locations are accessible during park hours, daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
- Carriage Hill MetroPark, 7800 E. Shull Rd., Dayton: Recycling bin is located outside the Visitor Center entrance.
- Sugarcreek MetroPark, 4178 Conference Rd., Bellbrook: Recycling bin is located at the main parking lot entrance under the kiosk.
- Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the front of the main building.
- Possum Creek MetroPark, 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton: Recycling bin located at the education building at the Possum Creek Farm.
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton. Recycling bin located outside the Visitor Center entrance.
- Adventure Central (Wesleyan MetroPark) 2222 N. James H. McGee Blvd., Dayton. Recycling bin located outside the Adventure Central entrance.
- 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton: Recycling bin is located at the northwest entrance and is accessible anytime.
Extra waste generated during the holidays — including decorations, food and paper waste —amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, according to the Use Less Stuff Report and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
This is the third holiday season the recycling program has been offered. Last year, MetroParks collected 3,600 pounds of lights. The past two years, Cohen donated a total of $3,000 to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation to support MetroParks’ mission to protect the Dayton region’s natural heritage.
“The partnership we have with Cohen allows us to help people be more sustainable during the holidays, when people generally send the most waste to the landfill,” said Tim Pritchard, Five Rivers MetroParks’ sustainability coordinator. “It’s really easy to do something good for yourself and the environment in one trip. Plan a park outing where there is a lights recycling bin, drop off your lights and enjoy some time outdoors.”
Joe Mama’s Taste of Dayton Opens Dec 1st
Wednesday, December 1st is opening day for Joe Mama’s on Springfield Street in Dayton. This North Jersey native grew up working in Joe’s Deli, the family business and was making soups and bank deposits before he was a teenager. He moved to Columbus were he worked for Speedway and when his fiends started Hero Homes he worked for them on the side. Eventually they bought the property that was formerly Grips Grill last April and and John Gabriel moved here in May, started painting the mural on the side of the building while working on cleaning up the restaurant that had been closed for over a year.
The restaurant, which seats about 20, will serve breakfast and lunch to start, from 8am – 4pm daily. They will offer a dinner menu down the road and delivery is available with Grub Here’s the opening menu:
I had a chance to sample a couple of menu items yesterday. The French Toast served with fruit and a side of Cinnamon grits was light and flavorful.
The Joe Mama burger which is two 90% lean beef patties, with cheese, grilled onions, ketchup, mayo and fries on a hoagie bun:
owner John Gabriel
When we asked Why Tires in the logo?
“Cause that’s how we Roll!”
John Gabriel shares that “Joe Mama’s features my original artwork and unique style, I like to think of it as expressing my love for the arts, cooking, painting and telling jokes!”
Look for Your Mama jokes around the restaurant and featured in the bathroom.
Giving Tuesday: Mediocre Pet Portraits From SICSA
To help raise funds, SICSA SICSA Pet Adoption and Wellness Center they are bringing back Mediocre Pet Portraits again this year! For a donation of just $10 on Giving Tuesday’s Facebook Fundraiser, they will have one of their “artists” create a unique portrait of your pet!
To have your portrait completed, you will simply donate $10 to the fundraiser, and comment your pet’s photo beneath your donation. They’ll then give the photo to one of their resident pet Picassos. Once they’ve finished their masterpiece, SICSA will take a photo and comment under your donation.
Feel free to share the picture with friends online to encourage them to join in the fun!
Then, beginning on Tuesday, December 7th, you can stop by our Adoptions Lobby to pick up your portrait.
Bike Miami Valley Looking For Winter Warriors
Link- Dayton Bike Share has announced this year’s Winter Warriors is going to be a bit different, they will be fitting it all into one month! That’s right, this year’s competition will start on December 1 and go until December 31!
Are you signed up for Winter Warriors? This year’s competition will last from December 1 – December 31! we will be giving out awesome prizes including a bike from New Belgium Brewing! We will also be handing out prizes from Mike’s Bike Park, Old Scratch Pizza, RiverScape MetroPark, Boston Stoker Coffee and more! You have to be signed up to win!
Sign ups are now live. You can’t win if you don’t sign up.
Trips start counting December 1!
Alexis Larsen Joins Five River MetroParks
Five Rivers MetroParks’ has announced that Alexis Larsen has joined it’s executive leadership team as its new chief of philanthropy, starting today.
Larsen comes to MetroParks from the Dayton Art Institute (DAI), where she served as the external affairs director for 10 years. During her time at the museum, Larsen oversaw staff and volunteers in fundraising more than $16 million for the DAI. This included major and planned gifts; solicitation of donors and sponsorships; annual fund campaigns; membership programs; special events; and management of corporate, foundation and government grant submissions.
In addition, Larsen has extensive knowledge in consumer research and community and media engagement. She served as a liaison to the 64-volunteer member DAI Associate Board, which supports the museum’s two largest signature fundraising events, Art Ball and Oktoberfest. In 2019, Larsen was responsible for planning and executing the museum’s centennial year community events and programming.
Prior to her time at the DAI, Larsen served for 13 years in a variety of roles at Cox Ohio Media and the Dayton Daily News, and she is still the newspaper’s food critic.
“Leading the philanthropy and fundraising efforts for Five Rivers MetroParks as the chief of philanthropy is the opportunity of a lifetime and a chance to give back to what I am most passionate about — outdoor recreation, conservation and connecting people to nature,” Larsen said. “I’m excited to get started in this new role building new partnerships, opening doors to impactful giving in the community, and identifying support for initiatives, projects, programs and services that are needed beyond the current budget. Impactful philanthropy will help Five Rivers MetroParks accelerate opportunities to create an even brighter future to support conservation locally and provide healthy outdoor experiences for everyone in our community.”
At Five Rivers MetroParks, Larsen will oversee the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation and serve as the agency’s liaison with the James M. Cox, Jr. Arboretum Foundation and Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation. She will manage the philanthropy functional area’s staff and lead all of Five Rivers MetroParks’ philanthropic and development efforts. This includes sponsorships, naming rights and planned giving, as well as the Foundation’s tribute program, champions program and its Access to Nature financial assistance program. Larsen also will oversee the launch and development of MetroParks’ new Land Conservation Endowment Fund, which allows donors to support MetroParks’ conservation efforts to maintain the more than 16,000 acres the agency protects and strategically acquire properties that protect and connect natural areas.
“We’re so excited to welcome Alexis to the Five Rivers MetroParks team,” said Becky Benná, Five Rivers MetroParks executive director and CEO. “We look forward to working with her in support of MetroParks’ mission to provide outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection to nature and to protect our region’s natural heritage. Alexis is a proven leader, and we’re confident she will take our philanthropic and development efforts to the next level.”
Larsen is a graduate of Wright State University with a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications. She is involved with the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is a graduate of Leadership Dayton and was named one of Women in Business Networking’s 25 Women to Watch in 2019. Larsen and her husband, Dave Schweitzer, are longtime residents of Dayton’s McPherson Town neighborhood.
ABOUT THE FIVE RIVERS METROPARKS FOUNDATION
The Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation, established in 2014, was created to provide Five Rivers MetroParks with a 501(c)(3) entity for securing philanthropic funding for special projects, programming and an endowment. The foundation provides a way for donors to support Five Rivers MetroParks with charitable contributions that support all or one specific MetroPark. Donations also can be directed to support Five Rivers MetroParks’ educational and recreational services, as well as conservation initiatives. The foundation is led by a volunteer board committed to the mission, master plan and strategic plan for Five Rivers MetroParks.
Wreaths Across America Needs Your Help!
The National Wreaths Across America Day Ceremony held nationwide on December 18, 2021, at noon and locally at the Dayton National Cemetery, is currently accepting pre-ordered wreaths for the event and far behind 2020’s numbers.
Wreaths Across America’s goal is to place a live, balsam fir veteran’s wreath at the headstone of every American veteran to REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom.
To order a wreath please visit www.daytonhonorsquad.com and click ‘events.’ Also, a reminder, Tuesday, November 30, 2021 is ‘Giving Tuesday.’ A perfect time to donate to our cause.
AGAIN, the deadline to order is TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021.
About Wreaths Across America:
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.
Meet Aullwood’s New Trolls in Residence
Aullwood Audubon Nature Center is proud to announce the arrival of Bo, Bodil and Bibbi, and their troll-sized bird nest. These giant trolls by Thomas Dambo have found their home in Dayton, Ohio, and are ready for the public to get to know them. “The Troll That Hatched an Egg” is one of only nine Dambo-created exhibitions in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Dambo, the world’s leading recycle artist from Copenhagen, Denmark, has been helping giant trolls come to life around the world for over 10 years. He worked with a team of local volunteers as well as members of his artistic team to prepare for the trolls’ arrival at Aullwood using locally sourced materials to create the sculptures.
“Everything I make I try to make out of things laying around. This way I can build really big things with a very small footprint or impact,” says Dambo. “For the nest that the trolls are building, we’ve been able to collect dead limbs from around Aullwood. We made Bibbi’s wings from old plastic totes that we cut and stained to look like tanned hide.”
Dambo hopes that his trolls bring people into nature to explore. His secondary goal is that people see how scraps and garbage can be recycled into something meaningful and beautiful. He designs the trolls and writes the stories that explain who they are and what they’re doing.
“The Troll That Hatched an Egg” tells the story of Bo, Bodil and Bibbi, a family of trolls who live at Aullwood Audubon. When Bibbi hears stories from her special friend the Cardinal, she wants to see more of the world around her and wishes to learn to fly.
Birds, nature, ecosystems and conservation are all central to Aullwood Audubon’s mission, which is reflected in the trolls’ story. The exhibition also pays tribute to Dayton’s place in the history of aviation and the wonder of so many children who see birds (and airplanes) fly for the first time. In fact, the Wright brothers studied the flight of birds as they worked to design the first airplane. It makes sense that a young troll would also choose birds as her teachers.
“The trolls are bringing excitement and whimsy to Aullwood,” says Alexis R. Faust, executive director of Aullwood Audubon. “We’re so glad that Thomas Dambo and his team will help visitors rediscover nature and spend more time outdoors through this amazing installation. A significant part of our work here at Aullwood revolves around preserving habitat for birds. I see the trolls as protectors of the birds, and they help remind us that we need to do the same.”
“The Troll That Hatched an Egg” is a permanent new exhibit included with paid daily admission or membership at Aullwood Audubon. To plan your visit with the trolls, go to Aullwood.org.
Aullwood Audubon is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m. (closed Mondays). For the Thanksgiving holiday, Aullwood Audubon is closed Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26. The installation has four sites, two at Aullwood Farm and two at Aullwood Nature Center.
Aullwood Nature Center is part of Audubon Great Lakes, a regional office of the National Audubon Society and is located at 1000 Aullwood Road, Dayton, OH 45414. Aullwood Farm is located at 9101 Frederick Pike, Dayton, OH 45414.
Drawing Room Chamber Series: Wester Ohio Tuba Quartet
In November the Western Ohio Tuba Quartet will return to the Hayner to masterfully perform holiday favorites on four tubas. Their work is called “masterful” because of the skill of the four tubists. This concert is guaranteed not to overwhelm as one might think, although it might make you vibrate a little.
Last Call To Order from Dayton Greek Fest Holiday Market
Keep your holiday cooking and entertaining easy this year with the help of this po up market. Pre-order and pay online now through December 1st and then you can drive through and pick-up December 4th between 10am and 4pm at the Dayton Greek Orthodox Church, which is located at 500 Belmonte Park North, just next to the Dayton Art Institute.
Some of the food items being offered:
The gyro kits for 5 people are perfect for the busy holidays. The kit will include the meat of your choice (traditional or chicken), pita bread, housemade tzatziki and diced tomatoes and onion.
Frozen Pastitsio – 1/2 Pan Seasoned meat, noodles and bechamel. Serves 9-12 and includes baking instructions.
Pastry Variety Box of Greek Housemade Pastries; Includes Baklava (qty 2), Kourambiethes (qty 1), Melamakarouna/Finikia (qty 1), Amygdalota (qty 1), and Koulourkia (qty 2) *Items in image are not exact.
Koulouria (Qty 6)- A buttery twisted shortbread cookie.
Greek Choco-Freta (like a Kit-Kat)? They have 3 options Milk, Dark or Hazelnut.
Greek Olives – 1 pound of Greece’s amazing olives.
Frozen Tiropita – Cheese Pies (3 oz.) Blended cheeses wrapped in a buttered phyllo dough. Order includes one tray of 24 pieces.Frozen Spanakopita – Spinach Pies (3 oz.)- Spinach and feta wrapped in a phyllo dough. Order includes one tray of 24 pieces.
The Market also include great gift ideas from Greek gift sets, t-shorts, tote, aprons, shawls and coin gift sets.
See the Market Order Sheet here.
Dayton at Work and Play: Abiona Venee Pleasant
I heard that my friend Abi, of Art Glass by Abiona had a new studio, so I paid her a visit.
“I’ve wanted my own glass shop for quite a while” she told me. “I had planned to buy a building in the city with a partner who is a great glass artist. But when the pandemic hit we decided against it. I started renting space all over – in Springfield, Cincinnati, even up to Toledo.”
“Then I decided to build my own glass shop here in the garage of my home. I put in new electrical service and got the ovens set up and everything was operational in September. It’s been great.”
“Lately I’ve been doing a lot of blown glass ornaments. I’ll be selling them at Front Street Saturday 4 to 9 and Sunday 11 to 4 with my friends at Yahweh & Sons Art Studio: (Building 100 Door A: first floor suite 1160). It’s part of Front Street’s Christkindl Market on Small Business Saturday.”
The Werks with special guests Dustin Smith & The Daydreamers
WERKSGIVING is BACK to Dayton, OH!
The Werks bring back the 10th annual Werksgiving to The Brightside, with special guests Dustin Smith & The Daydreamers
Specials guests and more fun announced shortly!
Doors at 7pm | Show at 8pm
The Sugar Guild – New Downtown Brunch Spot Opens
Chef DD
The Sugar Guild Bakery & Cafe opened it’s doors quietly a couple of months ago in the District Provisions building on Wayne Ave. Serving up brunch on Saturday & Sunday from 8am – 3pm, they are slowing building up their business.
Chef DD Pearson , originally from England moved here about 3 years ago, following her brother to the states. Having worked at Jimmie’s Ladder 11 for about 3 years, with encouragement from owner Susie Brandell, DD decided it was time to try her own place. When she met with Chip Kennedy, owner of the District Provisions building she said “that their creative process was similar and he told her to just run with it.” She shares that she “hope to be a destination to stop for coffee and breakfast and over time we’ll add a menu with soups, sandwiches and salads, adding a deli that does boxed lunches and delivery” in what she’ll call District by Day.
She’d also like folks to thing of her space as a place for the community, that can host special events, they already have a wedding reception scheduled. Signage for the building is coming soon and she says their will continue to be improvements made on the building an more added.
Here are the current menus:
521 Wayne Ave. The Sugar Guild
The Sweet Black n Blue Chicken Sammy is unbelievable! House baked focaccia with a marinated chicken breast that’s wood fired to perfection! Then we layer our sugared maple bacon on and fresh spinach! and we finish it with a whipped blue cheese spread.
While you are there, grab a Chai Latte and a GIANT snickerdoodle or for a truly decadent treat, try one of their giant cinnamon rolls, baked to perfection in the wood burning oven, served on the skillet they were baked on and completely coated from edge to EDGE in orange silk glaze.
The are taking reservations for private parties, The Chef’s Table experience & Holiday desserts!!
The team that runs this place!
The Sugar Guild Bakery & Cafe
521 Wayne Ave
Dayton, OH 45410
Follow them on Facebook
U.S. Navy Blue Angels Fly in Monday
The world-renowned U.S. Navy Blue Angels will appear at the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger on July 30th and 31st. 2022 marks the 47th year for the show, a premier event held annually at the Dayton International Airport.
Two crew members from the famed U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron are scheduled to land at Dayton International Airport on Monday, November 29th, for a preseason visit to finalize site, airspace and other details for the 2022 CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show.
Dayton is one of the select venues where the Blue Angels will fly in 2022. The Blues have been thrilling audiences for more than 60 years. The team flies six powerful Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters during their tightly choreographed, high-energy demonstration — sometimes flying as little as 18 inches apart.
Blue Angel #1, Capt. Brian “Boss” Kesselring, will lead the 110-member squadron in 2022. 60 members of the team will travel to Dayton to stage the show on July 30th and 31st. The Blues last performed at Dayton in 2018. They were scheduled to perform in 2020, but the show was canceled due to COVID-19.
Last appearing in Dayton in 2018, the Blues have been thrilling audiences for over 70 years. 2022 will be a special year for the Blues and Dayton fans. It will be the first year the team will be flying the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft in Dayton.
The Blue Angels are well known for flying their six fighter jets in a tightly choreographed, high-energy demonstration – sometimes flying as little as 18 inches apart and speeds up to 700 MPH.
Dayton fans will be in for a treat and will clearly notice (and hear) the upgrade to the Super Hornets.
The 110-member squadron will be led by Commander Brian “Boss” Kesselring flying lead in Blue Angel #1. Sixty members of the team will travel to Dayton to stage the show.
Air show officials also announced today the addition of the amazing TORA! TORA! TORA, the emotional reenactment of the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. This amazing Commemorative Air Force production features eight Japanese replica fighter/bomber aircraft with spectacular pyrotechnics simulating bombing runs. It is truly a living history lesson concluding with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s memorable address to the nation. A crowd favorite, Tora is a phenomenal presentation that will be enjoyed by young and old alike.
“The Blue Angels, Tora! Tora! Tora! and Kevin Coleman…what a fantastic start to our 2022 show lineup,” stated Scott Buchanan, Chairman of the United States Air & Trade Show Board of Trustees, the governing organization of the show. “We can’t wait for next summer and really look forward to seeing the Blues fly the Super Hornet. What a great show we’ll have in 2022. Our fans are going to love it,” he added.
Air show officials indicate additional attractions to the 2022 show will be announced in the months ahead.
Sinclair Presents A Charlie Brown Christmas
This 40-minute production has become a family tradition and a perfect introduction for young children to LIVE theatre. First shown as an animated TV special based on Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters in 1965, this faithful stage adaptation features Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang as they grapple with the real meaning of Christmas
