Dayton937

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

Archives for September 2022

Hell’s Dungeon Now Open

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Dayton, Ohio’s only all indoor haunted attraction!

Hells Dungeon is a unique all indoor haunted attraction located in Dayton, Ohio. Their team is dedicated to providing a one-of-a-kind experience to all guests. ​

Rufus,theirr resident devil himself, has called you forth to receive eternal judgment. Join your fellow lost souls on a journey like no other. Together, you will traverse the circles of Hell’s darkest dungeon.

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Trapped and alone for eternity, Rufus desired companionship. He lured the world’s darkest citizens to his domain. For them he created a sinister mockery of Mainstreet USA where the streets run red with blood and all souls are fair game. Follow your guides closely, they alone hold the secret to your survival.

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Unable to provide sustenance, Rufus called upon the Loa of Dark Harvest; Mambo Marie. She used her profane powers to create the swamps beyond Mainstreet; teeming with life for the taking. To work those fertile grounds she summoned the masters of the hunt, the Firewood Clan. A family of sadistic cannibals, the Firewoods are always on the lookout to fill their larders with the freshest and sweetest of meats.

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To cure his own afflictions and those of his people, Rufus created the Maniacal Asylum. A pinnacle of experimentation and treatment, its staff is composed of the darkest minds in all fields of medical science. Check in with Nurse Hatchet when you arrive. You won’t have to wait long, The Doctor is ALWAYS in…

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Sensing the need to appease the masses, Rufus searched far and wide for a solution. In the end, he summoned the mysterious Jugular Brothers to provide the ultimate entertainment.

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Join JB Rotten and his Owl-Light Freakshow on your way to the bigtop for the strangest show the world has ever seen. Grab some snacks and play a few games in the midway before reaching the main attraction; The Bonkers and Blades Variety Show! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll puke, you’ll die!

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Rufus created the ultimate warden to keep his motley collection of souls in line. Forged in the raging inferno of Hell’s Dungeon, Haywire takes his job quite seriously. Armed with advanced instruments of torture, he is a melodius symphony of mechanical misery.

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A long and perilous journey awaits you. Be prepared to face your deepest fears and lay bare your darkest secrets. Should you escape these unhallowed halls, salvation will be yours!

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​Only one question remains…

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Will

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You

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Survive?

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Hell’s Dungeon
Backside of Eastown Shopping Center
3866 Linden Avenue
Dayton, Ohio. 

There is no charge for parking.

Watch their  Facebook page for special offers.

It’s Miami Valley Craft Beer Week- Sept 10 -17

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Dayton’s craft breweries started popping up in 2013 and have continued to grow with over 30 local breweries dotting the landscape. In 2017 they introduced the Dayton Ale Trail, encouraging beer lovers to visit each brewery, collecting stamps in their passport books and turn them in for swag each year.  In 2019 they joined together to host the “Dayton Strong Beer Bash” raising funds to support  local tornado relief efforts in the wake of the devastating storms that destroyed so many homes and businesses in the Miami Valley.

Now over 30 breweries have joined together to launch Miami Valley Craft Beer Week.

They banded together to brew “So Original” IPA with the help of sponsors Imperial Yeast and BSG Craft. Unique versions of the collaboration beer were brewed at Bock Family Brewing, Branch & Bone Artisan Ales, Bushrod Brew Works, Hairless Hare Brewery, Lock 27 Brewing, Southern Ohio Brewing and Star City Brewing.  You’ll be able to sample “So Original” IPA starting Sat, Sept 1oth.

 

Throughout the week, the participating breweries will hold a variety of events in their taprooms, including special beer releases, food and beer pairings, games and more. Here are a few of the highlights:

 

 

For more information and events, visit the Craft Beer Week website.

Dayton at Work and Play: Pink Moon Goods

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Kathleen Hotmer in her new shop Pink Moon Goods which opens today at noon. It’s a home goods and paper goods store that specializes in items for low waste living that are ethically manufactured.

The shop is in a beautifully restored building at 2027 East Fifth, in the Huffman Historic District. The opening celebration will include a DJ, snacks and beverages and even face painting.

Kathleen invites you to  celebrate the Grand Opening of Pink Moon Goods
at 2027 East Fifth Street
In the Historic Huffman Neighborhood
in the newly renovated commercial building at the corner of 5th and Huffman
September 10, 2022 from 12-6pm
It’s a celebration so of course there will be a live dj, complimentary snacks and beverages, AND
Free face painting by Samidubzart for all ADULTS and children from 2-6pm.
Free gift with every purchase (while supplies last)
Please join us in celebrating this historic moment in our city and for this budding new business.
Pink Moon Goods is a home goods and paper goods store that specializes in items for low waste living that are ethically manufactured. If you like things that are beautiful, practical, and sustainably manufactured you will fall in love with this shop of curated goods. There is truly something for every consumer that cares about spending their money wisely.

Five Rivers MetroParks CEO To Retire

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Five Rivers MetroParks Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Benná announced today she plans to retire from her position in spring 2023.

Benná has led the organization since March 2011 and has worked in public service for over 40 years. The Board of Park Commissioners plans to work with an executive search firm to conduct a nationwide search to fill the leadership position.

During her tenure, Benná led the agency to earn the National Recreation and Park Association’s Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) initial accreditation and reaccreditation, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to providing the community with the highest level of service.

Benná currently serves as a board member of the Rotary Club of Dayton, Homefull, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, Bike Miami Valley and Miamisburg Education Foundation. She has served in various leadership roles at the local, state and national levels, such as chairperson of the Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, and co-chair of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Women’s Council. She also served as president of the prestigious National Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association.

“It is hard to believe that 40 years of public service in the parks and recreation industry has gone by,” Benná said. “It has been a privilege to work with such a fantastic, committed and purpose-driven team of Five Rivers MetroParks staff and volunteers who strive every day to protect our region’s natural resources and connect our community to nature. I greatly appreciate the support and dedication of the Board of Park Commissioners, who volunteer their time to help guide our organization. It has been an awesome experience, and I am looking forward to my next adventure in life.”

 

Country’s Carter Family Royalty Plays Levitt

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Carlene Carter comes full circle with her latest CD, Carter Girl, on Rounder Records. As the daughter of country music legends June Carter Cash and Carl Smith, and granddaughter of “Mother” Maybelle Carter of the original historic Carter Family, Carlene said it was her lifelong goal to make this record. Producing her next album, Little Acts of Treason, in 1995, Carlene got her father Carl Smith out of retirement for a duet of his hit “Loose Talk.” Wherever she performs, Carlene knows that she is doing her part to honor those who came before her, in her own way. Nearly a century after their first recordings changed the course of American music, that circle remains unbroken by Carlene Carter.

Free Tickets to Performances by Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic

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Dayton Metro Library, in partnership with Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA), will be offering free tickets to select performances by Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic through December.

The select performances, with start times and locations, include:

 

Pines of Rome and Brandon Patrick George: Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

The “Eternal City” could find no more fitting tribute than Respighi’s vibrant PINES OF ROME, transporting you to famous pine stands around the Italian capital, a Renaissance family’s splendid estate, near a catacomb suggested by a mournful chant, the moonlit beauty of the Janiculum hill with the haunting song of a nightingale, and, along the Appian Way, triumphant trumpets and the thunder of marching armies. Brandon Patrick George, Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra alum – and hottest young flutist around – connects you to the Celtic inspiration of Christopher Rouse’s Concerto. The season opens with the DPO and Chorus giving the world premiere of a beautiful work by Daytonians Sierra Leone and Steve Winteregg inspired by the legacy of Miriam Rosenthal.

 

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird:

Friday, October 7, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 9, 2:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

While the body of tormented bebop saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker lies unidentified in a New York City morgue, his ghost travels back to the famed NYC jazz club Birdland, where he struggles to complete his final masterpiece. Fusing classical and jazz styles into an intriguing mix, CHARLIE PARKER’S YARDBIRD is a powerful expedition into the mind, heart, and personal purgatory of the jazz genius.

 

Far Away Places: Scheherazade:

Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

In the One Thousand And One Nights the Sultana Scheherazade nightly diverts her husband with cliff-hanger tales of the sea, shipwrecks, princes, and princesses to save her life – definitely pre-#MeToo! Rimsky-Korsakov’s alluring showpiece whisks you off to that exotic world with music that’s languid and sensuous, shimmering and romantic, stormy and terrifying! Debussy’s Nocturnes depicts clouds floating across the skies and boisterous village festivals punctuated by trumpets and drums. Reena Esmail’s musical roots let her look West and East as her composition about sisterhood soars to ecstatic heights, blending Hindustani and Western classical musical traditions.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, October 30, 2:30 pm, at the Victoria Theatre

October is the perfect setting for Dayton Ballet’s brand-new production of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. The haunting story of the Headless Horseman comes to life with all the same characters of this familiar tale. Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the full ensemble of Dayton Ballet take the stage to bring to life Artistic Director Karen Russo Burke’s fresh approach on the timeless classic. Composer Austin Jaquith provides a brand-new original score, performed live by musicians from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, to deliver the musical backdrop to this eerie legend that has been passed down through generations since the 1800s.

 

Symphonie fantastiqe and Vadim Gluzman:
 Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

Berlioz’s passion-propelled Symphonie fantastique – dazzling with fiery orchestral colors and effects – follows the love-sick hero’s drug-induced visions to a glittering ball, a scaffold, and a demonic Witches’ Sabbath with the Dies irae pounding out a hair-raising theme amid orgiastic tumult. Emotions also run high in Shostakovich’s Concerto, whose sonorities range from quiet contemplation, to the most spectacular cadenza you’re ever likely to witness, to a frenzied finale, guaranteed to leave you profoundly moved. Antoine Clark (“led from the podium with balletic poise,” Chicago Tribune), a rising star among young American conductors, makes his Dayton debut.

 

Hometown Holiday Featuring Amahl and the Night Visitors:

Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3, 7:30 pm, at the Schuster Center

The Dayton Philharmonic and Dayton Opera join forces to present a holiday spectacular that is sure to fill our hearts with the spirit of the season. On the first half of the program, the Dayton Philharmonic performs a selection of seasonal favorites in a festive atmosphere of music and song that will have the Schuster overflowing with holiday happiness. After intermission, Amahl And The Night Visitors brings to life the story of three mysterious kings who are following a star to bring gifts to a wondrous child in a fully-staged, brand new production created for Dayton Opera. The three kings stop for rest at the home of Amahl, a shepherd boy who lives in poverty with his mother, and when Amahl offers his own simple gift to the child, a miracle happens. Since its first performance on Christmas Eve 1951, this holiday classic has been performed on every continent in many languages and been seen by more people than any other opera in history. A heartwarming story of kindness and generosity, it is the perfect first opera – or hundredth!

Free tickets are limited to 50 per performance. Tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to six tickets per party. Seat locations vary per show. Reserved tickets are held at the Box Office and are available for pickup one hour before each show.

For detailed information about each performance and to register, please visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Programs(search for the title of the performance in the keyword field). Questions may also be directed to the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

 

10 ?’s with Chef Gavin St. Denis of Corner Kitchen

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Meet Executive Chef Gavin St. Denis!

His roots may be in the Dayton area, but he has traveled the nation honing his craft working in Tampa, Florida and Portland, Oregon among other places, working for some of the most talented chefs in America before returning to Ohio to be closer to family.

Chef Gavin is a big believer in sustainable farm to table and seasonal cooking. “Our relationship with Keener Farms allowed us to locally source our menu and my commitment to always use fresh, high quality ingredients here at the Corner Kitchen.”

We appreciate that he made some time for our 10 ? interview:

1.What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

Salt, fire, and the four seasons. Wild Mushrooms, Heirloom tomatoes , Copper River Salmon, Leeks, and Parsnips are always in the rotation.

2. What ingredient do you dread?

Fresh Artichokes, the work to reward ratio is low and they are very aggressive for a vegetable. I’m not going to ruin anyone’s day by describing how blue crabs are prepped, if you know, you know.

3. What’s your favorite dish to make?

It’s always the new baby. Lately, I’ve been pretty focused on the grill. Is there anything better than a well seasoned ribeye with roasted oyster mushrooms and chimichurri? Maybe not.

4. What’s your favorite dish to pig out on?

Cheeseburgers, it’s a bit of an obsession of mine to go to strange places and order the burger however it comes. Lucky’s Model T is great, Crabill’s in Urbana has amazing sliders.

5. What Restaurant other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley? 

Alright we are going on a journey, so strap in. Tokyo Fairborn, What da Pho, Taqueria Mixteca, and Calypso Grill and Smokehouse are casual favorites. Two places I spent years at will always get my business; Chef Katy at the Coldwater Cafe, and Chef Roland at the Winds Cafe are absolutely killing it . Chef Brian Ondre has recently returned to Coco’s Bistro and his specials are second to none. I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sueno, the food was amazing and the service was probably the best  I have experienced in the area.

6. What’s your best advice for home chefs?

  Get a good instant read thermometer that turns off when it’s folded closed. Otherwise the battery will always be dead when you need it. I like the Kizen brand. If something is confusing, Martha Stewart and Alton Brown are your only friends on the internet, everyone else is laughing at you or wrong. Trust me.

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

It would be a cookout and it would always be my partner, my dogs, my current crew and their dogs. Having a pretentious dinner with Gandhi or Lou Reed is a pass from me. If Run the Jewels would agree to a short set they would also be invited.

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

I admire the working chefs and cooks who earn it everyday. This industry always seems about a decade behind everything else in terms of equality, pay, and opportunity. It’s definitely getting better but it’s very demanding work that no school can prepare you for. It takes the right balance of passion, stubbornness, and humor to really be successful and you’re only ever as good as your last show. Don’t nap on the underdogs; they’re the real heroes in this business.

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

Hike the Glen into John Bryan with my dogs, eat cheeseburgers, and deadlift.

10. Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break, or other interesting story.

I  created a bourbon butter fire ball that took several days to clean up because I didn’t know the flattop was on, the details live on in at least one bartender’s nightmares (sorry Annie!). I made my own soy sauce once that was quite terrible, resulting in some of the best advice I’ve ever received: “Kikkoman, good product.” Words to live by.

 

Italian Fall Festa

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The Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge #1633 present the 45th annual Italian Fall Festa. A weekend of wonderful Italian music, great Italian food and a fun game of Bocce on the beautiful, spacious, shaded grounds of Bella Villa Hall.

Hours:  Fri Lunch to go: 11am – 1pm, Festa 6-11pm, Sat: noon – 11pm. Sun: noon – 8pm
Location: 2625 County Line Road, Kettering, OH 45429

Entertainment During the Festa:

Friday 7pm to 11pm – Ray Massa’s EuroRythms
Saturday 1pm to 5pm – Aaron Caruso
Saturday 6pm to 11pm – Dr Zoot
Sunday 4pm to 7pm – Dr Zoot

The Meatball Madness 5K Run takes place Sunday at 10 am

Food at the Festa:
Pizza, Italian Beef sandwiches, muffaletta, Italian sausage sandwiches, calzones, caprese salads, pasta salads, Italian cookies, tiramisu cannoli and of course beer, wine and soda will be for sale.

Featured Dinners:

Fri- baked pasta
Sat – stuffed shells
Sun- spaghetti and meatballs

The festival will feature a baked pasta dinner Friday, stuffed shells dinner Saturday and spaghetti and meatballs on Sunday.

Festival parking is located in the Reynolds & Reynolds parking lot just north of the festival grounds and a free shuttle service is available.

Above and Beyond: Dayton’s Neighborhood Conference to meet Oct. 1

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The City of Dayton’s annual Neighborhood Conference will convene Saturday, Oct. 1, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Belmont High School, hosted by the Department of Planning, Neighborhoods and Development.

The conference, titled “Above and Beyond: Elevating Our Neighborhoods,” will bring together community and business leaders, government officials, and volunteers to exchange ideas and information to help transform communities.

The conference is open and free to anyone committed to elevating our neighborhoods and benefitting their own community through awareness gained at the event. Families are encouraged to attend and join in the conversation.

The program’s featured speakers will include Pastor Joshua Ward.

For more information and registration, go to daytonohio.gov/neighborhoodconference.

Dueling Oktoberfest Celebrations This Weekend

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We know the Miami Valley loves celebrating Oktoberfest. This weekend there are two dueling Oktoberfests happening in Dayton suburbs. We’ve got the details here to help you plan your visits to each of them.

The Springboro United Church of Christ (UCC) is recognized as the oldest west of the Allegheny Mountains (1805). It’s members are committed to helping the community of Springboro and beyond with a purpose of caring and fellowship. And what better way to raise funds for those less fortunate, than to enjoy Oktoberfest food, fun and entertainment!

Embracing its German heritage as the former German Reformed Church, the Springboro UCC is proud to bring Oktoberfest to Springboro! The two-day festival is a celebration of authentic German food, beer, wine, and entertainment for the whole family.

Festival Hours: Friday 6 PM – Midnight and Saturday 11 AM – Midnight

Location: 5 West Mill Street, Springboro, OH 45066

Produced by the United Church of Christ, the festival allows for a number of local charities to benefit from the proceeds of this two day event:

Offering authentic German food, biers and wines  — everything from Bratwust to Schnitzel. And there is also a Kids Fun Zone for the younger attendees to experience.

Plenty of games, polka music, dancing and fun for everyone! When it comes to festivals, Oktoberfest reigns supreme!

German Dinners
(includes two side dishes)

  • Chicken Goulash
  • Schnitzel
  • Jagerschnitzel
  • Roasted Chicken
  • Two Bratwurst
  • Cabbage Rolls
  • Schweinebraten

Side Dishes
(select 2 side per dinner)

  • Semmelknoedel (Bavarian Bread Dumplings)
  • German Green Beans
  • German Potato Salad
  • Green Cabbage and Bacon
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Red Cabbage and Apples
  • Käsespätzle
  • Sauerkraut
  • Spätzle

German Wurst

  • Apple Gouda Chicken Wurst
  • Beirwurst
  • Bratwurst
  • Cheddar Mettwurst
  • Curry Wurst
  • Garlic Knockwurst
  • German Wurst
  • Hot Dogs
  • Mettwurst, plain
  • Spicy Pepper Jack Mettwurst
  • Swiss Mettwurst
  • Weisswurst

Desserts

  • Cream Puffs
  • Apple Strudel
  • German Chocolate Cupcakes
  • Black Forest Cake
  • Cherry Strudel
  • Beehives
  • Lebkuchenherz
    (Heart Shaped Cookies)
  • Schnecken w/Raisins
  • Cinnamon Crisp
  • Pretzel Donuts and Cheese Strudel
  • Cheesecake (German Chocolate, Carrot, and Pumpkin)
  • Raspberry Mousse, German Chocolate Mousse
  • Brownies
  • Dobash Torte
  • Sacher Torte
  • Vienna Torte

A full line up of German style craft biers from Warped Wing Brewing Company, Sonder Brewing, Crooked Handle Brewing Co., Bock Family Brewing, FigLeaf Brewing Company, Fretboard Brewing, and Streetside Brewery will be on sale at the fest.

And of course there will be full array of wines on sale as well. Click here for descriptions.

One of the highlights of Oktoberfest is the Wiener Dog Race that will take place Saturday, Sept. 10 at noon.

Admission is $3 per guest
(payable at the front gate)
with FREE admission for  active military (with ID) and kids under 12

 

 


Festival Hours:  Friday, Sept 9th : 6pm – midnight and Saturday, Sept 10th: noon – midnight

 Location: Vandalia Sports Complex, 1111 Stonequarry Road – Dayton 45414

Sister Cities is an exciting way for local citizens to expand their cultural, civic and educational horizons. Sister Cities of Vandalia is comprised of citizens from all walks of life, cutting across religious, economic, and political lines within the Vandalia-Butler community. Sister Cities brings people here at home closer together, as well as opening a window on the world.

“We’ve been working non-stop since last year’s Oktoberfest concluded!” said Dave Starline, from the festival’s public relations committee. “Our group has put together a nice family friendly event with lots of great music, arts & crafts, German food and beverages.” He added.

Entertainment Highlights:
Friday– Sept. 9th, Music Bingo with Todd Moore 7:30pm
Saturday– Sept. 10th, Pulse 3pm-6:30pm
Saturday– Sept. 10th, The Menus 8pm-11pm 

Brats, world famous potato salad, our award-winning kraut & pork, and Amber Rose cabbage rolls just to name a few food items on our menu.

Carry out will be available under the tent in the next parking lot north of the Oktoberfest trailers. Cash and credit cards accepted ($1.00 fee for all credit card transactions). Carry out will be available Friday 6-9 and Saturday 1-3pm and 5-8pm while supplies last.

The Fräulein Special $14.00 (1 cabbage roll, ½ German brat, potato salad, sauerkraut, and bread) for carry out.

You do not have to pay admission for the carry out platter. 

 

Admission to the festival is $5 each day

 

 

Please do not bring animals to the festival.

Don’t forget to visit the arts & crafts tent:

Burnt Sugar Arkestra Play Levitt

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Founded by Village Voice icon Gregory Stephen ‘Ionman” Tate (1957-2021) and now led by Dayton Ohio monster groove bassist Jared Michael Nickerson, Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber is an NYC-territory band, a neo-tribal thang, a community hang, a society music guild aspiring to the condition of all that is molten, glacial, racial, spacial, oceanic, mythic, antiphonal and telepathic!

In 2022, BSAC continues to give tribute to their sonic Sensei, Maestro Lawrence Butch Morris (1947-2013) for showing them “THE WAY” of Conducted Improvisation allowing them to “never playing anything the same way once,” and to GT for creating the caramelized spaceship allowing BSAC access to a many-splendored and darkly energetic celestial realm of cosmic noise & riddim!

Cones For The Cure- Sept 8 – 18

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In 2008, in support of The Cure Starts Now, Graeter’s ice cream auctioned off a once in a lifetime chance to create your own flavor. The winners of the auction worked with Graeter’s to help develop a flavor to honor Elena Desserich, the inspiration for The Cure Starts Now. Now a Limited Edition seasonal flavor, Elena’s Blueberry Pie honors the memories of all young lives affected by pediatric cancer and supports The Cure Starts Now’s mission to find the Homerun Cure for all cancers.

Graeter’s Sweet Reward members will receive an offer for a Free single dip sugar cone of Elena’s Blueberry Pie ice cream during Cones for the Cure. See Graeter’s App for more details.

Don’t have the app?
No worries. Fill out the form here and  they’ll send you a coupon.

THE DETAILS:
  • One single dip of Elena’s Blueberry Pie ice cream in a sugar cone
  • No purchase necessary (though a donation to The Cure Starts Now would be much appreciated)
  • Offer valid only 9/8/2022 – 9/18/2022
  • No substitutions. While supplies last.
  • Limit one coupon per customer.
  • Redeemable at any Graeter’s retail location

When you stop in for your free scoop of Elena’s Blueberry Pie ice cream, be sure to pick up a Graeter’s coupon book for a $5 donation to The Cure Starts Now. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to the foundation in support of innovative cancer research.

ARPA Funding Approved for Link: Dayton Bike Share West Dayton Expansion

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Kicking off their first round of investments, The City of Dayton has awarded Bike Miami Valley $100,000 in American Rescue Plan funds (ARPA) for further expansion of the Link: Dayton Bike Share system into West Dayton. Members of the Bike Miami Valley board and its Executive Director, Laura Estandia were on site for the contract approval. “We’re thrilled that Link will be one piece of this historic investment on the West Side,” says Estandia.

Bike Miami Valley currently operates 37 hubs in the core of downtown and the surrounding historic districts, but more capacity is needed on the west side to make a convenient and viable network. Bike Miami Valley has also received a grant from the Better Bike Share Partnership to support the neighborhood outreach efforts to select the new locations. “Bike Miami Valley is excited for the opportunity to work with new and existing neighborhoods to add capacity for bike sharing hubs that are convenient and accessible for residents,” says Estandia.

The project would fund 5-7 new hubs in the priority areas, as well as electric pedal assist bicycles that would fill the hubs. The target neighborhoods are Grafton Hill, Wright Dunbar, Wolf Creek, Five Oaks and Old Dayton View. The project would also fund some one-time hardware expenses to help with operations of the Link system including a new van, which would be used by Link operations staff to balance bikes in the expanded network.

Link is a hub based bike share network that allows users to make point to point trips between its 37 pick-up and drop off locations. Users can access the system by downloading the Link Dayton app to access Link’s fleet of pedal and pedal assist (or electric) bicycles. The system serves roughly 3,700 users annually. In 2021, the Link system expanded into the Carillon neighborhood of Dayton and has seen growth in ridership at those new locations.

“This investment in the West Dayton Link expansion complements the work the city is doing to increase active transportation options in the city and improve the quality of life and health of our residents,” said Mayor Mims.

‘LA CAGE’ Grabs the Heart…and Leaves you Laughing!

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In 1973,  Jean Poiret’s ‘La Cage Aux Folles‘ broke barriers with its approach to same-sex relationships and what family means. It was controversial, head-turning and ground-breaking. Today, 2022, the topic is still facing much of the same scrutiny. What is family? What is Love? and What does La Cage Aux Folles Even Mean? For more on those quandaries, head to TheatreLab‘s upbeat, poignant portrayal of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fiersteins‘s version ‘LA CAGE!’ The much beloved show, which has the distinct honor of nabbing the Tony Award for each of it’s iterations, has it all! The cast is made up of some of Dayton’s best including Ben Douglas, Joshua Stucky, Allie Haines, Garret Young and Cabaret‘s break-through performer Alex Everett. Within this play within a musical, we also get some great dancers, mingling with some attention grabbing RubiGirls. It literally has a little something for everyone! The show is sponsored by Square One Salons & the RubiGirls, INC.

The story revolves around a gay couple (Douglas and Stucky) who star in and operate a night club filled with transvestites in St. Tropez. Their son, (Young) has decided to marry. His choice is Anne (played to sweet perfection by Alex Muhlenkamp). The problem is she is the daughter of  extremely conservative parents (portrayed by the stellar Amy Askins and newcomer Mark Garner.) If the plot seems familiar, it is because you likely are familiar with the movie version of the musical ‘The Birdcage’ with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.  Along the way, the show winds through some true Jerry Herman style anthems…’We Are What We Are’, ‘You on My Arm,’ ‘Best of Times’ and the first act closer (considered one of Broadway’s Best) ‘I Am What I Am.’ You will be wowed!

The show keeps the heavy plot line light and manageable, but there are moments when you will feel the lump in your throat, realizing this story now 50 years old, is still so raw, so relevant. Philip Drennen directs the show, highlighting Douglas and Stucky‘s abilities to reach into people’s hearts…through laughter,  but more-so, through honesty. What makes the show so surprising is how it navigates from heart-felt, to outright craziness….enter Hannah from Hamburg (Scott Winters embodies the leather goddess to a ‘t’)….Phaedra the Enigma (Jonathan McNeal makes his debut in local theater)…and the other ‘dangerous’ Cagelles (Zach King, Tim Farquhar, Jake Sams, Derrick Latimer, Sam Evans, Brooke Hardin, Joshua Hughes, Jamal Cann & Angie Thacker.) And of course, the laughs continue with Everett‘s hyper-gay butler/maid, Jacob and Haine‘s sophisticated socialite,  Jacqueline.

Music Director, Norm Moxley, has his hands full, as only Herman’s ‘Hello Dolly!‘ demands more from one of his scores, but with help from his talented orchestra, the songs are solid

The show takes place at the ‘Top of the Market‘ located at 32 Webster Street in Dayton, 45402. The venue is new for performances and perfect for a show that takes place in a nightclub…yes, there will be a bar! If you are looking for dinner beforehand, the ‘Bar and Bistro‘ is attached to the performance site. They are providing a delicious menu for the show….simply call 937-224-3663 to make your reservation!

The show runs  September 8 (7:30pm Showtime), September 9 (8:00pm Showtime), September 10 Matinee (2:00pm Showtime) & September 10 (8:00pm Showtime). There are VIP seats that include a meet and greet with a few cast members.

Get your tickets here:

And for those of you just dying to know…..’La Cage Aux Folles‘ means ‘A Cage of Crazy Women!’  You Decide! See ya there!

More info? Go to theatrelabdayton.org.

Grist Adding Dinner Hours

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Grist Provisions on Fifth Street is known for it’s fresh made pasta’s, sauces and breads available for take home, will begin serving dinner this weekend.

Chef/owners Casey and Patrick, who met years ago at the Culinary Institute of America,  describe their food as “Refined but relatable cuisine.”  

Here’s a peek at their menu:

Dinner hours will be 5-9pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Human Race Debuts Show About A Mother Who’s A Fighter Pilot

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The Human Race Theatre Company opens the season with a play by Cleveland-based playwright George Brant –Grounded – playing September 8-25, 2022 at the Loft Theatre.  This gripping one-woman drama finds a fighter pilot caught between duty to her country and motherhood

 

The Pilot, a hot-shot F16 top gun, finds herself grounded when an unexpected pregnancy stalls her flying career. She reups with the Air Force in the hopes of once again flying her “Tiger,” but finds herself reassigned to a bunker outside Las Vegas. The Pilot struggles through dreamlike 12-hour shifts hunting terrorists by day and being a wife and mother by night, leading her into a downward spiral. The lines crumble between home and professional worlds, and a mistake on the job might just cost her everything.

This production marks The Human Race Theatre Company directorial debut of new Artistic Director Emily N. Wells. “This piece has been fascinating to me since it premiered in New York nearly a decade ago, and even more so after I became a parent,” she comments. “The pilot’s struggle to balance her duty to country and motherhood makes a profound internal conflict. Her ability to exercise control hangs in the balance,” Wells continues. The team has spent time researching women in the United States Air Force and pilot training with community partners including Sinclair Community College, National Museum of the United State Air Force, and retired officers living in the Dayton area.

The role of The Pilot will be played by extraordinary Cincinnati-based actor and playwright Maggie Lou Rader, who audiences will remember from last season as Marie Antoinette in The Revolutionists. “Maggie brings a grounded empathy for her characters that resonates powerfully on stage.

Joining director Emily Wells on the Grounded creative team is:  D. Tristan Cupp and Jeff Heater, Scenic Realizer; John Rensel, Lighting Designer;  Lianne Arnold, Projection Designer; Jay Brunner, Sound Designer; Production Stage Manager, Mark Tynan; and Andrew Ian Adams, Production Assistant. The team has spent time researching women in the United States Air Force and pilot training with the support of community partners including Sinclair Community College, National Museum of the United States Air Force, and retired officers living in the Dayton area.

Grounded will play at the Loft Theatre in downtown Dayton, September 8-25, 2022.  Tickets are on sale through the Dayton Live box office, 937-228-3630, or online at www.daytonlive.org/events/grounded/.  More details about the show can be found at www.humanracetheatre.org.

 

Special performances:   

Pay What You CAN –                Wed. September 7 at 8 pm – Non-perishable food donations will

benefit The Foodbank. All cash donations will go to American

Legion POST 644, the first AL POST for women veterans.

Inside Track –                            Thurs., September 8 at 8pm – preshow discussion at 7:10

Sawbuck Sunday –                     Sun. September 11 at 7 pm – $10 tickets available 5:30pm at the  door

While We’re On The Subject –   Sun. September 18 at 2pm – Audience Discussion follows performance