Dayton937

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

Archives for January 2025

Dayton Battle of the Bands – Singer-Songwriters

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Dayton Battle of the Bands 2024 continues with our SINGER-SONGWRITER acts, featuring:
Anna Marie
Celestial Howard
Jayla Leland
Kevin Dozier
Midwestern Mrs
Not familiar with any of the bands participating? That’s the fun! This is a fantastic way to discover original, local music! Each ticket buyer gets one vote (in person).
The winner of this round earns a spot at the Dayton Battle of the Bands Finale, among other prizes!
Week 2 is held on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at The Brightside (905 E 3rd St, Dayton).
Doors open at 7pm (NOTE: due to equipment load in, we cannot let patrons in earlier than 7pm).
Show runs from 7:30pm – 10pm. Winner announced at 10:30pm
Please be prompt to see all the bands performing!
Tickets are $10 advance / $15 at the door.
Advance tickets are recommended.

Cold and Crafted – A Celebration of Miami Valley Winter Beers

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A winter celebration of locally crafted artisan ales from 16 or more Dayton area breweries. Only 150 tickets will be available!

The tasting will be held from 12-4 pm. Each attendee will receive 20 five ounce samples in a specialty glass. Attendees may purchase further samples for $1.50 each.

Our German kitchen will be serving up delicious beer brats, polish sausages, mashed potatoes, german potato salad, sauerkraut, and soft pretzels and beer cheese!

Live music will be played by Scott Houchens!

Bill Franz’s Buy Local Spotlight: Pink Moon Goods

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This week’s Buy Local conversation is with Kathleen Hotmer of PinkMoonGoods. My wife suggested her. She likes the store’s unique items and likes being on the store’s email list. She said the emails don’t come too often and they are interesting to read.
Kathleen liked hearing this. “People say you need email marketing, but I get so annoyed with the flood of emails I get. I wait until I have something to say and then write a blog post for my website. Then I take part of that blog post and send it out as an email. Finally I make an even shorter version for a social media post. That keeps my workload manageable.”
“The blog increased traffic to our website, which helped us get some online sales. Most of our sales are from the local community, but on a cold day like this when people are bundled up at home it’s nice to be getting some online business.”
I asked how she would describe her store. “We sell home goods that are beautiful, practical and ethically manufactured. In fact this store location itself fits that same description. The owners took a building that had been abandoned for years and made it beautiful. It also works on a practical level and giving new life to a building built in 1900 is as ethical as it gets.”
I asked her to tell me about a few products. “The print in the window is by two sisters. All of their art deals with a love of nature and a rejection of a throw-away mentality. This print shows a poem that the two use as a prayer whenever they eat together.”
“Those are Iris Hantverk brushes on that shelf. Since the firm was first founded they have been handmade by visually impaired craftsmen.”
“The towels you looked at are Imbari towels. I’ve used them for years. They are the softest and most absorbent towels imaginable. When I opened this shop they made me their only distributor outside of Japan. The towels are a popular gift item. Then people often come back and buy one for themselves.”

Kathleen has many more products.

You should drop by and see if she has an interesting story to go with each one.

 

 

PinkMoonGoods

Historic Huffman Neighborhood
2027 East Fifth Street
Dayton, Ohio 45403

937-999-4231

Shop Hours:
Tuesday – Friday 11am – 6pm
Saturday 12 – 5pm

Free Beginner Pilates

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In this Pilates class you will learn basic Pilates principles, how to change your posture to improve pain syndromes, strengthen the entire body and core muscles, and improve flexibility.

 Dates:  January 22, February 26, March 26, April 23, 2025 (4th Wednesday of each month)
Time:  6:30-7:30pm
Location:  Franklin Branch, 44 East 4th Street
Free.  No registration required.  Ages 16 & up.  If under 18 years a parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver.

All abilities are welcome.  Please bring a mat and water.

Taste of Jerusalem Opens 2nd Location

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Mohammed

Babylon Mediterranean Cuisine in Miamisburg has been bought and converted into the 2nd location for Taste Of Jerusalem. 

The Miamisburg restaurant opened a couple of weeks ago, according to one of the owners, who are all family.  The original location in Fairborn has been open about 4 years. They serve up some of  the  most authentic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavor you’ll find in the Miami Valley. For  Mediterranean lovers, their cuisine is guaranteed to please the taste buds with authentic Jerusalem food.   

I ordered their lamb bowl, which was served over rice with tzatziki, onion, parsley and hummus. They offered me a taste of the chicken schwerma, which was juicy and flavorful. 

The menu is the same at both locations. And don’t worry; if it’s your first time trying something, they’ll be happy to offer you a taste of something.

Mixed Grill Kabob

Stop by and experience the Taste of Jerusalem and tell them DaytonDining Sent you!

Taste Of Jerusalem

9656 Springboro pike, Miamisburg

3800 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn

Hours:

Mon – Sat 11am – 8pm
Sun noon -8pm

 

Jack Pohl Moves To Anchor Desk on 2 News

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WDTN-TV has named Jack Pohl as evening co-anchor of 2 NEWS.

“For three decades viewers have seen Jack on the sidelines with a camera covering local sports and we’re excited to see him expand his talents to the news side of the anchor desk,” said Melissa Jones, WDTN-TV & Dayton’s CW Vice President & General Manager. “Jack was born and raised in the Miami Valley, like many of our on-air talent and we know he’ll take great pride in delivering the news each night in the place he’s called home.”

Pohl was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and is an alum of Centerville High School.  He went on to attend Wright State University.

Pohl joined the 2 NEWS team in 1995 as a reporter and anchor and has been the 2 Sports Director since 2002.

Pohl will be joined by Brooke Moore and Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brian Davis to co-anchor 2 NEWS First at 4. He’ll also co-anchor 2 NEWS at 5, 6, 10 and 11.

“After years of covering sports in every corner of the Miami Valley, I have always felt completely connected to this community and look forward to delivering the news alongside Brooke Moore,” said Pohl. “This is my hometown, I’m proud of it and appreciate all the support from our loyal Channel 2 viewers.”

Pohl, a father of two, enjoys skiing and biking in his spare time. He’s also been blessed with five grandchildren.

The Mark Lomax Quartet performs A Love Supreme

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The Mark Lomax Quartet will perform a set of original compositions inspired by John Coltrane and the John Coltrane composition, A Love Supreme.

Lomax is the rare drummer who leaves you wanting more, leading his bandmates through a strikingly terse, brilliantly counterintuitive and ultimately joyous series of explorations.

Dr. Mark Lomax, II, is a critically acclaimed composer, recording artist, drummer, activist, and educator. In one of the timeliest and unprecedented pieces of work of our history, Lomax released 400: An Afrikan Epic in January 2019. This magnum opus consists of a 12 album cycle, a curriculum, and a documentary that ambitiously tells the story of the Afrikan diaspora. Divided into thirds, the Epic explores thousands of years of the history that is pre-colonial Afrika, the Ma’afa (400 years between 1619 and 2019), and Afro-futurism expressing a vision of what Blacks in America will heal toward in the next 400 years.
A highly sought-after lecturer, Lomax specializes in the socio-political, and spiritual aspects of African-American art music, race, and using the arts to build community.

Young’s Dairy Celebrates 156th Birthday

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Young’s history begins in 1869 when relatives of the Young Family built the red barn.  Hap Young bought the 60-acre farm and house shortly after the end of World War II.  For the next 10 years, Hap and his three sons, Carl, Bob, and Bill, farmed the 60 acres, plus up to 500 additional rented acres.  They grew grain, raised hogs, and milked cows.

In 1958, the Young Family decided to try to sell  Jersey milk directly to the public.  The first sales room was a modest operation.  They built a 10’ by 10’ room onto the end of the milk room.  The equipment was also modest – some glass jugs, a refrigerator, a cash drawer, and the honor system.  The customer would drive up, open the refrigerator, get his gallon of milk, leave an empty jug and the money, and drive away.

There was a market for farm fresh milk, so in 1960, we build and opened their first real dairy store.  They started dipping ice cream in this store.  They also added other dairy products, like cheese, and snack foods.  This building is attached to the big red barn and is where they make our ice cream today.

In 1993, we added the first activity at Udders & Putters – an 18-hole, farm theme miniature golf course.  1995 marked the first year for our driving range.  1996 saw the addition of a state of the art 9 position batting cage which features softball and hardball pitching machines.

We opened a new full-service restaurant, The Golden Jersey Inn in 1998.  This beautiful timber frame building restaurant features great country style food with a generous helping of friendly service.

In 1999, they built Barnabe’s Walnut Grove, to host group picnics, family reunions and company picnics. Located just south of our popular Udders & Putters area,  Barnabe’s Walnut Grove can easily serve groups with  home cooked meals and delicious homemade ice cream from 50 to over 5,000!  They built an additional 18-hole miniature golf course in 2000 to keep up with the demand for miniature golf.

They added Cowvin’s Fast Slide in 2008 – a 30’ slide with a couple of bumps on the way down. They started making Young’s Farmstead Cheese in July 2009.  Uusing only milk from their herd of Jersey cows to make the cheese, they make Cheddar, Colby, Baby Swiss, Jersey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gouda and Fresh Cheddar Curds.

They continue to make improvements each year, adding  new walking paths, installed ball dryers and a cover home plate area so they can operate the batting cages in the rain and have added to the landscaping around the farm. In 2017 Young’s on the Moove, their food truck hit the road.

Last July  they added Cowtherine’s Carousel, This carousel comes with COWS  and is located just north of the Dairy Store. The building is enclosed and heated for year-round use.

Young’s is celebrating their 156th Birthday January 17th – 20th, 2025 with the following promotions:

Udders & Putters Specials: $1.56 for rides on Cowtherine’s Carousel, games of miniature golf and medium buckets of golf balls

Young’s Farmstead Cheese Specials:

50% off of our two different samplers featuring eight of our farmstead cheeses made on our farm from our delicious Jersey cow milk.  Bring home (at least) one of each sampler.

Dairy Store Specials:

$1.56 off all cones, all burgers, Deep Fried Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds, Chedda Cheese Crispys, 4 Pack Homemade Buckeyes, 1/2 Gallons of Homemade Ice Cream and kid’s meals

FREE — A Souvenir Young’s 156th Anniversary mug included with purchase of any burger, kid’s meal, cone or cheese curds, while supplies last.

OR GET A MUG WITH ANY:156th Birthday Sundae- Two scoops of our Sea Salty Double Caramel ice cream covered in hot fudge, whipped cream, chocolate chips and a homemade brownie for $9.25

Root Beer Float 0 A scoop of Young’s homemade Vanilla ice cream floating in Mug root beer. $7.25

Udders & Putters Specials:

$1.56 for rides on Cowtherine’s Carousel, games of miniature golf and medium buckets of golf balls

 

Six Showings of Die Mommie Die!

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Die Mommie Die! is a comic melodrama evoking the 1960s “Grande Dame Guignol” films that featured aging stars such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Lana Turner. Ex-pop singer Angela Andrews is trapped in a hateful marriage with film producer Sol Sussman. Desperate to find happiness with her younger lover, an out-of-work TV actor named Tony Parker, Angela murders her husband with the aid of a poisoned suppository. In a plot that reflects Greek tragedy as well as Hollywood kitsch, Angela’s Elektra-like daughter Edith convinces Angela’s emotionally disturbed son Lance that they must avenge their father’s death by killing their mother.

Beavercreek Community Theatre
3868 Dayton-Xenia Road
Beavercreek, OH 45432

Showtimes:

Feb 17, 18, 24 & 25 8pm
Feb19 & 26 3pm

Purchase your tickets here

BaconFest Is Back at Dorothy Lane Market

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Nearly everyone loves bacon and there’s no better way to seize the sizzle (and day) than with a few crispy strips! Make every bite count and join DLM  for  BaconFest as they celebrate DLM Uncured Bacon, lifetime free of antibiotics and always without added nitrates/nitrites. From its mouthwatering aroma to its crave-worthy flavor, this skillet superstar has inspired us to create a sizzling selection of bacon-centric creations throughout our stores and online. BaconFest runs through Jan 21st at all three Dorothy Lane Market locations.

Don’t miss the chance to savor all of their seasonal bacon treats, from breakfast to dinner (and even dessert) don’t miss a bacon beat: Smoked Maple “Bacon” Latte, Bacon Cheddar Focaccia, Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops, Encrusted Mac & Cheese with Bacon, Maple Bacon Baby Cake, Cajun Bacon Cheddar Sausage, and so much more!

They are even featuring over 25 bacon inspired recipes on their website to inspire you and have a section where you can send a bacon gift to a friend.

Here’s a checklist of all the bacon goodies being featured:

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Dayton Battle of the Bands kicks off at The Brightside!

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The 5th annual Dayton Battle of the Bands kicks off on January 16, 2025 at The Brightside Music & Event Venue. This exciting music series, presented by the venue along with Venus Child Productions and Sound Valley, highlights up-and-coming original bands across a variety of genres.

The series runs for 6 weeks, every Thursday from January 16, 2025 through February 27th (skipping Feb 20th for sold out Kim Deal concert). The winner of each week moves onto the Finale, held in the Brightside’s Ballroom on Sat, March 8th.

The playoffs result from a 50/50 mix of audience and judges’ votes. Every attendee receives a ballot upon entry and utilizes ranked-choice voting to select their top three favorite bands. Each week, music industry insiders and special guests serve as judges, with their votes carrying greater influence.

“Despite the ‘battle’ name, this series has been such a fun way to discover so much of the creative talent brewing in Dayton,” organizer Libby Ballengee shared with us. “Maybe you’ll find your new favorite band!”

The participating bands get professional photos to add to their press kit and the chance to audition for bookers from around the city including Levitt Pavilion, Blind Bob’s, Oregon Express, and more! This year, Dayton Battle of the Bands is partnering with Concert Archives to offer bands consolidated feedback from judges.

Photo by Jordan Lynn Freshour

For the Finalists who perform in the Finale, they all receive a video of one of their songs performed live, which is provided by Sound Valley. This is such an awesome asset for the band’s press kit. They also receive cash prize, free pizza for rehearsals from Dayton Pizza Factory, among other perks.

For the grand prize winner – they get all above plus an EP recording session with Dayton Sound Studios, a spot on Levitt Pavilion Dayton’s summer schedule, free t-shirts from Little Monster Printing, and $1000.

Past winners include: The Katawicks, Bohemian Funk, crabswithoutlegs, and Freakquency.

More details about Dayton Battle of the Bands can be found at their website: daytonbattleofthebands.com

HOW TO GO:

The Brightside Music & Event Venue (905 E 3rd St. Dayton, OH)

  • Jan 16 – Week 1 – Alternative / Rock
  • Jan 23 – Week 2 – Singer-Songwriters
  • Jan 30 – Week 3 – Hip Hop / Rap / R&B
  • Feb 6 – Week 4 – Hard Rock / Metal / Punk
  • Feb 13 – Week 5 – Americana / Bluegrass / Folk
  • Feb 27 – Week 6 – Funk / Jam / Reggae / Ska
  • March 8 – Finale featuring the winners from each week

7pm doors open / Music 7:30pm – 10pm

All ages

$10 advance, $15 at the door

Tickets & information available at
https://www.daytonbattleofthebands.com
Or https://www.thebrightsidedayton.com/

White Castle opens reservations for Valentine’s Day

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Reservations are now available via Open Table at the more than 300 participating White Castle locations nationwide for Feb. 14, from 4 – 9pm.

The increasingly popular QSR dinner, which launched in 1991, features hostess seating, tableside service and Valentine’s Day decorations.  The chain encourages not just couples, but friends and families to join in the festivities as well. Per the brand, “tens of thousands” of customers join the chain on the holiday each year.

“Everyone can enjoy love at White Castle … without the inflated price tag,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle in a release. “Our Castles go all out to make Valentine’s Day dinner special.”

In addition to the regular White Castle menu, on Feb. 14 guests will also have a choice of a $5 Sloppy Joe Combo, which consists of two Sloppy Joe Sliders, small French fry and small soft drink, or a $6.99 Sloppy Joe Six Pack, which consists of any combination of six Sloppy Joe Sliders.

Members of the chain’s loyalty program Craver Nation will also have access to special deals beginning on Feb. 14, including BOGO free dessert on-a-stick, $5 Sloppy Joe Combo upgrade, BOGO French Toast Sliders and BOGO Breakfast Sliders. Customers with the Craver Nation app can participate in a “Bonus Quest” by placing an order Valentine’s Day, which will earn a BOGO Free Combo Reward.

McDonald’s New McValue Menu Offers Lots of Options

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In 2025 customers can get even more than they expect with McDonald’s new McValue™ menu, which features all-day savings, every day at U.S. restaurants nationwide. The new McValue platform offers more variety, choice and flexibility – for every occasion. Fans can mix and match with the new Buy One, Add One for $1* offer and fuel up for less with the popular $5 Meal Deal**.  

Plus, they’re dropping even more offers in the App courtesy of McValue – including free medium fries with a $1 purchase every Friday in 2025 and a free McCrispy TM chicken sandwich for new App users.

Hungry for more?  McDonald’s celebrating this major news by partnering with lifelong McDonald’s fan John Cena. From iconic movie roles to impromptu motivational riffs, Cena is always delivering more than what fans expect, making him the perfect McValue ambassador.

“I always talk about ‘earning my sunset’ and there’s nothing like heading to McDonald’s after completely crushing your day,” Cena says. “I’ll admit – it’s tough to choose between some of my favorites sometimes, but now I don’t have to. The fact that fans can mix and match with the new McValue menu to get great deals on the food they love is going to be an absolute game-changer.”

Cena is ready to show you the McValue ropes – follow along on McDonald’s social channels to see how he gets the most out of McValue and his go-to Buy One, Add One for $1 combo (spoiler: it’s a Sausage McMuffin and Hash Browns). 

McValue at McDonald’s is all about getting more than you expect, so we’re celebrating the launch of the platform by offering fans MORE all month long. During the first few weeks of 2025, they’re partnering with 16 different brands to roll out more than $3 million in promotional offers. From $1 subscriptions to YouTube TV to 20 minutes of free wi-fi on American Airlines to a Tinder Gold Premium Access subscription, fans can go big with a McValue mindset for a limited time – our treat! Simply interact with McValue ads when you spot them on your favorite platforms for the potential to unlock free credits, upgrades and ad-free entertainment while supplies last.  

So, if you’re manifesting savings this year, watch out for our content on your favorite platforms and head to your local restaurant to see how much more you can get with McValue, today.

 

 

Oyster Fest Returns to Lily’s

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Oyster Fest 2025 is back this month at Lily’s!  Now in its ninth year you can enjoy oyster specials from Wednesday, January 15th, through Sunday the 31st, during dinner service only.
“I had my first oyster ever when I worked at a Japanese fine-dining restaurant in Chicago starting in 2005. I have to admit, it was not love at first slurp. It took me until I moved to Louisiana where oysters are a way of life for me to become a convert and now I love them any and all ways, though the Oyster Shooters we do with choice of bloody mary mix and vodka or sake and ponzu sauce are a tribute to that first way I ever had an oyster are a favorite for sure,” said owner Emily Mendenhall.

Mendenhall says the Lily’s kitchen team works to create and serve a variety of oysters, some raw, some fried, an oyster po-boy and of course oyster shooters. Here’s what you’ll find on the menu:

Lily’s Dayton
329 E. 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

937-723-7637

Lunch
Wed- Fri 11am – 2pm

Dinner
Wed, Thurs & Sun 4:30pm – 9:00pm
Fri and Sat 4:30pm – 10:00pm

Brunch
Sat & Sun 10am – 3pm

Reservations are highly suggested! Walk-in parties are still welcome.
Please give us a call or book your reservation through Tock or on our website.
937-723-7637

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived- SIX Takes the Stage

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From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!

SIX won 23 awards in the 2021/2022 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

The New York Times says SIX “TOTALLY RULES!” (Critic’s Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for!”

The SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed 6 million streams in its first month.