Dayton937

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

Archives for March 2025

SOUP DRESSED UP Fundraiser for Stivers

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IT’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER, STIVERS SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY! Come in from the cold and warm up with delicious soup donated by some of Dayton’s most talented chefs! Join us on Friday, March 14th for SOUP DRESSED UP 2025! Ten dollars buys you a ceramic bowl of your choice handmade by one of our incredible students, a serving of soup, bread, a dessert and a drink! All proceeds benefit the wonderful ceramics department at Stivers. Don’t forget to bring extra money with you! There will be MULTIPLE raffle prizes ranging from gift cards to exciting experiences to pieces of art. Won’t you be a part of supporting our burgeoning artists? It will be an unbelievable evening of art, food, fun and music! We’ll see you there!

Call 937-542-7448 for more info

David Howley Live at UD

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Join us for this intimate performance at the Sears Recital Hall, located inside the Jesse Philips Humanities Center at the University of Dayton.

David Howley is an award-winning folk artist from Ireland, blending traditional Irish music with modern folk. Founder of Billboard World #1 band We Banjo 3, Howley has performed with renowned artists like The Chieftains, Billy Strings, and Mumford & Sons. Known for his soulful vocals and evocative storytelling, David’s solo work continues to captivate audiences. With a rich, emotionally resonant sound, David’s shows promise a unique, magical experience that blends Irish heritage with contemporary folk innovation.

Conquering the Camino: Learn How To Plan Your Camino de Santiago Adventure

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Have you thought about a trek on the Camino de Santiago, but aren’t sure where to start?  Join long-distance hiker Andy Niekamp as he covers a variety of topics, such as the history, various routes, how to prepare, what to bring, lodging options, and much more.  Learn why this thousand-year-old footpath is often called a journey for the body, mind, and soul.

  • Wednesday, March 12, 2025
  • 6:30-8:00pm
  • Springboro Branch
  • Free event
  • No registration required.
  • All ages are welcome.

Showcase Cinemas was Dayton’s Gen X Movie Theatre

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It’s your favorite neighborhood Culture Celebrator again. I’m back with another awesome trip down memory lane. If you’re like me, a Generation Xer, you have to remember the movie theatre where you saw all of your favorite movies from 1989 to 2009…Showcase Cinemas.  Did you go?

Showcase Cinemas was located at 7737 Waynetowne Blvd. in Huber Heights, Ohio. The exact opening date for the building was December 15th, 1989. Showcase boasted multiple theatres inside and a massive parking lot. It immediately became the place to be to watch movies for a large swath of the Miami Valley. It also was the number spot for Gen X to watch the latest blockbuster (later classic) flicks. I can vouch for this statement because I was one of those young people. Near every smash hit movie released from 1989 to 2005 I saw at Showcase, and so did most of my friends.

 

The Showcase party was over in 2010. That’s when Texas-based company Rave Motion Pictures bought the Huber Showcase Cinemas location. Two years later, Cinemark USA (also based in Texas) bought Rave, and now Cinemark Huber Heights 16 stands on Waynetowne Blvd.


I’ve recently been to Cinemark, and it’s an impressive movie house. But Showcase Cinemas has my memories and my heart. I’m sure you fellow (slightly) older folks feel the same way. Talk to me, did you go see your favorite films at Showcase? What were they? Let’s rap…and celebrate our culture.

 

New Photo Series By Bill Frana: Hidden Figures

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The inspiration for this series was President Trump’s lies about the Haitian  immigrants in Springfield.  His statement that they are criminals who eat people’s cats and dogs caused even Ohio’s Republican officials to complain.   When a powerful person lies it makes me wonder what he’s hiding.  It makes me want to know more about all of the immigrants he’s threatened and lied about.  That eventually led me to this series.

As I post the pieces in this series I’ll share some of the things I’ve learned about our country’s immigrants.  In this piece some basic facts are built into the image.  The boy is standing on an orange floor that takes up 11% of the image because 11% of the people now in the U.S. were born elsewhere and have documents that show they are now U.S. citizens or legal residents.

The gold band represents the 3% of people in the U.S. who were born elsewhere and don’t have documents.  These are the millions of “hidden figures” President Trump says he’ll round up, imprison and send out of the country.

The background in blue refers to the 85% of people in the U.S. who are descendants of immigrants.

The top line is 1% of the image.  It represents the only U.S. residents who are not immigrants or their descendants – Native Americans.

This series is about undocumented immigrants – hidden figures – and in this piece  I’m using a photo of the boy I call Mateo to represent one of them.  I have no idea whether this boy is actually an undocumented immigrant.  He could be a fifth generation American.   When I’m given the opportunity to photograph a child like this I don’t ask about his immigration status.  I just say thank you and take the photo.

Restaurants That Offer Special Lenten Menus

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No meat during Lent on Fridays?

Maybe you thought Lent was just giving up one food like chocolate or, we hope not, coffee. But there are more rules surrounding food you eat during Lent than that, it’s just that it’s becoming less common to follow the fasting and abstinence rules associated with the time leading up to Easter. These fasting and abstinence practices are part of the Catholic celebration of Eastertide, with churchgoers foregoing meat and all foods containing “flesh meat” products on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday during Lent. Fish is not included in this and is allowed on Fridays, which is why you see so many fish frys between now and Easter.

Here’s a round up of menu’s created just for those of you who are honoring the no meat on Friday’s tradition.
If you know of others we should add to the list, either put in the comments below or drop us an email.

Archers Tavern

9496 Dayton Lebanon Pike, Centerville
2030 E DOROTHY LN, Kettering, 

Bullwinkles
19 N Main St, Miamisburg
George’s:
5216 N Dixie Dr, Dayton
Tuna salad plate, greek Salad, cod sandwich, Triple grilled cheese, waffles, meatless biscuits and gravy, and many more!

 

Hanks’s Local

2529 Patterson Rd, Dayton,
937-254-7527

 

Mulberry & Main

130 Main Street, Brookville

Bob Evans

Bob Evans’s Lent-friendly menu features wild-caught Alaska Cod, shrimp platters and more.

The restaurant said the menu is high-quality, natural, and sustainable. It will be offered daily at all locations and there will be kid’s portions available, to include the entire family.  The restaurant chain considers the annual recipes a core staple of its menu. It will offer a Fish Fry Platter for $12.99, a Fish Fry Sandwich for $12.49 and a Fried Shrimp Dinner for $14.19.

Rip Rap Roadhouse

6024 Rip Rap Rd, Dayton

Corner Kitchen Announces Closure

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We received this press release this afternoon:

“With heavy hearts, Corner Kitchen  announces that this will be their final week of service. For the past three years, we have poured our passion and dedication into creating memorable dining experiences, and it has been an absolute honor to serve this community. We are incredibly grateful for the amazing customers who have celebrated life’s moments with us. Your support, laughter, and shared meals have meant the world, and we will truly miss each and every one of you.

As they prepare to close, their focus remains on our incredible team. They are working diligently to assist our staff in finding new opportunities and ensuring a smooth transition for them. Their talent and dedication have been the heart of Corner Kitchen, and we are committed to supporting them through this change.”

Their final service will be Sunday brunch.

 

Final week:

Tuesday – Thursday: 5 PM – 9 PM Friday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 3 PM | 5 PM – 9 PM Sunday (Final Service): 11 AM – 7 PM

We remain hopeful for the future of the Oregon District and for the businesses that continue to call it home. It has been heartbreaking to witness the decline in foot traffic and the impact on so many of our neighbors. We sincerely hope to see this beloved community thrive once again.

Additionally, if you are interested in purchasing furniture, equipment, or the liquor license, please contact us at [email protected].

From the bottom of our hearts thank you, Dayton. We love you and will cherish the memories we’ve made together.

 

Freakin Rican Carryout & Catering Now Open

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Owner Adrian Padilla is proud to serve food from his island in his new Dayton carryout shop. Having moved to the area in 2019, and operated a food truck for a couple of years.  When the spot he’d been eyeing on Smithville became available he rented it.  Sadly the restaurant hood was stolen during his remodeling, putting his plan on delay for a while.  Having grown up in business, Padilla’s grandmother had 2 restaurants in Puerto Rico.  He will be using family recipes.  He shared this menu, though says it will grow as he gets him team up to speed.
2615 S. Smithville Rd.
Dayton, OH, 
937-951-2043
11 am – 11 pm Mon – Thurs
11 am  –  3 am Fri & Sat
noon – 9 pm Sundaydelivery available  via DoorDash or Grubhub.

Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago Returns to The Rose

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Multi-Grammy award winning band and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees Chicago announced today their return to Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center at The Heights on Sunday, July 6.

Hailed as one of the “most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era”, the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago, came in as the highest charting American band in Billboard Magazine’s Top 125 Artists Of All Time. Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.

Chicago released their 38th studio album, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT in 2022, which included the hit single “If This is Goodbye.” Featuring the signature sounds Chicago fans have come to love, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT captures the true heart of this legendary band. Over the entire course of 14 vibrant new songs, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT encapsulates the unique blend of award-winning and personal songwriting, multilayered harmonic vocalizations, and world-class arrangements that have been electrifying audiences across the globe for decades.

Chicago received The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.

Chicago was inducted into the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was their first nomination. They’ve been eligible since 1994. A long time coming!

Chicago’s first album, Chicago Transit Authority, was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 2014.  Chicago managed to fuse pop, rock and jazz together perfectly in this double album.

Robert Lamm and James Pankow have become inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017. These legendary songwriters wrote mega-hits such as, “25 or 6 to 4,” “Saturday In The Park,” “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” “Make Me Smile,” and many others.

The International Trombone Association presented its 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award to James Pankow. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes people who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the trombone profession over a long career.

Chicago’s lifetime achievements include two Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, Founding Artists of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Chicago street dedicated in their honor, and keys to and proclamations from an impressive list of US cities. Record sales top the 100,000,000 mark, and include 21 Top 10 singles, 5 consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles and 5 Gold singles. An incredible 25 of their 38 albums have been certified platinum, and the band has a total of 48 gold and platinum awards.

Chicago has toured every year since the beginning – they’ve never missed a year.  The original three band members are Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet and vocals and James Pankow on trombone. The band line-up also includes Wally Reyes, Jr. on drums, Tony Obrohta on guitar, Loren Gold on keyboards and vocals, Ray Herrmann on sax and flute, Neil Donell on vocals, Eric Baines on bass and Ramon “Ray” Yslas on percussion.

From the signature sound of the Chicago horns, their iconic Vocalists, and a few dozen ever-Classic Songs, this band’s concerts are celebrations.  2025 marks the band’s 58th consecutive year of touring!

Chicago continues to be true ambassadors for their beloved hometown, carrying the city’s name with pride and dignity around the world.

Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, March 7 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.

 

Dayton at Work and Play: Judd Platternburg, Sugarcereek Photography Gallery

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I’m inspired every time I visit this gallery showing more than 300 prints by 12 excellent photographers. Recently I asked one of the founding members, Judd Plattenburg, to tell me about the start of the gallery.
“We’d been talking about starting a gallery for years” he told me, “and we finally took the plunge in 2022. The founding group was Jeff Smith, Bill (and Marty) Welch, Bill Woody and me. Since then we’ve added photographers and there are now a total of 12 of us.”
“Each photographer here has a different style and each focuses on a different subject area. My work includes a lot of shots taken from the water. Paddling is a hobby of mine and I love connecting my paddling hobby with my photography hobby. I am also showing quite a few shots taken in Cuba right now. I’ve visited there six times and have gotten great photos on each trip.”
“The photos you see on that wall are by Bill and Marty Welch. They are nature photographers and they’ve travelled from the Amazon to the Arctic Circle to get great photos. Marty has a photo of a polar bear cub cuddling with its mother that I just love. To get it they took a small plane to an island in the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska.”
“The photos on display here are always changing, and sometimes even the whole theme of an area in the gallery changes. Bill Woody has been exhibiting his Urban Exploration photos for a while and he gave a talk about it last Saturday. Now I think he’s going to change everything and show his rural Ohio landscapes.”
I asked about the price range of the work in the gallery.
“Photography is generally less expensive than other art forms such as painting and sculpture. We have some pieces priced below $100 but most of the work is in the $200 to $400 range. Photography is also a lot more flexible than other art forms. Sometimes a person will like a work on display but its size is too great, so we print a smaller (and less costly) version for the customers. Other times a person is trying to make a dramatic statement in a large room, so we enlarge a photo he likes and make it 5 feet long.”

Sugarcreek Photography Gallery
15 West Franklin St.
Bellbrook, OH 45305

Hours:

Thurs & Fri
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Sat & Sun 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Or call 973-317-0170 for Appt

Auditions for The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

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Dayton Playhouse is excited to invite you all to audition for the revival of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Directed by: Aaron Eechaute-Lopez
Music Direction: Lorri Topping
Choreography: Sandy Hyde
**Audition Location information at bottom of post**
Synopsis:
The Unsinkable Molly Brown is the rags-to-riches love story of Molly and James Joseph “J.J.” Brown, owners of one of the richest mines in the U.S. at the turn of the twentieth century.
In this spirited tale of a legendary American original, we follow the exploits of Margaret “Molly” Tobin Brown, a miner’s wife in Leadville, Colorado who becomes an overnight millionaire with her equally feisty husband J.J. But high society is no match for Molly. As she turns the upper crust of Denver upside down, stands with the miners of Leadville, traverses Europe, and famously survives the Titanic, Molly proves her mettle wherever she goes.
Auditions: March 3 & 4 @ 7pm (Callbacks will be March 5 @ 7pm)
Performance Dates: May 2-18 (three weekends)
Casting Call: Age Descriptions are a guide only and may be flexible.
Molly Brown (F) Age 25-40 – A simple country girl who leaves home in search of a new life. She is stubborn, independent, determined and, above all, always true to herself. Spirited with a deep kindness and compassion for others. Needs to portray a range of ages. Strong singer/dancer, powerhouse of the show. (Vocal Range: F3 – E5)
JJ Brown (M) Age 30-45 – A strong willed man. He is often gruff, but has a sweet, tender side, especially where Molly is concerned. A simple man at heart.(Vocal Range: F2 – F4)
Julia Gerrard (F) Age 20-35 – Earthy, grounded, practical, good hearted. Lives in the mining town and becomes best friends with Molly. (Vocal Range: B♭3 – B5)
Arthur (M) Age 20-35 – An Asian miner with a strong sense of fun and humor. Sings a few lines in Mandarin. (Vocal Range: B♭2 – G4)
Vincenzo (M) Age 20-35 – An Italian miner who falls in love with Julia. Sings in Italian in this production. (Vocal Range: B♭2 – B♭4)
Erich (M) Age 20-35 – A German miner. Passionate and principled. Sings a few lines in German. (Vocal Range: A♭2 – G4)
Horace Tabor (M) Age 30-50 – The owner of the mining company in Leadville. Not a natural public speaker, but respected and loved by the men that work for him. (Vocal Range: A2 – D♭4)
Baby Doe Tabor (F) Age 25-45 – Horace Tabor’s wife, and his clear better half. Has been described as small town chic. Has some things in common with Molly. (Vocal Range: B♭3 – D♭5)
Louise Sneed-Hill (F) Age 25-45 – The leader of the Sacred 36, the rich and powerful families in Denver. Imperious and intimidating. (Vocal Range: B4 – G5)
Pearl, Birdie, Nelva (F) Age 18-40 – Dancers at the saloon and members of the Leadville community. Must be very strong dancers. (Vocal Range: B♭3 – E5)
Mary Nevin (F) Age 18-40 – Tough talking, tender-hearted maid of Molly and JJ in Denver. Non-singing role.
Dolce Trio (M) Age 25-45 – Three men (Italian, English, and French) in Molly’s later life who seek her love and attention. Strong singers.
Ensemble – Various smaller parts and ensemble roles available. Seeking strong dancers, singers, and actors with range to play multiple roles. We are also in need of at least one younger male and female actor for this production (approx. age 13-18).
Please prepare approximately 32 bars (1 minute) that best shows off your vocal abilities and bring sheet music in your key. An accompanist will be provided. If you wish to use a Bluetooth Speaker, please bring your own to ensure it is compatible with your phone.
Additionally, please bring a change of clothes and dance appropriate shoes for the dance call portion of the audition.
Finally, after the dance call, individuals will be held back to complete cold readings from the script.
Any questions can be directed to Aaron Eechaute-Lopez ([email protected]).
**PLEASE NOTE AUDITION LOCATION:
PNC Arts Annex
46 W. 2nd St.
Dayton, Ohio 45405
Parking in Arts garage or free parking on the street after 6pm

Did You Rock Out To Z-93?

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If you belong to Generation X, or you’re a late-stage Baby Boomer and you lived in the Miami Valley in the 1980s and 90s, chances are, you did. Often. Z-93, otherwise known as WGTZ, was Dayton’s premier Top 40 radio station. If you wanted to hear the biggest pop music hits in America, you went to the 92.9 dial on your stereo. For many of us, Z-93 was the first time we ever heard Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, or Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name”. Or even Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Hell, you might even hear a Tupac song. Z-93 was the place for pop smashes.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, check out these awesome Z-93 signs and pics. You can also listen to old WGTZ broadcasts via the links below.


Talk to us. Did you love Z-93? What was your favorite Z-93 experience? What songs/artists did they play that you loved? What did you love about the station?

 

A Taste of NOLA

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Anywhere else, it’s just another Tuesday but at the Tap House, it’s Mardi Gras! Join us for New Orleans-inspired cocktails (think Sazeracs and Hurricanes) and other New Orleans drinks, alongside dishes like gumbo and beignets.

 

  • Downtown Hurricane14

    Plantation Pineapple Rum | Zaya Gran Reserva | Green Chartreuse | House-Made Grenadine | Passion Fruit Syrup | Fresh Lime

  • Vieux Carré14

    Four Roses Bourbon | Hennessy | Sweet Vermouth | Benedictine | Peychaud’s Bitters | Angostura Bitters

  • Sazerac 13

    Rye Whiskey | Simple | Absinthe Rinse | Peychaud’s Bitters

  • King Cake Old Fashioned14

    Plantation Pineapple Rum | Smith and Cross Rum | Cinnamon Syrup | Pecan Syrup Vanilla | Holiday Pie Bitters

  • Parade Time11

    Vanilla Vodka | Grand Marnier | Bailey’s Irish Cream | Ground Cinnamon

  • Brandy Milk Punch11

    Brandy | Half & Half | Vanilla Simple | Freshly Grated Nutmeg

Soup

  • GUMBO7/11

    A stew of dark roux, okra, trinity mix, and vegetables rendered in drippings from andouille sausage and chicken

APPETIZERS & SHAREABLES

  • Fried Boudin Balls14

    Fried Cajun appetizer made with spicy pork and rice sausage served with a cajun remoulade

  • MUFFULETTA DEVILED EGGS10

    Our deviled eggs have been muffuletta’d (new word). The act of muffuletta-ing involves a creole twist to our Blue Plate deviled egg filling and topping them with salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad

  • Grilled Shrimp Maque Choux20

    (6) Cajun spiced grilled Gulf shrimp over Maque Choux topped with chopped bacon and green onion

ENTREES

  • Muffaletta18

    Sesame seed round loaf with olive salad spread, capicola, salami, ham, and provolone Served with garlic herb oil

  • Fried Oyster Po’Boy25

    Cornmeal-crusted and cajun-dusted oysters, flash fried and served on a crusty baguette with remoulade, shredded greens, and house pickles. Served with fries.

  • Jambalaya20

    Chicken, andouille, and shrimp dance with aromatic spices, trinity vegetables, and simmered with Basmati rice

  • Cheddar Biscuit Crawfish Etouffee28

    Classic Louisiana stew crawfish vegetables, shrimp stock, and thyme served over house-made green onion cheddar drop-stye biscuits.

  • Shrimp & Grits24

    Large Gulf shrimp sautéed with andouille sausage, tomatoes and onions, all southern spiced and simmered in a flavorful broth and served over cheesy, chive grits

Desserts

  • BEIGNETS7

    Warm southern fried pastries tossed in powdered sugar

  • KING CAKE9

    A flakey cinnamon dough with sticky icing, decorated in the colors of Mardi Gras. Your choice of cinnamon cream or pecan praline cream.