Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
Mamacitas Cantina, a modern Latin fusion restaurant and bar recently celebrated their first anniversay and now they’ve released an updated menu. They say they’ve poured their r hearts into crafting these new dishes, bringing you bold flavors, rich traditions, and a taste of something truly special.
Mamacitas Cantina
1060 Patterson Rd,
Dayton, OH 45420
937-640-3180
Graeter’s Ice Cream has unleashed its latest creation: Beast Feast: Cookie Dough Unleashed.
The limited-time flavor, inspired by Kings Island’s iconic wooden roller coaster, The Beast, debuts today as part of Graeter’s summer Bonus Flavors, the Bake Shop 2025 collection.
The Beast Feast is a thrill ride for your taste buds, featuring monster chunks of sugar cookie dough with colorful rainbow sprinkles swirled into a creamy cookie butter ice cream base.
The flavor is a tribute to the adrenaline-pumping fun of The Beast, which has been thrilling riders since 1979 with its record-breaking 7,361-foot track—more than 1.4 miles long—and a ride time of over four minutes. Kings Island crews recently replaced over 1,600 feet of the coaster’s track, ensuring it remains a legendary experience for years to come.
“This collaboration captures the joy of two Cincinnati icons,” Chip Graeter, fourth-generation owner of Graeter’s Ice Cream said. “It’s cookie dough unleashed, just like the roller coaster itself. You won’t want to miss this one!”
Beast Feast is available for a limited time at Graeter’s scoop shops, by the pint at Graeters.com for nationwide shipping, and by the scoop at Graeter’s location on International Street at Kings Island.
The summer Bonus Flavors lineup also includes Cinnamon Sticky Bun, Blueberry Lemon Crumble, Pineapple Passion Sorbet, Minty Brownie, and Caramel Pecan Cheesecake.
Taste of Cincinnati is the nation’s longest running food festival, and one of the largest street festivals in the country. There are 3 stages programed with live entertainment all weekend. Check out the lineup here.
Several downtown streets are closed for this event from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23, and will reopen at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Taste of Cincinnati parking is available in several nearby parking garages and parking lots on Third, Fourth, and Sixth Streets are available. Street closures and parking info will be updated throughout the weekend.
The downtown streetcar, Cincinnati Connector, makes a 3.6-mile loop through the city. It can easily connect you to Taste of Cincinnati and it’s free! Cincy Red Bikes has 52 stations between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with more than 400 bikes available. Ride sharing with Uber or Lyft is always available–although prices can rise during peak hours of this event. Parking in Northern Kentucky is another option. The Southbank Shuttle, AKA the trolley, serves Bellevue, Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati and runs every 15 minutes. To walk over The Taylor Southgate Bridge from Newport, or the Roebling Bridge from Covington is no more than 1.5 miles to the event.
Check out Taste of Cincinnati’s website, Facebook, or Instagram for the latest updates on parking, road closures, restaurants, entertainment, and other info. Event guides and maps are also available.
Saturday, May 24, 2025 –11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Monday, May 26, 2025 – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
There is no admission for Taste of Cincinnati. Menu items range from $4 – $8.
Owner Victor Wang and Jonathan Gearheart who owns the tatto shop next door.
Bushido Ramen opens this week in the space he formerly ran as Blossom Juicy Bar (they still serve the Boba Tea) on Wilmington Pike. Owner Victor Wang told me that he has spent two years studying and practicing the art of creating Ramen. The work is evident. The menu is chocked full of tastes and flavors that span Japanese, Thai, and Chinese flavors. The ramen is more than enough, but the menu is deep with delicious appetizers, rice dishes and a delicious bun sandwich (similar to Vietnamese Bahn Mi).
I was fortunate to join a group from DaytonDining to spend time with Victor earlier this week and taste the menu.
He has changed the game on the classic edamame appetizer. For the cautious eater stick with the Truffle Edamame. Steamed perfectly, salty with that earthy undertone of truffle oil giving an added punch of flavor the steamed beans. Those of us who like it a bit spicier he tossed the edamame with the signature Bushido Inferno, a delightful pepper oil that we saw again and again later in the menu.
The pepper chicken shouldn’t be skipped and a real surprise was the Fried Tofu. I am not normally a tofu guy, but this firm tofu is fried and drizzled with a sweet soy and spicy mayo. The accompanied cabbage makes this a great light appetizer with sweet, salty, soft, crunchy and deep savory flavors.
Pepper Chicken
Fried Tofu
When you stop in, tell Victor that the team from Dayton937 sent you!
Bushido Ramen Shop2607 Wilmington Pike
Dayton, Ohio, 45419
Updated Hours :
Wed, Thurs & Sun 4pm – 9pm
Fri & Sat 4pm – 10pm
*will add lunch back when they get their flow down.
Follow them on Instagram
You may have noticed many businesses and organizations are taking a breather while NATO has its big meeting here in the Gem City. One of Dayton’s most prolific groups, The Rubi Girls, is looking forward to meeting the international folks as they perform Friday Night at MJ’s Cafe on Jefferson. We caught up with the group’s Executive Director, Dana Sintell, to get the scoop!
937: Hello Ms. Sintell. So, did you ever in a million years think you might perform in front of NATO as part of your 40 years in show business?
DS: Ha ha. Hell no. We have done some crazy stuff in our 40 years, but this one seems almost surreal. We have no idea if anyone from NATO will come or not….but they should!! Of course, the show is really not the RubiGirls‘ typical outing. Cherry Poppins is having her popular ‘Cherry’s Playhouse‘ and asked us to join in the fun. We were excited to be asked. And a Friday Night show is always a great way to wind down the week. Especially this Memorial Day Weekend!!
937: And it is at MJ’s….not sure we have seen the RubiGirls there in some time.
DS: It has been a long time…we don’t do the number of bar shows we once did. I think all of us miss those greatly. This just seems right, too. Dayton has always been a welcoming place for people of all kinds and this show invites the world…literally, to see the fun we have in our city!
937: I understand it is sold out?
DS: Stop right there…..I HATE THOSE WORDS! Listen, come down, we will do our best to find you a seat, a table, or a lap to sit on.
937: How many RubiGirls will we see Friday Night? And can you clue us on on what to expect?
DS: We went round and round and round….and after talking through it all, we thought, let’s do what Rubi does. Don’t try to change it up. We work well doing what we do. As for the who’s who…you get Cherry, who has enough energy to go 2 hours alone! You get Tara Misu who really is a creative force in our organization. You get the cherished India Summer, who just has that welcoming feel and fabulous looks. And then, of course, I’ll be cuh-razy for those who like that sort of thing.
937: What about NATO security, etc….and what time will you kick it off?
DS: MJ’s is just outside NATO village, so can be assured security will be everywhere. The Dayton Police have always, I mean ALWAYS been a good friend to the RubiGirls!! The show starts at 9pm. We will have audience games, complete mayhem and cocktails throughout!
937: And I know, I think we all know, RubiGirls donate their time and dollars. Who will be the recipient this time around?
DS: We are helping the Dayton Pride Committee and the RubiGirls Scholarship Fund. 2 amazing organizations!
937: Thank you Dana. Congratulations on 40 years, and the fact that this season for you ladies has received RAVE REVIEWS!! Keep it up!
For more info, click below!
Out on 5th is back for another summer season!
Out on 5th is the street closure of Fifth Street in the Oregon District of downtown Dayton on weekends: Fridays 5 -10 pm/ Saturdays noon – 10 pm / Sundays noon – 10 pm.
Closing down Fifth Street from Patterson Boulevard to Wayne Avenue every Friday night through Sunday evening allows
our business district to open up the street for guests to shop – dine – and relax in the open air.
Out on 5th gives restaurants and bars in the district room to expand patio seating into the streets.
Fifth Street is filled with public seating to allow guests room to spread out and enjoy the outdoors.
Retail shops can use extra sidewalk space in front of their business for sales. Looking to hold a retail pop-up? Apply here.
Local entertainment will be in the district every weekend to enhance the atmosphere. Looking to be an entertainer? Apply here.
Parking
Thousands of parking spaces on surface lots, parking garages, or metered side streets (free on weekends) surround the Oregon District.
During Out on 5th, please use the detour map at the bottom of this page to navigate around the street closures and into the parking lots.
Our Oregon District businesses kindly ask you to park in these lots, garages or public street spaces, and not in the residential neighborhood.
DORA in the District
The Oregon District is a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) – which allows patrons to purchase an alcoholic beverage served in a branded cup and enjoy that beverage outdoors, within the boundaries of the DORA. Find more info on the Oregon District’s DORA webpage.
Public tables vs. private patios
As part of Out on 5th, some Oregon District businesses have expanded their private patios for their paid guests into the street.
But there are several public tables set up for you to enjoy
Driving to Out on 5th
With Fifth street closed, the official detour is using Wayne Avenue, Fourth Street and Patterson Boulevard to access parking to visit Out on 5th.
To access the parking lots on the north side of Fifth Street, turn onto Jackson from Wayne Avenue.
Strawberry Season has arrived in Troy! As the Community is gearing up for the Troy Strawberry Festival (June 7th & 8th) you can take part in the Strawberry Spirits Trial that will be taking place throughout the City.
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Esther Price Candies is inviting chocolate lovers to embark on a sweet summer adventure with its new Candy Passport Trail. The three-month event, running from May through July, encourages customers to visit Esther Price retail locations in Cincinnati and Dayton to collect stickers and earn discounts.
Shoppers can pick up a Candy Passport booklet at any Esther Price store now. By visiting all participating stores in either Dayton or Cincinnati, customers can earn a 15% discount on their next purchase. Those who complete both trails will receive a 40% discount.
Doug Dressman, CEO of Esther Price, said, “At Esther Price, summer is the perfect time to slow down, share something sweet, and make memories that stick. For generations, our chocolates have marked life’s quiet celebrations. This season, we’re simply inviting fans to keep writing that story with us.”
Participants have until July 31, 2025, to complete the trail and claim their rewards by bringing their completed passports to any Esther Price retail location. Fans are also encouraged to share their journey on social media using the hashtag #EPCandyPassport for a chance to win additional prizes. A special Father’s Day giveaway is available on the Esther Price website until June 9, 2025.
Complete the Dayton Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Dayton area to receive 15% off your next purchase.
Complete the Cincinnati Trail: Visit all participating stores in the Cincinnati area to receive 15% off your next purchase.
Conquer Both Trails: Visit all participating stores in both Dayton and Cincinnati areas to receive 40% off your next purchase.
Bring in your completed passport by July 31st, 2025, at any Esther Price retail location to claim your reward.
Locations: Dayton
Cincinnati Locations:
Applebee’s All You Can Eat is back – and better than ever! Now for a limited time, guests can enjoy an unlimited feast of Applebee’s savory Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders with NEW dipping sauces for only $15.99, when dining in.* Plus, all orders are served with endless fries!
Mix, match, and get saucy with Applebee’s All You Can Eat menu featuring a wide variety of flavors, sauces, and proteins including:
“Every combination is a win when it comes to our All You Can Eat Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders,” said Reid Leslie, Vice President of Marketing, Applebee’s. “Whether starting with Riblets or Chicken Tenders paired with your favorite two sauces, followed by Double Crunch Shrimp, or sticking with your favorite – the combinations are endless!
But the abundance and variety doesn’t stop there. Guests can sip back and relax with Applebee’s Bacardi Buckets in three tasty tropical flavors including the NEW Strawberry Daq-A-Rita, Rum Breeze Bucket, and Party on the Beach Bucket or Applebee’s Cerveza & Sips, featuring the $6 Watermelon Mana Margarita featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s ultra-premium Teremana Tequila Blanco, triple sec, watermelon, and lime.**
Plus, guests of all ages can enjoy Applebee’s NEW Dirty Fountain Sodas! Guests can “dirty up” their favorite soda with a swirl of cream, whipped cream, and a cherry for $1 more.
To find your local restaurant to dine in, visit Applebees.com/restaurants
Sprite + Tea hits the market on the heels of last summer’s hit Sprite Chill, which became the No. 1 selling sparkling soft drink innovation at Coca‑Cola in 2024, earning a sustaining spot in the Sprite portfolio lineup. Schaufelberger said the team hopes Sprite + Tea will become a year-over-year seasonal offering like the holiday fan-favorite Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry.
“The Sprite + Tea concept started out as an intern research project, which is really fun and interesting,” adds A.P. Chaney, Senior Creative Director, Sparkling Flavors North America. “When it blew up on TikTok with millions of views, it was a gut check that we were on the right track. Because you never go wrong when you listen to consumers and tap into what they’re doing by becoming part of their everyday.”
Flavor innovations are a growth driver for Sprite, which is now the No. 3 sparkling soft drink brand in North America. LTOs present a fun creative challenge for the Sprite team due to limited time in market and the need to communicate multiple messages. “I love innovations, because we can take bigger swings with our marketing,” Chaney added. “Sprite has never rested on our laurels, so we’ll always continue to push ourselves to do what’s right for our consumers and the business with innovations like Sprite + Tea.”
Starbucks announces the return of Summer Berry Refreshers, a line of berry-forward Refreshers with flavored popping pearls at the bottom of each drink, a brand-new Strawberries and Cream Cake Pop and the Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso all available as of today at your favorite Starbucks location
-Returning Summer-Berry Refresher:: A sweet summer blend of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors mixed with water, lemonade or coconutmilk and shaken with ice. These beverages are poured over Raspberry Flavored Pearls.
-NEW Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso::Starbucks Blonde Espresso combined with new Horchata syrup that delivers a fusion of cinnamon, vanilla and rice flavors shaken together with ice and topped oatmilk.
-NEW Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop:: Strawberry Cream mixed with buttercream, dipped in chocolaty icing and finished with a strawberry design.
GRAMMY Award-winning country music legend Dwight Yoakam brings The Cosmic Roundup & Rodeo Tour with special guest The Mavericks to Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center on Saturday, September 27.
21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner and country superstar Dwight Yoakam’s first new album in nine years, Brighter Days, is out now on Via Records/Thirty Tigers. Listen HERE.
Written and recorded over the last three years, Brighter Days features 12 brand-new songs written/co-written by Yoakam, as well as three seemingly disparate covers—“Keeping On The Sunny Side” by the Carter Family, “Bound Away” by Cake and “Time Between” written by Chris Hillman of The Byrds—artfully woven into the same body of work in the unmistakable style that could only be Dwight Yoakam.
At once timeless and timely, Yoakam self-produced Brighter Days, infusing a modern appreciation for country music’s history with the trailblazing rock and roll spirit of California. The result is an album that reflects a sense of craftsmanship and immediacy, capturing the quintessential Dwight Yoakam “cool” that has set him apart from his country contemporaries since the beginning of his legendary career. As always, Yoakam’s lyrics throughout the album are both deceptively effortless and profoundly poignant. The album was mixed by world-class engineer Chris Lord-Alge.
Dwight Yoakam has sold over 26 million albums worldwide, with five reaching the #1 spot on Billboard. He is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy Award winner. He has 12 Gold albums and nine Platinum or multi-Platinum albums. Yoakam is the recipient of the Artist of the Year Award from the Americana Music Association, the prestigious BMI Country Awards’ President’s Award and has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received a Lifetime Achievement Honor at the 2024 Americana Music Awards. He has collaborated with everyone from Beck to Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack White. He has toured with the likes of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Hüsker Dü. Yoakam’s last album, Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars…, was released in 2016. Rolling Stone Country raves, “Yoakam sounds right at home on these new versions,” while NPR Music praises, “You can hear Yoakam making masterful choices on every phrase.”
In addition to his musical career, Yoakam has appeared in more than 40 feature films including Sling Blade, Panic Room and Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky with Channing Tatum and Daniel Craig, as well as a role in the Amazon series “Goliath.” Over the course of his storied acting career he has worked with the likes of Jodie Foster, Tommy Lee Jones, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey and more.
In 1977, Yoakam left Kentucky for Nashville to embark on a music career but found that the Music City was moving away from traditional country roots to more pop-country. He found himself better suited to the post-Bakersfield movement and became one of the founding fathers of the L.A. Cowpunk Scene influenced by second-wave rockabilly and punk alongside X, Los Lobos, The Knitters, Rank & File and The Blasters.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, May 23 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
We started with saffron tea and raisin cookies. Then I tried a slice of her cake. “The cakes are similar to those found in Europe” she explained. “They are less sweet than most American cakes and have layers of cream and fresh fruits. The cookies are a traditional Iranian recipe.”
Think you know Dayton? Think again. We’re continuing our “Discover the Unexpected” series with a splash, a climb, and a dash of gravity-defying fun. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a weekend wanderer, or just someone tired of the same ol’ summer activities, Dayton’s got some wild cards up its sleeve. Here are 7 unexpected recreation experiences that prove this city is anything but average!
No ocean? No problem. Surf Dayton is redefining inland adventure with stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater kayaking, and even river surfing—right in the Great Miami River. Whether you’re a pro paddler or trying it out for the first time, Surf Dayton makes waves in all the right ways.
🌟Unexpected Factor: River surfing in the Midwest? That’s next-level summer.
Hidden among the trees at Aullwood Audubon are massive, whimsical trolls crafted by artist Thomas Dambo, built entirely from recycled materials. These gentle giants spark curiosity and are perfect for families, nature lovers, and selfie enthusiasts alike. It’s an eco-adventure that’s both mysterious and magical.
🌟Unexpected Factor: Giant trolls in the woods? Yep, and they’re kind of adorable.
Housed in a beautifully restored 1890s church, Urban Krag offers indoor climbing walls that reach up to 56 feet high. Whether you’re bouldering or belaying, it’s the perfect vertical playground for climbers of all skill levels—and the stained-glass windows make it feel like a cathedral of adrenaline.
🌟Unexpected Factor: Rock climbing meets gothic architecture? Only in Dayton.
Tucked inside Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a 65-foot-tall tree tower with panoramic views that will make your jaw drop—and your Instagram pop. It’s a peaceful yet exhilarating climb, surrounded by lush gardens and butterfly habitats.
🌟Unexpected Factor: It’s like a treehouse for grown-ups. With better views.
This one’s for the two-wheeled rebels. Mike’s Bike Park is the Midwest’s largest indoor bike park, offering 50,000 square feet of ramps, jumps, and trails for BMX, MTB, and everything in between. Newbie? They offer rentals and lessons, too!
🌟Unexpected Factor: Ride like a pro—indoors, rain or shine.
Designed by Dayton native and pro skater Rob Dyrdek, this state-of-the-art skate plaza in Kettering blends street and park-style elements. Whether you’re perfecting your ollie or just rolling through, it’s a skater’s paradise with serious street cred.
🌟Unexpected Factor: A pro-designed plaza in a city park? That’s how Dayton rolls.
Paddlers, rejoice! Dayton’s downtown riverfront is home to engineered whitewater features ideal for kayaking and watersports. Bring your own gear or rent nearby—then ride the waves just steps away from the city skyline.
🌟Unexpected Factor: Urban kayaking with a view? Yes, please.
This post was created by Destination Dayton and originally appeared on their website.
Immerse yourself in this sensory experience of authentic Italian cuisine
paired with the cinema-inspired wines from Francis Ford Coppola.
Much like a classic film, this four-course dinner unfolds with
anticipation, revealing layers of chef-cra‑ed flavors and thoughtful
wine pairings sure to leave you captivated.
Soul Express will be back at Zinks to get your weekend started right with the golden 1960s and ’70s hits of artists like the Temptations, the Four Tops, Martha and the Vandellas and Sly and the Family Stone! It’s always a party at Zinks! See you there!
