Lisa Grigsby

Santa Arrives At Woodland Lights Tonight Ticket Contest

December 6, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 3 Comments

When the flashing lights and siren of a fire truck go zooming down St. Rt. 725 tonight, it will be Santa making his way to the Washington Township’s Woodland Lights! Celebrating their 21st year with the traditional lights and sights people have come to love, they’ve added some extra sparkle to their month long activities at 895 Miamisburg Centerville Road. There are movie nights, coloring contests and even nights to bring your dog.

Visitors to the nightly event can enjoy the beauty of lights sparkling along a half-mile wooded path and reflecting against a woodland pond. Along the trail, whimsical characters and illuminated critters prepare for the holidays, while a real-life Santa Claus visits with children inside an historic log cabin decorated as a candyland.

“Woodland Lights is a place that’s magical and enchanting. Every year, we do our best to stay true to that vision,” said Linda Madden, Woodland Lights coordinator. “The front area feels more like a festival with lighting and animation. The mood at the back of the park is quieter, more pristine, and emphasizes the park’s natural beauty.”

Nostalgia Nights on December 9, 10, 16, 17

View the lights, enjoy refreshments, and visit with Santa before Christmas in an historic log cabin. Musical entertainment in the cabin the day after Christmas.

COST: $3 Free for kids 2 and under

Festival Nights on All Other Nights (except Dec 24 & 25)
For visitors who want the most that Woodland Lights offers. Lights, Refreshments & Santa Visits PLUS carriage rides, amusement rides, costumed characters, live deer games, and activities musical entertainment after Christmas. Festival Nights offer all of the fun of Woodland Lights, plus a full range of festivities including carriage rides, live deer, amusement rides, costumed characters, games and extra activites such as face painting. Kids can play on a fun slide and enjoy seven amusement rides including a small train, Santa swing, twister and pony carts.

COST: $7 Free for kids 2 and under

Woodland Lights & Movie Nights

After walking the Woodland Lights path, head to the Rec West building at 7:30 p.m. to see a free holiday movie, Polar Express. All movies end by 9 p.m.
December 7 – Polar Express
December 14 – Santa Paws 2
December 21 – Jim Carrey’s Christmas Carol
December 28 – The Rise of the Guardians

For more information about their special events visit the Woodland Lights website.

A WARM AND INVITING PLACE TO VISIT SANTA

At Woodland Lights, it’s easy to find Santa. Just walk down a sparkling path until you see an historic log cabin decorated in lights.Turn right at the split rail fence and Santa will welcome you to his cozy cabin every night through December 23.

The setting is an inviting alternative to more commercialized visits with Santa. While young visitors whisper their wish lists in Santa’s ear, parents are invited to snap a picture. Photos also may be purchased for $5.

“This is a real, historic log home that originally was located in Hillsboro, Ohio,” says Woodland Lights Coordinator Linda Madden. “Everything about it is authentic – from the large beams over head to the old limestone fireplace.” A fire burns bright each night in a large hearth near Santa’s chair, greenery is draped across the mantle, and a tree is decorated in the corner.

After Christmas, Santa returns to the North Pole but his cabin stays open for visitors to stop and warm themselves by the fire until December 30th.

TICKET GIVE AWAY

Most Metro wants to treat some of our readers to a family night out to see the lights. If you’d like to be entered in our drawing for a family 4-pack of tickets, just like this article, and fill out the entry form below. Feel free to add a comment below, it might sway the judges when we pick a winner! We’ll announce a winner on Saturday.

And our winners are:
Lauren Olgiate
Joanna Soehner
Margie Rivera

Santa Claus & Friends Coming To Town To Benefit Toys for Tots

December 3, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

The 8^th Annual Santa Pub Crawl, benefitting the local chapter of Toys for Tots, will take place in the Oregon District on Saturday, December 14^th beginning with a pre-party at Fifth Street Brewpub.

This is the eighth year for this event where Santa Pub Crawl participants don their most festive holiday attire, anything from complete Santa Clause gear to elf ears and reindeer antlers and everything in between. To participate, attendees need to dress in festive holiday gear, which gets them into each participating bar for free and take advantage of drink specials. They must also bring one new unwrapped $10 toy as a donation to Toys for Tots. More than half a dozen Marines will be on hand to accept donations. In lieu of a toy, attendees may also make a $10 donation to Toys for Tots.

Festivities during the Santa Pub Crawl include a pre-party starting at 4:30 at Fifth Street Brewpub, seven additional participating bars offering drink specials to those dressed in holiday attire, a costume contest with prizes for first, second, and third place male and female, and best group. Prizes this year include mini fridges, large coolers, corn hole game, gift certificates to local restaurants and bars, and cash. Participants may also have their pictures taken with the Marines during the event.

Last year, the Santa Pub Crawl collected more than 600 toys along with $1,000 in cash donations, which was distributed by the Marines to local children in need. This event allows thecommunity to come together and ensure that children right here in the Miami Valley have something under the tree on Christmas Day. Santa Pub Crawl Chairperson, Brian Young, stated, “While last year was big, we anticipate over 1,000 people to participate in the event this year, double last year, and that translates to a lot of toys and cash donations for kids in our community. Because of the generous support of our sponsors, Budweiser, Buckeye Vodka, Folio Designhaus, and Monster Energy Drink, we have a much larger prize pool for the costume contest, which will be held at Blind Bob’s, and the extra advertising allows us to get the word out to that many more people.”

The route for the Santa Pub Crawl is as follows:

Fifth Street Brewpub (pre-party, located at 1600 E. Fifth Street – 4:00 – 6:00 pm

Dublin Pub – 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Trolley Stop – 7:30 – 9:00 pm

Tumbleweed – 9:00 – 10:00 pm

Blind Bob’s – 10:00 – 11:00 pm (costume contest)

Oregon Express – 11:00 – 12:00 am

Ned Peppers – 12:00 – 1:00 am

Newcom’s – 1:00 am – close

Toys can be collected wherever the Marines are posted, and also dropped off at Fifth Street Brewpub. Participants may join the pub crawl at any point in the night. Crown Plaza, located at 33 E. Fifth Street will have discounted rooms while they last for participants. Please call 937-224-0800 and ask for “Toys for Tots Santa Pub Crawl Rate” of $82.00. Be responsible: Don’t drink and drive.

For more information on the Santa Pub Crawl, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DaytonSantaPubCrawl

Photo’s by Peter Wine

The Show Must Go On- The Rubi Girls- One Night Only!

November 26, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 2 Comments

Thanksgiving- the kind of holiday where you slave in the kitchen, spend time with the family, eat turkey for dinner, express thanks for the great people in your life, eat turkey sandwiches, shop, eat more turkey, watch football and start to really wonder how you are related to those people!

So lets face it, by Saturday night you’re going to need to get out! May we suggest you make plans to head downtown and catch The Rubi Girls as they make their traditional Thanksgiving appearance with The Show Must Go On. For those of you who haven’t seen one of their shows (gasp) we should warn you- they are a little risque (and sometimes as the night goes on they can get just downright nasty (but in a good way)!

Grown men dressed as women, dancing, singing and performing in a way that will have you laughing and screaming! Together over 25 years The Rubi Girls perform only to raise funds for AIDS related causes. Having to helped raised over $1,000,000 with their shows and calendars, The Rubi Girls have a cult following in Ohio.

Rumor has it that this may be the largest cast for a Rubi Girl Show ever! With over 14 Rubi Girls, who range from their 20’s to their 50’s, the “ladies” will perform to holiday classics as well as some of the latest pop hits. The costumes alone are works of art. and you always have to wonder what the newest version of The Rubi Dance will be…

VIP seating, which is the front 5 rows is already sold out, but you can reserve your general admission tickets online for just $10, they’ll be $15 at the door- if still available.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

UE-CWA Union Hall- doors open at 7pm, show begins at 8pm
313 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OHBenefitting AIDS Resource Center Ohio

Restaurants Add Holiday Hours and Opportunities To Dine With Santa

November 25, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

A few of our local restaurants have added additional hours of service or special holiday events. When planning any large outings, we highly suggest you call the restaurant to check availability and make reservations. Enjoy:

Carvers Steaks & Chops

535 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459

adds lunch Monday – Friday from 11:30am -2pm Dec. 2 -20

Reservations suggested 937-433-7099, private room available

Hawthorn Grill – will open Mondays in December from 5-9pm, reservations encouraged (937) 298-2222
1222 E Stroop Rd, Dayton, OH 45429

Dinner with Santa on Mon, Dec 2nd – Drop in and take a cozy seat by the fire for a great meal before you tuck everyone in for a ‘long winter’s nap’! RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED starting the day after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve Dinner Service – Drop in and take a cozy seat by the fire for a great meal before you tuck everyone in for a ‘long winter’s nap’! RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED starting the day after Thanksgiving! Christmas Day – CLOSED to celebrate with our family and friends. New Year’s Eve 4-course Dining Extravaganza! – Join us to ring in another new year! We’ll again serve our delicious 4-course seasonal menu at 5:00 and 8:30 seatings by reservation only. They’ll start taking reservations after Thanksgiving.

Jay ‘s Seafood

225 E 6th Street, Dayton, OH 45402|
add lunch Monday – Friday from 11:30am-2pm from Dec. 2 – 23
Reservations suggested 937-222-2892, private room available

Rue Dumaine (937) 610-1061
1061 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton, OH 45459

A note from Chef Anne Kearney: “While we are fully committed with private events at Rue Dumaine for this years’ holiday season it is never too late to find a evening to gather with friends or co-workers to break bread. While the RUE is normally closed on Sundays and Mondays we change it up every year during the last half of December opening for 4 additional shifts to be of service to you and your holiday celebrations. During each shift we are able to accommodate 2 parties with up to12 guests (select times). There is additional availability for smaller gatherings throughout each shift. If your company is dark on Sundays join us. Gather up a group of girlfriends for a Monday evening supper. Consider giving us a call to see what we can do to suit your needs. ”

2013 Holiday Schedule is as follows:

Open for dinner service.

Sunday, Dec. 22nd (5pm-9pm)

Monday, Dec. 23rd (5pm-9pm)

Sunday, Dec. 29th (5pm-9pm)

Monday, Dec. 30th (5pm-9pm)

There are many opportunities to have a meal with Sanat around the Miami Valley:

Bravo Cucina Italiano
Breakfast with Santa, Sat Dec 7 9am

Hilton Garden Inn
Breakfast with Santa – Sunday, Dec. 14th 10:30am – noon

Polen Farms
Breakfast with Santa – Sun, Dec 1st 9am

Rusty Bucket by the Dayton Mall 937-436-2426
Breakfast with Santa on Saturday Dec. 7th & 14th at 9am.

Uno’s Pizza with Santa

126 N. Main St., Dayton, OH 45402
December 7, 14, 21 & 22; 11 a.m.
December 9 & 16; 6:30 p.m.
Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St.
Have a special lunch with Santa and then visit the Tike’s Shop at the Schuster Center! Reservations required. Call for cost and reservations. 910-8000.

Yankee Trace Golf Club
Santa Claus Brunch- Reservations Required Sunday, Dec. 8th 1-a,- 2pm

Dayton R+R – Harvesting Historical Dayton For Reuse

November 22, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

In today’s economy, where it’s often easier to buy new and throw away items that need repairs, it’s refreshing to know that places like Dayton Reclamation and Restoration (Dayton R+R) exist. Jeff Wysong, a master carpenter who’s been working on historical restoration in the Dayton region for over 40 years, has announced that he will again be in the retail business. This Sat, Nov 23rd at 8:30am at 280 North Findlay Street in Dayton the architectural reclamation store will open with a stock of materials ranging from foundation stones to lumber, doors, windows, trims and vintage hardware. They will also have barn beams, siding and specialty items of interest!

With over 40 years of experience, Jeff and his team have reclaimed materials from over 300 houses,barns and schools.We have also restored and preserved many homes throughout Dayton’s historic districts since 1986.

Dayton Reclamation and Restoration believe in preserving historic architecture. When that is not possible,we believe in preserving the historic fabric and features that make those structures significant,and offering those items to you for the restoration of your home,and for your landscape and artistic needs as well! We believe in Dayton, it’s history past, present and future.

Marketing Manager Tyler Payne explains, “our approach is totally green. We will continue to harvest treasures from old buildings and we have a passion for deconstruction in a way that allows us to reuse quality building materials.”He shared that in the future they plan to hold educational symposiums for the public.

You can visit Dayton Reclamation and Restoration on Saturdays from 8:30am to 3:00pm, or call 937-477-4801 for more info.

Celebrate Gingerbread Day By Entering A Local Gingerbread House Competition

November 21, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Gingerbread can come in many forms – it can be hard or soft, baked as a loaf or as cookies, served with a lemon glaze or none at all, but in all cases it contains some form of ginger. Some recipes call for dried, powdered ginger, others for crystallized, and even some for fresh. The original gingerbread recipe is believed to have originated in England, around the 1640’s and by the 1800’s it had become very popular and was eaten on a regular basis. Other staples in most gingerbread recipes are honey, molasses or treacle. These typically take the place of honey.

Usually fashioned in the most commonly recognised shape of a gingerbread man with his arms stretched side-wards and wearing a huge smile. Gingerbread men have been a Christmas favorite over many years where they are baked in the oven and hung on the Christmas tree as part of the decoration, to be eaten at a later time. The Germans are well known for their gingerbread, which is called Lebkuchen which can either mean cake of life or loaf cake depending on how you say it. However, it is also very often made into gingerbread houses using slabs of baked gingerbread which is modelled and decorated to resemble a house and used to commemorate the Brothers’ Grimm story of Hansel and Gretel. Speaking of which, according to the Guinness World Records, the largest gingerbread house ever built was done so in 2006 by Roger Pelcher at the Mall of America in Minnesota. It was more than 45 feet long, 35 feet wide and 60 feet tall.

The Miami Valley celebrates the Gingerbread House with 2 holiday competitions:

The Dayton Holiday Festival 8th annual Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays Contest in conjunction with the 2013 Grande Illumination

Everyone is invited to participate. Entries will be displayed in the Old Court House at the corner of Third & Main Streets in Downtown Dayton.
Two $500 Cash Prizes Will Be Awarded! Categories include a professional division, and Amateur Adults, teens and kids 12 and under. First place in each category will receive a sweet prize package featuring a variety of prize items. Awards will also be given to second and third place in each category. One house out of all the amateur entries and one house from the professional category will be selected as the “Best House on the Block” and will each receive a $500 cash prize for being the best in show! Winners will be notified after judging is completed and will have an opportunity to be recognized on the Main Stage on Courthouse Square before the tree lighting ceremony on

Friday, November 29. Deadline for entry forms is Friday, November 22nd.

Contest Rules/Guidelines:

Each entry must be submitted on a wooden or plastic base.
The size of the structure’s base support shall not exceed 20”x20”.
The structure can be made from gingerbread, cardboard, or a purchased kit.
All exposed surfaces of the structure and all decorations must be covered with edible materials (with the exception of the base/foundation).
Battery operated lights are permitted; however they must be inside the structure and turned on by the entrant.
Designs may be any structure such as houses, public buildings, businesses, etc.
Judging will be based on overall appearance, neatness, creativity, and best use of materials.
Anyone who currently or previously has received payment for their cake/pastry skills or is a trained professional needs to enter the Professional category in this contest.
Cash prizes will not be awarded if judges decide that there is not an entry that qualifies as best in show.
Instructions on picking up your entry after the contest will be included in a confirmation letter.

For more information, visit daytonholidayfestival.org or call (937) 224-1518 ext. 227

The Washington Township Woodland Lights 13th Annual Collection of Gingerbread Houses

Entries for the Woodland Lights Gingerbread Art Competition are due on Monday, Dec. 2. Bakers can enter individually or in groups. Categories include: adults, youth 7 to 18, preschoolers, and groups such as families, community organizations and schools. Families especially are encouraged to submit entries, Madden said. “Working in the kitchen helps bring families together. Designing, baking and decorating a gingerbread house provides a wonderful intergenerational opportunity.”

Individuals who place first in their category will receive an Active 90 Pass which provides free entrance for 90 days to the recreation center’s aquatic activities, fitness center, running track, open gym and climbing wall and to Rec West’s gym, theater and game room. Second place winners receive five daily passes. Registered participants who win as part of a group will receive two daily passes.

Gingerbread house entries should be taken to the Stolz Building, behind the Washington Township Recreation Center, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. Gingerbread judging takes place Thursday, Dec. 5. Rules, guidelines can be found here. Entering is free. Call 438-7985 for information.

World Famous Art Detective Appears At The DAI

November 19, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

The Dayton Art Institute’s visual arts theatre series, the Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out series, continues on Thursday, November 21, with the real-life adventures of Robert Wittman – Art Detective!.

Robert Wittman spent more than 20 years in the FBI as the agency’s — and the nation’s — top art crime investigator, going undercover numerous times to recover $225 million worth of stolen art, ranging from $35 million Rembrandts to an original copy of the Bill of Rights. The London Times called him “the most famous art detective in the world” and The Wall Street Journal called him “a living legend.”

Known as the FBI’s Real Indiana Jones, Wittman is the author of The New York Times best seller Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures.

Wittman joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1988 and was assigned to the Philadelphia Field Division. As a result of specialized training in art, antiques, jewelry and gem identification, he served as the FBI’s investigative expert in this field. During his 20-year career with the FBI, he recovered more that $225 million worth of stolen art and cultural property resulting in the prosecution and conviction of numerous individuals. In 2005, he was instrumental in the creation of the FBI’s rapid deployment Art Crime Team. He was named as the Act’s Senior Investigator and instructed the team members in how to conduct cultural property investigations. He has represented the United States around the world conducting investigations and instructing international police and museums in recovery and security techniques.

Wittman gives informational presentations for museums, collector groups, businesses and government agencies. He also gives informational sessions for collectors concerning due diligence, provenance research and fraud protection.

Robert Wittman – Art Detective! Takes place in The Dayton Art Institute’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium on Thursday, November 21, at 8 p.m. His 90-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session and a book signing.

The Dayton Art Institute’s Leo Bistro will be open for dinner on November 21, 4:30-8:00 p.m., offering a special menu for the show. Advance reservations are recommended, by calling 937-512-0146. Go to http://www.leobistro.com for more information about the menu.

Tickets for Robert Wittman – Art Detective! are $30 for adults and $26 for seniors. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone, at 937-223-4ART (4278), in person at The Dayton Art Institute’s Guest Services Desk during regular museum hours, or online at http://www.daytonartinstitute.org/artsnightout.

The Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out series began in the fall of 2012 as a theatrical series where visual art and the stage meet for three one-night-only performances. All performances are held on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. in the museum’s NCR Renaissance Auditorium. The 2013 series concludes with Spontaneous Fantasia on December 5.

For more information about this and other programs at The Dayton Art Institute, please visithttp://www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to also connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.

Dayton Most Metro Wants To Drive You To Drink Local

November 17, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 1 Comment

Want to take a tour of Dayton’s brewing companies and see where the good stuff comes from? There are now local beers available from Miamisburg to Vandalia and lots of stops in between. And if you’re drinking, we don’t want you driving, so we’ve come up with just the solution:
Dayton Most Metro Brew Tours!

Each tour will visit three local breweries. We will spend approximately 40 minutes at each location. We’ll set you up with a flight of beers at each brewery, so you’ll get a taste of what each brewery is doing. Feel free to order a pint of your favorite, or get a growler to go and we’ll keep it cold for you on the bus! Your ticket includes bus transportation, beer samples at each stop as well as snacks and water on the bus. Each of our tours will be on The Grove Machine Party Bus, Dayton’s newest party bus!

Here are our first four tours available, reserve your tickets online now!

Sat, 11/23 – The Dayton Beer Co, Yellow Springs Brewery & Toxic Brew Co.

Sun, 11/24 – Lock 27 Brewing, Eudora Brewing Company & Yellow Springs Brewery

Sat, 11/30 – Star City Brewing Company, Hairlees Hare Brewery, 5th Street Brewpub

Sun, 12/15 – Lock 27 Brewing, Eudora Brewing Company & Yellow Springs Brewery

More tour dates will be added, or gather your own group, pick a date and charter the bus!
Brew Tours make great gifts- why not give one to that special beer lover in your life?

For more tour dates and additional info, like the Brew Tour Facebook page.

Cheers!

Star City Brewing Company Opens Tonight in Miamisburg!

November 15, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Originally a sawmill on the Miami & Erie Canal in the 1828, The Peerless Mill in Miamisburg became a restaurant in 1929. After serving up food for over 8 decades, a major fire destroyed a good portion of the building in 2003. The stone floors and big ceiling beams survived and after a 2 year renovation, the restaurant reopened in 2005. Owner Gary Wiegle had taken out huge loans to rebuild and was faced with increased competition and touch economic times, which he wasn’t able to overcome. The restaurant fell into foreclosure and closed in 2008. After several misfires, it looks like the newest owners, brothers Justin and Brian Kohnen and Brian Yavorsky made have just the recipe to succeed at 319 S. Second St.

The Star City Brewery joins the explosion of microbreweries that are invading the Miami Valley. With their grand opening today (Friday, Nov 15th) at 4pm until 10pm with food catered in from TJ Chumps and Saturday from 1-10pm with a visit from the Harvest Mobile Cuisine Food Truck. There will be 4 beers on tap to start. I was lucky enough to attend a preview tasting last weekend and enjoyed a flight that included:

Belgian Blonde Ale (ABV 3.8%, IBU 21) reminiscent of the German style Kolsch. Light bodied and lager like. $4 pint/$10 growler
Bavarian Hefeweizen (ABV 4/6% IBU 10) an unfiltered wheat beer with a light banana and clove flavor $5 pint /$13 growler
IPA (ABV 7.4% IBU 56) deep golden in color hoppy with citrus and pine notes. $5 pint /$13 growler
Oatmeal Stout (ABV 5/2% IBU 28) and my favorite by far – with a slight sweetness and roasted hop flavor. $5 pint /$13 growler

Eventually there will be 8 taps, which according to Justin Kohnen will always include the standard four already mentioned and 4 seasonal brews that will rotate. Food will be catered in from local Miamisburg restaurants, but opening their kitchen is in the plans, “but that’s sometime in the future,” says Kohnen. He explained that there were a lot of renovations and repairs needed on the 14,000 square foot building and they concentrated on the tap room first. It is in the plans to continue renovating so they can start to open some of the banquet rooms for special event rentals.

Even before opening Star City began teaching home brewing classes including extract brewing, all grain brewing. There next class scheduled for Thurs, Nov 21st form 6:30 – 8:30pm will be about Understanding Flavor Profiles. This class is for aspiring craft enthusiasts and new home brewers who want to understand the many beer styles, origins and tasting profiles. And class attendees will receive 50 cents off of beer during the class. $25/person.

Star City offered membership and prior to opening already had over 60 members. Aside from declaring yourself a craft beer enthusiast, being a member of Star City Brewing comes with certain members only perks. A few such perks include being the first to sample some of our experimental brews and earning double loyalty points on select days.

The standard Level 1 membership includes:

A Star City Brewing Company bottle koozie
A Star City Brewing Company Pint Glass
$25 annual membership

Level 2 membership includes:

A Star City Brewing Company bottle koozie
A Star City Brewing Company Pint Glass
A Star City Brewing Company T-Shirt
$75 annual membership

The standard Level 3 membership includes:

A Star City Brewing Company bottle koozie
A Star City Brewing Company britannia mug
A Star City Brewing Company embroidered polo
2 Invitation(s) to “invite-only” private “Member Appreciation” parties when hosted.
- Catered Food provided.
Discounts on pints ($0.50 off per pint anytime you come in)
$125 membership

Follow Star City Brewing on Facebook for more updates or visit them from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. And look forward to another opening soon of their neighbors, Lucky Star Brewery, located a block away at 219 S. Second St. in Miamisburg.

Ghostlight Coffee Celebrates Second Anniversary With Second Location Announcement

November 14, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

In November of 2011, things changed in South Park. With the opening of a cozy coffee shop who focused on high quality, hand crafted beverages and snacks, suddenly the Dayton community began to flock to this Wayne Avenue location.

Owner Shane Anderson explains that Ghostlight Coffee is a “multi-roaster

Owner Shane Anderson

shop,” featuring a rotating selection of coffees from many of the best roasters in America, including Deeper Roots Coffee (Cincinnati), MadCap Coffee (Grand Rapids, MI), Handsome Coffee (L.A.), Bows & Arrows Coffee (Victoria, B.C.) and Sightglass Coffee (San Francisco). Ghostlight was voted “Best of Dayton – Best Cup of Coffee” in 2012 by the readers of ActiveDayton.com & Dayton Daily News.

Ghostlight Coffee has become a popular “community minded” coffeehouse, hosting many AfterHours events such as music and poetry and featuring local artists on it’s walls. It has gained popularity amongst touring musicians for it’s “listening room” atmosphere, different from most bar venues that these musicians frequently encounter. It also has become the home of the “Gem City Poetry Stage” and previously hosted the popular “Story Slamm” series until they moved to the larger Dayton Black Box theatre. Just recently they opened a meeting room which doubles as a quiet study space for it’s many university students and professors. The business will soon expand services to offer coffee & espresso bar catering for events and online ordering of coffees and gift boxes for individual and corporate orders.

But with their second anniversary comes another expansion: Ghostlight at Night in the Dayton Art Institute!

Ghostlight at Night will feature hand-poured, artisan roasted coffees by Ghostlight Coffee and hand-crafted signature cocktails by the Dayton Cocktail Co., as well as a small-plate menu of sharable snacks. Ghostlight at Night hours will be Tuesday – Friday, 3:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., beginning Friday, November 22 and continuing through January 3.

“The holidays are a busy time here at the museum, and this wonderful new partnership with Ghostlight Coffee allows us to offer guests a unique evening experience in Leo Bistro,” says The DaytonArt Intitute’s Associate Director Jane A. Black. “Ghostlight at Night will complement Elite Catering’s weekday lunch and weekend brunch service at the Bistro.”

Ghostlight at Night will host several evening events at the Leo Bistro location, including:

“The Art of Coffee” Tastings Events, including November 22nd…Tasting of the new Panama Geisha coffee, roasted by Deeper Roots Coffee. The roaster will be on hand to talk about this rare coffee varietal.

“The Art of the Cocktail” Events, hosted by The Dayton Cocktail Co., including December 5 Repeal Day Party, featuring prohibition era cocktails and punches.

Live Music at Leo Bistro, including December 6, featuring The Soucek Jazz Trio, a popular ensemble comprised of area music educators frequently performs at the Wayne Ave. coffeehouse to a packed house.

In addition to Ghostlight at Night, Leo Bistro will continue to offer full lunch service, powered bty Elite Catering. A full menu of soups, sandwiches, salads and entrees is available Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Leo Bistro also offers a weekend brunch menu, servedSaturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon – 5 p.m.

Ghostlight at Night is part of a host of holiday-related events and programs at The Dayton Art Institute. These include the special exhibitions Object of Devotion and Elizabeth Turk: Wings, now on view through January 5; the Hall of Holidays exhibition Marc Chagall: Jerusalem Window Lithographs, on view November 29 – February 23; an artist-decorated holiday tree and ornament silent auction, November 26 – January 5; holiday-themed Super Saturday Family Days on December 7, 14 and 21; the Fifth Third Bank Arts Night Out presentation Spontaneous Fantasia on December 5; and a special holiday Afternoon Musicale with David Wion & Friends on December 1.

10?’s with Rick Schaefer of Brock Masterson’s Catering

November 13, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

There’s rarely a festival in Dayton where you don’t find Brock Masterson’s hawking their “Down East” Blue Lump Crab Cakes, “Fatty” Reuben, Grilled Salmon and Brock’s Legendary 3-Potato Hash. There’s always a line, yet the food is so good it’s worth the wait. Brock Masterson’s Catering was founded in 1986 by Chef Rick Schaefer, and while catering is his main business, Brock Masterson’s can be found grilling out at over 20 festivals throughout Dayton region. But now you can also find Brock Masterson’s in your grocery store. “Customers have been asking for years about the special blend of spices that we use to season our grilled meats, so bottling the spices for the customers just made sense,” said Rick Schaefer, Owner & Executive Chef of Brock Masterson’s.

Brock’s Dust, cooking & grilling spices come in four varieties: Brock’s

Dust for Poultry, Beef, Seafood and Pork. Each one is specifically formulated to enhance that type of meat. Chef Rick suggests sprinkling the meat liberally before cooking, grilling or broiling, and then sprinkle Brock’s Dust again immediately before serving.

Brock’s Dust is available locally at all 3 Dorothy Lane Market locations, both Dot’sMarket locations, through our website www.brockmastersons.com or by visiting our booth at an upcoming festival.

And while we were talking with Rick about his new spice line, we insisted he do 10 question interview:

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

Butter, it just makes everything taste better and it’s God’s gift to the culinary universe.

The Big Fatty- Brock’s reuben Puff Pastry, it’s a pain to work with.

What ingredient do you dread?
Puff Pastry, it’s a pain to work with.

What’s your favorite dish to make?

Parmesan encrusted Sea Bass with Buerre Blanc Sauce

What’s your favorite pig out food?

Cheese Burgers of any kind.

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

I make it a point to seek out and dine at local restaurants. Some of my favorites: Golden Nugget for breakfast, Amar India or Ajanta for lunch, and The Oakwood Club for dinner.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?

Recipes are over-rated, unless baking where exact measurements are critical; don’t be afraid to add your favorite spice or ingredient to make the dish your own. Plus, always have fun, some of our best dishes we serve were originally “failed science experiments”. Invite friends and family over to share your culinary creations; this is the perfect time for bonding. Food is the tie that binds and instills comradery among family.

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

Well, at a fantasy table where we could intelligently discuss music, science, religion and social issues: I would invite: Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, John Lennon, and Carl Sagan. The reality is that I would give almost anything to just have one more meal with my 4 grandparents. Some of my very best childhood memories were making and eating holiday meals with my grandparents.

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

There are just too many to name, but I do have the utmost respect for anyone who can open a local restaurant/business and go through the daily grind of making it succeed.

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

Day off, what’s that?!? Just kidding. I love to drive, go for walks/bike rides on the local bike trails, eat out at local restaurants, and because it’s open 24 hours a day, I do find time to sneak away to the Horseshoe Casino to play Baccarat or throw some dice.

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:

Lucky Break: I have the very best employees and the greatest staff in Dayton and I love them all.

Disaster: Well, we were at a client’s home, and something almost too horrifying to mention happened. I went to the bathroom, just #1, I swear, flushed and much to my horror, the water started rising. I reached down below the toilet to turn off the water valve, but this was an older home and there was no shut-off valve. There was no plunger, coat hanger, nothing. As the water started spilling over the lid, the most horrifying thoughts were running through my head since the hosts were entertaining just a few feet away in the dining room. I grabbed the only thing I could, the host’s elegant, embroidered towels and sopped up the mess. I peeked around the bathroom door and flagged down one of my staff members. She thought it was strange that I wanted to see her in the bathroom, she walked over, peeked inside, looked up at me with wide eyes and ran to get paper towels and a trash bag. We cleaned up everything and threw the mess into the trash bag. Somehow in the midst of cleaning up we got the giggles and could not stop laughing. We were bent over laughing so hard at how ridiculous the situation was. I looked at my employee and told her we had to find the washing machine and pronto. While the guests continued eating, unaware of the scene in the nearby bathroom; I quickly threw the towels into the washing machine. Once they were cleaned and dried, I hung them back up in the bathroom. A gentleman had been in the bathroom right before I was and I blame this entirely horrifying situation on him.

Saluting Our Veterans with Meal Deals All Over Town

November 10, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Once again this year, many restaurants are offering FREE or discounted breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to our military service men and women on or around Veterans Day: Monday, November 11. While you’re there, be sure to thank these restaurants for offering free/discounted food to the brave military men and women who serve our country. If you qualify, be sure to take advantage of these 2013 Veterans Day breakfast, lunch and dinner meal deals, and thank you for your service!

Applebee’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Military veterans and active-duty Service Members will be able to eat free at any Applebee’s across the U.S. on Veterans Day. Guests can choose from 7 delicious entrées: 7 Ounce House Sirloin, Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, Chicken Tenders Platter, Oriental Chicken Salad, Three-Cheese Chicken Penne, Fiesta Lime Chicken, or Double Crunch Shrimp.

Arby’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Arby’s is offering a free Classic Roast Beef sandwich to veterans and active duty military personnel on Veterans Day. Just show up in uniform or bring proof of U.S. military service. Not all locations are participating, so call ahead and ask before heading out.

Bar Louie – Sunday, November 10, 2013 & Monday, November 11, 2013 -But Bar Louie is offering veterans and active military members a free lunch or dinner on Sunday, November 10 and Monday, November 11. Offer valid for any food item up to $12.00 value. Beverages and gratuity are not included. Proof of military service is required.

BD’s Mongolian Grill November 11-15, 2013 – Veterans and military personnel are invited to enjoy BD’s Stir-fry meal at 50% off the regular price. This offer is valid the week of Veterans Day: November 11 – 15, 2013 for both veterans and active military personnel. Valid military ID or proof of service is required.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Enjoy a free appetizer on Veterans Day. No purchase necessary. Valid for both veterans and active military personnel who show up in uniform or show proof of military service.

Champps Americana – Monday, November 11, 2013 – All veterans and current military members can receive a free burger and waffle fries. Choose the Champps Cheeseburger, Carolina, Shroom, The Guac, Firehouse, Chipotle BBQ, or the Bleu burger. Offer valid for dine-in only. Valid military ID or proof of military service required.

Chili’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Veterans and active duty military choose one free meal from the Veterans Day special menu: Margarita Grilled Chicken, OldTimer with Cheese, Chicken Crispers, Classic Turkey Sandwich (full), Lighter Choices Grilled Chicken Salad, Soup & Salad Combo (does not include Bottomless Express Lunch), any flatbread, any lunch combo, or any 9″ pizza.

Denny’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Free all you can eat pancakes for veterans and active military personnel with valid military ID or proof of military service.. Hours are from 6:00AM-2:00PM

The Donut Haus Sunday, Nov. 10, and Monday, Nov. 11, any veteran with proper ID can pick out any one bakery item in the Springboro shop’s display case and any beverage at no charge, and can also receive 50 percent off any one dozen doughnuts on both days, with a limit of one dozen.

Fox and Hound – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Veterans and active military members enjoy a free sandwich or entree up to $13 value. Please show your valid military ID or proof of military service.

Friendly’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Friendly’s is offering a free Big Two Do breakfast and coffee to veterans and active military members. Offer valid until 11:00AM at participating locations. Valid military ID or honorable discharge card is required.

Golden Corral – Monday, November 11, 2013 – The 13th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held from 4:00-9:00PM at all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

Hooters – Monday, November 11, 2013 – All veterans and active military personnel can receive a free meal up to $10 value with purchase of a drink on Veterans Day. Valid for lunch or dinner. Dine-in only.

Krispy Kreme – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Veterans and active military personnel receive a free breakfast: one doughnut and a small coffee. Not all locations are participating, so please call ahead before heading out.

Little Caesars – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Current military personnel and veterans receive a free order of Crazy Bread. Offer valid at participating Little Caesars pizza locations.

Longhorn Steakhouse – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Both veterans and active military personnel can enjoy a free Texas Tonion and non-alcoholic beverage. Valid proof of military service is required.

Lone Star Steakhouse – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Veterans and current military members will receive a Buy One Get One FREE entrée of their choice on Veterans Day. Dine-in only. Valid military ID is required to take advantage of this offer.

Max & Erma’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Free Best Cheeseburger in America Combo to all past & present U.S. military members. Includes choice of Tortilla Soup or side house salad, French Fries, and a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie. Dine-in only.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants – Sunday, November 10, 2013 – McCormick & Schmick’s is celebrating their 15th annual Veteran’s Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 10. Guests can choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée from the special Veterans Day menu: Salmon Rigatoni, Buttermilk Fried Shrimp, Cedar Planked or Grilled Salmon, Blackened Chicken Fettuccine, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Cashew Crusted Tilapia, Tender Beef Medallions, Romano Chicken Chopped Salad, or a McCormick’s Cheeseburger. Please show proof of military service.

O’Charley’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 – O’Charley’s is providing a free Veterans Day lunch or dinner for veterans and active military personnel with valid military ID. Choose any item from O’Charley’s $9.99′er menu. Please bring your military ID or proof of military service to take advantage of this offer.

The Olive Garden – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Olive Garden is offering a free entree on Veterans Day to all veterans and active duty military members. Choose from Seafood Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, Unlimited Soup Salad & Breadsticks, Braised Beef & Tortelloni, Cheese Ravioli, or Spaghetti & Meatballs. All entrees include garlic breadsticks and choice of homemade soup or garden-fresh salad.

Outback Steakhouse – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Outback Steakhouse is honoring America’s military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage on Monday, November 11. Plus, receive Outback’s Military Mate 10% discount on meals from November 12-December 31.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Enjoy a free Magnificent Seven meal on Veterans Day. Includes 2 eggs served the way you like, 3 buttermilk pancakes, and your choice of 2 bacon strips or 2 sausage links. Offer valid for veterans and active service members. Please bring valid ID or proof of military service.

The Pub at the Greene– As a thank you for their service, we are offering a 50% discount to all active & retired military members on 11/11(excludes alcohol).

Red Lobster – November 11-14, 2013 – Veterans and active military personnel get a free appetizer. Choose from Spicy Buffalo Chicken Bites, Lobster Pizza, Sweet Chili Shrimp, Crispy Calamari & Vegetables, Lobster Artichoke and Seafood Dip, Lobster Crab and Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms, Parrot Island Coconut Shrimp, Crispy Fried Green Beans, Mozzarella Cheesesticks, or Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail. Proof of military service is required to take advantage of this offer.

Red Robin – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Free Red’s Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries for all veterans and active military personnel. Valid military ID or proof of service is required to get this deal.

The Spaghetti Warehouse – November 10-11, 2013 – Buy One Get One FREE this Veterans Day Weekend. Choose Lasagne or any Original Spaghetti Entree. Both are served with sourdough bread and your choice of soup or salad. Available for either lunch or dinner. This offer is available to everyone, not just veterans and active military personnel.

Subway – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Many Subway restaurants are offering a free six inch sub to military veterans on Veterans Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer is only available in certain locations. Please contact your local Subway for more information regarding their specific Veterans Day specials.

Texas Roadhouse – Monday, November 11, 2013 – Free lunch or dinner for veterans and active military on Veterans Day. Hours are from 11:00AM-10:00PM. Choose from 10 free meals plus a side order and choice of beverage. Valid military ID required.

T.G.I. Friday’s – Monday, November 11, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Valid on select lunch menu items only. Proof of military service is required. Beverages are not included unless an eligible lunch combo is ordered. Offer includes a free entree & beverage.

Tim Hortons – Monday, November 11, 2013 – All Tim Hortons locations are offering a free doughnut to veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day. Of course, the Tim Hortons Star Spangled Donut is included! Not valid at Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada.

UNO Chicago Grill – Monday, November 11, 2013 – UNO offering a free entree or individual pizza with an entree or individual pizza purchase of equal or greater value. Offer good for all veterans and active duty service members with valid military ID.

If you know of any deals we’ve missed, please add them to the comment section below.

Harvest Party at Lily’s Bistro

November 7, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Just in time to help you plan your holiday entertaining, Lily’s Bistro in the Oregon District is throwing a casual tasting party on Thurs, Nov 14th from 6 -8pm. Lily’s General Manager Emily Mendenhall says, “this will be a fun, easy going way to try some wines, tasting can sometimes be stuffy, and that’s so nut us.”

They will be featuring six wines paired with six seasonal snacks that will allow you to find the perfect wine to serve at home for your celebrations. Staff will b on hand to help advise you on what wines will best compliment your holiday menu. Once you choose your favorites, you’ll even be able to purchase them right there at retail prices. You’ll want to pick up your ticket in advance, they are $30, and it’s a great excuse to stop by the bistro and treat yourself to lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch!

Here’s a tip from DaytonDining on knowing how much wine to have on hand for your holiday meal:

A safe rule of thumb is to figure that each guest will consume one to two drinks per hour. If you’re focused on wine and not serving cocktails before dinner, assume you’ll need enough for an hour of appetizers before dinner (in case that turkey takes a little time getting up to temperature or Aunt Mary arrives late.) Then consider years past: did dinner last 20 minutes and then everyone went back to the football game? Or did Uncle Bob tell stories for so long that everyone ended up eating third and fourth helpings? Are you day-drinkers (and eaters) or is dinner after sundown?

Multiply the number of hours you plan to entertain times the number of guests times two drinks per guest, and you’ve got the number of glasses of wine you might need. If you’re serving standard 750-mL bottles, it’s safe to assume you’ll get about four glasses per bottle, so divide your glass number by 4 to find out how many bottles you need.

Got that? Guests x hours x 2 = glasses.
Glasses / 4 = bottles.

So if you’re hosting eight people and planning to have a half hour of pre-dinner snacks followed by a dinner that lasts about an hour and a half, figure 8 people x 2 hours x 2 drinks per hour = 32 glasses / 4 glasses per bottle = 8 bottles.

DaytonMostMetro.com will be sending 2 guests to Lily’s Harvest Party. If you’d like to enter our random drawing to win, like and share this post and fill out the entry form below: [form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Restaurants open on Thanksgiving

November 7, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 2 Comments

If you are looking for a list of 2015 Restaurants open on Thanksgiving click here.

Do you want a nice dinner on Thanksgiving, but don’t want to spend time cooking and doing all the dishes yourself? Then take the family out to eat. Many restaurants even have a leftovers option so you can have a turkey sandwich later.

We are in the process of updating this list for 2013:

Carvers Steaks & Chops
1535 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton, OH 45459 (937) 433-7099 noon to 7pm
Traditional Turkey Dinner $19, Kids Meal is $12, regular menu also available

C’est Tout Bistro 2600 Far Hills Avenue, Kettering (937) 298-0022 noon – 6pm
Three Courses for $28, choice of 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts, reservations suggested

Champps Restaurant and Bar
7880 Washington Village Drive, Washington Twp. (937) 433-2333 noon to 10 pm
regular menu and traditional Thanksgiving meal, $18.99 per person, reservations accepted.

Cracker Barrel
5770 Wilmington Pike, Centerville, (937) 432-2431, 6am – 10pm
7171 Miller Lane, Butler Twp, (937) 890-0047; 6am to 10 pm
Turkey and traditional sides. No reservations taken

Giuliano’s Tavern
67 S. Main Street, Miamisburg (937) 859-3000 11:30 to 7pm
Serving fresh roasted turkey, dressing, giblet gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, vegetable/salad, homemade pumpkin pie and homemade southern pecan pie.
Many popular entrees from our regular menu will also be available, reservations accepted

Golden Corral
2490 Commons Boulevard, Beavercreek (937)431-7300 10am – 8pm,
8870 Kingsridge Drive, Dayton Mall (937)312-2400 10am – 8pm
6611 Miller Lane, Vandalia (937)264-3300 10am – 8pm
Turkey and traditional sides. No Reservations. $12.99, not including tax or beverage.

Hasty Tasty
509 Linden Ave., Dayton, (937) 254-8431; 5 am to 6 pm
Thanksgiving dinner specials, no reservations. Cost: $8.95, includes dessert.

Max & Erma’s
3 area locations: Miller Lane, Fairfield Commons, Springboro 11am – midnight
Thanksgiving Dinner $14.99 includes turkey, mashed potatoes, apple pecan stuffing, side of green beans, cranberry sauce and choice of salad or soup and slice of pumpkin cheesecake.

McCormick and Schmick’s
4429 Cedar Park Drive at The Greene, Beavercreek (937) 431-9200 noon to 8 pm
regular menu and Thanksgiving meal, which runs $24.95, reservations suggested

Mimi’s Cafe
4402 Walnut St. in The Greene in Beavercreek, (937) 426-9153; 8am – 8pm
regular menu and traditional Thanksgiving dinner, reservations accepted

Neil’s Heritage House
2323 W. Schantz Ave, Kettering, OH (937) 298-8611 Seatings at noon, 3pm and 6pm
A fantastic buffet of traditional thanksgiving favorites and a few modern twists:
Turkey & Ham, cornbread, sausage and pecan dressing, roasted brussel sprouts, grean bean casserole, corn pudding, pear and bleu cheese salad, macaroni -n- cheese, cheddar mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, rolls, pumpkin pecan and apple pie. Cost: $28.95 adults $15 kids under 4 free

Starlite Restaurant & Diner
2627 South Smithville Road, Dayton OH (937) 254-5000 open 7am -9pm
Offering their regular menu.

The Barnsider
5202 North Main Street, Dayton, OH 45415 (937) 277.1332 noon – 7pm
Traditional Thanksgiving dinner, $15.95 adults, Children 10 and under $8.95
Reservations welcomed

Wellington Grille

2450 Dayton Xenia Road, Beavercreek (937) 426-4600 | Noon to 6pm
Traditional meal, plus regular items. Reservations Recommended

Young’s Jersey Dairy Golden Jersey Inn
6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd. (U.S. 68), Yellow Springs, (937) 324-2050. 10:30 am to 6 pm seating every 90 minutes. Traditional Thanksgiving buffet including turkey, ham, sides, and desserts. Reservations required. Adults $20.95, children 4-10 $8.95, children 3 and under free.

Also don’t forget the Community Feast of Giving at the Dayton Convention Center:

An event that reaches out to bring the entire community together. It is a dinner, a celebration, a community event based on the following principles:
• To provide a dinner for anyone that might be spending the holiday alone.
• To provide a dinner for those that are homeless or less fortunate.
• To provide a dinner for anyone who wants to attend.

• 11am – 2pm
• No tickets required

Additional Information:
This year there will be Free RTA and Project Mobility Transportation from 9:30am until 3pm. Call 937-425-8300 for RTA information. There will also be free parking in the convention center garage.

If you know of others, feel free to add in the comments below or contact me with more info.

Christopher’s Hosts Autumn Wine Tasting Party

November 2, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby 2 Comments

On Friday, November 8th Christopher’s Restaurant, located at 2318 E. Dorothy Lane in Kettering, will host an evening of wine, hors d’oeuvres and house music from 9:30 to 11:30pm. Tim Creekmur from Allied Wine will act as sommelier and local electronic artist Ritchie Pritch with Deep House will keep things lively.

The evening promises a casual, relaxing atmosphere with a wide selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Marishah Paddock. Either skip dinner, or eat lite and early, as you’ll want to sample some of these delicacies along with a flight of 6 wines from the autumn wine list. The menu will include vegetarian and gluten free items as well as wine table classics.

This event is drop-in style, so feel free to arrive anytime between 9:30 and 11:00. $17/person or $30/pair includes 6 short pours, food, coffee and tea. Those who’d like to attend but skip the wine tasting can enjoy everything else for $8/person. Beer and wine will be available by the glass/bottle as well. Beer and wine selections will be available by the glass/bottle as well.

Dayton’s Party of Parties is this Saturday Night!

October 16, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

The AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio) has been hosting Masquerage since 2002. Over the years the event has morphed from a fun dance party attended by a couple of hundred guests in masks, to an event so grand Ron Rollins of the Dayton Daily News nicknamed it Dayton’s Party of Parties in 2009. Each year it seems to get bigger with the last two years attendance hovering around the thousand mark. The theme, which was revealed in August at the theme release party, is Once Upon A Time. Guests are required to have a mask, but if the trend of the last few years holds true, the majority of party attenders will be in costume. In my opinion, that’s perhaps the best part of the event, watching all the people and seeing how they interpret the theme. Masquerage 2013 Chair Denise Swick has declared “this year the event will be sexier than ever, but more than that, we’ll be raising funds for an organization that saves lives in our community.”

2012 Welcome Cocktails

After 4 years at the Roundhouse, Masquerage is moving, but just a few hundred yards away to the Coliseum at the Fairground, located at 1043 S. Main Street, just across from Miami Valley Hospital. Event decor wizard Chris Newman, a designer and decorative painter by trade, says the move to the Coliseum has given me a whole new palate to create from. And as I write this, Chris is hard at work, leading a volunteer crew through the creation of what he calls the enchanted forest, which will be the first thing general admission guest see upon arrival. Guests will be greeted with a welcoming cocktail, courtesy of Jagermeister. Nonstop entertainment, dancing, appetizers courtesy of Fusian and Scratch event catering are all included in the $50 general admission tickets. The $50 also represents the cost for ARC Ohio to administer one quick response HIV Test, made available for free for anyone in our community to be tested.

For those looking for the VIP experience, you’ll want to splurge on a Red Ribbon Lounge ticket for $200. These guests will have their own entrance this year, along with valet parking by Lexus of Dayton. You’ll experience all that comes with general admission as well as have the opportunity to have a free mask painted on from 5-8pm at The Carousel House on the Fairgrounds or from 8-10pm at the event. Their will be a cocktail fountain, snacks from Salar, open bar, a fortune teller to tell you about your happily ever after as well as the coveted Swag Bag.

Guests will be entertained by The Rubi Girls, a tradition at Masquerage and the original visionary’s of Masquerage. Also this year Amanda Punchfuk will open the party with a production number, sure to be over the top. Zoot Theater Company and the Dayton’s Annual Tranylvanian Convention, as well as a few surprises as well. A silent auction will include a Jagermeister machine, Fred Myers Jewelry, beer tastings, restaurant gift certificates, tickets to the arts and much more.

Tickets for Masquerage can be purchased online, or pick up your tickets at Lexus of Dayton, Ghostlight Coffee, Square One Salons or Clash Consighnment. If you’d like to support ARC Ohio, but can’t attend, consider purchasing a raffle ticket for the Cinderella Raffle. Winner will have their choice of 4 months of house cleaning from Eco Maids of Dayton or 4 pairs of shoes from Itegritas. A second winner be picked to claim the remaining prize. Tickets are $10 each or 3 for $20 and can be purchased online or at Masquerage.

(And in the spirit of total disclosure- I am the event producer for Masquerage).