Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
Think you’ve seen everything the Cincy Region has to offer? Think again! Beyond the well-known attractions lies a world of quirky, off-the-beaten-path museums that are sure to surprise you – and maybe even creep you out a bit. From ventriloquist dummies to an entire exhibit dedicated to neon signs, these museums offer a unique glimpse into the Cincy Region’s culture, history and charm.
Mudlick Tap House has announced the opening of a brand-new location in Uptown Centerville, kicking off with a series of soft openings beginning July 29th. This move marks the next chapter in Mudlick Tap House’s journey — one that started in Germantown, OH, grew into downtown Dayton, and now continues with an exciting evolution in Centerville.
The new location builds on everything guests have come to love about Mudlick Tap House: made-from-scratch pub fare, craft cocktails, and an atmosphere that invites you to relax, connect, and stay awhile. With a refreshed setting, we’re bringing the same passion and purpose to this next phase of our story.
To celebrate, we’re launching three weeks of soft openings, each one benefiting a local nonprofit close to our hearts:
Each of these organizations reflects values we hold dear — animal welfare, youth development, and equine therapy — and we’re honored to support and share their missions as we welcome guests into our new space.
At the same time, our downtown Dayton location continues to play an important role in the Mudlick Tap House st ory and the downtown community. We’re now accepting private event bookings through the end of 2025, offering a familiar and flexible space for corporate events, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, and more.
“Mudlick Tap House began as a small gastropub in Germantown, moved into downtown Dayton as we grew, and now we’re excited to bring that same spirit to Uptown Centerville,” said Jennifer Williams. “Each step of the way, our community has been at the heart of it all — and that’s something that will never change.”
Follow them on social for grand opening updates, or to inquire about downtown event bookings, please visit our website at www.mudlicktaphouse.com.
110 W Franklin Street
Centerville, OH 45459
Will be open Tues- Sun
hours to be determined.
The Mexican restaurant located inside La Poblanita Mexican Market opened quietly a couple of months ago. With a menu chocked full of authentic Mexican dishes with the specialty of the house being Tacos Al Pastor De Trompo, and Ceviche Tostadas. The menu is vast and starts with 5 appetizer selections, burritos, volcanes tacos, tortas, seafood, a section from the grill, kids selections, desserts and a full bar. It’s very reasonably priced with most entrees from $12 – 16 and portions that were quite large. I ended up taking home half my burrito it was so big and filling.
Friday through Sunday they also offer a Caldo de Camaron, Menudo, Caldo de Res, Tamales and Pozole.
Sharing a few food pictures:
Quesabirria
Steak Burrito
Taquitos
La Poblanita Mexican Restaurant
located in the back of the market.
Open 7 days a week
9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Tickets are now on sale for the 5th annual Artini to be held on from 6 – 8pm on Thursday, August 21st in the Rotunda of the Dayton Arcade. Culture Works’ unique friend and fundraiser that celebrates the fusion of art and mixology by featuring art-inspired cocktails and mocktails.
Local Mixologists work from an inspiration piece of art from a local artist to create a tasty “Artini.” Enjoy live music, delectable appetizers, engaging arts experiences, and local artwork for sale, while exploring the best drinks that art can inspire. Your ticket also affords you a vote to select the winning bartender. You decide which mixologist has captured the essence of the artwork in both a cocktail and a mocktail.
Confirmed Participants include: Coco’s Bistro, Fifth Street Brewpub and Wheat Penny, with more to be added.
General Admission tickets – $55 includes five drink tickets
VIP tickets – $65 includes early access at 5:30pm and a bonus drink ticket
Tickets can be purchased online. Cash bar available for beer and wine.
Questions? Interested in sponsoring Artini? Call 937-222-ARTS or email [email protected].
Grist has just announced an upcoming four part summer dinner series they’ll be hosting this summer. You can book just one or all four. On each night you’ll have your choice of seatings, either at 5 pm and 7:45 pm. You also have the option to add a wine pairing for each dinner for $45. Due to the nature of the event they are unable to accommodate modifications to the menu and cannot guarantee the ability to accommodate allergies. Reservations can be made online.
Here are the dates and menus to be featured:
July 14th Ferment and Fire
First Course
Fermented Plum and Duck Salad
Dressed chicory and frisee, coal-kissed stone fruit, fermented plum & mirin vinaigrette, duck skin crackling
Thibault Ducroux, Fleurie, Gamay, France*
Second Course
Coal Roasted Beet Agnolotti
Cultured cream, fennel pollen, burnt orange kosho, braised beet greens
Poggisecco, Chianti, Italy*
Third Course
Wood-Fired Eggplant & Short Rib
Grilled eggplant, seared and braised beef short rib, chunky hao pan jus, blistered shishito relish, rice grits
Muriel, Rioja Gran Reserva, Spain*
Fourth Course
Cornmeal Shortcake & Stone Fruit
Peach Curd, fermented stone preserves, fermented honey marshmallow crème, hibiscus powder
Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco (NV) Italy*
Course 2
Zucchini & Green Onion Cappalletti
Sheep milk ricotta, pecorino crumb, nasturtium, Meyer lemon gel
Colleleva, Verdicchio dei Castelli, Italy*
Course 3
Citrus-Cured Halibut
Lovage panade, toasted farro, shaved pole bean salad, herb pistou
Henri Perrusset, Macon Villages, Chardonnay, France*
Course 4
Verbena Panna Cotta
Sparkling grapes, verjus gel, pistachio tuile
Honeymoon, Pares Balta, Parellada, Spain*
Second Course
Shellfish Campanelle
Charred fennel, saffron, tomato-sambuca butter, clams, mussels & crab
Gaintza Txakolina, Hondarrabi Zuri, Spain*
Third Course
Smoked Eggplant Pici
Basil oil, almond & caper gremolata, purslane, pickled garlic scape
Raeburn Chardonnay, USA*
Fourth Course
Garganelli
Sweet corn & truffle foam, braised pork ragù, chow chow crumble
Gran Passione, Rosso Appassimento, Merlot, Italy*
Second Course
Corn Ricotta Gnudi
Butter, roasted peach & white balsamic vinaigrette, crushed Marcona almond, baby sage
Mont Gravet, Rose, France*
Third Course
Lamb Saddle Roulade
Tender chard, crispy pancetta, summer beans, blistered tomato, garlic scape & mint gremolata, black fig gastrique
Spinelli, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy*
Fourth Course
Olive Oil Genoise
Macerated berries, goat’s milk gelato, lavender meringue
Talosa, Toscana, Italy*
GristCulver’s, a Wisconsin based chain, is known for cooking your food only after you order it. Whether it’s a burger, chicken sandwich, or fish dinner, it’s prepared fresh, not sitting under a heat lamp. Famous for its ButterBurgers, which are made with fresh, never frozen Midwest beef, seared to order and served on a lightly buttered, toasted bun.
Culver’s offers rich, creamy frozen custard made fresh in each restaurant throughout the day. It’s denser and smoother than ice cream, with flavors that rotate daily and include, caramel turtle, dark chocolate decadence, salted double caramel pecan, mint cookie and so many more.. You can get this frozen treat in a cone, waffle cone or dish.
Beside burger and custard, you’ll find hand-battered North Atlantic cod, crispy chicken and pot roast sandwiches, corn dogs, fried shrimp, hearty soups, salads, and sides and Wisconsin cheese curds—a fan favorite! There a variety of sides to compliment your meal, including fries, onion rings, pretzel bites, chilli, broccoli, coleslaw, loaded chili fries as well as mashed potatoes and gravy.
Today’s opening of the Culver’s in West Carrollton is the third location for the chain, joining the Dayton location on Miller Lane, and the Troy eatery, on West Main Street.
“This is more than a restaurant opening — it’s a moment that marks real progress in the River District and what’s to come,” said West Carrollton Mayor Rick Barnhart. “We are excited to welcome Culver’s and celebrate this important milestone with the community. It’s a proud day for West Carrollton and a sign of the great momentum building throughout our city.”
The West Carrollton Culver’s is owned by Jim DiVerde and Chuck Martin, partners in the Illinois-based MD Restaurant Group. Claudio Zeledón Guzman is the owner/operator. Culver’s is known for its ButterBurgers and fresh frozen custard. This restaurant is the first business to open in theRiver District development, a $75 million project that includes retail, dining, entertainment, a hotel, and public recreation spaces.
Culver’s
1100 East Dixie Drive
West Carrollton, OH 45449
(937) 388-8051
Open daily
10 am to 11 pm
Emily Collins, the proprietor of The Root Beer Stande on Woodman, is celebrating her 17th anniversary of owning the business this Friday, July 11th. In sharing her story about acquiring the business she she told us she graduated from Stivers School for the Arts, left Dayton to attend Ohio University, where she received a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree. Upon graduation she returned to Dayton and struggled to find a job where she could use her degree. So she taught part time and worked in the food industry, as she had through high school and college. Her dad, who ran Klosterman Bakery came home one day told her the stand was for sale. Always wanting to own her own business, Emily decided she’d buy the place. So she went to the bank and says they looked at her like she was a crazy 24 year old, but suggested she put a business plan together.
Hank’s Burger
It took her almost a year working with the SBA and in 2008 she actually bought the business from Alex Fabrick. What she didn’t realize is that the business was in bad shape. So she started making repairs as she could and marketing the Stande to attract new business. She upgraded the menu, expanding from just hot doge fries and onion rings. She added Hank’s Hearty Burgers Made with Love, Hand-pattied 1/4 pound Angus burger including her favorite, the mushroom swiss burger.
She told us they currently sell about 800 hotdogs a week, with the Foot Long being their #1 seller, followed closely by The Dirty D- a Bacon wrapped, deep fried dog, smothered with chili, mustard, onions and cheese. They also have a pizza menu and added the Sno Shack a couple of years ago.
As part of the 17th anniversary celebration they will have footlongs buy one; get one for $1.17. Hanks burgers and dogs are $7.17. Hank’s burgers will be the deal of the day today. Your choice of a hand crafted burger, fries, and a drink for $12.99. We suggest a frosty mug of Rootbeer.Emily invites everyone to come celebrate on July 11th, noting “we wouldn’t have made it this long without you!” She also credits her employees for helping her business succeed. She says she still has many of the same ones she hired 17 years that were in their teens then and now are mother’s working part time.
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Ben & Jerry’s kicked off National Ice Cream Month by introducing three brand-new ice cream flavors.
The new additions include a marshmallow-packed flavor with cookie pieces and fudge shavings, and two indulgent non-dairy options. The Vermont-based ice cream brand behind so many cult-favorite flavors, such as Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey, is constantly churning out bigger and bolder flavors that keep us coming back for more. And now, to kick off National Ice Cream Month, Ben & Jerry’s is releasing three new flavors—but you’ll only find them in its Scoop Shops.
A few weeks ago, Ben & Jerry’s dropped an all-new flavor, UltraViolet, featuring purple-hued vanilla ice cream, They describe this flavor as “vanilla ice cream, gooey marshmallow swirls, gluten-free chocolate cookies and fudge flakes.”
Now, it’s adding two more flavors to the shop-exclusive lineup: Non-Dairy Mochaccino Chip and Non-Dairy Strawberry Swirl.
The Mochaccino Chip has a non-dairy chocolate-coffee base swirled with caramel and studded with fudge flakes. It’s bold, creamy, and delivers a sweet hit of caffeine to help you beat the summer heat. Enjoy it in a cup, cone, or as a shake.
The Strawberry Swirl, on the other hand, is a celebration of summer’s favorite fruit. It features non-dairy strawberry ice cream with ribbons of strawberry swirl that can be taken up a notch in a Strawberry Swirl Sundae that gets drizzled with marshmallow sauce, strawberry cookie crumble, and whipped cream—all dairy-free.
It’s back—and bigger than ever. Join us for the 3rd Annual Crab Rangoon Eating Contest at Loose Ends Brewing.
Last year’s champ crushed 42 rangoons. Think you’ve got what it takes to beat that number and walk away a Rangoon legend?
🥢 Contestants take on our house-made crab rangoons + signature sweet chili sauce
🏆 Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
🍻 Cold beer + full menu for spectators
🎉 Come early—contest starts at 5PM sharp!
Flashfood is an app that partners with grocery stores to sell surplus food at a discounted rate. We’re talking up to 50% off on items ranging from fresh produce to bakery goods. The app is designed to help reduce food waste while saving you some serious cash.
Using Flashfood is a breeze. You simply download the app, enter your location, and a list of participating stores pops up. Seems Meijer is the biggest local partner From there, you can browse daily deals and snag whatever catches your eye. Be aware many of the items have a short shelf life, likely why they are discounted. After purchasing through the app, you just swing by the store to pick up your items near the customer service desk. Be sure and check back often, deals change daily.
Beyond personal savings, Flashfood plays a part in a larger movement to tackle food waste. By supporting this app, you’re joining a community that values sustainability and smart consumption. It’s about making small changes that collectively make a big difference.
Save $5 on your first purchase:
Once you download the app you can get $5 off your first purchase of $7 or more when you use my code: Lisa70857. In full disclosure, I’ll get $5 off my next purchase when you use this code. Once you’ve done this, you to can get you code to share the savings.
Downtown has a new lunch option, as Teardrop Steakhouse , which opened earlier this month, reveals their lunch menu, which will b served Tuesdy- Sunday from 11am – 2pm at the eatery on First Street.
Teardrop has also announced their version of happy hour that will be offered from 4 – 7pm Tuesday through Friday.
Chef Jay has also posted some more budget friendly nightly meal specials.
It was fifteen years ago this week that Dan Apolito, Mike Fullenkamp, and Scott Dorsten openend Archer’s Taven in Centerville. They are going all out with a week long celebration, bringing back classic food favorites, as well as offering discounted alcohol Monday through Friday until 9pm. They will also be celebrating with all the same specials at the Kettering location, which is just 9 years old.
Speaking with Apolito, who’s had a long career in the hospitality business, working for Applebee’ before he opened his own place shared who he’s “learned how important local restaurant are to the local community. We supply jobs, provide a place for people to gather, celebrate and connect and communities are often identified by the businesses that operate within them.” He’s proud to support the Miami Valley and many of the nonprofits with fundraiser they host at Archer’s.
Here are the special menu’s they’ll be featuring”
anniversary specials
They’ll end the week celebrating with their annual crawfish boil on Saturday. With crawfish flown in from Louisiana, Gumbo, and beer specials, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Starting at 2pm Saturday at Centerville only, $10/plate. If you make it to your 3rd plate that will be just $5/plate and you can fill up as many plates as you can eat, until they sell out.
Apollito also owns the Stone House Tavern in Waynesville and he tell us Waynesville has just created a DORA there so you can sip and shop your way down Main Street. They feature live music on the patio every Thursday.
Is your dining budget feeling challenged this summer? Sonic’s $1.99 menu gives you lots of affordable dining options. It feature its Queso Wraps in both Bacon Ranch and Southwest Crunch flavors, French Toast Sticks, Groovy Fries, and floats made with Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, Barq’s Root Beer, or Fanta. Sonic also added the Jr. Chicken Sandwiches in both Original and Honey Chipotle flavors for just $1.99. It’s also good to know that many area Sonic’s serve from 8am – midnight. So
In addition to the refreshed $1.99 menu, Sonic has also changed some of its sauces—and added two new ones.
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Sonic is changing its Ranch, Honey Mustard, and BBQ Sauce to make them more flavorful and bolder, as well as adding two new sauces to menus: Jalapeño Ranch and Asian-Style Sweet Chili
The Jalapeño Ranch is a creamy ranch sauce with herbs and a hint of spicy green jalapeño, while the Asian-Style Sweet Chili is a sweet-and-spicy sauce made with soy, sesame, garlic, and ginger.
2890 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH 45419
8am – 1am
Hoofprints mission is to transform lives through the unique relationship between horses and humans, fostering physical, emotional, and behavioral growth through equine assisted activities. Located in Miamisburg, offer programs for kids (8 years and up), teenagers, adults, couples, and families.
HoofPrints offers Equine Assisted Mental Wellness; this experiential learning goes beyond traditional ‘talk therapy.’ It gives support to traditional clinical counseling. Students will interact with the horses in their own environment around the farm. These non-riding activities allow true bonding between horses and humans. They understand that horses can unlock potential and give insight to ones self. Our Facilitators are Licensed Mental Health Professionals and hold several Equine Assisted Activities Certifications.
Thanks to a generous donor, they are lowering their program fees for the Summer of 2025! Rather than offering single scholarships, we decided to apply scholarship dollars to every family
Their Horsin’ Around program is for all kids ages 8+. The kids will be playing games with the horses and well, just Hangin’ Around with each other. It’s an excellent time to get them outside and get connected. It is also a perfect time to bring a friend who is curious about HoofPrints.
Horses Healing Humans will be facilitated by certified grief counselors from Life, Grief & Co. These grief specialists understand that each person uniquely experiences grief. We are offering two sessions: one for youth and one for adults. Regardless of where you are in your grief of a loved one, we hope that you will find some peace after sharing yourself with our horses.
For more info, check out the website.
If you’re not already an Aldi shopper, be sure and explore The “Aldi Aisle of Shame.” It’s a playfully curated section where shoppers can find weekly finds on a variety of items from home good and clothing to tools and seasonal items at very low prices. New items are usually introduced on Wednesday in the Ohio stores.
Two semi-trucks full of chicken. Up to 16,000 halves grilled in a single day. One epic goal: World domination… by chicken.
Get Your Chicken On:
We do sell out—come early!
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Festival Vibes: Music, Art & Party Central 
Fan Favorite Alert: The VAPPA “Pit Potato” is back, paired with that famous hand-squeezed lemonade and its very own catchy jingle. Trust us—you’ll be humming it all weekend.
5K Run/Walk – Sat at 8 AM (Register now!) FREE Chicken Eating Contest
FREE FFA Petting Zoo
FREE Family Fun Zone
FREE Entertainment all weekend
Parade Marshals Diane and Larry Prenger invite you to the Grand Parade Saturday at 11:am.
Registration starts at 9 AM at S. Center & W. Ward.
No age limit on vehicles—if it rolls, it rolls!
Calling All 7-14 Year Olds!
Ultimate Frisbee Turns 43:
Vendor Zone + Fun Galore:
Mark Your Calendars:
Full schedule at VersaillesPoultryDays.com
Follow us on Facebook for live updates
Questions? Hit us up at [email protected]
