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I feel happy of myself…

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The bike is a great way to get to lots of downtown destinations

(Note: Thanks to Five Rivers MetroParks pal Valerie Beerbower for a little extra inspiration and the title this article. See video below for insights.)

As you know, on my first day of this adventure I was not at my best. A very promising start got me a little cocky about the ease of bus riding and I let down my guard. Okay – so you can’t just show up at the bus stop and hope a bus is there within 5 minutes each time. Lesson learned –  when busing, I will respect the time table.

Today, I added the bike into the mix. As I’ve shared, I’m not what you would call an expert biker. I actually imagine that this is what I look like to observers seeing me cruise by. (AND I really want a basket.)

So, what is a muppet to do? Fake it!

Where am I?

Morning commute: I coasted to the bus stop right by my house and waited the few minutes until my bus arrived – clean, pretty empty (maybe 8 people?) and on-time. Got my bike on the bike rack easy breezy. (But I probably would have been confused if I wasn’t a nerd who appreciates a good how-to video; I recommend watching it if you’re going to bring your bike on the bus.) Traveled to a stop about 3/4 mile from work where I hopped off the bus and hopped on the bike. Enjoyed the smell of fresh cut grass the last few minutes of the trip. Total travel time – 15 minutes. Are you kidding me? It takes 10 minutes to drive. It’s another good start to the day.

Lunch errands: This is when the appreciation for bike riding really hit. I had to travel the 1 mile into downtown to drop something off, I wanted to buy my tickets to the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus concert (save $5/ticket by buying in advance), and I had to pick up lunch.

Quick stop for lunch

I headed out of my work parking lot and there goes another biker gliding by. We give the obligatory nod/smile (which translates to “look at us out here being awesome while all those people are still in their cars” or maybe it just means “hi,” but I’m taking it to mean I’m part of a club now). And since he’s going in my direction, I follow behind.And I quickly lose speed. And although I’m trying to follow all the rules (riding in the street, signalling turns, etc) – I realize that I’m not the kind of biker that cars can feel confident near. I know you “real” bikers will be disgusted with me, but I cheated. I rode on some sidewalks. Some of it was to make me feel safer, some of it was to let the cars know that I wasn’t going to topple into their line of traffic, and some of it was because it was convenient. But, however I got there – I did get there  – and it was better on a bike!

Shopping cart on the Merc - a sight you don't see speeding by in a car.

  • Errand one: Locked up right in front of the Key Bank building (which you can’t do in a car).
  • Errand two: The box office was moved to the Victoria Theater due to an event in the Schuster Center, so I unlocked, coasted the 2 blocks down Main and locked up again right in front of the theater (another one you can’t do in a car).
  • Lunch: the lovely day inspired me to hit Second Street Market for some yummy carry-out.

Total distance: 3 miles.  Total elapsed time: 45 minutes.

And I loved it! And I appreciated going slowly enough to enjoy the sunshine and cool art in windows and the general city sights. But I know myself well enough to know why I really loved it – it’s an easy ride. Dayton is FLAT.  Sure, getting to the central business district is easy from every direction, but going away from the CBD means you’re riding up hill no matter which direction you’re heading. But there’s a great 3 mile (ish) area right across downtown that is flat and easy. So, I bus into town – bike around town – and bus home. It’s perfect for the non-athlete. Plus, the bus schedules being what they are – my errands are on my time.

The doorstep of the UD campus is as far as I go. Since my Hills and Dales experience, I take Far HILLS seriously.

So, next up – after the end of a work day, I coast over to an RTA stop that will take me directly home. That’s the beauty of the bike. Normally, I would catch the convenient stop right in front of work. But with two wheels, going a different direction for about a mile makes a lot of sense to bypass the need for a transfer. And when I got there – I kept going! It was a nice day. I had on a decent pair of shoes. I just kept rolling right along until I could roll on flat land no longer. Chilled on a nice stop with a bench and waited for my bus.

Evening Activities: And guess what? It’s my wedding anniversary! Me and my guy had dinner plans to check out the new Meadowlark location. He offered to drive, but since this is the definition of “for better or for worse,” he rode along with me.  Straight shot there and back. First bus was about five minutes late, but on a nice day hanging out with good company – that’s no big deal. Now, I did have to keep an eye on my watch a little more than I would have if we would have had a car in the parking lot, but the way the schedule worked, we got there around 7 and were able to enjoy a couple hours of dinner and drinks before being outside to catch the next bus. Not too bad at all! And the final bus back home? Just fine.

So, overall: a very nice carless day. I will grant you that the weather was ideal and I can’t count on that all the time, but I was happy to enjoy it. Days like today make me think I can do this more often. I’m going to have to experiment more with RTA and my bike, but if the weather is right, the financial cost isn’t too much, and the schedule is open – I could make this a thing once or twice a week. I’m giving two thumbs up (for today) to the RTA/bike combo. We’ll see what tomorrow brings, but for today – I feel happy of myself. Rock and roll…

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cSyG8&feature=player_embedded’]

Night of the Living Dead …. in Dayton?

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Yes you read right! Tomorrow at midnight The Oregon District will be swarming with zombies. Don’t be frightened it’s for a good cause. The Dayton Zombie Walk Zombies should gather at the parking lot by Omega Music on East Fifth Street.

DMM's Shana Douglas, Zombie-Style

If you need help with your makeup, a pre-party at Vex on at 4th and St. Clair hosted by Foy’s will be held for dead things to prepare themselves to crawl The Oregon. For Zombies who want to dance the night away there is also a  after party. See flyer. Makeup artists and other experts will be onsite from 7:30 to 10:30. If your skilled enough to do your own makeup, stop by Foy’s for the best supplies.  It’s where I go .. to get my Zombie Face on.  Yes, that’s me.

Zombies apparently are also philanthropists, well tomorrow they are. A canned and nonperishable food drive for the Dayton Food Bank will also be part of the night’s festivities so if you’re walking you can also bring your donations to the post-walk party at Vex. If you’re a Zombie, you have no use for canned goods anyway so you might as well hand them over. Stick to flesh, there are people in need.

In 2009, the Zombie Walk in Dayton was rather a small affair with only about 30 Zombies gathering. Since, the event has grown dramatically and 500 are expected to walk here in Dayton. How cool is Dayton? Young Professional friendly and Zombie friendly. It doesn’t get much better than that.

So, come out and be free with your undead self. If you’re relatively scared of dead things, consider yourself warned because if you’re partying in The Oregon tomorrow night you’ll have company. More information can be found http://www.daytonzombiewalk.com

Oh, and hey..bring you’re little dead things. The Zombie walk is stroller friendly. 🙂


You had me at “hello” (and lost me at “goodbye”)

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You can’t escape karma. It’s true. I’m guilty of trying.

We’re all busy people; we all have volunteer organizations, meetings and committees to attend on top of work requirements. But when I first starting planning for this little adventure, I conveniently planned all my “extra-curriculars” outside of this week.

Until karma slapped me with an 8 AM meeting, the need to drop off some files at a satellite location, and a couple additional errands. So much for just going to work and home.

But you know what – that’s life. And this week is my life on the bus.

So, I woke up earlier than I like to catch the pre-7 AM bus from my home in the ‘burbs to get downtown.  Got off at my transfer site right on time, and after a short wait, jumped on the second bus to arrive at my meeting by 7:40. Good start! Unfortunately, due to an “alternating route,” I couldn’t use the same stop when heading back into the city, but I had prepared for that (thanks to the nice dude on the bus who gave me the warning) and I packed the flip-flops just in case a little walking was required.

Things got a little more tricky once I got back downtown. I took a quick jaunt over to Kettering Tower from the Wright Plaza hub to deliver some files. A slight change in the schedule makes a major difference; now my timing was off. I made it back to the hub and realized that I had just missed the bus that would take me to work. Thought process: I can sit for 25 minutes and wait or I can walk the mile to the office. Thank God for the flip-flops. I was hoping to see a yellow bike, but alas – no relief. So, I walked until I made it back to the office. Just then I started to realize that, although comfy, flip-flops are not the walking shoes of choice.

Waiting for the bus, your mind can wander. After this stop I had Feist's "One, Two, Three, Four..." on my mind for a while.

Overall, I was really pleased with my morning. Safe, reliable transportation. Friendly people. Good times. However, at lunch I had to run an errand which was about 3/4 mile from work – not so far that the bus is needed, but I really didn’t want to walk it.  My boss (thanks, boss!) kindly offered to “carpool” to help me out, but I’m trying to stick with the spirit of the adventure and see if I can make it happen. Not in a walking mood (although Kristen is inspiring me*), I grabbed the bus right outside my office for the short trip. Errand done, I had time to kill and lunch to eat. So – I headed into Yummy Burger. And what did I have?

Thai food, of course (and it was yummy). Here, friends, is a benefit of going car-less. If I had run my errand with my car, I most likely would have gone to a more familiar (and further away) place for lunch. But being that convenience was key, I tried something new and it paid off. Plus – I killed just the right amount of time to grab my bus back to the office for a less than 60 minute lunch hour. Sweet!

All is sunshine and roses. Good travel day, good work day. Time to pack up a bit after 5 PM. I shut down and head out to the ever-so-convenient bus stop right outside work, and I notice that I’m walking out 1 minute after the bus is supposed to be there. Please, God, let it be 2 minutes late. It wasn’t.

I know, I know – you warned me that I need to be early for the bus. But here’s the catch. In the morning – that’s okay – I’m only cheating myself out of sleep. But at lunch or in the evening, there’s not as much flexibility. Because for every extra minute I get to the bus stop early, that’s a minute I’m taking away from something else.

Patience is a virtue, but it’s not one of mine. I sit at my bus stop and review all my little maps to determine if there’s a different bus or different route near by I could still catch. I call the RTA line, but no one answers after 5:30 PM. Finally, the next bus came (after I’ve walked a good long way to find a bus stop with a bench).  This bus takes me to my transfer stop, but the schedule is off now and I just missed my bus home and have to wait another 45 minutes. AUGH!

After all my crazy planning, THESE are my shoe options for Day 1?!?

Luckily, there’s a bar with a fine patio down from the stop. But my once-smart idea to pack some flip-flops proves not good enough and I’m wishing I had some better walking shoes. So, after a drink and flipping through a

couple local newspapers, I make my way out and wait the final 15 minutes for the bus. Which takes me 4 blocks from my house – a convenience I was really excited about early in the day, but had lost its luster after the end of the day. I make it into the house 1 hour and 50 minutes after walking out of work (usually a 15 minute drive).

So – what did I learn after one day? If you can work within the time schedules – the people are nice, the routes are convenient, and the bus can work out pretty well. But as soon you miss that one bus, plans go out the window and it’s tough to get back on track. I’ll also claim some “user error” on this one. But that’s why it’s a week adventure and I’m not giving up after a day.

Up next, my bike is coming with me on the bus. I am *hoping* that this results in the best of both worlds – convenient rides for the distances and quick trips for the errands. Famous last words…

* Reference to the lovely Kristen Wicker and her piece on walking as a primary means of Dayton travel. Check it out!

Once Upon a Time – Where the Unrealistic Expectations Began.

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Over the years I’ve held onto some pretty intense grandiose expectations of love and relationships. The hopeless romantic in me has sent me on voyage of unmet fantasies. Now, with most things I would tend to feel that I am unique and that others aren’t as delusional as me but fortunately I have friends who are just as misguided about love as I am.  How can this be? When did it all begin? I didn’t grow up with June and Ward Cleaver that’s for sure so my parents or upbringing had nothing to do with it. I’m sure my mother will read this and be ecstatic that I’m not blaming them for this too. No it wasn’t my family or watching my parents marriage so what really lead to my thinking that “Happily Ever After” involved a night shining armor and lifetime of singing birds, candy and roses?  

I wondered about this for a few days as I found myself once again with a head riddled with wild fantasies.  Then started to think about the movies I’ve loved throughout the years, the books that have had me enthralled for weeks, the shows on TV that turn me into a wishy washy mess. The sugar coating from otherwise sources of entertainment that really have just filled my head with a bunch of bullshit that doesn’t apply to the reality I am living in. The Real World.

With that said, I thought it would be interesting to examine some of the rubbish I grew up on, read and even watch today.

Fairy Tale Princesses – What a Crock.

I admit it, I dressed up and pranced around like a magical fairy tale princess when I was kid. Who didn’t?  With movies like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White heck even Aladdin it was very easy at a young age to let my imagination run wild, problem is I still tend to do it. Let’s look at Sleeping Beauty for example.  Asleep for 100 hundreds years waiting on a kiss to bring her back to life?  So, there is a man out there that has the capability of wakening her from a curse and with one kiss she finds herself awake from death and living happily ever after?  Hmm. This to me would mean that no matter what has happened in the past, out there is a man who is so remarkable he has the ability to lift a gal out of years of endless bullshit from one guy after the other, or sadness, or just plain boredom in my case. Who knows, but I just don’t think it happens that way. Which is probably why I started watching Horror movies at such a young age, perhaps at a young age I knew Disney was nothing but BS.

Molly Ringwald – Hope For Awkward Girls.

I loved every single one of her movies.  Why?  Because for some reason they made me think that awkward and somewhat socially inept gals could find themselves in the arms of a hunk.  With the exception of the rather creepy Andrew McCarthy,  Molly kind of managed to land the awesome guy all the time. I have to tell you, I spent four years in high school, a red head even at times and never once seemed to pull off being somewhat geeky, awkward and also attractive.  The weird girl in high school doesn’t have allure and never once did I actually end up with some boy I had a crush on. Great movies and I still to this day love them but they kind of gave me false hope.  I think my parents even forgot my 16th Birthday and frankly I would have rather ended up with Bryce (John Cusak) anyway. High school was far from any John Hughes movie frankly.

Nicholas Sparks

I won’t lie. I own and have watched The Notebook over a hundred times I’m sure. I’ve read it and several of his books. He’s become my nemesis of sorts because I think he, more than anyone contributes to my twisted contorted views of love and romance. I can’t help but get sucked into to any story that involves people growing old together though. I cry like a baby and then I walk away wanting that very thing, which really I do. Don’t get me wrong it’s a goal of mine to be that old couple you see holding hands in the park. I still believe that true love lasts forever, I just wish he wasn’t so damn good at painting that picture because sometimes it doesn’t exactly happen that way. It doesn’t help that close friends have often compared me to Rachel McAdams in that movie, either. Though I’ve yet to stumble across a guy who finds my irrational temper tantrums cute enough to fall in love with me, not one that looks like Ryan Gosling anyway. Side note, his beard in that movie is marvelous.

Even Vampires Find Love

Am I wrong for being a little bitter that even a corpse and an allbeit nerd find their way to love?  The Twilight Series, maybe you’ve heard of it?  Another awkwardly clumsy dork “Bella” ends of up with this GQ looking vampire and they live happily ever after. If you haven’t read the books, please do though.  They’re great. Thing about it however is that love sometimes doesn’t conquer all. I know couples that can’t even get passed the guy not putting the toilet seat down yet these two manage to stick together  one obstacle  after another. I also know couples that have been through hell and back and are still together, but the numbers are diminishing.  Life is hard and it’s difficult to find a person that will still hold your hand through all of life’s trials and tribulations, really difficult.

The Truth

I think life is more like romantic comedies where the weirdest situations sometimes land you in love. I am a bookworm which means I will more than likely not stop reading this nonsense, a girl has to have some guilty pleasures. The “love” in my life has lessoned my belief in finding “the one” though. Nowadays I’m just hoping one out of five guys I meet is half way decent. I have crushes but I try not be unrealistic about them, I mean whatever happens happens. I don’t think I am going to end up with some guy who I’ve been pining over for months anymore then the possibility of meeting someone while spilling coffee on myself at Starbucks. However, I’m more inclined to think that some random moment of awkwardness will lead me to this guy I’m supposed to end up holding hands in the park with, because if he likes me after that we’re meant to be.  My point here is that sometimes the things we see on tv, movies or read in books can leave us hoping for unrealistic things or worse, doubt our current situation and wanting more. I remember after reading Twilight  and thinking that my boyfriend at the time wasn’t being romantic enough, that he should be more like that pasty Cullen kid. Sad right?  But we do it..well, ladies do anyways.

I’ve probably lessoned my chances of love after this rant.

I wonder what guys read or watch that gives them false expectations, I bet Weird Science would be on the list. I guess I’ll have to wait on my rival columnist Jason Webber from The Dayton City Paper to see what he thinks about all this.

Till next week, thanks for reading.

SICSA’s 13th Annual Walk for Strays Needs You!

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Join  fellow animal lovers for the 13th annual charity walk beneffiting SICSA’s homeless dogs and cats on Saturday, June 4th.  The Walk follows a 1.2 mile path around the green fields and fishing pond of Kettering’s Delco Park.   Following the Walk there are many activities to participate in and enjoy including:

  • “Dressing to the K-9’s” Fashion Show – Get those creative juices flowing and design an outfit for your furry friend to compete in one of these categories: “That Special Occassion”, “Owner/Pet Look-a-Like, “Inspired by Fiction” and “Designer’s Choice”.
  • Paw Print Painting – $25 purchases a masterpiece created by your four-legged Artist.
  • Exhibitor Showcase
  • $10 Microchipping
  • Photo Booth – A photo to capture your Walk memories for only $10.
  • Raffle
  • Food

Help raise more money with your own fundraising page on their site.  Solicit pledges and raise additional funds by asking friends, family, and co-workers to sponsor you (and your pet).

Raise $150 and receive a voucher good for a wash at the SICSA Dog Wash and a photo of you and your pet at the Walk. -or- Raise $500 and receive the items above plus 2 Tickets to the Red Dog Auction.

New for 2011!!!  $25 Registration -All walkers registered by May 27th are guaranteed the 13th Annual Walk for Strays T-shirt!  Registration after May 27th and on the day of the event will receive the goodie bag and T-shirt while supplies last.
$10 Registration – Youth (12& Under) registered by May 27th receive the Walk for Strays T-shirt.

Registration Begins at 9 AM/Walk begins at 10 AM

Hoofing It: One Girl’s Guide to Walking the Streets of Dayton

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Things I remember seeing during my 20-minute commute: Tree limbs swirling in a rain-swollen Great Miami River. Aged buildings with elaborate cornices rubbing shoulders with their modern-day glass and steel counterparts. Phil staggering down the sidewalk asking for spare change to buy a muffin.

Things I remember hearing during my 20-minute commute: The splash and giggle of kids jumping into a puddle. A glee club of birds overhead. The distressed screech of an ambulance .

I live in a historic neighborhood downtown, and since I live, work, hang out and work out downtown, I can walk pretty much anywhere I need to go.

Key words: Pretty much.

Places I drive: Kroger. DeWeese Park. Village Thrift Store. Taqueria Mixteca. Cookouts at friends’ back yards. And, I admit it, sometimes places as close as Drake’s Downtown Gym and the Dublin Pub.

One of my favorite shots taken during a walk home, shot from the Main Street Bridge looking east toward the Dayton Art Institute and Masonic Temple.

I’m about to find out exactly what “pretty much” means as I join Megan Cooper in an experiment in using alternative transportation to get from here to there. We’re both ditching our gas-powered rides for at least one week starting June 1. Megan will be trekking across town primarily via bicycle and the bus. Be sure to read her columns leading up to and during this adventure, in which she gives a frank and funny account of going car-less.

I will continue to get around primarily on foot, but I’m also going to figure out how to ride the RTA and rediscover my inner cyclist. The last time I rode the bus, I ended up at Children’s Medical Center while trying to get to Five Oaks, which is closer to Grandview Hospital. The last time I rode my bike any significant distance, my now- 19-year-old son was in a kid seat on the back.

But, like Megan, I’m determined to give this a whirl. Unlike Megan, my research and preparation for this adventure is a total zilch. Well, I did grab a fresh journal in which to chronicle the sights and sounds of this voyage. When I finish writing this, I’m going to try to figure out how to work a pedometer a friend gave me two years ago. I made a solemn vow to look at RTA’s web site tomorrow night. And cross-my-heart-hope-to-die, I plan to check my bike’s tires really soon.

I’m rolling ad hoc because I figure I can hoof it most places. I mean, perhaps my favorite thing about living downtown is the ability to walk so many cool places. I like having to step around Canadian Geese and their goslings on the gravel pathway atop the levee. I feel lucky I can stop at the RiverScape Metro Park concession and grab a cone of soft serve to enjoy on my way home. I even like the pitter-patter on my umbrella on rainy days and getting away with wearing rubber boots to the office.

Daffodils in full bloom at RiverScape MetroPark, taken during a recent springtime walk home.

Really, though, I am in denial.

I may live in a handy little city where I can walk from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes, but getting around is about to get a lot more complicated without a car. While visiting my sister in Piqua on Memorial Day, I realized I’d have no way to get up there to play cowboy and Play-Doh with my nephews without a car. Mulching some new plants tonight, I realized I’d have to travel toughman style if I needed to grab another bag of this heavy, goopy stuff and lug it on a bus.

View during my 20-minute commute on a recent May morning.

I also realize I am lucky to have a car, even an 11-year-old contraption missing the passenger-side window and in bad need of a new catalytic converter I lovingly call The Rattletrap. I feel like Barbara Ehrenreich as she recounted her experiences working as a maid and other minimum-wage occupations in Nickel and Dimed, a book I found so horribly patronizing I couldn’t finish the first chapter. I hope to be able to give you, dear reader, an authentic and entertaining account of this adventure with respect to those who have no choice but public transportation to reach such destinations as their workplace, school and kids’ day care. I hope to be able to examine the impacts of our auto-adoring culture on our health and environment with a fresh perspective. I hope to better understand the myriad ways transportation affects our daily lives.

And I hope you will help us: Do you get where you need to go without a car? If so, tell us your stories and (please!) give us some tips. Do you rev an engine to make it where you need to be? If so, tell us how you think your life would change if driving were no longer an option. Please share in the comments below.

And we’re off: One foot in front of the other!

Not an auspicious start…

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Before I start my car-less adventure (or as a friend read: careless adventure), I decided to practice. With a final destination less than three miles from my home and a beautiful sunny sky, testing out the newly prepped bike was a great idea.

I was meeting friends for one of those fun Dayton weekend festivals, so I didn’t have to be dressed up, but I was going for a certain level above shorts & t-shirt. So, fun strappy heels (with a solid back so they don’t fall off), crops and a blouse was selected. This was the perfect outfit for the destination as well as a short spring-time ride through a lovely local park.

Hills and Dales Park picture from Five Rivers MetroParks Web site

However, that short spring-time ride through that lovely park (aptly named HILLS and Dales) was a much larger challenge that I expected. Dear Lord, this must be why cycling is a sport!  The chain popped off due to my crazy gear-shifting in attempts to get up the first hill. A couple times (I’m ashamed to admit), I got off the bike and walked to the top of a hill. And of course, when I got where I was going, the sturdy bike lock that has been in the garage for over a year proved so sturdy that it was rusted shut. This was not the auspicious start to enjoying urban life on a bike.

What did I learn during this practice trip? Since I’m just days away from my week sans car (June 1 seemed so far away when I pitched this idea in February), I’m noting some important details. I’ll have to bring a bag along with me to hold some better shoes and perhaps a change of clothes. And I better check my route before I hop on that bike to make sure I’m avoiding the major hills (notice the lil’ caret like shapes, yup – HILLS).  And I’ll be buying a new bike lock.

Why do I share this embarrassment? Not because I want to dissuade anyone from embarking on a similar adventure, but rather because it demonstrates that even with excitement and research, nothing prepares you like experience. I’m done doing my homework about how this is going to work; I’m just going to dive in and find out.  I’m going to have more ridiculous failures like this, but at least they’ll only happen once. And if they happen to me, maybe they don’t have to happen to you.

Stay tuned for more successes and tragedies as I tackle the challenge of Driving Less and Living More. Next time you hear from me, I will officially be sans car. And (please), if you have any recommendations on things that work for you or pitfalls I should avoid, share your insights in the comments. Resources that will make this easier are always welcome!

MV Pride Week – Thank You For Being A Friend

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The Miami Valley Pride Partnership is planning a weeklong celebration of Pride for 2011. According to their website:  “As we celebrate pride we are ever mindful of our friends and allies that have helped us to achieve the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. It is to our friends and allies that we offer our theme for our 2011 pride celebration: Thank You For Being A Friend”.

The 2011 Dayton Pride Festivities will begin on Memorial Day, May 30th, with a celebration at The Stage Door.  On Tuesday May 31st the party moves to The Right Corner. On Wednesday June 1st the fun and frivolity extends to Club Masque for a night of exciting Drag. Thursday the celebration continues at MJ’s Cafe for an exhilarating evening of fun and entertainment.  And as the weekend approaches the events get bigger:

Fri, June 3rd 6:30pm  RoofTop Rubi

This dynamic, close-knit troupe of professional men has been performing since the late 1980’s. Comprised of elementary school teachers, an occupational therapist, a clinical counselor and business owners, the group began performing for one another in an attic during college.  Now over 20 some years later, the Rubi Girls have  traveled the country raising over $300,000 for HIV research and education.

Join Ann Roberts & John Smith as they host RoofTop Rubi  benefit for The Miami Valley LGBT Pride Partnership.   The evening will begin with drinks and food provided by The Dayton Women’s Club. Throughout the evening enjoy our fun filled Monte Carlo games and bid on our array of fabulous items during the silent auction.

$15.00 General Admission
$100.00 VIP Admission (Includes Admission for 2, Swap Bag and Sponsorship Listing)
For Ticket Information email: [email protected] or call (937) 697-1190

Sat, June 4th

Breakfast at 9am at MJ’s Cafe with the parade line up at 11AM.
10am: Rededication of Natalie Barney Historical Marker

Noon: The Parade:
The Dayton chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has been selected as Grand Marshalls of the 2011 LGBT Pride Parade and Festival on June 4th 2011. PFLAG will feature, in the grand marshall’s car, the family of Mary and Kevin Kirkendall along with their daughter Lillie and Elizabeth Gillespie, a proud PFLAG family who support their gay son and big brother, Noah. PFLAG Dayton has been active in the Miami Valley since 1989 offering support, education and advocacy. PFLAG seeks to promote health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families. They offer support to help families cope with an adverse society. PFLAG offers education to enlighten an ill-informed public all the while advocating to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.


If you would like to walk in the parade, please download and fill out the Parade Application. Once complete email to: [email protected]

Sat, June 4th , HIV Testing, Dayton Library 12-5pm

AIDS Resource Center Ohio is proud to offer an orally administered,
rapid result HIV test.  The test is free, painless, and quick!  The test is administered confidentially and anonymously by request and requires only a swab of cheek cells from inside your mouth.  Twenty minutes later and under normal circumstances, you will be presented with preliminary positive results about your current HIV status.   And did we mention that the test is free?

Sat June 4th Courthouse Square Entertainment Line-Up

12:30 – 1:00 Parade arrives at Courthouse Square

1:00 – 1:30  BLESSING OF THE DAY: Liz Stutzman
1:00 – 1:30 READING OF THE PROCLAMATION: Josh West and Bret Wendell
1:30 – 1:45 Ohio Royalty: Alexis O’Hara, Brent Fabian, Sinthia D’Meanor, Rob Austin
1:45 – 2:00 Sashay Lorez, Elegance Black Lourdes, Aleksandra Grimm, Summer Day, Daray Lorez
2:00 – 2:15 MJ’s Café
2:15 – 2:30 MJ’s Café
2:30 – 2:45 AWARDS: Kris Jackson

The 2011 Theme Award Recipient is The Honorable Rhine McLin

The 2011 Frontier Award: Recipient is The Honorable Lt. Wendy Stivers.
2:45 – 3:00 Host: Amaya Sexton, Macy Kirkland, Justin Pryde, Endurance, Queen B, Claudia Cruiz

3:00 – 3:30 TBA

3:30 – 3:45 Cherry Poppins, Jenni Hoag, Foxxie Lane, Tasha Salad, Tramp Towers

3:45 – 4:00 Sky Black and The Kings of Dayton

4:00 – 4:15 Delta Blake, Shampaine Lopez, Maqualia Jaa, Arykah Alvarez, Howard Wayne

4:15 – 4:30 Jackie O’Toole, JJ Lopez, Rachel Torrez Kolbe, Niomi Necoll Onassis,

4:30 – 4:45 Diamond Black, Daray Lorez, Ashton Brooke, Patterson Michaels

4:45 – 5:00 TBA

Sat, June 4th Prdeapoloza 1-6pm Masque Parking Lot

Special appearance by  recording artist Pepper Mashay! A family friendly event with entertainment, food, games, and more!! Plus Pepper and the Masque Hostess show that night!!!

Sat, June 4th 8pm  Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus @ Victoria

THE ULTIMATE BOY BAND REVIEW
Get ready to scream and faint with excitement as the DGMC thrills fans of all generations with a musical look at America’s singing heartthrobs – the boy bands! The chorus has scanned the decades from the ’50s to the ’00s and everything in between to find your favorite songs; you know, the songs you crank up and sing along to while you’re in the car. They are all here for you from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to the Beatles, the Osmonds, Crosby Still Nash & Young, the Village People, the Bee Gees, the Temptations.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased through  www.ticketcenterstage.com or from a chorus member.

Pride Night At The Neon

Sun, June 5th  2- 6pm Family Potluck Picnic

Ernst Park at 1030 E David Road will be the location for the family friendly cookout.  Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided.  Bring along a side dish or dessert. Fun and games will be planned for all ages to have a blast.

Thurs, June 16th  Pride Night at the Neon 7pm

We Were Here is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City’s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic.

Though a San Francisco-based story, We Were Here extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jCb68ZkwG0&feature=player_embedded’]

Sat, June 25th  Pride Dinner 7pm, Sinclair

The Greater Dayton LGBT Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary by hosting the annual Pride Dinner.   Featuring bawdy comic Suzanne Westenhoefer and  Dayton Police LGBT liaison Sgt. Wendy Stiver to act as key note speaker.  In both serious and light hearted ways, these two women will help the Pride Dinner celebrate Pride 2011. The evening begins at 5 PM with an impressive business and non-profit exposition with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. At 7 PM dinner begins and is followed by awards and recognitions, Sgt. Wendy Stiver’s keynote speech, and Suzanne comedy show. The evening ends with the annual Big Gay raffle drawing for many prizes.
Tickets are $45.00 with an early bird special of $40 per person or $400.00 per table of 10 if purchased by May 1, 2011.  Contact the Center for more info at 274-1776


Make the Music Happen by Volunteering

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Want to do a lil’ job that makes a major impact in keeping a fabulous and free festival alive in our community? Volunteer for Cityfolk festival! Interested volunteers should contact Kathleen Alter to select a shift.
VOLUNTEER TASK DESCRIPTION:

Cityfolk festival is requesting vibrant, outgoing volunteers to help us with the “You Make the Music Happen” suggested donation campaign. Due to a significant reduction in federal, state and corporate funding Cityfolk is asking for a suggested donation at the festival this year. We desperately want to keep the festival free but we need help to do that. We will have stations (manned by two people) at entrances and roving teams of two asking people for donations. Everyone who donates will receive a sticker saying “I Made the Music Happen”. This will ensure that people who donated money will not be asked multiple times for a donation. This is a not a high pressure sale, simply a chance to share the message about the quality of life that Cityfolk adds to Southwest Ohio.

Volunteers will be in teams of two and can choose to work at an entrance or be a rover in a designated area. We are looking for 30 people per day and the shifts are 3 hours. The buckets will be zip-tied shut and will be taken to the business office at the end of the shift. There will be no need to handle the money. All volunteers will receive a special shirt that say “Make the Music Happen” to wear while volunteering. If your groups chooses to volunteer you will be recognized in the festival program.
Other volunteer jobs include:  greet Festival visitors at the entrance gates, pour beer as part of the Beer Crew, make sure the artists and staff are well fed as members of the Hospitality Crew, and much, much more. Some new opportunities are available this year, so be sure to scan all the job descriptions if you’d like to try something different. There’s a volunteer job for everyone!
BONUS: Volunteers receive a great t-shirt. PLUS if you volunteer – you’re already downtown to attend one of the hottest parties of the summer!

Volunteer Shifts Available:
Friday, July 1
5:30 – 8:30
8:00 – 11:00

Saturday, July 2
12:30 – 4:30
4:00 – 8:00
7:30 – 11:00

Sunday, July 3
12:30 – 4:30
4:00 – 8:00
7:30 – 11:00

Info on the Festival: http://www.cityfolk.org/festival/festival.html
Cityfolk shares why they’re asking for a $5 donation: http://blog.cityfolk.org/2011/04/why-were-asking-for-suggested-donation.html

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Researching (and worrying about) RTA

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Pop Quiz

The bus system in Dayton is:
A) Difficult to Navigate
B) Expensive
C) Dangerous
D) Limited in Area

Okay – time’s up! What’s the answer?

Well – I can tell you that I don’t know. But I’m going to find out!   No gossip, no rumors – just my experiences exposed. If the bus late, dangerous, or annoying, I’m calling them out. But you’ll also know if the bus driver is helpful and if the routes are easy to navigate. I really don’t know what to expect, so you’ll know as I know.

As much as I’ve HEARD about taking the RTA (fodder for our lil’ pop quiz), most of the people who are talking don’t actually ride. And the people who do ride, don’t usually talk too much about it. So – I cornered my friend Jen who utilizes RTA as her main source of transportation and got her insights.

Well, mostly it works pretty well, if you’re staying in Dayton or close suburbs and if you’re traveling between 7 am and 6:30 pm weekdays. Traveling in the evening or weekends gets a lot trickier because bus frequency declines dramatically.

As far as bus clientele I rarely have problems. Occasionally the kids can be kind of loud, but most drivers will intervene if it’s excessive or if they’re being rude or crude. It’s usually a pretty friendly atmosphere.  And if there is someone acting strangely, there are other people experiencing it with you which can be kind of fun.

Another benefit I found when I took the bus to work was that extra 15-20 minutes before I had to be fully engaged. When I was driving to work I needed to be awake and alert. Taking the bus let me work into my day more gradually.

So, as I get closer to launching my week without a car, I’m gathering all the info I can about how I’ll get around. The RTA Web site has been my “go to” for this purpose. In case you want to try a similar adventure, I’m going to clue you into my process in hopes it makes things easier for you.

  • It surprised me when I found how easy it is to buy passes and tokens around town. I figured I’d have to go to a transit center. It makes it a lot easier to know I can get a pass when I’m doing the grocery shopping and just hop on the bus when I’m ready to ride.
  • RTA offers bike racks (yay!), but if the bike rack is full, you can’t bring your bike on board, you have to wait for the next bus (boo!). Maybe every time I get on the bus there will be one or fewer people who are also riding a bike. We’ll see. But if I have to wait for another bus b/c I can’t get on with my bike I’ll be annoyed.
  • Along the lines of scheduling – I’m confident about the bus that will get me to work, but I’m a little concerned about the buses that will take me home after meetings, dinners, shows, and nights out. The RTA schedule shows that my ideal route home stops running after 6 PM. Now, I realize I CAN get home another way (as long as I’m leaving the city by 11:30 PM), but it takes some research and planning and more late-night walking that I would choose.
  • One of the complaints I’ve heard is that RTA is notoriously late. On-line, they offer an “On Time Service Guarantee,” but that just means they won’t be more than 30 minutes late. And if they are, they give you a free pass. Sorry, but if I’m more than 30 minutes late to some meetings, I could have burned some major bridges.
  • In getting ready for this adventure (finding my routes, etc), and I have to report that the RTA Web site is not as user friendly as it could be. There are great resources – maps and recommended routes – but the maps are small when you print them out. And the “trip planner” (which gives you times, bus numbers and route options) didn’t recognize the addresses I plugged in. I had to put the same location in 5 different ways to get the system to recognize where I was trying to go! That said, there are other ways to discover what you need and I’m now the proud owner of a few route map brochures that I’ll keep with me. (Which is laggardly of me, but since I don’t have a smart phone to check for new schedules, a handful of paper maps suits me just fine.)

Am I adding to the negative stigma by being worried before I even step foot on the bus? Maybe. Maybe that says something about human nature. Maybe I’m just a worrier (thanks for passing THAT trait along, mom). Or maybe that’s one of the reasons RTA is getting a bad rap in Dayton these days – we do a little online research and give up without even stepping up on the bus. Whatever it is – I’m a few days closer to saying good-bye to my friend the car. I’m excited and nervous.

If you have any recommendations for smart bus riding tips, let me know!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/rtagreen#p/u/3/_MZoy0s8Ifg’]

RTA has generously offered a few 7-day passes that DaytonMostMetro.com will be giving away as I chronicle my adventure. If you’re interested in giving it a shot yourself, you might just be able to win one! And if you want to have your say, RTA is soliciting feedback as they plan for the future – let them know what you need for mass transit.

I’ll drive less, but will I live more?

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I’ve seen the signs and I believe in the cause. I’m happy it’s happening in the region, but it’s not really my thing. Well – it’s about to be my thing. I’m taking on the task of Driving Less and Living More for one-week.

There’s not one specific reason for this adventure. Environment – sure I want it to be cleaner/greener. Foreign oil dependence – yeah, we all know it’s bad. Health – I could stand to not be in the car so much. Money – of course I’d rather not drop $65 to fill up my car, but it’s a bit of a necessary evil. So why the adventure? Really, it’s just about good timing (and the fact that a couple of DMMers are joining in this adventure with me throughout June).

Spring is here, so the weather makes it easy to be outside a bit more. Through participation in Get Out, Give Back Dayton, I received a free 7-day RTA pass. The stars aligned for me to leave the car behind and see if I could get by for a week, so I’m going to get the inside scoop on transportation sans car.

In addition to riding RTA, I plan to utilize my bike and plain, old fashioned walking. For this, I’m really grateful to the good folks and cycling experts at K&G Bike Center who made sure my bike was ready for the season and safe for the streets.

This is a major challenge for me as I have a very loose relationship with time. Because Dayton boasts short and easy commute times, I have taken for granted that I can get wherever I need, whenever I need. Most often I run into the problem that I think I can get anywhere in about 10 minutes. This is disastrously untrue, but the lack of a car for a week will either drive me (and my friends / colleagues) crazy or teach me a valuable lesson (and lessons are never fun to learn). No more quick trips; I’m going to have to learn to plan for everything in my day as I leave the house.

Bikes + Bus = Adventure

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cm2kolmOwI&feature=player_profilepage’]

Volunteers Needed For Heritage Festival!

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Looking for something to do this Memorial Day weekend?


Come out and volunteer at the 2011 Dayton Heritage Festival!  Volunteer opportunities are available in 2-4 hour shifts from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed in the Kid Zone, the main entry greeting visitors, assisting in directing parking traffic, the beer garden, operating the Wright Flyer Simulator, and to help withclean up immediately following the festival.  Volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, premier, free parking, bottled water during their shift, and a food voucher.

For more info contact Jennifer Dean at 9372932841 ext. 119.

Urban Nights: Proving Downtown Dayton Is Alive and Kicking

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It’s no marketing scheme: Urban Nights really is one of the best nights to be downtown.

Downtown Dayton’s biggest street party returns from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, May 13. More than 100 venues in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village will host special events, offer discounts and open their doors for an insider’s look. A variety of performers will entertain crowds on stages throughout downtown, and roaming performers also will liven up the event.

Below are some highlights of the May 13 Urban Nights, but there’s more going on than can ever be featured in one article ― and nearly everything is free. Click here to download a map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, a schedule for all the stages, and parking deals. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook for regular updates and more information.

Urban Nights gives people a chance to get artsy. Second Street will become a huge canvas when students from Stivers School for the Arts’ painting department create a paint-by-numbers style template on the street. The public then will be able to help Stivers students complete the mural, located in front of the Schuster Performing Arts Center between Main and Ludlow streets. The Paint the Street mural is sponsored by KeyBank and will be created with environmentally friendly liquid chalk that washes away with rainfall.

Juggling duo The Dropbacks will toss and catch with the crowd during Urban Nights.

Juggling duo The Dropbacks will toss and catch with the crowd during Urban Nights.

Also on Second Street, visitors also can create a piece of whimsical public art using jelly beans and have their pictures taken in a free photo booth. At the popular Community Stage, located at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, an eclectic mix of 10-minute performances will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., then anyone can take the mic for open karaoke from 7 to 10 p.m. The Dropbacks, a comedic juggling duo, will toss and catch with the crowd throughout Urban Nights locations. Other hands-on activities will be available at participating venues. For example, the Dayton Metro Library will offer arts-and-crafts activities for children and adults.

Art is the heart of Urban Nights, and all of downtown’s numerous galleries will host exhibit openings and an array of more unusual offerings, such as a 7 to 8:30 p.m. performance by the Dayton Mandolin Orchestra at the Dayton Visual Arts Center. Some Urban Nights newbies are the Dayton Art Institute, which will offer a mixed bag of activities ranging from guided tours of its current exhibition to eye makeovers; Real Art Design Group, featuring jousting with shopping carts as part of “Urban Knights at Urban Nights;” and Atta Girl Art and Gardens Complex, where artists will open their studios for the public to have a look-see. At K12 Gallery for Young People’s new TEJAS studio, art by Rebecca Sargent will be featured.

Vote for your fave Activated Spaces window display during Urban Nights.

Vote for your fave Activated Spaces window display during Urban Nights.

Art also happens in unusual places during Urban Nights. Activated Spaces has worked with local artists to display their work in previously vacant storefronts throughout downtown, and the public can vote for a People’s Choice award during Urban Nights. Practice Yoga will host live music by BJSR, the Dayton International Peace Museum will host an opening reception for an exhibit of Chinese brush painting, and artists will take over the Southern Belle’s second floor, where local crafters will sell their handmade wares. And the Blue Sky Project is hosting an exhibition of Mequitta Ahuja’s works on paper in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower and an exhibit of photography by Sa Schloff, as well as work by Blue Sky participants, in the former Roly Poly space on Courthouse Square. Several downtown housing options will be open for tours, and many of them will feature artists’ work, too.

Downtown retailers also get into the Urban Nights spirit. At Derailed: A Hair Salon, co-owner Austin Burkhart will try to break his record for giving free Mohawks, and Omega Music will host live music throughout the night. Pantorium Cleaners will host a party with special entertainment, and Valeria’s Beauty Center and Day Spa will offer special discounts to celebrate the launch of its new retail store, Bonito.

Scan this QR code with your smart phone to start the SCANvenger Hunt.

Scan this QR code with your smart phone to start the SCANvenger Hunt.

A fun way to get around Urban Nights is by playing Comtactics’ SCANvenger Hunt. Smart phone users are encouraged to visit participating businesses and search for two-dimensional QR codes. Players scan the codes, answer a trivia question about that business and are entered into drawings for giveaways.

A weekend-long event also will open during Urban Nights. The Dayton Circus Creative Collective will host its sixth annual multimedia arts event, Sideshow VI, at Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., and in the nearby Yellow Cab building, 700 E. Fourth St. This two-block arts experience will feature work by more than 32 artists and performances by 25 musical groups.

Urban Nights guests also will get a sneak peek of another weekend-long event, the FilmDayton Festival, held downtown May 20-22. Multidisciplinary artist and Springfield native Rod Hatfield has mixed a montage of silent films starring Lillian Gish, also a Springfield native. The Show will provide a live soundtrack to the projection on the east side of the Convention Center, which can be viewed from the Jefferson and Fifth street area.

In addition to the arts, cycling has become an important part of Urban Nights. The Life Enrichment Center will roll out its new Yellow Bike program, a free bike sharing program downtown, during Urban Nights. The center is providing brightly painted yellow bikes available free of charge for anyone to ride between downtown destinations. People simply grab a yellow bike, ride it to their

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights meets at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field for a ride through the action.

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights meets at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field for a ride through the action.

destination and park it in a bike rack for the next person to use. The center also is asking for donations of helmets in all sizes, which can be dropped off at Courthouse Square. In addition, Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights returns: Cyclists should bring their own bike and meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:30 p.m. for this ride through the Urban Nights action.

The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event trolleys to help visitors get around.

Urban Nights takes place rain or shine. The event is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from WDTN-TV2, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Budweiser Select, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Clear Channel and Mix 107.7-FM, KeyBank, and the Ohio Arts Council.

Call 937-224-1518 or visit www.downtowndayton.org for more information.

PUSH is searching for SINGLE Men!

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“He’s a great guy! I wish I was attracted to him.” Ladies, how many times have you said this about your best single guy friend? Well here’s your chance to do something wonderful for him- nominate him for the 2nd annual Men in the City Charity Bachelor Auction.   Hosted by Professionals United for Sexual Health (PUSH), a group of Planned Parenthood Advocates who  support the organization through creative fundraisers  like the auction.

According to their Facebook page:

We want to hear about your adorable, hard working, passionate, SINGLE, brothers, fathers, ex-boyfriends, friends, neighbors, co-workers, doctors, trainers, bartenders, bosses and/or elected officials!

Or gentlemen you can nominate yourself!

The Miami Valley’s most eligible bachelors will be auctioned off for charity.

WHERE: The Dayton Racquet Club
WHEN: August 19th, 2011
TIME: 7 pm-10pm, after party to follow at 10pm in bar.

Criteria for Nominees:
– Over the age of 21

Please send all nominations to [email protected]

INCLUDE:

-Your Name
-Your Email
-Nominee’s Name
-Nominee’s Age
-City
-Nominee’s Occupation/Industry/Field
-Nominee’s Phone #
-Nominee’s Email Address
-List 3 adjectives that best describe the nominee
-Explain why this person would make a good bachelor.
-2 Pictures or URL for their photo on Facebook, Flickr or another photo site:
-Will this person be willing to promote their event to friends?

Nominations will end on Wednesday, May 31st.

Candidate Selection
Please note that in the past, the number of nominations received has exceeded our capacity for auction participants and therefore, not every nominee may be selected to participate in the auction. A nomination is not a guarantee of participation in the auction; however, we will do our best to include as many nominated candidates as possible.

Another awesome event brought to you by PUSH – Professionals United for Sexual Health

Get Out & Give Back Dayton!

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Every year, Generation Dayton (the young professional arm of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce) celebrates their anniversary not by receiving gifts, but by giving the gifts of their time and talent to the community in the form of a major volunteer effort. This year, the effort is bigger than ever, and GenD is inviting ALL area young professionals to join them. You don’t have to be a Generation Dayton member to have a great time, enjoy lunch and spend a few hours making a difference in the community. It’s THIS Friday – RSVP now. More info on their Facebook event page.

So, that’s the “news,” here’s my opinion:

This is a fun way to meet some new people in an active setting where you’re making a tangible difference in the region. For anyone who feels out of place at “typical” networking events, this is a great opportunity to talk to some people, but busy yourself with the volunteering aspect when you run out of things to say.  There’s lots of positive downtown vibes on the rise: recent news stories, new businesses, cool entertainment options popping up, the Activated Spaces team, and Urban Nights next week mean that there’s lots of buzz. This is a cool way for YPs to see it first hand; whether you’re a downtown advocate or a skeptic, you can be part of the solution. The GenD focus on downtown is a cool reminder that regardless of where YPs want to live, the urban core is important to us all. The partnership with RTA is an extra cool aspect. C’mon – do you really think the bus is THAT scary? Wouldn’t it be cool to ride free for a week and decide yourself if it’s convenient or not?

I want to hear more opinions. Has anyone been to this before (previously called “Generation Dayton Day)? If so – leave comments about what you thought below.

RSVP is required! Send your RSVP to LaDonna Wulfeck at [email protected]

Details from their Web site:

This Generation Dayton Day, in celebration of our organization’s 6th anniversary, we’re inviting our community to “Get Out, Give Back Dayton!” With additional support from our sponsor, Heidelberg Distributing Co., we’re putting a special focus on cleaning up and sprucing up our urban core! The new focus allows those with an interest in downtown development to roll up their sleeves and give back while aligning with a long-term group project known as Activated Spaces that seeks to bring vibrancy to now vacant storefronts.  We’ll still visit local non-profits, as usual, too. There will be a little bit of something for everyone!

A 2011 BONUS: all volunteers may sign up for a 7 day transit pass from RTA, as providing our valuable feedback is an additional volunteer component of the event, and teams leaving downtown can ride together. RTA will provide each team with a round trip travel schedule, but if you want to ride the bus from work or home, you can receive further travel planning assistance by calling the customer service line.

Schedule of Events:

12 p.m. Meet for complimentary lunch at The Excelsior Building (207 E. 6th Street)

1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Give back to the community at assigned location

5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Celebrate shared experiences and accomplishments at location TBD

Available Project Sites: (Numbers in parenthesis = maximum volunteer spots available for each location)

Artemis Center (5), Cannery Art & Design Center (7), Catholic Social Services (10), Community Blood Center (8), Cooper Park (20), Crayons to Classrooms (6), Dayton Visual Arts Center (4), Downtown Dayton Curb Appeal (Various Projects), Downtown Dayton Partnership (6), Garden Station (8), Grace/YMCA childcare (6), House of Bread (10), Ronald McDonald House (10), United Rehabilitation Services (10), We Care Arts (4), Wesley Community Center (6), The Victory Project (6), YWCA (10)

To sign up to “Get Out, Give Back Dayton!” on Generation Dayton Day or for more information contact LaDonna Wulfeck, Generation Dayton’s program manager, by email to [email protected] or call (937) 226-8264.

Hats & Horses – Derby Doings in Dayton

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Every year as May roles around there is  a lot of talk about the Kentucky Derby.  Recipes start floating around for the quintessential Mint Julep or Derby Pie.  Women start discussing hats- and this year the talk was kick-started early due to the Royal Wedding. Heck, I even know the difference between a downbrim and a Fascinator, something my grandmother would have been so proud of, if she were still here.  People that never seem to care about horse racing suddenly talk handicapping. Last year I enjoyed the Derby Day Brunch at Brio, but never even saw the race.  This year something got into me and I’ve decided to make the trek down to  Churchill Downs.  So if you want to get caught up in all the hoopla,  here are some great events to celebrate the greatest two minutes in sports.

Color of Energy hosts  a Derby Day Preview Party
Wed, May 4th 6:30pm

Kicking off  “And Their Off,” a horseracing photographic exhibit by John Engelhardt, A Color of Energy gets you ready for The Derby . John is a longtime employee of River Downs in Cincinnati and a resident of Oakwood.  He has a great collection of horseracing scenes that tie in with the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Color of Energy gallery will be hosting along with Judge Dan Gehres and Tom Archdeacon.  The party will feature Engelhardts photos, Ed Meyer a professional handicapper from Kentucky gives his derby predictions and a live throughbred race horse will be outside!!  It wouldn’t be a true Dereby party without the singing of Run for the Roses & My Old Kenutcky Home and Dale Walton will be on hand to do that!  Sidebar will be serving Hotbrowns and Derby pie and providing a cash bar. Original jockey silks will decorate the day and this will be a great forum for Derby stories, history and a preview to what promises to be a great event.

13th Annual Derby Day Dash 5K and Youth Fun Runs
Sat May 7th 8am – 11am

Start the day off by participating in The Derby Day Dash, a charitable fun run that benefits Life Essentials, an organization that helps people who slip through gaps in community services. The day is family friendly and consists of a 5K run/walk, a Tot Trot for ages 3-5, a Kids Canter for the 6-8 year olds and the Guys & Girls Gallop for ages 9-10.   All events start and finish at Fifth Third Plaza in downtown Dayton.  The first 75 registered children between the ages of 6 and 10 will be fitted for a free safety helmet.  All children registered will receive a free ticket to the Beach Watherpark.
There are also team contests with prizes for the largest team, best team name and as appropriate for the day, a hat contest.  Don’t worry, a hat check will be provided for racers, as no hats are to be worn during the race. After the races their will also be drawing for door prizes.  For more information call 586-0545 or email

The second annual Crown Jewels™ of Dayton Derby Day Brunch Sat, May 7th 10am – 1pm

The event generously hosted by Brio at The Greene includes a buffet brunch and in true Derby-style, mint juleps. Other activities will include a “Hat Strut” by our guests, a silent auction and roaming models from merchants at The Greene. Guests will also get their picture taken by the official Derby Day photographer and everyone will receive a Run for the Pink Roses commemorative glass.

All proceeds from this Crown Jewel’s™ event go to further the work of the Kettering Medical Center Foundation’s Women’s Wellness Fund. The fund provides free screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and prostheses to uninsured women (and men) in our community. It also provides education on breast cancer and other women’s health issues through the Cindy Wilde Vogel Memorial Library located at the Kettering Breast Evaluation Center. Procedures may be scheduled at any accepting mammography facility in the area (not just a KMC affiliate) and the Women’s Wellness Fund will cover the cost. To date over 8000 people have been able to use this life saving service.  Tickets for the Crown Jewels Derby Day Brunch are $40.  Many of the calendar models are selling tickets for this even or you can call Tina at 937-259-7927 to order your tickets.

JLD Derby Party
Sat, May 7, 4-8pm

The Junior League of Dayton invites you to put on your Derby hat and sip Mint Juleps while you watch the most exciting tow minutes in sports with them as they host a watch party at The Wine Loft at The Greene.  Tickets run $30 for members and spouses, and $35 for non-members.  Tickets include 2 drink tickets and a spread that will include Hot Browns, Pimento Cheese Toasts, Mint Julep Lamp Chops, Shrimp & Cheese Grits and Thourghbread Pie.  You can purchase tickets online or by mailing check to the Junior League of Dayton Office. Ticket Purchase Deadline is Friday, May 6th at Noon.