Dayton937

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

Community

Volunteer for the Senior Visiting Program and you may find out that “the oldest trees often bear the sweetest fruit”

By Leave a Comment

The Senior Visiting Program is a friendly service for seniors who are socially isolated and live alone or are homebound. Trained volunteers provide weekly visits about two hours, offering friendship and support, and at times provide help with small tasks such as watering plants, writing letters or organizing photo albums. Clients often enjoy activities such as reminiscing, watching a movie, listening to music, playing cards or a game with their volunteers.All volunteers are trained through Catholic Social Services and undergo a background check.

For more information, please contact Carol Harman at 937.223.7217 ext. 1140

One Pencil, One Crayon, and one Notebook

By Leave a Comment

That is what Dayton’s Crayons to Classrooms (DC2C) believes helps disadvantaged students to succeed!  Basic school supplies are a luxury for thousands of students in our community.  In light of the back to school season, I met with Steve Rubenstein, Executive Director, to learn more about this organization and what they are doing to better our community.

DC2C is a free school supply retail store that serves teachers and students in 88 Dayton area schools where more than 70% of the students live at or below the poverty line.  The organization opened their doors to teachers from selected schools in January, 2009, but not before an abundance of work and research was completed to ensure the success of the organization.

Research began in 2006 when a group of Dayton businesses and nonprofit organizations began learning about the 38 resource centers across the U.S. that support student learning by collecting surplus, close out, and other useful materials for distribution to classroom teachers in schools serving lower-income families.  “If parents are struggling to provide for their children, they clearly have difficulty buying notebooks, pens, and crayons – the items all kids expect to have for school,” said Steve Rubenstein, Executive Director.  These civic leaders saw the need for such an organization in the Dayton area and began planning.  By 2007, an Executive Director had been hired and the organization had committed financial support from the Mathile Family Foundation and the Dayton Foundation.  Under a collaborative effort with Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley (GESMV), DC2C was given warehouse, retail, and office space at their facility located at 1511 Kuntz Rd. in Dayton.  The partnership with GESMV provides the organization with over 12,000 sq. ft. of warehouse storage, retail store space, office space, use of GESMV telephone system and technology network, and access to a fleet of trucks for pick-up services.

Currently DC2C serves 34 area schools that are ranked based on need, which is up from 23 schools served in 2009.  The retail store is open on Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for teachers from approved schools to shop.  The collaborative effort with Goodwill extends even further with the DC2C Classroom Solutions program, which aims to provide teachers with useful, hands-on products.  Community volunteers and/or individuals in the GESMV’s Work Experience Program create shaped pieces for student learning tools using die-cut machines.  Paper, cardboard, felt, and plastic can be transformed into many shapes and sizes for classroom purposes including alphabet letters, numerals, and geometric forms.

You can be a local hero to a child…DC2C is doing big things for our community with their small staff of 4!  They could really use our help to spread their mission and help them with day to day operations!  DC2C seeks friendly, compassionate people to help out in the retail store from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays assisting teachers with shopping and check out.  Have a small group that would like to give back in a big way?  Groups of 4 to 6 people are needed to process donations and re-stock the shelves of the store.

Cash and In-kind donations make it possible for DC2C to keep the shelves of the teacher free store stocked for our local classrooms in need.  Local businesses, organizations, and community groups can host a school supply drive for basic supplies.  To learn more about donating and ways to get involved, please visit www.dc2c.org.

This article is the first in a series that will be compiled by DMM.com contributor Jennifer Dean.  If you’d like to suggest a local nonprofit for her to write about,  just comment below!

True Man Group

By Leave a Comment

The Blue Man Group Set To Perform At Schuster Center

September 29th, 2010

            I somehow became fascinated with the Blue Man Group quite some time ago. It is an easy thing to do, what with the level of musicianship, production values and sheer creativity of the troupe. What fascinated me most, however, is that the basic premise of the Blue Man being the perfect empty vessel, the perfect blank screen on which countless elemental dreams could be projected upon. The music seems to serve as an insistent accompaniment for the journey.

I had heard that the Blue Man Group were creating a new production, so I secured an interview with Mark Frankel, one of the members of the Blue Man Group who will be appearing inDayton. I

“Yeah, we just finished a load-in and tech in Fayetteville,Arkansas and we were sort of working out the bugs. We did some previews there that showed us that we really have a great show on our hands.” Frankel went on to say that, “Fayetteville was exciting and inDallas, the opening has been really, really strong and then the next city isDayton. Daytonians are going to be some of the very first people to have a chance to see this show.”

What are the differences between this new show and the other tours that the Blue Man have embarked on?

“There will be some elements that you may recognize from the Vegas shows, but then there is some brand new content that is focusing on technology and our relationships to things like Facebook and our devices like iPhones and Blackberries…these devices that kind of put up barrier between us, so we’re taking a good look at it. If you go around outside and you’re walking with your kids and you’ll see a parent that’s got his face down into his Droid or whatever and looking at stuff on Facebook…he’s actually experiencing the world through this little two dimensional device when there is a whole three dimensional world right in front of him.”

So, if I’m connecting the dots correctly, a group of blue mutes are going to teach us something about communication?

Mark Frankel

“That’s a fair point. Yeah, but it speaks to the honest nature that the Blue Man communicates. Because he is silent, he is not bound to any sort of text that would dictate an emotion, the audience member can take away an experience that’s personal to them.” Frankel said. “It’s a very effective way to communicate an emotion as opposed to a play, where there’s lines that dictate, ‘I’m angry’ or ‘I’m sad.’ It’s a charm of the character and it’s a unique way to convey an idea.”

With technology and communication as a theme, have there been a lot more technological elements added to the show?

“With regards specifically with the new show, I think that there are some very, very exciting technical elements that really have never been tried before. I know that that is kind of trite to say, but truly, we are doing stuff where these systems had to be designed to do exactly what we wanted them to do, so it’s not just lights. We’re using video and lighting as well and the video screens are interactive with…the whole stage is part of what we are calling 2.5 D (two and a half dimensional).” Explaining further, Frankel said, “It’s a 3D show interacting with two dimensional video and we are kind of jumping between those two worlds a lot. Again, we are dealing with these two different worlds all the time and I think the lines are starting to blur. I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.”

Sometimes, hiding in plain sight was the best way to show your true self, your actual nature. I wondered if Frankel had found this to be true from becoming his character.

“Yeah, that’s a very true part of this character…a truism, if you will. By putting on this mask, we’re actually able to be more honest. It’s not unlike, and I’m sure we’ve all had this experience, when you meet somebody and you know that this relationship is going to be finite and you know that you’ll probably never see this person again, you’re way more honest with them than someone with whom you would see again and who you’ll have consequences with. So, by the same stroke, with this mask, they don’t know who we are and they shouldn’t really care who we are: they’re just looking at this character and I can be totally myself with them. In fact, in a way, some people have said that with this character, that by putting on this mask, we’re not really putting on a mask, but that we’re taking away the normal mask that we wear and what you’re seeing with the Blue Man character is the layer beneath…maybe even several layers beneath.”

Frankel went deeper with his explanation of the Blue Man character by putting it in terms of everyday life.

“We all put on masks every day. You go to your job and we have to put on that smiling face for your boss and your co-workers and you go home and you have to pretend that the day hasn’t driven you nuts and you have to be a good dad or a good partner or whatever.” Frankel went on to say that, “These things, if you were really, really stripping them down and really being honest. The Blue Man is essentially taking the human condition and bringing it down to its basic elements: wonder, love, caring, humor, the hero, the shaman, anger happiness. All these things are arc of the show that the Blue Man is experiencing in a very open and a very clear way.”

The piercing lights and percussive sounds emanate from the stage, with frenetically moving figures silhouetted against a backdrop of flashing video screens as knurled and curled PVC instruments wend their way this way and that. This is the performance. This is the routine…but not the reality. The Blue Man Group, while being an entertaining and creative force, also serve as a microscope by which we can view our own relative existence from a very safe distance, allowing these blue mutants the luxury of exploring the outer fringes and base realities of the human condition.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR3ZcTb-PJU’]

Where Am I? September 29, 2010

By 3 Comments

Hint: Green thumb

Last time, the Where Am I? September 15, 2010 was from the Gothic Cloister at the Dayton Art Institute. (perhaps you saw it when you were at the DAI Oktoberfest?)  I was talking to some young adult Daytonians who had recently visited the DAI and this time they really paid attention to the art. They had never realized what an extraordinary collection we have here. The Dayton Art Institute is a gem in our fair city: A lovely space for reflection, education, inspiration. Go! Go early and go often. What’s your favorite piece of art in the museum?

Detroit Lives… Dayton Next?

By 5 Comments

Detroit is the poster child for failed rust belt cities, having lost over a million people in the past few decades – not to mention auto manufacturing jobs and possibly the city’s soul itself .  The massive scale of abandonment combined with the stunning architecture from a golden era long gone has made Detroit a ground zero for photography and documentary films in what has been called “ruin porn”, but there is much more to the story that hasn’t been told nearly as much.  A fashion company called Palladium Boots decided to (in a possibly genius buzz marketing strategy) tell the other story of Detroit by producing a short film series that may leave you with a much more optimistic feeling about the future of this once great city.

Before you watch the videos (below), consider the parallels between Detroit and Dayton you may have heard others talk about.  Some claim Dayton to be a smaller version of Detroit, with its own rich manufacturing legacy and subsequent decline and abandonment.  Like Detroit, many have given up on Dayton altogether and have left for other cities or have retreated to the burbs where jobs, shopping and entertainment have followed to the point that many no longer have a reason to go into the city-proper.  Yet while many have given up on Dayton, there are others who have figured out that they can do things in this city that are almost impossible in most other cities – like pursuing creative passions while enjoying an extremely low cost of living, being part of an inviting community of like-minded urban dwellers, or getting involved and being able to make a real impact on the reinvention of the city.

Watching “Detroit Lives”, I saw many similarities in some of the cool things happening in Detroit and Dayton.  Russell Industrial is Detroit’s version of Front Street in Dayton.  Northend Studios is Detroit’s version of c{space in Dayton.  Greg Willerer of Brother Nature Produce is doing in Detroit what Ken Carman and Feed Dayton are doing in Dayton.  Yes, the parallels are there indeed, though I did notice the differences that may give Detroit the advantage.  It seems as though many of Detroit’s young creatives (most from other cities) have moved into abandoned neighborhoods where they can buy a house for less than the price of a used car; Dayton has certainly seen its share of abandonment but young creatives are nowhere to be found in Dayton’s empty neighborhoods, instead choosing to live in historic districts that are vibrantly thriving in comparison but sometimes with entrenched “you can’t do that here” attitudes.  And while Dayton’s government is struggling with perhaps its worst budget crisis ever, there are still at least for now enough resources to make sure that strict downtown building codes are enforced – making efforts such as c{space still enormously difficult if not impossible without large amounts of money.  I’m not suggesting that building codes shouldn’t be enforced but I sense that Detroit’s lack of enforcement resources compared to its massive size (not to mention decades of corrupt and inept government) has allowed for the DIY creative culture there to thrive in an almost wild wild west environment.  It is ironic that Dayton may have failed to fail enough to become known as a creative magnet like Detroit!

Still, after watching Detroit Lives I was left with a new optimism for the future possibilities in Dayton.  That optimism has been a series of ebbs and flows in my seven years of living downtown (with the past couple years being the most challenging) but I continue to be energized by the MANY people who have planted their stakes in the ground here and fight to make Dayton into what we all know it can be.  And for non-believers who say it is impossible, just take a look at what people are doing to bring back Detroit – it can happen here.

(more interesting commentary about Detroit at the excellent blog The Urbanophile, including this money-quote: “Though a lot of the examples in the film are old hat, it is very exciting to see the Urban Laboratory/New American Frontier/Rust Belt Chic meme continuing to spread like crazy. I’m telling you, for many people now is the time to be alive in many of these Rust Belt cities. How often do you have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor like this, to be a pioneer, to be a founder? This is the generation and these are the people that will be written about in tomorrow’s history books. The call of being able to shape history is worth more than all the triple soy half-caf lattes you could sip by the light rail in some other city where your presence won’t make one bit of difference good or bad.“)

 

Tour Guides Needed for Oct 7-9 Conference

By Leave a Comment

The Regional Neighborhood Network Conference is quickly approaching and we are in NEED of VOLUNTEERS for the Neighborhood Tours. We are looking for friendly ambassadors that can help acquaint the attendees with all of the fabulous things that Dayton has to offer!

RNNC Conference
October 7-9, 2010
Dayton Convention Center and Crowne Plaza Hotel

Needed:

1.      Nightlife Tour Leaders (4) – Looking for energetic souls that can lead small groups to various hot spots in the Oregon District on Thursday evening from 8-10 p.m. A list of establishments will be provided and all arrangements will be set ahead of time. All you have to do is lead the way and enjoy a wonderful evening in the Oregon District. Must be 21 to be a tour leader.

2.      Tour Assistants (5 morning / 5 Afternoon) – Looking for assistants for each scheduled tour on Friday. Assistants will ride on the bus with the participants, attend the tour, and return with attendees to the Dayton Convention Center. The assistant will be responsible for ensuring that the tour stays on schedule, all participants return to the conference, and be the point person for any possible issues with the participants during the tours. Tour Assistants will need access to a cell phone during the time of the tour.

3.      Saturday Morning Market Tour Leader (5) – Can you think of a better way to start your Saturday morning? Tour leaders will lead small groups of participants to the 2nd Street Public Market Saturday morning from 9-10:30 a.m. Some groups will walk to the Market, others will be transported via Trolley. Participants and Tour Leaders will be able to enjoy everything that the 2nd Street Market has to offer on a bustling Saturday morning.

If you would like to fill any of these positions please let me know by September 29th by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 333-3814. All help is greatly appreciated!

Historic Grafton Hill- “Dayton’s best kept secret”

By 8 Comments

You’ve been to the Dayton Art Institute, right? Maybe on Christmas Day? An exhibit, or a concert, or maybe a party or wedding? Greekfest? Or the Oktoberfest, perhaps? (The Oktoberfest is Sept 24-26, 2010- Go. Go!) How do you get to the DAI? Riverview? Yes, probably the most common way to get there, and unless you live in the downtown area, or are a real HouseNerd ( I just made that term up, but you can steal it) you most likely don’t spend time driving around the DAI neighborhood? I’m going to suggest you rethink that. One of the most interesting neighborhoods in the Greater Dayton Area is home to both the DAI, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, and the Masonic Temple- the historic neighborhood known as Grafton Hill.

This morning, my business partner and I were talking to Grafton Hill neighbors about the community, and one of them told us, “Grafton Hill is Dayton’s best kept secret. It’s a community, but it’s 232 Superior Avemore than community, it’s family.” That neighbor is not the only GH resident who feels that way, it’s a sentiment we have heard over and over by both the long term residents, and the newer residents, and by the way, long term in Grafton Hill is 40 plus years. I don’t know about where you live, but I do know there are very few neighborhoods in Dayton that can really claim to be family with multi-generations of unrelated neighbors who look out for each other, and multiple generations in the same family who are neighbors, all working together to make their neighborhood become the neighborhood of their dreams.

There is something unique about Grafton Hill. The story I heard from our clients, and two of the oldest neighbors- or, sorry Ed and Phyllis, I should say two of the longest-term residents- is that they each drove through the neighborhood and “fell in love”. And how can you not? This 323 Superior Kitchenneighborhood is a HouseNerd’s heaven. Grafton Hill is one of those historic Dayton neighborhoods that was home to some of the wealthiest Daytonians at the turn of century. The Art Institute anchored the neighborhood as an area of affluence, but it’s in the homes that we can still see how wealth translated into distinct, custom-built homes, each unique and lovely its own right. It’s impossible for a HouseNerd to drive through the neighborhood without being gobsmacked by these homes. Not only is each home unique in style, they are huge! 2500-3900 square feet is not at all unusual, and some homes are much bigger.

Phyllis has lived in Grafton Hill since the 1960’s. “The same home?” I asked. “Oh no. I’ve moved several times.” Same with Ed, he’s lived in several different homes in Grafton Hill over the years. To 578146_25understand how remarkable this is, you need to know that the historic district is only about an 18 block area. The home Phyllis lives in now sustained damage by a fire years ago and has had to undergo much rebuilding. To these residents though, the homes in Grafton Hill are treasures to be lovingly cared for, improved upon, and polished until they “shine like the gems they are” as our client likes to say. Any current owners are simply caretakers during this moment in time- well, I shouldn’t say “simply”. As one neighbor told me, “few people realize how much work is involved”. The phrase “labor of love” comes to mind.

Still, while the homes may draw new people into the Dayton Ohio historic district, when we ask residents what was their favorite thing about living in Grafton Hill, the consistent answer is, “the neighbors”. Now I know that regardless of where you live, there are very few neighborhoods anywhere in the country where the majority of neighbors could say that about each other. The very fact that both renters and home owners really enjoy and look out for each other says enormous amounts about the sense of community you find in Grafton Hill.

Next weekend, before you head into the DAI Oktoberfest, or, next month, at Halloween, take a drive through this beautiful neighborhood, or during the Holidays if Grafton Hill is holding a Home Tour- Go. You’ll be awestruck, gobsmacked, and who knows, maybe even you too will fall in love.

Photos: Teri Lussier

Where Am I? September 15, 2010

By Leave a Comment

Hint: Cloister

Where Am I? September 8, 2010 was the Gem City Dog Obedience Club. That photo of frolicking pups was taken at their indoor location, 1654 Springfield St., Dayton. They have basic and advance training classes for all ages and interest levels. We’ve shared our lives with 4 different dogs and my own personal experience with just some basic obedience training is that it has made me a much more responsive and responsible dog owner. What’s your dog training experience taught you?

Local Non Profit Seeking New Board Members

By Leave a Comment

Children with life-threatening disorders deserve wonderful chances such as a trip to Disney World, meeting a celebrity, or going on a shopping spree. A Special Wish Foundation is determined to make these dreams become a reality. With incredible support from local organizations and individuals, we have brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of children and their families.

A Special Wish Foundation has been granting wishes to local Dayton area children since 1983. Our goal is to provide unique, once in a lifetime opportunities for children diagnosed with life-threatening disorders. Our organization is wholly dedicated to granting such wishes. We operate on minimal expenses so that over 90 percent of contributions go toward granting wishes, not overhead costs.

A Special Wish Foundation is seeking out dedicated professionals within the community to serve as members of the Board of Directors.

Interested individuals will be required to participate in monthly meetings, assist in fundraising efforts, lend professional expertise, and serve as an ambassador to the Dayton Community.

Past and present Board of Directors have had the privilege to participate in granting over 1,400 wishes to local Dayton children birth through age 20.

You can make a difference in the life of a Wish Child. To inquire about the Board of Directors please email [email protected].

Boonshoft’s Pub Science Series Continues with the Science of Beer

By Leave a Comment

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery continues their monthly Pub Science speaker series with a lecture on beer brewing by one of the area’s foremost authorities on the subject.

Mike Schwartz, owner of Belmont Party Supply and Brewtensils, will present “The Art and Science of Beer Brewing” on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 7:00 p.m. at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District.

Schwartz’s “world-recognized” beer store consistently ranks in the top 25 stores nationwide by respected craft beer websites ratebeer.com and beeradvocate.com.  He opened Brewtensils, an equipment and supply store for making beer, wine and cheese, in Oct. of this year and conducts various introductory classes aimed at the beginning home brewer.

“I’ll talk about yeast and how it affects your beer,” says Schwartz regarding Tuesday’s presentation.

The Pub Science series, which began in December, was created as a fun way for anyone to learn about science and technology in a relaxed, informal setting. Previous topics discussed were nanotechnology and forensic science.

Pub Science is held the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge for the event however, donations are accepted.

For additional information, please call (937)275-7431 or check our event calendar!

Scan Your Way To Masquerage

By Leave a Comment

Dayton’s Party of Parties is just 5 weeks away -Masquerage, AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s (ARC Ohio) annual masked party for a cause fundraiser.  But for one lucky winner, visiting the sponsors of this year’s Masquerage will pay off in a big way- they can Scan Their Way to a $500 Red Ribbon Lounge Ticket package that includes VIP event tickets, an overnight package at the Dayton Marriott with breakfast on Sunday and  transportation to and from the event.

In a unique partnership with Dayton-based Comtactics, participants can use their smart phones to scan a QR code from a poster at each sponsor’s business and when they visit at least 10 sponsors, they will automatically be entered in a drawing to win the Red Ribbon Lounge ticket package.  Participants can download a free code reader for their smartphone on the ScanDayton.com site.  Participants can even enter the drawing by texting the word “SCANDAYTON” to 41411 and then follow the instructions.

Comtactics, LLC, a multiplatform communications company based at Dayton’s Tech Town, developed the “ScanVenger Hunt” idea as a creative way to introduce the technology to the Dayton-area.  They’ve successfully hosted ScanVenger hunts at The Greene and during Urban Nights. “This will be our first partnership with a nonprofit fundraiser and we’re excited about using 2d technology for this dynamic interactive contest, says Sean Fields, President and CEO of Comtactics.

Since Masquerage’s inception in 2002 , this party for a cause has raised more than $650,000 in unrestricted funds in support of HIV/AIDS case management, education, prevention, testing and advocacy; allowing attendees to have a unique and entertaining experience while supporting ARC Ohio and its mission of impacting those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.  With offices in Dayton, Lima, Mansfield and Toledo, ARC Ohio is recognized as the leading provider of HIV/AIDS related programs within a 40 county region of Ohio. For more information about ARC Ohio, log onto www.arcohio.org or call (937) 461-2437.

To be entered in the drawing to win a $500 Red Ribbon Lounge Ticket package you’ll need to visit at least 10 of the sponsors- but since we like our friends at DaytonMostMetro.com you can scan the code pictured here and you’ll only need 9 more!

You can visit American Family Insurance, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Better Business Bureau, Coco’s Bistro, Digital Fringe, The Flower Shoppe, Lexus of Dayton, MacTown,  any of the Marion’s Piazza, Masque, Meadowlark Restaurant, Preen Apothecary, either of the Square One Salons and Urban HandMade.  Keep checking the Masquerage website for more additions!

Tickets for the Masquerage party can be reserved online at www.Masquerage.org or charged by phone by calling 461-2437 x 2029.  General Admission tickets include welcoming cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, and nonstop dancing and entertainment for $50, while entry to the Red Ribbon Lounge runs $150 per guest and includes heavenly delicacies created by The Meadowlark, valet parking courtesy of Lexus of Dayton, a swag bag full of sinful delights, and, for the first time ever, a complimentary array of lustful libations!

Ronald McDonald House Radiothon

By Leave a Comment

Press Release

On September 23rd, 2010 from 6:00am to 7:00pm Mix 107.7 will hold the second Radiothon to benefit Dayton’s local Ronald McDonald House.  Throughout the 13 hour Radiothon, we will be broadcasting LIVE from McDonald’s on Dayton-Xenia Road in Beavercreek, and McDonald’s on Stroop Road in Kettering.  Not only will listeners be entertained by Mix 107.7 DJ’s Jeff Stevens, Kristi Leigh and Sean Vincent, but they will also get a chance to learn more about RMHC as we bring our mission to life on air!  This year we are asking the generous Miami Valley community to help us KNOCK OUT our goal of $30,000!

There are several ways you can help support the Radiothon and RMHC’s mission!  1) First and foremost, tune in to Mix 107.7 on September 23rd!  2) Encourage your company, department, school or club to collect spare change for donation RMHC.  Groups that collect over $250 will be mentioned live on-air! Thanks to the generous support of Wright-Patt Credit Union, donations can be counted for free at any WPCU location from Sept. 13th – Sept. 18th.             3) Listeners can also Pay-2-Play and dedicate songs throughout the day for a good cause (Available soon via http://rmhcdayton.org/donate.php).  4) Also, for the music fans out there, bid on the SummerFest guitar signed by Blondie AND Cheap Trick at http://www.mix1077.com/pages/Radiothon2010.html .

Thank you Mix 107.7 Radiothon partners and sponsors for helping to raise much-needed funds for families with hospitalized children; these include Miami Valley Hospital, ClearChannel, McDonald’s, Wright-Patt Credit Union, WDTN-2, McFall & Son Insurance Agency, Grange Insurance, and more.  If interested in sponsorship opportunities which include dedicated time-slots, please call Kevin Tibbs at 937.224.0047 ext: 40 or go to http://rmhcdayton.org/sponsorship.php.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region, Inc. is a private nonprofit organization. Funds raised help cover the expenses associated with nights of stay for families with critically ill, or injured, hospitalized children.  Each chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities is autonomous, with its own Board of Trustees, responsible for the governance of the organization. Ronald McDonald House Charities is not owned by Dayton Children’s, or by McDonald’s, and is responsible for its own fundraising.

The Litehouse Development solves a few of Dayton’s housing problems

By 3 Comments

… but probably not what you think.

You know that the city of Dayton has a vacancy problem, and there has been a lot of discussion about what to do with vacant, abandoned properties. Tearing them down is one option of course, and probably the one that gets the most discussion, and there is a problem with tearing them down because then you have an empty space, and what do you do with that? I believe that the vacancy problem is two-fold. Not only does Dayton have too many homes, Dayton has too many of the wrong type of home.

Yes, Virginia, there really are people who want to live in Dayton Ohio. They want to experience all that Dayton has to offer- celebratory and inexpensive stuff to do, vibrant arts community, not-so-big city life. They want to be home owners, not renters, but they can’t find a house. Oh I know we have plenty of homes- too many homes in some neighborhoods. But for a certain type of buyer: young or creative or entertainment-seeking types who would be a perfect fit in the downtown area, Dayton doesn’t have what they are looking for because the housing stock that exists, is simply not a good fit for everyone. Downtown Dayton’s housing stock is plentiful, but it’s old, and the truth is that not everyone loves a historic home. Not everyone wants to live in or care for a historic home, and that’s okay, except, if you want a brick ranch, mid-century modern, vintage 20’s bungalow, or modern dwelling, then you have to live elsewhere. So the solution might be to mix things up a bit- not only tear down the unwanted housing stock, but build property that people want: Affordable, low maintenance, cool, hip, modern spaces that appeal to and attract a new breed of owners into the Dayton market.

I visited the Litehouse model home site last week during their Open House and was intrigued by what I saw. The exterior is modern and unlike anything else in the Dayton area. The interior is unusual as well, being a vertical stacked space that packs amenities onto a tiny physical footprint. This should appeal to a very specific buyer, but more than that, it’s going to add to the presence of residents in the direct downtown area, and that’s a cool thing, good for all the city residents.

The Litehouse townhomes focus on greener living, with local manufacturing, Leed standardization, Energy Star appliances to keep these homes as efficient as possible. This is going to be a growing trend and it’s nice to see a builder using proactive solutions for those buyers who are already looking in this direction. They are also looking to attract buyers who want an affordable home. This is going to be key for getting more buyers into Dayton: Affordable, modern, green properties that give buyers another downtown living option. The plan is to create a community of approximately 40 homes, and once a few more are occupied, you’ll see them attract more buyers- most people don’t want to be the first in a new development, although, you do get a nice view of Patterson Blvd right now.

These are sexy properties with a new attitude about how a home can function and what a home can be. Take a look at the couple to the right. Standing on the unfinished roof-top terrace of one of the Litehouse units, you can see the natural response to the possibilities this space might afford- the body language says it all. This is the type of housing that Dayton needs more of and it’s good for the entire Dayton area that we have the opportunity to watch this development add to our real estate options in Dayton Ohio.

So, how do you buy a new home? You can plunge ahead and contact the developer yourself if you’d like, or you can have a Realtor take you to a developer if you want a little extra guidance through the process. It’s similar to buying any home, except, as one developer told me, there is no other person’s dirt to wonder about.

The question is, can majestic historic beauties live in peace and camaraderie with ultra-modern clean cut lines? For all the talk about not wanting to live in little boxes that all look just the same, most people like a sense of continuity and similarity within their own neighborhood. With the Litehouse development, we can begin to integrate the new and old while we adjust to the future of Dayton real estate.

Photo credits: Teri Lussier

Lifetime’s Remarkable Women Series honors Isus Founder

By Leave a Comment

To shine a spotlight on an extraordinary woman, and to inspire and empower
others to make a difference
in their communities and world

Here is the write up featured on Lifetime’s Remarkable Women:

Ann Higdon created Improved Solutions for Urban Systems (ISUS) in 1992 to develop approaches to keep high-school-age youth in school and to reclaim school dropouts. In Dayton, over 60 percent of the urban youth dropped out of high school, and according to an Annie E. Casey Foundation study, an additional 6 to 8 percent drop out in middle school and are, therefore, never counted as high school dropouts. The effects in the city were deteriorating neighborhoods and escalating crime. Montgomery County, where Dayton is the main city, used two-thirds of its budget for criminal justice and indigent-family-related expenditures. Author James Conant, in his book “Slums and Suburbs: A Commentary on Schools in Metropolitan Areas” called these kinds of issues “social dynamite.”

In the early nineties, Ann Higdon talked to anyone who would listen about what she believed could be done, but few people believed that these young people would respond to an idea that required more of them than anyone dared believe they could do before. Few believed that it was an appropriate use of funds to support an idea fostered by a person who had no nonprofit, teaching or housing-development experience. But, as Ann listened to the stories of the young people who left school without completing, their stories resonated. She had been a poor student, had a difficult childhood and was first homeless when she was four. She was afraid of being bullied and got in trouble for fighting back. Ann was able to make a better life for herself because one person had confidence in her, and with that encouragement, she began to work her family out of poverty.

In 1992 she borrowed $100,000 from National City Bank in Dayton to start the first ISUS organization, working with National City to replace food stamps with an electronic benefits system in Ohio. During the early years, Dayton Rotary, a nearby hospital and other benefactors also supported the project. In 1995 they received the first public money through a federal grant, and in 1999 Ohio passed enabling laws for charter schools. That year, ISUS created the first of three charter high schools for returning dropouts; until recently, Dayton had more students in charter schools per capita than any other city.

The ISUS organizations uniquely accomplish their mission by recruiting disengaged youth back into an educational experience that is competency-based and career-oriented, and that engages students as volunteers who practice their newly acquired skills in the context of community service.

Upon entry, ISUS youth are on average 17 years old and function in math and reading at the seventh grade level. Roughly 85 percent are low-income, seven in 10 are known to juvenile court and three in 10 are youth with learning disabilities, which is about twice the percentage in the system. At ISUS, students attend a longer day and year — totaling about 300 additional hours per year. Students alternate between academics, technical coursework and hands-on practice of skills. Technical instructors are hired from business and industry and assisted to obtain teaching certifications at Wright State University.

Since 2001, ISUS has graduated more than 700 returning dropouts with high school diplomas, industry credentials or some college coursework. Recently, ISUS was written into House Bill 562 as a Demonstration Project to collect data and inform the legislature on issues and accountability measures for dropout-recovery schools.

Other measures of success are the competencies students exhibit — for example, the redevelopment of the Fairgrounds neighborhood, where students gutted and rebuilt 12 homes and an eight-unit apartment building. The project was reported by the Dayton Daily News as “The Miracle on Frank Street.” Now there are homes built by developers, and bustling businesses. ISUS students are credited with sparking the resurgence of the neighborhood.

Ann Higdon personifies the entrepreneurial spirit by crafting the pursuits of her organizations to contribute impact and return on investment. She demonstrates commitment and takes risks in the pursuit of better solutions to social problems, and targets a population that researchers agree is the hardest to serve — youth offenders.

Ann and her organization, ISUS, are recipients of numerous honors, including the Purpose Prize, the Dayton Business Journal’s Regional Leadership Award, the Dayton Daily News’ Top Ten Women Award, the YMCA’s Woman of Influence Award, the HUD’s Secretary Award for Excellence, the Points of Light Award and the Dayton Business Journal’s Not for Profit Organization of the Year Award.

Smart Car Raffle Drawing to be held Mon, Sept 13th

On Monday, Sept 13th, ISUS will be hosting a VIP reception in Wright-Dunbar Historic District, where they will be giving tours of their Replica Homes Green Building Project.  As part of the festivities ISUS and the Dayton Rotary are hosting a Smart Car Raffle to raise money to continue to fund future building projects.  Rafle tickets run $100 and are available through Dayton Rotary members, or call the Rotary office to charge by phone at 228-3331.  Three winning tickets will be pulled with the 1st getting a handcrafted dragonfly bench, the 2nd will receive a $250 Home Depot gift card and the 3rd ticket pulled will win the brand new, fully loaded Smart Car!

Wine, Washes And Wet Noses

By Leave a Comment

Wine, Washes, & Wet Noses

Sunday, September 12, 2010

1:00-5:00 pm

A Taste of Wine

90 South Main Street

Miamisburg, OH 45342

Join us for our 2nd Annual wine-tasting and dog wash event! Enjoy a relaxing glass of wine while Square One Salon & Spa washes your dog. There will be a raffle with items such as a Square One Salon gift basket, an iPod Nano, and a Dog Lover’s gift basket. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. Visit www.humanesocietydayton.org for more information.

The Adventures of Nikki Nett

By 6 Comments

Well, hello there! Thanks so much for coming back this week! This week’s adventure takes us to Preen Apothecary in Oakwood.

*Please note: friends, family, and employers- if I am ever missing for more than several hours and you can’t reach me by phone/text/facebook/twitter/foursquare/email/BBMessenger, etc., there is a VERY strong possibility that I am at Preen. Seriously…look there before filing a missing persons report.

As you will find out if you continue reading my blog in the upcoming weeks, you will learn quickly that I LOVE make-up. I said last week that I love shoes, but I love make-up more. Much more. Whether it’s a highly pigmented, finely milled eyeshadow in the ‘right now’ dramatic shade, or the blackest black mascara with a big fat brush, or maybe the yummiest, sheerest, not too sticky gloss that leaves just a bit of color, I love it all. Is it the excitement of getting something new & shiny? The creativity of trying new colors and techniques? The ability to be up to the moment without dropping $700 (or more) on this season’s Louboutains? Heck if I know. All I know is it makes me sublimely happy and I have discovered my new little slice of heaven about 5 minutes from my house!!

Preen Apothecary is located at 2508 Far Hills Ave. For those of you (like me) who need landmarks, it’s right by DLM. Although they have received national attention in several magazines, if you don’t know it’s there, you might just drive right by (sometimes several times a day as I have apparently done for the last few years!). I finally stopped by there recently and instantly dubbed it my favorite place. Or in dramatic Nikki fashion, “my most favoriteist place eveerrrrr”. Although it is located right on 48 with traffic buzzing by outside, the moment you walk in, you feel the calm. No bass loaded techno and bad fluorescent lighting, no army of sales people ready to pounce, just a sunfilled menagerie of girly-ness and 3 lovely ladies who could be your best friend.

Nicole Gianuglou, owner of Preen

One of these great women is Nicole Gianuglou, Preen’s owner. Nicole spent many years in New York City working in the Beauty Industry, more specifically as a National Makeup Artist for Nars. Some of you may already be familiar with the Nars brand and even if you don’t have any of the sleek black packages residing in your make up bag, you have probably heard of his cult favorite blush, Orgasm (the perfect peachy pink that perks up almost any complexion). Nicole spent a lot of time traveling the country for Nars & while at a small shop in Nashville, the idea of opening her own store started to form. Upon returning home to the Miami Valley, Preen became a reality. With fingers crossed, Nicole soon discovered a loyal customer base (you’ll understand why after spending 30 seconds in the store!).

During my most recent visit, I had the opportunity to have my makeup done by Tracy. She is described by Nicole as “beyond belief as an artist”, after she did her magic, I certainly agree! We started off with the basics. All skin prep was done using Peter Thomas Roth’s line which included: Max Sheer Defense SPF 30 (weightless on my skin), Unwrinkle Primer & Foundation (loved them both- even though we were layering, there was no masky, heavy feel at all), Intense Anti-Aging Eye Cream & Bronze Instant. Tracy was so knowledgeable in regards to the products themselves as well as technique. Most women skip eye cream on their upper lid in hopes of getting more staying power from their shadow….well guess what? Stop doing that! Whether you are opting for some sparkle or a matte finish eyecolor, moisturizing first keeps it all smooth (and younger looking!). My other favorite tip from Tracy was the choice of brush used to apply the foundation. It was a blush brush! Nars brush #6! It provided a lighter touch and more blendability than a standard ‘foundation’ brush would. Love it!!

So once we had a nice finish on my face, it was time to move on to the fun stuff. I gazed longingly at the very extensive collection of electric purples, insane blues, deep burgandies and glittery blacks lined up like little soldiers in the Nars display. My imagination was running wild with thoughts of an intense smoky eye that would make even Adam Lambert jealous. It was rock star time…or was it? Tracy was gathering some shimmery champagnes, soft pinks and copper colors. Huh?? Let me just say that I’m sooooo glad I just shut up and let her do her thing. She worked a new look for me that I never thought I would try….very natural. I felt a little confused when I checked out my reflection and shrieked “OMG- I LOVE IT!”. As a self-proclaimed smoky eye fanatic, I was half tempted to run home & toss all of my super dark shadows. Mmmm hmmmm….this lady is THAT good! As a new brunette after spending my entire life as a blonde, I hadn’t yet realized that by toning it down, I was actually enhancing certain features. Thank you, Tracy for that (literally) eye opening experience. I could have happily skipped out of the store & been on my merry way, but no ma’am, we were not done. After gushing over our mutual love of mascaras with a big brush (not the plasticy ones that have become so popular lately) Tracy applied just a couple coats of Lash Fusion Mascara. There are polymers in there & some science stuff and blah blah blah,,,,all I know is my lashes were long & full & lovely! Then, just to kick it up another notch (and put me in my comfort zone again) Tracy took my day look into night with just a touch of a deep eggplant color along my lashline. Perfection.

I intentionally left out the part about the brows as well as creating the perfect pucker because those will be future installations of my Adventures. I think I have been blessed with pretty good brows, but we’ll see if that holds true once I sit down with Beth, the Brow Guru. She is one of the dynamic Preen trio and I’m so excited to chat with her next. There’s no doubt I’ll learn something new

Rest assured, Preen Apothecary will make regular appearances in The Adventures of Nikki Nett! I left out so much….all of the ‘gifty’ things, the Alexis Bittar jewelry with it’s cult like following, the hair products and, the subject closest to my heart…the obscene amount of lipglosses & color.  I need to stop before I slip into a hazy makeup coma.

Nicole, Tracy and Beth have worked hard to make sure all of Preen’s customers feel appreciated, pampered and heard. I think they have done a remarkable job with that! When asked what the best beauty advice she ever received was, Nicole quoted Francois Nars and said “Don’t be so serious, it’s only make up”. AMEN to that! With the turning of the leaves and transitioning from tank tops to turtlenecks, find a minute to stop in and see what new looks can take you into snuggle season.

Can’t wait to find out more? Have a suggestion on where the Adventures should take me next? Comment below or let me know via twitter @Nikkisayswhat