Dayton937

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

The Featured Articles

Sew Dayton Approaches First Anniversary Announcing New Location

By 3 Comments

sewdayton_logoSEW DAYTON, another success of the Activated Spaces program, has announced it will be moving into a larger storefront in the Oregon District at  26 Wayne Avenue.  The new location resulted from a collaborative effort between Randy Handler, the previous lessee and Midtown Development Corp. The parties were brought together through the efforts of Mary Kathryn Burnside, owner of CLASH retail at 519 E. Fifth Street.

SEW DAYTON’s new location is only a few steps from PRESS COFFEE, which has been ranked in the top 10 independent coffee houses in the United States.

The location holds significant promise from a streetscape renovation of Wayne Avenue in 2014 and a strategic mixed-use development plan for the northeast corner of Fifth and Wayne in the near future. The storefront in the 100-year-old Schaefer building at the corner of Fifth Street and Wayne Avenue previously housed notable occupants including Otis Elevator Co., Fleishman Yeast Co., and Dayton Industrial Supply.

SEW DAYTON is a fun fabric shop, specializing in sewing instruction, fun fabrics and custom orders. Owners Tracy McElfresh and Jesy Anderson instruct sewing classes to all ages and skill levels.

488039_162662197222847_771833206_n

Owners Jesy Anderson (left) and Tracy McElfresh (right).

They will be celebrating their first anniversary at their current 15 E. Brown Street location on Sat, Sept 14th from 11am -8pm with giveaways and special discounts on patterns, fabrics and even a chance to pre-register for sewing classes for 10% off.  There will even be a visit from the Zombie Dogz food truck.

Sew Dayton carries fabric that cannot be found anywhere else in the Dayton area, focusing on small independent designers and companies. Sew Dayton also provides light alteration services. For more information visit; www.sewdayton.com or call 937-234-SEW8.

The Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC Announces Future Plans

By 1 Comment

535741_355776941219109_178054346_nWell, it’s been a while since you’ve heard from us last, most of it has been by design because we are serious about what we are doing and are quality focused and we want to be under the radar while we are still laying our foundation.  The last time I wrote a blog, we were in the midst of planning our “Fashion in the Mystic Garden” Launch Party and the debut of our Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine (DE-FI)ance which can be purchased at http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/606271?__r=435971!  With over 250 people in attendance, 70 models, 10 designers, a Native American drum group Chaske Hotain, the Soul fire Tribe, and the majestic settings of SunWatch Indian Village we let the world know that Dayton is here and we are weaving our pattern into the fabric of the Fashion Industry!!

With that being said, we are ready to give you a sneak peek into the future of (DE-FI), starting with our September 15, 2013 Casting Call taking place at the Shuttereye Studio located in the Entrepreneur Building at 714 E. Monument Ave., in downtown Dayton from 2p-4p!  We are in the need of about 20-30 additional models to add to our current roster of 60+ models.  This Casting Call will be open to both males and females age 4 and up, however we are putting additional emphasisevents on male models. (NOTE: ALL MODELS MUST BRING WITH THEM AN APPLICATION THAT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT http://www.daytonemergingfashionincubator.com starting on Sept.1, 2013).  Models in attendance at this Casting Call will know the day of if they have been selected for a callback and should plan to stay for a model meeting taking place after the Casting Call at 5pm.

One of our long term goals was to open up an actual store front location via the Activated Spaces program in 2014—well, things have been moving along rather rapidly for us and we are excited to announce that on Friday September 20th  during Urban Nights, the Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator (DE-FI) LLC will be officially opening the doors to a custom clothing design boutique featuring the designers that were showcased during our July 13th Launch Party at SunWatch and other independent designers from across the country!!  If you weren’t able to attend our Launch Party and you have no idea the level of talent and creativity that was showcased, please visit our Facebook page and check out our albums at http://www.facebook.com/daytonemergingfashionincubator.

While we ARE NOT going through the Activated Spaces program for the boutique, this will be a 3 month trial intended to help us get our feet wet in the retail industry!! We are looking for  additional designers, seamstresses, and those willing to learn to sew via our partners at Sew Dayton to help the designers produce their lines for us to sell in the boutique, interested individuals should email us at [email protected].  We are taking over the old American Pi location located in the St. Clair Lofts on St. Clair St., in downtown Dayton and we can’t wait to help these designers grow their brands! (NOTE: As of 8-28-13 we will not be opening our storefront in the St.Clair Lofts).

Mark your calendars for December 31st for an event that you won’t want to miss!!  We are going to be taking flight into the New Year with our “First Flight…Now Fashion” Couture Ball taking place at Commander Aero!  “First Flight…Now Fashion” promises to bring a fashion experience that will capture the world’s attention and have everyone talking!  More details coming soon!!

Finally, after much thought and consideration– we are ready to take on the challenge and we are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Fashion Week in 2014!!  While locations are still being secured we have set July 13th-20th of 2014 as the tentative dates for (DE-FI) Fashion Week.  Stay tuned for more details coming soon!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join The Century Bar For A Nationwide Toast

By 1 Comment

FRB-coaster-never-wantA special event will take place at the Century Bar (10 S. Jefferson St., Dayton) on Wednesday, August 28. At 7:30 p.m., the bar and its patrons will take part in a national “simul-toast” along with each of the nation’s top 55 Bourbon bars as designated by The Bourbon Review.

Each year for the last five years, the leading industry journal for bourbon aficionados has created its grouping of the United States’ best watering holes for Bourbon lovers, and on 2013’s list, TBR referred to Century as “what could be the most underrated Bourbon bar in the country,” and “the sort of place every Bourbon drinker should visit at least once in his or her life.”

The Bourbon Review has teamed up with Four Roses Bourbon for a nationwide “toast” to each of the bars included on their list. This coincides with Four Roses’ 125th anniversary, for which the label has dubbed 2013 “The Year of the Toast” with a national social media campaign.

Century general manager and bartender Joseph Head said, “We’re going to film the toast and put it online, and we’ll send it to Four Roses so they can put it out there as well. And Four Roses is appreciated in America, but it’s really huge in Europe and Japan, so the whole world’s going to see Dayton, Ohio.”

Participating patrons are encouraged to get involved by posting photos, tags, toasts, and check-ins from their favorite Bourbon bars on the Top 55 list with the hashtag #55toast; the toast selected by Four Roses as the best will be featured on their label in 2014.

 

Bringing Sour Back

By Leave a Comment

Sour Mix Image

This is the bottle that sank a thousand cocktails…

I was eating lunch with a couple other bartenders this week, and I told them that I was working on an article about sour mix. Both of them cringed, no doubt with bottles of sickly yellow, highly processed liquid floating through their head. This has been what most of our parents, and many of us, were used to getting when we asked for a drink that required sour mix at a bar. Long Island Ice Teas, margaritas, Lynchburg Lemonades, so many cocktails that were drenched in this stuff. August 25th is National Whiskey Sour Day, and the story of sour mix plays into the story of the cocktail quite nicely.  It was not always something people would raise their nose at.

“Sours” are a class of cocktails that was been revived with the craft cocktail movement. The first sours were introduced in a book that is on every serious bartender’s bookshelf, How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon Vivant’s Companion, by Jerry Thomas. These cocktails started simply, using only a base spirit (like whiskey), lemon, and simple or “gumme” syrup. This basic recipe was so popular it spawned a wide variety of other cocktails, switching ingredients in and out but maintaining the same basic formula. It became the work horse of the late 19th century, spawning classics like the sidecar, margarita and daiquiri are all examples of cocktails that are part of this group. Cocktail historian David Wondrich notes it was one of the most popular cocktail types for over a century, especially the whiskey version, from the 1860’s to the Mad Men era of the 1960’s.

Through the 20th century, two major events happened that sullied the reputation of these fine cocktails. The first was Prohibition, which drove out all of the professional bartenders in the country, and with it all of their knowledge. The second is the development of prepackaged and premade food and drink. We developed into a society that was not going to wait, as well as one that was thrilled with anything new that science could invent.  During the 50’s and 60’s, fresh squeezed juices were falling by the wayside in favor of premade juices that would last longer on the shelf. This included cocktail mixers that were easy to pour over a single liquor to make a drink. Who needs all of that tedious squeezing and mixing when you can just pour it out of a bottle?  It was faster for bartenders, but it did not taste as good or as fresh. Combine that with a distilling industry that was just getting back into the swing of things, and you had a rough time for cocktails.

Whiskey Sour in a cocktail glass

THAT…is a lovely whiskey cocktail.

At the beginning of the craft cocktail boom, a seed of hatred was planted into cocktails that used premade mixers. This seed grew, with sour mix and all cocktails made with sour mix: the focus of mixologist’s ire. Their simplicity was disregarded for more complex and exotic flavors. But that simplicity is what originally made this cocktail category, and the whiskey sour itself, so popular. You did not need many ingredients to make it, and the ingredients you did need were easy to get. Because many bars and restaurants are not making cocktails with fresh juices, it is far easier to enjoy these cocktail as they were envisioned about 140 years ago: liquor, some lemon juice, and some simple syrup.

When you are making a sour cocktail, you should keep in mind that the lemon and the simple syrup are going to overpower the liquor you choose. I would never recommend using something like Old Dan Tucker or Kentucky Gentleman, but there is no need to break out the Pappy Van Winkle. A nice Jim Beam or Maker’s Mark would do nicely. If you want a little more spice, you can use a rye whiskey as well.

Whiskey Sour

2 oz. bourbon
.75 oz. lemon juice
1 tsp. simple syrup

Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake it well. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry. You can make it look fancier by adding a lemon wedge. You can also enjoy it, as many people do, over ice in a non-chilled glass.

For any bartenders reading, or other cocktail enthusiasts, you may ask “Where is the egg white?” Many people will argue that a tablespoon or two of egg white should go into it, which would give the cocktail a smoother, thicker mouthfeel and add some foam when you shook it with the other ingredients. It is also a potential health hazard. It is disputed whether or not that ingredient should be added, but you may if you wish. Jerry Thomas did not add it, so neither will I.

Whiskey sours, and sours in general, are light and refreshing drinks that are about due for a major comeback. Simpler cocktails are making a comeback, and this is one of the simplest there is. Combine that with the bourbon boom that is happening, and soon the whiskey sour could be back among the most popular cocktails in the country. Ready to start the trend?

 

Dayton’s Newest Night Club Now Open: Riff Raff on the Canal

By 1 Comment

riffIt’s been a long time coming, but for owner Mike Schmidt, the five years it’s taken to remodel the building, and wrestle with city  codes will be well worth it when he sees his Patterson Street Tavern filled with people enjoying the live blues music.

Mike credits his wife Bev for keeping him going when the rules and regulations of the zoning and the costs incurred to do things right became overwhelming. The bar is vintage, the original floor has been restored and Mike proudly calls his cook, Chef John Pope, the Pope of Riff Raff Village.  Just barely open, he’s already in competition for the best wings in town, up against longtime favorites Bunkers and Frickers according to DDNews Ken-yon Hardy.

Mike is quick to admit his food isn’t fancy, he calls it blue collar food, saying  it’s good and inexpensive.  The Tavern will offer burger baskets, ribs, sandwiches and of course wings.  No menu item is over $10.50.  And you can wash it down with $2 drafts specials every day.

Riff Raff Tavern on the Canal  will feature live music every Friday & Saturday without a cover charge, rb stoneexcept perhaps for some major special bookings.  The Hathaways are the featured opening band and Labor Day Weekend Nashville’s RB Stone will perform Fri & Sat night starting at 8pm.
Schmidt says he’s aligned himself with the Dayton Blues Society and plans to feature the best in local and regional blues and jazz.  But that’s not all- for football fans, starting Sept 8th, Sunday’s will be all about football, with the NFL Ticket allowing the bar to feature your favorite teams games.  As a Redskins fan I made need to be careful when Chef Pope’s Cowboys are playing, but hopefully by then the Sunday buffet they’ve planned will be the way to go.

The grand opening celebration for Riff R Raff Tavern on the Canal is this Friday night from 5-9pm.  You’ll be welcomed to the building, which is next to Southern Belle, by statues of the Blues Brothers.  Mike says he and his best friend from his Army days earned the nicknames Jake and Elwood, for their fun loving spirit and the pranks they used to pull.  He says that attitude is exactly what you’ll find at Riff Raff- great attitudes, fun and good times for all!

The hours of the tavern are still being worked out, but for now the plan is Wed – Sat, until football starts with lunches rolling out soon.  They’ll be open til midnight Wed & Thurs and til 2:30am on Fri & Sat.

 

 

 

 

 

C

Favorite ‘Kids Eat Free’ Places in Dayton

By 7 Comments

Still feeling it in the pocketbook from all those back to school clothes and supplies?  Then listen up, because we have some Food Adventure scoop for you.

We have compiled a list of The Big Ragu’s and Crew’s favorite “Kids Eat Free” places.  Gather up the gang, but make sure you know these basic guidelines:

— Generally each “free kid’s meal” is earned with 1 paying adult.  So if you are in the Brady Bunch, it looks like only Bobby and Cindy get free grub.  Well, unless you bring Alice and Sam the Butcher.

— Also, there are age limits on the “kids” (typically 10 and under).  Don’t expect your Senior Prom King son to get a zero cost meal anytime soon.  Make him mow some lawns or something.

Without further ado,  here are our favorite KIDS EAT FREE spots in the Dayton area.

Whether your kids are angels or brats, it won’t cost you a dime at these Miami Valley eateries:

STEAK THYME: Kids eat free Wednesdays after 5pm at this underrated restaurant in Kettering.  May we suggest a cheesesteak?  If not, how about a burger or gyro ?

LA PINATA:  Niño’s eat free every Sunday at this hot spot in Centerville.  Kids love the free chips and salsa.   It really doesn’t matter what they order, it will be a delicious combo of corn tortilla, beans, rice and cheese.  Great, cheap Mexican food here!

THE SUBMARINE HOUSE: Kids eat free everyday after 4pm at this East Coast style sub shop .  We don’t suggest they try the super duper cheesesteak challenge until they are 21.   Instead they will want to go with winners like the cheese pita pizza or the chicken tenders and fries.

FRICKER’S: Every frickin day, kids 10 and under eat free.  Wings, chicken chunks, boneless wings and burgers are the most popular.  Gourmet kids love the Frickin Chicken Pizza.

OINKADOODLEMOO: Tuesdays, kids eat free in the Oakwood restaurant.  That is a good deal, because good bbq isn’t cheap.

SKYLINE CHILI: Wednesday nights, kids eat free!  Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that this Cincinnati style chili place is an acquired taste.  Finicky kids will eat the plain hot dogs all day long !

DE’LISH CAFE: Kids eat free Thursdays until 8pm.   This is an upscale bistro, with some gourmet dishes.  Show your kids the great food photos on the website, before you go there.

FLYBOY’S DELI: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8pm, no cost for kiddos.   Like the marquee says, “Eat in New York City, without leaving historic Dayton.”  They offer 4 pizza choices and 4 panini choices.   From Buffalo chicken pizza to ham sandwiches, make sure you take them to the rooftop seating area for a fun Food Adventure.

Kids Eat Free every Frickin’ Day at Frickers

EARTH FARE: Thursdays 4-8pm, kids eat free.  The organic, gluten free and healthy food choices here are endless.

WG GRINDERS: Kids eat free everyday.  This Columbus based eatery has great sub sandwiches.  Some are colossal creations!

 

CHAIN FAVES:
QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL – Fun atmosphere at Qdoba where after 4pm on Sunday nights, you guessed it, kids eat free !!  Get the kids involved topping their own “lil burrito.”  Good, Mexican street food and it’s pretty healthy!
BEEF O’BRADY’S -Already a kid’s paradise, this place features a  ‘kids eat free’ night on Tuesdays from 4-8pm.   The chicken nuggets always score a touchdown with the little ones.

 

ALMOST FREE:
LAROSA’S – Kids get unlimited spaghetti dinners for 99cents on Mondays and Tuesdays !  Buddy LaRosa’s gang will make your kids smile with this deal.  We see sauce stained cheeks in your future.

Kids Eat Free at La Pinata on Sundays !

 

Nothing beats good free food.   It is a great money-saver for families on a budget.   So take advantage of these deals,  especially at the restaurants you may already frequent.    Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch!

Want more food, fun and serious eats with couple of kids at heart?  Check out FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook, HERE !

Browse the photo gallery below from some food shots from our favorite KIDS EAT FREE places.  Did we miss one?  Which “kids eat free” spots are your favorites?  Comment below and let us know !

[flagallery gid=52]

Experience Wheat Penny at their Sneak Peek For Charity!

By Leave a Comment

wheat penny

DaytonDining has partnered with the brand new
Wheat Penny Oven & Bar
to present a truly unique opportunity for you to have a sneak peek of this cool pizza-centric restaurant featuring rustic, creative dishes and a bar that serves up fresh, handmade cocktails-brought to you by the culinary-minded folks at Meadowlark Restaurant!

Wheat Penny is opening their door to local charities, to allow them a  fundraising opportunity while working with their new staff to perfect their service.  If you’d like the opportunity to attend one of these nights, you can contact the charity’s listed below:

Tickets are $35/person of which $25 is tax-deductible.  Guests will be able to order pizza an appetizer (like a salad or eggplant fritters) and a pizza entrée (you’ll have your choice of hhite, wheat or gluten free dough).  Guests will also receive a special Wheat Penny dessert treat.   Tea and Coke products are included.  There’s a 90% chance the liquor license will arrive by Tues/Wed, so guests should be able to buy cocktails as well.  Servers will drop checks and collect at the end of the meal (gives them register practice).

 

Wed, August 21st    Artemis Center
Leading the community in its commitment to end domestic violence
For reservations email

Thurs, August 22nd     SICSA Pet Adoption Center

A limited admission animal shelter which strives to place adoptable dogs and cats in loving homes.
For reservations email   Kira Petrykowski

 

Friday, August 23rd The  Food Bank
Leading the charge to relieve hunger for our Miami Valley Neighbors
Sold Out – email Ann Roberts to be put on the waiting list.

Please do not contact Wheat Penny- each charity has their own reservation list and Wheat Penny will not have any information on open spots.

Urban Loft Could Be Your New Home

By 3 Comments

loftsHave you ever thought about moving downtown Dayton?  The Sixth Street Lofts will bring 17 new residential units to the historical Oregon District and within walking distance to restaurants, the Dayton Dragons and the 2nd Street Market. The condos are sized from 900 to 1,500 square feet of living area and are priced at $125,000  on the first floor, with the priciest units going for around $225,000 on the third floor.    The condo development is complete new construction housed inside a nearly 100 year old building.   

This new development in the rennovated historical Excelsior Building offers two-bedroom, single-floor, loft-style units with exposed 11 -13 foot ceilings and poured concrete columns, energy-efficient windows and furnaces, available basement parking.   There will be passenger and freight elevators, as

541049_12well as off-street and even an amazing rooftop gathering area with wet bar and restroom. Corner units will have 180-degree views of the Oregon District.

The  building will be completely secure with cameras at the front door and an amazing roof top patio with wet bar and restroom.   Standard features  in each unit include granite in kitchens and baths with ceramic tile in the kitchens and baths, including tub surrounds.

 

541049_09With an estimated completion date of September 2013, there are still 7 units available  for purchase and all buyers will enjoy a 10 year tax abatement from the date the first unit is occupied. Realtor Denise Swick shares that a pair of the two bedroom units are eligible for $15,000 downpayment assistance program through Citywide Development, based on household income.

To arrange a tour you can contact Denise Swick at  937-432-2644.

 

 

Welcome to Dayton Beer Week 2013!

By Leave a Comment

Dayton Beer Week Logo

It is here! Who says there is nothing to celebrate in August?

Beer has flooded the country. In 2010, there were fewer than 1,800 breweries in the United States. And there were zero in Dayton. Fast forward to 2013, where there are over 2,500 breweries in the United States. Dayton is seeing its own brewing growth spurt, with the Dayton Beer Company, Fifth Street Brewpub, Toxic Brewing Company, Lock 27 Brewing, Yellow Springs Brewing, Eudora, Star City Brewing, and many others that I am sure are in the works. Beer tastings have also expanded all over the city. Brewtensils has been offering not only supplies, but classes in brewing everything from a traditional lager or pilsner to experiments on the far ranges of the flavor scale. This is the environment the 4th Annual Dayton Beer Week will be awakening to this weekend, inviting all of Dayton to step out and discover some of the beery goodness themselves.

There are going to be some big events celebrating beer this weekend as the party kicks off at Kitty Hawk Golf Course with the 3rd Annual Pints, Putters, & Pink Balls-2 Club Golf Scramble benefiting the Breast Cancer Foundation. Registration starts at 12:30 PM for a 1 PM start. Get out your beer gear on Sunday and join all the floats and fun for the 4th Annual Beer Pride Parade in the Oregon district, starting at 4:30 PM at Dublin Pub (of course). The good folks at 5th Street Wine and Deli will be having a pre-parade tasting starting at 1 PM, so you can get an incredible seat for the festivities. For those of you who are a little more health conscious, Widmer Brothers is sponsoring Biking for the Beer of It Tuesday night. It begins in West Carrollton and ends after a 10 mile ride at A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg. They are very considerate, making sure you are well hydrated with a selection of beers at the midway point. The last major event of the week will be AleFest at Carillon Park (who is also setting up a historic brewery). You can try out all of the Dayton breweries, explore the growing gluten-free beer offerings, and just generally enjoy over 375 beers from over 150 breweries. That is, of course, if you are not beered out by that point.

AleFest Dayton 2013

Beer weeks ends with a bang, celebrating over 350 craft beers!

It is not just the big events that make this week special. Restaurants all over the Miami Valley are going to be celebrating in some form or another.

Monday:

  • Rouge will take over the draughts beginning at 5 PM at Jimmy’s Ladder 11. They will be featuring the Double Chocolate Stout, Hazelnut Brown, and Imperial IPA. After you’ve had your beer, you can keep the glass!
  • From 6 to 9 PM, you can help South Park Tavern fight off the Dogfish Head invasion they are anticipating. Grab a pint and pitch in!

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

  • The Trolley Stop will be rolling out the red carpet on the second last night of Dayton Beer Week. They will be featuring rare beers like Bell’s Black Note, and good music that night from 7 PM to midnight.
  • Raise your glasses! From 6 to 7 PM, King’s Table will be featuring a stein hoisting competition featuring Sam Adam’s beers.
  • Are you still shy about craft beer? The Arrow Wine on Lyons Road will be having an Oskar Blues beer tasting from 5 to 7 PM. If you purchase a four or six pack of these very good brews, you will also walk out with a special gift.

This is not even remotely close to the full list of events for the week. Many restaurants and bars will be having specials on a wide range of beers.  Look over the full menu of events and plan your week accordingly.

A line up of different types of beer

This is a nice start to the week…

While you are out exploring Dayton, there are a few things you should remember while doing your tastings:

  • When you taste, it is very similar to tasting wine. You want a little foam on the top. You also want to look at and sniff the beer before you taste it, to see what aromas are coming off of it.
  • Do not hold the beer in direct light when you look at it. You get the best idea of color when you look at it in indirect light.
  • Give it a little bit of a swirl in your glass. This stirs up the carbonation a little, allowing more of the aromas to be released. Don’t underestimate the importance of scent when tasting your beer!
  • Hold the beer in your mouth a little bit, allowing it to roam all over your tongue. Enjoy the flavors that come out as it is in your mouth. Take a mental note on how thick the beer is. This is known as mouthfeel.
  • Allow the beer to warm up SLIGHTLY before you drink it. As with wine, a little bit of extra warmth unveils deeper flavors that may not be otherwise obvious.

And while you are going to Beer Week events:

  • Car pool. Parking is going to be very limited for some of these events, and the citizens are going to be out in force. Getting more people in one car is going to be helpful for everyone.
  • Get there early. You want to make sure you get there in enough time to get seats! Make sure you call the venue and check out the details.
  • Drink plenty of water. This is going to serve a twofold purpose. First, water will help cleanse the palate between each beer, giving you a better idea of how each beer tastes. Secondly, it will help you avoid a worse hangover than you might normally have.
  • Do not eat spicy foods before you go to an event. You do not want your taste buds to be still burning from the Nuclear Hot wings you just ate. Eat a little something; just tone it down.
  • Go to the dark side. If you are not at a pre-set beer tasting, start off with some of the lighter beers, and go to the darker ones. The darker beers tend to have heavier flavors and be thicker, which can linger a little longer.
  • Designate a driver. No explanation needed.

It has been a busy few years for the craft beer scene, and this is the year it looks like it is going to explode in Dayton. This is the time to go out and taste new beers, find new favorites, and meet new friends. There are so many events going on during the week we would love to know which ones you are most looking forward to. Leave a note in the comments, and we will see you around town. Cheers!

Wright State Motion Pictures Program to Premiere Six New Films at BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL

By Leave a Comment

1098167_654551394577971_1975119123_nBig Lens is back! Only 144 people will have the opportunity to be the first audience of the latest works from the award-winning Motion Pictures program at WSU, screening August 22 at the Neon Movies.  This year, Big Lens kicks off opening night at the annual FilmDayton Festival (August 22 – 25, www.filmdayton.com).  This weekend of feature films, short films, documentaries, and award winners from Sundance and South by Southwest will have Ohio premieres all weekend long!

In years past, the Big Lens film festival has been used as a launching pad for many WSU films, which have gone on to screen at Sundance, win Student Academy Awards, and play at major film festivals all around the globe! This show will include premieres of entirely new films, diverse in their subject matter and style.  Concluding the evening, a question-and-answer session will be held with the young filmmakers, who are eager to discuss their works. This year’s Big Lens includes, for the first time, FOUR films directed by women.  Like its predecessors, Big Lens 2013 will no doubt entertain, educate, enlighten, and excite.  Make sure to get your tickets at the Neon for $7.00 before they are sold out!  Check out the roster:

  

            Ember, written and directed by Maggie Rose Price, is a film that deals with the emotional and psychological trauma that comes with a history of violence. Still reeling from child abuse, a young woman searches for closure in an unusual way. A powerful and harrowing depiction of a survivor, Ember gives a voice to subject matter often left in the dark. Produced by Ellen Swisher with cinematography by Michael Lowendick.

Anomaly, written and directed by John Swansiger, recounts the story of David Worthington who is the final test subject of a new chemical experience which gives people the illusion of physically reliving a memory.  After suffering nearly fatal side effects David is withdrawn from the project. Despite his failing health, and driven by his addiction to the new product, David tries everything he can to go back to the memory and see a person of his past one last time.  Produced by Colin Brooks with cinematography by Christopher Flannery.

Punk Girl, the first narrative short by filmmaker team Megan Hague and Kyle Wilkinson is a day in the life portrait of a young punk who rebels against the static middle-class life she was offered as a child.  She searches for freedom in a series of one-night-stands, graffiti art, and punk shows while quietly longing to rekindle a severed connection with her family.  Produced by Emily Anne Evans.Punches and Pedicures

Punches and Pedicures, a documentary by filmmaker team Ash Brandon and Dennis Hohne, tell the story of Victor Pham, a Vietnamese immigrant who successfully escaped a life full of gang activity by moving from Oakland, California to rural Defiance, Ohio.  Now the owner of his own business, Victor strives to inspire local youth to overcome lives filled with trouble. He does so by mentoring them in one of the most brutal of sports in the most unlikely of places.

Before We Go, written and directed by Bryan McClurg, takes place on a summer afternoon when two college graduates cross paths outside their elementary school.  As the two explore the space of their childhood and reminisce, they wonder if they ever met as kids and – if not – what things would have been like if that had.  This reflective film deals with the passage of time and how our past comes to shape our present.  Produced by Chris Tung with cinematography by Adam Brixey.

Painted Lady, written and directed by Brittany A. Shyne, tells the story of a nine-year-old girl, played by Sumayah Chappelle, who experiences the first changes of womanhood.  A strained relationship with her mother leaves her on her own to navigate her changing body.  Painted Lady offers a poetic glimpse of the struggles of girlhood while telling a story very few of us have ever witnessed on screen. Produced by Cassie Ryan and John Saylor with cinematography by Jacob Ebel.

 

As submitted by Brittany A. Shyne via Press Release

Volunteers Wanted: A Special Wish, Bike Miami Valley & Garden Station

By Leave a Comment

volunteerVolunteering is the perfect way to feel connected to your community. The simple act of offering your skills and enthusiasm will positively impact the lives of others, as well as your own.  Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times. Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

Check out these groups looking for volunteers:

 

  • A Special Wish Foundation, the wish granting organization located in the Dayton 601135_10151341921313398_331282029_nregion, is looking for 25 volunteers to help with the 4th Annual Glow Fore Wishes night time golf scramble on Friday, August 23. The event is from 6 – 11PM at Community Golf Course. “Midnight” Breakfast Buffet provided. Call Mariesa Stock at 937-641-4263 if interested in helping

 

  • Bike Miami Valley is looking for a group to handle bike valet parking at Oktoberfest229483_153810538019141_3893354_a for Sunday, 29 September! Want to support cycling? Love beer? Here’s your chance! Bike Miami Valley encourages all local festivals to have bike valet parking – and Oktoberfest is out front! We need a group to provide people to handle bike valet parking – racks provided. You have a chance to set up a table, sell t-shirts, promote your organization – and get free admission (a $12 value) to Oktoberfest! Send an email  if interested!

 

  • Garden Station is looking for  some volunteers to help organize events for Urban 183242_10150090412812971_3773463_nNights on Friday, September 20th! Garden Station is transforming a two acre lot on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Wayne Avenue that was vacant for more than 40 years into a vibrant art park and community garden.Who wants to help showcase Garden Station as one of the coolest spots in the city? Email if interested/

 

  • FilmDayton‘s 5th annual festival is coming  Aug 23-25th, headquartered at The filmdaytonfestNeon, and they  could use a few more volunteers to cover all the bases.   They need folks for set-up, ticket takers, greeters and odd jobs, too. Fill out the online form and volunteer for a shift – you get a free movie ticket out of the deal, too!

 

MostMetro will be updating these opportunities each week.  If your organization has a need for volunteers, email us your info and we’ll include you in the next update.

Baron Von Porkchop Returns to Local TV With Arcade Fever Special

By 1 Comment

Artwork for the Arcade Fever Special by Eric Shonborn

Artwork for the Arcade Fever Special by Eric Shonborn

Late night movie fans will soon see the end of a nearly 10 month hiatus when Baron Von Porkchop returns to the local airwaves on August 16th. The Arcade Fever Special of Terrifying Tales of the Macabre will air at 11:59pm on DATV (Time Warner channel 5 or streamed at datv.org)

The 75 minute episode features local horror host Baron Von Porkchop’s quest to play a classic arcade machine at a local shop and is filled with quirky characters both old and new (including an appearance by your humble author in my recurring role as Susie the DJ). In between the Baron’s adventures, viewers will be treated to a cheesy staple of the B movie catalog, The Beast of Yucca Flats, which features Thor Johnson and Conrad Brooks of Plan 9 From Outer Space infamy.

The special will serve an appetizer for fans as the Terrifying Tales of the Macabre production team finishes work on season 3, set to air later this year.

“It feels good to be getting back in the saddle,” says writer, producer and director Matt Brassfield. “I really enjoy bringing this kind of programming to the Dayton area. We usually take a small break between seasons, but this year our cast and crew experienced two tragedies that kept us away from filming much longer than we originally intended. It’s nice to finally feel ready to get back to doing what I love.”

Earlier this year, two Terrifying Tales of the Macabre cast members died suddenly. In January, Brassfield’s mentor and fellow filmmaker Andy Copp passed away. Copp played Reverend Zealot, who shared his insights on cult films in a segment called the Cult Corner. In the spring the show lost, local musician and Brassfield’s longtime friend and coworker, Max Ervin, who played Sleazy Tom, the Baron’s goofy neighbor.

“Both Max and Andy were great friends and played great characters,” says Brassfield. “The zaniness of Sleazy Tom, who was one of our original concept characters, will definitely be missed as we move forward. Andy’s Reverend Zealot brought us great information on cult movies and is a character that originally appeared in New Shock Theatre, which Andy also directed. So he gave us not only his film knowledge, but a great connection to the shows that paved the way for us. Max and Andy were not only a big part of the show, but each was a big part of my life and are sorely missed.”

Baron Von Porkchop in the Arcade Fever Special of Terrifying Tales of the Macabre

Baron Von Porkchop in the Arcade Fever Special of Terrifying Tales of the Macabre

Brassfield created Terrifying Tales of the Macabre and the Baron Von Porkchop character in late 2010, having previously worked with Dayton’s own Dr. Creep and A. Ghastlee Ghoul. The show’s name comes from a movie concept that was being developed by Brassfield’s first film company, Independent B Movie.

“It was supposed to be an anthology film, kind of like Creepshow, says Brassfield. “With different scary stories through the film, connected through a sort of narration story.”

Brassfield had tapped Dr. Creep to be featured prominently in that narration story, but the film soon fell by the wayside as other projects and responsibilities took priority.

Terrifying Tales of the Macabre, the TV show, is produced through Brassfield’s current film company, Bloodline Video. The first two seasons and holiday specials follow the misadventures of the Baron, a Victorian era ghoul, in a modern setting with each episode’s storyline appearing in segments between a classic B movie or modern independent film. The third season will also follow this formula with a slight twist – Brassfield is enlisting local and regional filmmaker friends to write and direct some of the new batch of episodes.

Baron Von Porkchop (promotional photo by Fox Photography)

Baron Von Porkchop (promotional photo by Fox Photography)

“We’re always looking for ways to do new and creative things on the show while still staying true to the style we’ve developed,” says Brassfield. “For me, it’s going to be really cool to see filmmakers I’m friends with and whose work I admire, like Henrique Couto, Dusty Austin Joe Craven and Jeremy Hoyt, put their touch on what we’ve created.”

Despite the gap between the Arcade Fever Special and the launch of season 3, late night DATV viewers will still be able to get their horror host fix. Brassfield has curated a lineup of horror host programs from around the country to air in the Terrifying Tales of the Macabre timeslot until fresh Baron episodes can be delivered. The shows are part of a network called the Horror Host Underground, in which horror hosts from different parts of the country share episodes with one another to help promote hosting across the country and expose viewers to the wide variety of hosts that exist beyond their local market.

“I’m really excited about running the HHU block because I can expose the Dayton market to such hosts as Miss Misery from California, Nevada’s Sinister Minister and Cleveland’s Janet Decay. I really take a lot of joy in giving fans the opportunity to meet new hosts through their televisions and find the ones that they really connect to and identify with.”

If you want to learn more about the history of horror hosting in Ohio, be sure to check out Matt Brassfield’s Ohio Shock articles here on DMM. For updates on Terrifying Tales of the Macabre, check out the show’s Facebook page.

 

Tank’s Bar & Grill: An Original Dayton Food Adventure

By 7 Comments

Wednesday’s Special: Roast Beef Hot Shot a “Must Eat”

Some things are just Dayton born and Dayton bred.  Tanks Bar & Grill on 2033 Wayne Avenue is a Dayton icon, much like The Wright Brothers, U.D. Arena and Dr. Creep.    Opened in 1987 by Dan “Tank” Tankersley, the restaurant has become legendary in a short time.  Although named for the owner, Tank’s name fits well because  they bring out the heavy artillery in their food offerings.  With a kitchen that opens very early and closes very late everyday, this is our kind of place.   A place for foodies, heck it is more than that, it is a place for serious eaters.   Loyalists have given Tanks a cult following, yet many suburbanites are unfamiliar with the spot & want to know,  “Why all the love?”   The answer is big portions of tasty food in a no frills atmosphere.  This is an not a wuss place, the old house has character and if these walls could talk, there would be some good stories.  You gotta love a place with 2 menus at all times.

Get your eat on, you are in the right spot.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Open 7am – 2am everyday, plenty of time for a Food Adventure

— They serve breakfast all day.  Brings a tear to our eye.

— Old School Joint where you wont leave hungry.  The plates are big, but the prices are decent.

If you eat one thing at Tank’s, make it a Burger !

— The Beer Selection is immense.  Lots of weird beers and unfamiliar bottle labels to experiment with and a few seasonal beers on tap too.

 

MUST EATS:

— TANK’S BURGERS:  Are you kidding?  If you go to Tank’s and eat one thing, make it a burger.  People drive-in from all over the place for this stuff.  This is one of the finest burgers in Dayton.  You gotta’ try one.

— OMELET TANK’S WAY: This is a 10 egg omelet with over a dozen choices for ingredients.  A massive, tasty creation with a cheap price.  Chef House goes for the 6 egg omelet called the “girly.”

— ROAD KILL CHILI: As the menu says, this isn’t normal possum, it is the Oakwood kind.  All kidding aside, this hearty chili is a warm splash of happiness.  Doctor it up with some hot sauce and you have yourself one of the best chili’s in the area.

— HOMEMADE CHIP DIP: This isn’t store bought dip, it is made on site.  When you are sluggin’ down a lot of beer, this creamy item is a pretty good accompaniment.

Order off the menu: Get a Turkey Reuben with Slaw instead of Kraut

— WEDNESDAY SPECIAL ROAST BEEF HOT SHOT: An open face sandwich with roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Comfort food at it’s best.  It is a big portion, and again the price is right.  You might want to take a nap an hour after eating this beast.

— HUSHPUPPIES:  These homemade balls of deep fried love are almost as big as baseballs.  Throw a few down your gullet or at your friends.  They have a savory flavor with an addicting taste of sweetness.

— REUBEN:  An amazing Reuben sandwich.  Great bread, makes this sandwich in our humble opinion.  No explanation or elegant description needed.  Just eat it.

 

 

Breakfast All Day, Everyday

Here is a Food Adventure exclusive **SECRET**:  This is NOT on the menu so you will have to ask for it.  Try the Turkey Reuben and ask them to put cole slaw on it instead of sauerkraut.  It is an incredible sandwich that you have to request.  After you are addicted, you can thank us later.  We are serious eaters, we know this shizzle.  We don’t read the menu to tell you about things. We actually eat the food, all of it!    Ask Dayton Mayor Gary Letizell who joined us for one of our Tank’s trips with his assistant Shelly.   They realized this was a Food Adventure almost immediately.

Honorable Mention menu items are the fluffy Waffles, Grilled Cheese Tank’s Way, and the specialty hash browns served in heaping mounds.   And all you fellow foodies, make sure you get the fresh cut fries as a side instead of chips, or we will run you over in a Sherman tank.

Tank’s Bar & Grill has earned its stellar reputation.  It’s not trendy, it isn’t the flavor of the month, nor is it a swanky place where the pretty people eat.   What you see is what you get, and the patrons keep coming back.    If you have not visited this place, make sure you put it on your Food Adventure Hit List.  Daytonians love Tank’s, and so do your humble Food Adventurers.  

Like Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !  We are not food critics, we are just two guys that love to eat.

Check out more than 40 food porn pictures of various Tank’s Bar & Grill favorites in our Food Adventures Photo Album, below.

[flagallery gid=51]

FILMDAYTON ANNOUNCES 2013 FILMDAYTON AWARD WINNERS

By Leave a Comment

xyublegiva1rlgct4da93er6bgscn32a  The FilmDayton Festival is back for the 5th year with submissions of shorts from around the world, great features you wouldn’t see elsewhere, valuable workshops for professionals or those looking for a behind the scenes view, and the  popular Pitch-It contest where you can share your movie plot idea for a chance at cash and prizes. The Festival, headquartered at The Neon, will take place on  Fri, Aug 23- Sun, Aug 25.

For the second year as part of the festival, FilmDayton honors talented Miami Valley residents who choose to offer their skills, creativity, innovation and support to the local community. This year’s honorees receiving FilmDayton Awards include:

Jud Yalkut – The Innovation Award – an award for a lifetime of innovation and creativity in filmmaking

A resident of the Dayton area since 1973, Yalkut was Assistant Professor of Art at Wright State University (where he yalkut_jud_600x480_01152013-1founded the film and video area of the Art Department), and taught at Sinclair Community College in Dayton and at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Jud started making video art in the 1960’s and collaborated with Nam Jun Paik on a series of groundbreaking video-film pieces. His work has influenced a number of other video artists and his innovative style broke boundaries between artist and spectator, inside and outside, reality and fantasy.

Jud’s film and video work has been exhibited at such venues as the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Miami University Art Museum, and Anthology Film Archives in New York, the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York, the Pompidou Center in Paris, and throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. (Award given posthumously)

 Andy Copp – The Filmmaker Award – a career award for excellence in filmmaking

original

A native of Dayton, Andy’s first feature film, The Mutilation Man (1998) was a gritty, blood-soaked, fever dream set ina bleak, post-apocalyptic near-future. Shot on a mix of film and video, The Mutilation Man paid homage to his filmmaking heroes while presenting his own unique and personal vision. Andy was a fiercely independent filmmaker, as well as an emerging artist and innovative filmmaker.

As an educator and mentor, Andy also made an impact on the Miami Valley’s film community. He taught classes in film history and theory at Sinclair Community College, and presented workshops in various aspects of video production at the Miami Valley Cable Council, KIT-TV in Tipp City, DATV and FilmDayton. Andy teamed up with Rick Martin and horror host Dr. Creep to create Horrorama, an annual horror film marathon, which has raised thousands of dollars for charity since 1997. (Award given posthumously)

Levin Family Foundation –The Key Award- an award for special service to the regional film communitybanner-logo

The Levins have supported filmmaking in the Dayton region for decades. Sam Levin’s movie theatre empire consisted of 17 theaters in the Dayton region. In 1964, Sam was driven to improve the quality of movies showing at his theatres and wrote the feature film Girls on the Beach which features major musicians of the day and is still a cult hit today.

Recently, the Levin Family Foundation became involved with film through their generous underwriting of Take Us Home, a documentary depicting the challenges faced by Ethiopian Jews on exodus to Israel.

How to Go:

The public is invited to the 2013 Eichelberger FilmDayton Awards, Sunday August 25 @ 8PM at the Neon Movies.  Tickets are $9 and can be purchased at www.filmdayton.com.

 

Paddle Faster, I Hear Bluegrass

By Leave a Comment

1000853_406944936081730_1192402143_nSix weeks ago Tom Helbig cooked up this idea for a festival called canoegrass! Things have happened quickly: he built a website, created a logo, built a floating stage, started a  Facebook page, booked 8 musicians, made t-shirts, ordered beer and ticket sales have started for the Aug 16-17 festival. Tom is quick to credit help from his friends that have helped turn his dream into a reality and invites you  to join the fun. Tom also shared this will be a family friendly event.

Canoegrass will be a weekend celebration of bluegrass music, the best of the human spirit and river life. The festival site will be banks of the Great Miami River, which will come alive with the best entertainers in the region.  This isn’t your ordinary festival. Get ready to get wet, wild and jam all weekend long.  The best seat in the house just may be from a canoe or tube!

You will find music everywhere; at camp, on your river trip and even on a floating stage.  Some will be scheduled, some will not!  Attendees are encouraged to help build the scene and jam everywhere you find the inspiration.

CampStage:CanoegrassBand

  • Home of the Friday and Saturday night featured acts that includes some of the best bluegrass and roots performers in our region.  Bring your dancing boots, a partner and shout “Take a Drink a Beer” all night long.
  • Lineup includes  Friday 7 pm (Bibs and Barefeet), 9 pm (Blue Caboose) and Saturday at 7 pm (Todd the Fox),  9 pm (Hickory Robot)

Tube Jam:

  • This is what everyone will be talking about at Canoegrass!  Borrow a tube or bring your inflatable to float on the Great Miami River during the Tube Jam floating stage shows. Cool off during these shows as the August heat will be in full force!  Float around with friends and enjoy up and coming performers from our region.
  • Lineup includes Friday at 5:30 pm (Jay Cullis and Dillon Brown), Saturday 5 pm (Holy Hickory)
  • Open mic on the floating stage, Saturday 10 am – 2 pm

 River Jam:

  • On Saturday morning, the Great Miami River will play host to our paddling trips and streamside jam sessions.  Make sure you stop and join a jam session along your journey. We encourage you to bring your own instruments, raft together with friends and jam your way downstream!
  • Canoeing and kayaking trips, 10 am – 3 pm

There is so much to do beyond camping and music at Canoegrass!  Check out all the fun you can have during the weekend:

Take a river trip

Slip and Swing

  • Canoegrass offers access to a stream-side rope swing for a splashing good time!  We also claim to have the greatest slip and slide in the world.  You will feel like a kid again no matter your age. Access granted with camping or day pass.

Canoe Jousting

  • That’s right medieval jousting meets canoeing!  Hop in a canoe and battle the opposition in a friendly match to see who can be the last one standing.  Competitors will be required to wear a life jacket and helmet.  We like things a little crazy so wear costumes and the wildest helmet you can find to distract your competition and give those on the bank a good laugh! Register Saturday morning by 1 pm at the camp office.  Jousting begins at 2 pm.  A single-elimination bracket will be created at close of registration.  First place earns braggin’ rights and some of the coolest photos of all time!

Biking

 

  • Canoegrass is across the river from the Great Miami River Bikeway and provides convenient access to over 300 miles of paved trail to explore.  This is the largest connected bikeway network in the country.  We highly recommend you bring a bike for the weekend.  You can put on a bunch of miles or take a leisurely ride to Tipp City or the Tadmor Historic Site at Taylorsville MetroPark in between the action at Canoegrass.

Fishing

  • We are on a river and there are hungry small mouth bass that live there!  Pack a rod and try to land the big one from camp or on your float trip.  Ohio Fishing License required.

Hiking

  • Take a hike.  Yes, we mean it!  We are minutes away from some of the most beautiful hiking trails at Charleston Falls Preserve and Taylorsville MetroPark.  Definitely, a great way to shake the hangover before action picks up at Canoegrass.

For ticket info please checkout the Canoegrass website.

 

Deja Vu for Morning Radio Show Host

By Leave a Comment

gina2A familiar voice returned to Dayton radio this summer when Gina Ferraro joined The Mix Morning Show on Mix 107.7, bringing her back to the Miami Valley after six years in Chicago. From 5 – 10 a.m. each weekday, she  joins hosts to cover traffic, entertainment news, and social media during the broadcast, among other topics. Ferraro’s first broadcast with the program was July 1, and today she celebrates one month at Mix.

“I just couldn’t turn down the offer,” Ferraro said. “The timing was perfect. My family lives north of Dayton in the Wapokoneta area, and my 80 year old grandmother lived in Virginia for 40 years and announced out of nowhere that she was selling her house and moving back to Ohio. I thought, this is an opportunity to do something from a new angle and my grandmother will be there. It’s been great. Everyone’s welcomed me with open arms. My co-hosts were happy to have a female back on the show, and we all knew each other from when I was here before, so the dynamic isn’t forced and we all click. It’s been a smooth transition.”

While attending Wright State University in college, Ferraro worked for the Dayton Bombers, where she met WTUE’s John “The Bman” Beaulieu. He suggested she intern at Clear Channel Dayton, and she scored an internship that lasted through her graduation in 2002.

main_themorningmess

Gina with Clayton, ? and Quinn in 2006

“When I was done with school,” she remembered, “Kramer from 103.9 The X approached me and said he needed an overnight person and asked if I’d be willing to do on-air work. I’d never been on the air, not while I was with Clear Channel, not even on the college station, and Wright State has a great radio station. I ended up doing a year and a half at The X, first on overnights, then mid-days and a solid weekend shift. In 2005, I went to 94.5, which was a sister station that did Top 40. I was on mornings there until 2007, then went to Z93 and signed a two-year contract. Six months later, a new company bought the station, changed the format, and fired all the staff!”

A stint at WHIO radio followed before Ferraro’s husband was offered a job in Chicago, and suddenly she found herself in a market she didn’t know, with nothing lined up.

“Lite 93.9, a Clear Channel station in Chicago, was looking for a traffic producer. That wasn’t what I wanted to do, and after I applied, I got an interview and almost didn’t go because I was so uninterested. One of my radio buddies said, ‘In Chicago, you never know who you might run into on an elevator, so go to the interview.’ I got there, and the woman who was interviewing me greeted me right off the elevator and was frantic. She said, ‘I know you’re not going to believe this, but on Monday, they fired the traffic guy. I gave your demo to the news director, and you’re hired. You’ve got the job.’ I literally walked right into that job.”

Later on, television beckoned, and Ferraro landed on a local daytime talk show, WCIU’s You and Me This Morning, doing entertainment reporting on a regular guest basis. Two subsequent local programs, Nude Hippo and Tattoo Factory TV, gave Ferraro the opportunity to push her boundaries on camera, being a celebrity guest in a roller derby, broadcasting live from the Sears Tower rooftop, interviewing Robert Downey, Jr., and getting her first tattoo on camera while interviewing the tattoo artist.

In Dayton, Ferraro’s day begins at 3 a.m. On the road from Wapokoneta by 4 a.m., at the station by 5 a.m.

“That first half hour,” she explained, “I print out all of our show prep and sanitize the studio. I was taught that early on; we’re all sharing microphones and headphones, and you can’t risk a cold in radio. Our prizes are predetermined for the whole week, so I set up that day’s prizes and start going through the show outline to see if there’s audio from other sources that I might want to use. For instance, when the royal baby was born, we aired the announcement from the town cryer. Then I’ll go through Twitter and see what’s trending and figure out what happened the night before, because I have to tweet during every hour of the show and encourage people to chime in on their phones.

gina3“After that, I highlight the entertainment news I want to use for that segment, and then once six o’clock hits, we’re in our busy time on the air. Taking calls, discussing events. At the top of every hour is news, weather, and traffic, and weather and traffic come in again during the hour. Jamie Jarosik from WDTN does weather, and there’s entertainment news at a specific time, and at 7:35 we do The Impossible Question. There’s a prize for that. At 8:40 we do the At Work Club: you can sign up at mix1077.com, and if your place of employment wins that day, you get a bunch of prizes.

“At 9 a.m. we do the Favorite 5 at 9, and your business can enter that as well. You pick five songs and we play your requests. I swear, it’s one of the last things in radio where you can actually request songs and get them played. It has to be stuff in the Mix realm – like you can’t really ask for Travis Tritt or Metallica, but we have played Elvis and the Beatles and such, so sometimes they do color outside the lines a little. There are prizes for Favorite 5, too: for instance, all this week, we’ve given a pair of tickets for the Maroon 5/Kelly Clarkson show at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati this Sunday.”

At 10 a.m., when the show ends, Ferraro and Stevens work with the station’s sales team, handle the next week’s prizes, mail the current day’s prizes to their winners, and do prep for the next day’s show, and at 1 p.m., the work day is over.

“I’m pretty basic in my home life,” Ferraro said. “I’m an avid CrossFitter, and I do the Paleo Diet. I spend time with my husband and family because it’s so good being back with them after living away for years. I have a golden, half golden retriever and half poodle. I love taking her out.”

Of future career goals, Ferraro said, “I would love to host my own national show on The Travel Channel or Oxygen, maybe Bravo. Something that has to do with the history of cities in America or around the world. Right before I left Chicago, I’d launched a brand new show, Uncovering Chicago, with a co-host, and I had to table it because of the job offer in Dayton. Ultimately, I’d love to pick up that idea again and take it to a national level – uncover Columbus, Atlanta, all over, and do a really cool, interactive show that brings the viewer something they can have fun with and be educated by at the same time.”

ginamix

Jeff Stevens, Gina and Dave Alexander

But for now, she’s perfectly happy to be at Mix.

“It’s been a nice breath of fresh air being back home. I still feel unsettled because I don’t have a place yet and 90% of my things are still in storage in Chicago, but I’m really enjoying it here. I don’t miss the Chicago traffic, and the cost of living here is almost like I’ve tripled my income, so that’s seriously a blessing. And I love my new job. When I’m at work, it’s constant and I’m having fun the whole time. By one o’clock, I’ve got to go home or I’ll work all day and night. I’m having so much fun that it doesn’t feel like work.”

Gina can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and more. For a complete list, bio, photos, and more information, visit her website.

There’s still one more day to win tickets to see this Sunday’s Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati! Register by noon on August 2 at Mix 107.7’s website.

Registration lasts until 11:59 p.m. on August 3 for Gina’s Girls Night Out with the Backstreet Boys! Gina will treat the winner and a friend to a VIP concert experience including two tickets to the show, plus a meet and greet with the band and passes to the soundcheck party before the show.